Defence`s Feeds

Colombia signed a letter of intent for the acquisition of the Gripen E, launching the negotiations which would make the country the type’s second South American operator. After nearly two years of speculations and unconfirmed reports, Colombia has finally selected Sweden’s Saab JAS39 Gripen as its newest fighter aircraft. Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced the […]

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AMENDMENTS 306 - 542 - Draft report European Defence Industry Programme and a framework of measures to ensure the timely availability and supply of defence products (‘EDIP’)
Committee on Industry, Research and Energy
Committee on Security and Defence
Raphaël Glucksmann, François-Xavier Bellamy

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

The VENOM program will modify six F-16Cs into autonomous aircraft to accelerate testing of autonomy software on crewed and uncrewed aircraft. The U.S. Air Force is progressing with the Viper Experimentation and Next-gen Operations Model – Autonomy Flying Testbed program, or VENOM, which will modify six F-16Cs into autonomous aircraft. On Apr. 1, 2025, the […]

The post Last F-16 Set for VENOM Autonomous Aircraft Modification Arrives at Eglin appeared first on The Aviationist.

Americas Lockheed Martin won a modification, which adds scope to provide engineering and program management support as well as test assets, testing, and solution development in support of the F-35 reliability and maintainability improvement program for the Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, Foreign Military Sales (FMS), and non-US Department of Defense (DOD) participants. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed in March 2028. This contract action was not competed. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Honeywell International won $10,965,150 for a firm-fixed-price delivery order under previously for the repair of 42 aircraft power units used on the P-8 aircraft. The delivery order does not include an option period. All work will be performed in Phoenix, Arizona, and work is expected to be completed by May 2027. Annual working capital funds (Navy) in the full amount of $10,965,150 will be obligated at time of award and the funds do not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity. Middle East & Africa Rafael Advanced Defense Systems’ Typhoon 30 remote weapon station (RWS) has successfully completed […]

Few days after U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited the Philippines, Washington cleared the sale of 20 F-16s to the country. The U.S. State Department has approved the Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to the Philippines for 20 F-16 Block 70/72 fighter jets. The development comes just few days after U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited […]

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AMENDMENTS 1209 - 1477 - Draft report European Defence Industry Programme and a framework of measures to ensure the timely availability and supply of defence products (‘EDIP’)
Committee on Industry, Research and Energy
Committee on Security and Defence
Raphaël Glucksmann, François-Xavier Bellamy

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

AMENDMENTS 543 - 909 - Draft report European Defence Industry Programme and a framework of measures to ensure the timely availability and supply of defence products (‘EDIP’)
Committee on Industry, Research and Energy
Committee on Security and Defence
François-Xavier Bellamy, Raphaël Glucksmann

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

The 49th Test and Evaluation Squadron revealed the finished livery of the heritage orange B-52H which pays tribute to the NB-52A and NB-52E. Few months after it was first spotted with the new throwback color scheme, the B-52H 61-0028 has now received all the missing decals, completing the amazing heritage orange livery. In fact, the […]

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AMENDMENTS 910 - 1208 - Draft report European Defence Industry Programme and a framework of measures to ensure the timely availability and supply of defence products (‘EDIP’)
Committee on Industry, Research and Energy
Committee on Security and Defence
Raphaël Glucksmann, François-Xavier Bellamy

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

MEPs want the EU to respond determinedly to Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, conflict in the Middle East, and the return of so-called “great power” politics.
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Committee on Security and Defence

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Americas The US Marine Corps has created the Marine Corps Attack Drone Team (MCADT) to enhance combat effectiveness by integrating advanced drone technology into its operations. This team will focus on training Marines to use first-person view (FPV) drones, which are increasingly important in modern conflicts. MCADT will also act as a hub for expertise in drone tactics, helping the Marine Corps develop new capabilities and refine requirements for unmanned systems. Based at Weapons Training Battalion in Quantico, Virginia, the team will collaborate with the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory to ensure Marines remain agile and effective in evolving battlefields. The initiative reflects lessons learned from recent conflicts, such as the Russia-Ukraine war, where FPV drones have proven their value in disrupting enemy formations and providing precise battlefield intelligence. MCADT’s mission includes integrating combat lessons, competing in national and international drone competitions, and refining drone capabilities through hands-on training. Its first public appearance will be at a military drone championship this summer, where it will compete against elite units like the Army’s 75th Ranger Regiment. This effort marks a significant step in modernizing Marine Corps capabilities by leveraging cost-effective and scalable drone solutions for future conflicts According to Defense News, the […]

Taiwan’s first new F-16, part of an order for 66 aircraft, was unveiled during a rollout ceremony at Lockheed Martin’s facilities. Lockheed Martin has unveiled Taiwan first newly built F-16 Block 70 during a rollout ceremony at the company’s facilities in Greenville, South Carolina, on Mar. 28, 2025. The aircraft, an F-16D with serial number […]

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RDAF F-35s have started supporting the Quick Reaction Alert service intercepting a Russian Il-20 Coot-A over the Baltics. Last week, Royal Danish Air Force F-35A fighter jets were launched for the first time to identify and track a Russian ISR (Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance) military aircraft over the Baltic Sea. The F-35 pilots took off from […]

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Asia-Pacific The US Navy has awarded Boeing Co., based in St. Louis, Missouri, a $12,943,999 firm-fixed-price delivery order (N00383-25-F-YY1F) for the repair of the leading edge flap antenna used on F/A-18 aircraft. This sole-source contract was issued under 10 U.S. Code 3204(a)(1), with Boeing as the only offeror. Work will be conducted at three locations: Mesa, Arizona (60%); Lansdale, Pennsylvania (31%); and St. Louis, Missouri (9%). The project is expected to be completed by March 2030. Funding from Navy working capital funds was fully obligated at the time of award and will remain available beyond the current fiscal year. The Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is managing this contract. Lockheed Martin has been awarded a $4.9 billion contract by the USArmy for the production of its long-range Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) under Increment One. The contract follows a competitive solicitation process, with only one bid submitted. The award builds on successful tests, including a live-fire exercise in mid-2024 where the PrSM engaged a moving maritime target, and a production qualification flight test in 2023. Work will be completed by March 2030 at an undisclosed location. Middle East & Africa A senior Hamas official on Monday […]

The U.S. Navy released a new Request for Information for the T-45’s replacement, which will only be required to conduct Field Carrier Landing Practice (FCLP) to wave off. On Mar. 31, 2025, the U.S. Navy released yet another Request for Information (RFI) for the program which will replace the aging T-45 Goshawk, the Undergraduate Jet […]

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What began as a bombing mission to destroy an enemy bridge turned into a story of heroic bravery and incredible odds for young Lt. Owen J. Baggett on March 31, 1943. Disaster Strikes and a Hero is Born Fuel tanks burned and oxygen tanks exploded as the attacks continued and 2nd Lt. Owen John Baggett […]

The post A Pistol, a Parachute, and a Prayer: The Amazing Story of Lt. Owen Baggett appeared first on The Aviationist.

U.S. Marine Col. Charles “Tre” Del Pizzo gives his account of the ejection from an F-35B which continued to fly on its own in 2023. More than a year after the bizarre incident in which a U.S. Marine Corps F-35B continued flying on its own after the pilot ejected, new details emerged online. These details […]

The post How 41 Seconds Changed the Life of a Marine F-35B Pilot appeared first on The Aviationist.

After 54 years of continuous service, the RAF’s Puma fleet is set to retire today, ending a remarkably active career. On Mar. 26 and 27, 2025, the RAF Puma HC2 carried out its final flights as a part of a farewell tour over the United Kingdom and Cyprus. The Puma had led a remarkable career […]

The post Royal Air Force Puma 1971-2025: The End of an Era appeared first on The Aviationist.

The Coyote LE SR can be fired from the air, ground or sea to detect, identify, locate and defeat threats on the battlefield and perform a variety of missions. Raytheon announced on Mar. 26, 2025, the first test fire of a new variant of the Coyote family of drones from a helicopter at the Nine […]

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