DefenceTalkWashington: The United States has given the go-ahead for its ally France to buy four Lockheed Martin C-130J military aircraft, a rival to the French-built Airbus A400M. The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency said the contract for two C-130J transports and two KC-130J fuel tankers would come to $650 million (606 million euros). Each plane […]https://www.defencetalk.com/french-military-to-buy-us-c-130-transport-aircraft-65833/

DefenceTalkWRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB, Ohio: A KC-46A Pegasus tanker (EMD-2) made history with its first flight Sept. 25 from Paine Field in Everett, Washington, landing a few hours later at Boeing Field in Seattle. “The KC-46A will provide critical refueling capacity and enhanced capabilities to the warfighter,” said Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James. “This […]https://www.defencetalk.com/kc-46a-tanker-completes-successful-first-flight-65497/

DefenceTalkIndonesian Air Force Chief of Staff, Air Marshal Agus Supriatna, revealed that he has conducted a study to replace Hercules aircraft with new transport aircraft. “We have conducted a study to replace C-130 Hercules aircraft with the new ones either from France, the United States, or Russia, but the replacement depends on the government,” Supriatna […]https://www.defencetalk.com/indonesian-air-force-plans-to-replace-c-130-hercules-64859/

DefenceTalkThe Ministry of Defence is pleased to announce it has taken delivery of its third A400M Atlas aircraft which has flown back to the UK. The next-generation transport aircraft took off from the assembly plant in Seville, Spain, and landed at its new home at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire last night following the two […]https://www.defencetalk.com/latest-a400m-transport-aircraft-is-delivered-to-the-royal-air-force-64821/

DefenceTalkChief of Air Force, Air Marshal Geoff Brown, AO, welcomed the first RAAF C-27J Spartan battlefield airlift aircraft in Australia at a ceremony at RAAF Base Richmond today. The acquisition of the C-27J Spartan will fill a gap in Australia’s military capability for tactical fixed wing airlift, which has been left open since the retirement […]https://www.defencetalk.com/first-raaf-c-27j-spartan-arrives-in-australia-64756/

DefenceTalkKABUL, Afghanistan: A C-130 Hercules touched down at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Kabul, Afghanistan, June 20, bringing expanded flight capabilities to the Afghan Air Force. After a weeklong journey beginning at Little Rock Air Force Base in Arkansas, the arrival of the C-130 in Afghanistan’s capital city illustrates a partnership that will provide increased tactical […]https://www.defencetalk.com/fourth-c-130-touches-down-in-kabul-expands-afghan-air-force-capabilities-64641/

DefenceTalkPARIS: Looking at India as its key focus market, Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) has asked its Indian partner to speed up the design work for their joint production of the Multi-role Transport Airplanes (MTAs). UAC chief Yuri Slyusar also said that India has agreed to install the Russian PS-90 engines on the MTAs which […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russias-uac-asks-hal-to-speed-up-joint-aircraft-project-64606/

DefenceTalkFrance: Airbus Defence and Space is about to recommence deliveries of Airbus A400M aircraft following the lifting of all remaining flight restrictions on new production aircraft by Spanish regulator DGAM yesterday. As a result, all A400Ms are now cleared for flight provided they have undergone the checks specified by the manufacturer in the Alert Operator […]https://www.defencetalk.com/airbus-resumes-a400m-deliveries-64608/

DefenceTalkThe Ministry of Interior of Saudi Arabia has purchased in open competition, and after carrying out a complete evaluation, four C295W aircraft to enhance its capabilities. The C295W has been chosen based on its demonstrated excellent operational capabilities in hot and severe conditions and its proven affordable maintenance and operational costs. “We are very proud […]https://www.defencetalk.com/saudi-arabia-orders-four-airbus-c295w-aircraft-64538/

DefenceTalkFrance: Boeing and the government of Qatar recently signed an agreement for the purchase of four more C-17 Globemaster III airlifters. These aircraft will join the Qatar Armed Forces’ (QAF) existing fleet of four and help meet their ongoing airlift requirements. “We are very pleased with the C-17s from Boeing and look forward to doubling […]https://www.defencetalk.com/boeing-qatar-confirm-purchase-of-four-c-17s-64519/