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DECember 2023 news
Defense Aviation and Aerospace Industry |
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At the ExpoDefensa 2023 exhibition in Colombia, the Colombian Aeronautical Industry Corporation (CIAC) showcased its Coelum, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) entirely designed and manufactured within Colombia. The UAV, initially presented at Expodefensa 2021, features an electric engine and offers capabilities for both military and civil use.
At EDEX 2023, an event for which Army Recognition is the official partner, the editorial team is examining the capabilities of the Ahmous multi-role drone, developed by the Egyptian Ministry of Military Production. This unmanned aerial vehicle represents a significant evolution in the field, endowed with technical features and designs that distinctly position it in the current UAV sector.
Lockheed Martin successfully conducted an AGM-179 Joint Air-to-Ground Missile - Medium Range, or JAGM-MR, guided flight test on Dec. 2, 2023, at China Lake Test Range in California. The successful flight test demonstrated JAGM-MR’s tri-mode seeker and its ability to aid the missile to successfully discriminate between multiple targets.
At the ExpoDefensa 2023 in Colombia, the editorial team of Army Recognition closely examines the Quimbaya X-003, an unmanned aerial vehicle recently acquired by the Colombian Air Force (FAC). This UAV represents a significant advancement in Colombia’s defense capabilities, having been designed and developed by the Colombian Ministry of Defense through its Directorate of Science, Technology, and Innovation.
At EDEX 2023, Spirit Aeronautical Systems (SAS Technology), a Greek company established in 2020, presented its Aihmi AHM-1X, an unmanned aerial system (UAS) developed to extend the range of 2.75-inch (70mm) rockets. The company considers the Aihmi AHM-1X as a potential weapon for its Sarisa SRS-1A weaponized drone, which completed a second test in July 2023, armed with 70mm rockets.
Developed by the Egyptian Ministry of Military Production, the 6th October drone is reviewed by the editorial team of Army Recognition. This unmanned aerial vehicle incorporates advanced features designed to meet the varied demands of defense and security operations.
During EDEX 2023, CyRIC AGS, a Cyprus-based company specializing in Unmanned Aerial and Ground vehicles (UAVs and UGVs), introduced the Goliath, a long-endurance heavy lifter hexacopter. The focus of this hexacopter lies in optimizing efficiency, reliability, and weight to achieve long-endurance characteristics, ensuring a balance of efficiency, stability, and safety.
At EDEX 2023, CyRIC AGS, a Cyprus-based company specializing in the design, development, and manufacturing of Unmanned Aerial and Ground vehicles (UAVs and UGVs), introduced the Dragonflyer series, a set of GPS-guided gliders designed for precision strikes. This series comprises two variants, the Dragonflyer-60 and Dragonflyer-81, both intended for transporting 60mm and 81mm mortar shells, respectively.
Airbus Defence and Space recently completed a fresh flight-test campaign for the A400M Roll-on/Roll-off firefighting prototype kit, demonstrating its capability to drop 20,000 liters of retardant and create highly concentrated lines spanning over 400 meters on the ground.
Kratos Unmanned Aerial Systems, a company based in Sacramento, California, has recently secured a contract modification with the U.S. Navy, amounting to $22,913,358.
During the EDEX 2023 exhibition in Egypt, AirWorker, a Yerevan-based Armenian company, unveiled its latest loitering munition, the AW21, boasting a payload capacity of 2kg, encompassing the warhead and control system. Additionally, the company presented its AW5R autonomous reconnaissance drone.
As reported by Kazim Abdul in Military Africa, in Sudan's ongoing civil war, the Sudanese Air Force, facing a severe lack of modern combat aircraft, has adapted its fleet of Soviet-made Antonov transport planes to serve as makeshift bombers. This fleet, primarily intended for transport, parachute, and reconnaissance duties, includes models like the An-12, An-26, and An-30. These aircraft have been modified to carry bombs, a method that was previously employed during the Darfur war in 2003, where they gained notoriety for causing civilian casualties and displacement.
At the EDEX 2023 exhibition in Egypt, AirWorker, a Yerevan-based Armenian company, introduced its AW5R unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), an autonomous reconnaissance drone with a 3.5 kg takeoff weight. Established in 2016, the company focuses on the development of aerial drones and engineering systems for various human activities.
In a move to strengthen its defense and surveillance capabilities, the Spanish Ministry of Defense has finalized an agreement with Airbus for the purchase of SIRTAP drones. The contract, worth €495 million (approximately $539 million), marks a crucial step in enhancing Spain's national security infrastructure. This announcement was made on November 29, 2023, by the Spanish Ministry of Defense.
South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has announced Embraer's C-390 Millennium as the winner of the Large Transport Aircraft (LTA) II public tender to provide the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) with new military transport aircraft. South Korea is the C-390 Millennium's first customer in Asia.
The Irkutsk Aviation Plant of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) manufactured and transferred to the Russian Ministry of Defense new multirole Su-30SM2 fighters and Yak-130 combat trainer aircraft. The aviation equipment passed the necessary ground and flight tests and went to the place of duty.
The U.S. Department of Defense on December 1 announced that General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., Poway, California, was awarded a $389,000,000 fixed-price incentive contract for the purchase of MQ-1C-25M Gray Eagle Modernized Extended Range systems. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Nov. 29, 2024. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity.
Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, delivered the first of 45 replacement MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter airframes to the U.S. Coast Guard, launching a 10-year program to extend the service life of the Coast Guard’s existing MH-60T fleet, and continue flying life-saving missions into the 2040s.
The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency on December 1 announced that the State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Republic of Korea of F-35 Munitions and related equipment for an estimated cost of $271 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this sale.
The agreement between Embraer (Empresa Brasileira de Aeronáutica) and the Netherlands Industries for Defense & Security (NIDV), signed at the 34th NIDV Defense and Security Exhibition (NEDS 2023), marks a significant step in the strategic cooperation between Brazil and the Netherlands. This Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aims to expand the already existing relations, particularly concerning the C-390 Millennium and A-29 Super Tucano projects. The Air Recognition editorial team was present at the exhibition to cover this event.
