Lockheed turns Sniper pod into node for fourth gen jets
Lockheed Martin is pitching a networked version of its Sniper targeting pod to give older fighters a way to pass target data without modifying the aircraft itself.
UK questioned on F-35 standoff weapons gap
The Ministry of Defence has defended the combat effectiveness of the UK’s F-35B fleet after MPs pressed the department on how it intends to address the aircraft’s lack of a dedicated standoff strike weapon.
BAE, Boeing and Saab offer T-7 for UK Hawk replacement
BAE Systems, Boeing and Saab have agreed a Letter of Intent to mount a joint bid for the Royal Air Force’s next fast-jet trainer, proposing a UK-assembled version of the T-7 as the core of a new, integrated training system.
F-35 to serve into 2060s as sixth-gen timeline left vague
The Ministry of Defence has said the UK’s F-35 fleet will remain in frontline service into the 2060s.
F-22 jet controls MQ-20 combat drone in advanced trials
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Lockheed Martin, and L3Harris have completed a new crewed-uncrewed teaming demonstration in which an F-22 Raptor directly commanded an MQ-20 Avenger unmanned jet.
UK revising delayed F-35 stealth verification plans to 2027
The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that the UK does not yet have a domestic facility to measure the stealth characteristics of its F-35B fleet, with a revised business case for a sovereign verification site now delayed until 2027.
MOD questions metric used for F-35 availability figures
The Ministry of Defence says assessments of UK F-35 availability need fuller context and argues that the standard availability metric used across the global F-35 programme does not reflect how the fleet is actually operated.
British F-35 engineer shortfalls to take years to fix
The Ministry of Defence expects it will take three to four years to resolve the engineer shortages affecting the UK’s F-35 programme, according to statements made in response to Parliamentary questions.
GA-ASI and Saab plan demo of AEW&C-equipped MQ-9B drone
The trial will take place at GA-ASI’s Desert Horizon site in Southern California using an MQ-9B fitted with Saab’s airborne early warning sensors, a platform the UK has also acquired in its Protector programme.
Ukraine signs up to buy 100 French fighter jets
Ukraine has signed a letter of intent to acquire up to 100 French Rafale multirole fighter jets along with air defence systems and drones during President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to Paris.
