Archive: News & Articles

Aero Vodochody has handed over the first of 16 single-seat L-159 ALCA aircraft to the 21st Tactical Air Force Base, Čáslav. These are undergoing periodic work after sixteen years of operation (PP16), meaning the operation of those light combat aircraft will be extended by another eight years on the basis of a contract with the Czech Military. […]

Greece has announced major arms purchases with “six emblematic decisions that multiply the power, functionality and effectiveness of Greek weapons,” in the words of Prime Minister K.Mitsotakis. These decisions include: The Hellenic Air Force will immediately acquire a squadron of 18 RAFALE fighter jets that will replace older MIRAGE 2000 fighters. The Greek PM said […]

Cyclone, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Elbit Systems, has been awarded a contract by Lockheed Martin to supply assemblies for the F-35’s Forward Equipment Bay – made from composite materials and the associated structures – across all F-35 aircraft variants. Elbit Systems will deliver more than 1,400 components to Lockheed Martin during the four year contract period. […]

An Elbit Systems HERMES 900 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) has successfully completed a series of flight demonstrations for the UK’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) to test the capabilities of using a UAV to enhance Search and Rescue (SAR) capabilities in addition to the use of long-range unmanned capabilities in civilian airspace. Taking place off the West […]

An operational pilot programme has been launched employing SKYLORD drones to defend U.S. forces from various inbound aerial threats including hostile drones. This follows a joint R&D programme led by the Directorate of Defense Research and Development (DDR&D) in the Israeli Ministry of Defence, together with Israeli company Xtend, and the Combating Terrorism Technical Support Office […]

Lufthansa Aviation Training GmbH will be able to start training operations with the first Full Flight Simulators (Level D) for the Airbus H145/H135. This comes after qualification in accordance with EASA Level D by the German Federal Aviation Office on 27th August 2020. With the introduction of the FFS, Lufthansa Aviation Training is expanding its […]

Israeli Rotary Unmanned Aerial Systems (RUAS) company Steadicopter has unveiled electric variants of its BLACK EAGLE 25E and BLACK EAGLE 50E. Based on the company’s BLACK EAGLE platform, which has been proven for military needs, the new systems now enable high performance and operational flexibility for other security forces in a wide range of law enforcement, maritime, […]

Spain will buy 100 AIM-120C-7/8 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs) from the United States at an estimated cost of US$248.5m in a deal that also includes one spare AMRAAM Guidance Section and related equipment such as containers and support equipment. The proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by […]

The United States has awarded Bell Textron a US$272.2m contract for the production and delivery of eight UH-1Y VENOM and four AH-1Z VIPER helicopters to the Czech Republic with delivery expected to be completed in November 2023. The Czech Ministry of Defence announced on 12th December 2019 that the proposed procurement would be a decisive step into […]

Gerhard Heiming At the National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS) virtual exhibition in Washington from 28th to 29th August 2020, Airbus Helicopters announced the launch of the latest version of the LAKOTA helicopter, with an order for 17 aircraft. The UH-72 belongs to the widely used H145 family, whose military and civilian versions […]

Since General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. and engineering and technology firm SENER began collaborating in 2008, the international partnership has resulted in significant agreements regarding the MQ-9A Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) for Spain and its adaptation to the requirements of the Spanish Armed Forces. The latest joint development effort is a NATO Pod, designed and […]

J C Menon Japan will buy another lot of 32 AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM), with support, for an estimated cost of US$63m, with Raytheon Missile Systems acting as the prime contractor. The State Department has made a determination approving the possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Japan and the Defense Security Cooperation […]

Jack Richardson Schiebel, together with partner Nordic Unmanned have successfully demonstrated to Norwegian energy company Equinor the cargo delivery capability of its CAMCOPTER® S-100 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) to offshore platform Troll A. This is a world’s first in terms of full-scale offshore UAV delivery from shore to an active oil and gas installation. The […]

J C Menon The U.S. will sell 395 Lockheed Martin built AGM-114R2 HELLFIRE missiles to the U.K. for an estimated cost of US$46m in a possible Foreign Military Sale which will also include technical assistance, publications, integration support and other related elements of logistics and programme support. This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and […]

Gerhard Heiming In preparation for operating the A400M transport aircraft, the Belgian Ministry of Defence is having a €134m hangar built at the Melsbrook airbase to allow the simultaneous maintenance of three A400Ms. With a floor space of 185m x 75m and a height of 30m, it will be the largest military hangar in Belgium. The […]

Jack Richardson General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has signed a Foreign Military Sales contract with the U.S. Air Force for the Belgian Ministry of Defence to acquire the MQ-9B SkyGuardian® Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS). The contract covers the design, development, integration and production of the RPAS with its EO/IR video and SAR/GMTI surveillance […]

Gerhard Heiming Soon, members of the Federal Government, parliamentarians and members of the German Armed Forces will be able to go on long-distance journeys with the A350-900, one of the most modern passenger aircraft. The future flagship of the Federal Ministry of Defence’s (BMVg) Special Air Mission Wing in Hamburg was handed over in the […]

Gerhard Heiming The only A400M transport aircraft ordered by Luxembourg became the property of the Luxembourg Armed Forces on 10th August 2020, though the aircraft will initially remain in Seville for the installation of special instruments according to the requirements of the Luxembourg and Belgian Armed Forces. The aircraft is scheduled to be delivered in […]

Gerhard Heiming The second Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft was handed over to the Multinational MRTT Unit (MMU) on 10th August 2020, after the first aircraft was handed over on 29th June. Following final assembly in Getafe, Spain, a team from OCCAR, NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) and the MMU have been conducting acceptance […]

Arie Egozi Israeli Aerospace Industries (IAI) has recently upgraded the capabilities of its towed decoy solutions, the demand for which has pushed IAI towards the development of a new Electronic Warfare system which provides an added layer of self-defence for aircraft. The system, which was developed by IAI’s electronics subsidiary ELTA Group, is towed by […]

J C Menon India is to buy 106 basic trainer aircraft from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to end reliance on Swiss manufacturer Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. India’s Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) accorded its Acceptance of Necessity (AoN), the first step towards buying military hardware in India, for 106 Hindustan Turbo Trainer 40 (HTT-40) aircraft on 11th […]