Archive: News & Articles

The French Navy has taken delivery of the first of six H160s that will perform Search & Rescue (SAR) missions. The aircraft is part of the interim fleet that are to be delivered by the partnership formed between: Airbus Helicopters Babcock Safran Helicopter Engines In 2020 the French Armament General Directorate (DGA) signed a contract […]

The Norfolk-based company MSI displayed their TERRAHAWK Very Short Range Air Defence (VSHORAD) flatbed-based mobile air defence system for the first time at DVD 2022. The system is primarily aimed at countering Class 1 and Class 2 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) threats, and is notionally being promoted as an automatic cannon-based system, although an MSI […]

Norwegian Company Avion Robotic have displayed a scale model of their developmental PHOENIX heavy UAV at the Helitech/DroneX exhibition. Jan Fosen, CEO of Avion Robotic provided further details of the PHOENIX’s characteristics and the project’s development timeline. The PHOENIX is in the heavy class of UAV, and is intended primarily for transportation. It uses a […]

Almost a year after the US authorities signed a contract for the procurement of 36 F-35 fighter aircraft, armasuisse has now followed suit, with National Armaments Director Martin Sonderegger, and Swiss F-35A Program Manager Darko Savic, signing a contract valued at CHF 6.035 billion (€6.26Bn) for 36 F-35A aircraft on 19 September 2022. The aircraft […]

AeroVironment has announced the launch of their new VAPOR 55 MX helicopter-type UAV, a longer-range variant of their earlier VAPOR 55 UAV. Compared to its predecessor, the VAPOR 55 MX features amore efficient low-profile design that enables the UAV to cruise for up to 75 minutes, compared to the baseline variant’s 60 minutes, and operate […]

Northrop Grumman announced that their LITENING targeting pod has successfully completed its first test flights with the US Navy’s F/A-18 SUPER HORNET. The news follows the US Navy’s early 2022 selection of the LITENING to replace legacy targeting pods on its F/A-18 fleet. The company stated that during the test flight, pilots executed manoeuvres and […]

Steadicopter has announced its collaboration with UK-based Viking Drone Packaging to integrate the latter’s Multi-Functional Payload Container on the Steadicopter BLACK EAGLE 50E UAV platform. The collaborative effort seeks to provide the UAV with the capability to transport critical equipment by air, including hazardous materials. Steadicopter have stated that the development will provide Black Eagle […]

Saab has announced that the METEOR air-to-air missile has recently been launched from a GRIPEN E fighter aircraft for the first time during a test launch at the Vidsel test range in northern Sweden. The company stated that during the test, the METEOR was launched at an altitude of about 5,000 m and achieved a […]

Embraer has announced that the company is conducting flight tests on the first of five KC-390 transport and tanker aircraft for the Portuguese Air Force (FAP). The tests are taking place at the Embraer facility in Gavião Peixoto, in São Paulo State. This phase precedes the aircraft’s departure to Portugal, where NATO-standard equipment will be […]

Northrop Grumman has announced the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Danish company Terma to cooperate on Electronic Warfare (EW) simulation and training opportunities in Northern Europe. Under the terms of the MoU, the companies will contribute their expertise to creating modern air operations training packages, combining Northrop Grumman’s capabilities in digital environments […]

BAE Systems has delivered the first EUROFIGHTER TYPHOON to the Qatari Armed Forces during an official handover ceremony in Warton, UK. The fighter is due to be transferred to Qatar before the end of August, and according to BAE Systems, one of its first missions will be to help protect the World Cup starting on 20 […]

With only three days between each delivery, the last two A330 Multi-Role Tanker and Transport (MRTT) aircraft from the first tranche have been handed over to the Multinational MRTT Unit (MMU). This gives the MMU seven aircraft that can be used for transport missions from the Eindhoven and Cologne operational sites, and declaration of initial operational […]

At the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT), the Royal Air Force (RAF) announced that the British TYPHOON fleet would be upgraded over the next few years with an investment of £2.35 Bn (€2.8 Bn). This would secure 1,300 jobs in the UK. The upgrades include the latest mission computers and a cockpit interface, as well as […]

The UK Secretary of State for Defence, Ben Wallace MP, has confirmed plans for Britain to lead the development of a new flying combat air demonstrator, which will play a critical role in proving the technology and design principles needed to deliver the UK’s Future Combat Air System, BAE Systems writes in a press release. […]

The Moroccan Forces Royales Air have ordered a fleet of H135s for military primary training missions. The light twin-engine H135, a reference helicopter in the segment, will be used for training pilots to perform a wide array of demanding missions. These include utility and search & rescue, Airbus writes in a press release. The contract […]

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has been awarded a contract for eight MQ-9A Extended Range (ER) Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) as part of the ARES Indefinite-Delivery/Indefinite-Quantity (ID/IQ) contract. The company anticipates awards later this year for ground control systems, spares, and ground support equipment as part of the first increment of the Marine Air […]

Schiebel’s CAMCOPTER S-100 is supporting the Icelandic Coast Guard both day and night delivering enhanced maritime situational awareness for an array of operational tasks, through a contract with the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), Schiebel writes in a press release. Currently deployed from the patrol vessels ICGV THOR and FREYJA, the Remotely Piloted Aircraft System […]

At this year’s ILA Berlin air show, Avio Aero had the full CATALYST turboprop engine on display. In part, the engine comprises 3D-printed components and the programme continues to undergo testing for certification, Avio Aero writes in a press release Reportedly, CATALYST is the first original turboprop designed, developed, and manufactured for business & general aviation […]

Saab has been awarded a contract from the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) for the GlobalEye Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft, Saab writes in a press release. The order covers two GlobalEye aircraft with deliveries planned during 2027. The order value is approximately SEK 7.3Bn and the contract period is 2022-2027. According to […]

The Government of Cyprus has ordered six H145M light multi-role helicopters from Airbus Helicopters for use by the National Guard, Airbus Helicopters has announced. A further six aircraft are considered as an option. Another source revealed that Cyprus has earmarked up to €140M for the 12 helicopters, armament and support. Cyprus will receive the latest […]

According to a recent press release, Slovenian company Carboteh promises the unveiling of a revolutionary approach to air defence. This is  Battlefield Anti-aircraft Non-lethal VSHORAD System (BANS) BANS reportedly introduces effective anti-aircraft defence without a single shot being fired. The light shoulder weapon simulates a missile launch pattern that digitally stimulates an aircraft’s missile launch warning […]