The six-engine behemoth now faces an intense flight campaign through the rest of this year as the focus begins to switch from envelope expansion to preparations for payload tests.
Leonardo has been awarded contracts worth €260 million to support Hensoldt of Germany’s development of an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar for Eurofighters operated by Germany and Spain.
A long-range infrared search and track sensor, manned-unmanned teaming capability and a Thales Scorpion helmet-mounted display are on a list of new upgrades by third-party vendors sought by the U.S. Air Force for the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor.
Boeing has begun taking the first steps toward establishing an industrial team in Germany to provide support for a planned fleet of F/A-18 Super Hornets and EA-18G Growlers that would replace the country’s Panavia Tornado fleet.
Hungary will update its Saab Gripen fighters to the MS20 Block 2 standard, which could enable them to launch MBDA’s Meteor beyond visual range air-to-air missile. The Hungarian Air Force, which leases its 14 C/D model Gripens, has contracted the upgrade with Sweden’s FMV defense material agency. This will put the Hungarian fleet into a configuration similar to Sweden’s aircraft.
French defense materiel agency the DGA has begun testing engine technologies to support the development of a powerplant for the European Future Combat Air System (FCAS).
A senior Pakistani government official says the country’s air force has become the first export customer for the Chengdu J-10, a single-engine Chinese fighter.
Germany’s new government is reportedly reconsidering how the country can replace its Panavia Tornado fleet, potentially putting Lockheed Martin’s F-35 back in contention.
Boom has been awarded a three-year U.S. Air Force contract to expand studies of its Mach 1.7 Overture aircraft beyond that of an executive transport to include surveillance, reconnaissance, special forces deployment and other military transport roles.
The plan to fix the KC-46’s troubled Remote Vision System (RVS) is delayed as the U.S. Air Force and Boeing try to work through a longstanding issue with the aircraft’s panoramic visual system.
Joby Aviation has formally added a second preproduction prototype to the test program for its S4 tiltprop electric vertical takeoff and landing air taxi.
Norway’s F-35s have now taken on the mantle of NATO’s Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) duties from the F-16, operating from newly established facilities within the Arctic Circle.
