Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF) Dassault Mirage 2000-5s (on the far left and far right) operate with QEAF Dassault Rafales and US Air Force Boeing F-15Es over Doha in 2020. The QEAF has since withdrawn its 12 Mirages in service, leading to Indonesia's interest in procuring the fleet. (USAF/Staff Sgt Justin Parsons)  Indonesia has withdrawn from a contract to procure the Qatar Emiri Air Force's (QEAF's) combined force of 12 Dassault Mirage 2000-5 fighter aircraft.  On 15 June 2023 the Indonesian Ministry of Defense (MoD) announced a EUR733 millio...

GA-ASI's Gambit UAV concept. Though the companies involved in the CCA programme have been tight-lipped about their submissions, GA-ASI's may be based off the Gambit concept revealed in 2022. (GA-ASI)  The US Air Force (USAF) is set to downselect contractors on the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) programme from five current potential providers to two to three “within the next few months”, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall told reporters on 13 February on the sidelines of the Air Force Association conference. A further winnowing is...

The XLX-C work-class remote-operated vehicle is a new acquisition to enhance the salvage capability of SALMO. It is operated and maintained by a team of SALMO staff and builds on SALMO's long history of operating ROVs. (UK DE&S)  The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has completed the first operation with a newly acquired Forum Energy Technologies (FET) deep-water remotely operated vehicle (ROV), Janes has learnt.  Procured last year to meet an urgent capability requirement (UCR), the XLX-C ROV was used by the MoD's Salvage and Marine Operations (...

One of six former German Navy P-3C Orion MPA that are being transferred to the Portuguese Air Force. (Janes/Patrick Allen)  The first of six Lockheed P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) acquired from Germany arrived in Portugal on 9 February, the Portuguese Air Force (Força Aérea Portuguesa: FAP) announced.  Portugal acquired six P-3C Capability Upkeep Program (CUP) Orion aircraft of the German Navy's Marinefliegergeschwader 3 ‘Graf Zeppelin' Squadron in September 2023.  The contract is worth approximately EUR45 million (USD48.5 millio...

Bell's HSVTOL concepts with folded rotors on display on 21 September 2021 at the Air Force Association's annual conference. (Janes/Pat Host)  Bell Helicopters tested the high- and low-speed transitions of its High-Speed Vertical Take-off and Landing (HSVTOL) concept on a ground-based sled at Holloman Air Force Base (AFB), New Mexico, the company announced on 8 February.  Bell's HSVTOL concept entails transitioning from rotary propulsion to jet propulsion in mid-air, a mode of flight never tested before. The New Mexico tests, conducted at Holl...

The Armed Forces of the Czech Republic has received all eight of its EL/M-2084 radars, with FOC expected by the end of 2024. (Janes/Patrick Allen)  The Czech Republic's EL/M-2084 Multi-Mission radars (MMRs) from Elta Systems will reach full operating capability (FOC) by the end of 2024, Janes learnt.  A spokesperson from the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic told Janes that all eight radars are now in the country after the final system was delivered in December 2023, with FOC expected before the end of the 2024.  In December 2019 the armed f...

A legacy AN/PRC-117G Adaptive Networking Wideband Waveform aboard an MV-22 Osprey at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona. (US Marine Corps)  The US Marine Corps (USMC) is exploring options for building in a mission module capability into the service's fleet of tactical radios, as a way to accelerate waveform integration as part of an ongoing massive tactical radio upgrade effort.  “What we are looking at is adapting to different waveforms through the process of using mission modules,” said Bill Drew, project officer for multichannel radio...

The DGA has ordered sights from the GME between Nexter and Safran for the Leclerc XLR, which was displayed at Eurosatory 2022. (Janes/Sonny Butterworth)  The Direction Générale de l'Armement (DGA), the French defence procurement agency, has ordered sights from the temporary company grouping (GME) between KNDS's Nexter and Safran Electronics & Defense for the upgrade of the Leclerc main battle tank (MBT) to the XLR standard, the two companies announced in a joint press release on 8 February.  Nexter and Safran will digitise the optronic core o...

An Israeli Air Force F-35I seen being loaded with JDAM precision-guided bombs for use against targets in the Gaza Strip. (Israeli Air Force)  A court in the Netherlands has ruled that the country should stop all exports to Israel related to the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) programme.  Announced on 12 February, the ruling from the Dutch appeals court said all national industries involved in the international F-35 programme must cease the transfer of parts to Israel within seven days due to the risk of them being...

Russia is reportedly deploying Starlink terminals in contested regions in Ukraine, the GUR said. (Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)  The Russian Armed Forces is reportedly using the Starlink satellite communications system in Ukraine to establish internet connectivity, Ukraine's Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR) confirmed on 11 February.  Russian forces, such as the 83rd Air Assault Brigade, which are fighting in the contested region of Donetsk, near Klishchiivka and Andriivka, are currently deploying the system at t...

The Bell 360 Invictus prototype for the US Army's FARA competition is substantially complete, pending first flight in late 2024. (Bell Flight)  The US Army cancelled the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) programme, the service announced on 8 February. The FARA contest was intended to provide the army with an armed scout helicopter, taking on a role left unfilled following the 2020 retirement of the Bell OH-58C.  “We are learning from the battlefield – especially in Ukraine – that aerial reconnaissance has fundamentally changed,” US...

JSC Vektor Serp-VS6 (left) and RM (right) at WDS 2024, which can be combined to create an integrated detect-and-effect C-UAS solution. (Janes/Akshara Parakala)  Russian manufacturer JSC Vektor has unveiled a new counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) at the World Defense Show (WDS) 2024 held in Riyadh from 4 to 8 February.    Known as Serp-VS6, the platform is a radio-electronic suppressor that provides full omnidirectional C-UAS protection in the tactical environment by disrupting the signals of rogue unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) a...

SIATT in Brazil is expanding its production facilities in co-operation with UAE defence firm Edge Group. The companies have been working together on the MANSUP-ER for the Brazilian and Emirati navies. Edge Group displayed a mock-up of the missile at the Dubai Airshow in November 2023. (Edge Group)  SIATT – Engenharia, Indústria e Comércio, a Brazilian privately owned precision weapons and integrated systems firm, is significantly expanding its facilities in São José dos Campos in São Paulo state under a strategic partnership with the state-ow...

An Israeli Air Force F-35I seen being loaded with JDAM precision-guided bombs for use against targets in the Gaza Strip. (Israeli Air Force)    Announced on 12 February, the ruling from the Dutch appeals court said all national industries involved in the international F-35 programme must cease the transfer of parts to Israel within seven days due to the risk of them being used “in serious violations of international humanitarian law”. The ruling is being appealed by the Dutch government.  In response to a request for comment, Lockheed Martin...

The fourth and fifth MQ-28A prototypes have started flight-testing, according to a video released by Boeing. The fifth prototype (on the right) has an IRST system installed on the upper nose surface. This system was not seen on the earlier MQ-28 prototypes. (Boeing)  The Australian government has announced AUD399 million (USD259.5 million) in funding to further develop key systems for the Boeing MQ-28A Ghost Bat Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) and build three new next-generation Block 2 aircraft.  Pat Conroy, the Australian Minister for D...

India's state-run Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited unveiled the Dhanush 155 mm/52 calibre towed howitzer (pictured above) at Defexpo 2022, held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. This is one of the gun options available to the Indian Army. (Janes/Kapil Kajal)  India's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, has approved the procurement of the towed gun system (TGS) for the Indian Army.  The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said in a statement on 9 February that the procurement – approved through the provision...

The GA-ASI XQ-67A OBSS in a hangar at an undisclosed location. (GA-ASI)  General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) unveiled a new unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the XQ-67A Off-Board Sensing Station (OBSS), on 8 February.  “[GA-ASI] is very excited to introduce the XQ-67A Off-Board Sensing Station to the world for the first time,” the company said in a statement.  “Without getting into specifics … we are stepping through that programme methodically and working closely with our government partners to hit all of the markers for the project a...

TEI displayed its TS1400 turboshaft engine at the World Defense Show 2024. (Janes/Akshara Parakala)  Turkish engine manufacturer Tusaş Engine Industries (TEI) has showcased its TEI-TS1400 and TEI-TF6000 engines at the World Defense Show (WDS) 2024 held in Riyadh from 4 to 8 February.  A TEI official spoke to Janes about the ongoing development of the company's turboshaft engine, the TS1400, and turbofan engines, the TF6000 and TF10000, programmes.  The TS1400 is a free-turbine turboshaft engine being developed by TEI as part of the company's...

The La Fayette modernisation programme will extend the frigates' service lives out to around 2030. (Naval Group)  Naval Group has officially concluded the French Navy's La Fayette-class frigate (Frégates de type La Fayette: FLF) modernisation programme following redelivery of the third and final refurbished frigate to the fleet.    Announcing the milestone on 12 February Naval Group said that FS   Aconit   (F 713) was redelivered to the French Navy after completing a six-month refit followed by a series of dockside and sea tria...

BAE Systems autonomous collaborative platform (ACP) concept vehicle will operate alongside Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft. (Janes/Akshara Parakala)  BAE Systems unveiled a new autonomous collaborative platform (ACP) concept at the World Defense Show (WDS) 2024 held in Riyadh from 4 to 8 February.  The conceptual unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is characterised as an attritable platform with low-observable features and will feature electrical actuation systems. The concept vehicle will be able to operate from either land or maritime environments f...