Static attractions star as weather thwarts World Defense Show flying displays
By Craig Hoyle and Riyadh2022-03-07T19:28:00+00:00
With poor weather conditions including dust storms and high wind speeds having forced the cancellation of planned flying displays on the first two days of the 6-9 March World Defense Show (WDS) in Riyadh, some of Saudi Arabia’s military assets continue to provide the main attraction in the static park.
Bad visibility at the purpose-built WDS show site, which is located in the desert around 70km north of the capital city, also led to a planned opening ceremony and flypast being cancelled.
Mitsubishi F-2 fighters of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) have conducted a month of air-to-air refuelling trials with a tanker of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).
The defence giant says it will offer a “turnkey” package to meet all of the army’s needs for a new trainer aircraft, including instruction services and sustainment, although a specific rotorcraft has not yet been identified.
The UK Ministry of Defence could be poised to publish the findings of its eagerly awaited Strategic Defence Review activity by early June, according to one of the report’s key contributors.
Airbus is competing an unmanned version of its UH-72B light utility helicopter, dubbed the MQ-72, for a US Marine Corps logistics programme designed to support ship-to-shore cargo deliveries.
