The Republic of China Navy and Marine Corps deployed AAV7 amphibious vehicles (an example pictured above) in the drills to boost operational preparedness to counter Chinese amphibious landings on Taiwan beaches in the event of a conflict. (BAE Systems)  The Republic of China (RoC) Armed Forces have initiated conducting drills to boost operational preparedness to counter Chinese amphibious landings on Taiwan beaches in the event of a conflict.  According to Taiwan's state-owned Central News Agency (CNA), the RoC Navy's 151st Fleet and the RoC...

The US Navy conducted another exercise in the Gulf using unmanned systems such as the MAST-13 USV. (US Navy)  Recent events underscore how military operators are beginning to increasingly test and deploy unmanned systems in the Gulf.    US Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) utilised Freedom-class littoral combat ship USS   Indianapolis   (LCS 17) as a staging base and command centre on 27 November for a host of unmanned systems during live weapons firing exercises in the international waters of the central Gulf, US Navy (US...

Seen in Portuguese colours and markings, the KC-390 will be flown by the Netherlands also. (Embraer)  Netherlands Industries for Defence and Security (NIDV) and Embraer have agreed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) geared at co-operation between the respective national defence sectors in general, and specifically related to the Brazilian-built C-390 Millennium transport aircraft and A-29 Super Tucano light attack and trainer aircraft.  Signed on 30 November, the MOU followed the Netherlands' recent selection of the C-390 airlifter to meet i...

The first of 31 Sea Tiger helicopters for the German Navy departed Donauwörth production facility on its maiden flight on 30 November. (Airbus)  The NHIndustries (NHI) NH90 Sea Tiger for the German Navy (Deutsche Marine) made its maiden flight on 30 November.  The milestone took place at Airbus Helicopter's Donauwörth production facility in southern Germany, ahead of flight trials and delivery to the navy in 2025.  The Sea Tiger is an enhanced version of the German-specific Sea Lion that is itself an enhanced version of the NH90 NATO Frigate...

Australia, the UK, and the US are looking for more streamlined processes to share submarine-building technology for AUKUS. (Janes/Michael Fabey)  Australia, the UK, and the US will need to depend on industry and more streamlined processes for sharing data and technology for their AUKUS agreement to succeed, according to US Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Bonnie Jenkins.  “There's no way we're going to do this without industry being involved,” Jenkins said during a 27 AUKUS discussion at the Atlantic Counci...

The Royal Canadian Air Force will operate 14 P-8A Poseidon multimission maritime aircraft, with the option to acquire a further two at a later date. (Boeing)  Canada has selected the Boeing P-8A Poseidon multimission maritime aircraft (MMA) to fulfil its Canadian Multi-Mission Aircraft (CMMA) requirement.  The decision was announced on 30 November, with the Canadian Department of National Defence (DND) saying that up to 16 Poseidons (14, plus an option for an additional two) will be acquired. These will replace the Royal Canadian Air Force's...

The Aster 30 missile (pictured above) is a two-stage kinetic kill effector fitted with an active seeker with an interception range of approximately 100 km against threats operating at altitudes up to 20,000 m. (Janes/Patrick Allen)  The Republic of Singapore Air Force's (RSAF's) Aster 30 SAMP/T (Sol-Air Moyenne-Portée/Terrestre or surface-to-air medium range/land based) self-propelled surface-to-air missile (SAM) system has achieved full operational capability (FOC), the Singapore Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) said in a press release on 29 Nov...

The Sting Ray torpedo is to be integrated aboard the RAF's fleet of Poseidon MRA1 aircraft. (Crown Copyright)  The United Kingdom is to arm its fleet of Boeing P-8A Poseidon MRA1 maritime multimission aircraft (MMA) with the domestically developed Sting Ray torpedo.  The Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced the decision on 30 November, saying the British-built Sting Ray will be used alongside the US-built Mk 54 torpedo that was delivered as part of the US government's Foreign Military Sales (FMS) package.  “The programme to integrate Sting Ray...

Displayed as a mock-up at the ILA Berlin Air Show in 2022, the Eurofighter EK has now been approved by the Bundestag. (Janes/Gareth Jennings)  The German Bundestag has approved development of the Eurofighter Elektronischer Kampf (EK) electronic warfare (EW) aircraft for the Luftwaffe.  The Luftwaffe and Airbus (Germany's lead contractor in the Eurofighter consortium) announced the budgetary committee approval on 29 November, saying 15 aircraft will be upgraded for electronic attack (EA) and suppression/destruction of enemy air defence (SEAD/D...

With a Royal Saudi Air Force requirement to replace its ageing C-130 Hercules airlifters, the C-390 Millennium (pictured) is a possible contender. (Embraer)  Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) and Embraer have agreed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) geared at co-operation between the respective national defence sectors in general, and specifically towards promoting the Brazilian built C-390 Millennium transport aircraft to the kingdom.  Signed on 29 November, the MOU will see both companies work to develop Saudi Arabia's defence indu...

Lithuania has acquired three of the latest variant H145M D3 helicopters for its border guards. (Airbus Helicopters)  Lithuania has acquired three Airbus Helicopters H145M rotorcraft that its State Border Guard Service (Valstybės Sienos Apsaugos Tarnyba: VSAT) will use for special forces deployment and other roles.  Airbus announced the contract on 29 November, saying that the latest D3-standard H145M helicopters will also be used for search and rescue, disaster relief, medical evacuation, border patrol, firefighting, and for the transport of...

One of the first of 32 F-16s for Romania being handed over by Norway's defence minister on 28 November. (Norwegian Armed Forces)  Romania has received from Norway the first of 32 surplus Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon combat aircraft it contracted in November 2022.  The Norwegian Armed Forces announced the transfer of the first three aircraft on 28 November, saying the jets were flown by Romanian Air Force pilots from Rygge Air Station to their future home operating station at the 86th Fetesti Air Base in eastern Romania.  “The sale of...

Rohde & Schwarz unveiled a compact version of its Ardronis family of C-UASs. The system was seen operating at NATO's Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System Technical Interoperability Exercise (C-UAS TIE23). (Janes/Olivia Savage)  Germany-based Rohde & Schwarz (R&S) has unveiled a new counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) called Ardronis Locate Compact.    Ardronis Locate Compact is a small, ruggedised system designed for the detection and localisation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), especially over large areas such as military bases, a...

Taiwan is preparing to retire its Northrop F-5E/F fleet from operational service before the end of 2023. (Annabelle Chih/Getty Images)  Taiwan's Republic of China Air Force (RoCAF) is preparing to withdraw its ageing Northrop F-5 E/F Tiger II fleet from operational service by the end of 2023 and replace them with Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC) T-5 Brave Eagle trainers.    In a statement on its   Youth DailyNews   newspaper on 28 November, the Taiwanese Ministry of National Defence (MND) said  ,...

The Australian government is seeking the expedited delivery of its ordered Sikorsky UH-60Ms to “minimise capability gaps”, according to Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles. (Commonwealth of Australia)  The United States will accelerate the delivery of Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawks to Australia by reprioritising the contracting timelines for the US Army's Black Hawk procurement.  Australia signed a AUD2.79 billion (USD1.83 billion) Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contract in January to acquire 40 Black Hawks to replace its NHIndustries MRH90 ‘Taipa...

Brazil has now received back into service all five E-99A aircraft upgraded to the E-99M standard, including the first in a full operating configuration. (Janes/Gareth Jennings)  The Brazilian Air Force (Força Aérea Brasileira: FAB) has received back into service its first Embraer E-99A (EMB-145SA) airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) platform to be upgraded to the full operating capability (FOC) standard.  Embraer announced the milestone on 23 November, saying that this first FOC aircraft is also the last of the FAB's fleet of five airc...

Belgium has set up a new F-35 conversion unit at Luke AFB in Arizona, where it will join other international operators in training its ground and air crews on the type. (US Air Force)  Belgium has set up a new conversion unit in the United States to train its personnel on the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF).  The Belgian Ministry of Defence (MoD) said on 23 November that the first elements of the Belgian F-35 Conversion Unit (BEL F-35 CU) arrived at Luke Air Force Base (AFB) in Arizona at the end of July. The BEL...

The National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System – pictured above firing an AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile at Woomera Test Range in South Australia in mid-November – provides air defence against a variety of aerial threats, including UAV, missile, helicopter, and aircraft attacks within 40–50 km. (Commonwealth of Australia)  The Australian Army has started inducting its new short-range ground-based air-defence capability known as the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS), a spokesperson for the Australi...

Australia's Birdon Group Pty Ltd has been selected as the preferred designer for the Landing Craft Medium capability. The above picture shows the design of Birdon's proposed Landing Craft Medium. (Birdon Group)  The Australian Department of Defence (DoD) has signed a Heads of Agreement (HOA) with shipbuilding company Austal Limited to establish a Strategic Shipbuilding Agreement (SSA) to manufacture ships in Henderson, Western Australia, the DoD said in a press release on 23 November.  According to the DoD, the HOA will set out the principles...

The FAP now has seven Koala helicopters in its inventory. (Portuguese Air Force)  The Portuguese Air Force (Força Aérea Portuguesa; FAP) has boosted its rotary-wing inventory with two new Leonardo AW119 MkII Koala utility helicopters.  The new aircraft wereofficially received on 22 November at the Maneuver Airfield No1, in Ovar, the FAP said.  The helicopters were delivered from Leonardo Helicopters in Italy, the FAP told Janes.  The two helicopters were acquired as an option placed as part of a contract worth EUR20.49 million (USD22.32 milli...