The Srilankan Air Force (SLAF) is planning to replace its obsolete Kfir and MiG-27 fighters with eight used aircraft. Last year the SLAF had only one operational Kfir – the remaining six aircrafts are grounded. “We have seven MiG aircrafts and eight other aircrafts but none of them can be used.” Cabinet Spokesman and Parliamentary Reforms and Media Minister Gayantha Karunathilaka said. The Cabinet of Ministers in Colombo approved a procurement plan for fighter planes but the offers received so far did not provide financing for the acquisition. Offers for new built aircraft were received both from Pakistan and India. Pakistan proposed the JF-17 Thunder, produced by the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex/Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation (PAC/CAC). India offered the Tejas light combat aircraft produced by Hindustan Aerospace Ltd. Lacking financial arrangements for the procurement, SLAF is considering the refurbishment and modernization of five of the remaining Kfirs to bring those fighters back into service. Between 1995 and 2005 Sri Lanka acquired a total of 16 Kfir fighter jets from Israel, but seven were lost due to accidents or ground attacks on airbases during the Sri Lankan Civil War.
Deep Dive – Oreshnik IRBM
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Multiple sources reported today on Russia's use of a new medium-range ballistic missile, the Oreshnik, based on the existing RS-26 Rubezh. The Oreshnik, described as experimental and hypersonic, was used in a strike on...
Defense Update Weekly News Summary
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Welcome to the latest episode of Defense-Update News Summary! In this episode, we dive into this week’s developments in defense technology, military acquisitions, and strategic partnerships worldwide.
Some of this week's highlights include:
Elbit Systems...
Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle Program Launches as Part of Rafale F5 Standard
The French Ministry of Armed Forces has officially launched the Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) program as part of the Rafale F5 standard development. This event marks the beginning of a new era in...
Air Defense & C-UAS Innovations at the AUSA 2024 Exhibition
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Army Air Defense Undergoes Significant Modernization to Counter Drone Threats
The U.S. Army's air defense branch has experienced its most substantial modernization and growth in over four decades, primarily driven by the need to counter...
Elbit Systems Address US Army Artillery Modernization with Sigma 155×52 Wheeled Howitzer
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Elbit Systems of America showcases the Sigma Next Generation Howitzer at AUSA 2024, where competing systems from Sweden, South Korea, France, and Germany are likely to be presented, some in models, others in full...
Defense-Update Weekly News Summary
Tamir Eshel - 0
Welcome to the latest episode of Defense-Update News Summary! In this episode, we dive into this week’s developments in defense technology, military acquisitions, and strategic partnerships worldwide.
Some of this week's highlights include:
Elbit Systems...
Israel Revamps Aerial Bomb Production
Elbit Systems has signed a 1.5-billion-shekel (approximately $400 million) contract with Israel's Ministry of Defense to establish an aerial bomb manufacturing bombs for the Israeli Air Force. In the past, the government-owned IMI operated...