Defence Notes

Sweden to get new Saab firefighting aircraft

7th April 2020

The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) has ordered two Air Tractor AT-802 F firefighting aircraft from service provider Saab. The order will enable Sweden to …

Air Warfare

Qatar to get F-15 support services through FMS

7th April 2020

Qatar will be provided with maintenance and logistical support for F-15 aircraft and related training devices as part of a $68.06 million undefinitised contract with …

Training

USAF to get new F-16 simulator training devices

1st April 2020

The USAF Life Cycle Management Centre is set to receive an unspecified number of F-16 aircraft simulator training programme devices from L3 Harris. A firm-fixed-price …

Air Warfare

Avarint offered DIADS engineering contract

1st April 2020

Avarint was awarded a $52.35 million cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost-reimbursement, indefinite-quantity engineering service contract by the USAF Test Centre Specialised Contracting Branch. Under the agreement, Avarint will …

Air Warfare

Belgium to be integrated into F-35 Lightning II enterprise

1st April 2020

The US Naval Air Systems Command has awarded Lockheed Martin a $22.9 million cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to integrate Belgium into the F-35 Lightning II enterprise. It …

Air Warfare

US orders 78 new F-35 combat aircraft

1st April 2020

USN Naval Air Systems Command has placed an order worth $4.7 billion for 78 new F-35 Joint Strike Fighters from Lockheed Martin. The fixed-price-incentive-firm-target, firm-fixed-price …

Air Warfare

New engines for USN Super Hornet F/A-18s

31st March 2020

General Electric has been awarded a firm-fixed-price contract modification worth $215 million for the provision of 48 new F414-GE-400 engines. These will be installed on …

Air Warfare

South Korea to benefit from F-16 upgrades via FMS

31st March 2020

The US State Department has approved a potential FMS for an upgrade to Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) F-16 Block 32 aircraft with Mode …

Air Warfare

Australian Rheinmetall facility to make US F-35 FAP munitions

25th March 2020

Australian JV Rheinmetall NIOA Munitions (RNM) will supply the US F-35 Joint Strike Fighter programme with medium-calibre ammunition. Production of the 25mm Frangible Armoured Piercing …

Air Warfare

Nigeria brings Alpha Jet into active service

24th March 2020

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has restored an Alpha Jet into active service after upgrading its avionics. The aircraft was officially reinstated at a ceremony …

Fighter - multirole

F-35A Denmark

Denmark joined the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program in 2002 during the System Development and Demonstration phase and has influenced technical elements of the ...

Fighter - multirole

F-35A Japan

In 2019, Japan requested to be an official partner in the F-35 programme, but this request was rejected by the Pentagon. The F-35 Joint Strike ...

Fighter - multirole

F-35A (61-75) [Italy]

Programme Background Requirement In 2009, the Italian MoD planned to purchase 131 F-35 aircraft, which was later reduced to 90. According to the MoD documentation, ...

Fighter - naval

F-35B (31-40) [Italy]

Programme Background Requirement In 2009, the Italian MoD planned to purchase 131 F-35 aircraft, which was later reduced to 90. According to the MoD documentation, ...

Fighter - multirole

Multirole Fighter (Turkey)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that Turkey had already paid $1.4 billion into the programme, while its defence industry has ploughed significant sums into ...

Air: Radio and SATCOM

Air: Radio and SATCOM | F-X III Phase II (F-35)

South Korea is purchasing an additional 20 F-35 aircraft for about $3.3 billion under the second phase of F-X III programme, according to the Defense ...

Air: Helmet-mounted displays

Air: Helmet-mounted displays | F-X III Phase II (F-35)

South Korea is purchasing an additional 20 F-35 aircraft for about $3.3 billion under the second phase of F-X III programme, according to the Defense ...

Data links

Data links | F-X III Phase II (F-35)

South Korea is purchasing an additional 20 F-35 aircraft for about $3.3 billion under the second phase of F-X III programme, according to the Defense ...

Air: Head-up displays

Air: Head-up displays | F-X III Phase II (F-35)

South Korea is purchasing an additional 20 F-35 aircraft for about $3.3 billion under the second phase of F-X III programme, according to the Defense ...

Transponders and IFF

Transponders and IFF | F-X III Phase II (F-35)

South Korea is purchasing an additional 20 F-35 aircraft for about $3.3 billion under the second phase of F-X III programme, according to the Defense ...

Fighter - multirole

F-35A (1-32) [Poland]

Programme Background During MSPO 2021, Lockheed Martin announced details related to F-35A manufacturing for the Polish Air Force. According to J.R McDonald, Lockheed Martin’s VP, business ...

Light attack, Trainer

Next-Generation Trainer Aircraft - UAE

The UAE has a requirement for a next-generation fighter aircraft and possible platforms include F-35, F-16V, F/A-18, Rafale and Su-35. The UAE has historically sought ...

Fighter - multirole

F-35A Japan Follow On

The F-35 full-rate production is expected to be further delayed following an October 2020 US DoD announcement that postponed the simulation tests, originally planned for 2017 ...

Air: Radio and SATCOM

Air: Radio and SATCOM | F-35B Follow-On UK

The Royal Air Force is planning to acquire 90 F-35B Joint Strike Fighters from 2026, in addition to the 48 aircraft which London had ordered for delivery ...

Data links

Data links | F-35B Follow-On UK

The Royal Air Force is planning to acquire 90 F-35B Joint Strike Fighters from 2026, in addition to the 48 aircraft which London had ordered for delivery ...

Air-to-surface missiles, Anti-ship missiles

JSM

The Joint Strike Missile (JSM) is a multirole version of the Naval Strike Missile. Norway funded the programme to develop and produce the JSM for the ...

EO/IR systems

F-35 Lightning II Advanced EOTS

The F-35 Lightning II Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS) is a sensor that combines targeting forward-looking IR (FLIR) and IR search and track (IRST) capabilities for ...

Fixed wing aircraft engines

F135

The F135, designed and developed by Pratt & Whitney, is one of the most advanced fighter engines in the world that delivers more than 40,000lb ...

Fighter - multirole, Fighter - naval

F-35B

The F-35B Lightning II is a fifth-generation multirole combat aircraft with short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) capability. The USMC is the main customer for the F-35B, ...

Air: Helmet-mounted displays

F-35 Gen III HMDS

The F-35 Gen III helmet-mounted display system (HMDS) is provided by a joint venture between Elbit Systems of America and Rockwell Collins, developed for the F-35 ...

Fighter - multirole, Fighter - naval

F-35C

The F-35C Lightning II, also known as the F-35 carrier variant (CV), is a fifth-generation multirole combat aircraft in carrier configuration. It has larger wings and ...

Fighter - multirole

F-35A

The F-35A Lightning II is a fifth-generation multirole combat aircraft with CTOL capabilities. It is a multinational programme led by the US DoD, bringing together ...

Air: AEW/fire control radar

AN/APG-80

The AN/APG-80 is an agile beam radar with an AESA antenna designed to continuously search for and track multiple targets within the forward hemisphere of ...

Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

F-35 Training System

BAE Systems is involved in F-35 Lightning II Training System design and sustainment, working with prime contractor Lockheed Martin. BAE Systems leads the instructional systems ...

Air: Displays

Panoramic Cockpit Display

Developed by L3Harris and Elbit Systems America, the Panoramic Cockpit Display (PCD) is a touchscreen MFD integrated into F-35 aircraft. It provides two electronically divided ...

Transport/tanker aircraft

KC-130J Super Hercules

The KC-130J Super Hercules is a tanker variant of the C-130J Super Hercules. It is designed to deliver fuel to several platforms, including helicopters and ...

Fixed wing aircraft engines

F414-GE-400

The F414-GE-400 is a turbofan engine manufactured by GE Aviation and has various advanced technology features such as a Full Authority Digital Electronic Control (FADEC), ...

Airborne rockets - guided

GBU-53/B StormBreaker

GBU-53/B StormBreaker is a precision-guided glide bomb developed by Raytheon to equip F-15, F/A-18 and F-35. It is also known as the Small Diameter Bomb II. The StormBreaker includes a ...

Data links

Multifunction Advanced Data Link

Multifunction Advanced Data Link (MADL) is a Ku-band data link designed for fifth-generation aircraft. The directional, interflight system is integrated into all F-35 variants, allowing ...

Subsystems: hardware

Flight Simulation Products

Bugeye Technologies (BT) manufactures simulated-grade flight grips, controls and avionic displays for fixed-wing, rotary-wing and unmanned crafts. BT's full line of products includes replicated control ...