Taiwan abandons domestic Next-Generation Fighter Jet Program

Taiwan is abandoning its pursuit of domestically developing a next-generation fighter jet, and will instead procure advanced aircraft from the United States, according to a report by Up Media, a Taiwanese online news outlet. This decision, reached by Defence Minister Koo Li-hsiung, marks a significant shift in Taiwan’s defence acquisition strategy and highlights the technological and financial hurdles of developing advanced weapons systems independently.

AIDC T-5 Brave Eagle (cropped)
總統府, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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Delivery of T-50TH to Thailand completed

CJ Logistics, a South Korean logistics company, recently transported the final two T-50TH fighter jets from the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) manufacturing facility in Sacheon, South Korea to the Takhli Air Base in Thailand. This delivery completes Thailand’s order for 12 T-50TH aircraft. Thailand first ordered four T-50TH jets in September 2015, and then ordered eight more in July, 2017.


Photo: CJ Logistics
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North Korean hackers target Diehl Defence employees in Germany, potentially seeking IRIS-T secrets

North Korean hackers have targeted employees of Diehl Defence, a German arms manufacturer, in a suspected attempt to steal sensitive information, according to reports from Der Spiegel and ZDF. The attacks, which began in April, were carried out by a group known as “Kimsuky”, which cybersecurity experts believe operates on behalf of the North Korean government.

IRIS-T SLM launcher at ILA-2024
Boevaya mashina, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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Leidos’ ‘Black Arrow’ small cruise missile passes key flight tests

Leidos’ small cruise missile (SCM), nicknamed the ‘Black Arrow,’ has successfully completed captive carry and store safe separation flight tests, moving the program closer to guided flight tests scheduled for later this year. The tests, conducted in December 2023, confirmed digital twin predictions of safe separation, benign store dynamics, and trajectory characteristics.


Photo: Leidos
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Saab and KAI join forces for South Korea’s AEW&C II program

Saab and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) have announced a strategic partnership aimed at bolstering South Korea’s airborne surveillance capabilities. The two companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) formalising their commitment to collaborate on South Korea’s Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) II competition. This agreement highlights Saab’s proposal of their globally recognised GlobalEye system as the optimal solution for South Korea’s AEW&C needs.


Photo: Saab

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