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
Boeing Lands Major Missile Contracts
The $3.1 billion award to Boeing covers the Harpoon anti-ship weapon and the SLAM ER long-range cruise missile for air-to-ground use.
Rotorcraft
First Ospreys for Japan Arrive In-country
Japan is the first, and to date only, overseas customer for the Bell Boeing V-22 tiltrotor.
Aircraft
Sweden Seeks New Air Force Basic Trainer
After several delays, the Swedish government has initiated the process to replace the 57-year old Saab SK 60 in the training role.
Rotorcraft
French Navy Revamps Its Helicopter Fleet
AS 365s and H160s helicopters are being leased to cover a gap between the retirement of the Aérospatiale Alouette III and the arrival of the H160M.
Aircraft
M-346FA Gets Rafael's Advanced Targeting, Recon Systems
The adoption of advanced podded targeting and reconnaissance systems significantly enhances the M-346FA’s combat potential.
Aircraft
First GlobalEye Handed Over to the UAE
Saab has delivered the first of three GlobalEye swing-role surveillance systems to the United Arab Emirates on schedule.
Aircraft
C-390 Joint Venture Scrapped, Millennium Joins the Covid Effort
Despite the ending of the Boeing-Embraer JV to oversee development and marketing of the tanker-transport, the original marketing agreement remains.
Avionics
Saab Flies New GaN Fighter Radar
The new radar is available as an upgrade for Gripen fighters, and can also be tailored to other types and for other missions.
Aircraft
U.S. Air Force F-35 Fighters Arrive in Alaska
The 354th Fighter Wing has become the first wing in Pacific Air Forces to receive the Lockheed Martin F-35A.
Aircraft
Germany’s Tornado Fighter Replacement Plans Revealed
The Luftwaffe is set to receive a split buy of Typhoons, Super Hornets, and Growlers to replace its remaining Tornado aircraft.
Rotorcraft
Sikorsky HH-60W Emerges From Climate Testing
The Air Force tested its rescue helicopter in extreme temperature regimes.
Aircraft
Qatari F-15 Eagle Fighter Takes Wing
The F-15QA is the most advanced version of the long-serving Eagle to date, and paves the way for new aircraft for the U.S. Air Force.
Aircraft
First Flight for Luxembourg’s A400M
Luxembourg’s sole A400M is due to be handed over next year for service with a binational unit based in Brussels, Belgium.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Navy Orders More Test Stingrays from Boeing
With three more MQ-25As being ordered, Boeing now has seven of the unmanned carrierborne tankers on contract.
Aircraft
KC-46 Fix Agreed but Production Goes on Hold
While production of the U.S. Air Force’s tanker is on hold due to Covid-19, engineers are working on a fix to refueling vision system issues.
Rotorcraft
Boeing Suspends Philadelphia Rotorcraft Production
Boeing suspends operations at its military rotorcraft assembly plant in Ridley Township, Pa. outside Philadelphia.
UTC, Raytheon Tie-up Gets Conditional DOJ Approval
DOJ approval is contingent upon sales of Raytheon’s military airborne radios business, as well as UTC’s GPS and optical systems businesses.
Aircraft
U.S. Air Force Looking at Leasing T-50s
The U.S. Air Force aims to trial an experiment with new training processes prior to the entry into service of the T-7A Red Hawk.
Rotorcraft
Bell, Sikorsky Move On To Next Round of Army's FARA Derby
The U.S. Army has selected Bell and Sikorsky to provide prototypes for its Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) program.
Aircraft
Australia Celebrates Decade of Super Hornet Operations
Acquired as a “capability gap-filler” to provide airpower between the F-111 and F-35, the F/A-18F has become a valuable and long-term asset for the RAAF.
Rotorcraft
Russian Navy Inducts Kamov Ka-31R
After a long delay, the Russian navy is now operating the Ka-31, the airborne early warning/surface search version of the Ka-27 shipborne ASW helicopter.
Aircraft
Marines F-35C Squadron Declared ‘Safe For Flight’
The award of its SFFOC certificate means that VMFA-314 has completed its type transition phase and can independently work up to operational capability.
Aircraft
France Deploys A330 MRTTs in Coronavirus Battle
In an ongoing effort to relieve pressure on beleaguered hospitals, the Armée de l’Air has begun transporting patients to less-affected areas.
Aircraft
India's Latest Light Combat Aircraft Standard Gets Airborne
The FOC version of the LCA Mk1 Tejas introduces inflight refueling capability and long-range missiles.
Aircraft
U.S. Air Force Orders Wolverines
At the heart of the AT-6 Wolverine is a mission computer system developed for the A-10C upgrade of the Warthog.
Aircraft
Japan’s Recon Phantoms Bow Out
The retirement of the reconnaissance fleet leaves just one fighter unit flying Phantoms in Japanese service.
Rotorcraft
Army FLRAA Moves Forward with Valor and Defiant
The process of finding a replacement for the U.S. Army’s large fleet of Black Hawk helicopters continues with the Valor and Defiant going head-to-head.
Aircraft
U.S. Military Exploring eVTOL Solution to Resupplying Troops
The U.S. military is investing in eVTOL aircraft technology that it believes could reduce risks associated with moving cargo in combat zones.
Further Aircraft Lost before Idlib Ceasefire Agreement
The ceasefire ar Idlib ended a brief period of intense fighting between Assadist and Turkish forces, during which a number of aircraft were downed.
Aircraft
New Production Contracts for UH-60s, HH-60s, and P-8s
Recent Department of Defense contracts have swollen the order books for the Army’s Black Hawk, the Air Force’s Jolly Green II, and Navy Poseidons.
