Craig Hoyle
Craig Hoyle joined Flight International in 2003, and has edited the now monthly title since 2015. He has reported on the UK, European and international military aviation sector for more than 25 years, and produces our annual World Air Forces directory.
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- News
French air force will field operational UCAV from 2033
France will field an operational unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) from 2033, with the future system to draw on Dassault Aviation’s experience with leading Europe’s Neuron technology demonstration programme last decade.
- News
NOAA orders two C-130Js for hurricane hunter fleet renewal
Lockheed Martin will produce two specially-configured C-130J tactical transports for use by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
- News
Prague poised to sign $492m contract for two KC-390s
The Czech Republic aims to finalise a contract for two Embraer KC-390 tactical transport/tankers before the end of next month, with the NATO nation expecting to field its first example during 2025.
- News
Mwari has key counter-insurgency role for Mozambique, Paramount says
Paramount has disclosed limited details about its Mwari aircraft’s operational performance for customer Mozambique, describing the type as having “played a key role in counter-insurgency operations”.
- News
CAE signs simulator development deal for Canada’s FaCT programme
CAE has signed a roughly $1.7 billion contract linked to the Royal Canadian Air Force’s Future Air Crew Training (FAcT) programme.
- News
Embraer C/KC-390 deliveries reach double figures with Brazilian shipment
Deliveries of the Embraer C/KC-390 tanker/transport have reached double-figures, following the Brazilian manufacturer’s latest shipment to its domestic customer.
- News
Last Dutch F-16s retire after type’s 45 years of service
The Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) has marked an end to 45 years of operating the Lockheed Martin F-16, with its last examples conducting a special retirement flight on 27 September.
- News
UK’s prototype Typhoon ECRS Mk2 radar flown for first time
BAE Systems has performed the first flight of a Eurofighter Typhoon equipped with an active electronically scanned array radar due to enter operational service with the UK by 2030.
- Analysis
Leonardo’s C-27J Spartan battles on, 25 years after first flight
Leonardo’s C-27J Spartan programme has reached the 25th anniversary of the type’s first flight.
- News
South Africa expresses interest in Embraer C-390 purchase
Embraer believes South Africa could become a future operator of its C-390 tactical transport, with the nation’s defence ministry having expressed interest in the twinjet.
- News
Catastrophic engine failure led to non-fatal Australian MRH90 ditching, report concludes
The “catastrophic, but contained failure” of an Australian army NH Industries (NHI) MRH90 Taipan transport helicopter’s left-hand Safran Helicopter Engines RTM322 led to it ditching during a non-fatal training accident last year.
- News
UK’s first Wedgetail AEW&C aircraft ready for test and evaluation campaign
The UK Royal Air Force has edged a step closer towards restoring its lapsed airborne early warning and control capability, after the lead of three Boeing 737NG-based E-7 Wedgetail platforms completed a first post-modification flight.
- News
Kongsberg to invest $100m in US Joint Strike Missile production
Buoyed by a recent first contract to supply Joint Strike Missiles (JSMs) to the US Air Force, Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace is to build a new production facility in James City County, Virginia.
- News
Kratos, AFRL test low-cost turbofan for use by attritable systems
Kratos Turbine Technologies and the US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) have conducted ground tests of a low-cost turbofan engine architecture which the company claims will advance “affordable propulsion technologies for the warfighter”.
- News
Fifth delivery completes UAE’s Saab GlobalEye fleet
Less than a decade after it announced a surprise launch order with Saab at the 2015 Dubai air show, the United Arab Emirates has taken delivery of its fifth and final GlobalEye multi-role surveillance aircraft.
- News
UK signs Sting Ray torpedo mid-life upgrade deal
BAE Systems has been awarded a £60 million ($79 million) contract to perform a mid-life upgrade that will bring its Sting Ray lightweight torpedo to an enhanced Mod 2 version.
- News
Italy’s Frecce Tricolori display team to get new M-346 jet trainers
Italy’s Frecce Tricolori aerobatic display team is to be re-equipped with a new fleet of Leonardo M-346 jet trainers, with the type to replace its veteran Aermacchi MB-339s.
- News
US DoD picks eight providers to deliver $5.4b adversary training service
The US Department of Defense has named eight private companies who will provide adversary air and close air support training services until the end of this decade.
- News
Top Aces F-16 fields pod-housed IRST to hone fifth-generation training for USAF
Top Aces has completed an infrared search and track (IRST) integration activity on a Lockheed Martin F-16 used to deliver adversary air training services to the US Air Force.
- News
Netherlands seeks $691m AIM-9X Sidewinder buy as it boosts support to Ukraine
The Netherlands has requested an almost $700 million purchase of Raytheon AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II short-range air-to-air missiles.