AIRBUS

Airbus Defence and Space mini Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) subsidiary SURVEY Copter signed a contract with French Armament General Directorate to provide the French Navy with 11 systems, (22 aircraft), of the electrically powered fixed-wing Aliaca maritime version UAS, officially called SMDM, including training and integrated logistic support. First deliveries are expected in 2021.

Russian Airlines Aeroflot, the flag carrier has taken delivery of its first Airbus’ A350-900, becoming the launch operator of the latest-generation wide-body aircraft in Eastern Europe and CIS. Aeroflot has a total of 22 A350-900 aircraft on order and operates an Airbus fleet of 126 aircraft (107 A320 Family and 19 A330 Family aircraft).

BOEING

Boeing and Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) have announced on April 20, 2021 that the aircraft lessor is growing its Boeing 737 MAX portfolio with an order for 15 Boeing 737-8 jets. DAE had been investing in the Boeing 737 MAX by buying jets from existing customers and leasing them back to the carriers.

As per data released by Boeing on April 13, 2021, during the three months ended March 31, 2021, the company delivered 24 new and remanufactured AH-64 Apache attack helicopters; six new and renewed CH-47 Chinook transport helicopters; three F-15 Eagle fighter jets; four F/A-18 multirole fighters; two KC-46 aerial tankers and three P-8 maritime patrol aircraft.

The first P-8A Poseidon fuselage for Norway arrived on April 12, 2021 at Boeing facilities in Washington for the production of the first of five Poseidons for the Royal Norwegian Air Force. The P-8 is first assembled at Boeing Commercial Airplanes’ 737 production line and is then delivered to Boeing’s Defence, Space & Security unit for the installation of military systems, testing and delivery to military customers.

DEFENCE ACQUISITION COUNCIL

Defence Acquisition Council, chaired by the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, has approved capital acquisition proposals worth 13,700 crore (about $1.8 billion) of various weapons/platforms/equipment/systems required by the Indian Army, the Indian Navy and the IAF on February 23, 2021.

DRDO

Joint User Trials for Helina (Army Version) and Dhruvastra (Air Force Version) Missile Systems have been successfully carried out from Advanced Light Helicopter platform in firing ranges located in the desert. The missile systems have been designed and developed indigenously by the DRDO.

GLOBAL FORECAST

The “Electronic Warfare Market - Global Forecast to 2025” report states that the Electronic Warfare market size is projected to grow from $ 17 billion in 2020 to $20.9 billion by 2025, at a CAGR of 4.2 per cent. The major players in the Electronic Warfare market includes BAE Systems, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon Technologies, Lockheed Martin, Thales Group, L3Harris Technologies, Israel Aerospace Industries and SAAB who have spread their business across various countries includes North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa and Latin America.

HINDUSTAN AERONAUTICS LIMITED

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) received a Request for Proposal (RFP) from the IAF for their Basic Trainers requirement at the Aero India 2021 in Bengaluru on February 04, 2021. The RFP is for 70 HTT-40 Basic Trainer Aircraft with provision for 38 more.

ISRAELI AEROSP ACE INDUSTRIES

Israeli Aerospace Industries (IAI) has signed two deals, one to sell and one to lease two Heron MK II UAV systems to a central Asian country. The deal is valued at tens of millions of dollars. The systems include reconnaissance payloads, Heron MK II drones and land arrays. The Heron MK II reaches an altitude of 35,000 feet, maximum speed of 140 knots and can stay in the air for up to 45 hours.

LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION

Lockheed Martin Corporation on April 20, 2021 has reported its first quarter 2021 net sales of $16.3 billion, compared to $15.7 billion in the first quarter of 2020. Net earnings in the first quarter of 2021 were $1.8 billion, as compared to $1.7 billion, in the first quarter of 2020. The Sikorsky S-97 RAIDER helicopter flew two demonstrations before Army officials and Soldiers at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama on April 15, 2021 as part of Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company’s bid for the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft programme, part of the US Army’s Future Vertical Lift effort to revolutionise its aircraft fleet. S-97 RAIDER programme is solely funded by Sikorsky.

Lockheed Martin has contracted ABL Space Systems, California, a developer of low-cost launch vehicles and launch systems for the small satellite industry, to supply a rocket and associated launch services for the company’s first UK vertical satellite launch named Pathfinder. The event is planned to be the first ever vertical small satellite launch from UK in 2022.

NORTHROP GRUMMAN

Northrop Grumman Corporation has been awarded a contract by the US Defence Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA) Tactical Technology Office to develop an advanced technology weapon concept designed to significantly increase engagement range and weapon effectiveness of US Forces against adversary air threats.

Northrop Grumman Corporation and UK-based Ultra equipped a modified, manned Bell 407 (acting as an MQ-8C Fire Scout surrogate) platform with Ultra sonobuoys, receiver and processor to complete an unmanned aircraft systems anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capability demonstration. The mission payload and effects were controlled from the ground with the resultant ASW picture disseminated to locations across the globe.