Africa's aerospace industry has entered a new era with the launch of a ground-breaking multi-role aviation platform. This marks the first time in Africa's history that the continent has independently designed and manufactured its own aircraft. The market potential of the aircraft could add up to half a billion dollars to the industrial output of the South African economy.
Boeing has delivered its fourth C-17 Globemaster III to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Air Force and Air Defence from the company's C-17 final assembly facility in Long Beach.
UK-based defence manufacturer L-3 is opening a new international office in Abu Dhabi to expand its presence in the Middle East and provide increased, localised support for its customers and partners in the region.
The Egyptian Air Force has today has taken delivery of its first Airbus Military C295. The aircraft in military transport configuration, was delivered ahead of contract schedule and is part of a three aircraft order placed by the EAF in October last year. The other two aircraft are to be delivered during the last quarter of 2011.
The Airbus Military A400M new generation airlifter has passed a series of key tests in the last week as the aircraft continues to progress towards civil and military type certification.
A top–level group of Air Force leaders from around the world have confimed attendance at the Dubai International Air Chiefs Conference (DIAC) which takes place on the eve of the Dubai Air Show at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel.
Qatar's government is said to be considering purchasing a substantial stake in EADS – the European aerospace and defence conglomerate which owns Airbus, Eurocopter and other major manufacturers.
Iran's Fars News Agency has reported that the country's Shalamcheh air defense missiles can now trace and intercept Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) at low altitudes.
Defence contractor Lockheed Martin Corp expects progress on its F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, international sales and upgrade work for legacy fighter jets to fuel growth even as U.S. defense spending shrinks, its chief executive told Reuters on Tuesday.
For the first time in the history of the Joint Strike Fighter program, a senior Pentagon appointee has raised the question of whether one of the three versions of the Lockheed Martin F-35 should be canceled to save money. The move comes as program leaders and Pentagon cost experts are trying to prepare for a long-delayed Defense Acquisition Board review of JSF, including a comprehensive effort to establish reliable predictions of acquisition and operating costs.
With the U.S. Navy opening up to competition its lucrative contracts to provide ship- and land-based intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) services, Sweden’s Saab sees an opportunity to break into the U.S. unmanned aircraft market. With CSC acting as prime contractor, Saab is offering its Skeldar V-200M vertical-takeoff-and-landing (VTOL) unmanned aircraft to meet that part of the Navy’s UAV ISR services requirement calling for a system able to operate from its Arleigh Burke-class destroyers.
Cornische Aviation and Maintenance Limited - a Sharjah-based supplier of aviation parts and equipment (specialising in the support of aircraft manufactured in the CIS) - have announced that they won their protest against the US Army for improperly including sustainment in the contract for 21 Russian Mi-17 helicopters.
Israel Aerospace Industries' (IAI) Ghost electrically powered vertical-takeoff-and-landing (VTOL) mini-UAV is making its debut at this week's Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems International show in Washington. Weighing 9 lb., the tandem-rotor autonomous aircraft can fly for up to 30 min. on battery power and is designed for low noise and ease of use in urban warfare and special operations. IAI has also developed the Panther family of tilt-prop small VTOL unmanned aerial systems.
Lockheed Martin's Medium Extended Air Defense System (Meads) is facing an existential threat on Capitol Hill. Senators are actively trying to end funding for the system and renegotiate the U.S. agreement to develop the missile with Italy and Germany. Rather than simply push back on the cuts, Lockheed Martin is making a run at the competition, arguing it will cost the government more in the long term to sustain Raytheon's Patriot missile system than to opt for Meads.
The next generation of unmanned aircraft could be today's systems, but linked in ways only now becoming possible, thereby enabling them to perform missions beyond their individual capabilities. Use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) has grown during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but as the conflict draws down, services are seeking ways to make better use of their existing assets, recognizing that prospects for new systems are receding as budgets tighten.
Lockheed Martin's Medium Extended Air Defense System (Meads) is facing an existential threat on Capitol Hill. Senators are actively trying to end funding for the system and renegotiate the U.S. agreement to develop the missile with Italy and Germany. Rather than simply push back on the cuts, Lockheed Martin is making a run at the competition, arguing it will cost the government more in the long term to sustain Raytheon's Patriot missile system than to opt for Meads.
Some broad decisions have already been taken, though. The defense ministry will be structured into three pillars: policy and strategy, armed forces, and procurement and estates.
Lockheed Martin's Medium Extended Air Defense System (Meads) is facing an existential threat on Capitol Hill. Senators are actively trying to end funding for the system and renegotiate the U.S. agreement to develop the missile with Italy and Germany. Rather than simply push back on the cuts, Lockheed Martin is making a run at the competition, arguing it will cost the government more in the long term to sustain Raytheon's Patriot missile system than to opt for Meads.
