MTQ News

 The U.S. Air Force has been seen pushing an F-22A Raptor fitted with low-observable underwing sensor pods through aggressive maneuvers near Edwards Air Force Base, according to imagery shared by Mojave Planespotting on September 25, 2026. The flights suggest testing is moving beyond basic carriage toward proving whether new passive sensors can remain effective during demanding combat maneuvering, potentially giving the Raptor another way to detect and track threats without relying on active radar.  Read Full Defense News At This Link.  A U.S. Air Force F-22A Raptor maneuvers aggressively near Edwards Air Force Base while carrying distinctive low-observable-shaped underwing sensor pods, highlighting ongoing flight testing associated with efforts to expand the stealth fighter’s passive sensing capabilities (Picture Sources: @Mojave Planespotting and @stinkjet) from World Defence News https://ift.tt/9PtFazv via IFTTT

 U.S. Air Force E-3 Sentry and F-35A Lightning II aircraft operated over the Bering Sea during Operation TUNDRA MERLIN on September 21, 2026, combining command and control, fifth-generation combat power and aerial refueling. According to U.S. Northern Command, the U.S.-Canadian operation demonstrated the ability to detect threats and sustain coordinated combat operations across Alaska’s northern approaches.  Read Full Defense News At This Link.  U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II fighters, an E-3 Sentry and KC-135 refueling support joined U.S. and Canadian maritime forces over the Bering Sea during Operation TUNDRA MERLIN, demonstrating integrated airpower, command and control, and long-range homeland defense capabilities (Picture Source: U.S. Air Force) from World Defence News https://ift.tt/os8mREV via IFTTT

 The U.S. Air Force is launching a $17 million competition to strengthen protected satellite communications on the B-52 Stratofortress, a move announced on September 23, 2026, as the bomber is prepared to remain in frontline service into the 2050s. The upgrade is intended to preserve secure global command links for conventional and nuclear missions, including operations where communications networks may be contested or disrupted.  Read Full Defense News At This Link.  The U.S. Air Force has awarded $17 million to three industry teams to develop secure, survivable SATCOM upgrades for the B-52 Stratofortress, strengthening its global command links for future conventional and nuclear missions (Picture Source: U.S. Air Force) from World Defence News https://ift.tt/q3PrUX7 via IFTTT

 Rafael is moving its lightweight SPIKE SR precision missile into formal U.S. qualification, with Rafael Systems Global Sustainment announcing the new Aviation & Missile Technology Consortium agreement on September 22, 2026. The effort could give U.S. dismounted forces a roughly 10-kilogram, fire-and-forget weapon able to strike armored and other point targets at ranges up to 2 kilometers without exposing operators to prolonged guidance.  Read Full Defense News At This Link.   Rafael’s SPIKE SR is entering U.S. qualification, moving the 2-kilometer, fire-and-forget precision missile closer to potential use by American dismounted forces (Picture Source: Rafael) from World Defence News https://ift.tt/1m2SVMk via IFTTT

 Canada’s first F-35A Lightning II completed its maiden flight from Fort Worth, Texas, on September 23, 2026, bringing the Royal Canadian Air Force closer to fielding a fifth-generation fighter for NORAD, NATO and Arctic missions, according to Lockheed Martin Canada. The aircraft, designated AR-1, will give Canada a more survivable and networked combat platform for detecting and responding to advanced threats across the vast northern approaches to North America.  Read Full Defense News At This Link.  Canada’s first F-35A Lightning II completed its maiden flight from Fort Worth, Texas, marking a major step toward replacing the RCAF’s aging CF-18 fleet with fifth-generation combat capability (Picture Source: Lockheed Martin Canada) from World Defence News https://ift.tt/LSVRFYP via IFTTT

 U.S. Air Force F-35A stealth fighters are set to make their most consequential training appearance yet with the Indian Air Force when Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026 opens at Jodhpur on September 26. According to the IAF briefing and subsequent reporting, the jets are expected to fly alongside Indian combat aircraft and could also feature in opposing-force scenarios, giving IAF pilots their first home-soil tactical exposure to fifth-generation airpower. Read Full Defense News At This Link.  U.S. Air Force F-35 stealth fighters will join Indian Air Force combat aircraft at Tarang Shakti 2026 in Jodhpur, giving IAF crews rare operational exposure to fifth-generation air combat capabilities (Picture Source: Armée de l'Air et de l'Espace) from World Defence News https://ift.tt/Iq95uzY via IFTTT

 Fering’s Pioneer family introduces a new approach to long-range military mobility by combining hybrid-electric propulsion, reduced fuel demand and high payload capacity in vehicles designed for operations far from established supply networks. The concept is intended to extend operational reach while reducing dependence on frequent resupply, a major challenge for forces operating across dispersed and austere environments.  Read Full Defense News At This Link.  Fering’s Pioneer family introduces an ultra-long-range hybrid military vehicle concept designed to combine extreme endurance, silent electric mobility, and onboard power generation for dispersed operations (Picture Source: Army Recognition Group) from World Defence News https://ift.tt/npldxZ7 via IFTTT

The U.S. Air Force has completed the 66th Weapons Squadron’s final A-10C Thunderbolt II training flight at Nellis Air Force Base, ending the aircraft’s dedicated course within the U.S. Air Force Weapons School. The move further reduces the service’s ability to generate advanced A-10 tactical expertise as it draws down a fleet scheduled to remain in service only through 2030. The milestone follows the closure of the A-10 pilot training pipeline at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and marks another step in the gradual dismantling of the aircraft’s training infrastructure. Existing instructors can still sustain some qualification and continuation training, but the end of the Weapons School course will progressively narrow the pool of personnel trained to develop and teach the platform’s highest-level tactics during its remaining years of service. Read more.  An A-10C Thunderbolt II pilot prepares for a close air support training mission at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, on March 1...

The U.S. Army is pushing deeper into maritime strike as its Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) Increment 2 completed a second flight test against a maritime target in August 2026, according to Lockheed Martin. The test advances a HIMARS-launched weapon intended to let dispersed ground forces engage moving warships and mobile land targets at long range. Read the full Defense News article at this link … Lockheed Martin launches a U.S. Army PrSM Increment 2 missile from HIMARS during an August 2026 flight test focused on moving maritime-target engagement. (Photo credit: U.S. Army) Read More from World Defence News https://ift.tt/VnvSfa4 via IFTTT

 U.S. Army soldiers rehearsed M142 HIMARS operations at Yausubetsu Training Area in Hokkaido during Exercise Orient Shield 26, according to imagery and information released by U.S. Army Japan on September 18, 2026. The training highlights how mobile long-range precision fires can remain combat-effective in the Indo-Pacific by rapidly relocating before enemy surveillance and counterfire networks can target the launcher.  Read Full Defense News At This Link.  U.S. Army HIMARS crews rehearsed rapid, mobile long-range precision-fire operations in Japan during Orient Shield 26, sharpening their ability to strike, relocate and survive in a contested Indo-Pacific environment (Picture Source: U.S. Army) from World Defence News https://ift.tt/5PItCe9 via IFTTT

 The U.S. Army’s 11th Airborne Division trained with Indian crews on M777A2 and Dhanush 155 mm howitzers and observed L70 Bofors air defense live fire during Yudh Abhyas 2026, expanding the exercise into direct procedural integration. The training improves tactical interoperability by exposing U.S. soldiers to Indian fire-mission methods, gun emplacement practices, and short-range air defense procedures across different equipment architectures. At the Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan, personnel from the 2nd Battalion, 8th Field Artillery Regiment worked alongside Indian artillery crews on the lightweight M777A2 and the longer-range Dhanush. At the same time, other 11th Airborne soldiers studied upgraded L70 40 mm air defense operations. The exchange gives both forces a clearer understanding of how partner units generate fires, reduce firing-position exposure, and protect maneuver and support elements despite differences in weapons, sensors, and command systems. Read more....

The U.S. Air Force is pushing ahead with one of the most extensive upgrades in the B-52 Stratofortress’s history, converting the 70-year-old bomber into the future B-52J with new Rolls-Royce F130 engines, an APQ-188 AESA radar, increased electrical capacity, and updated mission systems. The modernization is designed to keep the aircraft combat-relevant into the 2050s by improving endurance, sensor performance, and the ability to support long-range nuclear and conventional strike missions. Read full Defense Aerospace News at this link … A U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress lands at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, on August 5, 2026, ahead of the Arctic Thunder Open House. The long-range strategic bomber is undergoing major modernization toward the future B-52J configuration, including Rolls-Royce F130 engines and a new AESA radar intended to keep the aircraft operational into the 2050s and beyond. (Picture source: U.S. Department of War/Defense) Read More from World Defence N...

 The United States has cleared a potential $2.68 billion air-defense upgrade package for Ukraine, with the State Department approving the possible Foreign Military Sale on September 18, 2026, to expand Kyiv’s ability to counter evolving aerial threats. By combining additional interceptors, counter-drone sensors and launcher modifications, the package could strengthen Ukraine’s layered defenses against missiles and unmanned aircraft while improving the resilience of its wider air-defense network.  Read Full Defense News At This Link.  The proposed $2.68 billion U.S. sale would strengthen Ukraine’s layered air defenses with new interceptors, counter-drone radars, launcher modifications and long-term sustainment support (Picture Source: Ministry of Defense of Ukraine) from World Defence News https://ift.tt/xA30hTE via IFTTT

 BAE Systems Australia will keep the Royal Australian Navy’s Mk 45 naval guns combat-ready under a five-year, A$32 million contract announced by the company on 17 September 2026, covering weapons aboard Hobart-class destroyers and Anzac-class frigates. The agreement protects a versatile source of surface firepower and naval gunfire support while reducing pressure on finite stocks of high-value missiles during sustained operations.  Read Full Defense News At This Link.  BAE Systems Australia has secured a five-year, A$32 million contract to sustain and refurbish the Royal Australian Navy’s Mk 45 naval guns across its Hobart-class destroyers and Anzac-class frigates (Picture Source: BAE Systems Australia) from World Defence News https://ift.tt/VLNHQ1X via IFTTT

 Finland’s first two F-35A Lightning II fighters have landed at Rovaniemi, with the Finnish Air Force confirming their arrival on 18 September 2026 as the country begins operating the fifth-generation aircraft from home territory. The milestone starts the transition from the F/A-18 Hornet to a 64-aircraft F-35A fleet that will strengthen Finland’s ability to detect, track and engage threats along NATO’s northern and eastern approaches.  Read Full Defense News At This Link.  Finland’s first two F-35A Lightning II fighters landed at Rovaniemi, marking the start of the country’s transition to a 64-aircraft fifth-generation fleet (Picture Source: Finnish MoD) from World Defence News https://ift.tt/x8GL4Yk via IFTTT

 The U.S. Air Force has increased the number of B-52 Stratofortress bombers available and ready to fly by nearly 40% through its North Star Readiness Campaign, according to Air Force Global Strike Command figures presented on September 16, 2026. The gain strengthens the service’s ability to generate long-range strike missions as it sustains an aging bomber fleet while preparing for its next generation of strategic aircraft.  Read Full Defense News At This Link.  The U.S. Air Force has boosted B-52 Stratofortress bomber availability by nearly 40% through its North Star Readiness Campaign, improving long-range strike readiness by cutting maintenance, supply, and logistics delays (Picture Source: U.S. Air Force) from World Defence News https://ift.tt/fIRbFMz via IFTTT

 Latvia has selected the Czech-built Morana 155mm wheeled self-propelled howitzer instead of Sweden’s Archer, the Ministry of Defence confirmed on September 17, 2026, prioritizing faster delivery and lower cost while strengthening long-range firepower on NATO’s northeastern flank. The decision gives Latvian forces a highly mobile artillery system designed to fire quickly and relocate before enemy counter-battery forces can respond.  Read Full Defense News At This Link.  Latvia has selected Czech-built Morana 155mm self-propelled howitzers over Sweden’s Archer, prioritizing faster delivery, lower costs and domestic industrial involvement (Picture Source: Excalibur Army) from World Defence News https://ift.tt/oiywA5J via IFTTT

 ARX Robotics, Babcock, and Frankenburg Technologies combined the GEREON UGV, Vigil launcher, and Mark 1 missile into a mobile counter-drone system at DVD 2026 in Millbrook, UK. The configuration is intended to move short-range air-defense effectors with UK ground forces and protect command posts, armored units and logistics nodes against drones and loitering munitions. The GEREON-based configuration combines robotic mobility, Babcock’s modular Vigil launcher and Frankenburg’s Mark 1 interceptor in a distributed short-range air-defense role. It allows missile effectors to move with maneuver formations and creates an uncrewed firing node that can be positioned closer to the assets it is intended to protect. Read more.   ARX Robotics’ GEREON unmanned ground vehicle, fitted with Babcock’s Vigil launcher and Frankenburg Technologies’ Mark 1 missiles, at DVD 2026 in Millbrook, UK. (Picture source: Army Recognition) Read full Defense News.  from World Defence News https://ift...

The U.S. Army awarded Lockheed Martin a $1.21 billion contract for Precision Strike Missile Increment 2 Early Operational Capability. This indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity agreement establishes the production route for seeker-equipped missiles designed to engage moving maritime and land targets. The procurement supports accelerated rapid fielding initiatives to expand deep-fires capabilities and replenish strategic inventories.  Read full defense news at this link... The U.S. Army awarded Lockheed Martin a $1.21 billion contract establishing the Early Operational Capability production path for the PrSM Increment 2, a seeker-equipped variant designed to strike moving maritime and relocatable land targets. (Picture source: US Army) Read more... from World Defence News https://ift.tt/xMs90ob via IFTTT

U.S. Northern Command and Joint Interagency Task Force-401 initiated the Falcon Peak 26.2 counter-small unmanned aircraft systems evaluation at U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona. Running from August 31 through September 25, 2026, the 26-day operational assessment brings together 21 defense industry participants to test low-altitude detection, tracking, and low-collateral defeat capabilities. The evaluation targets unique airspace defense requirements for the Southern Border and domestic military installations by gathering empirical performance data across diverse sensor-to-shooter architectures.  Read full defense news at this link... The purpose of Falcon Peak 26.2 is to evaluate the performance, detection capabilities, and effectiveness of various counter-small UAS systems to determine their suitability for U.S. domestic and Southern border defense. (Picture source: US DoD) Read more... from World Defence News https://ift.tt/yRNHOIn via IFTTT

 An Italian NATO fighter shot down an unidentified drone over Lithuania shortly after midnight on 15 September 2026 after it likely entered from the direction of Belarus, according to Reuters and BBC News reporting. The engagement marks a rare instance of NATO moving from detection to the destruction of an airborne object over Allied territory, demonstrating the combat readiness required to defend the Alliance’s increasingly exposed eastern airspace.  Read Full Defense News At This Link.  An Italian fighter supporting NATO’s Baltic air defence mission shot down an unidentified drone over Lithuania after it reportedly entered Allied airspace from the direction of Belarus, underscoring growing counter-drone pressure along NATO’s eastern flank (Picture Source: U.S. Air Force) from World Defence News https://ift.tt/w8aqGjM via IFTTT

 Anduril Industries’ YFQ-44A Fury autonomous combat aircraft has flown alongside F-35 fifth-generation fighters during U.S. Air Force testing, according to TWZ reporting published on September 15, 2026. The milestone shows that an uncrewed combat aircraft can operate safely in a complex formation with advanced fighters, moving the Air Force closer to deploying autonomous aircraft as force multipliers in high-end air combat.    Read Full Defense News At This Link .  Anduril’s YFQ-44A Fury flew alongside F-35 fighters during U.S. Air Force testing, marking a key step toward operational manned-unmanned air combat (Picture Source: U.S. Air Force) from World Defence News https://ift.tt/NEVkYHz via IFTTT

 Raytheon’s StormBreaker smart weapon has demonstrated the ability to launch eight munitions in rapid succession from an F-35B, RTX announced on September 14, 2026, giving a single fifth-generation fighter greater capacity to deliver concentrated precision effects in one attack sequence. The “ripple-eight” capability could shorten engagement timelines and reduce repeat attack passes against dispersed, mobile, or time-sensitive targets in contested airspace.  Read Full Defense News At This Link.  Raytheon demonstrated StormBreaker’s ripple-eight capability by launching eight precision-guided weapons from an F-35B during a flight test in Arizona, highlighting the fighter jet’s growing high-density strike potential (Picture Source: RTX) from World Defence News https://ift.tt/qeKY23J via IFTTT

 The Oregon National Guard redesignated the 3rd Battalion, 116th Cavalry Regiment as the 2nd Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment, creating the state’s first mobile infantry battalion. The shift replaces a heavy armored role with a lighter force built around Infantry Squad Vehicles, unmanned systems, and dispersed operations. The new battalion trades M1A2 SEPv2 Abrams tanks and M2A3 Bradley fighting vehicles for a structure centered on nine-soldier Infantry Squad Vehicles, expanded drone employment, and greater tactical mobility. The change reduces protected direct-fire capacity while increasing deployability and placing greater reliance on anti-armor weapons, mortars, reconnaissance assets, and supporting fires. Read more.  A U.S. Army M1A2 SEP Abrams tank assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 116th Cavalry Regiment fires during training at Orchard Combat Training Center in Idaho in July 2013. The Oregon Army National Guard unit has now been redesignated as the 2nd Battalion, 186th I...

The U.S. military recovered two Air Force officers shot down over Iran through separate rescue operations that escalated from a 21-aircraft extraction to a ground mission involving more than 90 personnel. The operation shows the concentration of airpower, intelligence, special operations forces and support assets required to recover isolated aircrew inside defended Iranian territory. Newly released declassified footage shows how the two-man crew of an F-15E Strike Eagle was recovered after a surface-to-air missile brought down the aircraft south of Isfahan, leaving the pilot and weapons systems officer separated by several miles as Iranian forces searched for them. The first extraction used an HH-60W Jolly Green II under an extensive air package, while the second combined MC-130 aircraft, MH-6M Little Birds, deception measures, and strikes on nearby Iranian forces to create a temporary recovery window nearly two days after the shootdown. Read more.   Read the full Defense News....

U.S. defense company Shield AI is moving its X-BAT autonomous vertical-takeoff fighter toward European production through a proposed partnership with Poland’s PGZ and WZL-2. The move could give NATO a runway-independent combat aircraft able to disperse away from air bases increasingly vulnerable to long-range missile and drone strikes. Read full News MSPO 2026 at this link … Shield AI’s X-BAT autonomous combat drone scale model displayed at MSPO 2026 in Kielce, Poland, highlighting a runway-independent design intended for dispersed operations from austere sites, roads and ships. (Picture source: Army Recognition Group) Read More from World Defence News https://ift.tt/vL7VQK0 via IFTTT

The operational U.S. Air Force F-15EX Eagle II fighter jet has conducted its first live bomb drops, with the Oregon Air National Guard’s 142nd Wing flying the missions from Nellis Air Force Base in support of the Weapons Instructor Course. Army Recognition identified the bomb employed as a BLU-111 general-purpose bomb, underscoring the Eagle II’s transition from a primarily air-superiority platform toward a broader strike role. Read full Defense Aerospace News at this link … F-15EX Eagle II of the Oregon Air National Guard’s 142nd Wing during operations from Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. Inset: U.S. Air Force personnel load a 227 kg-class (500 lb-class) live bomb onto the fighter ahead of the unit’s first operational live-bomb release with the F-15EX. (Picture source: U.S. Department of War/Defense) Read More from World Defence News https://ift.tt/HeDTk3L via IFTTT

 Sweden is advancing the propulsion, power, cooling and stealth technologies that could underpin its next generation of combat aircraft, after GKN Aerospace announced on 10 September 2026 that FMV had awarded it a SEK 390 million development contract. The work signals that Sweden is treating energy management and low detectability as core combat capabilities for maintaining survivable and sensor-heavy airpower beyond 2040.  Read Full Defense News At This Link.  Sweden is advancing its post-2040 combat-air ambitions with a SEK 390 million GKN Aerospace contract focused on propulsion, electrical power, thermal management and low-detectability technologies (Picture Source: SAAB) from World Defence News https://ift.tt/xC5c0HV via IFTTT

The U.S. Air Force raised the ceiling of its Boeing KC-46 allied tanker contract from $5.7 billion to $19.1 billion, expanding the framework for Japan, Israel, and future Foreign Military Sales customers. The higher ceiling gives Washington additional capacity to support allied tanker requirements through 2035 without constituting a firm $13.4 billion aircraft order. The modification covers KC-46A Pegasus post-production requirements and future partner needs under contract FA8609-19-D-0007, with work centered in Seattle and no funding obligated at the time of the change. The expanded framework could support additional aircraft, upgrades, and sustainment requirements as allied air forces place greater emphasis on long-range aerial refueling and distributed operations. Read more.  A U.S. Air Force KC-46A Pegasus aerial refueling tanker. The service has expanded the program’s contract ceiling to support Japan, Israel, and future allied customers through 2035. (Picture source: US DoD) ...

Russia’s ability to keep replacing tanks is becoming a critical measure of how long Moscow can sustain armored warfare as Soviet-era reserves are steadily depleted by combat in Ukraine. Uralvagonzavod’s September 12, 2026 delivery of T-90M Proryv and T-72B3M tanks highlights whether Russian industry can move beyond refurbishing stored vehicles and generate enough modern armor to offset continued losses. Read full Defense News at this link … T-90M Proryv main battle tanks undergo testing at a Russian production facility, highlighting Uralvagonzavod’s role in sustaining tank output, integrating battlefield-driven upgrades, and replacing armored losses from the war in Ukraine. (Picture source: Russia press agency TASS video footage) Read More from World Defence News https://ift.tt/QzC7rpj via IFTTT

Iran is deploying MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopters from ships, including USS Boxer, to support maritime surveillance and interception. The operation shows how distributed naval aviation and networked sensors are being used to enforce selective maritime denial across the Gulf while increasing pressure on commercial traffic and regional security. USS Boxer and the embarked 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit provide an aviation and command node for the blockade, with MH-60R helicopters using the AN/APS-153 multimode radar, AAS-44C electro-optical system, and Link 16 connectivity to detect, classify, and track vessels beyond the radar horizon of surface ships. The resulting architecture allows U.S. forces to move from identification and warning to boarding or precision engagement while maintaining wider control of maritime traffic approaching Iranian ports and the Strait of Hormuz. Read more.  An MH-60R Seahawk assigned to Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 37 launches from USS Boxer (LHD 4) d...

 Iran’s IRGC Navy claims it struck a US-operated Saildrone Explorer that Tehran says was conducting a surveillance mission near the Strait of Hormuz. If confirmed, the incident would show the growing exposure of persistent US unmanned surveillance platforms operating around the Gulf’s main strategic chokepoint. The 7-meter Saildrone Explorer, identified by Iran as hull 5838, is a wind-propelled unmanned surface vessel able to remain at sea for more than 12 months while carrying radar, cameras, AIS equipment and satellite communications, and the US Navy has previously deployed the type with Task Force 59 in the Arabian Gulf. The claim comes days after Iran said it recovered a US Anduril Dive-LD autonomous underwater vehicle in the same area, while US officials acknowledged the loss of that vehicle following a malfunction. Read more.  Screenshot from a video released by Iranian sources, purportedly showing the reported strike on a U.S. Saildrone Explorer near the Strait of Hormu...

Poland showcased its operational Poprad very short-range air defense system fleet integrated within a rapidly scaling counter-UAS sensor architecture at the MSPO 2026 exhibition in Kielce. The 79-vehicle fleet combines mobile launchers equipped with Grom and Piorun missiles with external radars to intercept low-altitude aerial threats. This capability highlights ongoing efforts to expand layered ground-based air defense networks across military formations.  Read full defense news at this link... The Poprad is a Polish 4×4 VSHORAD vehicle carrying four ready-to-fire Grom or Piorun infrared-guided missiles, plus four reloads, to engage aircraft, helicopters, and UAVs at up to 6.5 km in range and 4 km in altitude. (Picture source: Army Recognition) Read more.... from World Defence News https://ift.tt/gtrWPDH via IFTTT

The French Directorate General of Armaments delivered the first two Falcon 2000 LXS Albatros maritime surveillance aircraft to the French Navy at Lann-Bihoué naval air base. These aircraft initiate the AVSIMAR fleet modernization program designed to replace aging Falcon 50M and Falcon 200 Guardian patrol aircraft. The units are currently undergoing military evaluations and crew qualifications prior to achieving initial operational capability.  Read full defense news at this link... The Falcon 2000 LXS Albatros is the French Navy’s new twin-engine maritime surveillance and intervention aircraft, combining a range of 4,000 nmi (7,400 km) and an eight-hour endurance to replace the Falcon 50M and Falcon 200 Guardian. (Picture source: French MoD) Read more... from World Defence News https://ift.tt/hS2ILkU via IFTTT

The Pentagon has moved directed-energy counter-drone systems into yearlong operational trials at U.S. military bases to assess their readiness for routine installation defense. The effort will determine whether lasers and high-power microwaves can be sustained alongside kinetic and electronic warfare systems against individual drones and swarms. JIATF 401 is placing directed-energy equipment in the hands of military personnel for a 365-day assessment focused on availability, maintenance, power demand, cooling, and integration with active base operations. The trials will help determine which technologies can transition into layered counter-UAS architectures and potentially support future procurement. Read more.  The U.S. Army tests the Palletized High Energy Laser (P-HEL) counter-drone prototype at Yuma Proving Ground as part of RCCTO and JCO efforts to develop directed-energy C-sUAS capabilities. (Picture source: US DoD) Read full Defense news.  from World Defence News https...

General Atomics has presented Wildfire as a long-range modular combat drone configured to carry two LRASMs or four JSMs while competing to succeed the MQ-9 Reaper under the U.S. Massed Modular Aircraft program. The design shifts the Reaper mission set toward lower-cost distributed operations built around stand-off weapons, massed employment, and greater tolerance for aircraft losses. Wildfire is intended to meet requirements for a 2,800 lb payload, a combat radius of at least 2,300 nautical miles, and an 8,000-nautical-mile ferry range, with the MMA air vehicle targeted below $10 million before sensors and mission systems. If selected, the platform could extend the MQ-9 operational ecosystem into high-intensity missions while creating a potential future replacement path for foreign Reaper operators. Read more.  General Atomics’ Wildfire drone shown in its first publicly released rendering. (Picture source: General Atomics) Read full Defense news.  from World Defence News htt...