Archive: News & Articles

In a partnership with Airbus Helicopters, Babcock and Safran Helicopter Engines, the French procurement agency DGA is providing the French Navy with four H160 helicopters for search and rescue (SAR) missions. The helicopters will bridge the gap between the withdrawal of Alouette III and the entry into service of H160M Guépard from 2026 for a […]

Details were released earlier this year to several Russian media outlets and ESD about the Russian Federation’s combat aircraft exports. The airframe exports total 32 and comprise three types of aircraft, namely 12 Su-30SM, 10 MiG-29M/M2 and 10 Yak-130. All aircraft were produced for combat or combat training roles by the United Aircraft Corporation and […]

At the Singapore Air show, that starts tomorrow, Rafael will unveil MicroLite, a lightweight, EO/IR sensor for airborne Wide-Area Persistent Surveillance missions. MicroLite is a compact, lightweight EO/IR Intelligence, Surveillance, Targeting and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) system, for small aerial platforms such as UAVs, manned aircraft, aerostats and observation balloons. By simultaneous scanning with a high-resolution MWIR […]

After much anticipation and effort in Poland, Airbus (Eurofighter) and SAAB (Gripen-E) accepted the inevitable and much-feared conclusion: The Polish MOD chose the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter for their Harpia (Eagle) Fighter Acquisition Programme that includes the purchase of 32 multi-role fighter jets from the USA. America in Central Europe As evidenced across the region, […]

Poland will acquire 32 F-35A Lightning II 5th generation multirole fighter aircraft for US$4,6 billion (€4,1 billion). Deliveries should commence in 2024-2025. The Polish Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed a contract for delivery of 32 F-35A Lightning II multirole fighter aircraft during a special ceremony held at the 4th Training Aviation Wing in Deblin last […]

Just prior to the Singapore Airshow to be held from February 11-16, it was learned that the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) and Navy (RSN) will combine their operational capabilities with the procurement of F-35B short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) fifth-generation stealth fighter aircraft. The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency’s Foreign Military Sales […]

Survitec’s new passenger lifejacket solution for helicopter transfer, named Halo, has received European Technical Standard Order (ETSO) approval certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). Halo was officially unveiled during last year’s SPE Offshore Europe exhibition, in Aberdeen, Scotland. It is a one-size-fits-all, twin chamber lifejacket. And it is the first aviation lifejacket to […]

The need for more communication infrastructure leads to more and more satellites roaming around the earth in a rather uncoordinated manner. “The number of satellites is growing exponentially and, with it, the risk of collision. To this we have to add the increase in debris that orbits without control,” Ignacio Mataix, Managing Director of Transportation […]

From a Central European perspective, a continent with so many reasons to flee, especially to Europe, would have other needs than the procurement of fighter jets. Many observers see fighter jets more as part of the problem that is driving Africans out of Africa. In discussions, one often hears the simplistic argument that arms sales […]

Leonardo has received a $176.5 million contract for the production of the first batch of 32 TH-73A helicopters in support of the Advanced Helicopter Training System (AHTS) programme. Under the Advanced Helicopter Training System (AHTS) programme, the U.S. Navy has selected Leonardo’s TH-119 single-engine IFR helicopter to replace the ageing and increasingly difficult to maintain […]

Yesterday Boeing submitted its response to the call for tenders for Germany’s future heavy transport helicopter (STH). The invitation to tender was published by the German procurement agency BAAINBw in June 2019. The contract for the procurement of 44 to 60 helicopters, including maintenance, repair and training, is expected to be awarded in 2021. Boeing […]

Indra and the Galician company Gaerum have been working together on Targus, one of the largest civil drones in Europe, for several years. This work has now been rewarded by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), that approved Targus to start flight tests. It is the first time that a 1.25-ton aircraft prepared to fly […]

Randall Howard is Director of Business Development for the integrated F-16/F-21 Fighter Group at Lockheed-Martin. He is the company’s primary interface and senior advisor for developing and maintaining key customer relationships, strategies, proposal development and transition plans to support and generate new business for the F-16 line, including the F-21, as it is called for […]

Azeri sources have recently confirmed to ES&D that a number of ROKETSAN-built SOM-B1 ALCMs have been acquired. While a sale of JF-17 “Thunder” to Azerbaijan has not been realized – this rumor exists since 2016 – the only possible Azeri platforms in which SOM could be integrated are the MiG-29 and Su-25, of which the […]

“The FCAS program will entail a tremendous development opportunity for the Spanish industry, and it will consolidate the sector’s position in the competitive arena introduced by the new Europe with its focus on Defence,” said Manuel Rodríguez Cerezo, CAS program director at Indra, at the work meeting convened by the Centre for the Development of […]

The future helmets of German helicopter crews have been chosen. German procurement agency BAAINBw has awarded contract on the future “Standard Helicopter-Crew Helmet” (SFH) to ESG, with Autoflug as subcontractor. Within this contract pilot’s helmet previously used by the German Armed Forces in various configurations will be gradually replaced by a standard, state-of-the-art pilot’s helmet […]

Airbus remains optimistic about sales opportunities of the PZL-130 Orlik on new export markets, as the manufacturer continues delivery of modernized trainer aircraft to the Polish Air Force. “The upgrade of the Orlik is basically structured in three different contracts,” said Manuel Heredia Ortiz, CEO, Airbus Poland S.A., adding that between 2016-2017, when the Polish […]

FLIR Systems has introduced the StormCaster family of Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) payloads for its SkyRanger R70 and R80D SkyRaider airframes. The new line launches with two multi-sensor products – StormCaster-T, which delivers continuous zoom and longwave infrared (LWIR) imaging; and StormCaster-L, which provides ultra-low-light imaging, tracking, and mapping. The next generation line of UAS […]

Polish WB Group has expanded its sales offer of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) by the introduction of new variants of its battle proven, renowned and highly demanded Warmate loitering munition system. The new assortment now includes also a tube launched variant developed in partnership with Rheinmetall as well as a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) […]

Last week marked a milestone for ESA’s Proba-2 satellite: 10 years of operation in orbit around the Earth. Since its launch on November 2, 2009, the Proba-2 satellite (PRoject for OnBoard Autonomy) has probed the intricacies of the Sun and its connection to our planet, imaging and observing our star and investigating how it drives […]

The Hellenic Air Force (HAF) will conduct a series of demonstration flights for European countries together with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) this December. The demonstration configuration is based on the MQ-9 systems operated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Flights will base out of the HAF’s site in Larissa to showcase maritime […]