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
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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
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
Rotorcraft
Helicopters, Defense Push Leonardo Higher
Leonardo's orders increase by 34 percent in the first half of 2019.
Rotorcraft
First Apaches Arrive in India
The Indian Air Force is receiving an initial batch of eight AH-64E(I)s to form the first unit
Rotorcraft
Russia Resurrects Stored Ka-29s
The growth in Russia’s assault ship capability has created a renewed demand for the shipborne assault support Ka-29 helicopter.
NPKB Unveils Alternative Carrier Design for Russian Navy
The Lamantin project draws heavily on the work performed by NPKB to adapt the Vikramaditya for STOBAR operations by the Indian Navy
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Northrop Grumman Adding Sigint Capabilities to Triton
Fielding expanded mission capabilities for the unmanned Trito patroller is timed to coincide with the expected out-of-service date for the EP-3E Orion.
Korean Fighters Fire Warning Shots at Russian A-50
The airspace incursion by the AEW aircraft led Korean aircraft to fire their first shots while engaged on air defense interception duties.
Aircraft
Britain and Sweden To Partner on Future Combat Air Requirements
The much-anticipated announcement that Sweden would partner with the UK on a future fighter fell short of Swedish industry joining the Team Tempest effort
Aircraft
UK Reveals High-Tech Programs in Air, Space, and Propulsion
Hypersonics, small satellites, flying wingmen and swarming drones are all being investigated.
Aircraft
Turkey Removed from F-35 Program
Washington has responded to the delivery of S-400 air defense missiles to Turkey, upholding its threat to remove the nation from the F-35 program
Rotorcraft
Leonardo TH-119 Gets IFR Approval
Leonardo's candidate for a replacement U.S. Navy training helicopter gets IFR approval from the FAA
