AeroTime
• Clement Charpentreau
Aero Vodochody and Thales Belgium have signed an MoU to further develop counter-unmanned aircraft system capabilities for the L-39 Skyfox. The work includes continued integration and testing of Thales’ 70 mm rocket system, extending the jet’s role against unmanned aircraft.
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Aero Vodochody and Thales Belgium have signed an MoU to further develop counter-unmanned aircraft system capabilities for the L-39 Skyfox. The work includes continued integration and testing of Thales’ 70 mm rocket system, extending the jet’s role against unmanned aircraft.
Thales will supply Ireland with its Ground Master 400 Alpha long-range radar, identifying the system underpinning the Irish military’s first long-range radar network. The acquisition will reinforce Ireland’s air-surveillance capability and provide greater visibility of activity in its airspace.
The FAA is extending its partnership with Solace to provide Enhanced SWIM Cloud Services, supporting the modernization of System Wide Information Management. The agreement continues the use of Solace’s real-time data platform in the FAA’s effort to improve how aviation information is managed and shared.
High activity
Canada’s first F-35A, identified as AR-1, has completed a roughly 90-minute maiden flight from Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth plant. The milestone comes as Ottawa remains obligated to purchase 16 aircraft but has yet to commit to the full planned fleet of 88 fighters.
Dhruva Space and Thales Alenia Space have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore cooperation across satellite constellations and space infrastructure. The agreement creates a framework for the companies to assess joint opportunities in global satellite markets, although no specific programs, investment or customer commitments were announced.
France’s defense procurement agency, the DGA, has qualified Thales’ Talios targeting pod for the French Air and Space Force’s upgraded Mirage 2000D RMV fighter-bombers. The decision extends a targeting system associated with the Rafale to the modernized Mirage fleet.
High activity
Nigeria is advancing a satellite-infrastructure upgrade with Thales Alenia Space selected to develop NigComSat-2A, a geostationary communications satellite intended to strengthen digital connectivity across Africa. The program is accompanied by a planned four-satellite Earth-observation constellation, broadening Nigeria’s national space capabilities.
Thales is pursuing additional international sales of its UK-produced Lightweight Modular Missile (LMM), citing export demand as important to sustaining production in Belfast. The company has sharply increased output since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began in early 2022 and outlined a new UK technology strategy.
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