France begins testing new H160M Guépard to operate one military helicopter across all armed forces

On July 24, 2025, the first prototype of the Airbus H160M Guépard successfully completed its maiden flight at Marignane, near Aix-en-Provence, marking a formal milestone in the Joint Light Helicopter program (Hélicoptère Interarmées Léger – HIL) launched by France’s Direction générale de l’armement (DGA). The aircraft, a militarized version of the civil H160 platform, was flown by test pilot Samuel Chartier alongside flight test engineers Nicolas Certain, Laurent Maruejols, and Alban Corpron. The flight was conducted in front of approximately 350 invited guests, including representatives from Airbus, the French Armed Forces, and DGA personnel. The H160M, officially named Guépard by the French Armed Forces, has been developed to serve as a unified platform to equip the French Army, Navy, and Air and Space Force, replacing five legacy helicopters: the SA341/342 Gazelle, AS555 Fennec, SA365 Dauphin, AS565 Panther, and the Alouette III. Read full defense news at this link...

The H160M Guépard is the first Airbus helicopter to be designed from the outset for integrated drone cooperation, and it is a rare example of a single multirole helicopter platform intended for use across all three branches of a nation's armed forces. (Picture source: Bruno Even)

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U.S. Army Conducts Gunnery Exercise With Latest Air Defense System Sgt Stout.

U.S. Army officials confirmed that a live gunnery exercise at Fort Hood, Texas, is underway, featuring the latest-generation Sgt Stout short-range air defense system. The drills mark a significant step toward full operational integration as units across the force adapt to evolving threats from drones, rotary-wing aircraft, and low-flying munitions. It matters because Sgt. Stout enhances the Army’s ability to defend forward-deployed troops and critical infrastructure from modern aerial threats. Read full Defense News at this link ... A U.S. Army SGT Stout SHORAD air defense vehicle maneuvers into firing position during live-fire training with the 6th Battalion, 56th Air Defense Artillery Regiment at Fort Hood, Texas, on October 3, 2025. (Picture source: U.S. Department of War) Read More from World Defence News https://ift.tt/NYmsS1n via IFTTT

US Budget Proposal Seeks F-22 Raptor Stealth Jet Upgrades to Protect Air Dominance

Lockheed Martin’s F-22 Raptor fighter jet is confirmed to receive major upgrades under the proposed FY2026 budget plan to ensure its sustained edge in air dominance operations, according to the U.S. Air Force Financial Management and Comptroller. Despite the emergence of sixth-generation designs, the Air Force’s dedicated $90 million budget aims to extend the Raptor’s relevance. This move underscores a broader strategy to protect critical stealth assets against evolving threats from China and Russia. It highlights a firm commitment to bridging the gap until Next Generation Air Dominance systems mature. Read full defense News at this link. The planned FY2026 viability upgrade marks a clear signal that the F-22 remains a backbone of U.S. air dominance doctrine (Picture source: U.S. Air Force) from World Defence News https://ift.tt/xebSkjs via IFTTT

MBDA–Rheinmetall new shipboard laser weapon could enter German Navy service by 2029.

Düsseldorf/Schrobenhausen, Germany, 28 October 2025 - German companies Rheinmetall and MBDA Germany announced that their jointly developed high-energy laser demonstrator has been transferred to the Laser Competence Centre at the Bundeswehr’s Technical Centre for Weapons and Ammunition (WTD 91) in Meppen, following a year-long series of sea trials aboard the German Navy frigate FGS Sachsen. The transition marks a key milestone in Germany’s efforts to field a shipboard directed-energy weapon capable of defending naval assets from drones, small craft, and other emerging aerial threats. According to Rheinmetall, an operational system could be ready for the fleet as early as 2029, providing a cost-effective complement to traditional missile interceptors. Read full Naval News at this link ... German Navy frigate FGS Sachsen conducts sea trials with Rheinmetall and MBDA’s high-energy laser weapon system, mounted on the forward deck in a containerized module during live-fire testing in ...

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