Defense Projects and News

A USMC F-35 crashed in New Mexico.

Painting of the F-15EX EX7 and EX8.

HIMARS.

Super Hercules.

Russian and Chinese bombers intercepted in international airspace near Alaska.

Bombardier Defense recently announced that German automobile association, Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club (ADAC SE), has placed an order for a Bombardier Challenger 650 aircraft through its daughter company Aero-Dienst. The aircraft will be configured as a dedicated air ambulance for Aero-Dienst, ADAC’s main aircraft operator, and is scheduled for delivery in 2026. The aircraft will be used to provide medical transportation to ADAC’s customers around the world. With the signing of this agreement, Bombardier Defense continues to expand its footprint in Germany and on the European continent.

“Our Challenger aircraft are distinguished by their class-leading reliability, flexibility and versatility – characteristics that are necessary to respond quickly to emergencies and provide life-saving medical assistance,” said Steve Patrick, Vice President, Bombardier Defense. “Bombardier has a long history of delivering medevac aircraft, so we are extremely honored that our Challenger 650 aircraft can contribute to the important work ADAC is doing to provide aid to their customers.”

Highway landing on C130 in the U.S.

Check out the brand new AGM-158.

New Zealands's first C-130J Super Hercules.

Bombardier Defense...

The Italian Armed Forces have taken delivery of 3 new Piaggio “EVO+” aircraft form Piaggio Aerospace. After completing the test flights, Piaggio Aerospace delivered to the Italian Air Force three P.180 Avanti EVO+,the iconic 9-seater aircraft designed and assembled by Piaggio Aerospace in its facilities located in Villanova d’Albenga and Genoa. The three aircraft, which will be assigned to the Air Transport Training School (S.A.T.A.) of the Italian Air Force in Pratica di Mare (Rome), are the first of the 15 brand-new P.180 Avanti EVO+ presently ordered and contractualized by the Italian Armed Forces as part of a modernization programme of the whole fleet, which also includes the retrofit of some additional aircraft currently in service. Piaggio Aerospace expects to deliver one more new aircraft and a retrofitted one by February 2025.

In November, 2024 Bombardier Defense celebrated the delivery of the first Bombardier Global 6500 aircraft to the United States Army in support of the High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System (HADES) program. Bolstered by the Global6500’s high-performance capabilities, the fixed-wing platform will contribute to strengthening the U.S. Army’s aerial deep sensing abilities and marks a significant milestone toward the United States’ goal of modernizing its aerial military intelligence. Joined by U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS), State of Kansas officials, and U.S. Army leaders, the celebration highlighted the delivery of the first prototype airframe for the next-generation intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) solution and the beginning of the next stage of the program to integrate systems.

“Bombardier Defense is honored to support the U.S. Army with the delivery of the first Global 6500 aircraft, a high-performance platform that possesses the speed, endurance-at-range and altitude capabilities to support deep-sensing for the Army of tomorrow,” said Steve Patrick, Vice President of Bombardier Defense. “This best-in-class jet is the future-proofed solution to provide the U.S. Army with the capabilities needed to face current and future threats.”

The United States Air Force is currently testing the MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aircraft in operations from unpaved runways using a dirt strip. The remotely piloted aircraft was controlled from Hurlburt Field, Florida approximately 1,100 miles from the dirt strip in New Mexico. “The exercise validated the MQ-9’s ability to conduct key operations in austere environments, including dirt-strip landings,” the air force said on 31 December, noting the Reaper Castillo drills took place over six weeks in November and December.

Next generation of ejection seat for multiple aircraft types in the U.S Air Force could be coming on the horizon. The USAF is expected to re-open a competition which would allow additional companies to bid for the contract. As far as we are aware the new Request for Proposal has not been fielded as yet.

The Royal New Zealand Air Force is looking to replace its ageing 757 fleet with other modern narrowbody units such as either the MAX or the A321 base. Since there has been nothing that Boeing directly replaced the production of the 757 with the MAX variants introduced helped to sort of serve as a stop-gap for the void left by the non-production of the 757. The Airbus A321 has soaked up alot of that market share as well with the NEO, LR and XLR variants of the A321. The RNZAF has been looking at the MAX 8 as a replacement which is a bit strange as the MAX 10 variant would be closer to the 757-200 model.

JAPAN is set to acquire 1,000 AMRAAM missiles. The AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles are manufactured by Raytheon and Japan Air Self Defense Force has been cleared to make the acquisition.

Spain has ordered 25 additional Eurofighter aircraft.

The Spanish government has signed a contract with Munich-based, Germany, NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency (NETMA) for the acquisition of 25 Eurofighter aircraft. Known as the Halcon II programme, the order will cover the delivery of 21 latest-generation single-seat and four twin-seat Eurofighter aircraft to replace part of the F-18 fleet operated by the Spanish Air and Space Force. The agreement, which follows a previous contract signed in 2022 for a batch of 20 fighter jets, will see the Spanish Eurofighter fleet grow to 115 aircraft. With the first delivery due in 2030, these new aircraft will: boost Spain’s air-power capabilities and operations; reinforce its prominent position at the heart of NATO, and secure the programme’s industrial footprint.

“The Eurofighter is the most advanced and the most successful fighter jet from European production and is the backbone of European air superiority. It is also a symbol of industrial cooperation between nations and companies - an example of how Europe can work in our current defence context. We are grateful for the trust of the Spanish government in our Eurofighter and in Airbus Defence and Space. Not only is this order an important demand and defence signal, it secures the supply chain in Spain and across Europe,” said Mike Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space.