German and British Eurofighters intercepted an Il-20M, escorted by two Russian Su-27s, with their transponders switched off. It is likely that the Il-20M was carrying out a reconnaissance mission in the vicinity of southeast Sweden, where 26,000 troops are currently stationed.
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Liebherr-Aerospace and Airbus Defence and Space have strengthened their relationship by signing a contract for the development and manufacture of the entire landing gear and hydraulic system for the European medium-altitude, long-endurance remotely piloted air system (RPAS) Eurodrone.
A British RC-135W Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft performed a patrol in the Black Sea while being escorted by two Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon fighters. This mission was visible on the different sites tracking the aircraft. The operation also included a KC.Mk2 Voyage tanker to refuel the two fighters.
Thirteen nations around the world have now committed to not (or no longer) conducting destructive anti-satellite tests in space (ASATs).
China has successfully intercepted a ballistic missile in space, midway through its flight, using a ground-launched interceptor. China is demonstrating its progress in ballistic missile defense.
Ukraine has already integrated nearly 3,000 pieces of Russian equipment captured mainly in the major counter-offensives of September and October 2022. After tanks, air defense systems and artillery pieces, a TOS-A1 thermobaric multiple missile launcher was observed in a Ukrainian convoy.
On April 26, the Russian Armed Forces lost their fourth MiG-31 fighter in almost a year. The two crew members were able to eject. While the cause of this incident is not yet known, the aircraft was seen and filmed on fire shortly before it crashed.
Belgium was supposed to receive its first four F-35As by the end of 2023. However, according to Belga, only two Lightning IIs will be delivered this year. The other two are scheduled for early 2024. This delay is explained by previous delays on other aircraft that have accumulated on the assembly lines following the COVID.
This second helicopter was delivered on March 27, 2023 at the Babcock site in Le Cannet-des-Maures. It is the second of six Airbus H160s ordered in 2020 and 2021 by the DGA.
Russian industry is under pressure to supply equipment to the forces deployed in Ukraine and is trying to make up for the many losses. However, this policy is forcing the Russian military industry to reduce production of equipment for export, as confirmed by an Indian parliamentary commission. Although no equipment was mentioned, these are probably the last deliveries of S-400s, all of which were originally scheduled to be delivered by April 2023.
Following the announcement of the delivery of its MiG-29s to Ukraine, Slovakia has been offered by the United States the purchase of 12 new AH-1Z Viper helicopter gunships and 500 AGM-114 Hellfire II anti-tank missiles. This $1 billion proposal will cost Slovakia only $340 million
Numerous photos and videos confirm that the Russian Armed Forces are moving T-54 medium tanks on their rail network. Their final destination seems to be Ukraine, but their usefulness there will be limited and they will be very vulnerable to Ukrainian battle tanks, delivered battle tanks or modern anti-tank systems. The longer the conflict in Ukraine drags on, the more the Russian Land Forces seem to pull out older and older vehicles from their stocks.
A video confirms the first confirmed destruction carried out by a Ukrainian Crotale NG anti-aircraft system. The Ukrainian Armed Forces have received two launchers and missiles from France to increase their anti-aircraft and anti-missile capabilities by the end of 2022.
Northern Macedonia has officially confirmed that this summer it transferred its 4 Su-25 attack aircraft to Ukraine. The latter had not been used since 2004 and will probably be cannibalized to maintain the Ukrainian Su-25 fleet. A delivery of Mi-24 Hind helicopter gunships is reportedly under discussion, but these are most likely Mi-24s that have also been retired and are not operational.
The German UHT Tiger combat helicopters are about to be replaced by the German Ministry of Defense. Numerous maintenance problems have put the Bundeswehr's 51 Tiger helicopters in jeopardy. According to documents obtained by Business Insider, these helicopters will be replaced by 24 H145Ms, but the German military perceives this decision as political and not meeting the needs of the Land Forces.
Two days after the collision between a Russian Su-27 Flanker and a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper, a USAF RQ-4 Global Hawk UAV was tasked with reconnaissance from Romania and also over the Black Sea. The U.S. is demonstrating that despite attempts at intimidation, reconnaissance flights continue in this region. A British RC-135W Rivet Joint and one of the few US Navy EP-3E Aries IIs (less than 20 in service) were also present in Romania.
Following the recent Polish announcement, Slovakia confirms that it will deliver 13 MiG-29 fighters, 10 of which are fully operational. A still unknown number of Kub-M2 short-range anti-aircraft systems will also be transferred to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Poland is about to deliver four of its MiG-29 fighter aircraft to Ukraine in the next few days. These aircraft will be joined by others that require maintenance before delivery. In total, the Ukrainian Air Force is about to receive more than a dozen Polish fighter jets... and perhaps more, if other countries decide to follow Poland.
Nine months after announcing the withdrawal of the NH-90, Norway has chosen the MH-60R Seahawk maritime helicopter. A total of six helicopters will be ordered from Lockheed Martin to be armed by the Norwegian Coast Guard. In addition to performing coast guard missions, these helicopters will also have an anti-submarine warfare capability.
The U.S. European Command has released the video of its MQ-9 Reaper drone lost over the Black Sea. It is clearly possible to see that one of the Russian Su-27s collided with the rear of the drone. This video contradicts the version put forward by the Russians in their communiqué.
What do we know about the incident? What are the versions of both sides? Is it a first in terms of interception by Russian fighters? So many questions answered by Simon Desplanque on the airwaves of the podcast "20 minutes to understand".
After several hesitations, the Pentagon has decided that the three versions of the F-35 Lightning II will not incorporate a new engine. The Pratt & Whitney F135 had shown several weaknesses, forcing the U.S. Armed Forces to launch the AETP program to get a new engine. The cancellation of the AETP program will see the F-35 Block 4 integrate a Pratt & Whitney enhanced F135.
A Russian Su-27 fighter jet collided with an American MQ-9 drone while on patrol in international airspace over the Black Sea. The MQ-9 then crashed, resulting in the total loss of the drone.
The missile that should replace the Air-to-Ground Medium Range Missile [ASMP] by 2035
A video published on social networks confirms that a Russian fighter plane has been sabotaged. This one was on the base of Uglovoye, not far from Vladivostok, in Russia, when opponents of the Russian regime set fire to its landing gear.
In the United States, discussions are reportedly underway for a possible delivery of AIM-120 AMRAAM medium-range air-to-air missiles to equip Ukrainian combat aircraft. The use of this missile would be advantageous in several ways for Ukrainian pilots, but it would first be necessary to resolve numerous technical problems concerning the use of this American missile on Soviet-designed aircraft.
Following the surprise announcement of the visit of U.S. President Joe Biden to Kiev, Russia announced a test of its latest intercontinental missile Sarmat also called "Satan II".
With very little exposure to the civilian market, Dassault Aviation has benefited from export sales of the Rafale fighter jet and will continue to benefit from increases in defense budgets since the war in Ukraine.
Allies are preparing for their largest combined military maneuver in years to counter the growing threat of Kim's nuclear arsenal.
The U.S. Air Force wants to review its tanker strategy decided in 2010. By 2035, the USAF wants to have tankers that can operate with the combat aircraft in service and that can refuel in high-intensity conflicts. As a result of this change in strategy, the Lockheed Martin and Airbus LMXT tanker project appears to be in serious jeopardy.
The Japanese Self-Defense Air Force had already ordered 13 E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft to dispose of its 13 E-2C Hawkeye aircraft, which were considered too old. However, the DSCA approval could bring Japan's fleet of Advanced Airborne Warning and Command (AEW&C) aircraft to 4 E-767s and a total of 18 E-2Ds.
On the night of 27-28 February, the very important Tuapse refinery was attacked by drones. In order to prevent a second attack, the Russian Armed Forces deployed at least one Pantsir-S2 very short-range anti-aircraft system in the port of this city.
The hearings of DGA Emmanuel Chiva, General Stéphane Mille (CEMAAE) and General Jérôme Bellanger, Commander of the Strategic Air Forces, have enabled us to better understand the evolution of the means of France's nuclear deterrence.
The Egyptian Air Force has just celebrated 10,000 flight hours for its 24 Rafale fighter jets currently in service. In 2015, Egypt became the first export customer for the Rafale, and in 2021, the second country to confirm a second order. With a total of 54 aircraft, the Rafale will become Egypt's second fighter aircraft, behind the F-16.
The Australian company SYPAQ has officially announced that its Corvo cardboard drones are currently in use in Ukraine. This low-cost drone is primarily designed for light transport. However, following feedback from Ukrainian soldiers, it can also perform reconnaissance missions.
The Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare) has lost two instructor pilots in a mid-air collision. For some unexplained reason, the two U-208A (S.208M) light aircraft collided and crashed into the ground.
An E-6B Mercury strategic command and control aircraft has been deployed to Iceland. The deployment of this US Navy aircraft is intriguing because no official explanation has been provided by the US European Command.
Satellite images confirm that the Russian A-50 was not destroyed or damaged in Belarus. On the other hand, Belarusian opponents have clearly demonstrated that on at least two occasions they were able to fly a drone to the aircraft, even landing on the Mainstay radome.
During a ground test, an Il-76 strategic airlifter (NATO code Candid) suffered a serious accident. While performing a pressure test, the cabin depressurized. One person died and five others were injured. The aircraft, a brand new Il-76MD-90A, was destroyed.
Rolls-Royce is testing for the first time a dual F130 engine nacelle, which will soon be used to re-engine the U.S. Air Force's B-52 Stratofortress strategic bomber. With an estimated service life of more than 30 years, these engines will take the Stratofortress past the 100-year mark.
The arrival of the UH-60M Black Hawk in Croatia has enabled the retirement of part of the Croatian Air Force's Mi-8 fleet in 2022. As a result, Croatia has decided that 14 of its helicopters will soon be transferred to Poland to be delivered to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Boeing will develop two new versions of its E-7 Wedgetail forward air surveillance and command aircraft specifically for the U.S. Air Force. Currently, only one variant of the aircraft is available, the E-7A.
On the night of 27-28 February, two suicide drones hit the Russian refinery in Tuapse. One building appears to have been hit by one of the two drones. This is the second drone attack identified in this time frame against energy targets and located at a very long distance from the front line in Ukraine.
The Ukrainians have once again launched a suicide drone on installations in the heart of Russia. Identified as a UJ-22, the drone in question crashed only a few meters from the fence of the targeted gas facilities.
During the first two phases of the Orion 2023 joint exercise, various assets were projected to simulate several missions that could be repeated in future high-intensity operations: tarpon to get to a ship in the open sea, mass parachuting to quickly control an area and amphibious operations to deploy numerous assets from the sea.
An air attack reportedly took place in Belarus, damaging or destroying a Russian Beriev A-50 airborne surveillance and command aircraft. The attack was allegedly carried out by opponents of the Belarusian regime.
During a visit to Ukraine by the Polish Prime Minister, Ukraine received its first Leopard 2A4 battle tanks, delivered by Poland. Ukraine should soon receive many tanks, including a majority of Leopard 2s, allowing it to complete its mass of battle tanks.
Saab has just announced the purchase of MANPADS, short-range radars, recoilless rifles and other equipment from an undisclosed country. The 8 billion Swedish krona order represents one of the largest military contracts for Saab since the end of 2022.
Two images circulating on social networks confirm that the Russian Armed Forces have moved antediluvian BTR-50s to Ukraine. Their arrival is not yet explained, as these armored vehicles represent many challenges and few advantages over other retired but much newer vehicles.
During the follow-up flights of the first Chinese balloon, one of the pilots of U-2 Dragon Lady took a photograph with the balloon in question. The high resolution of this one allows to have some additional information on the U-2 and the Chinese balloon.
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