Richard Thomas
F-22 Raptor loss is F-15EX gain in latest US budget request
The US military looks set to be delivered a mix blessing in the US President’s 2023 financial year defence budget request, with cuts to existing platform numbers while new platforms are brought online
Eurovision: Europe's drone ambitions
The Eurodrone platform is expected to be the focus of attention for Europe in the coming years, delivering a medium altitude, long endurance UAV for a quartet of the continent’s leading military powers
Analysis: What MOD's Defence Equipment Plan means for the services
With the UK releasing its latest Defence Equipment Plan and the promise of additional funding, prospects, for once, look good for the services. However, will the maths add up? Richard Thomas reports
Russian drone company in new UK sanctions list
Russian drone company Kronstadt has been included in the list of new UK sanctions targeting key industries and persons it says are supporting the regime and its war effort in Ukraine
Russia “frustrated” at lack of war progress
Frustrated at the way its invasion of Ukraine has gone in the month since it began, Russia looks to have changed tactics to concentrate on its extensive stand-off missile capabilities
Ukraine claims air successes as war enters fourth week
As the war in Ukraine enters its fourth week following Russia’s invasion on February 24, Ukrainian forces are still claiming to have caused significant casualties in the past 96 hours
Germany to buy F-35A stealth fighters in astonishing switch
Germany’s astonishing about-face in defence matters has continued, just weeks after pumping €100bn into the country’s defence budget, with the announced intention to acquire the US-manufactured F-35A fifth generation stealth fighter
US slams Poland's MiG-29 transfer offer as untenable
The US has moved to quash Poland’s plan to donate to Washington its entire fleet of MiG-29 fighters following Warsaw’s surprise announcement of its intention to offer its Russian-designed aircraft in exchange for used US Air Force platforms
Israeli F-35I Adirs claim first air-to-air combat kill
The Israeli Air Force’s F-35I ‘Adir’ fleet has recorded its first air-to-air combat kill with the claimed shootdown of two Iranian uncrewed aerial vehicles outside of Israeli airspace
France and Spain launch Tiger MkIII programme
The European OCCAR organisation has awarded a contract to Airbus Helicopters for the development, production, and initial in-service support of the Tiger MkIII attack helicopter upgrade programme