Aircraft

As the US starts to forward-deploy more of its F-35 Lightning, China and Russia have been putting the finishing touches on their own batches of fifth-generation aircraft — and they all express vastly different ideas about what the future of air combat will look like.

For the US, stealth and sophisticated networks define its vision for the future of air combat with the F-22 and F-35.

BAE Systems delivered yesterday an optimistic outlook on government defense spending, in particular by the new U.S. administration led by President Donald Trump.

Four US citizens and an Australian pilot have died after their light plane crashed into a shopping centre in Melbourne, Australia.
The charter flight appeared to have had a “catastrophic engine failure” shortly after taking off from the small Essendon Airport, said police.
Despite the destruction, no-one was killed or injured on the ground.

Despite the huge production costs and a plethora of set backs over the course of the many years, Lockheed Martin’s 5th generation F-35A stealth fighter jets are expected to be incorporated into the US Air-force, as well as other NATO member’s fleets.

Saab, the Swedish defence giant, has expressed interests in setting up a state-of-the-art fighter jet factory in India.

No fighter jet repair contract has been signed between Bulgaria and Russian aircraft company MiG over the past months, the Defense Ministry in Sofia has said.

Its remarks follow reports by TASS news agency, which quoted the head of MiG as saying at an international defense expo that such a deal was sealed at the end of 2016 about aircraft in service with the Bulgarian Air Force.

The AG600 - the world's largest amphibious aircraft - has successfully passed an engine test, bringing it one step closer to its maiden flight later this year, its Chinese producer announced. The main use of the plane will be fighting wildfires.

The Hellenic Army received on Tuesday the second batch of 3 ex-US Army CH-47SD helicopters. The fleet has now expanded to 21 Chinooks, while four more are to be delivered. There is an option for five more, but it is unclear so far if or when it will be activated.

Bulgaria has signed with Russian aircraft company MiG a deal to have its fighter jets refurbished, the company's Director General has said.

Swedish defense giant Saab has offered to build a state-of-the-art fighter jet factory in India should it seal a lucrative deal to supply hundreds of military jets to New Delhi.

Saab and its U.S. competitor Lockheed Martin have emerged as the frontrunners to supply around 250 single-engine combat planes to India's air force which wants to revamp its Soviet-era military hardware.