Airbus is preparing two Valkyrie-based uncrewed combat aircraft in Germany for their first flight with a European mission system. The programme aims to deliver a collaborative combat aircraft capability to the German Air Force by 2029.
Airbus has completed the first demonstration flight of its uncrewed Bird of Prey interceptor in Germany. The drone autonomously detected and engaged a kamikaze drone using a Mark I missile, with further trials planned in 2026.
Airbus Defence and Space has secured a contract from Eutelsat to manufacture 340 additional OneWeb low Earth orbit satellites. The order, which follows a 2024 purchase of 100 satellites, is intended to maintain operational continuity of the OneWeb constellation.
Airbus Defence and Space and Indra have been selected to carry out an 18-month definition study for Spain’s future SIGINT aircraft. The work comes alongside Airbus-led combat training programmes which will incorporate the induction of 30 Turkish HÜRJET trainer aircraft and follows Spain’s recent order for additional C295 transport aircraft.
France’s DGA has selected Airbus Defence and Space for a framework contract of up to €50 million to integrate artificial intelligence into French military systems, beginning with upgrades to the Spationav maritime surveillance network and expanding into intelligence, cybersecurity and communications.
Airbus has delivered the first A400M military transport aircraft to Indonesia; the first of two ordered in 2021, to support transport, humanitarian, and potential firefighting missions across the archipelago. With this delivery, Indonesia has become the tenth operator of the tactical airlifter.
The Royal Saudi Air Force already operates six Airbus A330 MRTT aircraft and the four new aircraft are expected to enter service in 2027. A total of 82 A330 MRTT aircraft have been ordered by 15 countries, giving Airbus a 90 percent market share outside the USA.
According to Airbus, ‘In military aviation, a Wingman is a pilot in another aircraft that protects and supports the flight lead, delivers more tactical options and thus contributes to mission success. In the Airbus concept, the Wingman is going to operate very much in the same way – only that it is neither a pilot nor a fighter jet flown by one. It is a fighter-type drone that will be commanded by a pilot in a current combat aircraft such as the Eurofighter and can take on high-risk mission tasks that would pose a bigger threat to manned-only aircraft.’
According to Airbus, ‘The first 16 C295s of the 56 aircraft on order will be assembled at the San Pablo Sur site in Seville, Spain, with the second aircraft due to be delivered in May 2024 and the next 14 rolled out at a rate of one per month until August 2025.’
Airbus went home from the Dubai Air Show 2021 with orders for two A400M aircraft from Indonesia and two A330 MRTT from the UAE, and an order for three aircraft from Spain just before the air show.
We examine lessons learned from the MMRCA contest and look at seven ways to derisk the process to prevent a repeat of the result in the earlier MMRCA competition.
Angad Singh and Pushan Das help StratPost editor Saurabh Joshi understand how the new IAF fighter contest will be different from the last one and why it will take two general elections before an order is placed.
Updated: MMRCA 2.0 will be a repeat of the MMRCA contest with the same six aircraft: F/A-18 Super Hornet Block III, MiG-35, F-16 Block 70, Gripen E, Eurofighter and Rafale.
Boeing and Airbus will compete in a new IAF tender for tanker aircraft being conducted for the 3rd time – this time without a Russian bid. Airbus had won both the earlier tenders that were later withdrawn.
