Defense`s Feeds

Americas Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) has christened the US Navy’s 14th San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock vessel, the USS Harrisburg, in Pascagoula, Mississippi. The hull was named after Pennsylvania’s capital city to honor the region’s continuous support for the US armed forces as well as its critical role in the country’s industrial history. Notable contributions by the Harrisburg were recorded throughout the Westward Migration, the American Civil War, and the Industrial Revolution. At the ceremony in Pascagoula, US Navy Ships Program Executive Officer Rear Admr. Tom Anderson provided the keynote address for the event. The first F-15E Strike Eagles equipped with the advanced Eagle Passive/Active Warning and Survivability System (EPAWSS) have touched down at RAF Lakenheath, marking a significant leap in electronic warfare capabilities for the US Air Force in Europe. The arrival of these upgraded aircraft on January 16, signals a major step in the Air Force’s modernization efforts to ensure the F-15 fleet remains effective against evolving threats. Europe The US military has begun deploying upgraded B61-12 nuclear bombs at its bases in Europe, further enhancing its strategic deterrence capabilities. The deployment follows the completion of a $9-billion upgrade to the so-called “gravity bombs,” which extends their service life by at least 20 […]

Americas Lockheed Martin won a $92 million modification for AEGIS combat system configurations. This contract combines purchases for the governments of Japan, South Korea and Australia under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. Work will be performed in Moorestown, New Jersey, and is expected to be completed by December 2025. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, DC, is the contracting activity. L-3 Harris Technologies won an $8.8 million for the procurement of spares for the MK 20 Electro-Optical Sensor System (EOSS), MK 46 Optical Sight System (OSS), and associated the MK 48 and MK 34 Gun Weapon Systems. Work will be performed in Northampton, Massachusetts; Orlando Florida; Moonachie, New Jersey; Keene, New Hampshire; and Radford, Virginia and is expected to be completed by April 2027. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, DC, is the contracting activity. Middle East & Africa Israeli firms SMARTSHOOTER and HevenDrones have announced a strategic partnership to equip logistics drones with advanced robotic weapon systems. As part of the collaboration, the two companies will integrate the cutting-edge SMASH Dragon weapon into HevenDrones’ H100 and Urban drone platforms. This integration will enable the unmanned aerial systems to conduct combat missions against ground and aerial targets. Europe Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense […]

The European Defence Agency (EDA) Defence Innovation Prize for 2024 was awarded at the Agency's annual conference in Brussels. The Prize focused on two critical areas: Critical Maritime Infrastructure Protection, and Cognitive Sensing for Enhanced Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) Systems.

An eye on the seabed

In the first category of Critical Maritime Infrastructure Protection, Greece-based FEAC Engineering was recognised for its system designed to improve the monitoring and protection of maritime infrastructure. FEAC, a Greek company founded in 2014 by brothers Sotiris and Charilaos Kokkinos. It specialises in Digital Twin technology to create digital replicas of physical objects, as well as engineering physics-based simulations and artificial intelligence for predictive analytics. With expertise and an understanding of scientific principles, FEAC delivers engineering and IT solutions, from conceptual design and performance simulation to implementation.

FEAC's proposal focuses on the development and widespread implementation of its proprietary PITHIA Platform, designed to protect critical maritime infrastructure. PITHIA, generates real-time, high-fidelity digital models of assets such as harbour installations, underwater pipelines, offshore wind turbines, and communication cables, integrating various data sources for real-time monitoring. It supports predictive technical maintenance based on both historical and real-time data and addresses other threats, including military-like risks.

This AI-enhanced approach identifies patterns and anomalies, enabling accurate threat responses, enhanced situational awareness, and high operational readiness of maritime assets. Its agility and adaptability by design can significantly strengthen maritime security across the EU. "We try to bridge the gap between the physical and digital worlds," Charilaos Kokkinos told the conference. 

Tracking in 3D

In the second category of Cognitive Sensing for ISTAR Systems, TRAAK, a French company, was recognised for its PIXYS 3D system. TRAAK, established in 2020 by Thomas Duroyon and Pierre-Arnaud Coquelin, specialises in developing geolocation and biometric tracking solutions for challenging and complex environments.

TRAAK’s PIXYS 3D system addresses critical challenges in battlefield navigation, communication, and Blue Force Tracking. With its capability for precise outdoor, indoor, and underground positioning, it offers an operational advantage on modern battlefields and in urban warfare scenarios.

"It has been developed in-house," Duroyon said. "We are completely independent from any technology that exists today. We can be deployed in a few minutes, regardless of the environment."

PIXYS 3D, based on unique, patented European geolocation technology, delivers a sovereign, rapidly deployable solution with metric-level accuracy. This mobile 3D positioning system provides operators with live navigation across indoor and outdoor environments, particularly in urban or underground areas or in settings affected by electronic interference, where traditional geolocation systems such as GNSS prove ineffective. With its customisable, open hardware and firmware architecture, PIXYS 3D is designed to enhance operational awareness and AI-supported decision-making for defence and state security customers.

EDA’s Innovation Prize

The EDA Defence Innovation Prize, first awarded in 2018, includes €30,000 in funding for each winner to advance their innovations. Winners also gain access to the EDA’s network of experts and will present their work to the agency’s Capability Technology Groups (CapTechs), potentially paving the way for broader implementation in European defence initiatives.  EDA RTI Director Nathalie Guichard awarded the prize.

 

The prize forms part of the Hub for EU Defence Innovation (HEDI), established in 2022 to promote collaborative and innovative solutions within the defence sector. HEDI seeks to involve non-traditional defence contributors, such as civil research organisations and start-ups, to ensure European armed forces have real-time access to emerging technologies. 

Shortfalls in European Union military materiel are “colossal,” and the European Union needs a “big bang” approach, Andrius Kubilius, European Commissioner for Defence and Space, told the European Defence Agency’s annual conference. Ukraine’s Minister of Defence Rustem Umerov also told the conference that his country had the capacity to produce more weaponry but faced a financing shortfall in 2025 of around €18 billion. 

"The shortfalls in military materiel, if we compare with the Russian war economy, are colossal. We can no longer afford a fragmented and incremental approach. We need a real, big bang approach to increase defence production and acquisition. We also need a European approach," Commissioner Kubilius said.

General Onno Eichelsheim, The Netherlands' Chief of Defence, told the conference that what was good for Ukraine was good for NATO and good for the European Union. He also called for grouping together Member States' demands when ordering from industry.

Galileo, Europe’s flagship satellite navigation programme, shows what European collective ambition and cooperation can achieve, Kubilius said. Kubilius added: “We need to consolidate our industrial efforts, starting with research and development, and ensure that Europe builds its own production capacity. Galileo has shown us what can be achieved through cooperation. Now we need that same energy in defence.”

In the context of the EU’s approach to defence, this involves creating a unified effort, pooling resources, and prioritising projects such as air defence, cyber shields, and military mobility, he said. Kubilius, who served two terms as Lithuania's prime minister (from 1999 to 2000 and from 2008 to 2012), also paid tribute to the EDA after it celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2024.

Ukraine’s rising armament production, funding gap 

Ukraine’s Umerov, in his speech to the conference via video link, said that Kyiv had become a leader in military manufacturing. He said his country was now the largest manufacturer of military autonomous systems worldwide, with the ability to produce over 4.5 million drones annually.

Between 2023 and 2024, Ukraine’s artillery systems production tripled, while production of armoured personnel carriers increased fivefold, he said. Other key military capabilities have seen similar growth, with ammunition production rising by 2.5 times and the production of anti-tank weapons doubling.

Ukraine has also ramped up its missile production capacity, with plans to produce 3,000 missiles in 2025. According to Umerov, long-range drones developed in response to the war have played a pivotal role in the conflict, destroying more than 300 strategic targets inside Russian territory.

However, more funding is needed to reach Ukraine's military production potential. While the country’s defence industry capacity is set to reach €34 billion by 2025, the available funding stands at only €16 billion, leaving a crucial gap of €18 billion that must be addressed to sustain and enhance production efforts. “We ask you to help us close this existing gap in financing, facilitate the transfer of technology, and set up strategic partnerships with our industry,” Umerov said. 

The European Union must bind its defence industry close together and develop weapons systems collaboratively, the new Head of the European Defence Agency (EDA), High Representative Kaja Kallas, told the 2025 EDA Annual Conference. She also called for the Agency to do more. 

“We need to consolidate our defence industry and develop common weapons systems,” Kallas said. “Our European defence industry could then utilise the same military systems and help Member States’ militaries become more interoperable ... the EU should also work towards establishing a Single Market for Defence.”

Kallas said that the EU does not require a single European armed force but rather 27 militaries capable of working together to deter and defend against any threat, particularly from Russia. Addressing over 400 participants at the Concert Noble in Brussels and more than 800 online attendees, Kallas’ vision reinforced the EDA’s mission as it leads Europe’s response to renewed security challenges.

In her first major policy speech since taking office in December, Kallas warned that the time for papers and declarations had passed. “Russia’s defence industry is churning out tanks, artillery shells, and glide bombs faster than we can match. This is a heavily militarised country, spending over a third of its national budget on the military, three times what it spent before the war. We must be realistic about the scale of this threat,” she said.

Sławomir Wojciechowski, Poland’s Military Representative to NATO and the EU Military Committee, speaking on behalf of Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, said that: “For Europe, Russia's aggressive policy poses a real and direct threats to security. We must remember that Russia's objectives are not limited to Ukraine. A hypothetical victory for Moscow in Ukraine will be equivalent to the disintegration of the existing security architecture.” 

Support to Ukraine and links to U.S., Britain

Kallas noted that the EU has so far provided €134 billion in support to Ukraine, including €50 billion in military aid. Additionally, the EU has trained 75,000 Ukrainian soldiers and imposed sanctions. “The Ukrainians are not just fighting for their freedom; they are defending ours too,” Kallas said. Collaboration with the United States and Britain remains essential, Kallas said, adding that the EU should be open to a new security agreement with London, now that Britain is outside the bloc.

General Brieger, Chairman of the EU Military Committee, told the conference: "For future success, we have to transform three levels in parallel: institutionally at the EU level; nationally, at the level of Member States; and in our mindset, on a personal level. For sure, this has to be coordinated to become, more and more, a real union of defence." 

Both Kallas and EDA Chief Executive Jiří Šedivý, who opened the conference, underlined that NATO remains the cornerstone of Euro-Atlantic security. However, both stressed that the EU must ensure it can act decisively and independently if necessary. The EDA is instrumental in achieving this goal, Šedivý said. He said: “Over the past decade, the amount of projects we manage has grown from around 200 million euros to over one billion euros per year.”  

By fostering defence integration, it helps Member States pool resources, enhance interoperability, and address critical capability gaps in areas such as air defence, long-range missiles, and military mobility. 

“If Europeans don’t get serious about defence, there will be no Europe as we know it left to defend,” Kallas warned. 

Americas According to Defense Post, AeroVironment has been contracted to deliver Switchblade loitering munitions as part of the US Army’s Directed Requirement for Lethal Unmanned Systems (LUS). The $55.3-million contract is the second order of the 5-year contract awarded to the company in August with a ceiling of $900 million. The LUS requirement is intended to enhance infantry soldiers’ ability to neutralize fortified targets such as armored vehicles and tanks. The US Army has approved the full-rate production of its M1147 120mm Advanced Multi-Purpose (AMP) round, designed to provide next-generation firepower to M1 Abrams main battle tanks. Announced on Friday, the decision moves the M1147 program beyond low-rate initial production, providing a critical capability to meet the needs of both the US Army and its international partners. Middle East & Africa The Turkish navy wrapped up the weeklong Mavi Vatan 2025 exercise, a large-scale operation meant to showcase Ankara’s strategic maritime ambitions in the region and beyond. The Mavi Vatan (Blue Homeland) doctrine, introduced in 2019, symbolizes the country’s shift from a land-focused power to a maritime force, prioritizing the protection of its maritime zones. It reflects a broader transformation of the Turkish navy into a high-seafaring force capable of extended operations. […]

Americas After years of testing and refinement, the US Air Force’s microvane program is nearing full implementation across it’s C-17 fleet. These small, strategically placed devices are set to reduce aerodynamic drag and increase fuel efficiency by redirecting airflow around the aircraft’s fuselage, proving that even the most mature aircraft designs can be enhanced. Air Force Operational Energy and Air Mobility Command are now in the final stages of evaluating the microvane technology. The microvanes themselves are deceptively simple: small, 3D-printed devices, measuring approximately 4 x 16 inches, and shaped like a thin blade. These are attached to the rear of the C-17’s fuselage using strong adhesive bonding. The Peruvian Navy has christened and launched two Pativilca-class offshore patrol vessels as part of its effort to strengthen national maritime operations. The BAP Río Huarmey (PM 210) and BAP Río Nepeña (PM 211) are two of 10 boats planned under the program for surveillance, anti-piracy, environment response protection, and search and rescue tasks. Middle East & Africa The US announced Saturday it would donate more than $117-million in security assistance for Lebanon’s armed forces, as the crisis-hit country seeks to implement a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. The State Department said […]

Americas Lockheed Martin won a $280.4 million for combat systems engineering efforts of the planned modernization and new combat system capabilities selection for international partner Canadian Royal Navy ships operating AEGIS. Work will be performed in Moorestown, New Jersey and is expected to be completed by January 2028. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, DC is the contracting activity. Mustang Advanced Engineering won an $11.3 million contract for a test stand capable of testing both left-hand and right-hand V-22 PropRotor Gearbox Input Quill assemblies for the V-22 aircraft. This includes all mechanical, electrical, software, and control systems, as well as ancillary subsystems required to test either PropRotor Gearbox Input Quills. This contract was competed as a small business set aside with four offers received. Naval Air Systems Command, Commander Fleet Readiness Center, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Middle East & Africa The naval arm of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards unveiled an underground base housing dozens of assault boats equipped with missile launchers in footage aired by state television on Saturday. The broadcaster did not reveal the location of the base, saying only that it served Iran’s strategic “southern waters” — the Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Gulf of […]

Americas The Uruguayan Air Force (FAU) has acquired five A-29 Super Tucano aircraft from Brazilian firm Embraer. The deal includes mission equipment, integrated logistics services, and a flight simulator. “We are ready to offer the best multimission aircraft to the FAU as well as our full support to increase their operational readiness and to enhance their capabilities to accomplish strategic missions such as border surveillance,” said Bosco da Costa Junior, President and CEO of Embraer. Boeing won an $18.5 million delivery order for the repair of R2 trailing edge flaps used on the F/A-18 E/F aircraft. The delivery order does not include an option period. All work will be performed in Jacksonville, Florida and work is expected to be completed by January 2027. Annual working capital (Navy) funds in the amount of $9,055,200 will be obligated at the time of award, and funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One company was solicited for this sole-source requirement pursuant to the authority set forth in 10 US Code 2304 (c)(1), with one offer received. Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity. Africa The Republic of Zambia is set to enhance its air capabilities […]

Americas The US Army is seeking industry input on a spy aircraft that can launch unmanned aerial systems. The aerial intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance platform will be based on an executive jet aircraft, such as a Bombardier G6500, and operate at medium to high altitudes. This announcement seems to attempt to expand the capabilities of the High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System (HADES) program, which is also based on the Global 6500 and operate at medium to high altitudes. The US Air Force has enhanced its forward posture in the Indo-Pacific with the deployment of F-35A Lightning IIs from the Vermont Air National Guard’s 134th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron (EFS) to Kadena Air Base, Japan, on Jan. 13. The move comes as the service begins to retire its ageing fleet of F-15C/D Eagles in Japan, some of which have been in service for more than four decades. The US Air Force is retiring its fleet of F-15C/D Eagle aircraft, which have been operational for over 40 years, and the 18th Wing, formerly the 18th Tactical Fighter Wing, first received the F-15C on 29 Sept. 1979. The 67th Tactical Fighter Squadron was the first to be fully operational with the Eagle in the […]

Americas The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) seeks to develop quantum sensors for moving military platforms. Quantum sensors use quantum mechanics to sense minute variances in motion and electric and magnetic fields, achieving greater accuracy than conventional sensors. In technical terms, they extract information from individual atoms rather than from a collection of atoms and are less vulnerable to signal jamming and other electromagnetic interference that traditional light- and sound-based data sensors are vulnerable to. The Marine Corps has awarded Forterra a contract to integrate its autonomy package on the Remotely Operated Ground Unit for Expeditionary Fires ground vehicle, the Pentagon’s first-ever production contract for off-road autonomous driving capability. The company’s advanced stack and AutoDrive system gives the ROGUE Fires vehicle – built by Oshkosh Defense – off-road, self-driving technology in “nearly any environment,” which moves “beyond Leader-Follower capabilities,” Forterra said in a Jan. 13 statement. Leader-Follower technology uses a lead vehicle to guide other unmanned vehicles behind it. Middle East & Africa Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) has introduced a new loitering munition, reportedly capable of reaching a range of 20 kilometers. Dubbed the “Razvan,” the kamikaze drone was unveiled during the recent Payambar-e Azam (The Great Prophet) 19 […]

Americas Raytheon won a $333.2 million contract for Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) full rate production requirements, spares, and round design agent. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $908,144,803. Work will will continue through September 2030. This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 3204(a)(1) (only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements). Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. General Dynamics won a $188 million modification for Construction Spares associated with the Virginia Class Block V submarines. Work will be performed in Sunnyvale, California (36%); South Yorkshire, United Kingdom (7%); Westfield, Massachusetts (6%); Staffordshire, United Kingdom (4%); McKeesport, Pennsylvania (3%); Manchester, New Hampshire (3%); Tacoma, Washington (3%); Newport News, Virginia (2%); Warren, Massachusetts (2%); Farmingdale, New York (2%); El Cajon, California (2%); Tucson, Arizona (1%); Chesapeake, Virginia (1%); Tampa, Florida (1%), Portsmouth, New Hampshire (1%); and other locations less than 1% (26%), and is expected to be completed by September 2035. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, DC, is the contracting activity. Middle East & Africa Qatar has bought GM Defense’s Suburban Shield armored vehicles for the armed forces and […]

Americas The Pentagon has awarded QinetiQ a $13.3-million contract to supply its Vindicator II uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) target support services to the US Navy (USN). As QinetiQ Target Systems is based in Canada, the deal was facilitated by the Canadian Commercial Corporation as the prime contractor together with Public Services and Procurement Canada.  The five-year deal – with a six-month extension provision – came into effect in December and includes Canadian personnel deployed to provide services to the USN. Lockheed Martin won a $678.4 million modification to support the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft retrofit and modification efforts for the Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, non-US Department of Defense (DoD) F-35 program partners, and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed in December 2028. The order and contract being modified were not competed. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Middle East & Africa Europe Norway said Friday it wants to reintroduce mandatory construction of air raid shelters in new buildings, one of around 100 proposals aimed at boosting preparedness in case of war. Norway, a NATO member that shares a northern border with Russia, […]

Americas Lockheed Martin won a $678.4 million modification, which adds scope to procure various material modification kits, special test/tooling equipment, and associated seed assets to support the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft retrofit and modification efforts for the Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, non-US Department of Defense (DoD) F-35 program partners, and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed in December 2028. The order and contract being modified were not competed. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Vigor Marine won a $7.8 million firm-fixed-price contract for the 50-calendar day shipyard availability for the mid-term availability of Military Sealift Command’s fast combat support vessel USNS Washington Chambers (T-AKE 11). This contract includes a base period and two unexercised options for additional work and time, which if exercised, would increase the cumulative value of this contract to $7,991,778. Work will be performed in Portland, Oregon, beginning January 10, 2025, and is expected to be completed by February 28, 2025. This contract was competitively procured with proposals solicited via the sam.gov website and three offers received. Military Sealift Command, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity. Middle […]

The European Defence Agency (EDA) has launched the Small Arms Ammunition Technologies (SAAT) project, a four-year initiative led by Belgian defence company FN Herstal and supported by a diverse European consortium to establish a common standard for small arms ammunition. 

The project, which brings together 18 partners from nine countries — including defence manufacturers, research organisations, and national Ministries of Defence — aims to strengthen interoperability among European armed forces and to also advance ammunition technology. The kick-off meeting, held in mid-December, laid the groundwork for the project’s governance and collaborative framework. 

With a budget of €8.3 million, the SAAT project demonstrates a shared commitment among participating EU Member States — Belgium, Czechia, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, and non-EU members Norway and Switzerland — to address the following objectives: 

• Establish performance criteria for small arms ammunition to counter present and future threats
• Analyse ammunition components such as projectiles, propellants, and cartridge cases
• Develop projectile prototypes
• Advance the design and functionality of key ammunition technologies

By creating a common standard for small arms ammunition, the initiative aims to reduce dependency on external suppliers and ensure a unified European Union response to evolving security threats.

As well as project coordinator FN Herstal, the project’s consortium brings together Beretta, CZUB, Eurenco, Fiocchi Munizioni, Mesko, Nammo, Nobel Sport, and Swiss P Defence. Complementing these companies are research institutions such as Switzerland’s Armasuisse, DGA Techniques Terrestres of France, FFI from Normway, FOI in Sweden, the Royal Military Academy of Belgium, TNO in the Netherlands, and the Military University of Technology in Poland. 

About EDA

EDA supports its 27 Member States in improving their defence capabilities through European cooperation. Acting as an enabler and facilitator for Ministries of Defence willing to engage in collaborative capability projects, the Agency has become the ‘hub’ for European defence cooperation with expertise and networks allowing it to address the whole spectrum of capabilities.

Americas Airbus US Space & Defense Inc., Arlington, Virginia won a $315,043,393 modification for UH-72 Lakota contractor logistics support and engineering services. Work will be performed in Grand Prairie, Texas, with an estimated completion date of December 31, 2025. Fiscal 2025 operation and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $85,621,324 were obligated at the time of the award. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. The US Navy has declared initial operational capability (IOC) for the Next-Generation Jammer Mid-Band (NGJ-MB) system, taking a major step in providing the E/A-18 Growler an edge in electromagnetic spectrum warfare. Utilizing the latest software-based and electronically scanned array technologies, the NGJ-MB provides enhanced capabilities to deny and distract adversaries’ radars in the range of 2 GHz to 6 GHz of the overall threat spectrum. Middle East & Africa Elbit Systems has secured a significant $60 million contract with a NATO European country to supply its advanced ReDrone counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS). This deal highlights the growing concern amongst NATO members regarding the increasing threat of unmanned aerial systems (UAS), and their potential misuse by terrorists and smugglers. Elbit Systems, a leading global defence technology company, is set to deliver the […]

Americas Boeing won a $615.8 million contract for the F-15 Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System full rate production. This deal provides for procurement of Group A and Group B kits, system engineering program management, and interim contractor support lay-in material. Work will be performed in St. Louis, Missouri; and Nashua, New Hampshire, and is expected to be completed by December 31, 2030. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity. Laughlin Air Force Base in Texas bid farewell to its last T-1A Jayhawk last month, as the Air Force continues its drive to retire the heavy aircraft trainer. Laughlin’s last Jayhawk, from the 86th Flying Training Squadron, took off from the base December 17. It joined a pair of T-6A Texan IIs and a pair of T-38C Talons as the centerpiece of a five-plane flyover, which twice passed over Laughlin’s airfield and air traffic control tower. After the other planes split off, the T-1 continued to its final resting place at “The Boneyard,” an airplane graveyard at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona. Middle East & Africa Turkey said Monday that it was “only a matter of time” before Syrian Kurdish fighters – […]

Americas The US Air Force has conducted Exercise Reaper Castillo to test the mission capabilities of the MQ-9 Reaper drone in challenging environments. The drills involved the 65th Special Operations Squadron (SOS) to test dirt-strip landings, refueling, rearming, and rapid relaunches. Above the Melrose Air Force Range in New Mexico, an MQ-9 Reaper circled the area, surveying the terrain before landing on a dirt runway. Dutch shipyard Damen has signed an agreement with Alblasserdam-based Nevesbu to provide engineering support in constructing Colombia’s Sigma-class frigates. The contract encompasses basic and detailed engineering works to complete the program, which is expected to produce up to five modern warships for Bogotá’s naval force. It will also enable Bogotá’s local program partner Cotecmar to build the system under license domestically. Middle East & Africa The Turkish navy has begun the new year by announcing the construction of three warships based on domestic designs: a submarine, an aircraft carrier and the lead ship of the highly anticipated TF-2000 air-defense destroyer series. The shipbuilding programs are closely linked to the political and naval ambitions of Turkey, honing the country’s long-range force projection and strike capabilities, in particular. Europe Latvia’s government and local drone manufacturers are preparing a shipment of […]

Americas The US Coast Guard has received a stand-in icebreaker ship to support the service’s polar cutter fleet modernization program. Handed over by Offshore Service Vessels, the MV Aiviq’s primary role is to retain the force’s presence in the Arctic until the arrival of the service’s new Polar Security Cutters by the 2030s. The $125-million deal to procure the commercially-available system was awarded to the Louisiana-based maritime company in November. After its induction, the MV Aiviq will be renamed USCGC Storis, which makes the system the second to bear the name. The US Army has chosen BAE Systems to prototype a new artillery cannon, envisioned to defend bases against a variety of threats including unmanned aerial systems, cruise missiles and other advanced air threats. The system has been dubbed the Multi-Domain Artillery Cannon (MDAC) and Hypervelocity Projectile (HVP) prototype. Middle East & Africa The United States has officially greenlit a potential arms deal with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, marking another significant step in the Gulf nation’s efforts to modernize its naval capabilities. The deal, approved by the State Department and reported to Congress by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency [DSCA], involves selling twenty MK 54 MOD 0 Lightweight Torpedoes [LWT], […]

Americas According to Defense Post, L3Harris has failed to overturn the US Army’s decision to award Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) a $991-million contract to produce the HADES next-generation spy plane. This after the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) ruled in favor of SNC to proceed with production despite a protest filed in October. The GAO’s decision confirms that the winning vendor met all operational and regulatory requirements and that the contract award was made in full compliance with the law. The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) demonstrated the first at-sea refueling of the No Manning Required Ship (NOMARS) program. A pair of unmanned surface vessels (USV) — the Ranger and the Mariner — demonstrated the task originally designed for the program’s Defiant USV. Middle East & Africa Israel’s Ministry of Defense and the IDF inaugurated a new Directorate for AI and Autonomy this week, aimed at spearheading research, development, and force-building in the fields of artificial intelligence and autonomous systems across all branches of the IDF. During a ceremony attended by the Director-General of the Ministry of Defense, Major General (Res.) Eyal Zamir, and other senior officials, the directorate was presented as a foundation for an operational and technological […]