Defense

A new Pentagon prize challenge dangled to industry opens a search for a low-cost, ground-launched and high-speed missile that can reach targets up to 1,000 nm.

France's Safran Helicopter Engines and India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) have advanced development of the Aravalli, a 3,500-4,000-shp engine for India's indigenous multi-role helicopter.

Poland and Spain will collectively acquire seven Airbus A330 MRTTs through a new framework agreement recently approved by the Spanish government earlier this week.

Lufthansa Technik has secured a German contract to provide a Global 6000 to prepare crew for the Pegasus mission, while Lufthansa Aviation Training is taking on initial flight training activities.

Since the last Air Forces in Focus note on Uruguay was published, only two of ten aircraft replacement programs have shown visible movement.

U.S. Navy officials have confirmed they are assessing requirements for a Compact Air-to-Air Missile for extremely short-range, air-to-air intercepts.

A joint Spanish and Polish procurement of Airbus A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft has been given the green light by the Spanish government.

Japan’s Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) has selected Terra Drone to supply the Japan Self-Defense Forces with its Terra B1 interceptor drone under a fast-tracked program to strengthen counter-uncrewed aircraft capabilities.

The U.S. Navy on Aug. 25 revealed plans to develop a new air-launched weapon for hunting enemy submarines.

California-based startup Auriga Space has completed a series of field tests of a supersonic drone interceptor launched using electricity and magnetic levitation.

The Dutch Navy plans to operate Destinus counter-uncrewed air system (C-UAS) munitions, with the aim of wrapping up a concept development phase within a year.

Ursa Major Technologies is joining the rush to the public markets, though opting for the route of using a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) rather than initial public offering.

Taiwanese officials are watching the U.S.-Israel-Iran War closely.

The UK government has cleared the release of classified information on MBDA’s Storm Shadow/Scalp air-launched cruise missile to enable local production of the weapon in Ukraine.

Saab has reiterated its intention to build an aerospace hub in Canada that would be capable of producing the Gripen E/F fighter, should Ottawa decide to split buy its combat aircraft fleet.

On June 2 Canada signed a $1.88 billion contract for 26 Lockheed Martin-made HIMARS launchers and a preliminary stock of surface-to-surface missiles.

The U.S. Navy has launched the first U.S. ground-based sled track facility to test infrared countermeasures in supersonic flight conditions amid more missile vulnerabilities being demonstrated overseas.

The U.S. Navy wants to steam ahead on bringing more uncrewed aircraft into its air wings, but the service chief favors a different approach than had previously been laid out.

Collins Aerospace completed altitude testing of a major subsystem competing for a contract to replace the Honeywell power and thermal management system inside the Lockheed Martin F-35.

The U.S. Navy's deployment extensions are now front and center with its carrier fleet.

Norway has been approved to acquire the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk even though a plan to acquire a new fleet of tactical helicopters is on hold.

The Chinese air force is showcasing its long-range deployment capacity, dispatching some of its J-16 fighters to Africa for the first time as part of a wider force package participating in a military exercise in Egypt.

Kongsberg says it is stepping up the pace of deployment for its N3X maritime surveillance satellite to address Norwegian military demands.

Saab is closing in on a first flight of its Ruby low-cost uncrewed aircraft system, but development has been challenged by issues in the assembly of the air vehicle’s wings.

Saab is seeing emerging interest in teaming its GlobalEye business jet-based airborne early warning (AEW) platform with the new LoyalEye system fitted to the General Atomics MQ-9 SkyGuardian.