Acquisitions
South Korea axes F-35B acquisition plan to grow F-35A fleet?
Seoul has requested a government-to-government Foreign Military Sale for the purchase of 25 fifth-generation F-35A Lightning II fighters has been approved by the US State Department
US Navy orders more CH-53Ks for USMC and Israel
The US Navy has awarded Sikorsky a $2.7bn contract to build and deliver 35 additional CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift transport helicopters – comprising 12 Lot 7 and 15 Lot 8 aircraft for the USMC, along with a further eight examples for Israel (adding to the four announced in 2022)
F-15EX eyed as solution for Poland’s air dominance requirements
In light of the ongoing Ukraine-Russia War and in line with its newly inflated defence budget, Poland is actively evaluating the purchase of a fleet of F-15EX Eagle IIs through the US DOD’s Foreign Military Sales programme to meet its requirement for a new air dominance fighter, according to Boeing
Indonesia presses forward with F-15EX Eagle II acquisition
Indonesia is set to become the first export customer for the F-15EX after a Memorandum of Understanding for the purchase of at least 24 Eagle II fighters was signed during a recent visit of Indonesia’s Minister of Defence Prabowo Subianto to the firm’s F-15 production line in St Louis, Missouri
Ex-USAF AT-6E Wolverines join the US Naval Test Pilot School
The US Naval Test Pilot School – a component of US Naval Air Systems Command’s (NAVAIR’s) Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) – has welcomed two newly acquired AT-6E Wolverine light attack aircraft to NAS Patuxent River in Maryland
Germany reveals delivery, fielding details for future Chinook fleet
Berlin has announced more details relating to its acquisition of 60 CH-47F Block II Chinook heavy-lift tactical transport helicopters as the nation pushes forward with plans to replace the German Air Force’s ageing CH-53G Sea Stallion fleet
Romania pushes forward with quest to acquire F-35As
Romania’s Ministry of National Defence has formally submitted a request to the Romanian Parliament to approve the purchase of 32 fifth-generation F-35A Lightning II multi-role stealth fighters, local media reported on August 9
Northrop Grumman to deliver three unique E-2D Advanced Hawkeyes to France
Northrop Grumman has been awarded a $387m (€352m) contract modification to produce three uniquely configured E-2D Advanced Hawkeye airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft for the French Navy
Why has Iran bailed on purchasing Su-35SEs from Russia?
Babak Taghvaee explains why Iran has backed out of its acquisition of 25 Su-35SEs from Russia and how the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force has struggled to effectively operate its existing Fulcrum and Fencer fleets due to Moscow’s political strategies
Rostec plots out upgrade plan for Russia’s fifth-gen Su-57 fighter
Vladimir Artyakov, the First Deputy General Director of the Rostec State Corporation, recently told Russian media outlet, Izvestia, that the company plans to have a total of 22 serial-production Su-57 Felon fighters in Russian Aerospace Forces service by 2024