The UK lauded the test of the laser air defense weapon, developed by Britain’s defense innovation unit, just weeks after an American admiral said it was time to be more “intellectually honnest” about what the class of weapons can do.
By Tim MartinBAE Systems’ LR-PGK: The Superior Anti-Jam Solution
Going the distance to defeat emerging jam threats.
Despite the UK MoD not signing off on any orders for the latest drone package, aircraft likely to be under consideration are smaller size systems, particularly soldier portable or “over the hill” drones similar to Teledyne FLIR Black Hornets, one analyst said.
By Tim Martin
Bryden Spurling, senior research leader for defence and security at RAND, said that there “was clearly reluctance [on the part of Washington and London] to strike the Houthis despite the threat they pose to one of the world’s most important waterways.”
By Tim Martin and Agnes Helou
Germany had long blocked the sale of the fighters, but now the German foreign minister reportedly said the situation in the Middle East has changed.
By Tim Martin
The restart will involve BAE Systems UK and US-based supply chain, and first deliveries are expected in 2025.
By Tim Martin
A simmering dispute between London and Berlin over exporting Eurofighter Typhoons to Saudi Arabia could pave the way for Dassault’s rival Rafale offer to succeed, Eric Trappier suggested.
By Christina Mackenzie
The UK originally announced a £1.4 billion agreement ($1.8 billion) had been reached for the 14 H-47 ER aircraft in May 2021 with deliveries set to begin in 2026 and run until 2030, but budgetary pressures linked to COVID-19 caused London to order a three year delay.
By Tim Martin
A major overhaul is coming in software for missile warning
Space Systems Command’s FORGE program is the first, major missile-warning software modernization effort in 20 years.
James Heappey, UK armed forces minister, offered the latest comments about the incident that reportedly happened more than a year ago but has been shrouded in secrecy.
By Tim Martin
“For the purpose of the test, direct line of sight was used, but in some future world operators would fly this just like a MQ-9 flies today, over satellite and remotely,” GA-ASI’s C. Mark Brinkley told Breaking Defense.
By Tim Martin
A decision has not been made so far on an Initial Operating Capability (IOC) date for a future fighter, but a wide range of planning activities will inform the 2031 procurement decision, an official said.
By Tim Martin
“Germany is sticking to the joint [FCAS] project with France and Spain,” said a German MoD spokesperson. “Media reports that Germany is pulling out are false.”
By Tim Martin and Christina Mackenzie
UK’s Defence Committee also called for greater support of Pacific nations and more clarity on the AUKUS submarine program.
By Tim Martin
Airbus already holds a contract valued at more than £500 million ($610 million) for SKYNET 6A, a future military communications satellite planned for launch in 2025 and based on the manufacturer’s Eurostar Neo telecommunications satellite platform.
By Tim Martin
“Let’s say enemy strike plans are based around them going in and taking out a whole air wing at an airfield within a morning. Well that is not going to happen if they [friendly aircraft] are dispersed around the country and moving from A to B to C to D the whole time,” said Gary Waterfall, a former UK Royal Air Force air vice-marshal.
By Tim Martin and Bartosz Głowacki
