Richard Thomas
Saudi Arabia seeks AMRAAM top-up
The US State Department has approved the possible Foreign Military Sale of AIM-120C Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles to Saudi Arabia for an estimated cost of $650m
Business jets to replace RAF BAe146 fleet
The UK Ministry of Defence is looking to acquire two civil business jets to replace the current fleet of four Royal Air Force BAe146 transport aircraft when the type leaves service in Q1 next year
Boeing delivers first KC-46A tanker to Japan
Boeing has delivered the first KC-46A tanker to the Japan Air Self-Defense Force following a 2017 Foreign Military Sales contract award for an initial aircraft, subsequently increased on options to four airframes
UK and US extend Airseeker support until 2035
The UK and US have moved to extend an existing support deal for the RC-135W Rivet Joint (Airseeker) electronic surveillance aircraft until 2035 in a deal worth £970m
UK defence exports dependent on aerospace sector
The UK’s reliance on its aerospace industry to secure defence exports has been highlighted in a report by UK Defence and Security Exports which detailed that 91% of combined order or contract value from 2011-2020 came from the sector
A400M and Voyager combine in recent Afghan evacuee flights
The UK has confirmed that it has conducted airlifts to evacuate British nationals and eligible Afghans who had fled Afghanistan to a neighbouring country, with two flights by UK Royal Air Force A400M Atlas aircraft taking place between October 15-22
Norway signs deal for F-35A JSM production
Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace has been awarded a multi-billion kronor contract to supply the Joint Strike Missile for Norway’s fleet of Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II fifth-generation multi-role stealth fighters
Norway to retire F-16 fleet by year end
The Royal Norwegian Air Force will retire its fleet of F-16AM/BM (MLU) Fighting Falcons by the end of the year leaving the service reliant on its new F-35A stealth fighter for all fixed-wing combat duties from 2022 onwards
Rare indication of competition for UK Puma replacement
A rare official indication the UK will open up a competition to replace its ageing Puma HC2 fleet has been made public in what will likely be a tightly contested effort between defence industry heavyweights
RAND report warns of threat to UK air mobility
A report written by the RAND think tank has revealed that the UK’s military mobility could “have to do more with less” as tactical and strategic platforms are gradually retired over the next two decades