Americas * General Atomics is to provide 30 MQ-9 Reaper UAVs to the USAF. The $370.9 million contract will be completed by May 31, 2019. * Norwegian missile manufacturer Kongsberg has chosen Raytheon to produce launchers for its
USMC to Begin Mass Repairs on CH-53E Fleet | Israeli AF Training Helicopter Acquisition Prgm in Final Stages | AMDU Begins Mine Mapping Mission in Baltic Sea
Americas * The USMC has announced the beginning of a mass repair effort of its CH-53E fleet following the fatal crash of one in 2014. In total, 147 of the aging heavy lift helicopters will undergo the reset over a three-year period. Each helicopter will undergo a 110...
South Korea’s F-X Fighter Buys: F-35As and F-15Ks
F-15K Poster: apropos?(click to view full) The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) originally planned to buy 120 advanced, high-end fighters as its next-generation platform, in order to replace its existing fleet of F-4 Phantom IIs and other aircraft. So far, it has...
F-35A Pilots Give Full Confidence Rating | Predator & Reaper Pilots Undergo EW Training | Tu-160M2 BlackJack Maiden Flight Delayed to Late 2017
Americas * A survey of 31 F-35A pilots has given their full confidence in the upcoming fifth generation fighter. According to the report, all asked would choose the F-35A over their former fighters if they were to engage in a beyond-visual-range fight. Furthermore,...
State Dept Approved $785M FMS to UAE | Pakistan Failure Against Insurgents Nixes $300M Reimbursement | Russia’s IL-476 Cargo Plane May Export First to Kazakhstan
Americas * Argentina has been cleared by the US State Department for the potential sale of 24 T-6C+ Texan II trainer aircraft. The Foreign Military Sales contract, which includes spare engines and associative support equipment, is estimated to be in the region of $300...
LM’s Presidential Heli Passes CDR | Greece’s P-3B Gets $142M Mod Program | China Rails At South Korea for THAAD Deployment
Americas * The US Navy has cleared Lockheed Martin's VH-92A program Critical Design Review (CDR). Tasked with transporting the president and vice president of the United States and other officials, the VH-92 will see initial fielding in 2020, and production continuing...
LM Plans F-35 Production for Turkey Despite Coup Attempt | Germany Leases Israeli Drones for Mali Ops | Dassault Racks Up $662M in New Defense Orders
Americas * In just six months, Saab has spent almost all of its investment funding for the upcoming USAF T-X trainer program. Partnered with Boeing, little is known about the aircraft's design except that it is based on a clean sheet design. The team face off against...
Pakistan Looks for 2nd Hand F-16s | SK’s KAI Breaks into African Market | Saab Courts Indonesia with Gripen C/D Fighters to Replace F-5E’s
Americas * A B-52 has dropped the Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) precision-guided bomb from its internal bomb bay for the first time. The test was carried out to certify the new Conventional Rotary Launcher being developed for the legacy bomber. Following the...
Elbit’s Light Spear Directs Threats Away from UAVs | $$ Constraints Plague Israel; Britain | Piaggio’s P.1HH UAV Suffers Setback After Crash
Americas * The Argentine Air Force has converted its Learjet 35A into an electronic attack platform to replace its Boeing 707 VR-2. Modifications were undertaken by Avcon Industries, who installed a Thales Vigile 200 electronic support system on board. Other visible...
Russia Claims New Radar Can Detect F-35 | Poland May Aquire Patriots in $5B Deal with Raytheon | Indian Navy Cleared to Buy $1B in Boeing P-8is
Americas * Raytheon has been awarded a $291.75 million contract to supply 660 AIM-9X Block II missiles. The deal will see deliveries of the latest Sidewinder upgrade to Taiwan and Norway for the first time, as well as follow-on missiles, training, and support...