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...

A satellite imagery supplied by BlackSky to the Indonesian MoD. Through BlackSky's subscription-based services, the Indonesian MoD is guaranteed access and first-priority tasking capacity over their national and regional areas of interest. (BlackSky)  Virginia-based BlackSky Technology Inc has secured a contract to provide the services of its Gen-3 Earth observation satellites to the Indonesian Ministry of Defense (MoD).  Under the contract, BlackSky will also provide “ground station capabilities and flight operations support” to the MoD, the...

Pratt & Whitney F135 engine on a test stand. (P&W)  Pratt & Whitney anticipates completing its critical design review (CDR) of the F135 engine core upgrade (ECU) in mid-2025, company F135 programme manager Jenn Latka told reporters on 6 February.  “Our design phase is supposed to end in roughly the middle of 2025 [with] the critical design review, and our first engine [goes] to test in 2026,” Latka said. The first ECU-equipped engine is scheduled to enter service in 2029.  “We are on track to hit all of those milestones, design is going very...

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...

Embraer sees its C-390, which has a cargo-carrying capacity of 26 tons and the ability to operate as multimission transport aircraft, as a key contender for the India Air Force's MTA acquisition project. (Embraer)  Embraer Defense & Security and Mahindra Defence Systems have announced a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to collaborate on the C-390 Millennium bid for the Indian Air Force's (IAF's) Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) procurement project.  As part of the MOU, which was signed in New Delhi on 9 February, Embraer and Mahindra will “jo...

The KC-390 was showcased at the WDS 2024 in Riyadh. Prior to arriving at the biennial event, the tanker-transport aircraft was demonstrated to the Nigerian Air Force. (Janes/Akshara Parakala)  Embraer has recorded strong interest in its KC-390 Millennium from Nigeria, demonstrating the tanker-transport aircraft to the West African country ahead of the World Defense Show (WDS) 2024 held in Riyadh from 4 to 8 February.    Speaking to   Janes  , Embraer instructor pilot Marco Aurélio Oliveira said that prior to arriving in Saudi A...

A Meteor missile aboard a Swedish Gripen combat aircraft. The six partner countries are assessing a potential mid-life upgrade, with a decision to be made by the end of 2024. (Janes/Gareth Jennings)  The partner countries will decide before the end of 2024 on the scope and scale of a planned mid-life upgrade (MLU) to the MBDA Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM).  Answering questions in the House of Commons, Minister of State at the Ministry of Defence (MoD) James Cartlidge said on 8 February that the UK and the five other p...

The Aliaca is a light tactical fixed-wing UAS that can be used for a wide range of intelligence, surveillance, and inspection missions or operations, in a maritime, coastal, or land environment. (Charles Wassilieff/Marine Nationale/Défense)  The French Navy is set to receive a second batch of Aliaca Evo fixed-wing electric unmanned aircraft systems (UASs) from Airbus Group subsidiary Survey Copter.  Under a contract awarded by French defence procurement agency Direction Générale de l'Armement (DGA), Survey Copter will supply 15 UASs to the Fr...

The first of two KC-390s for Hungary seen on its four-hour maiden flight over Brazil. (Embraer)  The first of two Embraer KC-390 Millennium tanker-transport aircraft for Hungary made its maiden flight on 8 February.  The Brazilian manufacturer announced the event the following day, saying the aircraft flew for approximately four hours, having departed from the company's Gavião Peixoto production facility where it was built. It will now enter a test and assessment phase, before delivery to the customer later in 2024.  Hungary signed for the tw...

The AVIC Wing Loong-10B (WL-10B) displayed at WDS 2024 along with various missiles and bombs. (Janes/Akshara Parakala)  China Defence, on behalf of China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC), has confirmed that the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) Wing Loong-10B, an export variant of the CATIC Wing Loong-10 (also dubbed as WL-10), will soon enter service with the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF).  With the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) displayed at the World Defense Show (WDS) 2024 held in Riyadh from 4 to 8 F...

A Pentagon report recommends the US Navy replace its Air and Missile Defense Radar testing model. (Raytheon)  The US Navy (USN) should replace the testing model of its Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR), designated the AN/SPY-6(V)1, according to the Office of the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E) FY 2023 Annual Report, released on 2 February.  The operational assessment (OA) being done on the AN/SPY-6(V)1 used for testing “was not intended to determine operational effectiveness and suitability of the delivered AMDR due to th...

The HW150V UAV is equipped with a three-axis mechanically stabilised electro-optic/infrared pod. (Janes/Akshara Parakala)  Beijing-based Hoverwing Technology (also known as Hangyi Technology) showcased the HW150V hybrid vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) at the World Defense Show (WDS) 2024 held in Riyadh from 4 to 8 February.  Speaking to Janes, a Hoverwing official said the HW150V is an operationally proven platform, which can carry out intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR); target-tracking; ho...

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...

Poland has requested a minimum of four aerostat systems to support the detection and monitoring of air and ground threats, including UAVs. The US currently deploys Tethered Aerostat Radar Systems (pictured) to support airborne border surveillance along the US Mexico border and select Caribbean areas. (US Air Force photo by GS-11 Deb H; USA) (US DoD)  The US State Department has approved a possible sale of Airspace and Surface Radar Reconnaissance (ASRR) aerostat systems to Poland on 7 February for an estimated USD1.2 billion.  According to an...

The CAS-H01 co-axial dual-rotor UAS can be transported in a backpack. (Janes/Akshara Parakala)  China-based Leap showcased production-ready CAS-H01, a portable miniature search-and-attack unmanned aircraft system (UAS) at the World Defense Show (WDS) 2024 held in Riyadh from 4 to 8 February.    Speaking to   Janes,  a Leap official said CAS-H01 is a backpackable    UAS that can be operated by a single dismounted soldier. The CAS-H01 is capable of carrying out reconnaissance, search, tracking, identification and attac...

The CSIR-NAL HAPS subscale model can stay airborne for 24 hours. (CSIR-NAL)  India's Council of Scientific and Industrial Research – National Aerospace Laboratories (CSIR-NAL) has carried out a series of flight tests on a subscale model of its high-altitude pseudo satellite (HAPS) platform.  The tests were conducted at the Defence Research and Development Organisation's (DRDO's) Aeronautical Test Range (ATR) at Challakere, Karnataka, from 23 January to 2 February. During the tests, the subscale model, which has a wingspan of 12 m and a maximu...

Tron Future Tech displays its C-UAS' new hard-kill component called T.Interceptor at the World Defense Show 2024 in Riyadh. (Janes/Akshara Parakala)    The Republic of China Army (RoCA) has deployed a modular counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) developed by Taiwan's Tron Future Tech, the company told  Janes  at the World Defense Show (WDS) 2024 held in Riyadh from 4 to 8 February.   The C-UAS, with a new hard-kill component named T.Interceptor, has been displayed at the show.    Tron Future Tech told   Jane...

Turkey's Ministry of National Defence, SSB, and Roketsan signed contracts on 3 February for the serial production of Tayfun, Sungur (displayed at DIMDEX 2022), Karaok, and TRLG-230 missiles. (Janes/Shaurav Gairola)  Turkey's Ministry of National Defence announced on its website on 3 February that it, the Defence Industry Agency (SSB), and Turkish missile house Roketsan signed contracts earlier the same day for the serial production of Tayfun, Sungur, Karaok, and Artillery Rocket Laser Guided-230 (TRLG-230) missiles for the Turkish Land Forces...

Sweden plans to replace its in-service ARTHUR WLS, with the procurement process beginning in 2026. Pictured is the rear view of the ARTHUR weapon locating radar integrated on an M113F4 series tracked armoured platform. (Christopher F Foss)  The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) has issued a request for information (RFI) on 5 February for the replacement of its Saab ARTHUR (ARTtillery HUnting Radar) weapon locating system (WLS).    According to the RFI provided to  Janes  , the Swedish Armed Forces seeks a future WLS...