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
KC-46 Tanker Gains FAA Approval
The delayed KC-46A Pegasus tanker program has moved one step closer to its first delivery with the receipt of an STC from the FAA
Aircraft
End of the Line for the Nuclear Mirage
The French air force has undertaken its final flights with the Mirage 2000N, although the DGA plans to retain three for trials and training
Rotorcraft
Russian Helicopters Unveils Upgraded "Havoc" and "Halo"
New versions of the Mi-26 heavylift helicopter and the heavily armed Mi-28 attack helicopter have appeared for the first time in Russia.
Aircraft
Singapore Officially Unveils A330 MRTT
Having been in-country for two weeks, Singapore's first Airbus A330 MRTT was formally unveiled at the RSAF Day parade
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Boeing Lands Stingray
Boeing has won the competition to build the first unmanned aircraft to operate within the U.S. Navy's carrier air wings.
Aircraft
Navy Builds Up to F-35C IOT&E; First Turkish F-35 Pilot Flies
Navy F-35Cs have operated as part of a regular air wing for the first time as the aircraft approaches a crucial operational test and evaluation milestone
Maintenance and Modifications
Sierra Nevada Expands Huntsville Mx Facility
this will be its second modifications facility in the area, adding 60,794 sq ft of hangar space—enough to house up to seven Beechcraft King Airs.
Rotorcraft
Indian Navy Receives Approval for New Helicopters
After a long saga, the Indian Navy has been granted approval to buy the Sikorsky MH-60R through FMS channels, as well as a new utility helicopter
Aircraft
Legion Pod To Give the Eagle New Eyes
Boeing is to fit Lockheed Martin's Legion Pod IRST system to the USAF's Eagle fighters to give them a passive tracking capability
Ukraine's Neptun Missile Conducts Successful first Launch
In answer to growing tensions in the Black Sea region Ukraine has launched a new weapons capabilities program, with naval cruise missiles to the fore.
Aircraft
Su-57 and MiG-35 Land Russian Orders During Army 2018
At the major Russian arms gathering the defense ministry announced the first orders for production examples of the Su-57 and MiG-35
Rotorcraft
Boeing Assembling First Block II Chinook
The Block II upgrade will keep the helicopter flying for the U.S. Army into the 2060s.
Drone Dome Secures First Customer
Rafael's counter-UAS system is being bought by the British Army to protect forces and facilities against the drone menace
Aircraft
Japan Receives New 'Air Force One'
Japan's Boeing 747s have flown the country's prime ministers around the world for 27 years. Now they are being replaced by Boeing 777s
Aircraft
Ukraine Upgrades MiG-29 Fleet
Ukriane has instigated a program to upgrade its tactical aircraft fleet, drawing on its defense induatry with assistance from outside avionics suppliers
Aircraft
Upgraded 'Backfire' Rolled Out at Kazan
Tupolev has engineered a major modernization of the Tu-22M3 strategic bomber, the first trials example of which has been unviled at the KAPO works
Aircraft
New Wings for the Blue Angels
Having flown the "legacy" Hornet since 1986, the U.S. Navy's elite Naval Flight Demonstration Squadron is going to convert to the Super Hornet
Aircraft
President Trump Signs Off on Blocking Turkey’s F-35s
The latest U.S. defense acquisition bill is now law, and temporarily bars the delivery of F-35s to Turkey as part of a deepening row with Ankara
Aircraft
Indian P-8 Controversy Threatens Follow-on Buy
India has acquired the P-8 Poseidon as a replacement for its Tupolev Tu-142 "bears'. Desires for a follow-on purchase are now under threat
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
L3's MUMT System Improves Situational Awareness on the Battlefield
L3's MUMT System Improves Situational Awareness on the Battlefield
Aircraft
Aero Flies Advanced L-159 Two-seater
Aero has flown the first of three two-seat L-159T2s it is building for the Czech Air Force, which is also upgrading five more to the same standard
Sweden Joins the Patriot Club
In the light of increased tensions in the Baltic over Russia's stance, Sweden is bolstering its defenses, becoming the 16th Patriot customer in the process
Maintenance and Modifications
Gulfstream Wins $594M Support Contract from U.S. Govt.
Contract covers C-20 (GIII) and C-37 (GV/G550) fleets operated by the U.S. Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, Army, and Coast Guard.
Aircraft
Boeing Now Building Qatar's F-15s as Part of the Eagle's Renaissance
Boeing has started building the most advanced version of the F-15 Eagle yet as it commences production of the F-15QA for Qatar
Aircraft
Kuznetsov Undergoes MiG-29K Refit
Russia's only carrier is back in the yard for a major refit that will align its capabilities with that of its primary fighter, the MiG-29K
Rotorcraft
Sikorsky Defiant Moves Closer To First Flight
Sikorsky's compound SB-1 helicopter prototype gains FAA registration numbers
Aircraft
Lockheed Martin Concludes Super Galaxy Update Program
For the last decade Lockheed Martin has been upgrading C-5 Galaxies to the re-engined C-5M Super Galaxy configuration
Aircraft
New Malaysian Government Reveals Su-30MKM Readiness Woes
The Royal Malaysian Air Force is facing a fighter shortage as its Su-30MKM 'Flankers' require a 10-year check
Rotorcraft
Mi-8 Collides With Mi-26 Sling Load: 18 Dead
The Interstate Aviation Committee (MAK) and Rosaviatsiya have collected the flight recorders and are analyzing the data.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
GA-ASI Progresses with MQ-25 Program
General Atomics is preparing its design for the EMD phase of the U.S. Navy's MQ-25 unmanned tanker requirement
