Platforms & Systems Archives - Page 4 of 7

Aviation Week Reader Comments Above Story

Lockheed Martin’s F-35 program has drawn thousands of reader remarks on Aviation Week since the aircraft reached initial service. The most pointed thread this week grew out of a comment by retired Marine officer Don Bacon. He noted that “150 to 160

September 20, 2017

Helicopters

Bell Textron Delivers First MV-75 FLRAA Virtual Prototype to U.S. Army for Early Testing

Bell Textron has handed the first MV-75 virtual prototype to the U.S. Army, marking a concrete step in the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft program. Defense officials confirm the hand-off took place at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, on 24 June, only eighteen months after

June 26, 2025

Aircraft

UK Commits to Purchase 12 F-35A Fighters for NATO Nuclear Sharing Mission

The United Kingdom confirmed it will acquire at least twelve F-35A Lightning II fighters, adding a land-based nuclear mission to the Royal Air Force for the first time since 1998. Defense officials confirm the jets will form part of NATO's Dual-Capable Aircraft

June 25, 2025

Aircraft

Lockheed F-16V, Saab Gripen Compete for Slovakian Order

Slovakia has reached the point of decision after more than a decade of debate over its MiG-29 replacement. Formal offers now sit on the defence minister’s desk from two camps: Lockheed Martin with the F-16V Block 70/72 and Sweden’s Saab with the

April 12, 2018

Aircraft

USAF Plans for Radical F-35 Upgrade Reveal Obsolescence

Foreign air forces that bought the F-35A woke up this week to a blunt statement from Major Gen. Jeffrey Harrigian, the U.S. Air Force officer who runs the program. He told Reuters on April 7 that engineers had started scoping a new

April 8, 2015

Space Systems

Chinese Shijian-25 and -21 Satellites Execute Close GEO Rendezvous for Refueling Test

WASHINGTON — The Chinese spacecraft Shijian-21 and Shijian-25 have come within docking range high over the equator twice this month, and data suggest a third close pass is hours away. According to industry sources, the two satellites occupy nearly identical geostationary slots

June 21, 2025

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

Hybrid Base Station Sniper Pod Upgrade Enables F-35 to Share Sensor Data with 4th-Gen Aircraft

The Defense-Aerospace editorial team has confirmed that Lockheed Martin is pressing ahead with the Hybrid Base Station upgrade for its Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod. The move clears a long-standing barrier that limited how much targeting and sensor data an F-35 could pass

June 20, 2025

Helicopters

Poland Receives First AH-64D Apaches to Prepare for Guardian Fleet

Three AH-64D Apache attack helicopters landed this morning at the 56th Air Base in Latkowo, near Inowrocław. They taxied to the ramp in quick succession, rotors still spinning while ground crews signaled them into place. Defense officials confirm these aircraft now belong

June 17, 2025

Aircraft

The F-35 Fighter Jet, The World’s Costliest Weapons Program, Just Got More Expensive

The Pentagon just raised the F-35 bill again. Numbers inside its fresh acquisition report point to $438 billion for development plus production. Last year they put the figure at $412 billion. Now planners must live with extra $26 billion—they said inflation and

October 11, 2023

Platforms & Systems - Page 4