Defence Notes

ROK requests AMRAAM from US

18th October 2019

The US State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale of AIM-120C-7/C-8 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) to the Republic …

Naval Warfare

UK F-35s land onboard HMS Queen Elizabeth

14th October 2019

UK F-35 Lightning jets have landed onboard HMS Queen Elizabeth for the first time as part of operational trials being carried out off the East …

Defence Notes

US fighter jet crashes in Germany

8th October 2019

An American F-16 fighter jet crashed and its pilot ejected to safety near the city of Trier in western Germany on Tuesday, the German air …

Training

Cirrus to deliver additional EW training systems to RAN

8th October 2019

Cirrus Real Time Processing Systems will continue working with the Royal Australian Navy to provide additional Tactical Electronic Warfare simulation training systems, after successfully delivering …

Defence Notes

P&W awarded $2.2 billion for F-35 engines

2nd October 2019

Pratt & Whitney has been awarded a $2.2 billion contract modification for the production and delivery of engines for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. This …

Defence Notes

A-Darter missile issued type certificate

1st October 2019

A type certificate for the South African/Brazilian A-Darter infrared short-range air-to-air missile has been granted, marking the completion of development of the system.  The certification …

Military Logistics

Kongsberg subcontracts Marvin for F-35 work

1st October 2019

Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace has signed a NOK162 million ($17.82 million) contract with Marvin Engineering for the supply of air-to-air pylons for the F-35 Joint …

Naval Warfare

Carrier Strike Group forms for the first time

30th September 2019

The UK's HMS Queen Elizabeth Carrier Strike Group has formed for the first time on the Westlant 19 deployment, the Royal Navy announced on 26 …

Defence Notes

IAI reaches F-35 aircraft wing milestone

27th September 2019

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has delivered the 100th F-35 wing to Lockheed Martin at a ceremony held at the company’s wing assembly line on 26 …

Digital Battlespace

Podcast: Five Eyes Connectivity - Tactical data links

26th September 2019

Welcome to Shephard Studio’s special series on Five Eyes Connectivity, sponsored by our partner Viasat.  Listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and more. In the Five Eyes Connectivity podcast …

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 ...