Lucy Powell

1 day ago | shephardmedia.com | Lucy Powell

Airbus and the German procurement agency, Bundesamt für Ausrüstung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung der Bundeswehr (BAAINBw), have signed an agreement to upgrade 23 German Air Force A400M aircraft with Direct Infrared Counter Measures (DIRCM) systems made by Elbit Systems.

3 days ago | shephardmedia.com | Lucy Powell

The UK government has announced major investments to increase drone innovation and production both at home and to send abroad in a bid to shape its own military future and to deliver further support to Ukraine. The importance of technology and its role in changing the way wars are fought was extensively highlighted in the UK’s recently published Strategic Defence Review (SDR), which called for a greater use and mix of crewed and uncrewed systems across land, air and sea domains.

3 days ago | shephardmedia.com | Lucy Powell

The Philippine Air Force has acquired additional FA-50 fighter aircraft from Korea Aerospace Industries. KAI signed a contract with the Philippine Ministry of Defence on 3 June to supply 12 FA-50 aircraft by 2030, according to reports from local South Korean media. The contract amount is around US$700 million which includes aircraft, maintenance, parts and logistics support. Shephard previously reported on the additional FA-50 cost being listed at a price of PHP40 billion (US$683 million).

3 days ago | shephardmedia.com | Lucy Powell

The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has confirmed its long-awaited selection of Saab’s Gripen E/F aircraft, following several suggestions over the last year that it favoured the jet above that of Lockheed Martin’s F-16 Block 70. The deal for the aircraft would start with an initial procurement phase of four aircraft, three Gripen E and one Gripen F, with a budget of THB19.5 billion.

4 days ago | shephardmedia.com | Lucy Powell

Lockheed Martin’s CEO has said that its F-35 aircraft could see the integration of new technology on the platform as early as 2028, as the manufacturer works to “supercharge” its platform. Speaking at the Bernstein’s Strategic Decisions Conference on 28 May, Lockheed Martin CEO James Taiclet disclosed a rough timeline for the company’s work on improving the F-35’s capabilities.