F-16 with twin LANTIRNs(click to view full) Targeting pods are a very affordable way to upgrade existing aircraft with precision strike and surveillance capabilities. As such, their popularity in the modern age is likely to remain very strong for the foreseeable...
Daily Rapid Fire Articles
First Flight of Boeing-Saab T-X Trainer Due Before 2017 | NG Completes Design Review for Tern UAS | Iraqis to Buy HQ-9 Surface to Air Missiles from China
Americas * Following the completion of afterburner engine runs last week, Boeing has announced that the first flight of the Boeing-Saab T-X trainer will take place before the end of the year. However, several tests remain to be carried out prior to the full flight,...
China Gearing up to Export HQ-9 Anti-Air Missiles
HQ-9 launcher (click to view full) Kanwa Asian Defense reports that the China Precision Machinery Import-Export Corporation has put CASIC's HQ-9 surface-to-air missile on the export market, under the name FD-2000. "Brochures advertising China's latest missile appeared...
Russia Protests Ukraine Plan to Test Fire Near Crimea | US State Dept Clears Sale of JASSM-ER to Poland | USAF Contracts Raytheon in $22M FMS to Taiwan
Americas * Defense officials from Bolivia are exploring the possibility of purchasing A-29 Super Tucanos from Brazil. The Embraer-made light attack aircraft will be used to clamp down on illegal activity, namely drug and mineral trafficking, along both nation's 3,423...
H&K to End Deals with Non-NATO Members | Norway to Spend $1.15B on P-8A’s | Italian Navy Launches First Aster Missiles
Americas * An undisclosed member of the Patriot Integrated Air and Missile Defense System program has contracted Raytheon to provide additional Patriot missile capabilities. The $225 million deal comes just 45 days after Poland requested the same product from the US...
Bell-Boeing Wins $267.2M Support Contract for MV-22 | Antonov’s AN-132 Prototype Assembly Successful | EMP Gen Developed by SK for Use Against NK UAVs
Americas * The Bell-Boeing Joint Project Office has been awarded a $267.2 million US Navy contract modification for additional logistics support for MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft. Under the deal, both the USMC MV-22 and the USAF Special Operations Command CV-22...
Pakistan Supplying 52 Super Mushshaks to Turkey in $50M Deal | LM & Boeing Competing to Provide IAF Helis | Japan Considers Deploying THAAD
Americas * Canada will purchase 18 Super Hornets from Boeing as an interim solution to its CF-18 fleet replacement. Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan made the announcement adding that Ottawa will also launch a brand new competition for a multi-role fighter. On the...
Thanksgiving 2016
It's that time of year again. For those of you celebrating American Thanksgiving: if you're deep-frying your turkey (otherwise known as "doing it right"), be safe. Hundreds of years ago, boiling oil was a weapon we would have covered. Treat it accordingly. Common tips...
F-35: Milestones, Repairs & Comparisons Oh My | BAE to Use Titanium Alloy for Suspension | SK Continues Negotiations with Washington Over KF-X
Americas * The F-35B has reached another program milestone following the completion of weapons load testing during trials on board the USS America assault ship. During the trials, pilots intentionally conducted flight tests under unfavorable conditions to gauge the...