Defence Helicopter

V-22 fleet logs 500,000 flight hours

9th October 2019

The Bell-Boeing V-22 tiltrotor programme has reached a new milestone, with the fleet logging a combined 500,000 flight hours. More than 375 Ospreys are flying …

Defence Notes

First Rafale handed over to Indian Air Force

9th October 2019

The first Rafale aircraft has been handed over to the Indian Air Force by Dassault Aviation at the company’s final assembly facility in Mérignac, France. …

Uncrewed Vehicles

Embraer-Ufes unmanned aircraft begins testing

9th October 2019

An unmanned aircraft prototype developed by Embraer and the Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (Ufes) has undergone initial ground testing in Brazil, Embraer announced on …

Military Logistics

Canada's first C295 approaches delivery

9th October 2019

Airbus has presented the first C295 built for the Royal Canadian Air Force’s (RCAF’s) Fixed Wing Search and Rescue Aircraft Replacement (FWSAR) programme in its …

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 …

Land Warfare

Lithuania begins NASAMS testing

8th October 2019

The Lithuanian Air Force has commenced testing of the NASAMS medium-range air defence system, the Lithuanian Ministry of Defence announced on 3 October. Lithuania signed …

Uncrewed Vehicles

DroneShield system counters unwanted UAV

7th October 2019

A DroneShield system has successfully demonstrated its ability to counter malicious unmanned aerial vehicles, having been used by law enforcement officials when a drone flew …

Digital Battlespace

Commtact launches HiveComm data link family

7th October 2019

Wireless communications provider Commtact has launched its HiveComm datalink family, a suite of systems for use on air, sea and land platforms.  The family of …

Military Logistics

Rolls-Royce to support T56 turboprops

3rd October 2019

Rolls-Royce has been awarded a contract with a ceiling value of $109.3 million to deliver support for the T56 family of aircraft turboprop engines.   This …

Military UAS - fixed-wing

Bandit (US)

Programme Background Goal As stated by Alyson Turri, the AFRL Bandit programme manager, the goal is to "develop an unmanned platform that looks like a fifth-generation ...

Fighter - multirole

Rafale - Follow-On (Greece)

Programme Background Referring to the rearmament programme for 2020-2025, Greek defence minister Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos said in parliament on 7 October 2021 that up to 48 new multi-role ...

Naval: Combat Management Systems

Naval: Combat Management Systems | Kalina Class

The Kalina-class conventionally powered submarine is being developed to follow the Lada-class submarines. The new fifth-generation Kalina-class will be used for coastal defence against surface ...

Naval: shipboard communication systems

Naval: shipboard communication systems | Kalina Class

The Kalina-class conventionally powered submarine is being developed to follow the Lada-class submarines. The new fifth-generation Kalina-class will be used for coastal defence against surface ...

Fighter - multirole

F-35A (1-20) [Greece]

Programme Background Timeline In April 2019, Defence Minister Evangelos Apostolakis confirmed the country’s serious interest in purchasing the F-35. He told the press that in ...

Fighter - multirole

Multirole Fighter (UAE)

Programme Background Abu Dhabi has a long-standing interest in two squadrons of F-35, which had been refused until 2017 when it was reported that the ...

Fighter - multirole

Future Combat Air System (FCAS/SCAF) [France]

Programme Background The governments of France and Germany have launched the demonstrator phase for the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) with the issue of an ...

Fighter - multirole

Multirole Fighter (Morocco)

Programme Background In March 2019, the US State Department announced that it has approved a possible FMS of 25 F-16V Block 72 aircraft to Morocco ...

Fighter - multirole

Future Combat Air System (FCAS/SCAF) [Germany]

Background Requirement The FCAS programme is based on the system-of-systems design, envisioning a "command fighter" aircraft that has stand-alone combat capability as well as controlling ...

Air: Radio and SATCOM

Air: Radio and SATCOM | JAS-39C/D Gripen Replacement [Czech Republic]

The Czech Republic Air Force operates 14 Gripens (12 JAS 39C and two JAS 39D variants) under a lease agreement that runs until 2027 with an option ...

Air: Helmet-mounted displays

Air: Helmet-mounted displays | JAS-39C/D Gripen Replacement [Czech Republic]

The Czech Republic Air Force operates 14 Gripens (12 JAS 39C and two JAS 39D variants) under a lease agreement that runs until 2027 with an option ...

Data links

Data links | JAS-39C/D Gripen Replacement [Czech Republic]

The Czech Republic Air Force operates 14 Gripens (12 JAS 39C and two JAS 39D variants) under a lease agreement that runs until 2027 with an option ...

Air: Head-up displays

Air: Head-up displays | JAS-39C/D Gripen Replacement [Czech Republic]

The Czech Republic Air Force operates 14 Gripens (12 JAS 39C and two JAS 39D variants) under a lease agreement that runs until 2027 with an option ...

Transponders and IFF

Transponders and IFF | JAS-39C/D Gripen Replacement [Czech Republic]

The Czech Republic Air Force operates 14 Gripens (12 JAS 39C and two JAS 39D variants) under a lease agreement that runs until 2027 with an option ...

Fighter - multirole

Rafale (Iraq)

Programme Background Lt Gen Juma Anad Saadoun, the Iraqi Minister of Defence, said in a 10 November statement that the Iraqi Air Force (IQAF) aims ...

Air: Helmet-mounted displays

Zero-G HMDS+

The Zero-G HMDS+ is a developmental helmet-mounted display system being developed by Collins Aerospace and Elbit Systems for sixth-generation higher aircraft. According to the company, ...

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 ...

Fighter - multirole

Su-75 Checkmate

Checkmate is a fifth-generation light tactical aircraft being developed by Sukhoi. Its prototype was unveiled at MAKS 2021. Checkmate's first flight is scheduled in 2023, ...

Air: Head-up displays

Low Profile Head-Up Display (LPHUD)

The Low profile Head-up Display (LPHUD) series is designed developed by Elbit Systems' ISTAR division, for fourth and fifth generation advanced fighter aircraft jets. Notalby, ...

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 ...

Fixed wing aircraft engines

AL-41F-1S

Manufactured by Saturn, the AL-41F-1S aircraft engine is a modular two-shaft turbofan engine with thrust vector control and integrated digital control. The engine is used ...

Fixed wing aircraft engines

PD-14M

PD Family of Engines comprises of bypass two-shaft turbojet engines with a light shroudless fan. The PD family of engines are designed for short- and ...

Air-to-air missiles, Surface-to-air missiles

Python-5

The Python-5 is an Israeli beyond-visual-range anti-air missile developed by Rafael. The newest member of the Python family, the Python-5 is described as a fifth-generation air-to-air ...

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 ...

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, ...

Land: air defence radar

ELM-2026B VSHORAD

The ELM-2026B Very Short Range Air Defence Radar (VSHORAD) is designed for detection and tracking of airborne targets, including a variety of low-RCS and low-flying ...

Reconnaissance/patrol vehicles

Eagle V 4x4

GDELS unveiled the fifth generation of its Eagle light tactical vehicle at Eurosatory 2012. The platform has replaced earlier-generation vehicles in production. More than 1,250 ...

Fighter - multirole

J-31/FC-31

The J-31 (also known as the 'Falcon Eagle' in Chinese) is a fifth-generation multirole stealth fighter domestically developed by China. Its export variant is designated as ...

ISR/special mission

AC-130J

The AC-130J 'Ghostrider' is a fifth-generation gunship manufactured by Lockheed Martin to replace the AC-130U/W gunships for the USAF deployed in 2019. The Ghostrider is a highly modified C-130J ...