Defence Helicopter
UK still to settle on new medium helicopter procurement strategy
The UK MoD has still to put forward requirements for its new medium helicopter acquisition, which could see offers eventually arrive from the likes of Airbus, Bell, Leonardo and Lockheed Martin.
Defence Helicopter
US Army keeps FLRAA costs and risks under wraps
Ahead of a FLRAA contract award to Bell or a joint Boeing and Sikorsky team, the US Army has decided to keep manufacturing costs and programme risks confidential.
Air Warfare
PREMIUM: Finland’s HX contest heats up as final offers arrive
Finnish decision-makers get ready to select a manufacturer to replace the country's F/A-18C/D fighter fleet.
Unmanned Vehicles
PREMIUM: Spirit busy ‘optimising’ LANCA vehicle design ahead of 2023 first flight
Belfast-based Spirit Aerospace is looking ahead to a possible first LANCA flight in 2023, as it weighs up air vehicle design considerations.
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Unmanned Vehicles
PREMIUM: MQ-25 engine inlet analysis pays dividends, says Boeing
23rd April 2021
Boeing's MQ-25 unmanned aerial refueller has benefitted from engine inlet analysis as the manufacturer looks ahead to low-rate production.
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Defence Notes
PREMIUM: Lockheed Martin confident of meeting $25,000 F-35 flight hour target
21st April 2021
New sustainment plans could see Lockheed Martin reduce operating costs of the F-35 to $25,000 per flight hour.
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Unmanned Vehicles
PREMIUM: Northrop Grumman puts full weight behind Firebird maritime makeover
16th April 2021
Northrop Grumman expects to shortly integrate a maritime radar on its Firebird optionally piloted MALE UAV.
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Defence Helicopter
PREMIUM: Netherlands starts upgraded CH-47F deliveries
14th April 2021
The Royal Netherlands Air Force has welcomed a new CH-47F heavy-lift helicopter, fitted with an upgraded cockpit.
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Unmanned Vehicles
PREMIUM: Unexpected UK MQ-9 Reaper buy looks to prevent unmanned capability gap
9th April 2021
A US DoD contract has revealed that the UK has agreed to buy an additional MQ-9 Reaper. The thinking behind this may be associated with a need to maintain unmanned operational output ahead of the introduction of the MQ-9B SkyGuardian.
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Defence Notes
PREMIUM: Irish DoD advised to increase peacekeeping protection capabilities
8th April 2021
Countering peacekeeping threats by investing in new capabilities should be central to long-term Irish defence ambitions, a source says.
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Defence Notes
PREMIUM: Gripen 3D-printed hatch flight test proves successful
30th March 2021
A recent flight test using a 3D-printed hatch on Saab's Gripen fighter jet could lead to more efficient ways of repairing damaged aircraft on the frontline.
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Defence Notes
PREMIUM: UK actively pursues FCAS subsystem partnership with Japan
23rd March 2021
New international partners could be added to the UK's FCAS effort, as plans to secure a subsystems partnership with Japan are revealed.
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Defence Notes
PREMIUM: Air power leaks leave Command Paper to tell old news
22nd March 2021
On air force issues, much of what is in the UK's new Command Paper has previously been leaked to the media.
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Defence Notes
PREMIUM: US widens arms export gap over Russia
19th March 2021
Newly released data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute shows that the US has consolidated its position as the world's leading arms exporter, increasing its lead over Russia in the process.
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Unmanned Vehicles
PREMIUM: UK investment in Switchblade loitering munitions revealed
17th March 2021
UK interest in loitering munitions is growing, with confirmation in a new US DoD contract that it has invested in the AeroVironment Switchblade weapons system.
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Defence Notes
PREMIUM: Integrated Review offers F-35 funding relief but cuts not confirmed
16th March 2021
The first part of the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy has given the F-35 programme a financial shot in the arm, but a question mark over aircraft numbers looks only to be resolved once a 'Command Paper' is released on 22 March.
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Defence Helicopter
PREMIUM: USMC thinks hard about cutting CH-53K King Stallion numbers
12th March 2021
The USMC is weighing up whether or not to reduce CH-53K heavy-helicopter numbers but a decision on that front has not been taken in line with schedule.
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Defence Helicopter
PREMIUM: New Sky Viper ready to disrupt FARA
11th March 2021
Northrop Grumman has revealed a 20mm chain gun named Sky Viper — will it be considered as an alternative to the General Dynamics XM915 cannon?
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Defence Notes
PREMIUM: Israeli F-35s operating from ‘Gulf soil’ a genuine possibility
8th March 2021
New possibilities for Israeli F-35s could be on the way, including the aircraft being fielded from 'Gulf soil' to better counter Iranian threats.
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Unmanned Vehicles
PREMIUM: US Army takes mixed-fleet FTUAS buy into consideration
3rd March 2021
The US Army has just wrapped up almost a year's worth of FTUAS testing and is looking ahead to a formal acquisition. It could see fit to buy more than one aircraft type currently under consideration.
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Defence Helicopter
PREMIUM: Poland redrafts Kruk helicopter plan but quantity remains undecided
2nd March 2021
Poland has again changed its Kruk attack helicopter programme, with a handful of key decisions still to be made before a manufacturer can be selected to produce new aircraft.
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Digital Battlespace
PREMIUM: Northrop Grumman seeks role in new US Army JADC2 demo
26th February 2021
Northrop Grumman wants to extend existing JADC2 links with the US Army by supporting EDGE 21.
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Defence Notes
PREMIUM: Lockheed Martin confirms Texan storm caused F-35 production closure
24th February 2021
The main F-35 production line was forced to close for a day to ensure employee safety, as Lockheed Martin continues to wait for the US DoD to approve full-rate production for the aircraft.
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Defence Helicopter
PREMIUM: Australia denies any interest in HH-60W CRH
19th February 2021
Contrary to past reports linking Australia to interest in an order for HH-60W combat helicopters, there is no such connection, according to the country's Department of Defence.
