Julien Mercier, Author at DEFENSE-AEROSPACE

Canada Queries Effectiveness of Sikorsky CH-148 Helicopter

Federal Defense chiefs ordered a deep look at Sikorsky’s CH-148 Cyclone fleet. Crews trust these birds for day-to-day patrols over grey water, yet lawmakers now ask plain shut questions about hard mission value. They wonder if the helo keeps pace with rough

September 15, 2023

AI & Autonomy

Training for the Mission – Ukrainians Learn to Operate the Leopard 1 A5

Every tank feels different. Controls on a T-72 ask for muscle memory, while the Leopard’s clutch and gearbox demand a softer touch. “The Leo turns quicker and keeps speed on hills,” one Ukrainian trainee explains through a volunteer interpreter. “That helps when

August 17, 2023

AI & Autonomy

Exclusive: Retired RAAF Fighter Jets Could Be Sent to Ukraine (excerpt)

The Royal Australian Air Force keeps 41 de-commissioned F/A-18A/B Hornets in climate-controlled hangars at RAAF Base Williamtown. Canberra, Washington, and Kyiv are now in formal talks that could move a portion of that fleet to Ukraine instead of a scrapyard.

June 6, 2023

Naval Systems

Italian Navy Landing Helicopter Dock Trieste Nears Full Service

Trieste — The Italian Navy’s new landing helicopter dock Trieste is finishing fit-out work in its namesake port. Crews install last cables, test pumps, and seal bulkhead gaps that slipped first reviews. Yard teams say hand-over stays on the late-2024 window, with

January 15, 2023

Contracts & Deals

Contract Award for the Next Phase of the NGWS/FCAS Project

MADRID - France, Germany, and Spain signed a trilateral contract on December 15 that launches Phase 1B of the New-Generation Weapon System/Future Combat Air System (NGWS/FCAS). The deal names Dassault Aviation, Airbus Defence and Space (Germany and Spain), Indra Sistemas, and Eumet

December 15, 2022

Missiles / Drones / Directed Energy

Ahead of Modi Visit, US Approves Sale of 22 Guardian Drones to India

The United States has cleared the sale of twenty-two MQ-9B Guardian unmanned aircraft to India, opening a path for New Delhi to field its first long-endurance maritime surveillance fleet just days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets President Donald Trump. U.S. officials

June 23, 2017

Digital Systems & Software

US Software Stranglehold Threatens F-35 Foreign Operations

The F-35 is entirely dependent on the ALIS system for its maintenance, and on US-based software laboratories for its mission data loads, so that its operation requires secure and high-speed Internet links between its operating bases and the US. (USAF photo)

November 4, 2015

Aircraft

F-35 Engine Unit Costs Continue to Grow Even As Production Increases

Early F-135 advocates promised a smooth learning curve. They said each production lot would cost less than the one before. Fresh data show the opposite. Unit prices still hover near $30 million, even though annual output has more than doubled since 2011.

April 28, 2015

Aircraft

F-35 Program Massages Flight Test Results

The latest annual report from the Pentagon’s Director of Operational Test & Evaluation (DOT&E) states that the F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) claimed improved reliability by adjusting the way it records equipment failures rather than by delivering technical corrections.

January 19, 2015

Electronic Warfare

F-35 Report: Overview of Problems with F-135 Engine

KESTEREN, Netherlands --- Last week’s grounding of the F-35 fleet puts the Pratt & Whitney F-135 engine back in the public spotlights, just one week before the planned international debut of the F-35B at the RIAT 2014 and Farnborough Airshows.

July 9, 2014

Julien Mercier

Canada Queries Effectiveness of Sikorsky CH-148 Helicopter

Training for the Mission – Ukrainians Learn to Operate the Leopard 1 A5

Exclusive: Retired RAAF Fighter Jets Could Be Sent to Ukraine (excerpt)

Italian Navy Landing Helicopter Dock Trieste Nears Full Service

Contract Award for the Next Phase of the NGWS/FCAS Project

Ahead of Modi Visit, US Approves Sale of 22 Guardian Drones to India

US Software Stranglehold Threatens F-35 Foreign Operations

F-35 Engine Unit Costs Continue to Grow Even As Production Increases

F-35 Program Massages Flight Test Results

F-35 Report: Overview of Problems with F-135 Engine

Authors

Julien Mercier

Clara Nguyen

Priya Shah

Michael Adler

Lena Kovacs

Diego Ramos

Peter Johansson

Lucas Meyer