The TUSAŞ Anka unmanned aerial vehicle is designed as a medium-altitude long-endurance intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance platform. However, it can also integrate smart micro munitions such as the Roketsan MAM-L air-to-surface munition. (Janes)  The Indonesian Ministry of Defense (MoD) said that it is in the process of acquiring 12 Turkish Aerospace (TUSAŞ) Anka (Phoenix) medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).  In an announcement on its social media account on 31 July, the MoD said the purchase proc...

Sky-Hero's Loki MkII UAV can operate in dark, GPS-denied, indoor environments. (Janes/Akshara Parakala)  Belgian firm Sky-Hero has set up a manufacturing facility in Mumbai under a local subsidiary, Sky-Hero India, at which it aims to licence-produce its Loki MkII unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and Sigyn MkI unmanned ground vehicle (UGV).  The Loki MkII UAV is a small tactical quadcopter designed to operate in small, dark areas indoors as well as Global Positioning System (GPS)-denied and high-obstacle environments. The impact-resistant UAV c...

The DS-SAR satellite launched onboard the ISRO's PSLV-C56 rocket in India on 30 July. (Indian Space Research Organisation )  Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) successfully launched its Earth observation satellite – DS-SAR – into space onboard the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C56) from Sriharikota, India, the company announced on 30 July.  According to the announcement, the synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite will be utilised by Singapore's Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) and ST Electronics.  DS-SAR features a SAR pay...

Artist's impression of the Boeing E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning and control aircraft in the UK Royal Air Force colours. The US is leveraging the work performed for the UK's forthcoming E-7s. (Boeing)  Speeding up the introduction into service of the Boeing E-7is one of the US Air Force's (USAF's) major acquisition priorities, but the programme cannot move much faster, said Steven Wert, programme executive officer for digital systems at the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center.  “Boeing has to build a green aircraft, and they have to...

North Korea unveiled two new unmanned aerial vehicles. The development of these aircraft represent a significant capability enhancement for Pyongyang. The aircraft were shown with the KPAF emblem and serial numbers that suggest the likelihood that they have been inducted into service. (Janes)  North Korea has unveiled two new unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which outwardly appear to resemble US-origin UAVs.  The aircraft were shown on 26 July during the visit of Russian Minister of Defence Sergei Shoigu and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to...

The Reconfigurable Virtual Collective Trainer (RVCT) should be in the hands of US Army soldiers in March–April 2024, officials said on 24 July.  Soldiers will participate in a final soldier touchpoint in August 2023 before an operational demonstrat...

Northrop Grumman had earlier released this notional artist's conception of its NGAD bid but CEO Kathy Warden said on 27 July the company would not bid for NGAD. (Northrop Grumman)  Northrop Grumman will not submit a bid to build the US Air Force's (USAF's) Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter aircraft, company CEO Kathy Warden told on a 27 July investors' call.  “We have notified the US Air Force that we're not planning to respond to the NGAD [request for proposals (RFP)] as a prime [contractor],” Warden said. “We are responding to ot...

The Airbus A400M's payload-carrying capability exceeds the maximum requirement laid down by the IAF's MTA programme. Airbus said the A400M's advantages include its ability to accomplish new missions not possible by pure medium airlifters. (Janes/Sam Wise)  Airbus has pitched its A400M ‘Atlas' aircraft in response to a request for information (RFI) by the Indian Air Force (IAF) for its Multirole Transport Aircraft (MTA) requirement.  “Airbus has participated in the MTA RFI that was issued in the first quarter of 2023,” an Airbus spokesperson t...

Roketsan's UAV-230 air-to-surface ballistic supersonic missile is integrated into Akıncı's UCAV, and all missile tests are conducted from this platform. (Roketsan)  Roketsan's UAV-230 air-to-surface supersonic missile is in its final qualification phase and is scheduled to begin series production by the end of 2023, the company announced at the 16th International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF) held from 25 to 28 July in Istanbul, where a prototype of the missile was displayed. According to Roketsan, the UAV-320 will enter service in 2024.  The...

An Azerbaijani Su-25 is loaded with a glide bomb during Exercise ‘Anatolian Eagle' held at Turkey's Konya Air Base. (Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Azerbaijan)  A contract to upgrade Azerbaijan's Sukhoi Su-25 ground attack aircraft was signed on 26 July during the International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF) held in Istanbul.  The Azerbaijani Ministry of Defence (MoD) released a statement saying the contract was signed with Turkish Aerospace (TUSAŞ) in a ceremony attended by Azerbaijani Deputy Minister of Defence Agil Gurbanov and Haluk...

Rendering of an in-flight Sentian Aerospace Xplorer UAV. (Sentian Aerospace)    South Africa-based Sentian Aerospace has received an order for its Xplorer and Xtension small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from an undisclosed African customer, the company's CEO, Muzi Dube, told   Janes  at the 16th International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF) held in Istanbul from 25 to 28 July.   Dube said both UAVs are production-ready and added that they use a similar airframe design but differ in their size and performance characteristic...

TAS nimble-i micro-UAV along with handheld controller displayed at the Drone International Expo 2023 in New Delhi, India. (Janes/Akshara Parakala)  Throttle Aerospace Systems (TAS) Pvt Ltd of RattanIndia Enterprises has delivered its nimble-i micro-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to the Indian Army.  The nimble-i was unveiled at the 4th Drone International Expo, which was held in New Delhi from 26 to 27 July.  TAS told Janes, “Work on [developing] nimble-i started in 2017 followed by flight tests in late 2018.” The company received an order to...

Aero A2Z Optimus System with a climate-controlled container and an unmanned aerial vehicle. (Janes/Akshara Parakala)  Israeli-based Airobotics Ltd has partnered with Indian-based Aero A2Z Services to manufacture an autonomous drone-in-a-box solution known as the Optimus System.  The partnership is geared for the Indian market, Vikas Batra, Aero A2Z Services director told Janes at the 4th Drone International Expo 2023 held in Delhi from 26 to 27 July.  The technology transfer was completed and Aero A2Z started manufacturing the Optimus System...

Global Industrial & Defence Solutions AZB range extension kit for converting Mk 80-series general-purpose bombs into PGM. (Janes/Raghuraman CS)  Pakistan's state-owned Global Industrial & Defence Solutions (GIDS) revealed details of new range-extension and precision-guidance kits under development for Mk 84 general-purpose bombs at the 16th International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF), held in Istanbul from 25 to 28 July.  The prototype wing-assisted guidance kits, designated as AZB-V and AZB-VI, convert the air-droppable, unguided low-drag gen...

Roketsan UMTAS-GM ATGM (side view). In comparison with the original UMTAS, distinct differences are visible in the nose section and control surfaces. (Janes/Raghuraman CS)  Roketsan debuted its latest Long-Range Anti-Tank System – Future Combat System (Uzun Menzilli Tanksavar Sistemi – Geleceğin Muharebe Sistemi: UMTAS-GM) anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) at the 16th International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF) held in Istanbul from 25 to 28 July.  The company, which produces the UMTAS and L-UMTAS ATGMs, has optimised the latest variant for use...

Armelsan's Orkun 2053 helicopter dipping sonar on display at IDEF 2023. (Janes/Prathamesh Karle)  Turkey's Armelsan Defence Technologies displayed for the first time a scale model of its locally designed and developed Orkun-2053 helicopter dipping sonar at the 16th International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF), held from 25 to 28 July in Istanbul.  The sonar is designed for operating in both deep and shallow waters. The overall weight of the system – including the winch and the cable – is around 270 kg. It has an operating depth of 350 m and is...

Rokestan MAM-L IIR munition. (Janes/Raghuraman CS)  Roketsan unveiled new variants of its Mini Akıllı Mühimmat (MAM) smart micro munition at the 16th International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF) held in Istanbul from 25 to 28 July.  The new additions were publicly displayed for the first time and include imaging infrared (IIR), designated as MAM-L IIR and MAM-T IIR, and dual seeker variants, designated as MAM-T Dual Seeker (MAM-T DS).  The lightweight MAM munitions are modular air‐launched, precision-guided weapons developed for use from unmann...

A model of GIDS' new MALE UAV – Shahpar III – on display at IDEF 2023. (Janes/Raghuraman CS)  Pakistan's state-owned defence conglomerate Global Industrial & Defence Solutions (GIDS) revealed further details of its new medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) – Shahpar III – at the 16th International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF) held in Istanbul from 25 to 28 July.  GIDS displayed a model of the Shahpar III at the exhibition and according to company information, the aircraft features enhanced endurance, weapon carri...

GIDS Taimur air-launched cruise missile prototype at the IDEF 2023 show. (Janes/Raghuraman CS)  Pakistan's state-owned Global Industrial & Defence Solutions (GIDS) unveiled a range of air-launched weapons at the 16th International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF) held in Istanbul from 25 to 28 July.  Prototypes of the Taimur air-launched cruise missile (ALCM) and FAAZ air-to-air missiles (AAM) were displayed for the first time.  Optimised as a fast jet-launched missile for air-to-surface missions, the Taimur (also known as Taimoor) is designed a...

Skyhawk Aerospace C35-E VTOL UAV displayed at the 4th Drone International Expo 2023. (Janes/Akshara Parakala)  India-based Skyhawk Aerospace showcased its indigenously designed fixed-wing vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) multirole Pushpak and C35-E unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) at the 4th Drone International Expo held in Delhi on 26 and 27 July.  The Pushpak is a tactical UAV designed to conduct high-altitude cargo operations. The UAV features a skid landing gear system and can fly up to a maximum altitude of 5,700 m in what company CEO...