A Brazilian Air Force P-3AM Orion. Three aircraft are to be upgraded with new wings. (Airbus Military SAS)  The first re-winged Brazilian Air Force Lockheed P-3AM Orion maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) flew on 2 May, the service announced on 13 May, a major step towards improving the P-3AM fleet's readiness rate.  Elements of the wing that were replaced during the rebuild include the top coverings, front and rear spars, and the upper panels of the central wing and fuselage structures.  Brazilian manufacturer Akaer has delivered two additional s...

A T-45C Goshawk attached to Training Air Wing (TW) 2 receives fuel aboard the aircraft carrier, USS   George H W Bush   (CVN 77). The ship is conducting sustainment exercises to maintain carrier readiness.  (US Navy)  The US Navy (USN) fleet of Boeing T-45 Goshawk training aircraft has returned to flight following a month-long grounding, according to Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR). The type was grounded on 12 April following an engine malfunction during a training flight; the crew landed safely.    “Prel...

Italian Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft on the ramp at Nellis Air Force Base in the US. Consortium partner BAE Systems has confirmed that the country is looking to increase its fleet with additional aircraft. (Janes/Gareth Jennings)  Italy is set to buy additional Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft, with government approval to be sought in the third quarter (Q3) of 2024.    Consortium partner BAE Systems confirmed the potential sale, which   Janes   first reported from the IQPC International Fighter conference (I...

A UK Ministry of Defence image attached to a 13 May announcement of a GBP1 billion framework for the development of a hypersonic weapons capability. (Crown copyright)  The UK is to award contracts valued at GBP1 billion (USD1.26 billion) to companies and organisations across the country and overseas for the rapid development of a sovereign hypersonic strike capability.  The Ministry of Defence (MoD) made the announcement on 13 May, saying this “agile route is part of a broader drive across [the ministry] to increase the speed of defence procu...

The Malaysian Army Aviation is currently equipped with two helicopter types: the Agusta A109LOH (background) and the MD Helicopter MD530G (in foreground). The army lacks a medium rotary-wing utility and transport capability. (Janes/Akhil Kadidal)  The Malaysian Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) is planning to review the leasing of four Sikorsky UH-60A Black Hawk utility helicopters from a private company over delays in delivery of the aircraft.    Speaking to  Janes  on 9 May    during the recently concluded Defence Servic...

The Romanian Air Force is to equip its F-16s with the AIM-9X Block II air-to-air missile. (Romanian Air Force)  The United States has approved the sale of 300 RTX AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missiles to Romania, announcing a potential USD340.8 million sale on 14 May.  The US Department of State approval covers the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) of the missiles for the Romanian Air Force (RoAF) fleet of Lockheed Martin F-16AM/BM Block 15 Mid-Life Update (MLU) combat aircraft, as well as training missiles, related equipment,...

While the RAF operates high-performance platforms, such as the Eurofighter Typhoon (pictured), it suffers from a lack of numbers. (Crown Copyright)  BAE Systems has made the case for increasing the numerical combat capability of the UK Royal Air Force (RAF), telling reporters on 14 May that “you can never have enough mass”.  Speaking at the site of the BAE System's Warton production facility in northern England, senior officials said that this need for the type of resilience afforded by increased mass is a core component of the company's Air...

With the Eurofighter Typhoon set to remain in global service through into the 2060s, the LTE package is an essential element in maintaining the capabilities of the jet while also attracting new and follow-on customers. (Leonardo)  The NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency (NETMA) has launched the activities phase of the Eurofighter Long Term Evolution (LTE) project, awarding its first contracts to industry.  Speaking at BAE System's Warton production facility in northern England on 14 May, David Hulme, Eurofighter programme director...

An artist's impression of the ECW ‘loyal wingman' concept for the Luftwaffe being remotely controlled by a Eurofighter EK electronic combat aircraft. (Airbus)  Airbus is to develop a manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) capability to enable the Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft to remotely control ‘loyal wingmen' under the System and Teaming Advanced Research (STAR) programme.  An employment opportunity recently posted by the company for a chief engineer on the project spelled out its key objectives, not just for the Eurofighter but also as a br...

Four RoKAF Boeing (McDonnell Douglas) F-4Es conducted the fleet's final flight on 9 May 2024. The aircraft were painted in the various colour schemes used by the type over the course of RoKAF service, including a discontinued jungle camouflage pattern and a light grey scheme. Two aircraft were painted in the RoKAF's current dark grey colour scheme. (South Korean Ministry of National Defense)  The Republic of Korea Air Force (RoKAF) is preparing to retire its Boeing (McDonnell Douglas) F-4E Phantom IIs in June 2024.  The fleet conducted final...

The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said it has tested the KAI KF-21's ability to launch the MBDA Meteor air-to-air missile and guide the weapon to target using the aircraft's active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar. (Kim Jae-Hwan/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)  The Indonesian government has sought a reduction of its payment share for the joint development of the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) KF-21 fighter programme, from KRW1.6 trillion to KRW600 billion (USD1.2 billion to USD438 million), according t...

Following FARA's cancellation, the Boeing MH-6 Little Bird is due to soldier on with USSOCOM for the foreseeable future. (Janes/Patrick Allen)  US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) has shed light on how the organisation proposes to replace the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) in its acquisition schedule following the US Army's cancellation of the programme in February.  Addressing delegates at the Special Operations Forces (SOF) Week 2024 conference in Tampa, Florida, on 7 May, Program Executive Officer for Rotary Wing (PEO-RW)...

DEFTECH's Aludra EE UAV – pictured above displayed at the DSA 2024 exhibition – has a length of 3.28 m, a width of 4.86 m, and a maximum take-off weight of 120 kg. (Janes/Kapil Kajal)  Malaysia's DRB-HICOM Defence Technologies (DEFTECH) showcased its tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) – also known as Aludra EE – at the Defence Services Asia (DSA) 2024 exhibition held in Kuala Lumpur from 6 to 9 May.    A company representative from DEFTECH told  Janes  at the exhibition that the development of the UAV is completed.   “T...

A FOST Airbus AS365N2 Dauphin operated by British International Helicopters under the FHSU requirement. The MoD has put the tender out to requirement, hoping to secure a new service starting from 1 April 2026. (Janes/Patrick Allen)  The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has reopened its requirement for a Fleet Helicopter Support Unit (FHSU) provider to deliver a crewed rotary-wing service to the Royal Navy (RN), having seemingly failed to do so on previous occasions.  A notification posted on the UK government's Contract Finder website on 8 May ca...

An Aerovel Flexrotor unmanned aerial vehicle takes off from the flight deck of the guided-missile destroyer USS   Paul Hamilton  (DDG 60) in the Gulf in March 2023. Airbus has now acquired the manufacturer as it looks to expand its portfolio in the tactical vertical take-off and landing unmanned aircraft sector.  (US Navy)  Airbus has completed the purchase of US company Aerovel, which manufactures the Flexrotor unmanned aircraft system (UAS).  The European company announced the milestone on 7 May, saying it will...

The Malvus Sense and JOUAV VTOL UAS, CW-25H, on display at DSA 2024. (Janes/Vinod Kumar CV)  Malaysian firm Malvus Sense unveiled the CW-25H, a new hydrogen-electric-powered vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aircraft system (UAS), in collaboration with Chinese UAS firm JOUAV at the Defence Services Asia (DSA) 2024 exhibition held in Kuala Lumpur from 6 to 9 May.  Powered by hydrogen-electric hybrid technology, the CW-25H has a flight time of up to 330 minutes.  The two companies are collaborating on UASs for the Malaysian Armed...

Having previously signalled its intent to acquire 48 new Eurofighter Typhoons in addition to the 72 already received (pictured), Saudi Arabia is now looking at the Boeing F-15EX Eagle II and the Dassault Rafale for its future requirements also. (Saudi Press Agency)  France, the United Kingdom, and the United States are to bid on Saudi Arabia's pending combat aircraft requirement, with the Middle East country holding a full and open competition for the first time.  A senior industry official with knowledge of the requirement told Janes and oth...

It is possible that Malaysia will acquire the latest version of the Lockheed Martin AN/AAQ-33 Sniper airborne targeting pod, with the capability improvements as detailed in this 2021 Lockheed Martin infographic. (Lockheed Martin)  The US Department of State has approved a possible sale of Lockheed Martin AN/AAQ-33 Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods (ATPs) for the Royal Malaysian Air Force's (RMAF's) Boeing F/A-18D fleet.  The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on 7 May that 10 AN/AAQ-33 airborne targeting pods had been approv...

The T-650 – pictured above from the DSA 2024 exhibition – is an electrically powered heavy-lift UAS capable of lifting 300 kg out to a range of 30 km (or a radius of 15 km) at 140 km/h. (Janes/Kapil Kajal)  BAE Systems showcased its Herne extra-large autonomous underwater vehicle (XLAUV) and T-650 all-electric heavy-lift unmanned aircraft system (UAS) at the Defence Services Asia (DSA) 2024 exhibition held in Kuala Lumpur from 6 to 9 May.  This is the first time Herne and T-650 systems are being showcased in Asia.    Mike Blake, business...

The first upgraded Hercules was delivered back to the Portuguese Air Force on 2 May. (Victor Barreira)  After several delays, the Portuguese Air Force (Força Aérea Portuguesa: FAP) took delivery of the first modernised Lockheed Martin C-130H Hercules transport aircraft on 2 May.    A ‘stretched' C-130H-30 Hercules was formally received by the    Squadron 501 ‘Bisontes', the FAP said.    OGMA – Indústria Aeronáutica de Portugal was awarded a contract in November 2018 worth EUR15.5 million (USD16.7 million) to modernise two C...