Defence Notes

Air Warfare

Boeing CEO notes “confidence” in defence arm despite 20% Q4 revenue loss

Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg indicated ongoing improvements were being made in its defence programmes going forwards, despite being affected in Q4 by cost pressures, higher manufacturing costs and the impact of the IAM strike.

Air Warfare

Updated US Air Force doctrine emphasises the need for multi-domain capabilities

Modifications in the US Air Force (USAF) doctrine aim to prepare the service for tomorrow’s warfare.

Air Warfare

UK MoD “getting a grip” of budgets as three UK air programmes slip into the red

The E-7 Wedgetail, Future Combat Air System and the Protector programmes were highlighted as items of concern from a recently published UK Infrastructure and Projects Authority report.

Trump enters the White House promising into bring the US military to a “golden age”

The returning US president also reiterated a commitment to supply the services with “made-in-America” capabilities and to end conflicts worldwide.

More Stories

Naval Warfare

Taiwan to quarantine 700 sailors after Palau visit

21st April 2020

The Taiwanese Navy is placing 700 of its sailors into quarantine after 24 of them tested positive for coronavirus following a visit to the Pacific …
Naval Warfare

Coronavirus lacerates Thai naval spending

21st April 2020

The COVID-19 outbreak has now struck down the annual budget of the Royal Thai Navy (RTN), which is being slashed by a third. In total, …
Naval Warfare

Malaysia completes submarine overhaul programme

20th April 2020

The Royal Malaysian Navy’s (RMN's) Scorpene-class submarine KD Tun Abul Razak has returned to service following completion of major repair and overhaul work that started …
Air Warfare

Chadian Su-25 accidentally fires missile at airbase

20th April 2020

A Chadian Air Force Su-25 (NATO: Frogfoot) aircraft accidentally fired a missile at Base Aérienne Kossei in Ndjamena, Chad. The missile narrowly missed a French …
Defence Notes

New Zealand delays international force rotations

20th April 2020

The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) will postpone routine personnel rotations as a result of the travel restrictions introduced globally to tackle COVID-19. Whilst rotations …
Defence Notes

ST Engineering shows ‘robust’ start to FY2020

20th April 2020

ST Engineering secured $1.6 billion of new contracts in Q1 of FY2020 for its Aerospace and Electronics sectors. In total, new Aerospace contracts equated to …
Defence Notes

Quebec requests medical assistance from CAF

20th April 2020

Quebec has requested medical personnel and resources from the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) to ease the COVID-19 spread in long-term care facilities. Liaison and reconnaissance …
Naval Warfare

USN welcomes USS Vermont into service

20th April 2020

The USN has commissioned the USS Vermont into active service as the 19th Virginia-class fast attack submarine. Despite a cancellation of the usual public ceremony, the …
Air Warfare

Embraer & SNC conduct inaugural flight of NAF Super Tucano

20th April 2020

Embraer and Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) have confirmed that the first A-29 Super Tucano aircraft destined for Nigeria has conducted its inaugural flight. The aircraft …
Defence Notes

Coronavirus chews up South Korean defence budget

17th April 2020

The COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic is having a global economic impact, and defence spending will not be immune. One of the earliest casualties is the South …
Naval Warfare

Textron to build more SSC hovercraft

17th April 2020

US Naval Sea Systems Command has awarded Textron a $386.28 million contract modification to build 15 more Ship-to-Shore Connector (SSC) hovercraft. Work will be completed by January 2025 …
Naval Warfare

Babcock announces Type 31 supply chain awards

17th April 2020

Babcock International’s Team 31 has awarded several new supply chain contract awards which will support the RN’s Type 31 general purpose frigate programme. The confirmation …
Air Warfare

Airbus achieves world’s first automatic A3R operation

17th April 2020

Airbus has successfully carried out the first fully automatic air-to-air refuelling (A3R) operation using a boom system, the company announced on 17 April. The test …
Defence Notes

Boeing restarts defence-related operations at Puget Sound facilities

17th April 2020

Boeing on 16 April confirmed that defence production at its Puget Sound site resumed earlier this week, with 2,500 employees returning to work after a …
Defence Notes

Rosoboronexport unaffected by COVID-19 pandemic

17th April 2020

Rosoboronexport has not suspended any of its activities as the coronavirus outbreak gradually grows in Russia, according to a 16 April statement. The company has …
Training

New KC-46 training scheme unveiled

17th April 2020

Despite the travails surrounding the USAF's KC-46 Pegasus tanker programme, the training show goes on and has just gathered pace. FlightSafety Services Corporation (FSC), the …
Defence Notes

PODCAST: Russia’s COVID-19 response, delays to Australia’s Attack-class submarine programme and all the news

17th April 2020

Welcome to Episode 15 of the second series of The Weekly Defence Podcast. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and more. Sign up to an early email alert …
Naval Warfare

HII starts fabrication of Harrisburg (LPD 30)

17th April 2020

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) has begun the fabrication of the USN’s 14th San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock, USS Harrisburg (LPD 30). In a statement released by …
Naval Warfare

Biosphere could be seventh domain of military doctrine

17th April 2020

Military doctrine could alter to consider the requirement for logistics and the biosphere as additional areas of responsibility, in addition to the five most commonly …