All Defence articles
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NewsChinese military thinkers contemplate UAV swarms, MUM-T
The People’s Liberation Army sees high value in swarms of unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) and manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T), but it has some way to go before broadly fielding such capabilities.
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AnalysisTextron hints at unmanned capability for FLRAA tiltrotor
Textron, parent company of rotorcraft manufacturer Bell, says the US Army wants to incorporate unmanned flight capability into the next-generation tiltrotor known as the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft.
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AnalysisBell secures Osprey production though 2027, spanning gap until FLRAA work begins
The rotorcraft manufacturer confirms that an order from the US Navy for five CMV-22 Osprey variants will sustain the Amarillo, Texas production line through 2027, around the same time work on the US Army’s next-generation tiltrotor is expected to ramp-up at the site.
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NewsUkraine’s Raybird UAV flies with hydrogen fuel cell
Ukrainian uncrewed air vehicle (UAV) developer Skyeton has conducted an in-country test flight of its Raybird platform fitted with a hydrogen fuel cell.
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AnalysisDorsal intake, delta wings, and stealth: what we know about China’s J-36
China continues its work with high profile aircraft designs, as the so-called J-36 “sixth-generation” fighter continues to mount sorties in the skies above Chengdu.
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NewsItaly to purchase AeroVironment Jump 20 as Shadow replacement
The $46 million contract will see the vertical take-off and landing uncrewed aerial vehicles replace Italy’s Textron RQ-7 Shadow, mirroring an effort underway in the USA.
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AnalysisNorthrop losses on B-21 climb to $2bn as company seeks to ‘accelerate’ production
The defence manufacturer says the loss results from changes made to its B-21 manufacturing process aimed at achieving “accelerated production rates” on the next-generation stealth bomber.
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NewsIAI, India’s DCX form local joint venture with radar focus
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Indian firm DCX Systems have established a joint venture that will focus on airborne radars and other systems for India’s military.
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In depthLockheed will not protest Boeing win in USAF sixth-generation fighter effort
Although the military airframer was unsuccessful in its bid to produce the US Air Force’s forthcoming sixth-generation fighter, Lockheed Martin plans to incorporate design features from the prototype into the F-35 chassis for an aircraft that can deliver “80% of sixth-generation capability” at a reduced price.
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NewsEDGE demonstrates unmanned Anavia HT-100 to Brazil’s military
EDGE’s Swiss subsidiary Anavia has demonstrated what its parent company describes as a “complex flight profile” with an HT-100 unmanned air vehicle for the Brazilian armed forces and police.
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NewsUK continues to assess platform options for Tempest’s autonomous wingman
The UK continues to assess its requirement to field autonomous collaborative platforms (ACPs) as part of a broader Future Combat Air System, despite having shelved an earlier technology demonstration effort.
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NewsKratos adding landing gear-equipped XQ-58 to inventory amid growth in uncrewed fighter scope
The US Air Force appears to have expanded its goals for a planned fleet of uncrewed fighters beyond the initial concept of a “disposable” aircraft to a model featuring affordable and reusable jets.
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AnalysisCommercial satellite operator Maxar offering GPS-denied navigation solution
Amid rising concern about the vulnerability of GPS navigation signals to jamming — based on observations from Ukraine and the Middle East — Maxar has developed an airborne navigation tool that does not rely on GPS.
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NewsUS Air Force considers replacing MESA radar on future E-7 fleet
As Boeing begins production on the first prototype of the US Air Force’s planned fleet of E-7A airborne early warning and control jets, the service is exploring what advanced technologies it may incorporate into the final design, including advanced sensors, communications and electronic warfare countermeasures.
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NewsUS approves Philippines to acquire TH-73 trainer helicopters
The $120 million package covers Manila to begin negotiating to purchase an unspecified number of the Leonardo trainer helicopters.
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NewsBelgium floats additional F-35 buy if aircraft can be assembled in Europe
Belgium is increasing defence expenditures to meet NATO targets and defence minister Theo Francken suggests Brussels could direct some of those funds toward acquiring additional F-35 stealth fighters – if the jets are assembled outside the USA.
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NewsFirst F-16V arrives in Bulgaria
The first of 16 planned Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70 fighters has arrived in Bulgaria, as the NATO member seeks to recapitalise its combat fleet and phase out Soviet-origin aircraft.
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NewsTurkish manufacturers press ahead with UAV capabilities
Baykar Technologies’ TB2 unmanned air vehicle (UAV) has demonstrated the ability to recover from a spin, while Turkish Aerospace has increased the weapons capability of the Aksungur system.
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NewsAirbus Helicopters trains sights on Lakota cost and complexity claims
Airbus Helicopters has hit back at suggestions that its twin-engined UH-72A Lakota is too sophisticated and too expensive to deliver training for the US Army, arguing that there are more cost-effective means to improve outcomes than fleet replacement.
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NewsFrench aggressor training provider SDTS adds MB339s to UK register
The UK’s civil aircraft register has a surprising new entry: a trio of two-seat Aermacchi MB339Cs belonging to French ‘red air’ provider SDTS.