Airbus-built European Service Module is ready for NASA’s Artemis II mission, which will send four astronauts around the Moon. The module provides propulsion, power and life support, and will support new capabilities including laser communications.
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.
Germany and France have again postponed a decision on the Future Combat Air System, with no new timeline set. The governments cited wider foreign and security talks and unresolved industry disputes, leaving the future of Europe’s planned next-generation air combat system uncertain.
The European Maritime Safety Agency has awarded Airbus a €30 million contract to provide maritime surveillance services using the Flexrotor uncrewed aerial system to stream electro-optical, infrared, and radar imagery in real time to the EMSA RPAS Data Centre, with operations set to begin in 2026.
Morocco has signed a contract with Airbus Helicopters for ten H225M aircraft to modernise the Royal Moroccan Air Force’s combat search and rescue capability, replacing its long-serving Puma fleet. The helicopters will be equipped with mission systems including a double hoist, searchlight and Safran Euroflir 410, along with provisions for machine guns and an electronic warfare suite.
The Airbus-built Sentinel-6B satellite has launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base to continue long-term monitoring of global sea-surface height. Developed through a partnership involving ESA, NASA, EUMETSAT, NOAA and CNES, the satellite will operate alongside Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich for its first year before taking over as the reference mission for sea-level measurements, supporting climate research, coastal planning and marine forecasting.
Germany has ordered 20 new Eurofighter aircraft from Airbus to strengthen its Air Force capabilities. The fighters will feature upgraded radar and electronic warfare systems and will be delivered between 2031 and 2034 as part of Europe’s joint defence programme. The new aircraft will serve as a technological bridge to the Future Combat Air System, which is expected to enter service from 2040.
Dassault’s new Rafale line isn’t just about speeding up deliveries. It’s also important for the future F5 upgrade. And to boost France’s position in Europe’s next-gen FCAS fighter drama. 🎥
The Ukraine war and expanding global conflict showered a windfall on German arms companies like Rheinmetall and TKMS, with some startups like Helsing becoming the upstarts of the weapons industry, and other legacy companies like Heckler & Koch even experiencing a dramatic reversal of fortunes.
Boeing issued a ‘global No Technical Objection (NTO)’ confirming there are no technical issues to any Boeing-built defence aircraft and derivatives operating on synthetic aviation turbine fuels at the maximum allowable limit of a 50-50 blend with conventional fossil fuels.
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.
The Republic of Korea has selected the Brazilian Embraer C-390 for its transport aircraft requirement for an order estimated to be approximately worth USD 540 million. The C-390 was competing against the Lockheed Martin C-130J and the Airbus A400M, in a contest similar to the ongoing airlifter requirement of the Indian Air Force.
Enjoy this special video report of the flightline at the Dubai Airshow 2023 held earlier this month.
Airbus will be featuring the A330 MRTT (Multi Role Tanker Transport) aircraft, AS565 MBe Panther and H335M helicopters at the show.
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.
