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
Terma To Provide U.S. ANG F-16s With Flare-capable Pylons
A NATO contract could lead to more F-16 countries selecting Terma's pylon upgrades.
Security
GAMI to Spur Tenfold Increase in Localization of Saudi Defense Spending
Goal is dramatic expansion from current manufacturing in ammunition, light weapons and armored vehicles
Aircraft
PLAAF Senior Pilot Reveals Poor Performance in Joint Exercise With RTAF
A report details the performance of PLAAF aircraft in Falcon Strike 2015.
Aircraft
India Prepares For New Fighter Tender
Rafales are now being delivered but there are still holes and problems with the procurement cycle.
Safety
Malaysia’s Defence White Paper–All Talk, No Action?
Malaysia has been deferring much-needed procurements for years, but a new Defence White Paper addresses upcoming needs.
Aircraft
Ukraine Defense Aims To Thrive Against Odds
Ukraine has been hitting the headlines again recently but it still remains vulnerable to Russia, so is trying to bolster its defenses.
Maintenance and Modifications
BARP Offers Services for New and Older Russian Fighters
Belarus Aircraft Repair Plant No. 558 enjoys a competitive advantage in the servicing of Russia-built aircraft.
Aircraft
Tupolev Flies Modernized ‘Blackjack’
The nature of the upgrade to the Tu-160M has not been detailed, but the type is once again making its presence felt in the ongoing Russia-U.S. standoff.
Safety
UAV Manufacturer and Training School Work Together on Operating Standards
Rotary UAV maker UMS Skeldar is working with the Swedish Aviation Technical Training School to develop standards needed to meet anticipated new EASA rules.
Aircraft
Kuwait Prepares for Typhoon EIS in 2020
Final assembly of the first five Eurofighter Typhoons for Kuwait is underway in Italy.
Aircraft
Catic Caters to Customers with Full Line of Fighters
China's Catic has pursued new military aircraft programs based on increasingly advanced technology.
Aircraft
Australia Trials Litening Pod on C-130J
The RAAF is following the Air National Guard in testing the Litening pod as a means of improving situational awareness for the C-130 crew and ground units.
Aircraft
Navy Flies Unmanned Growlers
Boeing and the U.S. Navy successfully flew two autonomously controlled EA-18G Growlers at Naval Air Station Patuxent River.
Aircraft
Saab Adds GlobalEye to Finnish Gripen Offer
Saab has already sold a fighter/AEW package to Thailand, and is applying the same concept to Finland’s HX requirement.
Avionics
Astronautics Develops Platform for AI Use
The Astronautics CyberSmart-Athena enables cyber service providers to run algorithms for in-flight functionality such as video-image recognition.
India’s Defense Budget Shows Cautious Increase
India is maintaining funding for major procurement programs, but there is no major increase, and there are big changes in the supplier approval process.
Aircraft
Vietnam Places Order for Yak-130 Trainers
With its order for around a dozen, Vietnam becomes the seventh customer for the advanced trainer, which is also being developed for close air support.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
IAI Introduces Heron Mk II for Complex Missions
IAI’s Heron has been one of the mainstays of the MALE UAV scene for many years. A new variant has been launched to improve its operational versatility.
Aircraft
F-35As for Poland; More F-16s for Romania
Poland has committed to its long-planned acquisition of the F-35A, while Romania is adding to its inventory of used F-16s.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Germany Opts for Manned Pegasus Platform
For the second time Germany has canceled plans to use a Global Hawk derivative to answer its Sigint requirements, and is now looking at the Global 6000.
Singapore Airshow: Controp To Unveil New EO Sights
Controp has produced a range of electro-optic turrets of varying sizes as part of the STAMP family, and is introducing a new payload for small UAVs.
Aircraft
Kremlin Confirms Su-57 Commitment as Foreign Orders Loom
Following the crash of the first production Su-57 in December, Russian politicians have been quick to support the program to keep export hopes on track.
Aircraft
Marines Start Building Frontline F-35C Force
The Marine Corps is acquiring 80 carrier-capable F-35Cs that will take their part in the U.S. Navy carrier deployment cycle.
Rotorcraft
Oil & Gas Industry Comes Together for Safer Offshore Helo Ops
New IOGP joint industry effort examines industry safety programs and develop new resources and training initiatives
Aircraft
Leonardo’s Falco Xplorer UAV Makes First Flight - AIN
Leonardo’s Falco Xplorer UAV Makes First Flight - AIN
Rotorcraft
UK Takes Four More Airbus H145 Trainers
Airbus Helicopters is providing four additional H145 twins as part of an expansion of the UK Military Flight Training System (UKMFTS).
Aircraft
First Indian BrahMos Squadron Commissioned
Based in southern India, No. 222 Squadron now operates the Su-30MKI with the BrahMos supersonic surface attack weapon.
Maintenance and Modifications
Clone of Sustaining Military Aircraft in Southeast Asia
Customers in tropical environments require different care to keep their aircraft flying, and Boeing is working to accommodate them.
Aircraft
Navy’s Osprey Enters Flight Test
The CMV-22B is a longer-ranged version of the Osprey tiltrotor for carrier delivery duties.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
First Flight for Leonardo's Falco Xplorer UAV
At around twice the size of earlier Falco platforms, the Xplorer is a high-end tactical ISR system with all its major elements created in-house.
