Despite the fact that it won’t be declared operational for at least another two years, the Boeing KC-46A has flown thousands of operational missions and offloaded tens of millions of pounds of fuel under a plan that has freed up the troubled tanker to refuel 97% of receiver aircraft.
The Pentagon is escalating its military aid for Ukraine with a new tranche of materiel that includes M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) for the first time, along with more Mi-17 helicopters, air surveillance radars and other equipment as part of a $700 million package.
The U.S. Air Force plans to field a fleet of 22 Boeing E-7A Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft to replace its 31 E-3 Sentry AWACS, with the Wedgetail having beaten out two other contenders for the program, according to a new justification document.
The Netherlands will procure additional F-35s, MQ-9 Reapers and a new fleet of medium-lift transport helicopters as part of a dramatic uptick in the country’s defense budget.
The call comes as CAE executives say they are being told by Lockheed Martin that the fighter program’s expanding list of customers faces a shortage of training capacity for new F-35 pilots and maintainers.
The Pentagon has awarded a new contract for Stinger anti-aircraft missile replacements while also shifting more internal money for military assistance to Ukraine, and is seeking to stockpile critical munitions as it looks at lessons learned from Russia’s invasion.
Tokyo is reportedly planning to further relax its strict arms export regulations, enabling it to sell fighter aircraft, missiles and other weapons to 12 countries.
A Raytheon Sentinel radar-reconnaissance aircraft previously operated by the UK Royal Air Force (RAF) has been returned to flying status in preparation for a new career in the U.S.
Lockheed Martin has warned that the UK could face a slow delivery profile for future orders of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter as it looks to create additional front-line squadrons.
Finland and Sweden joining NATO instantly would enhance the alliance’s military power with capable air forces and increasing acquisition budgets, the nominee to lead U.S. European Command and become the alliance’s Supreme Allied Commander-Europe told lawmakers.
More than 20 nations announced new packages of military aid for Ukraine following a meeting of more than 40 countries on May 23, the Pentagon announced.
