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.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
MAKS 2019: Stealthy Chinese Target, and Iranian Cruise Missile
While majoring on Russian hardware, the MAKS show gave a chance for overseas exhibitors to debut new products
Rotorcraft
U.S. Military Helos Mobilize To Help Bahamas
U.S. military helicopters flying medevac, SAR missions in the Bahamas following Hurrican Dorian.
Aircraft
MAKS 2019: Refined MiG-35 Gets New Missiles and Avionics
RAC MiG continues to develop the MiG-29 airframe with an eye on further export orders, notably from India for both the air force and navy
Leonardo Carries Out First Flight of MAIR Missile Warning Sensor
MAIR provides a spherical warning coverage around the carrier platform and also provides an imaging capability.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Rafael Moves into the UAV World
The forthcoming acquisition of Aeronautics Ltd brings with it a portfolio of unmanned air platforms, including aerostats
Aircraft
Typhoon Pulled from Canada Competition
Airbus is no longer progressing with its bid to supply Canada with Typhoon fighters, citing concerns over security issues and ITB commirtments
Rotorcraft
Airbus Offers Tiger Upgrade to Australia
Upgrading the current Tiger fleet could save Australia AUD3 billion compared with buying new attack helicopters
Rotorcraft
MAKS 2019: KRET Showcases Updated Mi-24
New equipment and new capabilities—including an air-to-air capability—can breathe new life into a combat classic
Aircraft
MAKS 2019: Turkish President Erdoğan Inspects Su-57, Considers Alternatives to F-35
Turkey’s president was in Moscow to view Russian fighters that could be acquired in place of the Lockheed Martin F-35.
Training and Workforce
‘Red Air’ Contractors Chalk Up Milestones
ATAC has flown its first Mirage F1 after return-to-flight overhaul, while Top Aces has surpassed 80,000 hours of contracted air services.
Aircraft
Brazil’s First Gripen E Takes Flight
The aircraft is the first production Gripen E and the first to fly with the wide-area display
Rotorcraft
Vipers and Venoms for the Czech Air Force
The Czechs have selected the UH-1Y and AH-1Z in preference to the Sikorsky UH-60M as the country increases its defense spending
Aircraft
Japan Firms Up on F-35B; F-16s Approved for Taiwan
Japan formalizes its intent to buy STOVL F-35Bs, while Taiwan’s long-held desire to receive more F-16s finally gets U.S. approval
Aircraft
Russia Opens Competition for Medium Airlifter
Ilyushin’s Il-276 has long been pitched as a replacement for the An-12 airlifter, but the Russian defense ministry is now also looking at rival designs
Aircraft
An-178 Lands First Export Order
Having already gained domestic orders, the twin-jet Antonov transport has now received an order from the Peruvian police
Rotorcraft
Airbus Delivers 200th Lakota Trainer To U.S. Army
The U.S. Army has trained nearly 1,500 student pilots on the Airbus UH-72A.
Rotorcraft
Bell 407GXi Gets IFR Approval
U.S. Navy requires new training helicopters to be IFR capable.
Maintenance and Modifications
Boeing Begins JASDF E-767 Upgrade Work
Improving the E-767s is part of an overhaul for Japan’s air surveillance fleet that also includes new-generation Hawkeyes.
Maintenance and Modifications
U.S. Air Force Completes A-10 Re-winging Program
Work to give 173 A-10Cs a new lease on life has been undertaken since 2011 and has now reached its conclusion.
Chinese Airpower on Show during Aviadarts
The People’s Liberation Army Air Force dispatched J-10s, JH-7s, and H-6Ks to take part in the Russian Aviadarts exercise.
Engines
Russia Relaunches Production of Engine Cores for the MiG-31
The Perm Motor Works is building new hot-section components to allow the overhaul of engines to keep the MiG-31 fleet flying until 2035.
Aircraft
Air National Guard Receives First KC-46
The delivery of two Pegasus tankers to Pease ANGB in New Hampshire marks the start of the type’s career with the Air National Guard.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Russia Releases S-70 Okhotnik Flight Video
The short video provides the first official glimpse of Sukhoi’s stealthy unmanned combat air vehicle prototype.
Maintenance and Modifications
Ukraine Launches Su-24 and Il-76 MRO/Update Program
Ukraine has instigated a program to modernize Il-76s while increasing the fleet of operational “Fencers.” The nation is also looking to buy Super Tucanos.
RAF Typhoons Intercept Russian Aircraft over the Baltic
Scramble missions have been launched from the base at Amari in Estonia to intercept Russian aircraft flying close to the airspace of the Baltic republics
Aircraft
India Expected To Sign for More MiG-29s and Su-30MKIs in October
New fighter aircraft and air-to-air missiles are at the heart of a procurement effort based on re-engineered arms purchasing processes with Moscow
Aircraft
Leonardo Logs First Order for the M-346FA
An undisclosed “major international customer” has ordered six of the fighter/attack derivative of the M-346 Master advanced jet trainer
Rotorcraft
Unmanned Korean MD500 Flies for the First Time
Korean Air’s Aerospace Division has modified a former armed forces helicopter to an unmanned configuration with the aim of creating an armed platform
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Light UAV Family Launched in Hungary
The Ku-ME Invest MP-H family uses a similar central body matched to various wing sizes to cater for a wide range of payload options
Aircraft
F-16s Ordered for Slovakia; Bulgarian Buy Reinstated
Lockheed Martin has received the go-ahead to begin the construction of 14 F-16Vs for Slovakia, while the “on-off” Bulgaria deal is back on again
