Virgin Orbit, the airborne small-satellite rocket launch upstart that announced its intent to go public Aug. 23, apparently will build and offer a fleet of Earth-observation and internet of things (IoT) satellites starting in 2023, according to investor materials.
It is almost 50 years since the Mil Mi-24 assault helicopter entered service. Given the NATO reporting name Hind, its first operational use was in the 1979-1989 Soviet-Afghanistan War, when it was christened the ‘Devil’s Chariot’ by the Mujahideen guerrillas. Today, as David Oliver reports, the Hind is being used in the civil wars in Syria and Libya, and by Algeria against jihadist militants.
SAMI CEO, Walid Abukhaled, has major aspirations for both his company and his country, as Alan Warnes found out when the pair discussed strategy and future possibilities.
The UAE hopes to finalise a deal to acquire 50 Lockheed Martin-made F-35 fighters ahead of the 50th anniversary of the country’s independence this year.
The UN is continuing attempts to broker peace to end Libya’s deadly civil war and a preliminary deal was agreed in early September. But, with so many factions involved, and major countries backing both sides, no-one can predict what will happen next. Alan Warnes analyses the current situation.
Egyptian and US military officers gathered at the formal re-opening of the fighter brigade at Cairo West Airport, which now operates the Block 52 F-16C/D.
Egyptian Air Force Dassault Rafale and MIG-29M/M2 fighter aircraft conducted buddy-buddy aerial refuelling during the recent Qader-2020 military exercise.
Alsalam Aerospace Industries (AAI) has completed the first in-country conversion of an F-15S (Saudi) aircraft to F-15SA (Saudi advanced) standard, writes Jon Lake.
Since its launch in November last year, advanced defence technology group, Edge, has maintained a high profile. A major sponsor at the Dubai Airshow, the group has taken part in a number of defence, aviation and recruitment events in the region. Jill Stockbridge spoke to CEO and managing director, His Excellency Faisal Al Bannai, at UMEX in Abu Dhabi.
The US Defense Department has announced the award of a $9.9 million foreign military sales (FMS) contract to Collins Aerospace – a subsidiary of the United Technologies Corporation – for the “purchase of a necessary additional quantity” of parts for DB-110 airborne reconnaissance pods by the Royal Saudi Air Force, writes Jon Lake.
The UAE has been quietly overhauling and improving its intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities for some years. Jon Lake looks at the latest situation.
Locally-assembled BAE Hawks have become the first new Saudi-built fast jet aircraft to fly in home skies, marking a significant step forward for the kingdom’s aerospace industry. Jon Lake reports.
Saudi Arabia’s northern oil refinery in Abqaiq and the Khurais oil field were the subject of a dramatic drone attack on September 14. Alan Warnes reports.
The war in Libya has international backers on opposing sides supporting their own interests. In the first conflict where unmanned aerial systems (UAS) are making up the bulk of the air operations, both sides have successfully attacked opposition aircraft. Alan Warnes reports.
Major ideology differences with Iran, simmering tension with Turkey in Libya, ongoing war in Yemen, disagreements between Qatar and other GCC members, and the ongoing fight against terrorism, means tension is never far away in the MENA region. Now a new private consortium is stepping into the pilot combat training arena. Alan Warnes reports.
Deserts, war and the vastness of many countries in the Middle East and north Africa, ensure there will always be a need for military tactical airlifters. Alan Warnes has been looking round the MENA region.
Saab chief executive, Hakan Buskhe, has announced that the UAE is on track to receive its first GlobalEye swing-role surveillance system (SRSS) aircraft in April 2020, writes Jon Lake.
Leading Arab air forces have been among the vanguard of air arms that have enthusiastically embraced active electronically scanned array (AESA or E-scan) radar technology for their next generation of fighters. Jon Lake takes a detailed look at the technology.
Turkey came out fighting at this year’s biennial International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF), held in Istanbul from April 30 to May 3. Alan Warnes was there.
