Defence

A Royal Australian Air Force Boeing F/A-18B fighter has performed two successful drop tests of Boeing 225kg (500lb) Joint Direct Attack Munitions equipped with Hawker de Havilland-developed modular wing kits, while a project to acquire radar warning receivers for its current Hornet fleet has also moved forward.

Released from 20,000ft (6,100m) over Australia's Woomera test range, the extended-range JDAMs scored direct hits on their intended targets during the test activity, says Boeing. The wing kit is claimed to more than treble the range of the baseline JDAM weapon.

Raytheon, meanwhile, will receive a production order to provide 66 ALR-67(V)3 radar warning receivers to be integrated with the RAAF's current F/A-18A/Bs as part of the service's ongoing Hornet upgrade programme.