Northrop Grumman to Start Production on Republic of Korea Global Hawks

RQ-4 Global Hawk (Source: Northrop Grumman)

Northrop Grumman Corporation recently announced that the company will begin production of four RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for the Republic of Korea's Air Force. The systems will provide valuable wide-area intelligence gathering capabilities to military commanders so they can make more informed decisions.

Under a contract awarded Dec. 16, the company will work closely with the US Air Force to deliver the systems starting in 2018.

BHIC Gets Additional Contract for Submarine Maintenance

Scorpene submarines of the RMN (Source: DCNS)

KUALA LUMPUR, March 30 - Boustead DCNS Naval Corp Sdn Bhd, a 60 per cent-owned unit of Boustead Heavy Industries Corp Bhd (BHIC), has received an additional contract with a ceiling value of RM531.2 million from the Malaysian government.

In a filing to Bursa Malaysia, BHIC said the contract was for the in-service support (ISS) for two units of Prime Minister's class submarines for the Royal Malaysian Navy. 

Swedish Armed Forces to Sell Six Super Puma Helicopters

Swedish Super Puma (Source: Wikipedia)

According to the current disposal plan the Swedish Armed Forces will take their helicopters of the model AS 332 M1 Super Puma out of operation during 2015 and 2016. Therefore the Armed Forces are considering selling six helicopters including spare parts.

Malaysian MRCA Programme - The Next Step

Like F-14, the MiG-29N is going to be replaced (Source: Wikipedia, US Navy)

By: Danny Liew

As the curtain falls over the Langkawi International Maritime and Air Show 2015 (LIMA 2015), the long anticipated announcement on RMAF MRCA programme to replace the RMAF ageing Mikoyan Gurevich MiG29N air superiority fighters were yet to be announced. While the lack of announcement was a dampener for LIMA, it was a foregone conclusion, considering capital funding for the programme under the 10th Malaysia Plan had long since been exhausted and the budget for 11th Malaysia Plan is only expected to be tabled in April or May 2015.

However, the lack of announcement does not mean that Malaysian Government is not committed to do window shopping during the same air show. The lack of announcement had instead resulted in an even more intense jostling and bidding behind the scene for the small pie in Malaysian defence budget.

USNS Trenton (JHSV 5) Completes Acceptance Trials

JHSV by Austal (Source: General Dynamics Mission Systems)

Joint High Speed Vessel USNS Trenton (JHSV 5) successfully completed Acceptance Trials (AT) on March 13, 2015 in the Gulf of Mexico; the last significant milestone before delivery of the ship. This milestone achievement involved the performance of intense comprehensive tests by the US Navy while underway, which demonstrated the operation of the ship’s major systems and equipment.

First Two Indian Mirage 2000 I/TI Delivered to Indian Authorities

Mirage 2000 of the IAF (Source: Thales)

The acceptance ceremony of the first two Indian Air Force Mirage 2000 I/TI was held recently at Istres, Dassault Aviation’s Flight Test Centre, under the high patronage of HE Ambassador Arun K. Singh, the Indian Ambassador to France. The ceremony was hosted by Eric Trappier, Dassault Aviation Chairman & CEO, and Pierre Eric Pommellet, Thales Executive Vice President, Defence Mission Systems.

Australia’s First F-35A Pilot Takes Flight

Australia’s first F-35A pilot takes flight.
Source: Australian DOD

Australia's first F-35A pilot, Squadron Leader Andrew Jackson, took his first flight in an F-35A aircraft at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, United States.

The flight was on the morning of Wednesday 18 March in a United States Air Force F-35A aircraft, as the Australian F-35A aircraft are currently located at Luke Air Force Base, in anticipation of the opening of the international pilot training centre in mid 2015. SQNLDR Jackson will continue his intensive training program over the coming months.

India Wants to Lease Another Russian Nuclear Submarine

Project 971 submarine (Source: TASS)

The project 971 Kashalot-class submarine may become the second submarine that Russia transfers to India for lease

MOSCOW, March 24 - India has asked Russia to transfer another nuclear submarine for lease, a high-placed source in the system of Russia’s military and technical cooperation with foreign countries said on Tuesday according to Russian news agency TASS.

The project 971 Kashalot-class submarine may become the second submarine that Russia transfers to India for lease, the source said.

Royal Thai Air Force Selects IFS Application to Maintain Fighter Planes

RTAF F-5 in Exercise Cope Tiger 2015 (Source: Singapore Mindef)

IFS, the global enterprise applications company, announces that the Directorate of Aeronautical Engineering (DAE), Royal Thai Air Force has chosen to deploy IFS Applications to manage the maintenance of the Force’s fleet of 25 F-5E/F fighter planes’ jet engines.

The DAE required a solution with strong maintenance capabilities to manage its fleet of fighter planes that includes operating 47 J85-GE-21B/C jet engines.

Saab Receives Letter of Award for Electronic Warfare System for Malaysia

ESP on a Seeker II UAV (Source: Saab)

Defence and security company Saab recently announced that it has received a Letter of Award from the Royal Malaysian Air Force for the supply of an ESP system (Electronic Surveillance Payload).