Air Features
Air related military and defence technology and procurement insight
Naval and Medical Innovations Will Dominate At This Year's Show
Unmanned, maritime and medical innovations will take centre stage at DSEI 2017 from the 12–15 September in London.
By Anita Hawser - 11 September 2017
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When Is A Military Exercise Not A Military Exercise?
Russia has used previous military exercises as a cover for invading sovereign territory. So what does it have in store for Zapad 2017?
By Anita Hawser - 30 August 2017
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The US Tests Laser Weapons To Counter Drones
The US is ramping up efforts to defeat UAVs and rockets with laser weapons. The latest test saw a laser fired from an Apache helicopter.
By Anita Hawser - 12 July 2017
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F-35 To Be Sold To 11 Countries In Deal Reportedly Valued At More than $37 Billion
The F-35 wows at Paris Air Show, whilst rumours circulate that a major deal for the aircraft involving 11 countries is in the pipeline.
By Anita Hawser - 20 June 2017
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All NATO Enhanced Forward Battle Groups in the Baltics Are Now in Place
The biggest build-up of forces for a generation on NATO's eastern flank is complete, but what is their effectiveness?
By Anita Hawser & Ralph Zwilling - 19 June 2017
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Armed UAVs: Who Has Them, Who Wants Them?
Just 10 countries worldwide have armed UAVs; many more want them, and China seems willing to oblige.
By Anita Hawser - 02 March 2017
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Can Micro-UAVs Help In The Fight Against Terrorism?
Micro-UAVs can help track terrorists, but are they reliable enough to replace traditional intelligence methods?
By Jack Richardson - 24 February 2017
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The Coming Drone Swarm
Swarming UAVs demonstrate enormous attack potential. But the technology still needs to be proven and trusted.
By Jack Richardson - 16 February 2017
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Could Turkish Deal Help Sustain UK Combat Aircraft Expertise?
BAE Systems and Turkish Aerospace Industries collaboration seen as vital to sustaining the future of UK industry combat aircraft expertise.
By Anita Hawser - 31 January 2017
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General James 'Mad Dog' Mattis, US Defense Secretary
US Defense Secretary, General Mattis, spent his first day on the job overseeing air strikes against ISIL and speaking with NATO's Secretary General.
By Anita Hawser - 26 January 2017
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Defence and Security Co-operation With The EU Will Continue
The UK will continue to work with the EU on defence and security matters, says UK PM Theresa May in her first major speech on Brexit.
By Anita Hawser - 17 January 2017
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Guided Bombs Get Smaller And Smarter
The race is on to produce longer-range, precision-guided missiles that can more accurately identify and hone in on targets.
By Doug Richardson - 03 January 2017
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The Fallout From Brexit
Immediately following the UK vote to leave the EU, the pound declined in value, which is likely to impact the cost of already announced defence acquisition programmes and support costs for in-service equipment.
By Stuart Young, Peter Antill and Richard Fisher - 03 January 2017
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Playing The Trump Card In US Defence Policy
President-elect Trump made a lot of comments—some controversial—on defence matters during his election campaign
By Nick Watts - 03 January 2017
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Trump and the Middle East: Challenges to Regaining US Supremacy
Can President-elect Trump bring America back from the low point in Middle East relations achieved under Obama's presidency?
By Riad Kahwaji - 17 November 2016
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Soldiers Take Down Drone Using Laser Signal
US soldiers have disabled a commercial off-the-shelf drone using a non-kinetic counter-UAV system.
By Anita Hawser - 04 November 2016
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Counter UAV: Defeating The Device
Manufacturers are coming up with increasingly innovative ways of stopping rogue UAVs in their tracks.
By Giulia Tilenni - 14 September 2016
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MALE 2020: The European UAV To Be?
MALE 2020 is Europe's answer to building a sovereign MALE UAV capability and reducing countries reliance on off-the-shelf solutions from the US and Israel. But can it get off the ground?
By Giulia Tilenni - 14 September 2016
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Unmanned Surface Vehicle Targets
Royal Canadian Navy orders 40 Hammerhead USV targets and payloads from QinetiQ Target Systems.
- 11 September 2017
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Through Life Asset Management
A centralised solution for managing and tracking deployed defence assets more efficiently.
- 11 September 2017
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AUDS Counter-UAV System Enhanced for Vehicle Deployment
AUDS has been enhanced for deployment on vehicles and to counter drone swarm attacks.
- 08 September 2017
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Shoot To Disable
DARPA looks to develop a layered defence system to counter small unmanned air systems.
Anita Hawser - 29 August 2017
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Unmanned Aerial Vehicles at the Paris Air Show
Airbus's VSR700 rotary-wing tactical UAV makes its Paris Air Show debut.
- 22 June 2017
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Thales Unveils Ground Fire at Le Bourget
Thales's multi-function Ground Fire radar can be used for air defence and surveillance missions.
- 19 June 2017
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New Glider Weapon Launched By MBDA at Paris Air Show
MBDA's SmartGlider can engage a wide range of targets at a safe distance of more than 100 km.
- 19 June 2017
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Canada To Boost Defence Spending By More than 70%
Cyber, air attack and intelligence among areas to benefit from new Canadian defence policy.
Anita Hawser - 11 June 2017
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GUARDION Is Designed to Defend and Protect Against Unauthorised UAVs
New, integrated drone defence solution from Rohde & Schwarz, ESG and Diehl Defence.
- 24 May 2017
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Saudi Arabia Forms New Defence Company
Saudi Arabian Military Industries wants to be a Top 25 global defence company by 2030.
Anita Hawser - 23 May 2017
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Schiebel's Camcopter S-100 Norwegian Flight Trials
Schiebel Camcopter S-100 completes successful flight trials for Norwegian forces.
SCHIEBEL - 23 May 2017
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Trump to Announce Major Arms Deal with Saudi Arabia
Arms deal could be worth up to $350bn over 10 years – one of the largest in history.
Mythili Sampathkumar Independent - New York - 22 May 2017
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Virtual and Mixed Reality Training Systems On Show
Demos of the latest VR and mixed reality training systems at ITEC 2017 in Rotterdam.
Anita Hawser - 13 May 2017
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Robot Teaming For Mine Clearance
France's ECA Group teams a UAV and an unmanned ground vehicle for stand-off mine clearance.
- 13 May 2017
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EUROJET to showcase EJ200 at IDEF-Istanbul
EUROJET showcases the EJ200 engine used for the TFX fighter at IDEF.
EUROJET Turbo GmbH - 05 May 2017
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Rostec tests Ka-52k helicopters in marine conditions
Rostec Ka-52K helicopters complete the first phase of testing in marine conditions.
Rostec - 05 May 2017
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MBDA Next-Generation Air Defence Missiles for British Army and Navy
Sea Ceptor and Land Ceptor will protect the Royal Navy's war ships and enhance ground-based air defence.
- 24 April 2017
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Motion Simulator for UK F-35 pilots
A motion simulator will enable UK F-35 pilots to practise landing on the new QEII Class carriers.
Anita Hawser - 03 April 2017
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China: A New Arms Supplier to the Middle East
China will build armed UAVs in Saudi Arabia, which is looking beyond the west for weapons.
Anita Hawser - 03 April 2017
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Teaming Rotary Wing UAS With Manned Helicopters
Schiebel will use Patria technology to team its Camcopter S-100 with manned helicopters.
- 30 March 2017
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F-35 ASRAAM Firing Trials
The ASRAAM is the first UK-designed missile to be fired from the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
- 16 March 2017
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The Stryker Joins The Fight Against UAVs
The US Army has modified its Stryker vehicle to detect and defeat UAVs.
- 09 March 2017
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Kelvin Hughes To Launch New Drone Detection System
SMS-D from Kelvin Hughes, is designed to detect and track UAVs.
- 07 March 2017
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Stemme and S-PLANE Team up to Create Optionally Piloted Vehicle
ECARYS ES15 to be optionally piloted using S-PLANE subsystems.
- 18 February 2017
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A New Generation of Transport Aircraft on show at IDEX 2017
The KC-390 sets new standards in transport aircraft.
- 16 February 2017
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Trump Intervenes In F-35 Pricing
Intervention by President Donald Trump sees price for F-35s reduced.
Anita Hawser - 07 February 2017
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The Australian Navy Will Use The CAMCOPTER S-100 For Enhanced Maritime And Littoral Intelligence
Royal Australian Navy awards contract for CAMCOPTER S-100 rotary-wing UAS.
- 06 February 2017
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MoD's Defence Equipment Plan Comes Up Short
The UK Ministry of Defence needs to find more savings to fund its future Equipment Plan.
- 30 January 2017
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Trump Hones In On F-35 And Submarine Costs
Multi-year procurement could be the answer to Pentagon cost review of F-35 programme.
- 30 January 2017
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The US and UK will optimise use of the P-8A for maritime surveillance
US–UK agreement will strengthen Maritime Patrol Aircraft interoperability.
Anita Hawser - 26 January 2017
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Rheinmetall and Day & Zimmermann
Rheinmetall and Day & Zimmermann join forces to make medium-calibre ammunition for the US market.
Rheinmetall - 09 December 2016
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FLIR Systems Acquires Prox Dynamics
FLIR Systems Acquires Prox Dynamics for $134 million in cash.
FLIR Systems - 30 November 2016
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Rockwell Collins's Mixed-Reality System for Training & Simulation
Rockwell Collins Coalescence merges the real-world view with a synthetic environment.
- 29 November 2016
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Schiebel-CAMCOPTER concludes MOAS 2016 operations
CAMCOPTER S-100 succesfully concludes operations in support of MOAS’ life-saving mission.
Schiebel-PR - 21 November 2016
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Airborne Laser-Based Sensor Can Detect IEDs and Hazmat From Standoff Distance
SpectroDrone uses lasers and high-res cameras to detect explosives, IEDs and hazmat.
- 15 November 2016
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Defence Secretary Michael Fallon announces £4 Billion support
£4 Billion to support Britain's modern forces and their families.
DPI - 08 November 2016
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Iran Unveils Stealth Suicide UAV
Suicide drone delivers a payload of explosives and can fly at low altitudes over the water.
- 28 October 2016
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US Steps Up Acquisition Of Precision Munitions
Contract awarded to fulfill demand for Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System.
- 28 October 2016
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Unmanned Warrior 16
World’s first large scale demonstration of marine robotic systems hosted by the UK.
UK MoD - 17 October 2016
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New Decoy System For RAF Combat Jets
The BriteCloud miniature decoy will protect RAF combat jets from missiles.
DPI - 21 September 2016
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First air defence radars for Latvia
NATO steps up investment in air and missile defence.
DPI - 21 September 2016
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