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Ukrainian pilots will train to fly F-16 fighter jets in Poland, according to the Polish defense minister. While there had been prior suggestions that Poland would be involved, on some level, in the effort to get Ukrainians into the cockpits of F-16s, this is the first official confirmation that it’s actually going to happen, although details remain scarce, for now.
Malaysia’s KAI FA-50 Block 20 aircraft will have the ability to integrate a Lockheed Martin Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod (ATP), 500 lb GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM), GBU-12 Paveway II laser-guided bombs, and the AGM-65 Maverick missile. (Janes/Akhil Kadidal)
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) said that Malaysia’s order of 18 FA-50 light combat aircraft will be followed by a second order of an additional 18 aircraft.
The newly announced Next Generation Medium Helicopter programme will develop future rotorcraft technologies into retrofits for existing helicopters or as newbuild helicopters. (Janes/Gareth Jennings)
The European Union (EU) has launched the Next Generation Medium Helicopter (NGMH) programme geared at converting future rotorcraft technologies into fieldable solutions, either as retrofits to existing platforms or as newbuild aircraft.
U.S. Marine Capt. Grady Kurpasi, speaks to students at Swansboro Elementary School. (Lance Cpl. Aaron Douds/U.S. Marine Corps).
A group of dedicated American veterans working with Ukrainians spent months looking for the body of retired Marine Capt. Grady Kurpasi, who was killed in April while fighting against Russian forces.
The final recovery of Kurpasi’s body in the Kherson region required a drone, a dog team, and mine clearing experts to find a way through mines and unexploded ordnance.
A new research centre has opened that will support the Australian Defence Force (ADF) operate in hazardous environments.
The Centre for Advance Defence Research and Enterprise (CADRE), based at the University of Melbourne, opened on 19 May 2023. Bringing together academic and industry organisations, the CADRE will develop new concepts and technologies to protect military personnel.
Chief Defence Scientist, Professor Tanya Monro, said CADRE would mobilise the science, technology and innovation ecosystem.
The M230 chain gun. (Northrop Grumman).
Not solely content with its brand new counter-drone ‘proximity’ airburst round, the Army is set to fund the development of another do-it-all munition for use with the 30mm chain guns it’s slowly proliferating across its fleet of ground vehicles.
The service has requested $18.93 million in fiscal year 2024 for the new 30x113mm XM1223 Multi-Mode Proximity Airburst (MMPA) round designed to counter threats from incoming drones and ground troops behind cover, according to budget documents.
Sypaq’s Corvo PPDS UAS is shipped in compact form for assembly by the user. The company said this allows it ship the UAS in bulk. (Janes/Akhil Kadidal)
The Australian company Sypaq has reported a surge in interest within the Asia-Pacific (APAC) in its “cardboard” unmanned aerial systems (UASs) after their use in Ukraine.
The lightweight and small battlefield logistics aircraft is called the Corvo Precision Payload Delivery System (PPDS).
The KC-390 will undertake a range of duties for the Portuguese Air Force. (Embraer )
The Portuguese Air Force (FAP) formally activated its new transport squadron on 20 May.
Five Embraer KC-390 Millennium multimission transport aircraft will be operated by 506 Squadron at Beja Air Base No 11. The aircraft were acquired in August 2019 under an EUR827 million (USD894 million) contract to replace the C-130H Hercules aircraft of 501 Squadron.
The first aircraft, which is undergoing final certification by the Portuguese National Aeronautical Authority, will be formally received in 2023.
The US Navy awarded Austal USA a detail design and construction contract for up to seven T-AGOS 25 class ocean surveillance ships. (L3Harris Technologies)
The US Navy (USN) awarded Austal USA a contract with a potential value of USD3.2 billion for the detail design and construction of up to seven T-AGOS 25 class ocean surveillance ships, the contracting team confirmed on 19 May.
Austal USA has teamed up with L3Harris Technologies (L3Harris), Noise Control Engineering (NCE), TAI Engineering (TAI), and Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors (TMC) for the T-AGOS 25 work.
Fans of HBO’s Band of Brothers will be familiar with Currahee Mountain. Located in Stephens County, Georgia, 40 miles and one-hour drive west of Clemson, South Carolina. the mountain served as a physical fitness challenge to the paratroopers who trained at Camp Toccoa during WWII. The distance of the trail to the summit and back, “Three miles up, three miles down,” became synonymous with Currahee Mountain. Today, the trail to the top is accessible for visitors looking for a challenge.
Camp Toccoa, c. 1942 (Public Domain)
Currahee is derived from a Cherokee word meaning “stand alone.