Defense Projects and News

Zephyr is a High Altitude Pseudo-Satellite (HAPS) UAS/UAV which runs on solar power. This unmanned aircraft provides local satellite-like services. It endures like a satellite, focuses like an aircraft and is cheaper than either of them.

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. recently delivered a special mission G550 to the United States Navy. Designed and modified at Gulfstream, this aircraft will host a wide array of sensors to support the Navy’s telemetry range support mission. “The G550, with its exceptional reliability and proven performance, is an ideal aircraft for Telemetry Range Support Aircraft and will help the U.S. Navy address its diverse and challenging operations,” said Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream.

The unmatched performance, speed, high altitude and range of Gulfstream aircraft make them ideally suited for a variety of special missions. The sophisticated cabin also provides an optimized operational environment for crews. For more than 50 years, Gulfstream has been producing aircraft for a variety of special missions, including head-of-state transport, airborne early warning, ground surveillance, maritime patrol and aeromedical evacuation. More than 200 Gulfstream aircraft support governments in 40 countries.

It appears that Belgium has secured a contract with Lockheed Martin for the F-35A. The Belgian defense minister Steven Vandeput announced the decision on the 25th October (two days ago) at a media briefing. It now makes Belgium the 13th partner in the F-35 programme. The aircraft are expected to replace a set of F-16s in the Belgium force.

The first Korean Airbus A330 MRTT arrives in Busan, South Korea. In 2015 this nation selected the A330 MRTT in preference to America's Boeing KC-46A. South Korea new tanker programme is worth around $1.26 billion and they expect to field KC-X programme aims to deliver four tankers by 2019.

Lockheed Martin scored big with a massive order that will cover F-35 Lightning II production all the way into 2023. The order will fulfill airplanes for all three of the armed services for the United States as well as international orders. According to the United States Department of Defense (DoD), The contract covers 106 F-35s for the USA, comprising 64 F-35As for the Air Force, 26 F-35Bs for the Marines, and 16 F-35Cs for the Navy. Additionally, for the international orders, 71 F-35As and 18 F-35Bs will go to international programme participants, and 60 F-35As to customers under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) process.

The F-35A is at it again in the news. It successfully dropped a GBU-49 precision bomb during combat practice for the first time at Eglin Air Force Base (AFB). The test on 7 November was conducted by the US Air Force 388th Fighter Wing’s 34th Fighter Squadron, which is stationed at Hill AFB, Utah. The GBU-49 is made by Raytheon. It is a converted 'dumb' bomb that uses a laser and GPS to be guided to its target. The precision weapon can be used in a variety of weather conditions, against moving or stationary targets.

Ever seen an F-22 Raptor being cleaned?

Boeing’s KC-46 tanker program has completed its planned Phase II receiver certification flight testing following three weeks of flights with F-15E aircraft out of Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.Boeing and U.S. Air Force KC-46 crews kicked off receiver certification testing with F-16 aircraft in April 2018. Since then the joint team also completed testing with KC-135, C-17, A-10, KC-46, B-52, and F/A-18 aircraft.

"This accomplishment is a tribute to the Boeing/U.S. Air Force team and helps set the stage for the start of Initial Operational Test & Evaluation testing next year," said Mike Gibbons, Boeing KC-46A tanker vice president and program manager. "We are seeing great progress in both test and production and expect the positive momentum to continue as we begin delivering aircraft."

A new order has come in for the Boeing KC-46 tanker from the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force. The single order is the second from the force and will cost 159 million dollars while the first project was estimated at 279 million. The second should be completed by the end of June 2021.

France has ordered three more Airbus A330 MRTT's. Airbus Defence and Space has received a firm order from the French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) for a further three A330 MRTT Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft. The aircraft, known as Phénix in French service, constitute the third and final tranche of the multi-year contract for 12 A330 MRTTs signed by the French Ministry of Defence in 2014.

Boeing has delivered the first two KC-46A Pegasus tankers to the United States Air Force. They departed Everett’s Paine Field on the 25th for McConnell Air Force Base, where the 22nd Air Refueling Wing will be the first unit to have the world’s newest air refueling tankers. The Air Force will soon begin evaluating the KC-46’s systems in operationally realistic scenarios, which is required before the aircraft can be used in combat. It will also continue validating the KC-46’s refueling capabilities, with aircraft including the B-2 bomber, C-5 cargo plane, and F-35 fighter. Prior testing involved the B-52 bomber, C-17 cargo plane, and F-15E and F/A-18 fighters, among others.

Sikorsdky-Boeing SB-1 Defiant.

Boeing has secured orders for the P-8 Maritime Patrol Aircraft. 10 are expected to be delivered to the United States Navy, Norway 5 and the UK 4.

The F-15 is an older platform and has seen its fair share of time in different combat situations around the world. However, Boeing has been working on the new advanced F-15 which is a comprehensive overhaul of this general airframe to bring it to current demands.

The first Dassault Rafale has been handed over to Qatar. In a ceremony hosted by Eric Trappier, Dassault Aviation Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, was held in Merignac facility for the delivery of the first Rafale to the Qatari Emiri Air Force, under the patronage of His Excellency Dr Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah, Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs, and Geneviève Darrieussecq, French State Secretary to the Minister of Armed Forces, and in the presence of Qatar Emiri Air Force Commander, Major General Mubarak Al Khayareen. The first Rafale delivery, on schedule, comes after the signature in May 2015 of the contract for the acquisition by the State of Qatar of 24 Rafale to equip its Air Force, and an additional 12, in December 2017, for a total of 36 aircraft to fly under the Qatari colors.

Russia's new A-100 early warning aircraft is almost ready for operation. The craft which is derived from the Illyushin IL76-V90 has a powerful rotating radar on top of its fuselage just forward of the tail. The aircraft is said to be currently engaged in acceptance trials. The new aircraft will be replacing the A-50 and essentially be able to detect targets almost twice as far away as the predecessor.

Photo by Roselektronica

It appears as if the United States Air Force (USAF) has suspended deliveries of the KC-46A tanker because of FOD (foreign object debris). The USAF is concerned with stray tools being found in the KC-46A Pegasus and before it becomes a danger to operations they are halting taking anymore planes until the in-production units are cleared of any debris and Boeing makes a plan to stop this from happening again.

Boeing [NYSE: BA] has introduced its newest unmanned platform, the Boeing Airpower Teaming System. Designed for global defense customers by Boeing Australia, it is the company’s largest investment in a new unmanned aircraft program outside the United States. The aircraft will complement and extend airborne missions through smart teaming with existing military aircraft. A model of the Boeing Airpower Teaming System was unveiled at the Australian International Airshow by the Australian Minister for Defence, the Hon. Christopher Pyne MP. As a research and development activity, the Australian Government and Boeing will produce a concept demonstrator called the Loyal Wingman – Advanced Development Program that will provide key learnings toward the production of the Boeing Airpower Teaming System.

“The Boeing Airpower Teaming System will provide a disruptive advantage for allied forces’ manned/unmanned missions,” said Kristin Robertson, vice president and general manager of Boeing Autonomous Systems. “With its ability to reconfigure quickly and perform different types of missions in tandem with other aircraft, our newest addition to Boeing’s portfolio will truly be a force multiplier as it protects and projects air power.”

Sukhoi has delivered he last SU-27SM3 out of the orders that the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) made. Under NATO, the Sukhoi SU-27 is known as the 'Flanker'.

The Royal Air Force has officially retired the Panavia Tornado. The aircraft type has been service with the RAF for around 40 years as recent as up to late January 2019 with Coalition Forces.