The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) made its long-awaited maiden flight on 6 September, the company announced.
The indigenously-developed LUH took-off from HAL's Bangalore facility for a 15-minute maiden sortie which the company descried as "flawless".
India's LUH makes maiden flight
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Vietnam, France look to boost defence trade collaboration
Vietnam and France have agreed to expand collaboration on defence trade and related industrial engagement. The accord was signed during French president Francois Hollande's visit to Hanoi, which concluded 7 September.
A joint statement said that the two countries would soon implement a forum to
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US Foreign Military Sales process changing slowly, but demand remains high
A variety of efforts are under way to improve the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme and speed the often cumbersome process, and US officials say the system is improving and demand remains high.
US FMS are complicated and often involve equipment designed around, and therefore often
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UK puts Sentinel retirement on temporary hold
A six-month reprieve appears to have been granted to put off the retirement of a UK Royal Air Force (RAF) Raytheon Sentinel R1 airborne stand-off radar aircraft.
A senior UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) source revealed the reprieve to IHS Jane's on 6 September, saying the ministry was
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Russia signs initial contract for 100 Armata MBTs
The Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed an agreement with manufacturer Uralvagonzavod (UVZ) for the supply of a test consignment of more than 100 T-14 Armata main battle tanks (MBTs), the first units of which are already undergoing field trials, Deputy Minister of Defence Yuri Ivanovich
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Pentagon budget 2017: Stop-gap budget likely as Senate bill stalls again
The US Department of Defense (DoD) and the wider federal government are poised, as expected, to begin fiscal year 2017 (FY 2017) with a stop-gap funding measure at the current year's levels, after the Senate on 6 September again voted to halt progress on the spending legislation.
It now appears
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MSPO 2016: ZMT expands export business
Zaklady Mechaniczne Tarnow (ZMT) is expanding its export capabilities with the delivery of 23 mm anti-aircraft systems and small arms to export customers.
"We expect this year that the export sales of Zaklady Mechaniczne Tarnow will reach PLN40 million [USD10 million] with new contracts signed
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MSPO 2016: PT-16 tank upgrade unveiled
A modernisation package for the T-72/PT-91 main battle tank (MBT) has been unveiled at Poland's MSPO defence exhibition, held in Kielce from 6-9 September, by Bumar Labedy and OBRUM, both of which are part of the Polish Armament Group (Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa, PGZ).
Designated the PT-16, the
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MSPO 2016: Poland to follow through on Patriot procurement
Poland's annual MSPO defence exhibition this year saw the announcement that the country's Ministry of National Defence (MND) would follow through on the acquisition of eight batteries of the Raytheon Patriot air and missile defence (AMD) system under its Wisla programme. The acquisition will make
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Indra secures Danish ATM radar contract
Spanish systems group Indra announced on 7 September that it has won a contract from the Danish Ministry of Defence (MoD) to equip three air force bases with new air traffic management (ATM) radars.
The contract will involve primary surveillance radars (PSRs) and monopulse secondary surveillance
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Indonesian Air Force takes delivery of ex-RAAF C-130 simulator
The Indonesian Air Force (Tentara Nasional Indonesia - Angkatan Udara, or TNI-AU) has taken delivery of a C-130H full-mission simulator that was previously in service with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).
The system, which has been supplied as part of a government-to-government package to
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Chinese defence companies sign restructuring deals
Eight state-owned enterprises in China - including five major defence corporations - have signed accords with the government to accelerate restructuring efforts in a bid to spur capability advancement.
The State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC) said on 6 September that
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Australia appoints co-chairs to lead industry advisory board
The Australian government has appointed Paul Johnson and Kim Gillis to lead the advisory board that will oversee its new Centre for Defence Industry Capability (CDIC).
Johnson is the former chief executive of Lockheed Martin Australia and Gillis is the current deputy secretary of the Australian
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Afghan capital rocked by Taliban attacks
The Taliban have intensified their assaults on Kabul with a series of explosions and suicide attacks.
At least two blasts struck the centre of the Afghan capital on 5 September during a Taliban attack near the main gate of the Ministry of Defence that killed at least 30 people, including five
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'Second-phase' engine for Sukhoi T-50 nears completion
Development of the improved 'second-phase' engine for Russia's fifth-generation T-50 PAK FA fighter is nearing completion, according to TASS.
Komsomolsk-na-Amure Aviation Plant (KnAAZ) general director Alexander Pekarsh recently told the Russian news agency that the second-phase engine "is
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Egypt, Russia sign Ka-52K training agreement
Russia and Egypt have reached an agreement under which Egyptian pilots will be trained to fly the Kamov Ka-52K Katran (the naval version of the Ka-52 Alligator) attack helicopter, the Russian newspaper Izvestia reported on 6 September, citing a source in military and diplomatic circles.
The source
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Australia seeks to expand F-35 support engagement
The Australian government is to seek an expanded role in supporting Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter aircraft in the Asia-Pacific region, Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne confirmed on 6 September.
Pyne said in comments published by the Australian Department of
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New Chinese shipbuilding facility may be used for nuclear submarine production, say reports
Bohai Shipbuilding Heavy Industry Co. Ltd's (BSHIC's) announcement of a new shipbuilding facility has prompted speculation the Chinese company may use the site to increase China's production of nuclear-powered submarines.
Chinese reports indicated the new facility may cover 40,260 m 2 , with a
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China develops longer-range HQ-16 SAM variant
The China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) has developed a new variant of its HQ-16 (Red Flag-16) self-propelled medium-range surface-to-air missile (SAM), according to imagery released by Chinese state television in early September.
The new variant (referred to by some as the
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Syrian government forces retake key position in Aleppo
Syrian government forces and their allies recaptured a key position in the southwestern outskirts of Aleppo city on 4 September; a victory that reversed the gains rebel forces made during an offensive launched on 31 July.
That offensive resulted in the rebels overrunning the military academy
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