
The Royal Thai Navy has ordered two Airbus C295 aircraft configured for transport, surveillance and search-and-rescue operations. The order follows an Air Force order last week for two aircraft.

Italy’s Ministry of Defence has awarded a €1.393 billion contract to Airbus Defence and Space for six A330 MRTT tanker aircraft and integrated logistics support under a Heavy Multi Role tanker fleet modernization program. The procurement process covered aircraft acquisition and long-term support arrangements over a planned period of 122 months.

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.

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.’