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...

An artist's impression of the CH-53K in Israeli service. The IDF is to receive 12 helicopters, which it will use for heavy lift, long-range personnel recovery, and special mission insertion/exfiltration duties. (Lockheed Martin)  The US Navy (USN) has contracted Lockheed Martin to build a further eight CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift helicopters for Israel, the company announced on 24 August.  The Foreign Military Sales (FMS) agreement was part of a wider USD2.7 billion contract for the manufacture of 35 Lot 7 and Lot 8 helicopters to be deli...

Leonardo anticipates future export sales for its AW159 Wildcat helicopter, seen here in British Army Air Corps service. (Janes/Patrick Allen)  Leonardo Helicopters' UK business is confident of securing additional international orders for its AW159 multirole helicopter over the next year, having recently restarted production of the 6 tonne type for an undisclosed export customer.  Speaking on 22 August at an event to anoint the company's Yeovil, Somerset, site as ‘the home of British helicopters', Adam Clarke, managing director of Leonardo Hel...

Indonesia has had an interest in acquiring Lockheed Martin/Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopters produced at the PZL Mielec facility in Poland since 2007. (Lockheed Martin)  Indonesia has signed a heads of agreement (HOA) for the procurement of 24 Lockheed Martin/Sikorsky S-70M Black Hawk helicopters.  The HOA was signed by Sikorsky and PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) for the Indonesian Ministry of Defense (MoD). The MoD said the defence industry agreement “is related to the procurement of … the Black Hawk helicopters to strengthen the TNI helicopte...

Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense has said the new IRST pods will be fitted onto its Lockheed Martin F-16V fighter aircraft. (Lockheed Martin)  The US State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sales (FMS) of F-16 infrared search and track (IRST) systems to Taiwan.  The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said on 23 August that the potential deal, which needs Congress approval, is worth USD500 million.  The deal involves an unspecified number of IRST systems and associated equipment and support services. Lockheed...

MD Helicopters is to deliver six new and six upgraded MD 530F CWP helicopters to an undisclosed Middle Eastern customer. (MDH)  MD Helicopters (MDH) has been contracted to deliver new and upgraded MD 530F Cayuse Warrior Plus (CWP) light attack helicopters to an undisclosed Middle Eastern customer.  The award announced earlier in August covers six new helicopters and ‘glass cockpit' upgrades to six already delivered helicopters, with deliveries of all 12 to commence in 2024.  Jordan, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia are Middle Eastern countries that...

Six Iranian Khorramshahr ballistic missiles are seen flanked by Haj Qasem ballistic missiles during the handover ceremony. (president.ir)  Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) officially received what appeared to be its first Khorramshahr and Haj Qasem ballistic missiles in a ceremony attended by President Ebrahim Raisi to mark the Defence Industry Day on 22 August.  Six liquid-fuel Khorramshahrs were shown with three solid-propellant Haj Qasems on either side during the ceremony, all of them on transporter erector launchers (TELs)....

The US Department of State approved a possible sale of 36 Boeing F-15EXs to Indonesia in 2022. Indonesia has downsized its potential acquisition to 24 aircraft – likely to reduce contract costs. (Boeing)  The Indonesian government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Boeing for the acquisition of 24 F-15EX fighter aircraft.  The MOU, which was signed at Boeing's St Louis facility on 21 August, constitutes a “commitment to finalise the sale” of the F-15EXs, Boeing said.  The MOU was signed during a visit by Indonesia's Minister...

The first newbuild AH-64 delivery to Poland is scheduled for 2027. (Boeing)  On 21 August the US State Department announced its approval of Poland's USD12 billion purchase of 96 Boeing AH-64E Apache attack helicopters.  If Poland follows through with the full purchase – the approval does not necessarily commit the country to do so – it would become the largest operator of AH-64s outside the US. The helicopters are to be purchased via the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) process.  Poland submitted the request to purchase the AH-64s – along with as...

The Chinese joint air-sea combat readiness operation on 19 August 2023 saw 27 PLA aircraft fly into Taiwan's air-defence identification zone. (Taiwan Ministry of National Defense/Chinese Ministry of National Defense)  China said it launched a joint air and sea combat readiness operation around Taiwan on 19 August in response to a senior Taiwan politician's visit to the United States.  The Chinese Ministry of National Defense (MND) claimed that it had launched fighter jets, bombers, and airborne mission aircraft of the People's Liberation Army...

A Royal Danish Air Force F-16BM participated in the recent Royal International Air Tattoo in the UK. This aircraft, along with others from Denmark and the Netherlands, is to be transferred to Ukraine. (Janes/Gareth Jennings)  Denmark and the Netherlands have pledged to transfer Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon combat aircraft to Kyiv, with a joint communiqué announcing the proposed transfer on 20 August.  The two F-16 operators made their announcement some six weeks after they disclosed in mid-July their membership in a coalition of Europ...

A conceptual image of JetZero's blended wing body aircraft. (JetZero)  On 16 August the US Air Force (USAF) announced its selection of JetZero to build and flight test a large blended wing body testbed.  The experimental aircraft is scheduled to fly in 2027.  Blended wing body aircraft, by generating lift with the fuselage in addition to the wings, have significant fuel efficiency and short take-off advantages over conventional aircraft. Although the blended wing body concept has been demonstrated at small scales and in wind tunnels, no such...

Polish Minister of National Defence Mariusz Błaszczak speaking in front of the first two FA-50 combat aircraft to be delivered to the Polish Air Force. (Polish Ministry of National Defence)  Poland has received into service the first of 48 Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) FA-50 Fighting Eagle light combat aircraft.  The induction of the first two aircraft was announced by the Polish Minister of National Defence, Mariusz Błaszczak, at Mińsk Mazowiecki on 21 August. Błaszczak was speaking ahead of the Radom Air Show 2023, where the jets will be...

Based on available information, it is likely that the upgraded air-launched variant of Japan's Type 12 missile and the US-origin Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile-Extended Range could be used to turn Japan's cargo aircraft into lethal platforms. (Janes)  Transport aircraft of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) could be equipped with long-range missiles to improve the country's stand-off strike capabilities.    A Japan Ministry of Defense (MoD) spokesperson confirmed to   Janes   that the MoD and the Japan Self-Defense...

The 4×4 Waran launcher vehicle of the Gladius system with the FT-5 tactical reconnaissance UAV mounted. To the left is the training version of the BSP-U strike UAV. (Jakub Link-Lenczowski)  The Polish army unveiled the components of its new Gladius artillery strike-reconnaissance system during a military parade on 15 August, displaying a commander's vehicle and a mobile launcher vehicle, the FT-5 tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), and the training version of the BSP-U strike UAV (BSP-U(T)).  Huta Stalowa Wola's (HSW) Waran 4×4 is used as...

India's induction of four IAI Heron Mk IIs augments the country's unmanned capabilities along its border areas. (HAL/IAI/Janes)  The Indian Air Force (IAF) has inducted four Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) Heron Mk II medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for surveillance operations in India's northern sector, which has borders with both China and Pakistan, a senior officer of the service told Janes on 14 August.  The officer confirmed that the four Heron Mk II units will be equipped with long-range observat...

Swedish Leopard 2 MBTs and CV90 AFVs donated to Ukraine will receive additional ammunition from Sweden following a military aid package. (Krauss-Maffei Wegmann)  The Swedish government is preparing a SEK3.4 billion (USD313.4 million) military aid package for Ukraine, the authority announced on 15 August.  The assistance includes ammunition and spare parts for several of the equipment donated to Ukraine by Sweden, including the CV90 armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs) and Leopard 2 main battle tanks (MBTs).  In addition, Sweden intends to supply...

The Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force has been using AVIC Wing Loong II UAVs to develop new operational methods for joint operations with other services and manned platforms. (Li Jianshu/Zhuhai Media Group/VCG via Getty Images)  The Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) has been developing new combat tactics and methods of operation for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), including remote take-offs and landings at locations far from home base airfields and potential manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T).  According to a report by...

The Luna NG reconnaissance UAS – constructed using glass- and carbon-fibre-reinforced plastics to give it a low acoustic, thermal, and radar profile – is being supplied to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The German and Pakistan armed forces are also operating the system. (Rheinmetall AG)  Ukraine will receive new Luna NG (next generation) reconnaissance unmanned aircraft systems (UASs) from Rheinmetall.  The delivery is part of a EUR700 million (USD765 million) military aid package for Ukraine pledged by the German government at the NATO summit...

Kongsberg's Cortex Typhon C-UAS solution is being delivered to Ukraine. The collective solution integrates the company's RWS and surveillance systems from Teledyne FLIR Defense. (Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace)  Ukraine will receive new counter unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS) from Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace to enhance the capabilities of its armed forces.  According to a Kongsberg announcement on 14 August, the company will deliver several Cortex Typhon systems for GBP56 million (USD71 million), funded by the International Fund for Ukrain...