First showcased at the Farnborough International Airshow in 2016, the armed Black Hawk is now being acquired by the Polish Armed Forces. (Janes/Gareth Jennings)  Poland has launched a tender for the procurement of Lockheed Martin S-70i Black Hawk helicopters, the Polish Armaments Agency (AA) said on 21 July.  The AA made its announcement weeks after Janes first reported Poland's interest in acquiring domestically built armed Black Hawk helicopters on 7 June.  “The procurement procedure for multirole S-70i Black Hawk helicopters for the Aeromo...

The Australian Army has not had a fixed-wing support capability since its Beechcraft King Air 350 light utility aircraft were transferred to the Royal Australian Air Force in 2009. (Commonwealth of Australia)  The Australian government has sought to lease two fixed-wing aircraft to rebuild the Australian Army's tactical airlift and support capability.  In an expression of interest (EOI) issued on 13 July, designated as FCOMD/EOI/37171/1 (Army Aviation General Fixed Wing Support), the Australian Department of Defence (DoD) has said it seeks to...

Despite recent reports that the UK had scaled back its NMH requirement, the MoD has reaffirmed its commitment to buy ‘up to 44' new helicopters to replace the Puma (pictured) and three other types. (Janes/Patrick Allen)  The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has reaffirmed its commitment to the New Medium Helicopter (NMH) programmefollowing a report that it had scaled back the number of rotorcraft it was looking to procure.  Answering questions in the House of Commons, Minister of State in the MoD James Cartlidge said the number of helicopters to...

MBDA Italia's Fusaro facility has developed a new advanced ceramic missile radome. (MBDA)  MBDA Italia has concluded development of a new advanced ceramic manufacture process for radio frequency (RF) missile radomes claimed to offer improved strength and environmental performance compared with conventional cast silica structures.  Known internally as NIMAS, the patented material process is designed to form a high-strength, erosion-resistant structure suitable for both supersonic and hypersonic applications. Work to mature and prove the new a...

The PLA Ground Force has repurposed a commercial UAV to support emergency logistics operations including dropping ammunition to soldiers during combat. (Janes)  The People's Liberation Army (PLA) has been modifying and using commercial unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to support its logistics operations.  Video footage broadcast by state-owned China Central Television (CCTV) in early July shows the PLA Ground Force's (PLAGF's) 83rd Group Army using a repurposed commercial vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) quadcopter during a combat exercise...

The Akıncı will be operated by both the Saudi air force and navy. (Janes/Akshara Parakala)  Saudi Arabia has ordered the Baykar Bayraktar Akıncı armed unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) as part of a record-breaking defence procurement deal with Turkey, it was announced on 18 July during Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's visit to the kingdom.  The Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman announced that two UAV acquisition contracts were signed with Baykar to bolster Saudi military and defence manufacturing capabilities. He said he...

Spain's Tranche 2 to Tranche 4 Eurofighter combat aircraft are to be equipped with the Brimstone 3A air-to-surface missile from 2026. (Janes/Gareth Jennings)  The Spanish Air Force (Ejército del Aire Español: EdAE) is to equip its Eurofighter Typhoon (C 16 in national service) combat aircraft with the latest variant MBDA Brimstone 3A air-to-surface missile, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) told Janes on 20 July.  A spokesperson for the MoD said that the low-yield missile will equip the EdAE's Tranche 2, Tranche 3, and Tranche 4 aircraft from 202...

HAL Light Utility Helicopters perform during the inauguration of the Aero India 2023 show at the Yelahanka Air Force Station on 13 February 2023 in Bengaluru, India. The five-day event is held to showcase India's aerospace and defence capabilities. (Abhishek Chinnappa/Getty Images)  The Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) is seeking to lease 20 reconnaissance and surveillance helicopters for the Indian Army.  In a request for information (RFI) issued on 19 July, the MoD described the period of the lease as being five years. According to the docu...

A Luftwaffe Eurofighter equipped with a pair of AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles on its central underwing pylons, which it carries in conjunction with the MBDA Meteor missiles on the underfuselage recessed hardpoints. (Luftwaffe)  The US government has approved the sale of the extended-range Raytheon AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) to Germany, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on 19 July.  The US Department of State approval for the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) covers up to 969 missiles, related equi...

Sweden is to field two GlobalEye AEW&C aircraft from 2027. (Saab)  Bombardier has delivered to Sweden the first of two Global 6000 airframes for conversion to the GlobalEye airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) configuration for the Swedish Air Force (SwAF).  The business jet manufacturer announced on 19 July that the aircraft, which is the first for the SwAF but the sixth for the wider GlobalEye programme, had been delivered to Saab's Linköping facility in Sweden from its Toronto manufacturing plant in Canada.  News of the delivery came...

The Royal New Zealand Air Force's four Boeing P-8A Poseidon aircraft will be used for a diverse range of air operations, including maritime reconnaissance and combat operations, tracking transnational criminal activity, environmental and weather activities, and search and rescue. (New Zealand Ministry of Defence)  New Zealand has received its fourth and final Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft.  The New Zealand Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced the arrival of the fourth aircraft on 17 July. “The Poseidon aircraft will deliver sup...

The Akıncı will be operated by both the Saudi air force and navy. (Janes/Akshara Parakala)  Saudi Arabia has signed for the Baykar BayraktarAkıncı armed unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) as part of a record-breaking defence procurement deal with Turkey.  The Saudi Arabian Minister of Defense, Khalid bin Salman, announced the buy on 18 July, saying it was the “culmination of the course of co-operation between the two friendly countries in the defence and military fields”.  While bin Salman did not disclose the number of Akıncı systems included in...

The JASDF and the Japan MoD detailed 26 ‘anomalous' flights by foreign aircraft near Japanese territory in 2023. This includes several flight operations conducted by fighter aircraft operated by China's second aircraft carrier, Shandong. (Japan Ministry of Defense/Janes)  Japanese fighter aircraft conducted 238 scrambles in response to foreign aircraft in the first quarter (Q1) of Japanese fiscal year (JFY) 2023 .  This number, which covers the period from 1 April to 30 June, is the second highest number of scrambles conducted in Q1 of any ye...

The Merlin OSDEP programme is intended to extend the life of the RN's Merlin HM2 (pictured) and Merlin HC4/4a helicopters out to 2040. (Crown Copyright)  The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has placed parallel contracts with Lockheed Martin UK and Leonardo Helicopters UK to identify, scope, and mitigate obsolescence issues expected to manifest in the Royal Navy's (RN's) Merlin helicopter fleet beyond 2030.  Under the Merlin Out of Service Date Extension Programme (OSDEP), the two companies will explore potential updates to both the Merlin HM2 an...

One of the first two of 16 H225M helicopters for Hungary departing Airbus' Marignane production facility in southern France. (Airbus)  The first two of 16 Airbus Helicopters H225M multirole rotorcraft were delivered to Hungary on 18 July, the manufacturer announced.  The helicopters, which are equipped with the company's HForce Generic Weapon System (GWS), were flown directly from Airbus' Marignane production facility in southern France to Szolnok Air Base in central Hungary.  News of the first deliveries came around three-and-a-half years af...

The PHASA-35 HAPS seen operating in the stratosphere during its recent milestone flight. (BAE Systems)  BAE Systems has flown the PHASA-35 solar-powered high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in the stratosphere for the first time, the company announced on 14 July.  Speaking at the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) 2023 show at Royal Air Force (RAF) Fairford in Gloucestershire, Phil Varty, business manager UAV systems, BAE Systems, said the milestone flight had recently taken place over a 24 hour period, during...

The Striker II HMD should be operational aboard RAF Eurofighter Typhoons from 2027–28, a senior service official said at the Royal International Air Tattoo. (BAE Systems)  The UK Royal Air Force (RAF) expects to field the BAE Systems Striker II helmet-mounted display (HMD) aboard its Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft before the end of the decade.  Speaking at the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) 2023 air show held at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, Group Captain Matthew D'Aubyn, Air Capability Typhoon programme director, said the RAF...

The Indian Multi Role Helicopter is intended to replace the Indian military's fleet of ageing Mil Mi-17 transport helicopters. (Janes/Akhil Kadidal)  India and France are slated to expand their defence co-operation to support the joint development of new engines for the 13 ton Indian Multi Role Helicopter (IMRH) programme and combat aircraft.  On 13 July Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on his website that France and India “will extend their … defence co-operation in advanced aeronautical technologies by supporting the joint developme...

While delays to the buildup of the UK's F-35B Lightning Force have pushed back the establishment of a second front-line squadron, the MoD insists that it is still expected to achieve its planned full operating capability in 2025. (Janes/Patrick Allen)  Delays to the buildup of the UK's F-35B Lightning Force have pushed back the establishment of a second front-line squadron to the end of 2023, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed.  Despite this, the MoD insists that the Lightning Force is still expected to achieve its planned full opera...

The H175M appeared in the static display line-up at RIAT 2023. (Janes/Gareth Jennings)  Airbus is pushing 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 stands ready to deliver on its H175M offering.  Speaking at the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) at Royal Air Force (RAF) Fairford in Gloucestershire, Lenny Brown, managing director of Airbus Helicopters UK, said that with the invitation to negotiate (ITN) exp...