A mock-up of the Eurofighter EK, featuring a generic escort jammer pod, was showcased at the ILA Berlin Air Show in 2022. (Janes/Gareth Jennings)  The Luftwaffe has selected the Saab Arexis electronic warfare (EW) suite for its Eurofighter Elektronischer Kampf (EK) requirement, the Swedish company confirmed on 16 June.    Saab and its German partner for the project, Helsing, confirmed a   Der Spiegel  report from 13 June that said the selection will see the two companies provide the suite for the Luftwaffe's Eurofighter EK ele...

The DAGR-SA system on trial with the British Army in a drop-down hands-free harness configuration. BAE Systems is proposing its new NavGuide platform as a replacement to the legacy DAGR. (Rockwell Collins)  Programme officials at BAE Systems have unveiled their newest Assured-Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (A-PNT) end-user device featuring full integration of M-Code-enabled Global Positioning System (GPS) technology.  The NavGuide system is a portable, handheld A-PNT device designed to replace legacy Defense Advanced GPS Receiver (DAGR)...

The Swift is a hydrogen-powered propeller-driven aircraft whose design has been supported by the MoD's Project Monet. (Swift Aircraft)  Swift Aircraft and GKN Aerospace have showcased their conceptual design for a new light training aircraft that is geared to help the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) achieve its goal of net zero emissions.  Revealed at the Paris Air Show at Le Bourget on 19 June, the Swift is a hydrogen-powered propeller-driven aircraft whose design has been supported by the MoD's Project Monet, a joint initiative between the Rap...

Both Japan and Singapore plan to acquire the Lockheed Martin F-35B short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft. (Lockheed Martin Aeronautics)    Japan's new defence trade agreement with Singapore – signed early June – is indicative of how Tokyo is trying to expand defence equipment and technology ties with countries across Southeast Asia, the Japan Ministry of Defense (MoD) told   Janes  .   The MoD confirmed that under Japan's new pact with Singapore, which is named the Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology...

One of the three Hercules that took part in the type's farewell flypast manoeuvres through the Welsh valleys as the trio made their way around the UK. (Crown Copyright)  The UK Royal Air Force (RAF) has retired the last of its Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, marking the end of 56 years of operational service with a UK-wide flypast on 14 June.  With the official retirement parade having taken place at the type's home station at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire on 9 June, three of the last 14 C-130J-30 C4 variant Hercules airc...

A computer-generated image of the Sky Sonic. (Rafael Advanced Defense Systems)  Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense Systems announced on 14 June that it is developing a new air-defence missile called the Sky Sonic to intercept hypersonic threats.  In a statement released ahead of the missile's official unveiling at the Paris Air Show on 19 June, the company claimed the new interceptor offers “exceptional manoeuvrability and high-speed capabilities” enabling it to counter hypersonic missiles travelling at Mach 10 with “unmatched precision and ste...

The US Air Force has sent its premier air-to-air combat aircraft, the F-22 Raptor, to CENTCOM AOR “in the wake of increasingly unsafe and unprofessional behaviour by Russian aircraft in the region”. (Janes/Patrick Allen)  The US has sent Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor fighters to the Middle East in response to “unsafe and unprofessional” behaviour by Russian aircraft in the region, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on 14 June.  An undisclosed number of the air dominance fighters have been deployed from the 94th Fighter Squadron at Langley Air Fo...

Indonesia's planned acquisition of 12 Dassault Mirage 2000-5s from Qatar is intended to prevent the decline of the Indonesian Air Force's combat capabilities. This photo was taken in 2011, when the Qatar Emiri Air Force Mirages were part of the international military operation in Libya. (Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP via Getty Images)  The Indonesian Ministry of Defense (MoD) has signed a contract to acquire the Qatar Emiri Air Force's (QEAF's) total fleet of 12 Dassault Mirage 2000-5 fighter aircraft.  The acquisition was officially announced on sta...

The Indonesian Army's Harimau tanks on display at Indo Defence 2022. The tanks will be equipped with reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicles. (Janes/Andrew Galer)  The Indonesian Army'sHarimau medium tanks will be equipped with reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) “to adapt to the demands of combat operations”, said the country's Minister of Defense, Prabowo Subianto.  In a recent statement, Subianto said the addition of UAVs to the tanks will improve the “completeness of the combat operation”.  Indonesia and Turkey signed an agreem...

RNMB   Apollo   being passed by a Hunt-class MCM vessel during trials in December 2022 that took place as part of the Anglo-French Maritime Mine Counter Measures programme, which is delivering autonomous capability for both the Royal Navy and the Marine Nationale.  (Thales)  The UK Royal Navy's (RN's) unmanned surface vessel (USV) RNMB Apollo has completed a series of navy and industry open water assurance trials claimed by Thales to be the first UK military clearance of its kind.  The safety trials, which were de...

A mock-up of the Eurofighter EK, featuring a generic escort jammer pod, was showcased at the ILA Berlin Air Show in 2022. (Janes/Gareth Jennings)  The Luftwaffe has selected the Saab Arexis electronic warfare (EW) suite for its Eurofighter Elektronischer Kampf (EK) requirement, German national media reported on 13 June.  Der Spiegel said the selection will see Saab and national partner Helsing provide the suite for the Luftwaffe's Eurofighter EK electronic attack (EA) escort jammer aircraft by 2030. Integration will be done by Airbus as the o...

RNMB Apollo being passed by a Hunt-class MCM vessel during trials in December 2022 that took place as part of the Anglo-French Maritime Mine Counter Measures (MMCM) programme, which is delivering autonomous capability for both the Royal Navy and the Marine Nationale.  (Thales)    The UK Royal Navy's (RN's) unmanned surface vessel (USV) RNMB   Apollo   has completed a series of navy and industry open water assurance trials claimed by Thales to be the first UK military clearance of its kind.   The safety trials, which were d...

Belgian Air Chief Major General Thierry Dupont signed the bulkhead of the first of Belgium's F-35As while visiting Lockheed Martin's Fort Worth factory on 5 June. (Belgian Air Component)  Lockheed Martin has begun building the first F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) for Belgium at its Fort Worth facility in Texas.  The Belgian Air Component (BAC) announced the milestone on 7 June, posting an image of Belgian Air Chief Major General Thierry Dupont signing the bulkhead of aircraft AY-01 two days prior. This milestone will be followe...

The Kuwait Air Force fields 33 ‘classic' Hornet combat aircraft (pictured), which it now seeks to operate alongside newer Super Hornet and Eurofighter Typhoon platforms. (DVIDS)  Kuwait is set to continue operating its ‘classic' Boeing F/A-18C/D Hornet combat aircraft alongside its recently received F/A-18E/F Super Hornets and Eurofighter Typhoons, with a USD1.8 billion support agreement with the US government approved on 13 June.  As noted by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), the US Department of State has approved the conti...

Textron submitted its M3 Ripsaw – a variant of the vehicle picture on the right – for the US Army's RCV-L Middle Tier Acquisition rapid prototyping programme. (Textron Systems)  Textron recently offered its proposal for the US Army's Robotic Combat Vehicle – Light (RCV-L), an executive told   Janes  on 5 June.   The company submitted its M3 Ripsaw robotic ground vehicle to the service on 15 May, David Phillips, senior vice-president for land and sea systems, told   Janes  . The army is expected to make its selection of four com...

The Indian Army seeks to upgrade its T-90 MBTs with 1,200–1,500 hp engines. The image shows a T-90 MBT at an Indian Army exercise in November 2022. (Janes/Kapil Kajal)  The Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has approved plans to procure Future Ready Combat Vehicles (FRCVs) and engines to upgrade in-service T-90 main battle tanks (MBTs).  The two projects were granted ‘Approval in Principle' (AIP) by the MoD in late May. The MoD said the programmes will proceed under the government-funded ‘Make-I' category.  The FRCV project features the acqui...

Information provided by the Taiwanese and Japanese governments shows that the Chinese People's Liberation Army operated two SAIC Y-9 communications countermeasures aircraft in the Taiwan air defence identification zone on 8 June 2023. The aircraft subsequently operated south of the Japan ADIZ. (Taiwan MND/Japan MoD/Janes)  A new special mission aircraft of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) has been identified after the aircraft flew into Japan's air defence identification zone (ADIZ) on 8 June.    The Japanese Ministry of Defens...

Among other training devices, the new building extension at RAF Valley will house a simulator for the Texan II trainer aircraft. (Crown Copyright)  Ascent Flight Training has opened new infrastructure at Royal Air Force (RAF) Valley in Wales as the UK looks to increase its pilot training capacity.  The opening of the building extension that will house a simulator and other training devices was announced on 12 June, with Ascent noting it is part of a wider GBP175 million (USD220 million) investment in the UK Military Flight Training System (MF...

Caracal offers its CAR 816 assault rifles, an example of which is pictured above, to the Malaysian Army. The rifles are chambered for the 5.56×45 mm cartridge. (Edge)  United Arab Emirates small-arms manufacturer Edge Group's Caracal subsidiary has offered its CAR 816assault rifles to the Malaysian Army.  A spokesperson of Edge told Janes that Caracal is “in discussion” with the Malaysian Army regarding the possible sale of CAR 816s to the service.  In late May Caracal signed an agreement with Ketech Asia for the production and resale of the...

Seen in Romanian service, the C-27J will now be operated by Azerbaijan. (Leonardo)  Azerbaijan has agreed a deal with Leonardo for the procurement of the C-27J Spartan airlifter, the manufacturer announced on 8 June.  The procurement is part of a wider modernisation plan for the Azerbaijan Air Force (AzAF) and Air Defence Force, and was agreed during a visit to the Caucasian country by an Italian delegation.  “The agreement is part of the extensive modernisation programme of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, which are increasingly looking to the...