By Pierre Tran Paris - There is a view that politics is really about personalities. That notion comes to mind after Airbus chief executive Guillaume Faury pointed up the frustration of Europe failing to cooperate on arms programs in the light of war in Ukraine - apart from the future…
By Pierre Tran Paris - Belgium has joined as an observer to the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), adding a fourth nation to a partnership which bears French ambitions to boost European defense, amid perception of a leadership competition between France and Germany. “The participation of Belgium as observer will…
By Robbin Laird I first visited the Sikorsky plant in Stratford, Connecticut in 2018 to view the beginning efforts to standup the production line for the new build CH-53K helicopter. I returned in May 2023 to see the progress in doing so as the CH-53K begins its journey to the…
By Pierre Tran Paris - The closed communications system of the F-35 posed problems for flying cooperative combat missions with the planned European Future Combat Air System (FCAS), Eric Trappier, executive chairman of Dassault Aviation, told French senators May 24. “Collaborative combat” consisted of close links between fighter jets, effectively…
In a 20 April 2023, an article by Gregor Ferguson in The Australian provided an overview of the Ghost Shark program. In that article, the author highlighted the anticipated role of the XL-AUV or extra Large Autonomous Underwater Vehicle. “Make no mistake, (XL-AUVs) will be a game-changer,” said former Royal…
By Pierre Tran Paris - France, Germany, and Spain, the partner nations of a European future combat air system, are due to pare down the short list of architecture options for a new generation fighter jet by the middle of next year, an air force officer said. “There is an…
By Pierre Tran Paris - It is still early days in the studies for a European New Generation Fighter (NGF) and a target weight has yet to be decided, but it is clear 20 tonnes is excessive for the planned fighter jet, a source working on the project said. Weight…
By Pierre Tran Paris - Dassault Aviation could raise production of the Rafale to three fighter jets per month, if the aircraft company won export orders, executive chairman Eric Trappier told March 9 a news conference. Dassault could “ramp up” to just over three Rafale per month if foreign nations…
