Breaking Defense
• Mark Pomerleau
Northrop Grumman plans to deliver a SEWIP surface electronic-warfare configuration tailored for US aircraft carriers in 2028, with a separate configuration earmarked for destroyers. The announcement underscores how navies are standardizing EW fits across major surface combatants while maintaining ship-specific variants.
Payload
• Austin Corona
By Payload: Satellites protect Navy ships by giving them domain awareness. Some officers think the Navy can return the favor.
AeroTime
• Clement Charpentreau
By AeroTime: Rheinmetall signed a multibillion-euro framework contract with the Bundeswehr for its FV-014 loitering munition, with a €300m first call-off.
DefenseNews.com
• Valerie Insinna
By DefenseNews.com: The U.S. Air Force hasn’t determined whether it will continue its experiments with light attack aircraft, but that didn’t stop the service’s number-two general from touting the potential benefits in a speech to Middle Eastern and other international air chiefs.
DefenseNews.com
• Valerie Insinna
By DefenseNews.com: Dubai Airshow is Japan’s first big opportunity to garner foreign interest for the C-2, the largest plane ever made by a Japanese defense firm.
DefenseNews.com
• Valerie Insinna
By DefenseNews.com: If negotiations are successful, the United Arab Emirates would be the first Gulf state to obtain the F-35 joint strike fighter.
DefenseNews.com
• Agnes Al Helou, Chirine Mouchantaf
By DefenseNews.com: The United Arab Emirates Air Force will undergo a restructuring, guided by a study of potential threats and available systems, including the F-35, according to an Emirati military source.
DefenseNews.com
• Gerard O'Dwyer
By DefenseNews.com: Denmark’s national audit agency has raised a series of questions regarding the government’s basis for deciding to select the F-35A Lightning II as the Royal Danish Air Force’s next-generation fighter.
