Harris Corp is to produce two more electronic support measure suites for integration on US Navy (USN) Independence variant Littoral Combat Ships (LCS), officials announced on 23 September.
The award, made by General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems (GD-AIS) under a contract awarded in 2012,
↧
Updated: Harris awarded two more EW suites for Independence variant LCS
↧
UAE to trial AU-200M Baikal turret on Enigma vehicle
The UralVagonZavod (UVZ) Baikal combat module will undergo trials on the Enigma infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) next year, UVZ general director Oleg Sienko said in an interview published by Rossiyskaya Gazeta on 24 September.
On the same day, TASS reported that
↧
↧
New Italian defence procurement chief appointed
The Italian government has appointed Lieutenant General Carlo Magrassi of the Italian Air Force as the country's new defence procurement chief.
He will replace Lieutenant General Enzo Stefanini (Army) as Secretary General of Defence and National Armaments Director on 9 October.
Lt Gen Magrassi is
↧
Indonesian parliamentary commission approves defence spending increase
The defence commission of Indonesia's House of Representatives (DPR) approved a proposal to increase the country's 2016 defence budget by a further IDR37 trillion (USD2.5 billion) on 25 September.
If the proposal is approved by the DPR's budget board it will take the 2016 defence budget to IDR132.9
↧
India looks for EW suites for Mi-17 helos
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has issued a request for information (RfI) to local companies equip its fleet of 139 Mil Mi-17V-5 'Hip' medium-lift helicopters with advanced electronic warfare (EW) suites.
The 16 September RfI, which is aimed at private and public sector companies and has a deadline of
↧
↧
France conducts first Syria strikes
The French Air Force conducted its first strikes on Syrian soil on 27 September, with five Rafales targeting an Islamic State training camp in the Deir ez-Zor region of eastern Syria.
The mission was supported by one C-135FR tanker and a French Navy Atlantique reconnaissance aircraft.
France's
↧
First fully provisioned KC-46A tanker makes maiden flight
The maiden flight of a fully provisioned Boeing KC-46A Pegasus tanker aircraft took place out of Paine Field, Washington, on 25 September.
Engineering and manufacturing development (EMD)-2 made the milestone sortie some four months after it completed its initial airworthiness flight equipped with
↧
China launches second dual-use SLV in a week
China conducted the first launch of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation's (CASC) 58-ton Long March-11 (LM-11) solid-fuel small satellite space launch vehicle (SLV) on 25 September.
This follows the 20 September first launch of the CASC 100-ton liquid-fuelled Long March-6 small
↧
China issues more guidelines on defence privatisation
China's State Council has issued more guidelines to promote the privatisation of state-owned enterprises including those in the defence sector.
Measures announced on 25 September encourage state-owned companies to sell off assets and attract new investment, although it is emphasised that defence
↧
↧
Afghan MD 530F lost to accident, air force criticises helicopter's performance
The Afghan Air Force (AAF) lost one of its newly delivered MD Helicopters Inc (MDHI) MD 530F Cayuse Warrior ('Jengi' [Warrior]) light attack platforms in a landing accident near Kabul, The New York Times (NYT) disclosed on 26 September.
The scout and close air support helicopter was recently
↧
US Army opens competition for Apache/Black Hawk engine replacement
Key Points
The US Army has released an ITEP RfP
Bidders must submit proposals by 9 November to be considered
The US Army has officially opened its improved turbine engine programme (ITEP) for a more powerful and fuel efficient design that will replace the 1970s-era GE T700 on nearly 3,000 medium
↧
Lithuania orders German PzH 2000s
Key Points
Lithuania has ordered 21 PzH 2000s from former German Army stocks
The new SPAs will replace the country's former Danish 105 mm towed howitzers
Lithuania signed a EUR58.3 million (USD65.4 million) contract with Germany on 29 September for 21 Panzerhaubitze 2000 (PzH 2000) 155 mm
↧
Jordan to receive ISR aircraft, likely transferred MC-12Ws
Jordan is to receive four new intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft under a USD9.78 million contract awarded to L-3 Communications on 28 September.
The contract covers delivery of the aircraft to the Royal Jordanian Air Force (RJAF) and support, as well as pilot and
↧
↧
India, US, Boeing sign Apache, Chinook deals
India signed a USD3 billion contract for 22 AH-64E Apache and 15 CH-47F Chinook helicopters with Boeing and the US government on 28 September, two days before the expiration of a deadline to sell both platforms at a price negotiated in 2013.
Ministry of Defence (MoD) officials in New Delhi said
↧
Brazilian Air Force receives first modernised MSA
The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) recently received the first of eight Embraer P-95B Bandeirante Patrulha (also designated Bandeirulha) maritime surveillance aircraft (MSA) that were modernised to a P-95M standard at the service's Aeronautical Material Park of Afonsos (PAMA-AF) in Rio de Janeiro.
The
↧
Brazil retires one of three remaining frigates
The Brazilian Navy on 29 September officially withdrew Greenhalgh-class frigate Bosísio (F 48) from active service.
The ship follows Dodsworth (F 47) retired in March 2004, and leaves in service only first-of-class Greenhalgh (F 46) and Rademaker (F 49). Bosísio 's hull will be put for
↧
ANDSF start operation to retake Kunduz after Taliban attack
The Afghan National Defence and Security Forces (ANDSF) launched a counter-attack on the morning of 29 September to retake the northern Afghan city of Kunduz, a day after it fell to the insurgency.
The Taliban's successful 28 September attack on the city has given them control of a provincial
↧
↧
AAF forward deploys MD 530F helos to southern Afghanistan
The Afghan Air Force (AAF) has forward deployed a number of its newly delivered MD Helicopters Inc (MDHI) MD 530F Cayuse Warrior ('Jengi' [Warrior]) light attack platforms to Helmand Province for operations against the Taliban, the US military disclosed on 29 September.
Images showing at least
↧
Iraqi Bell 407 helo shot down near Tikrit
An armed Bell 407 JetRanger of the Iraqi Army was shot down near the central city of Tikrit, images posted on social media purportedly show.
Images posted by the Islamic State show militants at the site of the burned-out helicopter, which was said to have been shot down on 28 September. According
↧
Russian Parliament approves use of force in Syria
Russian military action in Syria was unanimously approved by the Russian Federation Council, the upper house of the Russian Parliament (Duma), on 30 September.
Approval for the use of force was requested by Russian President Vladimir Putin and follows an extensive build-up of Russian forces in
↧