Aviation News
A new chapter in Indian aerospace opened on Oct. 28 with the inauguration of a final assembly line for the Airbus C295 military transport. The event was a major publicity coup for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with Spanish premier Pedro Sanchez sharing the limelight. Significantly, the Vadodara factory is the first in India to be run by a private company, Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL).
Photo: Airbus
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France is making a big push to sell its Rafale fighter jets to Bangladesh, hoping to capitalise on a change in leadership in Dhaka, the Sunday Guardian reports. Discussions are progressing with the new caretaker Prime Minister, Mohammad Yunus, who is seen as more receptive to France’s offer than his predecessor, Sheikh Hasina. This comes as Bangladesh seeks to modernise its air force, officially known as the Bangladesh Air Force or BAF.
Continue reading “New leadership in Dhaka may pave way for Rafale deal”
The U.K., U.S., and Australia are integrating the Stingray Mod 1 lightweight torpedo into their P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft as a key initiative under AUKUS Pillar 2. Ms. Madeline Mortelmans, currently performing the duties of the U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans and Capabilities and lead for both pillars of AUKUS within the department, highlighted that AUKUS Pillar 2 is designed to harness the combined industrial and innovation bases of the three nations to ensure that their forces are equipped with cutting edge interoperable military capabilities. This effort, along with Germany’s interest in procuring the Stingray Mod 2 for their P-8A fleet, highlights the growing global interest in this advanced torpedo system made by BAE Systems.
Continue reading “Stingray torpedo: P-8A’s new edge in undersea warfare”
On Oct. 22nd, the first of Bulgaria’s F-16 Block 70 fighter jets successfully completed its inaugural flight at Lockheed Martin’s production facility in Greenville, South Carolina. This marks a significant milestone for the Bulgarian Air Force as it modernises its fleet with 16 of these advanced aircraft. OJ Sanchez, vice president and general manager of the Integrated Fighter Group at Lockheed Martin, highlighted the importance of this event, stating, “With the F-16 Block 70, the Bulgarian Air Force will be well-equipped to secure its borders and partner with U.S, European and NATO allies.”
Photo: Lockheed Martin
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In a historic first, the United States Navy successfully launched a Naval Strike Missile (NSM) from a destroyer during Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2024. This significant event marks a key advancement in the Navy’s capabilities. While the NSM has been integrated onto several Littoral Combat Ships, this firing represents a crucial expansion of the weapon system.
Continue reading “A first for the Burkes: Fitzgerald launches NSM”