Defence`s Feeds

EVENT At least 84 people were killed in the French city of Nice when a 31-year-old dual-nationality French-Tunisian man drove a 25-tonne truck into a crowd celebrating Bastille Day yesterday (14 July). The attacker was shot dead by police when he stopped and opened fire on the crowd. There was no

Boeing has expanded its links with South Korean firm Huneed Technologies by awarding the company a contract to produce avionics for installation into the Boeing CH-47 Chinook heavylift helicopter. Huneed said on 14 July that the deal is valued at about KRW140 billion (USD123 million) and runs until

Beijing has lodged a diplomatic protest over Australian foreign minister Julie Bishop's comments on the South China Sea arbitration case and warned Canberra against taking sides in the territorial disputes. Bishop had on 12 July called on China and the Philippines to abide by a Permanent Court of

Elbit Systems unveiled the Spectro XR (Extra Range) electro optical payload at the 2016 Farnborough International Air Show. The Spectro XR is a day/night, multi-spectral electro - optical intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance system. Derived from the compact multipurpose

With the deployment of six Lockheed Martin F-35s (three A models and three B models) to the United Kingdom for the Royal International Air Tattoo and Farnborough International Airshow this month - the type's largest international deployment so far - Lockheed Martin was able to use the opportunity to

South African aerospace and defence firm Paramount Group announced on 15 July that it had signed a collaboration agreement with UK defence equipment and technology firm QinetiQ. Under the agreement, signed at the 2016 Farnborough International Airshow, the two companies have agreed to identify

Rocketsan has signed a contract with Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control (MFC) at Farnborough International Airshow 2016 to continue the development of its Stand-Off Missile (SOM) for internal carriage on the F-35. Under the terms of the contract Lockheed Martin MFC continue its work with

Roketsan has signed a contract with Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control (MFC) at Farnborough International Airshow 2016 to continue the development of its Stand-Off Missile (SOM) for internal carriage on the F-35. Under the terms of the contract Lockheed Martin MFC continue its work with

Thales is set to examine a range of new capabilities for its Fulmar X unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Speaking at the Farnborough International Airshow 2016, Raul de Santos Garcia, Fulmar customer service manager, told IHS Jane's that the company is working to integrate communications relay, AIS,

Militaries operating unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) must focus on optimising the capabilities brought by mission suites if they are to maximise operational effects, according to Elad Aharonson, executive vice-president and general manager of Elbit Systems' ISTAR division. Speaking to IHS Jane's at

Roman Romanov, director general of Ukrainian defence industry holding UkrOboronProm, has outlined a number of areas for corporate development as the company faces issues such as import substitution and industrial development following the country's move to the west in 2014. Speaking to IHS Jane's

France's naval aviation (Aéronavale) officially retired the Super Etendard Modernisé (SEM) maritime strike aircraft from service on 12 July. The final five aircraft, which were flying with the Flottille 17F, will be kept in long-term storage, although the possibility of seeing them back

Key Points New functionality to integrate the MBDA Sea Venom and Thales Martlet missile systems Initial software releases will be delivered in early 2017 for rig testing at the Leonardo Helicopters facility in Yeovil General Dynamics Mission Systems UK has been awarded a contract by Leonardo

EVENT The Electoral Commission of Ghana announced on 14 July the possibility of a month's delay to the 7 November presidential and legislative elections. The announcement came in response to a Supreme Court ruling in May ordering the commission to re-register 56,000 voters who used identity cards

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has announced the introduction of a new general avionics system upgrade terminal that uses a wide range of applications to significantly enhance the onboard capabilities of fourth-generation fighter aircraft without affecting their existing avionics. The Integrated

After the recent revelation that China has a new variant of its Shang-class (Type 093) nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN), new images suggest there is at least one Jin-class (Type 094) nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) with similar modifications, called the Type 094A by some

India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully test-fired its indigenously designed 155 mm/52 calibre Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) to a range of 40 km at its Proof & Experimental Establishment in Balasore on the country's east coast. The Indian Ministry

India's Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and Bell Helicopter have announced an intention to jointly develop and produce military and commercial helicopters for Indian markets. In a joint statement, the companies said collaboration would be focused on Indian "light-utility and

The Iraqi Army has captured Al-Qayyarah airbase: a location that will be turned into a logistical hub for the push towards the Islamic State-held city of Mosul, 64 km to the north. On 12 July the Iraqi Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced that the airbase had been secured and released photographs

Americas

• A KC-46A fitted with its brand new modified boom has successfully managed a mid-air refueling of a C-17 with the previous axial loading issues no longer present. The testing was carried out on July 12 and the USAF also refueled an F-16 on July 8. Refueling attempts with the F-16 earlier this year were successful, although a higher than expected axial load on the boom was detected. The higher load was again present during the initial attempt with the C-17 which necessitated installation of hydraulic pressure relief valves in the boom.

• Saab is aiming to carve out a market in South America following their export coup to Brazil. Cash conscious governments from Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Argentina could all find a cost effective replacement for their aging fleets in the Gripen fighter. The company has brought a mock-up of its latest model to the Farnborough Air Show alongside an older model for nations that don’t need the kinds of capabilities the new jet brings to an air force.

Middle East North Africa

• Turkish munition firm Rokestan has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Airbus to integrate a variety of weapons from Roketsan’s existing product range on the Airbus C295W. Existing products in the Rokestan inventory include the 70mm laser-guided missile “CIRIT”; laser-guided long-range anti-tank Missile “LUMTAS”; and laser-guided bomb “TEBER”. With the C295W already used as a transport and maritime patrol aircraft, the weapons integration is part of of Airbus’ expansion plan to increase the capabilities of the plane.

Europe

• Boeing and MBDA have conducted successful life-fire testing of the Brimstone missile on the AH-64E attack helicopter. Funded by the UK MoD, the nine month integration project saw both companies collaborate on a leased AH-64E from the Pentagon. The weapon’s Semi-Active Laser (SAL), Dual Mode SAL/millimetric wave (mmW) and fully autonomous mmW guidance modes were tested while the helicopter was hovering, moving and maneuvering/banking.

• A UK operated Eurofighter Typhoon has commenced flight testing of the E-scan radar following successful ground trials on the aircraft. The trials are designed to ensure the radar and weapons system reach the required capability in time for first deliveries to the Kuwait Air Force, which became the aircraft’s eighth customer earlier this year. Development of the new radar underpins the Typhoon’s current and future capability evolution.

Asia Pacific

• Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) has chosen Thales’ Scorpion helmet-mounted sight and display (HMSD) to go into the Engineering, Manufacturing and Development (EMD) phase of the South Korean Light Armed Helicopter (LAH) program. Once completed, Thales will provide 400 of the HMSD to KAI. The program will see 200 LAHs introduced into service in the early 2020s.

• Lockheed Martin is to undergo a large upgrade project of some 500 in-service F-16 fighters with 300 upgrade orders already gained from South Korea, Taiwan, and Singapore. The F-16V format will see the inclusion of Northrop Grumman’s SABR electronically scanned radar, as well as a new 6 by 8 inch center pedestal display, a Link 16 data link, enhanced data processing and a Sniper advanced targeting pod. A push to sell upgrade packages comes as the company reaches the end of its F-16 orders, which at the current rate, will see production halt in 2017.

• US experts believe that North Korea will be capable of carrying out full-range testing of the KN-11 submarine-launched ballistic missile within the next year. The hermit kingdom’s latest test last week ended in failure after exploding mid-air. Analyst Joseph Bermudez stated that the biggest challenges to Pyongyang are quality control and system integration.

Today’s Video

• MBDA’s Brimstone on the AH-64E Apache: