Indonesia continues to modernize its Air Force with the arrival of its first C-130J-30 Super Hercules. The IDAF has been a loyal customer of the Hercules, with numerous purchases and buybacks of C-130s in various versions since 1959.
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At IDEX, the Serbian President announced that his country was ready to spend 3 billion euros to buy Rafale fighter jets.
A photo released by a Ukrainian intelligence service confirms that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have at least one Black Hawk transport helicopter in service.
The AFSC is one of NATO's biggest projects as it plans to replace the Atlantic Alliance's E-3A Sentry aircraft. Via a response to the NSPA, Saab's GlobalEye forward airborne warning and command aircraft (AEW&C) is now among the future contenders.
In order to ensure a steady flow of ammunition for the Ukrainian Flakpanzer Gepard, Germany has decided to restart production of 35 mm shells. The first of the 300,000 German shells should be delivered by July 2023. This decision follows Switzerland's policy of neutrality, prohibiting the export or re-export of ammunition to Ukraine.
The DGA has confirmed that it has successfully flown an ALAT NH90 with an engine powered by 84 percent sustainable fuel. In addition to reducing the helicopter's CO2 emissions by 75 percent and analyzing the effects of this biofuel, the DGA is also marking a world first in terms of the biofuel percentage used.
The first Polish Reaper UAV is now in service with the Polish Air Force. It should help fill a capability gap that has become urgent with the increase in tensions in Eastern Europe. This capability gap should definitely be filled by a probable future purchase of MQ-9B UAVs.
On February 9, NORAD detected an object flying at an approximate altitude of 43,000 feet. The next day, while it was over the coast of Alaska, the President of the United States ordered it shot down. The target in question had already been identified by two fighter patrols the day before. The Pentagon confirmed that the object was not of the same size as the recently shot down Chinese balloon but did not specify the type of flying object destroyed in flight.
Several videos from Iran confirm that the Eagle 44 air base has recently been put into operation. Its underground complex is used to protect fighter planes against possible air attacks. However, several details suggest that this base is only used for propaganda purposes and that its usefulness in case of war is very limited.
At the weekly press briefing of the Ministry of the Armed Forces, the head of the DGA's industrial affairs and economic intelligence department presented an initial assessment of the actions carried out to promote the war economy. Alexandre Lahousse unveiled the five projects underway to accelerate production rates.
HENSOLDT has been awarded a contract worth approximately 100 million euros by the French procurement authority DGA for the development of demonstrators of the novel sensor network in the German-French-Spanish armament project Future Combat Air System.
The USAF has confirmed that the Chinese balloon was tracked by at least two U-2 Dragon Lady reconnaissance aircraft. The aircraft tracking sites on the lines and the balloon's position also confirm that a very rare and secretive RC-135U Combat Sent electronic reconnaissance aircraft had been deployed in the balloon's path.
Hensoldt has proven the effectiveness of its jamming system "Kalaetron Attack" against air defence radars of various types for the first time in extended flight tests.
The Pentagon has just authorized the signing of a contract with Poland for the purchase of 486 HIMARS. This contract, estimated at 10 billion dollars, includes various munitions but also and above all 18 M142 HIMARS and 468 launchers to be placed on Polish trucks. This Polish purchase request was made in order to increase the firepower and modernize the capabilities of its Armed Forces. It has also recently ordered South Korean K239 Chunmoo rocket launchers, which will be used alongside the American-made HIMARS.
A recent promotional video seems to confirm that China is focusing on a tail-less, sixth-generation fighter aircraft project in the form of a flying wing. Another flying wing project is also underway and involves a strategic bomber, but this concept is fairly new to China's defense industry, which is used to aircraft with a more conventional configuration.
Early this morning, the French Air Force sent two fighter jets and two tankers into Romanian airspace and the Black Sea. The objective of this eight-hour mission is not known, but it demonstrates once again the force projection capabilities of the Air Force: the fighters flew more than 1,900 kilometers before arriving at their patrol area.
An unidentified stratospheric balloon has flown over the American state of Montana. The nationality of this balloon has not been confirmed, but the American media seem to lean towards a balloon of Chinese origin. The theory that the balloon took images of intercontinental missile silos in the state is highly unlikely.
Guardia di Finanza (Italy’s Police Force, with general capability in economic and financial matters, is the only maritime Police Force in Italy) opened its Air-Naval Operations Simulation Centre.
Germany's Quantum-System GmbH has agreed to deliver 105 Vector long-endurance reconnaissance drones to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence. This contract follows a delivery of 33 Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) of the same model in August 2022.
DARPA has officially appointed two teams of industrialists to propose a seaplane concept with transport capabilities of over 100 tons. Both teams have already released an image of their concept, which turn out to be very different from each other.
Hensoldt has agreed to cooperate with the Fraunhofer Institute for High Frequency Physics and Radar Technology FHR with the aim of transforming the technology demonstrator GESTRA (German Experimental Space Surveillance and Tracking Radar) into a series-production ready.
Indra has been awarded an 19.2 M€ contract for the development and supply of a new NH90 FMS (Full Mission Simulator) for the Spanish Air and Space Force.
Saab has been awarded a new contract to support and maintain the Swedish Armed Forces' ground-based anti-aircraft systems. This latest contract joins a series of contracts with Sweden and other countries in a wide range of military fields. These contracts bring Saab more than €841 million in contract value in a month and a half.
Ukraine, represented by Defense Minister Reznikov, has signed a contract with France and Thales for the future delivery of a short-range anti-aircraft system. Although specific details of the system are not yet known, the contract already specifies that the system will include a Thales Ground Master 200 medium-range radar.
The U.S. DoD has released images of the first batch of M2 Bradley armored vehicles for the Ukrainian Forces and on their way to Europe. The images confirmed that the Ukrainians will not be receiving an older version, but one of the latest variants of the armored infantry fighting vehicle.
Airbus has launched two defence research and development projects that it is coordinating as part of the 2021 European Defence Fund (EDF).
While the KC-46A had already been investigated for defects in its refueling cameras, a new comprehensive report points to other defects. These all concern the cargo-carrying capacity of the Pegasus; non-compliant load guidance system, problems with the system allowing the calculation of the aircraft's weight and balance point, etc.
On 30 December, OCCAr awarded a contract to the EUROSAM consortium for the purchase of 700 Aster family anti-aircraft missiles. These missiles will equip the French and Italian armed forces. The contract includes Aster 15 and 30 missiles, as well as the future Aster 30 B1NT.
The first example of the new version of the Constant Phoenix is currently deployed from the island of Puerto Rico. This WC-135R, accompanied by a tanker, makes very long flights along the national airspace of South American countries.
The CH-53K continues to confirm its lifting capabilities by slinging the CF-01 prototype of the Lightning II's naval air version. The King Stallion, in addition to transporting troops and equipment, must also be able to serve as a flying crane to evacuate equipment damaged by the enemy or simply crashed. The CH-53K has already performed one such mission, recovering a crashed MH-60S in Nevada.
New Zealand has just retired its last P-3K2 Orion aircraft. These aircraft have flown just under 150,000 hours in 57 years of service. They have patrolled many seas, oceans and continents. One of the New Zealand P-3 Orions even holds the record for the longest flight in the world P-3 Orion fleet. These six P-3K2s will be replaced by four P-8A Poseidons.
The small launcher from the U.S.-NZ company Rocket Lab flew its 33rd mission on January 24. It was launched for the first time from the Wallops Island base.
Sensor solutions provider HENSOLDT and AI company 21strategies agree on a strategic collaboration. The aim is to jointly drive the development of next-generation artificial intelligence (AI) for defence systems.
Modernization by Indra gives radar systems greater capacity to detect aircraft, thanks to the integration of new digital systems for receiving and processing ADS-B signals, and reduces maintenance costs.
In its "Panorama of the cyber threat 2022", the French Agency ANSSI reports on the main trends of the cyber threat in 2022. The trends observed the previous year have been confirmed, despite the intensification of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and its effects in cyberspace.
Airbus has signed a contract with the Belgian Ministry of Defence to provide tactical satellite communications services for a 15 year period.
After the "repair", the head of the French armed forces wants to launch the "transformation" of the armed forces, announced Emmanuel Macron during his wishes to the armed forces, on the 118 Air Base of Mont-de-Marsan.
Sensor solutions provider Hensoldt is developing sensor equipment that can be integrated into a pod to give the recently commissioned Eurodrone a signals intelligence (SIGINT) capability
On 18th January 2023, the signing of the “operational” memorandum of understanding in Paris marked the creation of the NATO space Centre Of Excellence (COE) dedicated to space defence.
The 304 M€ contract for additional 18 helicopters follows the Italy-Austria Government-to- Government (G2G) Agreement amendment signed in December 2022 and brings to 36 the total number of AW169M LUH for the Austrian MoD.
Hensoldt is supplying two more of its TRML-4D high-performance radars to strengthen Ukraine's air defence. The two radars will already be delivered in the next three months.
At a press briefing of the French Ministry of the Armed Forces, the head of the Cyber Defense Command analyzed the use of cyber in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, identifying three main lessons on the role of this "stealthy and discreet weapon, with a lightning effect".
Hypersonic missiles on board "Admiral Gorshkov" frigate for extended operational cruise.
After more than a decade of uncertainty, Canada has officially announced its order for 88 F-35A fighter jets. At the time, Canada was the only partner state in the F-35 development program that had not ordered an F-35. The slow pace of this acquisition had even forced the Royal Canadian Air Force to buy second-hand fighter jets from Australia to relieve its aging fleet of F/A-18 Hornets.
Northrop Grumman is developing the next-generation F-35 Lightning II radar for the future Block 4, of which the radar will be a major component... While waiting for the turbojet engine with a higher thrust. The AN/APG-85 radar will replace the AN/APG-81 currently in service on the single-engine aircraft.
It is possible that a Chinese invasion of Taiwan could result in significant losses for both sides, including the United States if it chooses to become militarily involved in the conflict.
Raytheon Missiles & Defense has been awarded a $209 million FMS contract to supply Romania with NSM anti-ship and land-attack missiles designed and produced by Norway's Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace.
This event marks the resumption of Rafale deliveries to France after an interruption of fouryears. The Rafale B359 is for the French Air and Space Force. It is part of the “tranche 4” order for 60 aircraft awarded in 2009.
In an announcement from the Pentagon, the U.S. Navy has joined the USAF as a user of the XQ-58A Valkyrie autonomous demonstration drone. Like the USAF, the Navy is looking to use two of these UAVs to conduct research to develop its future system of systems, to accompany its sixth-generation naval aircraft.
Airbus and VDL Group have signed a partnership agreement for the development and manufacturing of a laser communication terminal for military aircraft and UAVs, known as UltraAir. They now prepare a demonstration of a prototype and a first flight test in 2024.
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Cleaning turbojet engines with foam
Air Corporate (Italy) orders 43 Airbus helicopters at EBACE 2023
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