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

Hawk Assembly a Major Step Forward for Saudi Arabia

Assembing its BAE Systems Hawks in-country has worked well for Saudi Arabia with seven flying by October.

Rotorcraft

Airbus Studying Obscurant Defense for H145M

The rapid-action “fog” screen has been successfully implemented for military vehicles and is now being proposed for helicopters

Regulations and Government

U.S. Security Concerns Mount Over Chinese Drones

House and Senate bills would ban use of Chinese drones.

Aircraft

First RAF P-8A Handed Over

When P-8 operations begin next year next year, the United Kingdom will have an anti-submarine/maritime patrol capability after a gap of a decade.

Rotorcraft

Erickson in $996 Million DoD Support Contract

Erickson continuing to expand its defense-related business.

Rotorcraft

African Countries Seek Additional ‘Hinds’

The Mi-24/35 family has been operated for many years by many nations in Africa and continues to be of considerable interest to operators in the continent.

Aircraft

Green Light for F-15 Japanese Super Interceptor Upgrades

Japan’s fighter roadmap includes the purchase of 147 F-35A/Bs, development of a new fighter, and the upgrade of around half of its F-15 Eagle fleet.

Aircraft

Indonesia Wants Two Squadrons of F-16 Block 72s

While the long-running attempt to acquire Su-35s has yet to result in hardware, the TNI-AU is looking to AESA-equipped F-16s.

Rotorcraft

Germany Receives First Sea Lion, but Awaits Sea Tiger Contract

Germany has taken delivery of its first naval NH90 to replace the Sea King, but has still not signed for the Lynx replacement

Aircraft

LM Receives $7B F-35 Order, F-35A Price Dips Below $80M

The Lockheed Martin-led F-35 consortium was supposed to hit the $80m unit cost figure in 2020, but has achieved it a year early

Comeback for Russia’s Unguided Rockets

For years the 57-mm unguided rocket was a staple weapon of Soviet-bloc air arms. A new and upgraded version is signaling a renaissance of this caliber

EuroDASS Unveils Plans for Enhanced Typhoon Protection

The new Praetorian Evolution concept will evolve the in-service system to include an all-digital architecture and enhanced multi-platform EW capabilities.

Training and Workforce

U.S. Air Force Awards $6.4 Billion of Adversary Contracts

The USAF has announced its long-awaited adversary and JTAC training contracts that will significantly expand the size of the civilian-operated fleet

Aircraft

Iran Flies New Military Trainer

The Kowsar-88/Yasin is a new trainer design that draws to a considerable extent on components raided or reverse-engineered from the Northrop F-5

ADEX 2019: New Korean Projects Revealed

The 2019 ADEX show revealed new Korean defense programs while the nation looks to acquire further high-end systems from overseas.

Rotorcraft

USAF Slashes Helo Training Time With Virtual Reality

The first USAF helicopter pilot class using virtual reality graduated six weeks early.

Aircraft

T-6C Texan II Sale Possible for Tunisia

Buying the Texan II would significantly enhance Tunisia’s training capabilities, as well as further strengthen Tunisia’s relations with Washington.

Rotorcraft

Mil To Absorb Kamov Following High-speed Rotorcraft Win

The selection of Mil’s design to form the basis of a new high-speed combat helicopter was the catalyst for a merger of the two rotary-wing design bureaus.