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,” Mike Baulkwill, Combat Air Strategy director at BAE Systems said, adding, “There will be a parliamentary process over the summer to look at a further buy.”

Baulkwill did not disclose further details, but Janes

With the Eurofighter Typhoon set to remain in global service through into the 2060s, the LTE package is an essential element in maintaining the capabilities of the jet while also attracting new and follow-on customers. (Leonardo)

The NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency (NETMA) has launched the activities phase of the Eurofighter Long Term Evolution (LTE) project, awarding its first contracts to industry.

Speaking at BAE System's Warton production facility in northern England on 14 May, David Hulme, Eurofighter programme director for the consortium member, disclosed the milestone that came five years after the LTE project was launched with the first study contracts awarded at the Paris Air Show in 2019.

“LTE early-activities contracts have been awarded, and these will start a three-year technology maturation programme,” Hulme said.

Also known as Eurofighter Evolution (and sometimes Typhoon Evolution), LTE is being developed concurrent to the ongoing Phase Enhancement (PE) upgrade packages, and is geared at taking the aircraft's capabilities out to beyond these PE packages.

The Malaysian Army Aviation is currently equipped with two helicopter types: the Agusta A109LOH (background) and the MD Helicopter MD530G (in foreground). The army lacks a medium rotary-wing utility and transport capability. (Janes/Akhil Kadidal)

The Malaysian Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) is planning to review the leasing of four Sikorsky UH-60A Black Hawk utility helicopters from a private company over delays in delivery of the aircraft.

Speaking to Janes on 9 May during the recently concluded Defence Services Asia (DSA) 2024 exhibition held in Kuala Lumpur, the Chief of the Malaysian Army, General Tan Sri Dato' Muhammad Hafizuddeain bin Jantan, said that the private contractor had requested additional time to deliver the Black Hawks.

“The last communication we have from MINDEF is that the [company] is not yet ready to deliver the aircraft,” Gen Tan said.

It was in May 2023 that MINDEF announced a deal to lease four Sikorsky UH-60A Black Hawk helicopters from Aerotree Defence & Services Sdn Bhd, a Kuala Lumpur-based company. Janes