Europe’s Air Transport Command Agreements

by Joe Katzman | Dec 10, 2014 | Alliances, Europe - Other, European Union (EU), France, Germany, Interoperability, Issues - International, Issues - Political, Transport & Utility

One of the driving forces behind Airbus’ A400M military transport program, and of “pool” programs like NATO’s SALIS with Russian AN-124s or its recent SAC C-17 pool, is Europe’s shortage of transport aircraft to support military missions....

New Zealand’s ANZAC Frigates Getting Combat Upgrades

by Joe Katzman | Dec 4, 2014 | Australia & S. Pacific, Canada, Contracts - Awards, Contracts - Intent, Electronics - General, Eng. Control Systems, Lockheed Martin, MBDA, Missiles - Surface-Air, Other Corporation, Protective Systems - Naval, Radars, Surface Ships - Combat, Thales

NZ ANZACs(click to view full) It’s time to modernize New Zealand’s only serious combat ships. New Zealand bought 2 ANZAC frigates in the 1990s, as a cooperative venture with Australia using the MEKO 100 German design. F77 Te Kaha was commissioned in 1996,...

ASTROS 2020 MLRS: Brazil’s Industrial Investment in Precision Strike

by Joe Katzman | Dec 4, 2014 | Brazil, Contracts - Awards, Contracts - Intent, Industry & Trends, Issues - Political, Lockheed Martin, Middle East - Other, Missiles - Precision Attack, New Systems Tech, Other Corporation, Policy - Procurement, R&D - Contracted, Rockets, Spotlight articles, Tanks & Mechanized, USA

Saudi ASTROS-II(click to view full) At the end of August 2011, Brazil’s Ministerio da Defesa announced the beginning of a BRL 1.09 billion (about $685 million) project to update Avibras’ ASTROS (Artillery SaTuration ROcket System) multiple rocket launcher...

Iraq Needs to Sustain its C-130Js

by Joe Katzman | Nov 26, 2014 | Contracts - Awards, Contracts - Intent, Iraq, Lockheed Martin, Middle East - Other, Transport & Utility, USA

IqAF C-130E(click to view full) In August 1990, Iraq’s Air Force had more than 500 aircraft in their inventory. The IqAF was decimated in 1991, after Saddam invaded Kuwait and ended up facing the US military and its allies. What remained was hobbled by...

Greek F-16 & Weapons Buys Taking Off

by Joe Katzman | Nov 24, 2014 | Avionics, BAE, Boeing, Bombs - Smart, Contracts - Intent, ECM, Engines - Aircraft, Europe - Other, Fighters & Attack, L3 Communications, Lockheed Martin, Northrop-Grumman, Radars, Raytheon, Sensors & Guidance, United Technologies

Greek F-16D, F-16C(click to view full) In 2005, Greece terminated its $6 billion Eurofighter contract in favor of F-16s. Now that sale has taken the next step, as Greece has submitted its order for the aircraft and ancillary electronics, spares, and weapons, to match...