The Fatah-II rocket is initially propelled using a single-stage dual-thrust solid rocket motor, which then disengages and glides to supersonic speeds to engage the target. (Janes)

The Pakistan Army has initiated inducting the Fatah-II multiple rocket launcher (MRL), the Pakistan Armed Forces' Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) agency said on 15 May.

“Fatah-II is being inducted in Pakistan's Artillery Divisions for stand-off [capability] and to engage the targets with precision,” ISPR said.

The rocket system will enhance the “reach and lethality of [the] Pakistan Army's conventional arsenal”, ISPR added.

The Pakistan Army also test-fired Fatah-II on 15 May. The test was “aimed at perfecting the launch drills and procedures”, according to ISPR.

Fatah-II – with a maximum strike range of 400 km – is equipped with a “navigation system, unique trajectory, and manoeuvrable features, which make the launcher capable of engaging targets with high precision and defeating any missile defence system”, ISPR said.

The MRL is developed by Pakistan's state-owned Global Industrial & Defence Solutions (GIDS) as an extended-range variant of the Fatah-I MRL.

The Romanian Air Force is to equip its F-16s with the AIM-9X Block II air-to-air missile. (Romanian Air Force)

The United States has approved the sale of 300 RTX AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missiles to Romania, announcing a potential USD340.8 million sale on 14 May.

The US Department of State approval covers the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) of the missiles for the Romanian Air Force (RoAF) fleet of Lockheed Martin F-16AM/BM Block 15 Mid-Life Update (MLU) combat aircraft, as well as training missiles, related equipment, training, and support.

“The proposed sale will improve Romania's capability to meet current and future threats by providing air-to-air missiles for its F-16 fleet in support of NATO's defence mission,” the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said.

Italian Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft on the ramp at Nellis Air Force Base in the US. Consortium partner BAE Systems has confirmed that the country is looking to increase its fleet with additional aircraft. (Janes/Gareth Jennings)

Italy is set to buy additional Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft, with government approval to be sought in the third quarter (Q3) of 2024.

Consortium partner BAE Systems confirmed the potential sale, which Janes first reported from the IQPC International Fighter conference (IFC) in November 2023, with a senior company official saying on 14 May that Italy is looking to add to the 96 Eurofighters it has already received, of which 94 remain in service.

“Italy is now looking at more core aircraft,” David Hulme, Typhoon product strategy director and Eurofighter project director at BAE Systems said, adding, “There will be a parliamentary process over the summer to look at a further buy.”

Hulme did not disclose further details, but Janes