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.
Saab wins new Arexis orders for German jets
Saab has secured two major orders from Airbus Defence and Space to supply its Arexis electronic warfare suite for German Eurofighters, the UK Defence...
