All Defence articles – Page 15
-
NewsU-2S high-altitude spyplane makes rare public display at UK air show
One of the distinctive Dragon Lady surveillance jets participated in this year’s Royal International Air Tattoo as part of the US Air Force contingent.
-
NewsBritish Army’s Watchkeeper UAS may soldier on until 2027 despite early retirement
The British Army’s Watchkeeper Mk1 uncrewed air system (UAS) could remain in service until 2027, despite the government announcing last autumn that it would be withdrawn from early 2025.
-
NewsBelgium to buy 11 more F-35s and seek full membership in European FCAS development
Belgium will order an additional batch of 11 Lockheed Martin F-35As, with its new commitment to boost the nation’s fleet of the fifth-generation type to an eventual 45 examples.
-
NewsThales and Schiebel to sharpen Peregrine’s talons with Martlet missile integration
Thales and partner Schiebel are working to arm their Peregrine rotary-wing uncrewed air system (UAS) with the former’s Martlet air-to-surface missiles, as they plot further capability enhancements for their Royal Navy (RN) customer.
-
NewsMetrea builds KC-135 fleet as it waits on final trio from French air force
Commercial aerial refuelling provider Metrea is continuing to build up its fleet of Boeing KC-135 tankers as it also readies for the start of a new contract with the Indian air force later this year.
-
NewsL3Harris aims to sow ‘pure chaos’ with swarmable long-range munitions
Starting with the kinetic strike Red Wolf and electronic warfare Green Wolf, L3Harris aims to offer the USA and allies a long-range munition that can deliver a variety of battlefield effects at low cost and high volume.
-
AnalysisGeneral Atomics to offer European-built uncrewed fighter
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems will team with a German affiliate to offer a European-assembled autonomous combat aircraft.
-
AnalysisPentagon moves to dramatically expand access to small drones for combat units
The US military is moving to dramatically expand access to small drones for its frontline combat units in a new initiative unveiled by the US Defense Secretary Pete Hesgeth.
-
NewsCanada exploring purchase of autonomous fighter platform to complement F-35As
Documents obtained by The Canadian Press indicate the Department of National Defence is mulling the possible acquisition of uncrewed combat jets that could fly alongside the Royal Canadian Air Force’s planned fleet of Lockheed Martin F-35As.
-
NewsAirbus, Kratos pitch unmanned Valkyrie for German air force use
Airbus Defence & Space and Kratos Defense and Security Solutions have joined up to pitch an operational collaborative combat aircraft for use by the German air force before the end of this decade.
-
NewsUS Air Force test pilots ferried Super Tucanos with ‘zero formal flight training’
Test pilots with the US Air Force had to transfer the Embraer turboprops to the service’s test pilot school in California, despite having never trained on the lightweight single-engined type.
-
NewsL3Harris to upgrade Moroccan C-130s
The American defence systems integrator will provide an avionics update, depot maintenance, engine overhaul and other support efforts for the Royal Moroccan Air Force’s C-130H transports.
-
NewsNorway approved to acquire nine HH-60W helicopters in $2.6bn deal
Norway has been cleared to acquire nine Sikorsky HH-60W Jolly Green II combat search and rescue helicopters as potential replacements for its fleet of special forces-roled Bell 412s.
-
NewsIndia tests Astra air-to-air missile with indigenous seeker head
India has successfully tested the locally developed Astra beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile using an indigenous radio frequency seeker.
-
In depthUK military’s F-35B shortcomings laid bare by spending watchdog
The UK National Audit Office (NAO) has detailed the challenges faced by the Royal Air Force (RAF) and Royal Navy (RN) in fielding the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, while projecting that the nation’s through-life spend on the stealth fighter programme could potentially top £70 billion ($94 billion).
-
NewsBabcock eyes military training expansion and hails Ukraine contribution
UK aviation services provider Babcock has highlighted the ongoing success of its contribution to the training of Ukrainian air force pilots, as it eyes further expansion of its training business across Europe.
-
NewsAirbus Helicopters hosts European delegations to showcase next-gen capabilities, as Belgium walks away from NH90 TTH fleet
As Airbus Helicopters continues to press forward with plans for a pan-European next-generation rotorcraft, another customer of the NH Industries NH90 – a current multi-national programme – has decided to prematurely retire its fleet.
-
NewsCanada begins air base upgrades as A330 tanker fleet expands
The C$850 project at CFB Trenton includes resurfacing the existing runway, aprons and taxiways, plus construction of a new hangar, fuel depot, and ramp extension as Ottawa prepares to field a new fleet of Airbus multi-role tanker transports.
-
NewsDARPA ends Liberty Lifter programme as agency scuttles plans to build heavy-lift flying boat
The secretive Pentagon research agency says the Liberty Lifter programme has proven the viability of building an amphibian transport aircraft capable of operating in heavy sea states, but that it will not pursue assembly of a demonstrator.
-
NewsRetired US Air Force generals call on lawmakers to fully fund E-7 acquisition
The group of 16 high-ranking officers, which includes several former air force chiefs of staff, says a robust air battle management and threat-tracking platform is essential to projecting air power and winning conflicts.