As seen at the Paris Air Show 2023, the MBDA SCALP and Storm Shadow are essentially the same cruise missile as fielded by France and the UK, respectively. Ukraine will shortly be armed with both types, following President Emmanuel Macron's announcement of deliveries at the NATO summit in Vilnius. (Janes/Gareth Jennings)  French President Emmanuel Macron has pledged to deliver “deep strike” missiles to Kyiv in the context of Ukraine's ongoing counteroffensive against occupying Russian forces.  Speaking at 2023 NATO Vilnius Summit in Lithuania,...

The Indian Army has issued an RFI to procure new SPAD-GMSs. South Korean defence group Hanwha is expected to bid for the programme with its K30 Biho self-propelled anti-aircraft gun (SPAAG) system, pictured above, which is in service with the Republic of Korea Army. (Janes/Sunil Nair)  The Indian Army has released a tender to support its procurement of new self-propelled air-defence gun missile systems (SPAD-GMSs).  A request for information (RFI) issued in early July said the procured systems will be operated as ‘Mobile Terminal Air-Defence...

The fifth prototype of the KAI KF-21 will be delivered to Indonesia after 2026 if Jakarta fulfils its required financial commitment to the programme. (DAPA)  Indonesia is “committed” to the joint development of the KF-21/IFX fighter development programme despite missing a deadline to provide South Korea with a payment timetable for the project, according to an industry source.  On 3 July the South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced that Indonesia was yet to provide the new plan for payment. The agency added tha...

China is continuing to induct SAC J-16 multirole fighters into the service as part of its modernisation of the air force. (VCG via Getty Images/Qian Baihua)  China has augmented its operational units with additional numbers of Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) J-16 multirole and Chengdu Aircraft Industries (Group) Company (CAC) J-20 stealth fighter aircraft.  Janes assesses that China may have inducted 15 new SAC J-16s and 11 CAC J-20 fifth-generation stealth fighters into service since January 2023. These inductions support ongoing efforts...

A Russian Sukhoi Su-35 fighter caught in the cross-hairs of a French Rafale over the Syria-Iraq border on 6 July. (French Ministry of Armed Forces)  Combat aircraft from Russia and Western countries have ‘clashed' over the Middle East, with US and French officials describing the actions of Russian pilots as being “unprofessional”.  US Air Force Central Command (AFCENT) and the French Ministry of Armed Forces released images of close encounters between their aircraft and Russian Sukhoi Su-35 ‘Flanker-E' fighters on 5 and 6 July, respectively....

A rendering of a Boeing CH-47F Chinook helicopter in Luftwaffe service. (Boeing)  The Budget Committee of the German parliament approved the procurement of 60 Boeing CH-47F Block II Chinook heavy-lift helicopters on 5 July.  The EUR6.98 billion (USD7.61 billion) budget approval came about two months after the US government gave the green light for the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme that includes 60 extended-range helicopters, as well as mission equipment, spares, training, transportation, and support. The deal is financed from funds f...

Australia will likely use the AH-64E Apaches with its Canberra-class Landing Helicopter Docks. In this photo, a US Army AH-64E lands on HMAS   Canberra  during a training activity at Sydney in February 2023.  (Commonwealth of Australia)  The Australian government has announced plans to redeploy the army's 1st Aviation Regiment to Townsville and support the unit with infrastructural improvements at the new site.  The 1st Aviation Regiment is set to be equipped with the 29 new Boeing AH-64E Apache attack helicopters ordered...

Tengden's improved TW328-A (TB-A) unmanned combat aerial vehicle is being equipped to carry a wide variety of air-launched weapons. The weapons displayed in this image were confirmed to have been integrated with the TW328 series during a test flight on 26 June. (Janes)  The Tengden TW328-A Scorpion A (TB-A) unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) is being improved for enhanced flight performance and to carry a larger weapons load.  The TW328-A is a larger version of the Tengden TB-001 Scorpion UCAV that is operational with the Chinese People's...

The Australian DoD has ordered an additional batch of an unknown number of Saab's Carl-Gustaf M4 recoilless rifles with FCD 558 fire-control systems. (Saab)  Saab has received an order worth AUD56 million (USD37.2 million) from the Australian Department of Defence (DoD) to supply additional Carl-Gustaf M4 84 mm recoilless rifles, the Swedish company said on 4 July.  Without disclosing the number of M4s to be delivered, Saab said the additional batch of rifles will be equipped with FCD 558 fire-control systems (FCSs). Deliveries are scheduled...

Poland received its first company of 14 M1A1 tanks at Szczecin on 28 June. (Polish MND)  Poland received its first company of 14 M1A1 Abrams tanks at the Port of Szczecin on 28 June, the Polish Ministry of National Defence (MND) announced on its website later the same day. The Polish Armaments Agency said on its website on 28 June that three M88A2 Hercules armoured recovery vehicles were also delivered.  Two more M1A1 companies will be delivered in 2023, to be followed by a second battalion in 2024.  Minister of National Defence Mariusz Błasz...

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...

The Australian Army has tested an AS9 155 mm SPH at a government testing facility in South Korea. The image above shows an AS9 from an Indian Army exercise in November 2022. The AS9 is known as K-9 Vajra T in India. (Janes/Kapil Kajal)  The Australian Army has test-fired three artillery rounds from an AS9 Huntsman 155 mm/52 calibre self-propelled howitzer (SPH) at a government testing facility in South Korea, the Australian Department of Defence (DoD) said on 3 July.  The DoD said the test validated the AS9's automated loading capabilities. H...

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...

The Gereon RCS traversing autonomously in one of the scenarios at the Unmanned Ground Systems Autonomy Trials in Estonia. The platform dimensions are 141.5×131×73 (L×W×H) cm. (Janes/Olivia Savage)  A new unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) called the Gereon Robotic Carrier System (RCS) was unveiled and demonstrated for the first time at the Unmanned Ground Systems Autonomy Trials (UGV-AT) held in Estonia from 28 to 29 June.  The Gereon RCS, manufactured by Germany-based ARX Landsysteme, participated alongside 10 other UGVs in the trial to demonstr...

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...

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...

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...

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...