DefenceTalkThe largest fleet of F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighters grew to 25 aircraft as the F-35 Integrated Training Center here welcomed two new Air Force F-35A variants of the multi-role fighter to the Emerald Coast, June 5. The expansion gives the 58th Fighter Squadron the ability to fly an expanded schedule and more readily […]https://www.defencetalk.com/fleet-grows-training-increases-for-f-35-48089/

DefenceTalkThe Indian Air Force (IAF) flew its first Boeing C-17 Globemaster III to India today, becoming the newest operator of the leading airlifter. “The C-17 will equip the Indian Air Force with amongst the world’s most advanced humanitarian and strategic capabilities,” said Air Vice Marshal SRK Nair, Assistant Chief of Air Staff Operations (Transport and […]https://www.defencetalk.com/boeing-transfers-1st-c-17-to-indian-air-force-48083/

DefenceTalkChina successfully launched its fifth manned spacecraft on Tuesday afternoon, announced Zhang Youxia, chief commander of China’s manned space program. Shenzhou-10, atop an upgraded Long March-2F carrier rocket, blasted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China late Tuesday afternoon and entered its designated orbit minutes later. Three astronauts, two male and one […]https://www.defencetalk.com/china-successfully-launches-shenzhou-10-spacecraft-48087/

DefenceTalkA new study by Army researchers looks at inserting carbon nanotubes into the structural design of helicopter rotor blades to improve performance. The U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command’s research laboratory hopes this approach could lead to the design and fabrication of the next generation of rotor blades and fixed wings. Bryan Glaz, Ph.D., […]https://www.defencetalk.com/army-researchers-chase-helicopter-performance-gains-48093/

DefenceTalkUS aerospace giant Boeing announced Tuesday it has received a multi-year $4 billion order from the US Army for 177 more CH-47F Chinook helicopters. The five-year deal includes an option for the army to buy 38 additional Chinooks, a multi-mission, twin-engine transport helicopter, Boeing said in a statement. “This order would eventually bring the Army’s […]https://www.defencetalk.com/boeing-gets-4-bn-us-army-helicopter-deal-48081/

DefenceTalkFrance wants to buy 12 Reaper drones from the United States, Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Tuesday, as ministry officials put the cost at 670 million euros ($889 million). Le Drian said he wanted two Reapers to be deployed in sub-Saharan Africa, where France is battling Islamist militants in Mali. The 10 others […]https://www.defencetalk.com/france-keen-to-buy-12-us-reaper-drones-minister-48079/

DefenceTalkChina’s first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, has left its homeport of Qingdao in east China’s Shandong Province to conduct scientific experiments and sea training, naval authorities said Tuesday. This was the first time for the carrier to leave its homeport to conduct training voyage since it anchored there in February, according to the People’s Liberation […]https://www.defencetalk.com/chinas-first-aircraft-carrier-leaves-homeport-for-sea-trials-48077/

DefenceTalkThe Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress June 7 of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Libya of 2 C-130J-30 aircraft and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $588 million. The Government of Libya has requested a sale of 2 C-130J-30 aircraft, 10 Rolls Royce AE 2100D3 engines (8 […]https://www.defencetalk.com/libya-to-buy-two-c-130js-for-588m-48075/

DefenceTalkThe US government’s vast online data collection system revealed this week could tap into companies like Google and Facebook without the knowledge of top executives, experts said. The so-called PRISM program could be so secret that only a small number of computer network administrators and company lawyers may have been aware of it, according to […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-data-mining-system-technical-details-murky-48069/

DefenceTalkITT Exelis has been awarded a contract valued at more than $125 million by Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, Md., to deliver the latest variant of the AN/ALQ-214 airborne jammer. The AN/ALQ-214 is a subsystem of the Integrated Defensive Electronic Countermeasures (IDECM) suite. Under this contract, Exelis will engage in the second full-rate […]https://www.defencetalk.com/exelis-to-provide-us-navy-aircraft-with-advanced-electronic-countermeasures-48064/