The US Navy is trying to develop directed energy systems like HELIOS to counter low-end threats. (Lockheed Martin)  While underscoring effective US Navy (USN) surface-fleet operations in the Red Sea since October, Rear Admiral Fred Pyle, USN surface warfare director, acknowledged a need to not only replenish weapons stocks but also to find additional options to defend forces against low-end threats.  Speaking on 14 May during a Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) event on Red Sea surface warfare operations, Rear Adm Pyle sai...

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...

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,...

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...

A keel-laying ceremony for the Italian Navy's new large oceanographic ship was held on 14 May. (Fincantieri)  Fincantieri held a keel-laying ceremony for the Italian Navy's new large oceanographic ship (Nave Idro-Oceanografica Maggiore: NIOM) in Riva Trigoso on 14 May, the shipbuilder confirmed the same day.    The vessel is being procured as part of the Italian Navy's hydro-oceanographic fleet renewal programme. It is intended to replace the navy's ageing 83 m research and survey ship   Ammiraglio Magnaghi  (A 5303) – which h...

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...

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...

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...

Guyana recently took delivery of Metal Shark 115 Defiant patrol boat. (Metal Shark)  Metal Shark is augmenting its footprint in the Caribbean with a recent boat-building contract with Jamaica, and a delivery of a patrol boat to Guyana.  The Louisiana-based shipyard will be building and maintaining 22 Metal Shark 36 Fearless speedboats for the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), according to a recent contract between the yard and the JDF, Metal Shark confirmed on 2 May.  The Fearless vessels, acquired via direct purchase, will be operated by the JDF...

The Sirko-S1 modular UGV developed by Ukrainian company SkyLab is designed to support resupply, medevac, reconnaissance, and mining operations. Its dimensions are 1100×800×500 mm with a maximum speed of up to 7.5 m/s. (Mykhailo Fedorov/Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine)  A Ukrainian-made unmanned ground vehicle (UGV), Sirko-S1, is undergoing trials in Estonia during Exercise ‘Spring Storm', held between 6 and 17 May.  The trials will focus on testing the vehicle's minelaying capabilities in collaboration with ASAX Innovation, the...

The 7.5 m Scout S45 surveillance USV and a 15 m Cavalry A150 attack USV are pictured on display at DSA 2024. The A2000 surveillance and attack USV is seen in the background. (Janes/Vinod Kumar CV)  China's Poly Defence displayed models of a series of new combat and reconnaissance unmanned surface vessels (USVs) and diver support vessels at the Defence Services Asia (DSA) 2024 exhibition in Kuala Lumpur.  The displayed vessels included the Scout S45 surveillance USV, the Cavalry A150 attack USV, the A2000 attack and surveillance USV, the SDV-1...

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...

Royal Danish Navy frigate HDMS  Iver Huitfeldt  (pictured in October 2021) was deployed to the Red Sea from February–April 2024.  (Michael Nitz)    Danish Defence Command has published a report on the technical issues experienced by Royal Danish Navy (RDN) frigate HDMS  Iver Huitfeldt  (F 361) during an engagement on 9 March 2024 in the Red Sea as part of the US-led multinational task force Operation ‘Prosperity Guardian'.   The 13-page report released on 2 May found that a previously unknown is...

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...

The Raybolt, displayed at the DSA 2024 exhibition, is a manportable anti-tank system designed to be carried and operated by one user. It fires guided projectiles that can be used in either top-attack or direct-attack flightpath modes. (Janes/Kapil Kajal)  South Korea is planning to initiate a “performance improvement plan” for its Raybolt anti-tank guided missile (ATGM), a LIG Nex1 spokesperson told Janes at the Defence Services Asia (DSA) 2024 exhibition held in Kuala Lumpur from 6 to 9 May.  The Raybolt ATGM is developed by South Korea's Ag...

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...

Anduril's Pulsar multimission EW solution is to be available in air (Pulsar-V) and ground (Pulsar-G) variants. (Andrew White)  US Special Operations Command's (USSOCOM's) electronic warfare (EW) Family of Systems (FoS) is the “newest” programme in the Program Executive Office (PEO) – SOF Warrior portfolio and was initially approved in November 2023 to focus on the “ground domain” operations, the command announced on 7 May.  SOF Warrior documents stated the EW FoS will include “dismounted/body-worn; mounted; unattended sensor; and small unmann...

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)...

Multichannel transmission systems operator-maintainers from the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, assemble a Terrestrial Transmission Line Of Sight radio system at Fort Stewart in Georgia in August 2019. (US Army )  US Army officials are soliciting industry feedback on the service's technology development strategy to revamp its Terrestrial Transmission Line of Sight (TRILOS) communications equipment, with plans to acquire two to three new TRILOS variants beginning in fiscal year (FY) 2026.  Led by Program Manager Tactica...

The EDF is procuring and sustaining some of its L3Harris communications equipment. The force currently operates the Falcon III RF-7800M-MP multiband networking manpack radio (pictured). (L3Harris Technologies)  L3Harris Technologies has been contracted by the Estonian Centre for Defence Investments (ECDI) to supply its radios to the Estonian and Moldovan defence forces.  The EUR30 million (USD32.3 million) deal involves the procurement of radios, supplies, and training for the Estonian Defence Forces (EDF) as well as maintenance and support f...