Airbus is impatient for the UK MoD to proceed with its New Medium Helicopter requirement, for which it is offering the H175M. (Janes/Gareth Jennings)  Airbus has repeated its call for the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) to progress its New Medium Helicopter (NMH) requirement at a quicker pace, with a senior official telling Janes and other defence media that it is “chomping at the bit” to fulfil the requirement with its H175M offering.  Speaking ahead of the DSEI 2023 defence exhibition in London, Lenny Brown, managing director of Airbus Helicop...

ST Engineering is partnering with Wigetworks Private Limited to create several variants of the Airfish 8 wing-in-ground (WIG) aircraft. (ST Engineering)  ST Engineering and Wigetworks have started a joint venture (JV) to develop multiple versions of the Airfish 8 wing-in-ground (WIG) effect aircraft.  Wigetworks Private Limited, a Singapore-based company, is developing the Airfish 8 for commercial and “parapublic” applications. The “Airfish 8 will be the baseline product. Variants can be developed based on [the] Airfish 8”, an ST Engineering...

A model of Blue Force Technologies' Fury UAV. (Anduril)  Anduril acquired Blue Force Technologies, designer of the Fury unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the company announced on 7 September.  Neither company divulged specifics about the purchase, including purchase price.  While Costa Mesa, California-based Anduril is best known for its Lattice defence operating system software, the company has acquired companies in other defence sectors. In June Anduril announced the purchase of Adranos, a rocket propulsion manufacturer, with intentions to sca...

Intelsat's New Dawn (Intelsat 28), designed to transmit across C-band and Ku-band at GEO orbit, to provide voice, wireless backhaul, internet, and media application services to African customers. (Intelsat)  Satellite communications (satcom) company Intelsat has created a new international business development unit, geared specifically towards expanding the company's government and defence portfolio in Europe, as well as emerging markets in Africa and the Indo-Pacific region, a senior executive told Janes.  Currently, the majority of the comp...

The HCMC air vehicle on the deck of HMS   Prince of Wales  .  (Crown Copyright)  The UK Royal Navy (RN) and W Autonomous Systems have completed a proof-of-concept activity designed to demonstrate the operation of a fixed-wing cargo-carrying unmanned aircraft system (UAS) from the flight deck of a Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier.  Performed on 5 September, the trial saw a W Autonomous Systems' HCMC short take-off landing (STOL) air vehicle take off from Predannack Airfield on the Lizard peninsula, complete a...

The SLR-P enables the launch and recovery of the Reaper UAV from austere locations with a much reduced manpower footprint. (Janes/Patrick Allen)  The US Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) and Air Forces Africa (AFAFRICA) has demonstrated a new package for the remote launch and recovery of the General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc (GA-ASI) MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), it announced on 7 September.    The command proved the capability during a technological proof of concept of the Reaper's Satellite Launch and Recovery Package (S...

With the first of 14 F-16s for Slovakia rolled out on 6 September, deliveries should commence in the second quarter of 2024. (Slovak MoD)  Lockheed Martin rolled out the first F-16C Block 70 Fighting Falcon multirole combat aircraft for Slovakia during a ceremony at the company's Greenville production facility in South Carolina on 6 September.  Slovak Defence Minister Martin Sklenár and other high-ranking Slovakian dignitaries attended the event, where the first of 12 single-seat F-16C and two twin-seat F-16D Block 70 aircraft was officially...

The Slinger, pictured above from the demonstrations, has a maximum ammunition load of 150 rounds. The Slinger's thermal imager has a detection range of more than 13,700 m, a recognition range of more than 5,100 m, and an identification range of more than 4,000 m. (EOS)  Canberra-based Electro Optic Systems (EOS) demonstrated its directed energy and kinetic counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UASs) capabilities in the presence of “potential export customers from Europe, the Middle East, North America, and Southeast Asia”, the company announce...

Boeing Australia FSR Luc de Leacy (left) and USAF Airman First Class Anthony Cardoni on the flight deck of a USAF C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft during a field test of Boeing's ATOM technology. (Boeing)  Boeing has conducted the first field test of an augmented reality (AR)-based maintenance technology it has developed to enable swift repair of deployed aircraft.  The technology, named Augmented Training Operations Maintenance (ATOM), was tested on a Boeing C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft belonging to the United States Air F...

Two F-15EXs return from a test flight over the Gulf of Mexico on 2 August 2023. (USAF)  The Boeing F-15EX completed Integrated Test and Evaluation (IT&E) Phase I, the US Air Force (USAF) announced on 30 August.  Testing was conducted by the USAF's 53rd Wing, based at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.  Test flights included 19 ‘large-force engagements', integrating with fifth-generation fighters, and launching three AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSMs), the USAF said.  “This event marks the conclusion of F-15EX IT&E Phase I,” s...

The FlyEye UAS on display at MSPO 2023. (Janes/Amael Kotlarski)  The Polish defence procurement agency, Agencja Uzbrojenia, has signed a contract with WB Electronics for the delivery of FlyEye unmanned aircraft systems (UASs).    Speaking to   Janes   at the International Defence Industry Exhibition MSPO 2023 held in Kielce, Poland, a WB Group spokesperson told   Janes  that more than 400 FlyEye UASs would be delivered – each complete system consists of four FlyEye aerial vehicles and up to two control stations. The...

Now being received by the US Air Force (pictured), the F-15EX Eagle II is being pitched to Poland, as the country looks to plug an air superiority/dominance gap in its future combat aircraft inventory. (US Air Force)  Boeing is formally pitching its F-15EX Eagle II to Poland, saying the air dominance fighter offers the country “unmatched” capabilities.  Announcing its offer at the MSPO 2023 defence exhibition in Kielce, Boeing said on 7 September that a potential US Department of Defense (DoD) Foreign Military Sales (FMS) buy would be extende...

Having already delayed delivery of the first TR-3 F-35 to the end of 2023, Lockheed Martin has said this will now happen in the second quarter of 2024. (US Air Force)  Lockheed Martin has had to delay again the delivery of Technology Refresh 3 (TR-3)-standard F-35 Lightning II combat aircraft to international customers as it looks to finalise software developments.  The manufacturer announced the move on 6 September, saying that TR-2 configuration aircraft will continue to be delivered as planned.  “We have updated our F-35 TR-3 schedule proj...

Indonesia's selection of the Airbus A330 MRTT for acquisition appears to have been partly prompted by the aircraft's ability to transfer fuel via both a fuselage-mounted boom and/or a hose-and-drogue transfer systems. (Airbus)  The Indonesian Ministry of Defense (MoD) has selected the Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) for acquisition.  In an announcement on 5 September, the MoD said that the plan to acquire Airbus A330 MRTTs had entered the “effective contract” phase. The announcement was made following a meeting between Indonesi...

An RSAF F-16 on display at Paya Lebar Air Base in September 2023. (Janes/Ridzwan Rahmat)  The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) has publicly confirmed that its upgraded Lockheed Martin F-16 C/D/D+ fighter aircraft are now armed with the Python 5 air-to-air missile.  This confirmation can be seen on an information board at a stand that has been set up at Paya Lebar Air Base to showcase the aircraft.    The base is accessible to the public from 9 to 10 September as part of an ‘open house' event to mark the service's 55th anniversary....

Japan has trimmed the number of KHI P-1s it intends to procure in favour of acquiring long-range unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). (Damon Coulter/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)  Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) has instituted a project team to develop a ‘future fixed-wing patrol aircraft' to replace its P-1 maritime patrol aircraft. The aircraft is currently operational with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF).  A company spokesperson told Janes that the project team for the ‘future fixed-wing aircraft' was instituted in Ap...

One of an undisclosed number of Yak-130 advanced jet trainer and light attack aircraft that Iran has recently received from Russia. (Fars News)  Iran has received an undisclosed number of Yakovlev Yak-130 ‘Mitten' advanced jet trainer and light attack aircraft from Russia, footage and imagery posted online on 2 September revealed.  At least one aircraft in Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) markings and high-visibility livery with national serial number 7-9701 was filmed flying at the 8th Tactical Air Base at Isfahan International Air...

With 50 F-35I Adir combat aircraft already ordered across two operational squadrons, Israel is to acquire 25 more aircraft to equip a third unit. (Israeli Air Force)  Israel has begun the formal process of acquiring a third squadron of Lockheed Martin F-35I Adir combat aircraft, with the Ministry of Defense (MoD) announcing governmental approval for the buy on 3 September.  The Israeli Air Force (IAF) already fields the F-35I (a national-specific version of the F-35A) with 140 Squadron ‘Golden Eagle' and 116 Squadron ‘Defenders of the South'...

KAI and Airbus Helicopters view prospective sales of the LAH to countries in Africa and the Middle East. (Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd  )  Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has signed a pre-emptive integrated procurement contract with Airbus Helicopters for the production of its Light Armed Helicopter (LAH) and the KUH-1 Surion.  The contract, which was signed on 30 August, covers the production of 300 helicopters in total over a period of 10 years, according to KAI. The company added that it covers not only the mass production of the LAH bu...

An image Tweeted by the Ukrainian MoD calling for the transfer of Taurus cruise missiles to complement the Storm Shadow and SCALP EG systems already supplied. (Ukrainian Ministry of Defence)  Ukraine is pressing its allies to transfer Taurus (Target Adaptive Unitary and dispenser Robotic Ubiquity System) cruise missiles to complement the Storm Shadow and SCALP EG systems already supplied.  The Ukrainian Ministry of Defence (MoD) posted artwork on its official X (formerly Twitter) account on 31 August showing the Taurus flanked by the Storm Sh...