18 January 2024
by Michael Fabey
USS Gerald R Ford returned to Norfolk, Virginia, after an eight-month deployment that tested the ship's new technologies. (Janes/Michael Fabey)
During its eight-month deployment that included operations in the Mediterranean, aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford (CVN 78) met operational expectations for a new carrier class meant to eclipse the Nimitz-class ships the new vessels are replacing, according to Captain Rick Burgess, Gerald R Ford commanding officer.
“It's not a fair comparison,” Capt Burgess said on 17 January during a pierside briefing with the media, moments after Gerald R Ford docked in its Norfolk, Virginia, home port following its deployment, which had to be extended by 75 days to support operations in the Mediterranean Sea in the wake of the conflict in Israel.
During its 239 days under way, the ship and its crew conducted 43 underway replenishments, logged at least 17,826 flight hours and 10,396 sorties, sailed at least 83,476 n miles, and safely transferred 20.7 million gallons (78.4 million litres) of fuel with no mishaps.
02 May 2024
by Gareth Jennings
A Luftwaffe Eurofighter on the flightline at the 2022 ILA Berlin Airshow. The service has told Janes that it does not yet know how many additional aircraft it will buy to replace the 90 Tornados being retired. (Janes/Gareth Jennings)
The German Luftwaffe has not yet determined how many new combat aircraft it is to acquire to replace its fleet of Panavia Tornados, a senior service official told Janes on 2 May.
Responding to a request for clarification and confirmation of the 85 new aircraft figure previously given by industry officials, Commanding General of Air Force Forces Command, Lieutenant General Günter Katz, said the Luftwaffe had never formally declared a one-for-one replacement of the Tornado, and that “a new target number does actually not exist”.
02 May 2024
by Nicholas Fiorenza
The German Army's re-established air defence force is scheduled to receive Skyranger 30 air-defence systems in 2026. (Rheinmetall)
The German Army announced on its website on 30 April that it is re-establishing its air defence force, initially based in Lüneburg, northern Germany.
The force was disbanded in 2012 but is being re-established as part of the Bundeswehr's refocus on national and alliance defence. Initially, the force will be equipped with Skyranger 30 air-defence systems mounted on Boxer armoured vehicles, providing mobile short-range air defence. This capability will be operated jointly with the IRIS-T SLS (Surface Launched Short Range) air-defence system being procured by the Luftwaffe, the German Air Force.
In addition to the Skyranger 30 procurement, the Bundeswehr has begun identifying personnel for the Germany Army's air defence force, with training scheduled to begin in 2024. A co-ordination and control staff will be established in 2025.
The first unit is scheduled to receive Skyranger 30 systems in 2026, with the completion of the establishment of the air defence force planned by 2028.
02 May 2024
by Akhil Kadidal
The six Airbus H145M helicopters ordered by Brunei will be used in the close air support and aerial observation roles after entering service. (Airbus Helicopters)
Brunei's Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) has signed a contract with Airbus Helicopters to acquire six H145M helicopters.
The contract was signed on 30 April, according to MINDEF. “All six helicopters will be introduced into service gradually, starting from the year 2026 to replace the Bolkow BO-105 helicopters, which have been retired from service,” MINDEF added.
According to the ministry, the H145M “helicopters will significantly enhance the Royal Brunei Air Force's (RBAirF's) operational capabilities for missions such as close air support (CAS), aerial observation, and various other operations”.
Other possible roles include combat search and medical evacuation and insertion of special forces, according to general information on the helicopter published by Airbus Helicopters. Acquisition of the H145M by the RBAirF could also provide Brunei with a future manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) capability – the H145M can support the inclusion of a command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence (C4I) workstation, according to Airbus Helicopters.
During its eight-month deployment that included operations in the Mediterranean, aircraft carrier US...
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