Airbus Defence and Space

Spanish Typhoon testbed supports Sniper pod trials

The Spanish Air and Space Force is currently using its Eurofighter EF-2000 Instrumented Production Aircraft 4 (IPA4) to support a flight test campaign focusing on the integration of Lockheed Martin’s AN/AAQ-33 Sniper advanced targeting pod onto the Typhoon fleets employed by the air arms of Kuwait and Qatar

Ecuador buys two C295s for Army and Navy use

Ecuador’s President Guillermo Lasso announced that his Minister of Defence, Luis Lara, had signed a contract with Airbus Defence & Space for the purchase of two C295 tactical transport aircraft on October 18

France welcomes last of initial batch of Phénix tankers

The French Air and Space Force’s 31 Strategic Air Refuelling and Transport Wing (EARTS) at Istres-Le Tubé Air Base (BA125) took delivery of its 12th A330-243MRTT Phénix tanker-transport from Airbus Defence and Space on September 20

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Canada buys more CC-330 Husky tankers in bid to bolster aerial refuelling capabilities

Canada’s Minister of National Defence Anita Anand announced on July 25 that the nation has purchased four new Airbus A330 MRTTs – along with a further three used A330-200s – for approximately CA$3.6bn (US$2.7bn), as it moves to recapitalise its air-to-air refuelling capabilities and enable the Royal Canadian Air Force to replace its ageing CC-150 Polaris fleet

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RAF Airlift Debate: Can the A400M Atlas effectively replace the C-130J Hercules?

The early retirement of the Royal Air Force’s C-130J Hercules generated furious debate, with many raising concerns that the A400M Atlas was ‘not up to the job’ of replacing it. Jon Lake looks at the issues

Canada’s first Airbus CC-330 rolled out as delivery nears

The Canadian Department of National Defence shared an initial image of the first of two Airbus CC-330 Multi-Role Tanker Transports sporting its operational white, red and blue livery ahead of its planned delivery to the Royal Canadian Air Force this summer

France receives 21st A400M Atlas from Airbus

France’s Directorate General of Armaments announced that it had accepted delivery of another Airbus A400M Atlas heavy-lift tactical transport on February 14, increasing the number of examples delivered to the French Air and Space Force to 21 airframes

Airbus: A400M Atlas C1 a boost for UK Special Forces

Airbus Defence and Space has said the RAF’s fleet of A400M Atlas C1 tactical transports are outperforming the Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules C4/C5 airlifters they are replacing, increasing the effectiveness of UK Special Forces operations

Spain set for lengthy capability gap following P-3M Orion retirement

After almost 50 years of operational service, the Spanish Air and Space Force retired its final Lockheed P-3M Orion maritime patrol aircraft on December 17

Airbus delivers 20th A400M Atlas to France

France’s Directorate General of Armaments announced that it had accepted delivery of another Airbus A400M Atlas heavy-lift tactical transport on December 1, increasing the number of examples delivered to the French Air and Space Force to 20 airframes