Royal Air Force (RAF)’s Post

At the end of December 2023, the French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA - Direction générale de l'armement) awarded Dassault Aviation an order for 42 Rafale combat aircraft, known as “tranche 5”, for the French Air Force (AAE). “On behalf of Dassault Aviation and the 400 companies involved in the Rafale program, I would like to thank the Ministry for the Armed Forces, the DGA and the AAE for their renewed confidence. We are ready and determined to use our skills as prime contractor and complex systems integrator to serve the sovereignty of our nation. This military industrial sovereignty is an exception in Europe. It guarantees the superiority of our combat aviation. It is also an asset for diplomatic influence and an economic strength in export trade”, says Éric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation. The Rafale is a technical, operational and commercial success which continues to position France at a world-class level in combat aircraft. The Rafale has been designed to evolve by successive standards, in order to adapt the latest technologies to user needs. Standard 4, focusing particularly on connectivity, is under development. Standard 5, which is currently preparing for launch, will bring new capabilities in collaborative combat. Read more: https://lnkd.in/d_nR5PNC #France #DassaultAviation #Rafale #aircraft #fighter #airforce #defence #aerospace #industry #military #technology #Europe

Images have emerged of China’s latest heavy attack helicopter, tentatively called the Z-21, undergoing flight tests. This new addition appears to share design elements with the Z-20, a utility helicopter similar to the Black Hawk, indicating a strategic development in China's military aviation capabilities. Experts, including Andreas Rupprecht, have noted that the development aligned with previous rumours of a new attack helicopter. The approach suggested the Z-21 has benefitted from the Z-20’s reliable systems while introducing a slimmer fuselage and enhanced armament. While the exact timeline for the Z-21's service entry remains uncertain, its introduction into the PLA’s arsenal has been considered a pivotal enhancement of China’s military aviation strength. https://bit.ly/3vH1RTn #DefenseIndustry #MilitaryAviation #China #Z21Helicopter

https://lnkd.in/dyxB5-sC A single U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier typically carries an air wing of 90 fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters, forming a force more potent than most of the world air forces. With 11 such carriers and additional amphibious assault ships capable of operating fast jets, the U.S. military boasts the largest fleet of combat aircraft globally. According to the 2021 World Air Forces report by Flight International and Embraer, the U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy, and Marine Corps collectively operate over 13,000 military aircraft. The F-16C remains the most common combat aircraft in the U.S. inventory, with 803 in service, and globally, with 2,267 in operation. Russia has the second-largest fleet, with over 4,000 aircraft, primarily Su-27/Su-30 Flankers, supplemented by advanced Su-57s. China holds the third-largest inventory with 3,160 aircraft, many of which are indigenous versions of the Flanker, alongside advanced models like the J-10 and J-20. India follows with 2,119 aircraft, including a diverse mix of Russian, French, British, and American designs, and its domestic HAL Tejas. This diverse inventory presents a logistical challenge but reflects India broad strategic partnerships and technological advancements. The Maritime Patrol Aircraft market has shown robust growth, with a valuation of USD 18.05 billion in 2023. Looking ahead, the sector is projected to expand at a CAGR of 4.92% from 2024 to 2030, reaching an estimated USD 25.26 billion by the end of the forecast period. This growth reflects increasing investments in maritime security and advancements in aircraft technology. Stay tuned for more updates and insights on this dynamic market! #MaritimePatrolAircraft #Aviation #MarketGrowth #Defense #Security #Aerospace

🇩🇰⚡️ Denmark has contracted Scandinavian Avionics A/S - HQ of The SA Group to modernize the air force’s Saab T-17 high-wing military training aircraft. The agreement covers the replacement of the fleet’s analog cockpit with digital components, including wireless data transfer, engine indication, newer air traffic control transponders, and communications tools. “This is a very ambitious project, and we are proud and honoured to partner with the Danish Air Force to lift the aerial capacity to the next level,” Scandinavian Avionics CEO Michael R. Truelsen said. “Not only do the T-17 aircraft receive a total transformation from analogue to digital, but the upgrades will also result in a severe reduction in the need for maintenance in the future.” #military #techology #militarytechnology #militarytech #innovation #defense #defence #defenseindustry #defenceindustry #aviation #militaryaviation #avionics #denmark

Together with IG Metall, the BDLI - Bundesverband der Deutschen Luft- und Raumfahrtindustrie e.V. and other aerospace companies such as Airbus Defence and Space or HENSOLDT, we are working to strengthen military aviation in Germany. We must now set the course to make our sites fit for the future. In the military sector in particular, this requires planning certainty, especially with regard to #EurofighterNextGen. A development contract for the further development of the Eurofighter must be launched before the end of this legislative period. This would form the basis for a Tranche 5 contract in the next legislative period. The end of the #Eurofighter program would lead to a noticeable reduction in the European high-tech supplier landscape within a few years. This highly specialized workforce and production capacity must be retained in view of the future European air defense system #FCAS.

✈ Here is my recent interview with Steve Patrick, VP of Bombardier Defense. Our conversation centred around Bombardier adapting their Global and Challenger aircraft for military ops, including ISR, Medevac, maritime patrol, and much more. Steve also offered insights into the U.S. Army's selection of Bombardier's Global 6500 for the High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System (HADES) program, their aircraft capable of operating on sustainable aviation fuel, and their newly opened defence-focused office at Lot Fourteen in Adelaide. "Australia is an important market for defense, as a member of Five Eyes and AUKUS, and we see opportunities for enhanced collaboration for different mission-types." - Steve Patrick Read here! https://lnkd.in/gd_ivNHA #Aviation #Defence #Innovation #Sustainability #BombardierDefense #ISR #Global6500 #Australia #LotFourteen #Medevac #Maritimepatrol #HADES #Adelaide #GlobalDefenceTechnology #GlobalData

This really matters, so in advance I apologise for the longer than usual post. Boeing's announcement at The Royal International Air Tattoo represents a major step in enhancing allied interoperability while also supporting energy security and military advantage. I am really grateful for the support of our partners at the Royal Air Force (RAF), the United States Department of Defense and NATO on this issue. So what's it all about? Sometimes when we talk about things like #SAF it can feel technical or difficult to grasp. Let's start with first principles: we need to support our armed forces' ability to operate globally. Approved SAF blends are a drop-in replacement for conventional Jet Fuel; they are our biggest opportunity to reduce aviation related emissions by 2050. Increasingly SAF is going to be present throughout the energy supply chain. Airlines have already flown around 450,000 flights on SAF globally. We need to support our defence customers and partners keep up with this evolving energy landscape. Some customers, like the UK Ministry of Defence have approved the use of SAF on their platforms for a number of years; others are just beginning their SAF journey and we need to support them. Militaries who fall behind in approving their platforms to operate on drop-in SAF, risk being increasingly challenged in interoperating with each other and the fuel supply chain. This is why I am proud that Boeing has taken the leadership position on the use of SAF on our portfolio of defence products. Looking to the future, this will hopefully help militaries also take advantage of the potential performance and energy security benefits of SAF. It was fantastic to have such an amazing and inspiring group of leaders join us for the announcement today including: the RAF's Director Support and Chief Engineer, Shaun Harris CBE; Kevin Billings OBE who has been a true force of nature on all things defence and energy related; Christopher Raymond,our first Chief Sustainability Officer and now President and CEO of Boeing Global Services and Steve Parker, Boeing Defense Space and Security's Chief Operating Officer. Brian Moran, Ryan Faucett, Danielle Olmstead Ukanowicz, Megan Dolan, Mark Muller, Todd Fields, Heidi Grant, Tim Flood, Florian Gleissner, Ana Purnell Marques, Martin Gorricho, Nicola Hammond, Simla Akbulut, Simon Baumann, Justin Mohn, James Appathurai, Richard Kamin, Jean-Philippe (JP) Belières, Stephen Clark, Alexandra Utsey Jones, Mike Caston, Kaaren Cramer, Wael Zaoud, Ivan Gale

The USAF receives its first eVTOL from Archer, advancing the future of electric air mobility and paving the way for innovative defense applications > > https://hubs.la/Q02Lymtl0 The delivery comes after the U.S. Department of Defense accepted Midnight’s military airworthiness assessment, a critical approval that confirms its readiness for flight testing by AFWERX. This allows AFWERX to conduct government-directed testing of the aircraft for the USAF and validate operational and military-specific mission concepts. Adam Goldstein, Archer Aviation CEO, said; “This delivery represents a pivotal moment not only for Archer but for the future of military aviation. “Together, our goal is to prove Midnight’s potential and ensure the United States continues to lead the way with the world’s most advanced technology.” Archer United States Air Force #evtol #aircraft #mobility #aviation #aerospace #airforce

How many flights are carried out by #military #aircraft under General Air Traffic (#GAT) rules? What is the level of on-board equipage of military aircraft? Our recent paper on data analytics provides a snapshot of the number of flights conducted by State aircraft in the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) #region over the recent years, as well as the level of on-board equipage for performance-based navigation (#PBN) stemming from flight plan data. Interesting findings related to aircraft equipage can be derived from this paper. Many thanks to Ricardo Oliveira and the team for the outstanding work. EUROCONTROL #cmc #airlines #ansp European Defence Agency NATO

On April 30, 1950, the Sud-Est Grognard made its maiden flight, marking the beginning of a short-lived but intriguing chapter in French military aviation history. Designed as a single-seat, low-level ground-attack aircraft, the Grognard was intended to serve the French Armée de l'Air in the 1950s.However, despite its promising design and potential, the Grognard program was ultimately cancelled in favor of the Sud-Ouest Vautour II. This decision marked the end of the Grognard's development, leaving behind a legacy of what could have been. #military #defense #defence #aerospace #aviation #aircraft #aircrafts #airplane #airplanes #aviationlovers #militaryaviation #militaryaircraft #fighterjet #engineering #technology #militarytechnology #defensetechnology #defenseinnovation #defenseindustry #airforce