On April 3, 2025, Colombian President Gustavo Petro formally announced his government's decision to acquire the Swedish Saab JAS 39 Gripen fighter aircraft, marking a decisive step in the country’s longstanding effort to modernize its air force. The announcement follows the signing of a letter of intent with the Swedish government and the formal designation of strategic air defense as a national priority. According to Petro, the fleet to be acquired will be entirely new, utilizing the latest technology, and will be the same model already introduced in Brazil — the advanced Gripen E/F variant. Read full defense news at this link... The Saab Gripen’s delta wing and canard configuration, combined with fly-by-wire controls and embedded AI for human-machine collaboration, contribute to its maneuverability. (Picture source: Raimo Roonet Aviation Photography via Facebook/Flygvapnet) Read more... from World Defence News https://ift.tt/ZdbmOQh via IFTTT
First Operational Delivery of New Challenger 3 Tank to British Army Slated for 2027 Following Supply Chain Delays.
On April 1, 2025, British Secretary of State for Defense, Maria Eagle, responded to a parliamentary question raised by MP Mark François regarding the Challenger 3 Main Battle Tank (MBT) program. In her written reply published on the UK Parliament website, she acknowledged that the program had been affected by delays within the supply chain. While emphasizing that additional resources have been allocated to address these disruptions, she confirmed that the next phase of trials is scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2025. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) continues to closely monitor progress to assess any further impact on the program’s timeline, particularly its Initial Operating Capability (IOC) goal set for 2027. Read full Defense News at this link ... A Challenger 3 prototype on display at DVD 2024 defense exhibition at Millbrook Proving Ground, showcasing the new turret design, Rheinmetall 120mm smoothbore gun, and advanced digital systems that will define the British Ar...