Author: Michael

Work to test elements of the Tempest demonstrator is now under way, including sled testing of the aircraft’s ejector seat system. (BAE Systems)
Testing of components and systems intended for the Tempest Future Combat Air System (FCAS) Flying Technology Demonstrator (FTD) is accelerating at BAE Systems’ Warton site and at the facilities of partners companies around the UK.
Work on the demonstrator was announced in July 2022 by UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, with a declaration of intent for it to fly “within five years”.

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US Pentagon officials unveiled changes to improve the arms sales process. (Getty Images)
The US Department of Defense (DoD) plans to establish a Defense Security Cooperation Service to improve training for personnel who facilitate Foreign Military Sales (FMS), the Pentagon announced on 13 June.
Requests to buy US weapon systems sometimes get bogged down because they do not clearly state what a country wants, or they ask for something the US cannot provide, said Sasha Baker, deputy undersecretary of defence for policy.

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The new agreement between New Zealand and Fiji provides a framework for growing bilateral defence ties. In April New Zealand’s first P-8A Poseidon maritime reconnaissance aircraft was deployed to the South Pacific country in operational trials. (New Zealand Defence Force)
New Zealand and Fiji have signed a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) to strengthen defence ties. The agreement is seen as a response to rising tension in the South Pacific.

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US Air Force F-35A lifts off from MCAS Iwakuni, Japan. Although TR-3-equipped F-35 deliveries are paused, TR-2 deliveries will continue. (US Air Force/Staff Sgt Zade Vadnais)
The US Department of Defense (DoD) will in July stop accepting deliveries of aircraft equipped with Technical Refresh-3 (TR-3) hardware and software, four months after resolving another delivery freeze.

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Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) partners have announced that they will jointly provide air defences worth £92m ($116.2m) to protect Ukraine’s critical national infrastructure and front-line personnel.
Ukraine has begun its long-awaited counter-offensive across the south and east of the country, where Russian forces have dug themselves in since last winter.
 The UK Ministry of Defence, in its daily relay of updates on the conflict, said there has been an increased presence of Russian aerial sorties deployed in response to Ukrainian offensive operations.

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