Archive: News & Articles

Arie Egozi The new version of Elbit systems Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) is being flight tested aboard the Lockheed Martin F-16V aircraft in the United States, following the completion of JHMCS II safety qualification testing, including wind-blast, tower and sled tests. These flight tests are part of the U.S. Air Force’s Military Flight Release […]

J C Menon The U.S. Army Special Operations Aviation Command will buy nine more MH-47G Block II CHINOOK helicopters from Boeing at a cost of US$265m, adding to the 24 next-generation CHINOOKs already on contract. The majority of the work will be performed at its facility in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania and is expected to be completed […]

Arie Egozi The growing operational requirements from the Israeli Air Force (IAF) are resulting in an effort to increase the capabilities of the force’s UAV fleet, the largest and most advanced model in which is the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) HERON-TP. This Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAV, which has a max take-off weight 11.904 pounds […]

Jack Richardson The prototype of Airbus Helicopters’ VSR700 Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) has performed its first free flight, which lasted ten minutes, at a drone test centre near Aix-en-Provence in the South of France. This is a significant step in the programme following the first flight in November 2019 when the prototype was tethered to […]

J C Menon The Netherlands will buy 16 Raytheon-made AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) and related equipment for an estimated cost of US$39m. The US State Department has made a determination approving the possible Foreign Military Sale, which also includes a request to buy containers, weapon systems support, spare and repair parts in addition […]

J C Menon India has taken delivery of the first batch of five RAFALE fighters, with the aircraft scheduled for arrival in India tomorrow, when they will officially be inducted into the Indian Air Force (IAF) fleet. “The aircraft are likely to arrive at Air Force Station, Ambala, on 29th July 2020, subject to weather. […]

Arie Egozi The first HERON TP UAV to be leased to the German Armed Forces performed its first test flight in Israel last week. Under a joint programme consisting of the Israeli MoD, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Airbus, the aircraft was modified according to the needs and requirements of the customer. The agreement between the respective […]

Jack Richardson General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA‑ASI) has announced the establishment of Team SkyGuardian Australia to deliver the MQ-9B SkyGuardian to the country, replacing the previous “Team Reaper Australia”. GA-ASI announced its intention to offer a Medium-altitude, Long-endurance (MALE) UAV to the ADF during AVALON 2017, after which, under Project Air 7003, GA-ASI was […]

Gerhard Heiming The German Armed Forces will receive two Airbus A321-200NX aircraft which can be configured to transport up to 163 passengers or be equipped for medical operations. For the latter, up to six intensive care patients or up to twelve moderately ill persons can be carried, while mixed configurations can also be set up. […]

J C Menon BAE Systems has selected the CAE Medallion MR e-Series visual system for the EUROFIGHTER TYPHOON full-mission simulators that will be supplied to the Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF). BAE Systems is the prime contractor responsible for providing 24 EUROFIGHTER TYPHOON aircraft along with in-service support and training package to the QEAF. The £5.1bn contract became […]

J C Menon In one of the largest foreign military deals, the U.S has approved the sale of 105 F-35 aircraft and related equipment to Japan for an estimated cost of US$23.11 Bn. The US Defence Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on 9th July, after Tokyo requested 63 F-35A […]

Gerhard Heiming After the successful completion of firing tests, the President of the Turkish Defence Industry (Savunma Sanayii Başkanlığı, SSB), Professor Ismail Demir, has stated that the SUNGUR Air Defence System has proven its readiness for deployment. Under Roketsan’s leadership, SUNGUR has been developed in cooperation with local companies as a national Man-Portable Air Defence […]

J C Menon Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has unveiled an image of the fuselage of the first Korean Fighter eXperimental (KF-X) multirole fighter, prior to rolling out the first prototype in April 2021. “After the first prototype, the remaining five prototypes will come out one after another within the same year,”  an official at KAI […]

Gerhard Heiming A reinforced engine has been developed for the CH-47 CHINOOK by Honeywell, who also supplied the previous engine, an innovation which has increased the output of the Lycoming T55-GA-714 engine from 3,529 kW to 4,412 kW mainly through a new compressor. The designation has thus changed to Lycoming T55-GA-714C, meaning two CH-47 engines […]

J C Menon France is to get three E-2D ADVANCED HAWKEYE aircraft and related equipment from the U.S for an estimated cost of US$2Bn, after the State Department made a determination approving the possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of France, and the Defence Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress. France […]

J C Menon The U.S has approved the sale of eight MV-22 Block C OSPREY tilt-rotor aircraft and related equipment to Indonesia at an estimated cost of US$2bn. This is comes after the State Department made a determination approving the possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Indonesia after the Defence Security Cooperation Agency delivered […]

Gerhard Heiming The first A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) MRTT arrived at its main operating base in Eindhoven on 30th June 2020, with the next seven expected to arrive by 2024, while there is an option for three more. The programme is managed by the European Defence Agency (EDA) and though OCCAR has taken over […]

Korhan Özkilinc The ATMACA Anti Ship Missile (ASM), which translates as HAWK, was successfully test launched on 1st July 2020, after which SSB president Prof. Dr. Ismail Demir said the missile is almost ready for series production. During the last test, the missile was able to hit its target at a distance in excess of 220 km with […]

Jack Richardson Embraer has delivered the third C-390 MILLENNIUM multi-mission medium air-lifter to the Brazilian Air Force (FAB), to be operated by First Troop Transport Group (1st GGT). Like the first two units delivered in 2019, and the additional 25 which will be delivered to the FAB, this third unit is equipped to perform aerial refuelling […]

Gerhard Heiming Sensor system supplier Hensoldt has been awarded a contract by Airbus Defence and Space to develop and produce a new Active Electronic Scanning Array (AESA) radar for the German and Spanish EUROFIGHTER fleets. The project is jointly financed by Spain and Germany, who will also be the first users of the radar in their […]

J C Menon Boeing has won a contract from Morocco to deliver 24 AH-64E APACHE helicopters, making it the 17th country to acquire the type, with nearly 2,500 delivered to 16 nations. In November 2019, the U.S State Department approved a Foreign Military Sale of 36 AH-64E APACHE attack helicopters and related equipment for an estimated cost […]