General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. has completed the “first lifetime” of fatigue testing for the MQ-9B remotely piloted aircraft. The company conducted the full-scale testing from Dec. 13, 2022, through Dec. 5, 2023, at Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research in Kansas using a production airframe built for the test program. During the...
COMLOG, a joint venture between Raytheon and MBDA Germany, has received a potential $5.6 billion contract from the NATO Support and Procurement Agency to supply select European countries with the new Patriot GEM-T missiles. Under the agreement, COMLOG will expand the production of GEM-T missiles, also known as Patriot Advanced Capability 2 missile interceptors, in...
Germany’s 2023 arms exports hit a record $12.8 billion as of mid-December, with the bulk of sales going to Ukraine, according to preliminary figures for the Bundestag, the German federal parliament, as reported by Defense News. Total exports included weapons valued at $6.6 billion and $6.2 billion listed as “other defense articles.” The previous record...
Semiconductor company ASML has announced its compliance with the Dutch government’s suspension of its lithography systems shipments to China. The ecport license suspension of the lithography systems, which are critical to semiconductor manufacturing, stemmed from U.S. government rules released in October restricting exports of some mid-critical system configurations for advanced production facilities. Veldhoven-based ASML said...
The Turkish Parliament’s foreign affairs commission has approved Sweden’s bid to join NATO, likely clearing the way for Stockholm to gain membership into the military alliance after nearly two years of delay. Reuters said the panel voted to advance the bid for consideration by the Parliament’s general assembly, which could deliberate on the matter after...
The United Kingdom has started shipping air defense missiles to Ukraine to help the country protect its people and critical infrastructure from Russia’s drone attacks and bombing runs. The UK Ministry of Defence announced the new package of defense assistance following intensified assaults in Kyiv, Lviv and Odesa from hundreds of Russian drones and missiles....
Slovenia has received the first of two C-27J Spartan Next Generation aircraft that the Balkan country ordered from Italian aerospace, defense and security firm Leonardo under a government-to-government agreement in 2021. The aircraft brings the Slovenian Armed Forces “on the path of development and modernization,” Defence Minister Marjan Sarec said during the C-27J handover ceremony...
Rheinmetall is now commissioning the first Hungarian-built Lynx KF41 infantry fighting vehicle following development, production and testing at its Rheinmetall Hungary unit’s plant in Zalaegerszeg. The locally made IFVs will be delivered to the Hungarian army in mid-2024, according to the company. Hungary’s Lynx KF41 order totals 209 units in seven variants. The production of the...
The first group of six Ukrainian combat pilots has completed basic F-16 flight training with the British Royal Air Force and is now in Denmark for advanced drills on the aircraft, the U.K. government said Tuesday. Ukraine will also receive the first Dutch delivery of 18 F-16 jets “within weeks if not days,” according to...
The NATO Support and Procurement Agency has placed an order for RBS 70 Bolide missiles from Saab. On Friday, the company announced that it received the $35 million order, which it expects to deliver starting in 2027. The missile system has an installed base in over 19 locations around the world, with 1,600 RBS 70...
