French Air Force Became French Air and Space Force 18 September 2020

 On 11 September 2020, the Armée de l'Air (AdlA), French Air Force) was renamed into Armée de l'Air & de l'Espace (AdlAdlE), French Air and Space Force. The new logo of the AdlAdlE was revealed on 11 September as well. The grey rounded line represents earth, while the well-known stylised sparrow-hawk is over watching that earth. On 3 September 2019, space was defined as being “a major stake” for France's strategic independence. The ...

Anomaly Detection Sensor for MH-60R Seahawk 14 September 2020

Under Lockheed martin's main contractor, the Digital Magnetic Anomaly Detection Sensor will be developed for the MH-60R Seahawk helicopter. According to the U.S. Department of Defence, the sensor agreement is about $29 million. The contract includes software and hardware development and engineering support for the sensor's integration into the MH-60R Seahawk helicopter. The magnetic anomaly detection sensor, which detects instant changes in the Earth's magnetic field, is...

Chinese KJ-600 Performs Maiden Flight 8 September 2020

  China’s KJ-600 carrier-based Airborne Early Warning (AEW) aircraft performed its first flight on August 28th. China became the second country other than the United States to have successfully developed such a platform. China announced it was developing a sixth AEW&C plane, the KJ-600. China had been working on building its AEW&C jet since the 1960s with relatively little success. Chinese state media confirmed what foreign media outlets and social media...

Korkut at Libya 18 August 2020

Domestic systems, which developed in line with the requirements of the Turkish Armed Forces, take their place in the battlefield. The Korkut self-propelled anti-aircraft gun system is spotted at Libya in the satellite images published on social media recently. Open source photos also featured Hawk launcher units and a camouflaged system thought to be radar. It did not go unnoticed that the coordinates given with the published images belong to Al-Watiya airbase. T...

Hawks are Stronger than Thought 16 August 2020

The good news for Australia from Hawk jet trainer, which has launched numerous acquisition programs within the scope of the modern combat requirements of the armed forces. The test program carried out on the Hawk Mk127 aircraft serving the Royal Australian Air Force (Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as an advanced jet trainer aircraft has been completed. In a statement made by BAE Systems Australia, it was stated that RAAF could keep Hawk Mk 127's on duty until the end of the 2...

Stealth Black Hawk 12 August 2020

Stealth aircraft is an issue that many states have been working on with serious resources since the Second World War. Osama Bin Laden, the ringleader of the terrorist organization Al Qaeda, was killed in May 2011 in an operation to his home in Bilal Town, Abbotabad City, Pakistan. In the operation carried out by SEAL (Sea, Air, Land), a special unit of the US Navy with a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter that had undergone special modifications also known as EH-60 shot down. The plat...

Turkish Navy to Provide Security for Seismic Surveys 11 August 2020

Turkish Navy, which has a powerful rooted tradition, provides the security of the seismic survey activities carried out by Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean. Ankara had declared Navtex in the Eastern Mediterranean for seismic research activities. MTA Oruç Reis, who anchored in the scope of the works, started to deployment in the region with the accompanying Turkish Navy vessels. As the relevant share his from the Ministry of Defence's official social medi...

Ear Order for MH-60R Sea Hawks 7 August 2020

Dipping sonars are the underwater ear of naval helicopters. These systems have great importance for anti-submarine warfare missions. Lockheed Martin, one of the leading defence companies of the USA, announced that a new order has been received from the aviation unit of the US Navy, NAVAIR (US Naval Air Systems Command). 39 AN/AQS-22 ALFS (Airborne Low-Frequency Sonar) systems will be received within the scope of the acquisition, which is a modification for the previously signed supp...

NATO Receives Fourth RQ-4D Phoenix UAV 31 July 2020

On Monday, the Headquarters Allied Air Command press release said that the fourth UAV of NATO’s Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) Force arrived at the Italian Air Force Base in Sigonella, Italy. “On July 26, 2020, the fourth remotely piloted aircraft of NATO’s Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) Force arrived at the Italian Air Force Base in Sigonella, Italy.  The aircraft took off from Edwards Air Force Base in California, USA, at 18:33 local time on July 25 ...

Unexpected Aviation Step from Serbia 30 July 2020

Serbia, which has close relations with Russia in the military aviation field, came up with an unexpected move. A senior official from the Serbian Ministry of Defence announced on July 25th that the country is interested in the US made T-7A Red Hawk advanced jet trainer aircraft. In the speech, it was stated that the Serbian Air Force attracted attention with the price/performance ratio of the platforms that came to the fore with low initial acquisition and maintenance cost...

Trump Admin Officially Weakened Military Drones Export Regime 27 July 2020

  The US applies new rules to make it easier to export drones.  Under a new policy announced Friday, unmanned aerial systems that fly at speeds below 800 k/h will no longer be subject to the “presumption of denial”. This decision will affect most blocked international sales of drones such as the MQ-9 Reaper and the RQ-4 Global Hawk. This change will have effects how the United States interprets the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) The U.S. gov...

Additional Black Hawk Acquisition 10 July 2020

Jordan, which has a well-established military tradition and well-equipped armed forces infrastructure despite being a small country, acquiring additional helicopter. The U.S. recently approved the sale of 1 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter to Jordan. Within the scope of FMS (Foreign Military Sales), two T700-GE-701D turboshaft engines and other subcomponents will be delivered with the helicopter. Currently, there are more than 20 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters in Jordan...

Long Range Strike Capability to Greek Apaches 10 July 2020

Despite the economic problems, Greece continues to invest in arms and defence spending. Greece plans to modernize AH-64 Apache helicopters with the acquisition of surplus spare parts from the United Arab Emirates, which modernized its AH-64 Apache helicopters. Modernization of 19 helicopters is foreseen within the scope of the process, the total cost of which is thought to be 35 million USD. In this context, it is planned to replace the TADS/PNVS hardware of the platforms with ...

Black Hawk sales from the USA 8 July 2020

The U.S. Department of State approved a total of seven UH-60M sales to the Kingdom of Jordan and Lithuania. According to the US Defence and Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), one of these helicopters is for Jordan and the remaining six are for Lithuania. Jordan will pay $ 23 million for a single helicopter, and Lithuania will pay a total of $ 380 million for six helicopters. If Lithuania's helicopters were in the same configuration of Jordan, they would have cost $ 138 million instead of...

France to Improve Navy AEW&C Capability 8 July 2020

Ship-based airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft are eyes of the carrier task force in front lines, especially in open seas. Being the only user of nuclear aircraft carrier expect the USA, France is on the way to improve its ship-based AEW&C capability. In this context, Washington approved the possible sale of three E-2D Advanced Hawkeye under the FMS (Foreign Military Sales) to Paris. The total cost of the platforms and the necessary equipment was es...

US’ Mark VI Patrol Boats at Black Sea 17 June 2020

US State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Ukraine of up to 16 Mark VI Patrol Boats and related equipment for an estimated cost of $600 million.  The Defence Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today. The Mark VI is a class of patrol boat in service with the United States Navy, designed to patrol riverine and littoral waters.  ...

U.S. Improved Helicopter Engine Program Interrupted by Virus 15 June 2020

Coronavirus disrupted the U.S. improved helicopter engine program. The pandemic process caused delays in shipping key components of the Improved Turbine Engine Program (ITEP). The critical design review phase of the planned engine program in the second quarter of the current fiscal year will continue slower than expected.  ITEP program officials are scheduled to begin testing on the General Electric Aviation T901 turbine engine next year. ITEP, which is expected to significantl...

Eastern Mediterranean Investment yo Hellenic Navy 11 June 2020

Despite economic problems, Greece continues its armament programs. Greek parliament approved several projects on May 2. Thus, Athens decided to add new ones to existing processes. Greece, which makes unilateral claims in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean and sometimes does not hesitate from dangerous convergence, continues its investments in weapon systems. At the parliamentary meeting held in Athens on 2 May, it was decided to expand the processes in question. In this c...

Search for Navy Jet Trainer 19 May 2020

Countries with aircraft carriers using the CATOBAR system need advanced jet trainers suitable for the system in question during the training of navy pilots. The US, the world's largest aircraft carrier user, has taken action for new advanced jet trainer planned to be procured to the Navy. In this context, Washington published an Request for Information Document on May 14. According to the document, the new platform, which will be used for FCLP (Field Carrier Landing Practice) do...

Navy Helicopter Agreement 18 May 2020

India continues its naval investments due to the growing tension in the region, the platforms that have reached the end of its economic life and the consolidation of maritime domination.  The US, which recently signed an agreement with India for the procurement of naval helicopters, took action for the production phase of the platforms. The US Navy signed a USD 904.8 million deal with Sikorsky, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, for the manufacture of 21 MH-60R Sea...

Future Ship Delivered 28 April 2020

Launched as the ship of the future, the Zumwalt class destroyers left an important milestone behind. A team of engineers commissioned by Raytheon, ship crew and naval staff, took part in the platform's testing and combat system activation activities. USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000), the first of the Zumwalt class platforms with advanced sensors, weapon systems and two 155 mm main guns with a structure that reduces the radar cross-sectional area, was delivered to the US Navy. The Navy, wh...

Production Rate Doubled 24 April 2020

COVID-19, which makes its impact felt all over the world, seems to be missed some processes, although it affects studies in the defence industry. Thales, which has delivered its first batch of Hawkei vehicles to Australia in the past few weeks, announced that it has increased its production speed. Company increased production rate twice at Bendigo Facilities, where the Hawkei production line based, and stated that the decision was made in order to meet the orders of Canberra go...

Navy Wants Tactical Nuclear Back 21 April 2020

In the late periods of the Cold War, START I (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) and then the INF Treaty (Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty / Medium Range Nuclear Forces) were signed to reduce nuclear tension in the world. In this way, many nuclear weapons, especially tactical ones, were disposed, and the number of strategic systems in question was significantly reduced. After the USA and Russia announced one after another that they would suspend the INF in 2019, the ...

Climate Tests Succesful 16 April 2020

An important milestone has been left behind in the new combat search and rescue helicopter program. Test activities continue in the HH-60W Jolly Green II program, which was launched within the scope of the new search and rescue helicopter requirement of the the US Air Force (USAF). The platform completed the extreme weather tests on April 2. Jolly Green II has passed tests at the McKinley Climate Laboratory the in the Eglin Air Force Base, located in Florida. In the l...

Chinese Sea Hawk 6 April 2020

In addition to the original product development, the images of China's new helicopter, which intensely carries out reverse engineering activities, have been published. In the past years, China developed the Z-20 helicopter with the reverse engineering method from the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters it had previously acquired from the USA. The naval variant of the Z-20, which was produced in line with the need for high-performance helicopters especially in high altitude areas s...

New Vessel for the Submarine Fleet 6 April 2020

Conventional and nuclear submarine programs continue throughout the world. The US Navy continues the Virginia Class submarine process confidently. 18th Virginia was taken into the inventory on April 4, within the scope of the program, whose design process dates back to 1996. It was stated that USS Delaware (SSN 791), is the last Block III Virginia built in the program. The process will continue with Block IV model platforms. Eight Block III Virginia were built under t...

Modernised Tomahawk 2 April 2020

Increasing tension around the world leads countries to increase their systems in terms of quality and quantity. The US continues to sharpen the war axes. Under the $ 493 million deal signed with Raytheon, Tomahawk (Battle Axe) Block IV missiles will be modernized and upgraded to Block V. In this context, new generation navigation systems and data link equipment will be integrated into the projectiles. The status of the Tomahawks to be recertified will also be monitored and syst...

Turkish Black Hawk on Trials 25 March 2020

The T70 Utility Helicopter Program, which was launched for the utility helicopter requirement of the Turkish Armed Forces and the fire fighting helicopter need of the General Directorate of Forestry, continues its progress. Presidency of Defence Industries (Savunma Sanayii Başkanlığı / SSB), which is the military acquirement corporation of Turkey, shared an information from its official social media accounts about the testing activities of the platform. In the statement, &...

JL-9 Solution 23 March 2020

Aircraft carrier power is increasing worldwide. Described as a separate capability in aviation, the ship-based aircraft operation also creates the need for special equipment. China, which tries to become one of the world's leading aircraft carrier powers, continues its works without interruption. Beijing, which has commissioned the first two ships and continues the construction of the third, takes measures to meet the increasing need for aircraft and pilots. In this context...

Additional Jet Trainer 23 March 2020

The advanced jet trainers approaching the end of their economic life. So they will leave their places to new ones. The US Air Force also chose the T-7A Red Hawks in the past months to replace the T-38 Talons in its inventory. For the transition to new platforms, the USA launched the Reforge Proof of Concept (RFX) process to provide advanced training in specific areas with modern training aircraft. In this process, a limited amount of aircraft procurement is planned.

Bell and Sikorsky-Boeing Will Compete for New Design 17 March 2020

Bell and Sikorsky-Boeing will compete for the design planned to replace the UH-60 Black Hawk general-purpose helicopter, which has been operational since 1979. The US Army has awarded Bell and a Sikorsky-Boeing team Competitive Demonstration and Risk Reduction contracts for the next stage of its Future Long Range Air Assault (FLRAA) programme. Over the last several years, Bell and the Sikorsky-Boeing team designed, built and flew demonstrators for the service’s Joint Multi-Rol...

Engine Shut Down in T-7A 29 February 2020

T-7A Red Hawk tests, developed to replace the T-38 Talon advanced jet training aircraft, are ongoing. The U.S. Air Force chose Boeing as the main contractor for the platform. The T-7A’s only engine, GE 404, was turned off for 48 seconds when the aircraft was flying at an altitude of 20,000 feet, Boeing said in a statement. “It’s a test of all the subsystems built for backup in the event a pilot would have to shut the engine down in an emergency and power it back up again,&rd...

USS Gerald R. Ford’s EMALS is Operational for All Aircraft 16 February 2020

General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) announced that the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) have been cleared for shipboard launch and recovery of all currently deployed naval aircraft types aboard USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78).  This means that CVN 78 completed Aircraft Compatibility Testing (ACT) following 16 days at sea. The aircraft carrier passed sea compatibility tests with EMALS and AAG. It can launch and r...

Triton Eye on Pacific 29 January 2020

Because of the increasing China, North Korea and Russian movements in the region, the USA added a new one to the measures taken in order to compete in the intelligence race in the Pacific. The US Pacific Fleet announced deployment of two MQ-4C Tritons to Andersen Air Force Base in Guam as part of early operational capability. With the Tritons, the maritime patrol variant of RQ-4 Global Hawks, the US Navy will perform training activities. In this context...

Serial Production Time for T-7A Red Hawk 21 January 2020

The United States announced that the T-7A Red Hawk aircraft were chosen as the platform to replace the T-38 Talon advanced jet trainers in the last quarter of 2019. As a partner of Boeing in the program, Saab announced that the serial production phase has started for the aft fuselage section. Saab stated that the parts of the platforms that on their shares will be manufactured in the facilities located in Linköping in the first place. The company, which is respon...

ROKAF receives first Global Hawk UAV 28 December 2019

Republic of Korea Ministry of National Defence (MND) confirmed that the Korean Air Force (ROKAF) received the first of four Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Block 30 Global Hawk high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) on 23 December 2019. The UAV arrived at Sacheon Air Base in South Gyeongsang Province. The three remaining platforms are expected to be delivered in the first half of 2020, although this could change depending on situations.

NATO Approaches Surveillance Capability 25 November 2019

  The first of five NATO RQ-4D Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) unmanned aircraft lands in Italy. The first of five NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) aircraft landed in Sigonella. AGS is being developed with significant contributions from 15 Allies - Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and the United States. All Allies will have access to the data obtained by the AGS; The ...

HH-60W to be Tested 12 November 2019

New HH-60W helicopters of US landed at Eglin Nov. 6 to begin developmental testing. The second HH-60W general-purpose helicopter reached the test area the next day. The platform is based on the UH-60M helicopter in design. The aircraft is modified to perform missions locating and rescuing downed pilots in hostile territory, and United States Air Force (USAF)purchased 113 HH-60W helicopters equipped for search and rescue missions. HH-60W is significantly more capable and re...

Croatia buys two more Black Hawks 1 November 2019

  US Government cleared two Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawk utility helicopters sale to Croatia. The country will have four Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters in inventory. The US State Department approval, announced on 30 October, covers a pair of the latest-variant UH-60Ms, along with other equipment, spares, weapons, training and support. The estimated value of the Foreign Military Sale (FMS) is USD115 million. The helicopters will join a pair of UH-60Ms t...

Taiwan Retires 49-year-old UH-1H 30 October 2019

The Republic of China Army retired its UH-1H fleet today and declared the UH-60M fleet fully operational. A ceremony was held at Tai Chung Lung Hsiang base to mark the event. The UH-1H utility helicopter was in service for military training or in the relief operations of mountain rescue and natural disasters. Army Aviation Special Operations Command held a "de-settlement ceremony" on the 30th of this month due to the absence of parts and shortage of spare parts. Its air tr...