France is to upgrade its A330-200 Phénix MRTT fleet into C2 nodes for the Future Combat Air System/Système de Combat Aérien du Futur. (AAE)  France is to upgrade its fleet of Airbus Defence and Space (DS) A330-200 Phénix Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft for greater command-and-control (C2) connectivity, the manufacturer announced on 23 October.  The Standard 2 upgrade will convert the French Air and Space Force's (Armée de l'Air et de l'Espace: AAE's) final fleet of 15 aircraft “into a high bandwidth communication relay node, with...

A B-52H Stratofortress takes off from Edwards Air Force Base, California, in 2021, to conduct a captive-carry flight test of the AGM-183A ARRW Instrumented Measurement Vehicle 2. (US Air Force/Matt Williams)  The US Air Force (USAF) launched a Lockheed Martin AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) on 12 October.  “This test launched a full prototype operational hypersonic missile and focused on the ARRW's end-to-end performance,” the USAF said in a statement. “The air force gained valuable new insights into the capabilities of thi...

KAI expects to complete integration of the Mistral ATAM with its Marine Attack Helicopter by 2027. (Janes/Akhil Kadidal)  MBDA has received a contract from Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) to integrate its Mistral Air-to-Air Missile (ATAM) system on the new Marine Attack Helicopter (MAH).    The contract was announced on 17 October, during the Seoul International Aerospace and Defence Exhibition (ADEX) 2023. An MBDA spokesperson told   Janes   during ADEX 2023 that the contract was signed earlier this year.   The Mistral AT...

KAI's two-tiered combat MUM-T concept involves a formation of four unmanned fighters paired with a single KAI KF-21 fighter aircraft with an additional three to four smaller air-launched effects (designated by KAI as Adaptable Aerial Platforms) providing additional support. (Janes)  After unveiling a new unmanned fighter (or ‘loyal wingman') programme in support of the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) KF-21 in May 2023, two KAI officials told Janes that the company is also conceptualising air-launched effects (ALEs) to be linked to the unmann...

The Republic of Korea Army displays the Battalion surveillance UAV at ADEX 2023 in Seoul. (Janes/Amit Kalra)  The Republic of Korea Army (RoKA) displayed the Battalion multi-purpose rotary-wing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) at Aerospace & Defense Exhibition (ADEX) 2023 held in Seoul from 17 to 22 October.  The UAV is being developed by the RoKA's Army Tiger Demonstration Brigade, which was formed in 2022 to test and integrate artificial intelligence (AI) and unmanned systems capability.  A representative from the RoKA told Janes that the army...

Firstec said it plans to improve its canister-launched loitering UAV for increased speed and range by 2025. The version shown in this image is the initial reconnaissance UAV. A later variant will be a loitering munition. (Janes)  A new loitering unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed by South Korea's Firstec Co Ltd has been undergoing field trials with the Republic of Korea Army (RoKA).    A company representative told   Janes   during the Seoul International Aerospace & Defense Exhibition (ADEX) 2023 on 20 October that 10 UAV...

One of the three KC-390 tanker-transport aircraft to be fielded by the Portuguese Air Force. (Victor Barreira)  The Portuguese Air Force (Força Aérea Portuguesa: FAP) formally started operations with the first Embraer KC-390 Millennium medium-lift tanker-transport aircraft on 19 October.  The service said that the delivery flight between Brazil and Portugal marked the beginning of the KC-390's operational activity within the FAP.    The aircraft with tail number 26901 is scheduled to achieve the initial operational capability (IOC) in Ma...

A B-52H Stratofortress takes off from Edwards Air Force Base, California, in 2021, to conduct a captive-carry flight test of the AGM-183A ARRW Instrumented Measurement Vehicle 2. (US Air Force/Matt Williams)  The US Air Force (USAF) launched a Lockheed Martin AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) on 12 October.  “This test launched a full prototype operational hypersonic missile and focused on the ARRW's end-to-end performance,” the USAF said in a statement. “The air force gained valuable new insights into the capabilities of thi...

An Airbus C295 transport aircraft from a previous Ecuadorian Air Force order departs Airbus' Seville production facility for delivery on 6 June 2014. (Airbus Defence and Space Electronics (formerly Cassidian Optroni))  The government of Ecuador announced the acquisition of two Airbus C295 aircraft on 18 October. President Guillermo Lasso revealed the deal on social media platforms, highlighting the security and emergency response roles the aircraft are set to play.  “We have finalized the purchase of two C295 aircraft from Airbus, which will...

Huneed Technologies and Nordic Wing have agreed to partner on promoting the Astero/Troy UAV to Indo-Pacific countries. (Janes/Amit Kalra)  South Korean firm Huneed Technologies has entered a partnership with Danish firm Nordic Wing to collaborate on promoting the latter's Astero unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in the Indo-Pacific.  Under the partnership agreement – signed on 19 October on the third day of the International Aerospace & Defense Exhibition (ADEX) 2023 held in Seoul – Huneed Technologies will lead regional campaigns for the UAV and...

Two of three 737 NG airframes undergoing conversion to Wedgetail AEW1 platforms by STS Aviation Services in Birmingham, England. The MoD has cited contractor performance and other issues behind delays to the programme. (Boeing)  The United Kingdom has spelt out the causes for the delay to the delivery schedule of the Boeing E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning Mk1 (AEW1) aircraft.  Answering questions in the House of Commons on 18 October, Minister of State at the Ministry of Defence (MoD), James Cartlidge, said the delay had been caused by...

The KAI MCH will deploy its BAE Systems Archerfish Mine Neutralisation System and its Teledyne Gavia autonomous underwater vehicle in its interior cargo section to reduce drag on the helicopter. (Janes/Akhil Kadidal)  Korea Aerospace Industries' (KAI's) new Mine Countermeasures Helicopter (MCH) will have two out of its three deployable anti-mine assets located within the aircraft's internal cargo bay.  According to a project member in KAI, the helicopter, which is currently under development, will store both its BAE Systems Archerfish Mine Ne...

A 1:4 scale prototype of the AAV by KAI is displayed at ADEX 2023. (Janes/Amit Kalra)  Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) showcased a prototype of its Advanced Air Vehicle (AAV), which is under development, at the Seoul International Aerospace & Defense Exhibition (ADEX) 2023 held from 17 to 22 October.  Speaking to Janes, Cha Hongjung, senior manager of the KAI AAV project, said the company is progressing the vehicle's development on a digital model named C103, a local designation given to the present iteration of the AAV prototype. Apart from...

A Lockheed Martin C-130J-30 transport aircraft performs a tactical take-off from an unprepared runway. (Lockheed Martin Aeronautics)  The Department of National Defense (DND) in Manila has announced plans to procure three Lockheed Martin C-130J-30 Super Hercules medium-lift transport aircraft for the Philippine Air Force (PAF).  The DND said on 17 October that it has issued a ‘notice to proceed' with the procurement and awarded the project to Lockheed Martin. It said deliveries are scheduled for July 2026, October 2026, and January 2027 respe...

Hyundai and Kia envisage the HFC drone to have a cargo carrying capacity of 200 kg and a flight endurance of two hours. (Janes/Amit Kalra)  Hyundai Motor Group and its sister firm Kia unveiled the hydrogen-fuelled cargo (HFC) concept drone at the Seoul International Aerospace & Defense Exhibition (ADEX) 2023 held from 17 to 22 October.    A Kia official told   Janes  that the new platform represents the next phase of the Kia and Hyundai group's focus on developing hydrogen-fuelled unmanned aircraft.   In 2022 Hyundai revea...

Royal Norwegian Air Force P-3 Orion. (Janes/Patrick Allen)  The Argentine Ministry of Defense and the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency (NDMA) signed a contract for the purchase of three Lockheed P-3C Orions and one P-3N Orion for the Argentine Navy on 17 October. The contract is worth nearly USD60 million, to be paid over the next three years.    The contract was signed by Argentine Minister of Defense Jorge Taiana, Chief of the General Staff of the Argentine Navy Admiral Julio Guardia, and NDMA Director Magnus Hansvold. The signing too...

KAL-ASD's FVL model concept demonstrated vertical take-off and landing and cruise-mode configuration during ADEX 2023. (Janes/Akhil Kadidal)  The US Army's selection of the Bell V-280 ‘Valor' tiltrotor aircraft has prompted Korean Air Aerospace Division (KAL-ASD) to revisit its domestically developed tiltrotor aircraft programme.  During the Seoul International Aerospace & Defense Exhibition (ADEX) 2023 held from 17 to 22 October, KAL-ASD unveiled its new Future Vertical Lift (FVL) concept for the first time.  “This is a future long-range ass...

Model of the Aron M80 WIG flying ship. (Janes/Amit Kalra)  The Republic of Korea Marine Corps (RoKMC) exhibited a model of the Aron M80 wing-in-ground (WIG) effect aircraft at the Seoul International Aerospace & Defense Exhibition (ADEX) 2023 held from 17 to 22 October.    Speaking to   Janes  , an RoKMC officer said the WIG aircraft can provide an edge in amphibious operations with its ability to rapidly deploy troops. The Republic of Korea Navy (RoKN) and RoKMC are pursuing the ability to conduct high-speed amphibious operati...

AMAD quadcopter by Poongsan can carry three explosive warheads on the belly section of its central module. (Janes/Amit Kalra)  Korean firm Poongsan showcased the latest iteration of the Aerial Munition Attack Drone (AMAD) system at Aerospace & Defense Exhibition (ADEX) 2023 held from 17 to 22 October in Seoul.  Speaking to Janes, Poongsan said that they are progressing with the development of the AMAD system also known as the civil-military commercialisation project. A project valued at KRW1.99 billion (USD1.46 million), and jointly researche...

A new GEO satellite will be procured to replace SICRAL1 and provide continuity in SHF services. (Thales Alenia Space)  The Italian Ministry of Defence (MoD) is seeking new geostationary (GEO) and low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites to increase the resilience of its armed forces under the latest Documento Programmatico Pluriennale (Multi-year Planning Document, DPP) 2023–2025, published on 16 October.  The largest planned space programme in the planning document is for a constellation of high-performance communications and data relay satellites....