Germany and Ukraine have signed new defence deals covering missiles, drones and air defence. Berlin also backed Kyiv’s EU bid and called for the release of EU funds to strengthen Ukraine’s long-term security.
Airbus Helicopters has revealed two next generation rotorcraft concepts for NATO’s Next Generation Rotorcraft Capabilities study. Developed with Collins Aerospace, Raytheon and MBDA, the proposal includes a conventional helicopter and a high-speed compound design.
Raytheon demonstrated its Coyote Block 3 Non-Kinetic system in a U.S. Army test, defeating multiple drone swarms and showcasing launch, intercept and recovery capabilities under operational conditions.
Chinese drone manufacturer DJI is facing trouble doing business in the U.S with all kinds of legal hurdles and has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Pentagon, while Raytheon has been fined almost $1 billion and Sweden’s Saab has been subpoenaed for its sale of Gripen fighters to Brazil.
Australia announced a $4.7 billion purchase of Raytheon SM-2 and SM-6 missiles and Taiwan is likely to buy three Raytheon NASAMS medium-range air defence systems in a $2 billion sale.
Boeing is the third international manufacturer to have announced a partnership with Indian companies for the production of fighter aircraft in India.
India’s defence procurement continues to raise more questions than answers, points out Hemant Shivakumar, with the uncertainty over the order of Spike Anti Tank Guided Missiles (ATGMs) appearing to be the latest casualty to the ‘Make in India’ initiative.
The eventual order for six aircraft is expected to be worth USD 650 million and a follow-on exercise of an option on an earlier IAF order for 22 helicopters.
Raytheon will supply 245 Stinger missiles for the Indian Air Force fleet of 22 Apache attack helicopters.
Boeing’s Shelly Lavender said they will be meeting the defense ministry to ‘go through the details’ of their offer for an Indian F/A-18 assembly line.
Saab has offered its cutting-edge Gallium Nitride AESA radar technology if India decides to produce the Gripen fighter aircraft for the IAF.
Boeing’s Dave Brostrom briefed media about the light armed helicopter and their expectations of its market potential at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace exhibition (LIMA2015) last month.
The four-km range MMP, which stands for Missile Moyenne Portée, or Medium Range Missile, is a new development for the French Army and has only been test-fired for the first time, earlier this month.
The team is in the US to discuss the Defense Trade and Technology Initiative (DTTI) and terms for the new Defense Framework Agreement in a trip timed just before the Modi visit.
Carter is looking at the Indian defense ministry to make it easier for US companies to do business with it and wants resolution of issues related to offsets, limitation of liability and delays in decision-making.
