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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Boeing and the US Air Force undertook the inaugural flight of the service's first T-7A Red Hawk on 28 June, marking the start of the engineering and manufacturing development phase of the programme. (Boeing)  The US Air Force (USAF) has commenced engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) testing of the Boeing-Saab T-7A Red Hawk advanced jet trainer aircraft, with the first flight announced on 28 June.  The first EMD flight saw a USAF pilot from the 416th Flight Test Squadron and a Boeing test pilot depart the manufacturer's St Louis fac...

DAPA has ordered new ground laser target designators, which will replace Scarab GLTDs, pictured above, in service with the Republic of Korea Armed Forces. (L3Harris)  South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has signed a contract worth KRW86.7 billion (USD66 million) with local firm Hancom Lifecare to procure ground laser target designators (GLTDs).  DAPA said in late June that the project comprises the acquisition of a laser target designator, a laser rangefinder, a thermal imager, camera, and auxiliary equipment. It a...

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...

AeroVironment's Sunglider unmanned aircraft. (AeroVironment)  The US Department of Defense (DoD) recently awarded a contract to support the development of AeroVironment's high-altitude, solar-powered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), according to officials at the US-based company.  The contract is the DoD's first for Sunglider, which has mainly been described as a commercial effort. AeroVironment envisions fielding a network of long-endurance UAVs to provide global internet service. Flying at an altitude of about 65,000 ft (19,812 m), the fixed-...

The F-35 demonstrating its ability to carry four SDB II bombs (plus an AIM-120 AMRAAM) in each of its two internal weapons bays. (Raytheon)  A Norwegian request for the additional purchase of Raytheon GBU-53/B Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) IIs (now known more commonly as StormBreaker) for its fleet of Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters has been approved by the US State Department.  The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced the approval on 28 June, saying that a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) of up to 580 SDBs...

A Falcon 9 rocket carrying a Starlink payload launches from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on 17 December 2022. The Japan Self-Defense Forces has been testing the communication capabilities offered by Starlink at 10 sites across the country. (Joshua Conti/US Space Force)    The Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) has been testing SpaceX's Starlink satellite communication (satcom) services since March, a spokesperson for the Japanese Ministry of Defense (MoD) told   Janes  on 27 June.   “In recent years, the threat towar...

The UK is to transfer control of its battlefield rotorcraft such as the Puma HC2 (pictured) from the Joint Helicopter Command to the new Joint Aviation Command that is being set up to reflect the growing importance on unmanned aircraft in the future force mix. (Janes/Patrick Allen)  The United Kingdom's Joint Helicopter Command (JHC) is to be re-organised as the Joint Aviation Command (JAC) to better exploit the potential of unmanned aircraft systems (UASs), according to the head of the British Army.  General Sir Patrick Sanders, Chief of the...

The DGA on 26 June launched a test rocket carrying the VMaX hypersonic glide vehicle demonstrator. (DGA)  France test-fired its hypersonic demonstrator vehicle for the first time on 26 June, the Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) announced.  The VMaX hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) demonstrator was launched from a ground-based rocket at the Biscarosse test facility on the southern French Atlantic coast.  “This first demonstrator contained many onboard technological innovations. Its flight test, on a very demanding long-range trajectory, wa...

The EU is looking to boost the airborne electronic attack capabilities of its member states via the REACT II programme. As a participant in the programme, Germany is already developing its own Eurofighter EK aircraft for the mission. (Janes/Gareth Jennings)  The European Union (EU) is looking to enhance its airborne electronic attack (AEA) capabilities via the Responsive Electronic Attack for Cooperation Tasks II (REACT II) programme announced on 26 June.  Led by Spain's Indra Sistemas, REACT II is to be a 48-month research and development ef...

The FASETT programme will see Airbus lead an EU effort to develop a mid-size airlifter to operate alongside the A400M (pictured). (Janes/Gareth Jennings)  Airbus is to lead a European Union (EU) effort to develop a mid-size airlifter under the Future Air System for European Tactical Transportation (FASETT) programme announced on 26 June.  To be funded by the European Defence Fund (EDF) to the amount of EUR30.06 million (USD32.89 million) over 18 months, the FASETT feasibility study will see 11 EU countries develop a medium-lift transport airc...

The MCU for the JASDF's E-767 fleet will improve its battlespace command and control and decrease target identification time. In this photo, one of the JASDF E-767s which is scheduled for the upgrade participates in Exercise ‘RED FLAG-Alaska 23-2' on 9 June 2023. (US Air Force/Airman 1st Class Julia Lebens)  An upgrade of Japan's Boeing E-767 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft will give the fleet electronic warfare (EW) capabilities and the ability to track a large number of airborne and sea-level contacts.    The Japan...

The RDAF maintains around 40 F-16AM/BM Block 15 MLU aircraft that could be utilised by Ukraine. (Terma)  Denmark has commenced the training of Ukrainian pilots on the Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon combat aircraft, the defence minister for the Scandinavian country announced on 25 June.  Speaking on national radio, Minister for Economic Affairs Troels Lund Poulsen said that a decision by the Danish government to bring forward the retirement of the F-16 in Royal Danish Air Force (RDAF) service by two years to 2025 had paved the way for Uk...

The first of three new C295s for the Irish Air Corps (two of which are configured for the maritime patrol role) seen on the static display line at the Paris Airt Show the week prior to delivery to Ireland. (Janes/Sam Wise)  Ireland has received the first of a pair of Airbus Defence and Space (DS) C295 transport aircraft configured for maritime patrol operations.  The first of two maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) ordered in December 2019 was flown into its future home station of Casement Aerodrome (also known as Baldonnel Aerodrome) near Dublin...