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...

Gripen versus primary competing platforms. (Janes)  The Colombian Air Force (Fuerza Aérea Colombiana: FAC) is again working towards replacing its fleet of Kfir fighter aircraft, after postponing the final selection of a new fighter in December 2022 owing to bureaucratic and time constraints, and Saab is working to garner favour for its JAS 39 Gripen via industrial co-operation.  The FAC began searching for a Kfir replacement about a decade ago and has explored offers for Dassault Rafales, MiG-35s, Eurofighter Typhoons, Lockheed Martin F-16s,...

A screenshot from a video shared by the Wagner paramilitary group's social media accounts shows its convoy seemingly being hit with an airstrike. (Wagner/Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)  The Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) suffered significant losses during the seeming mutiny of the Wagner Group on 24 June.  Footage posted online during the event showed a number of fixed- and rotary-winged aircraft types of the VKS being shot down by Wagner forces during the mercenary group's short-lived insurrection against the Russian military and p...

India is planning to equip its navy with 15 MQ-9B SeaGuardians while its army and air force could receive eight SkyGuardians each. (General Atomics)  The Indian government has accorded an Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the procurement of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc (GA-ASI) MQ-9B high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS).  India's Ministry of Defence (MoD) said on 25 June that the country's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) had accorded the AoN on 15 June to acquire 31 MQ-9Bs for the three se...

Both the Netherlands (pictured) and Denmark have F-16s that are shortly to be replaced in national service by the F-35, which would be well suited to Ukraine's needs. (Chris Croot)  Following the recent announcement by the United States that it would now support a transfer of Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon combat aircraft to Ukraine, attention has turned to possible donors.  Norway's fleet of 57 aircraft was retired in January 2022, with 32 sold to Romania and 12 to US firm Draken International. A handful of unsold jets may be available...

A 1:7 scale model of Turkish Aerospace Anka III UCAV at the Paris Air Show 2023. (Janes/Sam Wise)  Turkish Aerospace (TA) has revealed details of its new Anka III medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) at the Paris Air Show 2023, held from 19 to 25 June. The company displayed a 1:7 scale model of the UCAV.  The Anka III, which underwent taxi tests on 26 April 2023 and is expected to conduct its maiden flight in July, is a tailless flying-wing configuration aircraft with low-observability design features in...

A 1:10 scale model of the AVIC Wing Loong-X (WL-X) displayed at the Paris Air Show 2023. (Janes/Sam Wise)  Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) has unveiled a new variant of Wing Loong series of medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) at the Paris Air Show 2023, held from 19 to 25 June.  The company presented a 1:10 scale model of the Wing Loong-X (WL-X) unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) with four underwing hardpoints under each mid-mounted wing surface ending in upswept wingtips.  The UCAV features...

GE Aerospace is working with the US government to secure the necessary export authorisation for the joint production of its F414-INS6 engine with India. (GE Aerospace)  The leaders of the United States and India have announced agreements to accelerate defence industrial co-operation including the potential joint production of General Electric (GE) F414 engines for future combat aircraft.  The agreements were made following discussions between US President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Washington on 22 June.  A keystone...

Hanwha Systems will partner with Leonardo to develop AESA radars for export. Hanwha Systems has earlier developed AESA radars for South Korea's KF-21 fighter aircraft (pictured) in collaboration with the ADD. (Defense Acquisition Program Administration)  South Korea's Hanwha Systems has signed an agreement with Leonardo to collaborate on the development and export of active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars for light combat aircraft (LCA).  The agreement, signed at the Paris Air Show 2023, is expected to lead to the development of an...

A rendering of the Stingray very low Earth orbit space vehicle. (EOI Space)  The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is seeking industry input on the viability of developing and fielding very low Earth orbit (VLEO) satellites for use by the US armed forces, according to a pair of recent solicitations.  Project Otter, as envisioned, will assist DARPA in evaluating potential industry solutions to “develop and demonstrate ‘air-breathing' electric propulsion technologies enabling extended satellite operations in very low Earth orbit...

The Aarok UAV prototype displayed at the Paris Air Show 2023, demonstrated with various French payloads and capabilities. (Janes/Olivia Savage)  Turgis & Gaillard has unveiled a new medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) called Aarok at the Paris Air Show 2023, held from 19 to 25 June.  The company, based in France, developed the MALE UAV prototype as a more affordable alternative to other similar platforms such as the General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper, which meets both French and its allied forces' requirements, Laetit...

The C295 MPA that will replace the P-3M in Spanish service is seen leading a C295 MSA that will replace the CN235 MSA. The procurement of both types has now been approved by the Spanish government ahead of a general election on 23 July. (Airbus)  Spain has approved the procurement of Airbus C295 maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) and maritime surveillance aircraft (MSA), a senior official from the manufacturer confirmed on 21 June.  Jean-Brice Dumont, head of Military Air Systems, announced during the Paris Air Show 2023 at Le Bourget that the Sp...

Indicative models of the NGF with the Recoverable Remote Carrier and smaller Expendable Remote Carrier were displayed at the FCAS chalet at Le Bourget. (Janes/Nigel Torp-Petersen)  MBDA is developing a new effector for the Expendable Remote Carrier (ERC) requirement of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS)/Système de Combat Aérien du Futur (SCAF) programme, the company announced during a media briefing on 21 June at the Paris Air Show 2023.  The ERC will be stealthy, weigh approximately 400 kg, and have a “play time” of one hour. MBDA said the...

Under an MOU signed on 21 June Airbus and Leonardo will explore future pilot training opportunities based on the M-346 Master AJT aircraft. (Leonardo)  Airbus and Leonardo agreed to jointly explore future pilot training opportunities based on the latter's M-346 Master advanced jet trainer (AJT) aircraft.    The two companies will “jointly promote integrated training systems, and study future solutions to tackle air dominance challenges”, according to a    memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed on 21 June at the Paris Air Show...

Hanwha Systems will partner with Leonardo to develop AESA radars for export. Hanwha Systems has earlier developed AESA radars for South Korea's KF-21 fighter aircraft (pictured) in collaboration with the ADD. (Defense Acquisition Program Administration)  South Korea's Hanwha Systems has signed an agreement with Leonardo to collaborate on the development and export of active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars for light combat aircraft (LCA).  The agreement, signed at the Paris Air Show 2023, is expected to lead to the development of an...

Rafael unveiled its Sky Spear missile (bottom) at the Paris Air Show 2023, describing it as a sixth-generation long-range air-to-air missile. (Janes/Olivia Savage)  Rafael unveiled its Sky Spear ‘sixth-generation' air-to-air missile at the Paris Air Show 2023, held from 19 to 25 June.  Speaking to Janes, Yaniv Rotem, business development director for Rafael's air-defence systems and air-to-air directorate, said that the missile has very long-range interception capabilities and a new sophisticated radio frequency (RF) seeker that can handle ai...

The Orbiter 5 UAV was displayed fitted with Bird Aerosystems Micro Maritime Patrol Radar (MPR) and a Controp EO/IR payload. (Janes/Olivia Savage)  Aeronautics launched its Orbiter 5 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) at the Paris Air Show 2023.    Dan Slasky, CEO of Aeronautics, told   Janes   and other media representatives that the Orbiter 5 has been developed to provide medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) UAV capabilities in a tactical system, and is intended for intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissanc...

Eurofighter has high hopes of adding Poland as an export customer for the Typhoon, based largely on the aircraft's air superiority capabilities. (Leonardo)  Eurofighter sees the Typhoon as “the perfect fit” for Poland as it looks to secure a long-running campaign to sell the multirole combat aircraft to the Eastern European country, the recently installed head of the consortium told Janes and other defence media at the Paris Air Show 2023.  Speaking on 21 June Giancarlo Mezzanato, who became Eurofighter chief in April, said the aircraft's air...

Safran's Patroller UAV displayed at Paris Air Show 2023 is being acquired by the Greek Army. (Janes/Sam Wise)  Safran Electronics & Defense has been contracted to deliver four Patroller medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to the Greek Army.  NATO's Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) entered into negotiations and facilitated the contract on behalf of the Greek Army, the company announced at the Paris Air Show 2023, held between 19 to 25 June.  The UAVs will replace the army's Sperwer systems, which were...

A variant of the Spice 250 ER munition will provide a SEAD capability for the Luftwaffe. (Rafael)  Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, Diehl Defence, and Hensoldt Sensors have partnered to offer the German Luftwaffe a variant of Rafael's Spice 250 ER extended-range precision strike weapon adapted for the suppression of enemy air defence (SEAD) role.  Announcing their teaming agreement at the Paris Air Show 2023 on 20 June, the three companies said the collaboration aimed to provide a SEAD capability applicable to the Luftwaffe's planned new Eur...