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
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Gremlins Air Vehicle Takes Flight
Dynetics performed the first free flight test of its X-61A Gremlins air-launched, air-recoverable UAS in November 2019.
Aircraft
Russia Considers Redundant Jetliners for Anti-Sub Role
Russia’s naval aviation is looking at the cheap-to-acquire Tu-204 and Tu-214 to supplant its elderly Tu-142s and Il-38s on maritime patrol duties.
Aircraft
India's Naval Light Combat Aircraft Goes to Sea
The delayed naval version of the Light Combat Aircraft has undertaken its first carrier trials.
Rotorcraft
Leonardo Wins U.S. Navy Helo Trainer Deal
Leonardo selected to provide up to 130 training helicopters to U.S. Navy in a deal potentially worth $650 million.
Aircraft
Dassault and Thales Awarded Archange Contract
The French government has ordered the first two Falcon-based platforms to replace aging Transall Gabriels in the Sigint-gathering role.
Avionics
Collins Wide-area Display Brings Fighter Tech to More Aircraft - AIN
Collins Wide-area Display Brings Fighter Tech to More Aircraft - AIN
Aircraft
Finland’s Multi-role Fighter Challenge Gets Under Way
Over the course of January and February the Finnish air force is evaluating the five contenders for its Hornet replacement program.
Aircraft
State Department Approves F-35B for Singapore
The Republic of Singapore Air Force has selected the STOVL version of the F-35 to answer its new fighter requirement.
Maintenance and Modifications
Marshall Lands Kuwait KC-130 Support Contract
The Cambridge-based MRO specialist continues to deepen its involvement in worldwide C-130 sustainment activities.
First S-350 Vityaz SAM Delivered to Russia
The “poor man’s S-400” offers high capability but at a much-reduced cost compared with its internationally controversial stablemate.
