One of the last C-130Js in RAF service made its farewell flypast in June 2023. The MoD is continuing its search to find buyers for this and 14 other surplus airframes. (Crown Copyright)  The UK is continuing its search to find buyers for its fleet of retired Lockheed Martin C-130J/C-130J-30 Hercules airlifters, with the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) telling Janes that it has identified several potential buyers.  The Royal Air Force (RAF) retired one ‘short' C-130J (C5 in UK service) and 13 ‘stretched' C-130J-30 (C4) airframes on 31 March 2023...

A Brazilian Air Force P-3AM Orion. Three aircraft are to be upgraded with new wings. (Airbus Military SAS)  The first re-winged Brazilian Air Force Lockheed P-3AM Orion maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) flew on 2 May, the service announced on 13 May, a major step towards improving the P-3AM fleet's readiness rate.  Elements of the wing that were replaced during the rebuild include the top coverings, front and rear spars, and the upper panels of the central wing and fuselage structures.  Brazilian manufacturer Akaer has delivered two additional s...

Leonardo's SkyTender C-UAS software aims to optimise the deployment of C-UAS. (Leonardo)  Leonardo Canada – Electronics has debuted a new counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) planning and assessment tool designed to enable rapid site evaluation and optimisation prior to equipment deployment.  Known as SkyTender, the software toolset has been evolved from the outputs of a Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) contract awarded to Leonardo in March 2022 under the Innovative Solutions Canada programme. The company has subsequently ‘p...

A mock-up of the Eurodrone seen at the Paris Airshow in 2023. The project has now passed its preliminary design review, paving the way for its critical design review later in the year. (Janes/Gareth Jennings)  The Eurodrone project has passed its delayed preliminary design review (PDR), the lead contractor Airbus Defence and Space (DS) announced on 16 May.  The milestone was completed alongside programme partners Dassault and Leonardo, as well as the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR).  “The PDR proves that the initial design...

The Standard Missile (SM)-3 Block IIA missile, pictured above launching from the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Hawaii, is jointly developed by the US and Japan. The MDA said the GPI joint development will be pursued in a construct similar to that used for the SM-3. (US MDA)  Japan and the US have firmed up their co-operation to jointly develop a Glide Phase Interceptor (GPI).  According to the Japan Ministry of Defense (MoD), the two countries signed a partnership agreement on 15 May to promote collaboration on research and development of...

Airbus UH-72 Aerial Logistics Connector cargo UAV is based on the Airbus H145/UH-72 platform. (Airbus US Space and Defense)  US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), on behalf of the US Marine Corps (USMC), has signed a Middle Tier Acquisition (MTA) contract for Airbus to demonstrate an unmanned version of its UH-72 Lakota helicopter, the company announced on 14 May.  The helicopters are under consideration for the USMC's Aerial Logistics Connector programme. The unmanned helicopters are to undergo unspecified testing for operational suitabilit...

A T-45C Goshawk attached to Training Air Wing (TW) 2 receives fuel aboard the aircraft carrier, USS   George H W Bush   (CVN 77). The ship is conducting sustainment exercises to maintain carrier readiness.  (US Navy)  The US Navy (USN) fleet of Boeing T-45 Goshawk training aircraft has returned to flight following a month-long grounding, according to Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR). The type was grounded on 12 April following an engine malfunction during a training flight; the crew landed safely.    “Prel...

Two more Royal Navy Type 23 frigates, HMS  Westminster  (pictured) and HMS  Argyll  , will be retired from service.  (NAVYPIX/Richard Scott)    The Royal Navy's (RN's) Duke-class (Type 23) frigates HMS  Argyll  (F 231) and HMS  Westminster  (F 237) will be retired from service, the UK defence secretary has confirmed.     Speaking at the First Sea Lord's Sea Power Conference 2024 in London on 14 May, defence secretary Grant Shapps said that  Argyll  has been...

A UK Ministry of Defence image attached to a 13 May announcement of a GBP1 billion framework for the development of a hypersonic weapons capability. (Crown copyright)  The UK is to award contracts valued at GBP1 billion (USD1.26 billion) to companies and organisations across the country and overseas for the rapid development of a sovereign hypersonic strike capability.  The Ministry of Defence (MoD) made the announcement on 13 May, saying this “agile route is part of a broader drive across [the ministry] to increase the speed of defence procu...

While the RAF operates high-performance platforms, such as the Eurofighter Typhoon (pictured), it suffers from a lack of numbers. (Crown Copyright)  BAE Systems has made the case for increasing the numerical combat capability of the UK Royal Air Force (RAF), telling reporters on 14 May that “you can never have enough mass”.  Speaking at the site of the BAE System's Warton production facility in northern England, senior officials said that this need for the type of resilience afforded by increased mass is a core component of the company's Air...

The US Navy is trying to develop directed energy systems like HELIOS to counter low-end threats. (Lockheed Martin)  While underscoring effective US Navy (USN) surface-fleet operations in the Red Sea since October, Rear Admiral Fred Pyle, USN surface warfare director, acknowledged a need to not only replenish weapons stocks but also to find additional options to defend forces against low-end threats.  Speaking on 14 May during a Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) event on Red Sea surface warfare operations, Rear Adm Pyle sai...

The Romanian Air Force is to equip its F-16s with the AIM-9X Block II air-to-air missile. (Romanian Air Force)  The United States has approved the sale of 300 RTX AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missiles to Romania, announcing a potential USD340.8 million sale on 14 May.  The US Department of State approval covers the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) of the missiles for the Romanian Air Force (RoAF) fleet of Lockheed Martin F-16AM/BM Block 15 Mid-Life Update (MLU) combat aircraft, as well as training missiles, related equipment,...

The Malaysian Army Aviation is currently equipped with two helicopter types: the Agusta A109LOH (background) and the MD Helicopter MD530G (in foreground). The army lacks a medium rotary-wing utility and transport capability. (Janes/Akhil Kadidal)  The Malaysian Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) is planning to review the leasing of four Sikorsky UH-60A Black Hawk utility helicopters from a private company over delays in delivery of the aircraft.    Speaking to  Janes  on 9 May    during the recently concluded Defence Servic...

Italian Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft on the ramp at Nellis Air Force Base in the US. Consortium partner BAE Systems has confirmed that the country is looking to increase its fleet with additional aircraft. (Janes/Gareth Jennings)  Italy is set to buy additional Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft, with government approval to be sought in the third quarter (Q3) of 2024.  Consortium partner BAE Systems confirmed the potential sale, which   Janes   first reported from the IQPC International Fighter conference (IFC) in Novem...

With the Eurofighter Typhoon set to remain in global service through into the 2060s, the LTE package is an essential element in maintaining the capabilities of the jet while also attracting new and follow-on customers. (Leonardo)  The NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency (NETMA) has launched the activities phase of the Eurofighter Long Term Evolution (LTE) project, awarding its first contracts to industry.  Speaking at BAE System's Warton production facility in northern England on 14 May, David Hulme, Eurofighter programme director...

A keel-laying ceremony for the Italian Navy's new large oceanographic ship was held on 14 May. (Fincantieri)  Fincantieri held a keel-laying ceremony for the Italian Navy's new large oceanographic ship (Nave Idro-Oceanografica Maggiore: NIOM) in Riva Trigoso on 14 May, the shipbuilder confirmed the same day.    The vessel is being procured as part of the Italian Navy's hydro-oceanographic fleet renewal programme. It is intended to replace the navy's ageing 83 m research and survey ship   Ammiraglio Magnaghi  (A 5303) – which h...

The 7.5 m Scout S45 surveillance USV and a 15 m Cavalry A150 attack USV are pictured on display at DSA 2024. The A2000 surveillance and attack USV is seen in the background. (Janes/Vinod Kumar CV)  China's Poly Defence displayed models of a series of new combat and reconnaissance unmanned surface vessels (USVs) and diver support vessels at the Defence Services Asia (DSA) 2024 exhibition in Kuala Lumpur.  The displayed vessels included the Scout S45 surveillance USV, the Cavalry A150 attack USV, the A2000 attack and surveillance USV, the SDV-1...

The Sirko-S1 modular UGV developed by Ukrainian company SkyLab is designed to support resupply, medevac, reconnaissance, and mining operations. Its dimensions are 1100×800×500 mm with a maximum speed of up to 7.5 m/s. (Mykhailo Fedorov/Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine)  A Ukrainian-made unmanned ground vehicle (UGV), Sirko-S1, is undergoing trials in Estonia during Exercise ‘Spring Storm', held between 6 and 17 May.  The trials will focus on testing the vehicle's minelaying capabilities in collaboration with ASAX Innovation, the...

Guyana recently took delivery of Metal Shark 115 Defiant patrol boat. (Metal Shark)  Metal Shark is augmenting its footprint in the Caribbean with a recent boat-building contract with Jamaica, and a delivery of a patrol boat to Guyana.  The Louisiana-based shipyard will be building and maintaining 22 Metal Shark 36 Fearless speedboats for the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), according to a recent contract between the yard and the JDF, Metal Shark confirmed on 2 May.  The Fearless vessels, acquired via direct purchase, will be operated by the JDF...

Four RoKAF Boeing (McDonnell Douglas) F-4Es conducted the fleet's final flight on 9 May 2024. The aircraft were painted in the various colour schemes used by the type over the course of RoKAF service, including a discontinued jungle camouflage pattern and a light grey scheme. Two aircraft were painted in the RoKAF's current dark grey colour scheme. (South Korean Ministry of National Defense)  The Republic of Korea Air Force (RoKAF) is preparing to retire its Boeing (McDonnell Douglas) F-4E Phantom IIs in June 2024.  The fleet conducted final...