DefenceTalkFrance dangled Tuesday the possibility of manufacturing its Rafale fighter plane in Malaysia if the nation selected the aircraft as its new combat jet. “We are considering an assembly line in Malaysia,” said Eric Trappier, chief executive of the Rafale’s builder Dassault Aviation, in a telephone interview from the Langkawi air show in northern Malaysia. […]https://www.defencetalk.com/france-says-malaysia-can-build-jets-if-it-buys-rafale-47283/

DefenceTalkThe Eurofighter IPA 8 (Instrumented Production Aircraft 8) test aircraft has achieved an important production milestone at Cassidian in Manching: with the mounting of the right wing, the connection between the cockpit, vertical tail unit and wings with the fuselage has been completed. “IPA 8 is based on the latest Eurofighter Tranche 3 construction standard […]https://www.defencetalk.com/cassidian-produces-the-worlds-most-advanced-eurofighter-47277/

DefenceTalkThe Brazilian Air Force (FAB) and Embraer Defense & Security have successfully concluded the Critical Design Review (CDR) of the KC-390 military transport aircraft. The contract event, which is one of the main landmarks of the program, took place at Embraer’s facilities in the Eugênio de Melo district of the city of São José dos […]https://www.defencetalk.com/brazilian-and-embraer-conclude-critical-design-review-of-the-kc-390-project-47275/

DefenceTalkChina has agreed to buy two dozen fighter jets and four submarines from Russia, state media reported Monday, the country’s first large-scale weapons technology purchases from Moscow in a decade. The agreement to buy the 24 Su-35 fighters and four Lada-class submarines was signed just before President Xi Jinping’s weekend visit to Russia, said the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/china-to-buy-russian-fighters-subs-state-media-47271/

DefenceTalkThe 2nd Bomb Wing made its first live run with a new addition to the aging bomber. With constant upgrades bringing the more than 60 year-old bomber into the 21st century, the addition of the sniper pod gives the B-52H Stratofortress better integration with ground forces and laser-guided bombs for precision strike capability. “This flight […]https://www.defencetalk.com/b-52-gets-new-sniper-pod-47258/

DefenceTalkSenior Army and Air Force leaders for the Reserve and National Guard were on Capitol Hill to testify March 19 and answer questions about updating and replacing their combat-worn equipment. Chairman Michael Turner, R-Ohio, and Rep. John Garamendi, D-Calif., led the hearing at the House Armed Services Committee’s Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee. They […]https://www.defencetalk.com/congress-reviews-reserve-forces-equipment-needs-47264/

DefenceTalkEurocopter, the world’s leading maker of civil helicopters, will sign an agreement next month aimed at setting up production in Poland, putting it in the running for a Polish chopper deal, a factory president said Monday. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced in September that Warsaw was seeking 70 helicopters for its army and that […]https://www.defencetalk.com/eurocopter-enters-race-for-polish-chopper-deal-47273/

DefenceTalkAll eyes turned skywards in Penang today with the arrival of four Royal Air Force Typhoons. The Typhoon aircraft have flown from the UK ahead of the LIMA 2013 air show on Langkawi next week. The 29 Squadron RAF team will be displaying the new multi-role combat aircraft at the event and promise air show […]https://www.defencetalk.com/raf-eurofighter-typhoon-touches-down-in-malaysia-47236/

DefenceTalkRockwell Collins Tactical Targeting Network Technology (TTNT) was used by Northrop Grumman Corporation and the U.S. Navy as they successfully completed a series of deck handling trials of the X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System aboard the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75). The exercises demonstrated the ability to maneuver the tailless, strike-fighter-sized aircraft quickly […]https://www.defencetalk.com/tactical-targeting-network-technology-for-deck-handling-trials-of-x-47b-47220/

DefenceTalkDefence and security company Saab has today signed a support contract for airborne surveillance system. The contract amounts to MSEK 1,100 over 2013-2017. The contract concerns a comprehensive set of spares and support services for a previously delivered system, Saab 2000 AEW&C (Airborne Early Warning & Control). The Saab 2000 AEW&C comprises of Saab 2000 […]https://www.defencetalk.com/saab-signs-support-contract-for-airborne-surveillance-system-47216/