Defense`s Feeds

Americas Boeing has expressed interest in converting its F-15EX Eagle II fighter jet into electronic attack aircraft similar to the EA-18G Growler. Company official Rob Novotny said to Breaking Defense that internal discussions are currently underway whether to proceed with the proposed conversion or not. The F-15EX already boasts an electronic warfare (EW) capability, thanks to its Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System. Kratos has unveiled a small affordable engine intended for the US Air Force’s futuristic Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). Developed in partnership with GE Aerospace, the GEK800 can reportedly generate up to 3,000 pounds (1,360 kilograms) of thrust, making it “ideally suited” for cruise missiles. But the two companies said it could still be scaled up to meet the requirements of the CCA program. Middle East & Africa According to Defense News, Israel Aerospace Industries, the maker of Germany’s future long-range antimissile system, has increased shifts and hired more workers to meet the deadline of setting up an installation in Germany sometime next year, a company executive said. The extra effort follows the national logic of outfitting the Israel Defense Forces as the priority, while also keeping international orders on track, Shay Gal, vice president for external relations, told Defense News at the Farnborough […]

Americas Canada has awarded GM Defense a contract to deliver 90 Light Tactical Vehicles (LTVs) for the army. The $25.9 million deal covers 54 personnel and 36 cargo variants of the LTV. It will also supply training, logistics support, technical manuals, and spare parts sourced from other local companies. Additionally, this agreement offers an option for up to 18 more LTVs depending on the army’s requirements in the future. The first five systems are expected to arrive in Canada this month. The US Air Force has conducted the final flight of the T-1 Jayhawk medium-range trainer jet, marking the aircraft’s retirement after three decades. The aircraft flew from Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph in Texas to Davis-Monthan AFB in Arizona for the ceremony. Since its induction in the early 1990s, the Jayhawk has served as a pilot and aircrew training capability at multiple US military sites and covered thousands of preparations for platforms such as the C-17 Globemaster III, KC-135 Stratotanker, and the C-130 Hercules. Middle East & Africa Israel Aerospace Industries announced a new air-to-surface cruise missile dubbed Wind Demon, what the company says is a lightweight, reasonably priced munition. The weapon is “a new generation of air-to-surface cruise missile, combining new […]

Americas Northrop Grumman has received a $1.5-billion contract to deliver E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft to the US Navy and Japan. A recent US Department of Defense announcement states that the company will produce nine new Hawkeyes – four for the navy and five for Tokyo. It will also provide associated support services to both customers. Most work for the contract will be performed in Florida, with an estimated completion date of March 2029. Bollinger Shipyards announced that its Pascagoula Mississippi shipyard now exceeds 1,000 employees, touting the milestone as it gears up to make the first heavy icebreaker in the US in more than 50 years – vessels Washington is keen to produce more of as it partners with Canada and Finland in a pact to bolster icebreaker fleets. The three countries announced the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort, or ICE Pact, in a joint statement during the NATO summit in Washington on Thursday. The trilateral agreement aims to build “best-in-class Arctic and polar icebreakers and other Arctic and polar capabilities in each of our respective countries by sharing expertise, information, and capabilities.” Middle East & Africa Turkiye and Niger agreed to boost cooperation on energy, mining, intelligence and defense, after the […]

Americas Raytheon has demonstrated a simulated missile interception using the US Army’s new missile defense radar and command and control system and the US Navy’s interceptor. The Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor (LTAMDS) simulators provided threat tracking data and the Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) engagement control software to the Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System (IBCS) during a Valiant Shield 24 test. The Northrop Grumman IBCS subsequently initiated the transfer of the launch command data and guided a missile interception “successfully,” according to Raytheon. The US Air Force and Boeing have reached an agreement regarding the planned supply of E-7 Wedgetail airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft. US Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall told reporters at an air show in England that the service finally “got a reasonable price point” for the jets after bringing in a brokering expert. Middle East & Africa Germany can no longer cooperate militarily with Niger because of a lack of “trust” in relations with the West African country’s military regime, German Foreign Affairs Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Tuesday. Germany already announced on July 6 that it will end operations at its airbase in Niger and pull out its remaining three-dozen troops by […]

E-7A Wedgetail over New South Wales (click to view full) The island continent of Australia faces a number of unique security challenges that stem from its geography. The continent may be separated from its neighbors by large expanses of ocean, but it also resides within a potential arc of instability, and has a number of important offshore resource sites to protect. Full awareness of what is going on around them, and the ability to push that awareness well offshore, are critical security requirements. “Project Wedgetail” had 3 finalists, and the winner was a new variant of Boeing’s 737-700, fitted with an MESA (multirole electronically scanned array) radar from Northrop Grumman. That radar exchanges the traditional AWACS rotating dome for the E-7A’s “top hat” stationary antenna. That design, and the project as a whole, have run into severe turbulence, creating problems for Boeing earnings, the ADF, and other export orders for the type. DID’s FOCUS articles offer in-depth, updated looks at significant military programs of record. This one covers contracts, events, and key milestones within Australia’s E-7A program, from inception to the current day. Project Wedgetail: Program and Participants The Competition E-7A Cutaway (click to view full) In 1997 Australia’s AIR […]

Americas The US Navy Blue Angels successfully tested a Mobile Aircraft Arresting System (MAAS) for the first time at Camp Grayling Army Airfield on June 26th. This test and certification served as a crucial element in their participation in the subsequent National Cherry Festival Air Show held in Traverse City on June 29-30th. The MAAS deployment was a first for the Blue Angels at the National Cherry Festival Air Show. This system, typically used at military airfields, is a vital safety feature providing an emergency landing option for high-performance aircraft like the Blue Angels’ F/A-18 Hornets. The MAAS employs arresting cables and barriers to rapidly decelerate aircraft in case of an in-flight issue or missed landing. Regular testing and certification, such as the one conducted at Camp Grayling, ensures the MAAS is prepared for such scenarios. Lockheed Martin has delivered the first of eight C-130J-30 Super Hercules aircraft to the Youngstown Air Reserve Station in Ohio as part of a project to modernize the installation’s aging military transport fleet. The plane incorporates a new configuration of aerial spray capability to secure large areas from disease-carrying insects and other pests as well as to disperse oil spills in water surface domains. […]

Americas The US Navy is evaluating the operability of the Expeditionary Medical Unit (EMU) aboard the USNS Cody (EPF 14) Spearhead-class fast transport vessel. The trial supports the service’s objective to improve medical care capabilities for combat and humanitarian missions from sea to shore. Being held at the Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, the evaluation focuses on the EMU’s Role 2 (R2) level healthcare function, which covers patient decontamination, biomedical repair, sterile supply, information technology, and command and control tasks. China said Wednesday it had suspended negotiations with the United States on nuclear non-proliferation and arms control in response to Washington’s weapons sales to Taiwan. The US and China in November held rare talks on nuclear arms control, part of a bid to ease mistrust ahead of a summit between leader Joe Biden and Xi Jinping. Further dialogue had not been publicly announced since, with a White House official in January urging Beijing to respond “to some of our more substantive ideas on risk reduction.” But China’s foreign ministry on Wednesday said recent US sales of arms to self-ruled Taiwan were “seriously undermining the political atmosphere for continued arms control consultations between the two sides.” Middle East & Africa French defense contractor Arquus has signed an […]

Americas Capella Space won a $14 million firm-fixed-price contract to provide Synthetic Aperture RADAR satellite system capabilities and integrate them into Air Force Research Laboratory’s Global Unification Environment. Work will be performed at Kirkland Air Force Base, New Mexico, and is expected to be completed by December 1, 2026. The Air Force Research Lab, Kirkland AFB, New Mexico, is the contracting activity. The US Army, in conjunction with NATO allies, has successfully conducted a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) Rapid Infiltration (HIRAIN) operation utilizing an Airbus A400M transport aircraft for the first time. This groundbreaking achievement marks a significant advancement in the rapid deployment of HIMARS using cargo aircraft. Previously, HIRAIN operations were primarily conducted using C-17 or C-130 transport aircraft. The successful integration of HIMARS with the A400M expands the range of available airlift platforms and offers increased flexibility for future deployments. RTX subsidiary Pratt & Whitney has completed its preliminary design review of the F135 engine core upgrade (ECU). The completion of this stage affirms the ECU design is proceeding according to schedule and exceeding expectations, the company said. The upgrade increases the engine’s durability and performance, which will “fully enable Block 4 and beyond capabilities for all three […]

An important milestone was reached for the Maritime Surveillance Network III (MARSUR III) on 26 June 2024 as it marked the deployment phase of the network following the approval of the User Acceptance Test (UAT) results by the 16 contributing Member States (BE, BG, CY, DE, EL, ES, FI, FR, IE, IT, MT, NL, PL, PT, RO, SE) at the last Project Arrangement Board hosted by the EDA.

The UAT, hosted by the European Union Satellite Centre (SatCen) on 4 June 2024, is a technology development phase in which the network and its software were tested in the real world by its intended users. The test environment used for the MARSUR UAT consisted of 3 real nodes with synchronised software running on national servers located in SatCen, Italy and Cyprus and connected via the MARSUR network.

The success of the User Acceptance Test was witnessed by the MARSUR Technical Arrangement Board members from the 16 contributing Member States and MARSUR community representatives from 21 European Navies, both in person and remotely via a VTC connection.

All tests outlined in the approved User Acceptance Test Plan & Use Case Scenarios of real maritime track and information exchanges were fully and correctly executed, demonstrating the robustness and resilience of the MARSUR network.

This was an important milestone in a long and successful history that dates back to 2005, when EDA defence ministers asked the agency to create a maritime network using existing naval and maritime information sharing systems in the EU. Following the EDA Cat B projects MARSUR I and II, this latest EDA Cat B project MARSUR III was launched in December 2020 and will run until 2026, successfully fighting the obsolescence and technical problems of its predecessors.

16 contributing Member States now have an effective system for developing European Maritime Situational Awareness based on the MARSUR III network, and the deployment phase will provide confidence that the use of the network will increase, making it the tool of choice in the very short term and a capability to be recommended to any maritime commander.

The whole MARSUR initiative is one of the many excellent examples of what the Agency's framework can bring in terms of capability development for our participating Member States.

Background

One of the longest-running projects undertaken by the European Defence Agency (EDA), the Maritime Surveillance (MARSUR) project is a technical solution that allows dialog between European maritime information systems.

In August 2019 an updated version of the MARSUR Exchange System was agreed and has replaced the previous one. Under the latest EDA project in support of maritime surveillance (MARSUR III) a next-generation technology is being developed, enhancing the capabilities and improving performance. In addition, a “classified layer” is being developed at the level of EU RESTRICTED in a first phase, with a possible future upgrade to EU SECRET, based on the assessment of available budget, operational needs, and limitations.

   

Americas Raytheon won a $14 million deal for the Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) development lab management and maintenance program. This contract provides for the development branch of the Air Intercept Missile-120 AMRAAM that will manage the design, development, integration, and testing of hardware and software improvements to the AMRAAM. Work will be performed at Tucson, Arizona, and is expected to be completed by February 28, 2026. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, is the contracting activity. Lockheed Martin won a $70 million modification, which?adds scope to provide a redesign of the synchronous dynamic random-access memory for the Technical Refresh Three integrated core processor and panoramic cockpit display in support of the F-35 aircraft diminishing manufacturing sources and material shortages for the Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and non-U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) participants. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed in January 2029.?Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Middle East & Africa Kenya has taken delivery of the first batch of military helicopters promised by the US during the recent state visit of Kenyan President William Ruto. Two UH-1 Huey military […]

Under the Hub for European Defence Innovation (HEDI), the Agency is organizing the first EU Defence Innovation Operational Experimentation Campaign, which is set to take place in the summer of 2025 in Italy. As part of the Hub’s Uptake of Innovation service, this initiative aims to accelerate and streamline the integration of emerging technologies into military capabilities through immersive operational and technical field testing in a collaborative and agile environment.

The first edition will focus on Autonomous Systems for Cross-domain Logistics. Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and Unmanned Ground Systems (UGS) have demonstrated their potential as key technologies. Their role in modern military tasks is increasingly integral, particularly for cross-domain operations and logistical support, significantly enhancing efficiency and effectiveness in challenging environments.

This initiative's collaborative engagement with a diverse range of technological service providers - from defence, dual-use, and civilian background – will drive future technological advancements and offers significant benefits to participants. These include extensive operational experimentation in an EU advanced military test site, interactions with key expert from EU Member States, exposure to emerging scenarios and innovative use cases, and an active role shaping potential future collaborations, positioning participants at the forefront of EU Defence Innovation and future opportunities.

The Call for Tenders seeks service providers to offer UAS and UGS solutions for Lots 1-6 and support Operational Experimentation in Lot 7. This open call for tenders is open to economic operators from the Member States and subcontractors from non-EU countries. Single Framework Contracts (FWC) will be awarded as per below:

Lot 1: Low Cost Attritable Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)

Field testing of innovative UAS Class I MICRO and/or MINI solutions for delivering small payloads (under 10 kg) using low-cost, attritable platforms. The lot envisions using multiple platforms to overcome the limitations of transporting smaller payloads through distributed logistical supply concepts for mass delivery. At least three complete UAS must be submitted (TRL>5).

FWC Max. Estimated Budget: EUR 200,000 Lot 2: Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL) Unmanned Aerial Systems)

Field testing of innovative UAS Class I MINI and/or SMALL solutions for transporting payloads up to 50 kg using Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) platforms with a reduced logistical footprint. At least two complete UAS must be submitted (TRL>5).

FWC Max. Estimated Budget: EUR 300,000 Lot 3: Heavy Lift Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL) Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)

Field testing of innovative UAS Class II and/or Class III solutions for transporting heavy payloads above 50 kg using Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL). This includes, if possible, the ability to perform CASEVAC (Casualty Evacuation) scenarios. At least one complete UAS and a spare / Almost-Ready-To-Fly (ARTF) must be submitted (TRL>5).

FWC Max. Estimated Budget: EUR 500,000 Lot 4: Low cost Attritable Unmanned Ground Systems (UGS) – EUR 100,000

Field testing of innovative UGS SMALL solutions for delivering small payloads (under 100 kg) using low-cost, attritable platforms. The lot envisions using multiple platforms to overcome the limitations of transporting smaller payloads through distributed logistical supply concepts for mass delivery. The locomotion types of the platforms can be either biomimetic, wheeled or tracked. At least three complete UGS must be submitted (TRL>5).

FWC Max. Estimated Budget: EUR 200,000 Lot 5: Medium Wheeled Logistical Unmanned Ground Systems (UGS) – EUR 250,000

Field testing of innovative UGS MEDIUM WHEELED solutions for transporting heavy payloads between 100 and 1000 kg. This includes, if possible, the ability to perform CASEVAC (Casualty Evacuation) scenarios. At least three complete UGS must be submitted (TRL>5).

FWC Max. Estimated Budget: EUR 500,000 Lot 6: Medium Tracked Logistical Unmanned Ground Systems (UGS) – EUR 250,000

Field testing of innovative UGS MEDIUM TRACKED solutions for transporting heavy payloads between 100 and 1000 kg. This includes, if possible, the ability to perform CASEVAC (Casualty Evacuation) scenarios. At least three complete UGS must be submitted (TRL>5).

FWC Max. Estimated Budget: EUR 500,000 Lot 7: OPEX Support Team

This lot focuses on providing support services which include developing a methodology to assess product/prototype capability maturity and creating an experimental design with clear objectives, hypotheses, and methodologies in collaboration with EDA and MS representatives. It includes planning and executing the experimental campaign with EDA, the Host Member State, and Contractors (Lot1-6), analyzing collected data for actionable insights on DOTMLPFI implications, and supporting the organization of a VIP demonstration day to showcase results to high-ranked stakeholders.

FWC Max. Estimated Budget: EUR 700,000

 

The deadline for submission of Tenders is Friday, 20th September 2024, at 17h00 (CET).

For more information, please consult:

Publication in the Official Journal: 427045-2024 - Competition - TED (europa.eu)  

The tender documents are available on the following link: EU Funding & Tenders Portal (europa.eu)

 

Americas GE Aerospace has demonstrated a dual-mode Ramjet (DMRJ) engine that could enable the development of more efficient long-range hypersonic aircraft and missiles. A threefold airflow increase was demonstrated by the engine compared to previous hypersonic demonstrators, according to the company. Testing began at an Evendale, Ohio, testing facility in March just 11 months after the launch of design efforts. Louisiana-based Bollinger Shipyards has joined a trilateral project between the US, Canada, and Finland to create icebreaker vessels that will help secure the Arctic region. Revealed by the White House during the 2024 NATO Summit, the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort or ICE Pact seeks a “best-in-class” fleet that will address the “expanding presence” of potential enemies and competitors in the High North. Middle East & Africa Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday announced the imminent end of his government’s operations against Kurdish PKK fighters in northern Iraq and Syria. Turkey began its Operation Claw-Lock in April 2022, claiming it needed to secure its border with northern Iraq, from where it accused Kurdish separatists of launching attacks on Turkish territory. “We will very soon complete the lockdown of the area of operation in northern Iraq,” Erdogan said, adding that Kurdish forces were now “incapable […]

Americas Austal USA has conducted a ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of a final assembly station in Alabama. The project supports the ongoing expansion of the company’s existing waterfront center in Mobile, which will also receive design improvements and a new ship lift system. Austal wrote that the upcoming station will include three bays for managing large steel components used to develop US Navy and Coast Guard vessels such as the Offshore Patrol Cutters and TAGOS-25 ocean surveillance systems. The US Army has turned to industry partners for a new, lightweight radar to be fitted on its high-altitude surveillance balloons. A request for information (RFI) was recently issued for the desired airborne sensor that should address the service’s deep sensing requirements. It stated that the payload must weigh less than 6.8 kilograms and use power and communication equipment already on spy balloons. Middle East & Defense Northrop Grumman won an $11 million modification for contractor logistics support of Iraq’s C-172 and C-208 fleets. Work will be performed at Martyr BG Ali Flaih Air Base (formerly Balad Air Base), Iraq, and is expected to be completed by June 30, 2025. This contract involves foreign military sales to Iraq. The Air Force Life […]

Americas Lockheed Martin won a $39 million modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-incentive-fee, fixed-price incentive contract. This modification increases the contract ceiling to procure material and sustainment services to support depot stand-up and repair capabilities for the electrical power management system, electro hydrostatic actuation system, aircraft memory system, electro optical distributed aperture system, fuselage remote interface unit, missile remote interface units, suspension and release and landing to support the F-35 aircraft for the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, non-U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) partners, and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed in June 2027. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Canada has introduced a program to develop 12 conventionally powered submarines to bolster its security in the Arctic Ocean. The fleet will take over the role of the nation’s aging Victoria-class submarines in service since the early 1990s. Although no specifications have been declassified, the Canadian defense agency revealed that the systems will incorporate an “under-ice” capability to match conditions across the Arctic and other oceans surrounding the country. Middle East & Africa Airbus has secured a contract to supply four A330 […]

Americas The US Navy has accepted the 72nd Arleigh Burke-class destroyer from Bath Iron Works as part of a deal awarded in 2013. The USS John Basilone is a Flight IIA guided missile destroyer incorporating an advanced mine countermeasure solution, helicopter hangars, blast-hardened bulkheads, and additional electronic and networked systems. A keel-laying ceremony for the ship was held in 2020, followed by its christening two years later. In June 2024, during a joint training exercise at RAAF Base Tindal, Australia, two United States Marine Corps (USMC) F-35B pilots from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 214 successfully flew Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) F-35A aircraft. This accomplishment signifies a significant step towards interchangeable operations between the two forces. Lt. Col. Robert Guyette, VMFA-214’s commanding officer, emphasizes the distinction between interoperability, where forces can work together, and interchangeability, where resources like pilots and aircraft can be freely shared. This pilot exchange program represents a key step towards achieving the latter. Middle East & Africa Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Wednesday that 60 percent of Hamas fighters had been “eliminated or wounded” in the Gaza war since the militant group’s October 7 attacks. Gallant reaffirmed in a statement to parliament on the first nine months of […]

Americas AAR Supply Chain Inc.won a $46 million contract for V-22 Osprey Black Hawk aircraft repair and replacement parts. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 US Code 3204 (a)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. This is a three-year base contract with three three-year option periods. The performance completion date is June 29, 2027. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Richmond, Virginia. Sierra Nevada won a $11 million for a firm-fixed-price, spares delivery order under a previously awarded basic ordering agreement for the purchase of four communication interface units used in support of the F/A-18 aircraft. The delivery order does not include an option period. All work will be performed in Sparks, Nevada, and work is expected to be completed by July 2026. Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity. Middle East & Africa A Pentagon watchdog announced on Thursday it would investigate the effectiveness of the Gaza pier mission in delivering humanitarian aid. The Pentagon’s Office of the Inspector General will coordinate with the U.S. Agency for International Development’s watchdog on two independent investigations, according to a statement from the Office of the Inspector General. Europe According to Defense […]

Americas The US Marine Corps has equipped its MQ-9 Reaper drone with an electronic warfare pod that makes the aircraft nearly invisible to enemy eyes. Called the T-SOAR (Scalable Open Architecture Reconnaissance), the pod mimics an enemy’s radar and communication emissions and sends them back to the source. “What they bring with them is a sensing and making sense capability,” Seapower quoted Commandant of the Marine Corps General Eric M. Smith as saying at a Brookings Institution event last week. Mistral Inc. has started the production of the Thor vertical takeoff and landing mini drone at its Nottingham, Maryland, facility. The Thor unmanned aerial system is part of the US Department of Defense’s Medium Range Reconnaissance effort, which seeks Group 2 drones weighing between 21 to 55 pounds (9.5 to 25 kilograms) for the army. Middle East & Africa US troops have completed a withdrawal from their base in Niger’s capital of Niamey and will fully depart from Agadez in the north before a September 15 deadline set by the country’s military rulers, both countries said Sunday. Niger’s military leaders scrapped a military cooperation deal with Washington in March after seizing power in a July 2023 coup. Europe The Danish Armed Forces tested the PULS rocket launcher […]

Americas The Thor unmanned aerial system is part of the US Department of Defense’s Medium Range Reconnaissance effort, which seeks Group 2 drones weighing between 9.5 to 24.9 kilograms for the army. Thor is designed with targeting, dropping, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities for multi-domain operations. It is capable of lifting 22 pounds (10 kilograms) of cargo, can be folded, transported via backpack storage, and deployed in under two minutes. Thor can fly autonomously for up to 70 minutes with its integrated electro-optical infrared sensor enabled. Mitsubishi Electric has signed a pilot contract with Raytheon to repair transmitters used in APG-63 (V)1 F-15 fighter radars operated by the US Air Force and allied forces. Raytheon will verify Mitsubishi Electric’s repair capabilities under the pilot contract, deciding whether to contract it for such services in the future. The contract has been signed on the basis of Mitsubishi Electric’s experience producing and repairing the APG-63 (V)1s operated by the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF). Middle East & Africa According to Defense News, the US will have fully cleared out of one air base in Niger as it continues to move personnel and equipment from the African country ahead of a September […]

Americas Kratos Defense & Security Solutions demonstrated a trolley-based launch system for the XQ-58A Valkyrie unmanned aerial system recently. A Kratos Trolley Launch System (KTLS)-assisted XQ-58A can take off from runways or traditional roads without reducing its payload or the fuel required for conventional retractable launching gear. Bell Textron has completed the first flight of the Royal Canadian Air Force’s modified CH-146 Griffon multirole utility helicopter as part of a 2022 modernization contract. The Griffon Limited Life Extension (GLLE) project is a continuing effort to deliver upgrades for the aircraft, which has been in service since the early 1990s. This effort includes revamps of avionics, sensors, engines, and cockpit displays, enabling the vehicles’ operability through the 2030s. Middle East & Africa The US has transferred a C-130H Hercules military transport aircraft to Botswana as part of a $30-million gift to the African nation. The aircraft arrived in Gaborone on May 24 but was only officially handed over to the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) last week. According to the US Embassy, the Lockheed Martin-manufactured plane is expected to bolster Botswana’s ability to conduct defense, humanitarian, and emergency response missions. Europe German arms maker Rheinmetall and Italian defense group Leonardo said Wednesday they planned […]

Americas The 8th Fighter Squadron (FS) at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, recently unveiled a striking new addition to their fleet – an F-16 Viper flagship painted in a sleek matte black color scheme, reminiscent of the legendary F-117 Nighthawk. This unique paint job serves as a powerful tribute to the squadron’s history and the groundbreaking capabilities of the retired stealth aircraft. The “Black Sheep” nickname reflects the squadron’s proud history, and this new paint scheme specifically honors their time flying the F-117. “We were one of the Holloman fighter units to fly the F-117 Nighthawk,” explained Major Daniel Thompson, an instructor pilot with the 8th FS. “This decision highlights a unique chapter in our history that aligns perfectly with the Black Sheep identity.” Italy has seized Chinese military drones disguised as wind turbines that were heading to Libya in violation of a U.N. embargo, Italian authorities said. Components making up the two drones were concealed in six containers sent on two container ships from China to the Port of Gioia Tauro in Italy, where they were impounded before they could be loaded onto vessels heading for Libya, according to officials. Middle East & Africa Boeing has delivered the […]