Leonardo and Bell are to leverage their respective AW609 (pictured) and V-22/V-280 tiltrotors for the NATO NGRC programme. (Leonardo)  Leonardo and Bell signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on 29 February geared at evaluating tiltrotor options for the NATO Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability (NGRC) programme.  The European and US companies will pool their combined tiltrotor knowledge on the AW609 and V-22 Osprey/V-280 Valor respectively, as they look to secure the fifth concept study of the NGRC effort to develop the next generation o...

L3Harris Technologies' AN/PRC-160 HF manpack, which enables forces to transmit video, voice, and data up to Top Secret Level, has been selected for the German armed forces. (L3 Harris Technologies)  The US Department of State has approved a possible Foreign Military Sales (FMS) to Germany for Falcon III wideband software-defined radios.  As per an announcement by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) on 27 February, the proposed sale comprises L3Harris Technologies Falcon III AN/PRC-117 and AN/PRC-160 radios as well as various spa...

The first KC-130J for the Luftwaffe departs the Marietta production facility in the US, bound for the joint Franco-German C-130 squadron in France. (Lockheed Martin)  The first Lockheed Martin KC-130J tanker-transport aircraft for the Luftwaffe was delivered to the joint Franco-German C-130 air-transport squadron at Évreux-Fauville Air Base in northern France on 28 February.  The first of three German KC-130Js departed the company's Marietta production facility in Georgia for the ferry flight to France, where it joined three Luftwaffe C-130J-...

A Royal Australian Air Force F-35A Lightning II aircraft takes off with a payload of GBU-12 bombs during an exercise in 2021. Singapore is procuring eight F-35A airframes in addition to the 12 F-35Bs announced earlier. (Commonwealth of Australia)  Singapore will procure eight conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) variants of the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II fighter aircraft in addition to the 12 F-35B short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) versions it is acquiring.  The matter was confirmed by Singapore's Defence Minister Ng Eng...

Jordan is to field four Grand Caravans upgraded in an ISR configuration in addition to the six already in service (pictured) with the Royal Jordanian Air Force. (Janes/Patrick Allen)  IOMAX is preparing to deliver to Jordan the first of four new Cessna C-208B Grand Caravan EX aircraft to be upgraded with an intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) system, a company spokesperson told Janes on 27 February.  The first aircraft will be presented to the Royal Jordanian Air Force (RJAF) at a ceremony at the company's Mooresville facilit...

Germany is acquiring 60 Chinook helicopters, for which the first engine contract has now been placed. (Boeing via Janes/Gareth Jennings)  Germany has placed the first award related to its procurement of Boeing CH-47F Block II Chinook Standard Range (SR) air-to-air refuelling (AAR)-capable heavy-lift helicopters, contracting Honeywell to provide the engines.  Announced on 26 February, the award covers 105 T55-GA-714A engines for the EUR6.98 billion (USD7.57 billion) Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme to deliver 60 Chinook ER helicopters to...

The IAF seeks to acquire the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft Mk 1A to replace its ageing MiG-21 fleet. The Mk 1A has a greater payload and fuel capacity than the earlier Mk 1 aircraft (pictured), plus improved avionics and cockpit features. (Indian Air Force)  Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is preparing the first two units of the improved Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk 1A for delivery to the Indian Air Force (IAF) in March.  A source in HAL told Janes that the company aims to deliver the first two aircraft by 31 March. “The IAF has req...

APS SKYctrl skid C-UAS with FIELDctrl 3D MIMO radar, CyView C2, and the Mk 44 Bushmaster II single 30 mm cannon. (APS)    Polish company Advanced Protection Systems (APS) is delivering its SKYctrl skid counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) to a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) customer,   Janes   learnt.     A spokesperson from APS told   Janes  on 14 February that the GCC customer has ordered an undisclosed number of SKYctrl skidss, with deliveries ongoing since December 2023. They were unable to elaborate...

The Santa María-class frigate   Canarias  with the now-removed Meroka CIWS above the hangar. The frigate has embarked a counter-UAV system for the first time.  (Spanish Ministry of Defence)  The Spanish Navy has deployed a counter-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system on the Santa María-class frigate Canarias (F 86) for the first time ahead of the frigate's deployment to European Union Naval Force's (EU NAVFOR's) Operation ‘Atalanta' in the Indian Ocean.  Announcing the frigate's departure from Rota on 15 February...

Malaysia has installed Lockheed Martin's AN/TPS-77 multirole radar (pictured) in Labuan to enhance maritime domain awareness. (Lockheed Martin)  The Malaysian Armed Forces has installed a long-range ground-based radar developed by Lockheed Martin in East Malaysia.  A spokesperson for the Malaysian Ministry of Defence (MoD) told Janes in mid-February that the Malaysian Armed Forces has installed Lockheed Martin's AN/TPS-77 multirole radar in Labuan island, located off the coast of the state of Sabah in East Malaysia.  According to Janes C4ISR...

With the Black Hawk set to remain in US Army service through to the 2070s, Lockheed Martin says the helicopter can serve as a bridge through to future rotorcraft now being developed. (Janes/Patrick Allen)  Lockheed Martin is touting its S-70 Black Hawk medium-lift helicopter as a bridge to next-generation rotorcraft now being developed, with new technologies intended to take it out to 2070.    Speaking to   Janes   ahead of the IQPC International Military Helicopter (IMH) 2024 conference in London, Jay Macklin, business develop...

The UK government has formally launched the second half of the NMH procurement process to replace the Puma HC2, with the release to industry of the invitation to negotiate on 27 February. (Janes/Patrick Allen)  The UK government has launched the second half of its New Medium Helicopter (NMH) programme to replace the Airbus SA 330E Puma HC2 in military service.  Speaking at the IQPC International Military Helicopter (IMH) 2024 conference held in London from 27 to 29 February, Minister of State for Defence Procurement at the Ministry of Defence...

The MDH MD 530F, as it was designated then, was showcased at IQPC International Military Helicopter (IMH) conference in February 2023. Now known as the TH/AH530, it is again being promoted at the IMH 2024 event, with the company telling   Janes  it expects to close sales of “several dozen” platforms in Eastern Europe alone.  (MDH via Janes/Gareth Jennings)  MD Helicopters (MDH) expects to sell “several dozen” of its TH530 and AH530 rotorcraft to Eastern Europe, with strong interest in the trainer and light attack...

The Bundesheer and Rheinmetall signed a contract on 21 February for the German company's Skyranger 30 turret. (Georg Mader)  The Bundesheer (Austrian Armed Forces) and Rheinmetall announced on 23 February that they had signed a contract for the German company's Skyranger 30 turret, making Austria the launch customer for the air-defence system.  Austrian Minister of Defence Klaudia Tanner and Rheinmetall Air Defence CEO Oliver Dürr signed the contract on 21 February for 36 Skyranger turrets to install in the same number of the 225 Pandur Evolu...

Austria has ordered 225 Pandur EVO AFVs for the Bundesheer. (GDELS)  A contract for 225 Pandur Evolution (EVO) armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs) for the Austrian Armed Forces (Bundesheer) was signed by Minister of Defense Klaudia Tanner, Chief of Defence Staff General Rudolf Striedinger, and managing director of General Dynamics European Land Systems-Steyr (GDELS-Steyr) Martin Reischer on 19 February.  Present at the signing were Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer and Karl Hufnagel, managing director of ESL, which will supply the AFV's 12.7 mm...

Despite setbacks with the US Army, Lockheed Martin will continue to develop and offer its X2 technologies to the international market. (Lockheed Martin)  Lockheed Martin is to continue developing its X2 technologies for the international market despite suffering setbacks with its offerings to the US Army.    Speaking to   Janes  ahead of the IQPC International Military Helicopter (IMH) 2024 conference in London running from 27 to 29 February, Jay Macklin, business development director at Lockheed Martin's Sikorsky subsidiary,...

The Redback IFV (pictured above) weighs 42 tonnes and has a length, a width, and a height of 7.9 m, 3.64 m, and 3.75 m respectively. It has a maximum onroad speed of 65 km/h with a seating capacity for a crew of three and up to eight troops. (Hanwha Aerospace)  Hanwha Defense Australia (HDA) has awarded a contract worth USD600 million to Israel-based military technology company Elbit Systems to supply protection and fighting capabilities and sensors for Australian Redback infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs), Elbit Systems said in a press releas...

The New Zealand Defence Force has procured the Skydio S2+ UAS to help meet its intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capability requirements. (Skydio)  The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) is developing its remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS) and unmanned aircraft system (UAS) capabilities through a series of experiments with a range of products.  Units in the NZDF across the three services have been purchasing or leasing single platforms for testing and demonstrations to inform future military requirements.  A spokesperson from...

Spanish company Indra will produce an H225M Full Mission Simulator for the Republic of Singapore Air Force. (Indra)  The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) will receive an H225M Full Mission Simulator (FMS) from Spain-based company Indra.  In an announcement to coincide with the Singapore Airshow 2024, Indra said on 20 February that it had been awarded a contract to develop and produce the new simulator. “The contract includes post-delivery support, technical assistance, and options for future expansion.”  Indra could not provide addition...

Kratos continues to develop its XQ-58 Valkyrie drone to meet new customer requirements. The Valkyrie demonstrator made its first flight in March 2019 (pictured). (US Air Force)  Kratos saw significant revenue growth in 2023 and is investing internally for future programmes. Revenues of USD1.04 billion resulted from 15.5% growth and 12.6% organic growth compared with 2022, according to a company statement on 13 February.  In the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2023, Kratos saw revenues of USD237.8 million from 9.8% growth and 7.3% organic growth compa...