An image Tweeted by the Ukrainian MoD calling for the transfer of Taurus cruise missiles to complement the Storm Shadow and SCALP EG systems already supplied. (Ukrainian Ministry of Defence)  Ukraine is pressing its allies to transfer Taurus (Target Adaptive Unitary and dispenser Robotic Ubiquity System) cruise missiles to complement the Storm Shadow and SCALP EG systems already supplied.  The Ukrainian Ministry of Defence (MoD) posted artwork on its official X (formerly Twitter) account on 31 August showing the Taurus flanked by the Storm Sh...

Converted Norwegian IRIS-T air-to-air missiles can be deployed from launchers to be donated to Ukraine by Sweden, which mounts the IRIS-T SLS air defence system on the trailer section of the BvS10 armoured all-terrain vehicle. (Forsvarsmakten/Jessica Krantz)  Norway will donate converted IRIS-T air-to-air missiles to Ukraine for use by its ground-based air defence (GBAD), a Norwegian Ministry of Defence (MoD) spokesperson confirmed to Janes on 31 August. The missiles armed former Royal Norwegian Air Force F-16 combat aircraft.  The Norwegian...

A European Space Agency rendering of the Atmospheric Remote-sensing Infrared Exoplanet Large-survey deep-space telescope and spacecraft. (European Space Agency)  Anzen Engineering, a European aerospace engineering company, has officially launched a new Washington, DC-based headquarters with the goal of securing more US military and civilian contracting opportunities for the Spanish-based firm.  The creation of the new US-based headquarters adds to the company's current roster of international offices in Switzerland and the United Arab Emirate...

The first Polish-built rear-fuselage section for the F-16 was rolled out at PZL Mielec's facility on 29 August. (Lockheed Martin)  PZL Mielec has rolled out the first Polish-built rear-fuselage section for the Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon programme at its facility in southern Poland.  Lockheed Martin, which owns PZL Mielec via its Sikorsky subsidiary company, announced the milestone on 29 August.  The milestone came weeks after Janusz Zakrecki, president and general director of PZL Mielec, told Janes and other defence media in early J...

The Belin UAS, seen here in Slovenian service, will now be jointly acquired by Montenegro and Slovenia. (Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Slovenia)  The ministers of defence for Montenegro and Slovenia have signed an agreement for the joint procurement of C-Astral Belin unmanned aircraft system (UAS).  Announced on 30 August the bilateral agreement signed by the State Secretary of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) of Montenegro, Krsto Perović, and the State Secretary of the MoD of the Republic of Slovenia, Damir Črnčec, will see the two fo...

The Indian Army is procuring 130 tethered unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and 19 simulators for training tank drivers, industry sources have disclosed to Janes.  Bangalore-based NewSpace Research and Technologies Pvt Ltd (NRT) secured a contract wo...

AI will transform the evaluation of sensor data, support missions, and deploy effectors. To allow this key capability to be developed and deployed quickly, Germany has decided to create a cross-functional AI platform as a development environment for all partners and pillars of FCAS. (Hensoldt )  The German Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology, and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) has selected a consortium to deliver the artificial intelligence (AI) backbone for the Future Combat Air System (FCAS)/Système de Combat Aérien...

A screenshot from a video taken on 29 August, showing a Russian Il-76 ‘Candid' airlifter burning after a Ukrainian UAV attack on Pskov Air Base. (Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation)  Ukrainian attacks on Russian airbases over recent weeks have claimed a number of damaged and destroyed aircraft, including most recently a number of airlifters and bombers.  Footage posted online on 29 August showed a burning Ilyushin Il-76 ‘Candid' strategic transport aircraft at Pskov Air Base, about 850 km north of Kyiv and 40 km east of the Russian...

A Bombadier CRJ700, similar to the aircraft used during the DSaT demonstration during the US Army's EDGE 2023 technology experiments. (Bombardier)  Programme engineers at Northrop Grumman have completed live demonstrations of its new Deep-Sensing and Targeting (DSaT) system for US Army officials as part of the service's annual Experimental Demonstration Gateway Event (EDGE) exercises.  The DSaT system was mounted aboard a civilian Bombardier CRJ700 and conducted data collection, fusion, and dissemination of beyond-the-line-of-sight battlefiel...

The Royal Thai Air Force's new Beechcraft T-6C Texan II aircraft will be used to train student pilots for fighter and attack aircraft. (Textron Aviation Defense)  The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has commissioned 12 Beechcraft T-6C Texan II trainer aircraft into service.  The new acquisitions are slated to replace the RTAF's “[Pilatus] PC-9 aircraft that have completed their retirement after more than 30 years of aviation student training”, the RTAF said in a statement.  Following the commissioning of the aircraft on 22 August, the aircraft we...

Norway has joined Denmark and the Netherlands in pledging F-16s for Ukraine. (Janes/Patrick Allen)  Norway has joined Denmark and the Netherlands in pledging the transfer of Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon combat aircraft to Kyiv.  Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gar Støre made the offer during a 24 August meeting in Kyiv with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky.  “We plan to transfer Norwegian F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, and will provide further information on the transfer, quantity, and delivery time in due course,” Støre sa...

Japan intends to equip its fleet of Mitsubishi-Boeing F-15Js with AGM-158B/B-2 JASSM-ERs for stand-off attacks. Other aircraft in the JASDF, such as transport aircraft, could also be armed with missiles. (Lockheed Martin)  The US Department of State has approved a possible Foreign Military Sales (FMS) of AGM-158B/B-2 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles with Extended Range (JASSM-ER) to Japan.  The 28 August announcement follows a Japan Ministry of Defense (MoD) disclosure that it is trying to develop and procure a stand-off missile launch...

US Air Force F-16 Aggressor at Red Flag 16-02. Ukrainian F-16s may be painted similarly if their MiG and Sukhoi fleets are any measure. (Janes/Gareth Jennings)  The US is to train Ukrainian pilots and support personnel to fly and maintain the Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon, a US Department of Defense (DoD) spokesperson told reporters on 24 August.  Scheduled to begin in October, the training is to take place at Morris Air National Guard Base in Tucson, Arizona, under the auspices of the 162nd Fighter Wing, the US Air Force's (USAF's) pr...

Boeing Australia FSR Luc de Leacy (left) and USAF Airman First Class Anthony Cardoni on the flight deck of a USAF C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft during a field test of Boeing's ATOM technology. (Boeing)  Boeing has conducted the first field test of an augmented reality (AR)-based maintenance technology it has developed to enable swift repair of deployed aircraft.  The technology, named Augmented Training Operations Maintenance (ATOM), was tested on a Boeing C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft belonging to the United States Air F...

An artist's impression of the CH-53K in Israeli service. The IDF is to receive 12 helicopters, which it will use for heavy lift, long-range personnel recovery, and special mission insertion/exfiltration duties. (Lockheed Martin)  The US Navy (USN) has contracted Lockheed Martin to build a further eight CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift helicopters for Israel, the company announced on 24 August.  The Foreign Military Sales (FMS) agreement was part of a wider USD2.7 billion contract for the manufacture of 35 Lot 7 and Lot 8 helicopters to be deli...

Leonardo anticipates future export sales for its AW159 Wildcat helicopter, seen here in British Army Air Corps service. (Janes/Patrick Allen)  Leonardo Helicopters' UK business is confident of securing additional international orders for its AW159 multirole helicopter over the next year, having recently restarted production of the 6 tonne type for an undisclosed export customer.  Speaking on 22 August at an event to anoint the company's Yeovil, Somerset, site as ‘the home of British helicopters', Adam Clarke, managing director of Leonardo Hel...

Indonesia has had an interest in acquiring Lockheed Martin/Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopters produced at the PZL Mielec facility in Poland since 2007. (Lockheed Martin)  Indonesia has signed a heads of agreement (HOA) for the procurement of 24 Lockheed Martin/Sikorsky S-70M Black Hawk helicopters.  The HOA was signed by Sikorsky and PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) for the Indonesian Ministry of Defense (MoD). The MoD said the defence industry agreement “is related to the procurement of … the Black Hawk helicopters to strengthen the TNI helicopte...

Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense has said the new IRST pods will be fitted onto its Lockheed Martin F-16V fighter aircraft. (Lockheed Martin)  The US State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sales (FMS) of F-16 infrared search and track (IRST) systems to Taiwan.  The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said on 23 August that the potential deal, which needs Congress approval, is worth USD500 million.  The deal involves an unspecified number of IRST systems and associated equipment and support services. Lockheed...

MD Helicopters is to deliver six new and six upgraded MD 530F CWP helicopters to an undisclosed Middle Eastern customer. (MDH)  MD Helicopters (MDH) has been contracted to deliver new and upgraded MD 530F Cayuse Warrior Plus (CWP) light attack helicopters to an undisclosed Middle Eastern customer.  The award announced earlier in August covers six new helicopters and ‘glass cockpit' upgrades to six already delivered helicopters, with deliveries of all 12 to commence in 2024.  Jordan, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia are Middle Eastern countries that...

Six Iranian Khorramshahr ballistic missiles are seen flanked by Haj Qasem ballistic missiles during the handover ceremony. (president.ir)  Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) officially received what appeared to be its first Khorramshahr and Haj Qasem ballistic missiles in a ceremony attended by President Ebrahim Raisi to mark the Defence Industry Day on 22 August.  Six liquid-fuel Khorramshahrs were shown with three solid-propellant Haj Qasems on either side during the ceremony, all of them on transporter erector launchers (TELs)....