More flight-testing slated for PAC-3 and Aegis
20 April 2023
by Michael Fabey
PAC-3 missiles are being tested in operations with Aegis Combat Systems. (Lockheed Martin)
Having proved it can operate the PAC-3 (Patriot Advanced Capability-3) missile with Aegis Ashore, Lockheed Martin is now set to conduct additional flight tests at White Sands in early 2024 using the Aegis Combat System, Joe DePietro, company vice-president and general manager for Naval Combat and Missile Defense Systems, told Janes on 4 April during the Navy League Sea-Air-Space 2023 conference held in National Harbor, Maryland.
The Aegis Ashore testing with PAC-3 took place during September and November 2022, he said.
“We are doing a lot of work with PAC-3 integration into Aegis,” he said. “It would be complementary to Standard Missile-6 (SM-6). You could reserve SM-6s for the missions they are best suited for and use PAC-3 for missile defence. This could be [a] game changer, a gap filler.”
To fully integrate into the Aegis Weapon System, Lockheed Martin is investing in PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) integration with the MK 41 vertical launching system (VLS).
Lockheed Martin is working on a guidance-control modification to establish an S-band uplink with the PAC-3, he said.
UK reopens Fleet Helicopter Support Unit tender
10 May 2024
by Gareth Jennings
A FOST Airbus AS365N2 Dauphin operated by British International Helicopters under the FHSU requirement. The MoD has put the tender out to requirement, hoping to secure a new service starting from 1 April 2026. (Janes/Patrick Allen)
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has reopened its requirement for a Fleet Helicopter Support Unit (FHSU) provider to deliver a crewed rotary-wing service to the Royal Navy (RN), having seemingly failed to do so on previous occasions.
A notification posted on the UK government's Contract Finder website on 8 May calls for bids for a contractor-owned service to deliver military and non-military personnel for the RN and to enable the conduct of operational sea training and supporting tasks, including the transportation of freight. The MoD requires the successful bidder to be ready to deliver an initial service to specified ships from 1 April 2026, with the contract expected to run for six years.
Estonia, Moldova to receive new L3Harris radios
10 May 2024
by Olivia Savage
The EDF is procuring and sustaining some of its L3Harris communications equipment. The force currently operates the Falcon III RF-7800M-MP multiband networking manpack radio (pictured). (L3Harris Technologies)
L3Harris Technologies has been contracted by the Estonian Centre for Defence Investments (ECDI) to supply its radios to the Estonian and Moldovan defence forces.
The EUR30 million (USD32.3 million) deal involves the procurement of radios, supplies, and training for the Estonian Defence Forces (EDF) as well as maintenance and support for existing equipment along with the acquisition of communication equipment for Moldova, a European Union (EU) tendering notice detailed.
For Moldova, the ECDI is procuring “different types of handheld and vehicular radios along with accessories from the Falcon product family” as part of European Peace Facility (EPF) contracts EPF22 and EPF23, a spokesperson from the ECDI informed Janes on 9 May.
Deliveries to Moldova will begin in the fourth quarter of 2024, they added.
DSA 2024: DEFTECH completes development of Aludra EE UAV
10 May 2024
by Kapil Kajal
DEFTECH's Aludra EE UAV – pictured above displayed at the DSA 2024 exhibition – has a length of 3.28 m, a width of 4.86 m, and a maximum take-off weight of 120 kg. (Janes/Kapil Kajal)
Malaysia's DRB-HICOM Defence Technologies (DEFTECH) showcased its tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) – also known as Aludra EE – at the Defence Services Asia (DSA) 2024 exhibition held in Kuala Lumpur from 6 to 9 May.
A company representative from DEFTECH told Janes at the exhibition that the development of the UAV is completed.
“The company has been testing the UAV since it was first displayed in the DSA 2022 exhibition, and DEFTECH conducted its last test with the UAV in February 2024,” the representative said.
“We [DEFTECH] have written a letter to the Royal Malaysian Air Force to conduct the user trials of the UAV and we are now awaiting a response from the service,” the representative added.
According to the company specifications, the UAV has a length of 3.28 m, a width of 4.86 m, and a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of 120 kg.
Having proved it can operate the PAC-3 (Patriot Advanced Capability-3) missile with Aegis Ashore, Lo...
Latest Podcasts
Using OSINT to support law enforcement
Ritu Gill, Intelligence Analyst, joins Harry and Sean to discuss the practical use of OSINT to support law enforcement. Ritu discusses it’s use in supporting risk assessments and classified or closed sources of intelligence. She also discusses t...
Listen now
Iran Israel analysis
A focus on Libya
China Taiwan relations
AI applications for OSINT in defence
Janes Case Studies
Using Janes Intara to build a common intelligence picture: Russian build up on the Ukrainian border
View Case Study
Assessing threats in the South China Sea
A competitive assessment of the military aircraft market
Identifying an unknown aircraft
Case study: Using Interconnected Intelligence to Monitor Russian Troop Movement
News Categories
Defence Details