AeroTime
• Clement Charpentreau
Spain plans to extend its F/A-18 Hornet fleet's service life to as late as 2040, citing rising sustainment costs and delays in replacing the type that have opened a widening fighter capability gap. Political reluctance to purchase F-35As is deepening the shortfall and forcing costly sustainment measures.
DefenseNews.com
• Dusan Stojanovic
By DefenseNews.com: Serbia is also interested in buying a Russian air defense system as well as opening a repair center for Russian MIL helicopters.
DefenseNews.com
• Jon Gambrell, Josh Lederman
By DefenseNews.com: The decision is the latest signal that the Trump administration is prioritizing support for Sunni-led countries seen as critical to opposing Iran's influence in the Middle East over human rights issues that Obama had elevated.
DefenseNews.com
• Rachael Kalinyak
By DefenseNews.com: On March 30, the Defense Acquisition Board will review whether the low-rate production for the initial 24 King Stallion helicopters will be approved.
DefenseNews.com
• Aaron Mehta, Valerie Insinna
By DefenseNews.com: Navy Rear. Adm. Mat Winter joined the F-35 office in 2016, after serving as the chief of Naval Research.
DefenseNews.com
• Valerie Insinna
By DefenseNews.com: The F-15's age and growing threat environment could influence its retirement date.
DefenseNews.com
• Vivek Raghuvanshi
By DefenseNews.com: The joint production of the helicopters in India now awaits formal approval by Russian President Vladimir Putin, which will lead to the new production entity Indo-Russian Helicopters Private Limited.
Bloomberg
• Tony Capaccio
By Bloomberg: Attempts to provide upgraded software for F-35 jets have “stagnated” and no new combat capability was delivered last year, according to the annual report by the Pentagon’s testing office, even as the fighter jets fly missions over Iran.
Wall Street Journal
• Lara Seligman, Shelby Holliday
New York Times
• Alexander Cardia, Christoph Koettl
