The E-3A Sentry aircraft, operating since the 1980s from Germany's Geilenkirchen air base for NATO's Airborne Early Warning and Control Force, are approaching the end of their service life in the early 2030s, Laurent Lageau recalls on Opex360. Managed by the NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control Program Management Agency, which unites 16 countries, these aircraft have been a crucial part of NATO's surveillance capabilities.

Read more ...

On November 15, Defense Studies reported that the Indonesian company PTDI had entered into an extended collaboration agreement with Bell Textron Inc. and Honeywell. The signing ceremony was graced by the presence of the Indonesian Ambassador to the United States, Rosan Roeslani.

Read more ...

Pratt & Whitney, an RTX business, was awarded a long-term TF33 engine sustainment contract valued up to $870 million by the Defense Logistics Agency. The TF33 engine powers a range of aircraft, including Boeing's B-52 Stratofortress and E-3 Sentry.

Read more ...

The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency on November 15 announced that the State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Republic of Korea of AIM-9X Block II and Block II+ Sidewinder missiles and related equipment for an estimated cost of $52.1 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale.

Read more ...

On November 13, 2023, Boeing announced the commencement of production for 24 AH-64E Apache helicopters for Morocco under a contract facilitated through the US Army's Foreign Military Sales program. The production will take place at the Boeing factory in Mesa, Arizona.

Read more ...

As reported by Defesa Aerea & Naval on November 11, 2023, the Chief of Army Aviation Material (CMAvEx), through the Army Aviation Maintenance and Supply Battalion (BMS), has officially received the modernized HM-1A Pantera EB 2001, marking the completion of the modernization program for the 31st AS365K Pantera aircraft, transforming it into the upgraded AS365K2 version.

Read more ...

As part of the testing program, the prototype Ilyushin Il-76MD-90A aircraft successfully landed and then took off from a dirt runway. Il-76MD-90A was developed by PJSC Il, part of the United Aircraft Corporation Rostec. The Il-76MD-90A is an upgraded version of the original Il-76, designed to meet modern operational requirements and improve performance.

Read more ...

As reported by El Pinguino on November 13, 2023, the Chilean Air Force (FACh) concluded its involvement in the Joint Operations Exercise "," an initiative led by the Joint Chiefs of Staff (EMCO). The exercise aimed to assess the capabilities and interoperability of the Chilean Armed Forces across the national territory.

Read more ...

Northrop Grumman on November 13 announced that it successfully completed the first flight of Australia’s multi-intelligence MQ-4C Triton uncrewed aircraft on Thursday, Nov. 9 at its Palmdale Aircraft Integration Center in California. The flight marks a major production milestone as Northrop Grumman progresses toward delivery of Australia’s first Triton in 2024.

Read more ...

On Monday, November 13, a historic moment unfolded as the inaugural ceremony of the first European F-16 Training Center took place at the Fetești Air Base in southern Romania. A collaborative effort between the Romanian Ministry of National Defence, the Romanian Air Force, the Royal Netherlands Air Force, and Lockheed Martin, this state-of-the-art center brings together the expertise of Lockheed Martin and its esteemed subcontractors: Daedalus Aviation Group, Draken International, GFD (a subsidiary of Airbus Defence and Space), and ILIAS Solutions. This remarkable partnership signifies a unified commitment to deliver top-notch F-16 training. Together, these entities will operate seamlessly as a cohesive team, providing comprehensive training services at the newly established center.

Read more ...

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has brought two helicopters, the KUH-1E Surion utility helicopter and the LAH light attack helicopter, to the Dubai Airshow 2023, marking their debut at a major international event.

Read more ...

During the German Army’s Timber Express 2023 exercise conducted by the German Armed Forces, Hensoldt, a German leading sensor solution provider, achieved a significant milestone by establishing data links that connected various flying platforms and seamlessly integrated them with modern information systems.

Read more ...

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) and EDGE UAE) on November 10, during the current Dubai Airshow, announced they will work together to integrate precision-guided munition (PGM) and guided-glide weapon (GGW) solutions from EDGE onto GA-ASI’s MQ-9B SkyGuardian.

Read more ...

On November 10, 2023, a momentous event took place in the world of military aviation as the first flight of the B-21 Raider stealth strategic bomber occurred at the Plant 42 airfield of Northrop Grumman in Palmdale, California, as reported by Tyler Rogoway in The War Zone. This milestone was not only a significant achievement in aircraft development but also marked a crucial step forward in the evolution of the United States Air Force's strategic bomber fleet.

Read more ...

Over the course of seven weeks, the European Defence Agency (EDA) oversaw the ninth installment of the Helicopter Tactics Instructors Course (HTIC), which took place at Sintra Airbase No1 in Portugal and Pápa Air Base in Hungary. This marked the culmination of EDA's management of such courses, as they are now set to be transferred to the Multinational Helicopter Training Centre (MHTC) in Portugal.

Read more ...

Benefitting from more than three decades of strike and stealth technology innovation, the B-21 is the next evolution of the U.S. Air Force strategic bomber fleet and the world’s first sixth-generation aircraft to reach the skies.

Read more ...

As part of its war in Ukraine, Russia has taken steps to buy back military equipment that it had sold to countries including Egypt, Belarus, Brazil, and Pakistan. These efforts, revealed by the Wall Street Journal, include negotiations for the return of helicopter engines, notably the Mi-8 and Mi-17 models.

Read more ...

In a significant display of military cooperation and readiness, U.S. Special Operations Command Europe and the Moldovan 1st Infantry Brigade (Special Forces) have successfully executed a combined airborne exercise, prominently featuring the U.S. Air Force's C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft. The exercise, named Aurochs Partner, took place outside Balti, Moldova, on October 29, 2023.

Read more ...

The A-10 Thunderbolt II, commonly known as the Warthog, was developed by Fairchild Republic in the 1970s, primarily for the U.S. Air Force. It serves a critical role as a close air support (CAS) and ground-attack aircraft, designed to provide vital assistance to ground forces during combat operations. But several times in a row, its future has been threatened from various sides.

Read more ...

On November 9, 2023, the Houthi militia published a video showing that they shot down a US MQ-9 drone. This information was confirmed by a senior US military official who wished to remain anonymous.

Read more ...