All Defence articles
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NewsRaytheon-Northrop Grumman beat Boeing, Lockheed Martin in hypersonic missile contest
The pair were awarded a US Air Force contract to build the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile, a scramjet-powered munition capable of Mach 5 flight.
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News
Collins demos risk-assessment and uncrewed-wingman control software
The company’s Operational Reasoner algorithmic software is meant to help pilots of sixth-generation fighters assess the likelihood of mission success and more-seamlessly control uncrewed aircraft.
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News
New Airbus Beluga loading system tested with German CH-53 helicopter
Airbus has undertaken verification tests of a loading system intended for lifting outsize military cargo onto the A300-600ST Beluga transport, as the airframer begins offering the type for third-party services. The five Beluga aircraft – developed to carry Airbus aircraft structures and assemblies between the airframer’s manufacturing facilities – are ...
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News
Northrop and USAF agree to greater sharing of B-21 data
Northrop Grumman and the US Air Force (USAF) have agreed to more-widely share data related to the in-development B-21 bomber, a move they say will allow improved cooperation throughout the programme.
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News
USAF hopes for decision on F-35 engine this year
Chief of staff General Charles Brown says his service would like to reach a decision before January on whether the advanced strike fighter needs an entirely new powerplant or just an upgrade.
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News
USAF adds first BACN E-11A from 2021 order
The US Air Force (USAF) has added the first E-11A Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) aircraft from a 2021 order for the Bombardier G6000 derivative.
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News
First B-21 roll-out planned for December
The US Air Force and designer Northrop Grumman plan to reveal the first of the service’s secretive B-21 Raider next-generation strategic bombers in December.
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News
USAF clears KC-46 for global operations, troubles remain
The head of the US Air Force’s Air Mobility Command says airmen have developed workarounds for the problem-plagued refueller’s issues, calling the type “incredibly capable”.
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News
Sierra Nevada joins Bell’s ‘high-speed vertical take-off and landing’ project
Defence contractor Sierra Nevada will design mission systems for a high-speed vertical take-off and landing (HSVTOL) aircraft concept being developed by Bell.
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News
US Air Force leaders stress importance of air dominance in countering rising threats
Speaking at the 2022 Air & Space Forces Association conference near Washington DC, US Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall and senior generals warned of the need to counter advancing authoritarian regimes – an uphill fight.
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News
Embraer and L3Harris join to offer ‘Agile Tanker’ to USAF
Brazilian airframer Embraer has partnered with US defence contractor L3Harris to offer a special “tactical tanker” version of its KC-390 military lifter to the US Air Force (USAF).
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News
Switzerland signs contract to purchase 36 Lockheed F-35As
The government of Switzerland has signed a contract formalising its planned acquisition of 36 Lockheed Martin F-35As, a move following the country’s 2021 decision to acquire the US-made fifth-generation fighter.
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News
Warsaw signs official FA-50PL paperwork with KAI
Warsaw has signed an export agreement with Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) related to its July order for 48 FA-50PL training and combat jets.
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News
China sanctions heads of Raytheon, Boeing defence over Taiwan arms sales
The Chinese government in Beijing is levying sanctions on two American defence executives following recently announced sales of US arms to Taiwan.
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In depth
Rafale breezes into Asia-Pacific to burnish interoperability credentials
Deployment to the Asia-Pacific by the French air force has demonstrated Paris’s expeditionary air power capability and allowed service to work more closely with allied air forces in the region.
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News
Brazil picks locally built H125s for helicopter trainer replacement
A total of 27 domestically assembled examples of the Airbus Helicopters light-single will be acquired for the navy and air force.
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In depth
US, allies could lose 900 aircraft in conflict with China over Taiwan: CSIS
A wargame developed by the Washington think tank indicates that the US military can preserve the island nation’s sovereignty in the face of a full-scale assault, but at great cost.
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News
Top Aces’ private F-16 fleet wins USAF contract for adversary air
The Canadian company flies the world’s only fleet of commercially-operated F-16 fighter jets, which will now go head to head against US Air Force pilots in training.
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News
GE completes testing of F-35 adaptive engine prototype
The experimental XA100 powerplant was built for the US Air Force under the service’s Adaptive Engine Transition programme, but may never be used operationally.
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In depth
Two decades of under-investment has left the US Air Force hollowed-out: Mitchell Institute
The airpower think tank says the USA’s fleet of combat aircraft is currently smaller, older and less ready than it has been in decades.
