Archive: News & Articles

On 1 December 2022, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) completed a fully-networked demonstration using multiple Laser Communication terminals. The network included ground, mobile and airborne terminals. During the demonstration, a live video and audio feed of operators at each terminal was shared in the networked communication display. The demonstration took place at Naval Information Warfare […]

The Future Combat Air System (FCAS) programme of the three partner countries France, Germany and Spain is taking a step forward after a long delay. According to press reports in Le Figaro and La Tribune newspapers, Dassault Aviation has reached an agreement with Airbus Defence and Space on the New Generation Fighter (NGF) component. This […]

On 29 November 2022, Safran Electronics & Defense announced that they had signed a contract with Leonardo to supply the Euroflir 610 optronic sight for the Eurodrone medium-altitude long endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) programme. The start of manufacturing for the first Eurodrone prototype equipped with the Euroflir 610 is planned for 2024. The […]

On 18 November 2022, North Korea conducted a test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which was announced the following day by North Korean news agency KCNA, with 23 photos documenting the launch. This was the second North Korean test of an ICBM in three weeks, with an earlier attempt on 3 November presumably […]

For the first time, NATO’s Alliance Ground Surveillance Force (NAGSF) has deployed their Mobile General Ground Station (MGGS) to Germany, marking the first time it has been deployed outside Italy. This was done to test NAGSF’s expeditionary capability to exploit the data collected by the RQ-4D Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) operated under the Allied Ground […]

The Multinational Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) Fleet (MMF) and NATO’s E-3A fleet (AWACS) have laid the groundwork for future air-to-air refuelling (AAR) with a series of tests. According to the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA), the flight tests are the basis for the technical and operational AAR clearances for the certification of NATO […]

On 17 November 2022, Elbit Systems announced that they will team up with Fokker Services Group to provide military flight training capabilities, in order to improve Elbit´s ability to respond to Dutch military needs. Elbit Systems operates a fleet of nearly 200 elementary, basic and other training aircraft combined with 5th Generation in-flight and ground-based […]

On 21 November 2022, Poland’s Vice President and Defense Minister, Mariusz Błaszczak, announced on twitter that he welcomed the proposed deployment of German PATRIOT air defence systems in Poland. He added that in further discussions that day he would propose stationing the PATRIOT systems near the Polish-Ukrainian border. Later the same day, the German Ministry […]

On 17 November 2022, Boeing Defense, Space & Security (BDS) announced that, effective immediately, it would be consolidating its eight Defence, Space and Security divisions into just four divisions. According to BDS, the structural changes are intended to “simplify integration and collaboration”, however they have come following the company reporting losses of USD 2.8 Bn […]

The UK is to acquire a new helicopter type under the New Medium Helicopter (NMH) programme. The selected helicopter will be operated by the British Army and the Royal Air Force (RAF) under the auspices of Joint Helicopter Command. The official contract notification states that the MoD “is considering the procurement of up to 44 New […]

On 15 November 2022, two Polish civilians were killed when a stray missile struck a tractor near the Polish village of Przewodów, located approximately 7.5 km from the Polish-Ukrainian border. The missile had originated from over the border, but conflicting reports quickly began to emerge regarding the nature and origin of the strike. ESD provides […]

On 11 November 2022, Embraer announced that Jackson Schneider, the current president and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security has decided to leave the company in April 2023, when his term with the company ends. To take over these posts, the company has appointed Bosco da Costa Júnior, the current Chief Commercial Officer (CCO). Jackson […]

The NATO EF 2000 and Tornado Development, Production & Logistics Agency (NETMA) has awarded BAE Systems five-year contracts totalling GBP 80 M (USD 94 M) in value to continue to maintain the avionics of Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft operated by the four founding nations of the Eurofighter consortium – Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom and Italy. […]

On 8 November 2022, Saab announced that the US Navy’s Shipboard Air Traffic Radar (SATR) AN/SPN-50(V)1 programme, which is currently in Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP), has been awarded a modification for two additional Saab radar systems, making these the 6th and 7th systems contracted, as well as associated installation support and spare parts. The […]

On 8 November 2022, Northrop Grumman announced that their Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) command and control (C2) system was ready to be fielded, having completed its Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E) phase. This marks the final step before the US Army can take the decision to move the programme from low-rate initial production (LRIP) […]

On 8 November 2022, MBDA announce that the DragonFire consortium (consisting of MBDA, Leonardo, and Qinetiq) had conducted their first high power static firing of the DragonFire High-Energy Laser (HEL) at the UK Defence Science and Technology Laboratory’s (Dstl) Porton Down test range on 17 October 2022. The test involved generating a beam with a […]

On 9 November 2022, the German government revealed that it had supplied additional IRIS-T SL missiles to Ukraine, to arm the IRIS-T SLM battery previously delivered to Ukraine on 11 October 2022. The additional missiles were present in a list of military assistance to Ukraine published on 9 November by the German government, however the […]

On 4 November 2022, Northrop Grumman announced that their first Multi-role Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) sensor was installed on an E-7 Wedgetail Mk1 Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) aircraft for the UK’s Royal Air Force (RAF). The MESA sensor is intended to provide the UK Wedgetail fleet with long-range airborne sensing capabilities, for early […]

On 4 November 2022, Hensoldt announced that their newly-developed SferiRec LCR100 compact flight recorder has received ED-155 and ETSO-2C197 certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The SferiRec LCR100 is equipped with modern sensors to record flight, datalink, video and audio data. These are used are used for data analysis after an aviation accident […]

Northrop Grumman signed a six-year agreement with Quickstep Holdings for the supply of components to support the F-35 programme. The order was signed under an existing Memorandum of Understanding with the Australian company, with work to be completed in Sydney. Northrop Grumman manufactures the centre fuselage section for all three F-35 variants. In 2012, the […]

In May 2022, a weekly magazine claimed it had insight into a new Austrian MoD “Strategy Paper 2032+”, drafted after the shock of Putin’s invasion of Ukraine – a battlefield in a country only a five-hour drive from Vienna. What is known from this – officially not disclaimed – document, might mark a significant reversal regarding […]