The new FalconWorks will be an advanced agile research and development centre for the Air sector of BAE Systems and will include efforts such as the Tempest and Global Combat Air Programme. (BAE Systems)
BAE Systems has stood up the new FalconWorks division within its Air business to explore “what comes after the next”, the head of the new unit, Dave Holmes, told Janes and other defence media at the company's Warton site on 3 July.
Holmes said the new unit, which was stood up within the company earlier in 2023 but...
Elbit will supply two new long-range patrol aircraft (LRPA) based on the Leonardo ATR 72-600 to a customer in Asia. (Leonardo)
Elbit Systems announced that it has won a contract to supply two long-range patrol aircraft (LRPA) to an Asia-Pacific (APAC) country.
Janes assesses that this contract is linked to the Philippines, which has been seeking to procure two maritime patrol aircraft since 2014. In its statement on 10 July Elbit said that two LRPA aircraft will be “based on the new ATR 72-600”.
“Elbit Systems will integrate in...
Rheinmetall will turn out at least 400 F-35A centre fuselage sections for the Luftwaffe and the wider international programme at its new Weeze facility in Germany. (Rheinmetall)
Rheinmetall will establish a new facility at Weeze for the production of Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) fuselage sections.
The plant in the Kleve district of the North Rhine-Westphalia region of Germany will turn out at least 400 F-35A centre-fuselage sections for the Luftwaffe and the wider international programme.
“We are pleased wit...
IAI's aerostructure products include wings for the Lockheed Martin F-35. (IAI)
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is exploring buying or investing in companies in the United States to expand its aerostructures manufacturing footprint, according to a company official.
Such a transaction would complement the work IAI does in Israel for US defence contractors, including building wings for the Lockheed Martin F-35 and F-16 fighter jets and conformal fuel tanks for the Boeing F-15 fighter, said Amir Geva, IAI's executive vice-president for North...
China is continuing to induct SAC J-16 multirole fighters into the service as part of its modernisation of the air force. (VCG via Getty Images/Qian Baihua)
China has augmented its operational units with additional numbers of Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) J-16 multirole and Chengdu Aircraft Industries (Group) Company (CAC) J-20 stealth fighter aircraft.
Janes assesses that China may have inducted 15 new SAC J-16s and 11 CAC J-20 fifth-generation stealth fighters into service since January 2023. These inductions support ongoing efforts...
A Russian Sukhoi Su-35 fighter caught in the cross-hairs of a French Rafale over the Syria-Iraq border on 6 July. (French Ministry of Armed Forces)
Combat aircraft from Russia and Western countries have ‘clashed' over the Middle East, with US and French officials describing the actions of Russian pilots as being “unprofessional”.
US Air Force Central Command (AFCENT) and the French Ministry of Armed Forces released images of close encounters between their aircraft and Russian Sukhoi Su-35 ‘Flanker-E' fighters on 5 and 6 July, respectively....
The Syracuse 4B satellite was successfully launched onboard the Ariane 5 rocket, its final mission before it retires. Pictured is the Syracuse 4A satellite. (Thales Alenia Space)
France's Syracuse 4B military satellite was successfully launched onboard the Ariane 5 rocket from the Guiana Space Centre on 6 July, the Directorate General of Armament (Direction générale de l'armement: DGA) announced.
The satellite will become operational in nine months, once it reaches geostationary orbit and undergoes a full series of tests, the DGA said.
Sy...
A rendering of a Boeing CH-47F Chinook helicopter in Luftwaffe service. (Boeing)
The Budget Committee of the German parliament approved the procurement of 60 Boeing CH-47F Block II Chinook heavy-lift helicopters on 5 July.
The EUR6.98 billion (USD7.61 billion) budget approval came about two months after the US government gave the green light for the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme that includes 60 extended-range helicopters, as well as mission equipment, spares, training, transportation, and support. The deal is financed from funds f...
Typhoon aircraft ZK355/BS116 alongside an ECRS Mk 2 radar model in the test and evaluation hangar at BAE Systems in Warton. (BAE Systems)
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has awarded BAE Systems GBP870 million (USD1.1 billion) for further development and integration of the European Common Radar System Mark 2 (ECRS Mk 2) for the Royal Air Force's (RAF's) fleet of Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft.
Announced on 4 July, the five-year electronically scanned (E-Scan) radar award for BAE Systems and its partner Leonardo is part of a wider GBP2....
Australia will likely use the AH-64E Apaches with its Canberra-class Landing Helicopter Docks. In this photo, a US Army AH-64E lands on HMAS Canberra during a training activity at Sydney in February 2023. (Commonwealth of Australia)
The Australian government has announced plans to redeploy the army's 1st Aviation Regiment to Townsville and support the unit with infrastructural improvements at the new site.
The 1st Aviation Regiment is set to be equipped with the 29 new Boeing AH-64E Apache attack helicopters ordered...
The Zhubin looks very similar to the Warmate loitering munition made by Poland's WB Group. (defapress.com)
The Islamic Republic of Iran Army Ground Forces displayed an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that looks like the WB Group's Warmate loitering munition at an exhibition that opened on 2 July.
Media coverage of senior officers visiting the exhibition showed the UAV with a small camera embedded in an interchangeable warhead mounted on its nose, like the Warmate, albeit with a more prominent antenna for controlling it from the ground than th...
Typhoon aircraft ZK355/BS116 alongside an ECRS Mk 2 radar model in the test and evaluation hangar at BAE Systems in Warton. (BAE Systems)
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has awarded BAE Systems GBP870 million (USD1.1 billion) for further development and integration of the European Common Radar System Mark 2 (ECRS Mk 2) for the Royal Air Force's (RAF's) fleet of Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft.
Announced on 4 July, the electronically scanned (E-Scan) radar award for BAE Systems and its partner Leonardo is part of a wider GBP2.35 billion...
Tengden's improved TW328-A (TB-A) unmanned combat aerial vehicle is being equipped to carry a wide variety of air-launched weapons. The weapons displayed in this image were confirmed to have been integrated with the TW328 series during a test flight on 26 June. (Janes)
The Tengden TW328-A Scorpion A (TB-A) unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) is being improved for enhanced flight performance and to carry a larger weapons load.
The TW328-A is a larger version of the Tengden TB-001 Scorpion UCAV that is operational with the Chinese People's...
A new variant of the CAC J-20 fifth-generation fighter includes design changes to improve low-observable characteristics and aerodynamics. This variant appears to have also been equipped with the new WS-15 powerplant. (Janes)
China appears to have flown a new variant of its Chengdu Aircraft Industries (Group) Company (CAC) J-20 fifth-generation stealth fighter with two new Shenyang WS-15 turbofan engines for the first time.
Information on Chinese social media suggest that this milestone event took place on 28 June. Janes assessed imagery of...
A rendering of an MQ-4C Triton UAS demonstrating persistent targeting for long-range fires during ‘Northern Edge 2023'. (Northrop Grumman)
Northrop Grumman is gleaning lessons learned from the MQ-4C Triton's recent participation in the US Navy (USN)-led Arctic military exercise ‘Northern Edge 2023', as programme officials are preparing for the unmanned aerial system (UAS) to reach initial operating capability (IOC).
Achieving IOC for the Triton Integrated Functional Capability (IFC)-4 variant remains “a critical step as the [USN] achieves i...
USS Charleston conducted the first set of overseas mine-countermeasures operations. (US Navy)
The littoral combat ship (LCS) USS Charleston (LCS 18) recently completed the first set of overseas mine-countermeasures (MCM) training missions during a 26-month forward deployment in the Western Pacific, US Navy (USN) officials confirmed.
“The emphasis was showing we have the mission package capable of doing MCM not just inside US waters, but doing it outside US waters in conjunction with other units,” Commander...
The Czech Air Force is looking to field 24 F-35A aircraft to equip two squadrons in Čáslav Air Base. (US Air Force)
The US government has approved the sale of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) to the Czech Republic.
The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced the approval on 29 June, saying the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) covered up to 24 aircraft, air-to-air and air-to-surface weapons, spares, training, and support for an estimated USD5.62 billion.
“The proposed sale will improve the Czech R...
SEAD will be a key mission of the Eurofighter EK being developed for Germany, as evidenced by the Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM). (Janes/Gareth Jennings)
A NATO Industrial Advisory Group (NIAG) has been established to explore airborne electronic attack (AEA)/suppression of enemy air defence (SEAD) concepts and technologies that could meet alliance needs for 2030 and beyond.
Chartered through the Conference of National Armaments Directors (CNAD), the NIAG Study Group 286 (SG-286) on SEAD Capabilities held a kick-off meeting d...
The KF-21 prototype No 6 will not only assist with the training of additional pilots but also augment the ongoing testing of weapons and avionics, as well as assist with the validation of dual-cockpit design. (DAPA)
The sixth and final prototype of the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) KF-21 has conducted its first flight test.
On 28 June South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said that the prototype successfully took off from the 3rd Flying Training Wing (at Sacheon). According to DAPA, it then conducted a 33-minute...
An artist's impression of the Boeing P-8A Poseidon in Royal Canadian Air Force colours and markings. (Boeing)
The US government has approved the sale to Canada of the Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime multimission aircraft (MMA).
The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced the Department of State approval and the prospective procurement of 16 aircraft on 27 June. The sale, which also includes spares, training, and support, would be valued at approximately USD5.9 billion.
“This proposed sale will increase Canadian maritime force...