Air Warfare

Over two years late: Air Force now expects first T-7As in 2025, IOC in 2027

Over two years late: Air Force now expects first T-7As in 2025, IOC in 2027
Over two years late: Air Force now expects first T-7As in 2025, IOC in 2027

Boeing, which bid aggressively to win the Red Hawk contract in 2018, has paid the price of its fixed-cost structure, which a company spokesperson said has amounted to approximately $1.1 billion in charges.

US ‘behind’ in electronic warfare, and personnel are the key to catching up: EW officer

US ‘behind’ in electronic warfare, and personnel are the key to catching up: EW officer
US ‘behind’ in electronic warfare, and personnel are the key to catching up: EW officer

“We build electronic warfare officers based on platforms … when that’s not the best way to do that,” Col. Joshua Koslov said.

With Chinese balloons in mind, appropriators may plus-up radar spending in FY24

With Chinese balloons in mind, appropriators may plus-up radar spending in FY24
With Chinese balloons in mind, appropriators may plus-up radar spending in FY24

“We need to provide the resources and I think this committee on both sides of the aisle wants to make sure our nation is safe, and provide the resources to do that,” Sen. Jon Tester said Tuesday.

Sikorsky-Boeing will not sue Army over FLRAA

Sikorsky-Boeing will not sue Army over FLRAA
Sikorsky-Boeing will not sue Army over FLRAA

Sikorsky now sets sights on winning the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft competition and Black Hawk modernization.

Don’t want to lose Ukraine? Empower Kyiv with airpower

Don’t want to lose Ukraine? Empower Kyiv with airpower
Don’t want to lose Ukraine? Empower Kyiv with airpower

The Mitchell Institute’s Douglas Birkey argues Kyiv’s need for airpower is only highlighted by recently leaked US intelligence documents.

Navy awards Lockheed $62M contract to study aircraft for future nuclear C3 missions

Navy awards Lockheed $62M contract to study aircraft for future nuclear C3 missions
Navy awards Lockheed $62M contract to study aircraft for future nuclear C3 missions

The service selected the C-130J-30 in December 2020 to be the base aircraft of the NC3 aircraft dubbed E-XX TACAMO.

Sikorsky-Boeing’s FLRAA bid was much cheaper, but couldn’t offset ‘unacceptable’ design metric: GAO

Sikorsky-Boeing’s FLRAA bid was much cheaper, but couldn’t offset ‘unacceptable’ design metric: GAO
Sikorsky-Boeing’s FLRAA bid was much cheaper, but couldn’t offset ‘unacceptable’ design metric: GAO

The Army reasoned “Sikorsky’s proposal provided something similar to a drawing of what the house looked like on the outside…. Such a picture did not provide the functional detail that the Army required showing what the space would look like on the inside,” according to the Government Accountability Office.

Pentagon deems Army’s Integrated Battle Command System ready for prime time

Pentagon deems Army’s Integrated Battle Command System ready for prime time
Pentagon deems Army’s Integrated Battle Command System ready for prime time

“The full-rate production decision enables the US Army to set the fielding schedule for IBCS to operational air defense units,” prime contractor Northrop Grumman said.

Why Morocco is investing heavily in long-range fires

Why Morocco is investing heavily in long-range fires
Why Morocco is investing heavily in long-range fires

The US State Department recently approved roughly $750 million dollars in arms sales to Morocco, including HIMARS launchers, ATACMS missile systems and Joint Stand Off Weapons.

Sweden’s Saab, Brazil’s Embaer partner up for Gripen, C-390 sales

Sweden’s Saab, Brazil’s Embaer partner up for Gripen, C-390 sales
Sweden’s Saab, Brazil’s Embaer partner up for Gripen, C-390 sales

The companies hope their intercontinental partnership will expand sales of their own jets and increase collaboration on existing orders.

Emirati defense conglomerate EDGE Group to open first international office in Brazil

Emirati defense conglomerate EDGE Group to open first international office in Brazil
Emirati defense conglomerate EDGE Group to open first international office in Brazil

The move, which came alongside defense deals with local firms, signals “confidence” in South American defense market, company says.

US-Philippines discuss ‘roadmap’ for weapon buys, including potential multi-role fighter sale

US-Philippines discuss ‘roadmap’ for weapon buys, including potential multi-role fighter sale
US-Philippines discuss ‘roadmap’ for weapon buys, including potential multi-role fighter sale

Leaders discussed what US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin called “a security-sector assistance roadmap to support the delivery of priority defense platforms over the next five to 10 years, including radar, unmanned aerial systems, military transport aircraft and coastal- and air-defense systems.”

Romania announces it’ll buy F-35s, in the shadow of Russian ‘aggression’

Romania announces it’ll buy F-35s, in the shadow of Russian ‘aggression’
Romania announces it’ll buy F-35s, in the shadow of Russian ‘aggression’

The move comes as the country looks to up defense spending and modernize its military forces in the wake of Russia’s invasion of neighboring Ukraine.

Turkey’s Erdogan runs an election campaign based on fighter jets, drones, war ships and tanks

Turkey’s Erdogan runs an election campaign based on fighter jets, drones, war ships and tanks
Turkey’s Erdogan runs an election campaign based on fighter jets, drones, war ships and tanks

“Turkey’s homegrown defense industry is certainly a key part of the overall package President [Recep Tayyip] Erdogan is offering to voters — the idea of a rising Turkey that will play hardball in an age of great power competition,” Aslı Aydıntaşbaş, a visiting fellow in the Center on the United States and Europe at Brookings, told Breaking Defense.