In this artist's rendition the Multi Canister Launcher is installed on the side of a turret. (SpearUAV)  SpearUAV has developed a unit capable of launching multiple Viper 300 loitering munitions.    Speaking to   Janes  at DSEI 2023 in London, where the unit was debuted, the company's chief business development officer, Itamar Ben-Tovim, said that work on the Multi Canister Launcher (MCL) commenced around two years ago in response to customer demand and internal recognition of the operational benefits of the capability....

A complete Orion 2.2 TE UAS includes integrated electro-optical payloads such as the NextVision Raptor, XQT AI, and XQT LRF. (Elistair)  Elistair, a France-based manufacturer of tethered unmanned aircraft systems (UASs), announced the launch of the Orion 2.2 TE UAS at DSEI 2023, held from 12 to 15 September in London.  The Orion 2.2 TE is designed for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and telecommunication applications in both the defence and civil domains. The UAS can also be deployed in border control, forward operating b...

One of the Royal Danish Air Force's first four F-35As departs Luke Air Force Base in Arizona ahead of its transatlantic crossing to Denmark. (Danish MoD/Lockheed Martin)  The first Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) aircraft for Denmark arrived in-country on 14 September.  The first four aircraft arrived at Flyvestation Skrydstrup (Skrydstrup Air Base) from Luke Air Force Base (AFB) in Arizona, where it had been part of the international training effort. Their arrival was attended by senior Danish government and mil...

The NCSIST Albatross II, pictured above from TADTE 2023, has an endurance of 16 hours with a range of more than 300 km. (Janes/Kapil Kajal)  Taiwan's National Chung-Shan Institute of Science & Technology (NCSIST) displayed 10 unmanned aircraft systems (UASs) at the Taipei Aerospace & Defense Technology Exhibition 2023 (TADTE 2023) held in Taipei from 14 to 16 September.  The showcased UASs included Albatross II, Cardinal III, Image Guidance, Position Guidance, Decoy, Anti-Radiation, Tactical Short Range, Loitering Unmanned Aircraft Type 1 and...

The new ASW sonobuoy dispensing capability, unveiled at DSEI in London, is based on the Skeldar V-200 vertical take-off and landing UAS. (Janes/Kate Tringham)  UMS Skeldar and Ultra Maritime have jointly developed a new anti-submarine warfare (ASW) sonobuoy dispensing capability for rotary-winged unmanned aircraft systems (UASs).  The new capability, which is based on the Skeldar V-200 vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) UAS, was displayed for the first time at the DSEI 2023 exhibition in London.  It enables the Skeldar V-200 UAS to be used...

South Korea's original 2013 request to purchase Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning IIs cited a figure of 60 aircraft. This number was curtailed to 40 due to budgetary reasons. The South Korean government backed a proposal to acquire an additional 20 F-35As in 2022. (South Korea Ministry of National Defense)  The US State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sales (FMS) of up to 25 Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning IIs to South Korea.  The aircraft and related equipment have an estimated contract price of USD5.06 billion. This includ...

A file photo of a NATO RQ-4 Phoenix UAV that flew along the Finnish-Russian border for the first time on 13 September. (NATO)  NATO has flown its Northrop Grumman RQ-4D Phoenix high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) along the Finnish-Russian border for the first time.  NATO Air Command confirmed the mission, which had been visible via online flight tracker servicers that showed the RQ-4 Global Hawk Block 40-derived UAV flying from its home base at Sigonella on the Italian island of Sicily, and routing along a third...

The Indian Air Force is scheduled to have all 56 ordered Airbus C295s in service by August 2031. (Airbus Defence and Space)  Airbus Defence and Space has handed over the first of 56 C295 transport aircraft to the Indian Air Force (IAF).  According to Airbus Defence and Space, the C295 was delivered on 13 September in transport configuration and with an indigenous electronic warfare (EW) suite. Th aircraft “will leave Airbus' production site in Seville, Spain, for Delhi, India, in the next few days, piloted by a joint IAF-Airbus crew”, the com...

Denmark has begun training Ukrainian pilots on its F-16s, ahead of transferring the aircraft to the embattled country. (NATO)  Denmark has commenced the training of Ukrainian pilots on the Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon combat aircraft, the Danish Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed on 13 September.  Announcing a media event for the arrival of the first Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II into Flyvestation Skrydstrup (Skrydstrup Air Base), the MoD noted that Ukrainian pilots were being trained on the F-16 at the station.  “Among other th...

A computer-generated image of the P2012 Sentinel SMP equipped with sensors such as an EO/IR pod and IMSAR's NSP-7 radar for ISR operations. (IMSAR)  Taiwan's Apex Aviation and Utah-based IMSAR have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) at the Taipei Aerospace & Defense Technology Exhibition 2023 (TADTE 2023) to provide intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) services to the Coast Guard Administration (CGA) of Taiwan.  IMSAR will integrate its NSP-7 radar system into Tecnam's P2012 Sentinel Special Mission Platform (SMP) ai...

The Northrop Grumman B-21. (Northrop Grumman)  Northrop Grumman has commenced engine runs of the B-21 Raider bomber for the first time, the US Air Force (USAF) announced on 12 September.  The first engine run took place at Northrop Grumman's Palmdale, California, factory where the aircraft was built. Further details, including whether the engine runs involved a single engine or both engines, were not immediately available.  “Engine testing is an essential milestone for the program as the world's first sixth-generation aircraft continues on th...

The RAF intends to field the Striker II HMD on its Typhoon combat aircraft in 2027–28. (BAE Systems)  The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has contracted BAE Systems to further develop its Striker II helmet-mounted display (HMD) for the Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 combat aircraft.  The GBP40 million (USD49.9 million) award announced on 12 September at DSEI 2023 in London will see the company produce a number of test helmets for trials at its Warton site in northern England.  News of the contract came weeks after Group Captain Matthew D'Aubyn, Air Ca...

Gen Sanders said in his speech at DSEI 2023 that Ajax has been described “as an AH-64E on tracks”. (Janes/Nicholas Fiorenza)  The British Army will form an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) group by the end of 2023, the UK's Chief of the General Staff, General Patrick Sanders, announced in a speech on the first day of the DSEI 2023 defence exhibition held in London from 12 to 15 September. He said the UAS group would be formed within a reoriented Joint Aviation Command, “which will provide a focal point for industry, around which we intend to de...

MBDA and Mitsubishi Electric Corporation are to partner on the effects domain of the GCAP effort to develop a sixth-generation combat aircraft. (BAE Systems)  MBDA and Mitsubishi Electric Corporation are to partner on the effects domain of the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), it was announced on 13 September at DSEI 2023.    With MBDA UK and MBDA Italia representing the UK and Italy, respectively, Mitsubishi Electric    Corporation will represent Japan in the weapons and effectors pillar of the tri-national programme....

Leonardo Helicopters showcased the AW149 it is bidding for the UK NMH requirement at the DSEI 2023 event in London. (Janes/Gareth Jennings)  Leonardo Helicopters has highlighted recent exports success as it prepares for the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) to launch the second phase of its New Medium Helicopter (NMH) requirement.  Timed to coincide with the biannual DSEI defence exhibition in London, the announcement on 11 September is part of a wider push by Leonardo to promote itself as ‘The Home of British Helicopters' as it looks to secure th...

BAE Systems is now working to find military applications and customers for the Airlander 10 hybrid airship. (HAV)  BAE Systems is to explore military opportunities for the Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV) Airlander 10 hybrid airship.  A memorandum of understanding (MOU) announced at the DSEI 2023 defence exhibition in London on 13 September will see the FalconWorks division of BAE Systems identify defence and security logistics and long-endurance airborne communications and surveillance requirements that might be satisfied by the ultralow-emissions...

The Skylark 1-eVTOL enables users to operate without launch and recovery equipment, or a runway. (Elbit Systems)  Elbit Systems will supply the Israel Defense Forces' Artillery Corps with its Skylark 1-eVTOL small unmanned aircraft system (UAS), the company announced at DSEI 2023 in London.    Speaking to   Janes  , Ziv Avni, vice president and head of marketing and business development for Elbit Systems' Aerospace division, said that the Skylark 1-eVTOL had been developed to match the operating profile of the company's Skylark...

A mock-up of the Eurofighter Typhoon featuring Halcon II livery was displayed at the Paris Air Show 2023. (Janes/Gareth Jennings)  Spain has officially launched its anticipated Halcon II follow-on buy of Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft, budgetary documents released by the government show.  Published by the Council of Ministers on 12 September, the documents say that 25 additional Eurofighters (designated C.16 in national service) will be acquired to replace the Boeing EF-18 Hornet (C.15M) aircraft that the Spanish Air Force (Ejército del...

An artist's impression of the Jackdaw loyal wingman revealed by QinetiQ at DSEI 2023. (QinetiQ)  QinetiQ launched its “low-cost, high-performance” Jackdaw attritable unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) at the DSEI 2023 defence exhibition in London on 12 September.  Billed by the company as a UAV concept “to provide significant and affordable combat mass and battlespace capabilities”, the Jackdaw is intended to be what is colloquially known as a ‘loyal wingman' to manned combat aircraft.  “Designed for swarming and collaborative autonomous operation...

UK Space Command displays Tyche, an EO satellite being built by SSTL, at DSEI 2023. (Janes/Olivia Savage)  UK Space Command has displayed a scale model of the Tyche satellite at DSEI 2023 held between 12 and 15 September in London.  Tyche is a 150 kg concept demonstrator satellite being built by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) under a GBP22 million (USD27.4 million) contract.  The system is based on the company's Carbonite family of electro-optical (EO) satellites and is scheduled to launch in 2024.  The primary purpose of Tyche is to...