Defense
Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.
Aircraft
Saab Flies Second GlobalEye, Revises Gripen E Production
Saab has achieved a significant milestone in the GlobalEye program for the UAE with the first flight of the second aircraft
Aircraft
U.S. Interest Grows as More J-20 Details Emerge
China's enigmatic J-20 stealthy fighter is now in limited PLAAF service as details regrading weapons and refueling capability are released
Rotorcraft
SB>1 Defiant Breaks Cover
The Sikorsky-Boeing team developing the Defiant tactical/utility transport compound helicopter demonstrator has unveiled the prototype
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Leonardo To Deliver IRST Systems for Far East UAV Integration
Leonardo has developed considerable expertise in the field of infrared search and track systems for fighters, which is now being extended to UAVs
Aircraft
New-customer Typhoons Will Be the Most Advanced Yet
The Eurofighter consortium is closing in on delivering Typhoons to Kuwait, which will be the first to sport E-scan radar and Sniper pods
Aircraft
China Accepts Last Batch of Su-35s, Test Fires S-400
United Aircraft Corp[oration has completed the delivery of the 24 Sukhoi Su-25 "Flanker-E" fighters odered by China
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Textron Readies Hybrid Aerosonde Kit Ahead of At-sea Testing
Textron has developed a kit that rapidly turns its Aerosonde UAV into a vertical take-off and landing vehicle that can operate from small vessels
Aircraft
Leonardo Celebrates First M-345, TH-119 Flights
As the year draws to an end, Leonardo has achieved significant first flight milestones for two of its important defense programs
Rotorcraft
KAI Unveils Light Attack Helicopter
With a first flight set for next spring, the LAH is an attack version of the H155 Dauphin developed jointly by KAI and Airbus
Rotorcraft
Airbus Makes First Unmanned Flight in VSR700 Helicopter
The autonomous, unmanned "tactical vehicle" is based on the Helicopteres Guimbal Cabri G2 and fitted with a diesel engine.
Aircraft
Japan OKs Extra F-35 Buy in Fighter Re-equipment Plans
Japan's latest defense plan has been published and, as expected, it approves a major purchase of extra F-35s, including STOVL aircraft
Aircraft
LRASM and Sea Venom/ANL: Anti-ship Missiles Make Progress
Two anti-ship missile programs have achieved significant progress as LRASM enters service and Sea Venom/ANL moves into qualification testing
Rotorcraft
Bell V-280 Celebrates First Year Of Flight
The Bell V-280 tiltrotor has achieved a variety of performance milestones over the course of 85 flight test hours.
Rotorcraft
Airbus Secures H225M Order from Hungary
Hungary has followed up its order for H145s with a sizeable purchase of H225Ms, with which it will complete the transformation of its rotary-wing force
Aircraft
McConnell Prepares for First Air Force KC-46
McConnell AFB is to be the U.S. Air Force's first operating location for the Boeing KC-46A and also an important training center
Rotorcraft
Turkey’s T625 Utility Helicopter Is Named Gökbey
Following its first flight in September, Turkey's-six-tonne helicopter now has a name. The type is also due to get an all-Turkish engine in the future.
Grifo-E on Target to Hit Key Development Milestones
Having prduced several m-scan radars in its Grifo range for light fighters and attack aircraft, Leonardo is now developing an e-scan derivative
Aircraft
First F-35s Reach Australia; Tyndall Could Join F-35 Base Roster
The first F-35s for Australia have landed on their future home soil to begin the replacement of the "legacy" Hornet fleet
Meteor Goes ‘Live’ on Typhoon as ‘Blackjacks’ Head for Venezuela
RAF Typhoons are now operational in the air defense mission with the Meteor missile. The first "live" launch intercepted Russian Tu-160 strategic bombers
Aircraft
Indian Navy Embarks on Quest for Fighters for Indigenous Carrier
The Indian Navy has plans to field at least two indigenous aircraft carriers, and would like to populate their decks with home-grown fighters
Rotorcraft
Philippines Leans Towards Black Hawk and T129
Recent statements from the Philippines defense minister have revealed that the nation is looking to buy new helicopters, and possibly Gripens too.
Saab Finds Footing in Japan with Its EW Products
Historically Jzapan has been a difficult market for non-U.S. suppliers, but appears to hve opened up. Saab is pitching its electronic warfare solutions
Aircraft
MiG-35 Deliveries Draw Close
RAC MiG will soon deliver the first production Mi-35s to the VKS after a long and protracted development of an advanced MiG-29 derivative
Aircraft
Airbus and Lockheed Martin Team To Pursue U.S. Tanker Opportunities
Seven years after losing the re-competed KC-X program to Boeing, Airbus has returned to the U.S. tanker marketplace in a partnership with Lockheed Martin.
Aircraft
KC-46 Completes Phase II Receiver Trials as First Delivery Looms
Despite the first delivery being delayed again, the Boeing KC-46 maintained its approval momentum with the completion of more receiver tests.
Aircraft
Italy's F-35s First To Achieve IOC in Europe
On the last day of November the Italian air force chief announced that the service's first squadron of F-35As had attained IOC
Aircraft
Super Tucano Ordered for Nigeria
Three years after Nigeria first expressed an interest in buying Super Tucanos for its fight against Boko Haram, an order for 12 has now been given to SNC
Aircraft
Advanced IRST Programs on the March
Lockheed Martin has received EMD and LRIP contracts for the Legion Pod for the F-15, as well for a new phase of development for the Super Hormet's IRST
Aircraft
Russian Activity Remains High on NATO's Eastern Border
NATO's Baltic Air Policing operation was augmented following Russia's occupation of Crimea and remains highly active.
Aircraft
China Seeking To Offload Surplus Military Aircraft
At Airshow China, the country put up for sale a number of surplus military aircraft, including the relatively new JH-7 attacker and KJ-200 AEW aircraft.
