Richard Thomas

USAF tests capabilities of new F-15EX fighters

Just weeks after delivery to Eglin Air Force Base (AFB), Florida, the USAF’s latest iteration of the F-15 multi-role fighter – dubbed the F-15EX – has participated in Exercise Northern Edge in the skies over Alaska in a test of its ability to operate in a complex jamming environment

MQ-4C Triton senses improved avoidance capability

Northrop Grumman has been contracted by the US Navy to prototype and reduce the risk of integrating sense and avoid capabilities into the high-altitude, long-endurance MQ-4C Triton autonomous system

L3Harris Technologies and Air Tractor team up for Sky Warden ISR platform

L3Harris Technologies and Air Tractor have teamed up to produce the AT-802U Sky Warden aircraft to fulfil a range of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions while operating in austere environments

Dassault showcases Falcon 10X jet design

Dassault Aviation has revealed the design of its Falcon 10X business jet which, given the military lineage of older platforms in the company’s portfolio, could offer a prospective defence solution in the coming years

Germany approves funding for additional Heron 1 UAV in Mali

The German government has approved the release of funding to lease an additional Heron 1 UAV to aid UN operations in Mali, bringing the in-country total to four, as well as securing the use of a third ground control station

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New orders down, revenues up for Leonardo's helicopter business

Defence and aerospace prime Leonardo registered new orders in Q1 2021 worth €3.42bn, the same as declared during the same period last year, despite its helicopters business segment recording a €631m downturn in terms of new orders compared to the first three months of 2020

Airbus nets space-based communications contracts from UK MOD

Airbus has been awarded a series of contracts during Q1 2021 from the UK MOD both as part of its programme of upgrading services for the Skynet 5 military satcom capability and continued work with the MOD’s Defence Digital organisation

Saab receives order for Gripen development support

Saab has received an order from the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration to provide future development support for the Gripen family of multi-role fighters

Italian F-35As deploy to the Baltic

Italy has become the first NATO member to deploy its Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II fifth-generation multi-role stealth fighters to Ämari Air Base, Estonia, in support of the alliance's Baltic Air Policing mission

Saab makes final offer for Finland’s HX fighter programme

Swedish defence company Saab has presented its best and final offer for Finland’s HX fighter programme, the last of the five industrial participants to do so, outlining a package of 66 aircraft across two types