Defense

Essential news and analysis from the defense aerospace sector. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs in military aircraft, engines, and avionics.

VH-71 Presidential Helicopter May Get a Small Boost

Capitol Hill observers expect the House and Senate conference committee on defense appropriations to issue its final report this week.

December 15, 2009

Dubai Airshow Report 2009

how do you top an event that broke airshow records in 2007 when it generated $155 billion worth of business in just five days– roughly equivalent to the gr

November 24, 2009

Indonesia Chooses Russian and Chinese Trainers

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November 20, 2009

UAE Selects Basic Trainer and “Interim” AEW&C Aircraft

Breaking with a tradition that has seen major military procurements signed and announced only in Abu Dhabi, the UAE government sealed deals for new trainin

November 20, 2009

‘Complex’ UAE Plan To Buy Rafale Jets Proceeds

Although the supply of French Rafale combat jets to the UAE was not finalized at the Dubai Airshow, there were plenty of indications that negotiations are

November 20, 2009

Boeing Markets Yet Another AH-6 Helicopter Derivative

The debut of the Boeing AH-6i light attack/reconnaissance helicopter at the Dubai Airshow this month was just the latest iteration in this aircraft’s long

November 20, 2009

Bombardier Maritime Patrol Aircraft for UAE Passes Critical Milestone

The Bombardier Dash 8 Q300 maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) for the UAE passed its critical design review phase, keeping the program on schedule.

November 20, 2009

Navy puts next-gen Hawkeye through its paces at Patuxent

Northrop Grumman’s E-2D Advanced Hawkeye is currently undergoing carrier compatibility tests at the U.S.

November 16, 2009

UAVs, network-centric ops top talk at air chiefs meeting

The movers and shakers of the airpower world were out in force here Saturday for the Dubai International Air Chiefs Conference.

November 16, 2009

Mantis looks forward to Spiral 2 trials

Last weekend BAE Systems concluded the first flight trial campaign of its Mantis UAV, the world’s first twin-engine autonomous large UAV.

November 16, 2009

MBDA bets on local tie-up with BMT

MBDA’s joint venture with Abu Dhabi-based Baynuna Aviation Technology, dubbed Baynuna MBDA Missile Technologies (BMT), has just been incorporated.

November 16, 2009

Team Rafale confident of UAE order

Officials from Team Rafale are quietly confident that a deal for up to 60 airplanes will be made with the United Arab Emirates.

November 16, 2009

Show flying display gives clue to UAE basic trainer selection

Following the selection in February of the Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Master for its advanced trainer and light combat aircraft needs, the United Arab Emirates

November 16, 2009

Saab aims BAMSE at the Gulf region

Last year the production version of the Saab BAMSE (Bofors advanced missile system evaluation) entered service with the Swedish armed forces and now the co

November 15, 2009

Scrappy F-15 still turns heads

The U.S.

November 15, 2009

Royal Moroccan Air Force kicks off first T-6C sale

In late September the Royal Moroccan Air Force (RMAF) became the latest customer for the Hawker Beechcraft T-6 Texan II trainer and the first for the weapo

November 15, 2009

ISAF adopts UK air rules

Responding to mounting criticism of civilian casualties caused by air strikes, the NATO International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) tightened the rules

November 15, 2009

U.S. Navy deploys Fire Scout

The Northrop Grumman MQ-8B Fire Scout, a vertical takeoff unmanned air system (VTUAS), began its first operational deployment with the U.S.

November 15, 2009

AgustaWestland’s two new helos fly

AgustaWestland last week achieved two significant milestones, with the first flights of two new military helicopter designs on consecutive days.

November 15, 2009

Saab AEW&C flight trials start

The Saab 340 AEW&C aircraft with Erieye radar, which is destined for the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF), took to the skies for the first time on Friday, f

November 15, 2009