An Update on the Future Combat Air Systems Program: February 2019

02/25/2019
By Pierre Tran Paris Negotiations are being held with electronics company Thales and European missile maker MBDA on joining Airbus and Dassault in a joint concept study for the Future Combat Air System, said a source who declined to be identified. The industrial partners aim to decide who does what,…

Finnish Defense Forces Buy Israeli Counter-Battery Radars

02/05/2019
According to a story on the Finnish Ministry of Defence website, the Finns are procuring new counter-battery radars. The Defence Forces’ Logistic Command has received a mandate, on 11.1.2019, from Minister of Defence Jussi Niinistö to procure counter-battery radars for the Defence Forces. The radar systems, training for the systems…

Algeria Operating New UAVs from UAE and China

01/08/2019
By defenceWeb Algeria’s military has greatly expanded its unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) fleet, and is now operating aircraft acquired from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as well as China. Video footage seen in December revealed that Algeria is operating two types of UAVs built by the UAE’s Adcom Systems, including…

An Update on the Sally B: Flying in Formation with a Chinook

12/22/2018
By B-17 Operator Elly Sallingboe Sally B’s last air display of the 2018 display season was at the Battle of Britain air show at Duxford on the 29/30 September, this was a hugely delightful show, where else would you see 18 Spitfires in formation – what a sight! Thus, our…

The Indian Navy Selects EMALS for Its New Carrier

12/12/2018
By Gulshan Luthra New Delhi. The Indian Navy has selected the US General Atomics EMALS for its second aircraft carrier, IAC II, which should be operational in about 10 years. Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba told India Strategic in an interaction that the case for EMALS, or Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System,…

The Future Combat Air System: The View From Paris

11/26/2018
By Pierre Tran Paris, November 26, 2018 The French government and industry are in negotiations for a budget to upgrade the Rafale fighter jet to an F4 standard of higher capability, and also funding for architecture and concept studies for a next-generation fighter, a source close to the talks said.…

The French Air Force and FCAS: Perspectives from the International Fighter Conference 2018

11/25/2018
By Robbin Laird The French Air Force (FAF) is one of the most active Air Forces in the Western World. They have had significant demand on the force and have been stressed through a continual flow of operations. They are a nuclear-armed Air Force and their focus on Quick Reaction…