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
Gulf Sales Spur the Rebirth of the F-15 Eagle Fighter
Orders from two Gulf nations—Saudi Arabia and Qatar—paved the way for the U.S. Air Force itself to begin buying the F-15 Eagle again after 20 years.
Aircraft
Storm Warning Comes from UK in Form of Project Tempest
The Tempest fighter is just part of a Future Combat Air System being designed by an international team led by BAE Systems.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Gremlins UAV Demonstrates First Mid-Air Recovery
After a series of unsuccessful attempts, DARPA’s Gremlins recoverable UAV program has launched and snagged an X-61A air vehicle in flight.
Avionics
GPMS and Metro Partner on HUMS STC for Airbus H135
GPMS and Metro Aviation aim to STC the Foresight MX health and usage monitoring system in the Airbus H135.
Rotorcraft
Bell Completes First AH-1Z Viper Attack Helicopter for Bahrain
The Gulf island kingdom is buying a dozen of the U.S.-made Vipers to modernize its attack helicopter fleet.
Aircraft
KC-46 Tanker Cleared to Refuel F-15s and F-16s on Operations
The latest Interim Capability Release for the troubled tanker opens up a large number of potential receivers.
Aircraft
Kuwait’s Typhoon Multirole Fighter is Now Flying
The first two of 28 Eurofighter Typhoons ordered by the Kuwait Air Force are now in pre-handover flight test.
Engines
Safran Adds Second Helo Engine Assembly Line In Texas
Safran's new Texas assembly line will produce the Arriel 2E engine for the U.S. Army’s UH-72B Lakota.
Charter & Fractional
GrandView Enrolls in P&WC's Engine Mx Program
Charter operator GrandView Aviation uses a fleet of 13 Embraer Phenom 300 jets powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada's PW535E turbofans.
Rotorcraft
MD Helicopters Hit with Federal Fraud Verdict
A jury has faulted the company for conduct related to foreign military sales.
Rotorcraft
U.S. Army Unveils New Black Hawk Helicopter
The UH-60V is an upgraded version of the UH-60L utility transport helicopter with a state-of-the-art integrated cockpit system.
Rotorcraft
Airbus Lakota Fleet Tops One Million Flight Hours
U.S. military flies more than 460 Airbus UH-72A light twins for a variety of missions.
Aircraft
Modified Japanese Vessel Hosts First F-35B Operations
Two U.S. Marine Corps Lockheed Martin F-35Bs have successfully undertaken the first operations by the aircraft from a Japanese naval vessel.
Aircraft
Boeing Hands Over First Block III Super Hornet
The next major iteration of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet has moved a step closer to operational fielding with the delivery of the first production aircraft.
Aircraft
Rolls-Royce Selected for B-52 Re-engining Program
The long-running saga of re-engining the venerable B-52 bomber has now become reality with the award of a major new engine contract to Rolls-Royce.
Aircraft
DSEI Show Revives Physical Displays and In-Person Contacts
The biennial defense show in London was the first major international defense trade show to take place in Europe since the pandemic began.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
SkyGuardian RPAS Undertakes European Trials
Trials have proven the ability of the SkyGuardian to operate in controlled airspace as the UK gears up to begin operations with the Protector RG.Mk 1.
Aircraft
Return of the Nighthawk: Now It’s Official
Two F-117s have deployed to Fresno to train with the California ANG, affording the public its first view of the aircraft since its 2008 "retirement".
Aircraft
Lockheed Martin Unveils KC-Y Tanker Contender
The U.S. Air Force is gearing up to buy another fleet of tankers, which could pitch the A330 MRTT into battle again with the Boeing KC-46.
Aircraft
Greece Adds Six More Dassault Rafale Fighters
The additional fighters will allow the Hellenic Air Force to restore the number of aircraft within the Tanagra fighter wing to full level.
Aircraft
Indonesia Confirms C-130J Airlifter Order
The direct commercial sale of C-130Js had previously gone unreported, but has been made public during a visit to Marietta by Indonesia’s air chief.
Aircraft
India Approves C295 Airlifter Purchase
The Airbus medium transport will replace the Indian Air Force’s aging fleet of HAL-built British Aerospace HS 748s.
Rotorcraft
Army Accepts First Airbus Helicopters UH-72B
The UH-72B incorporates all the technologies in the latest H145.
Aircraft
Kazakhstan Orders Two Airbus A400M Airlifters
The order for the tactical/strategic-capable heavylifter follows on from the delivery of the smaller C295.
Aircraft
L3Harris Flies ARES Surveillance Aircraft Demonstrator
The ARES demonsatrator will help the U.S. Army decide on how best to replace its fleet of aging RC-12 Guardrail aircraft.
U.S. and NATO Launch Mass Evacuation from Kabul
A large-scale evacuation of allied personnel and at-risk Afghan nationals is under way from Kabul’s Hamid Karzai airport.
Aircraft
Norwegian P-8 Poseidon Takes Flight
With the first flight of its first P-8, Norway has taken a major step towards becoming the second Poseidon operator in Europe after the UK.
Aircraft
RAF Brings Sentry Surveillance Operations to a Close
The withdrawal of the E-3D airborne warning and control aircraft leaves a temporary capability gap that will be filled by aircraft from NATO allies.
Aircraft
Bell Unveils Military HSVTOL Vehicle Concepts
Bell’s vision is for a family of military air vehicles that can achieve speeds beyond those offered by the company’s current tiltrotor technology.
Aircraft
VISTA Testbed becomes X-62A, Joins Skyborg Effort
The long-serving variable-stability testbed and research platform is being recruited to the Skyborg autonomous low-cost air vehicle development effort.
