Americas * The USAF has successfully tested the AIM-9X missile on the F-35 fighter for the first time. The test of the heat-seeking missile took place on January 12 at the Pacific Sea Test range. The F-35 will eventually carry two AIM-9X missiles on its wings, and...
Daily Rapid Fire Articles
Blackjack UAV Achieves IOC | Iraqi Gov Submits Request for $1.95B in FMS | France & Australia Considering Collaboration on NH90 Variant
Americas * The USMC has declared that the RQ-21A Blackjack UAV has achieved Initial Operational Capability (IOC) with deployment of the system to commence this summer. Formerly known as the Integrator, the Blackjack has been developed by Boeing as part of a low rate...
Canadian Gov Stands by LAV Sale to Saudis | UK Upgrading Challenger 2 Tank | France to get 2nd MQ-9 Reaper UAV in 2017
Americas * Despite recent protests arising from recent Saudi Arabian executions, the Canadian government will stand by a multi-billion dollar vehicle deal. The executions, alongside a variety of other human rights issues including alleged war crimes committed in...
Gen Dyn gets $75.3M to Design 30mm Cannon | F-35A to Begin Laser-Guided Bomb Tests | Saudi Arabia Considering Big Spend with Russia
Americas * General Dynamic Land Systems will design and develop a 30mm cannon to be mounted on an unmanned, stabilized turret onto the Stryker infantry carrier vehicle along with eight prototypes. The $75.3 million contract was awarded last week, and completion of the...
Pratt & Whitney to Produce Engines for F-35 | Dev Program Seeks to Increase Tomahawks Payload | Afghanistan Gets 4 Super Tucanos
Americas * The upgrade program of the Chinook CH-47F looks to be shortly approved after a successful meeting at the Army Systems Acquisition Review Council. All that is required for the project to be green lit, is a signed decision memorandum that will allow the...
Raytheon to Supply Griffin A&B Block II/III Missiles to USAF | FMS Approval Process Comes Under Scrutiny | China to Get First Su-35s by 4Q 2016
Americas * Raytheon has been given an $85 million contract to supply Griffin A & B Block II/III missiles to the USAF. Delivery of the missiles is expected to be January 31, 2017. The missiles are the two variants of the AGM-176 Griffin mini-missile. The Griffin A is...
B-52s Get JDAMs, JASSMs & MALDs | NATO Orders Saab RBS 70 BOLIDE Missiles | NK SLBM Test Shown to be Fake
Americas *Six B-52s have now been equipped with JDAM capabilities after a series of modifications by Boeing for the USAF. Installation of upgraded internal weapons bay launchers will allow for the bomber to launch eight Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) at one time...
Upgrades and Support Abound for AF & Navy | Germany Considers Israeli UAVs | Russia May Help Serbia Increase Defensive Ties
Americas * The US Air Force is to switch out the machine gun on the HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter. Ballistic testing is currently being conducted on the GAU-21 which is set to replace that of the GAU-18. The newer .50 caliber weapon has an increased barrel life of...
LCS Launched SeaRAM Test Complete Success | Belgium to Modernize AF Fleet in Equipment/Personnel Trade-off | HAL Tejas Lightweight Fighter Set for Bahrain Debut
Americas * The US Navy successfully tested a Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) Block II from the SeaRAM anti-ship missile defense system for the first time. SeaRAM, used on the Independence class of Littoral Combat Ships, successfully detected, tracked and engaged an...