Category: Military & Defense

Taking off from Leonardo’s plant in Caselle (Turin), the final and most advanced Eurofighter Typhoon of the Italian Air Force was handed over during a ceremony on October 23, becoming one of the defense aircraft assigned daily to the protection of the Italian skies. The Eurofighter was designed as an open architecture, with a well-defined program of technological updating and improvement that guarantees its competitiveness throughout its life cycle. Constantly evolving technologies, both onboard the aircraft and in the context of logistical support, increase its operational effectiveness, survivability, and efficient management. The Eurofighter program is a cornerstone in the development Read more

The Boeing Loyal Wingman aircraft being developed with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) recently moved under its own power for the first time, a key milestone for the aircraft that’s expected to make its first flight this year. Reaching a maximum speed of 14 knots (approximately 16 mph, or 26 kph), on the ground, the aircraft demonstrated several activities while maneuvering and stopping on command. “The low-speed taxi enabled us to verify the function and integration of the aircraft systems, including steering, braking and engine controls, with the aircraft in motion,” said Paul Ryder, Boeing Australia Flight Test manager. Read more

The European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) has awarded a contract to Airbus Defence and Space Airborne Solutions (ADAS), a 100% subsidiary of Airbus Defence and Space, and its long-term partner Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) to operate a Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) RPAS for Maritime Aerial Surveillance services. The service will be delivered in Greece, and/or Italy and/or Malta within a framework contract. The service includes the provision of an RPAS platform, payload, communication equipment and capacity, mission storage and all necessary experts managing the system and providing operational support. Under the contract, Airbus and IAI will provide Read more

Air Covers, a leading specialist in the design of bespoke protective covers for the aerospace and marine sector, has won a competitive bid to provide environmental protective covers for 147 RAF Typhoon aircraft.  Air Covers also won the supply contract for the Typhoon Display Team. Deliveries of the covers to RAF Coningsby have already started.  A total of 50 complete sets have been dispatched to date, with a further 97 to follow.  Each cupola cover is made at Air Covers’ facility in Wrexham, North Wales.  The Typhoon fleet will be protected with Air Covers’ full convection cooling cover technology.  The Read more

All six Super Tucano aircraft ordered by The Philippine Air Force (PAF) were officially handed over to the Air Force on October 14, 2020. The aircraft will be deployed for close air support, light attack, surveillance, air-to-air interception, counter-insurgency missions, advanced training and are part of PAF’s ongoing modernization plan. These aircraft will be operated and maintained by the 15th Strike Wing, the PAF’s end-user. In November 2017, a firm order of six A-29 Super Tucano light attack and advanced training aircraft for the Philippine Air Force (PAF) was made after a comprehensive public bidding process.

Textron Aviation Defense announced a US$162 million contract with the Royal Thai Air Force for an Integrated Training System in support of operations at the Royal Thai Air Force Flying Training School at Kamphaeng Saen air base. The contract is for 12 Beechcraft T-6C Texan II advanced military training aircraft, ground-based training systems for pilots and maintenance professionals, a mission planning and debrief system, spare parts and ground support equipment. The work in support of this contract will take place at the company’s Wichita, Kansas, facilities. The Beechcraft T-6 Texan II acquisition is in accordance with the ten-year Royal Thai Read more