Special Mission

The Boeing Company was selected to develop and build the Stingray MQ-25A, the first unmanned refueling aircraft to be operated by the fleet. The U.S. Navy awarded a US$805.3 million contract to Boeing, for the design, development, fabrication, test, delivery, and support of four MQ-25A unmanned air vehicle prototypes, including integration into the carrier air wing for an initial...

BIRD Aerosystems will enhance the performance of ASIO SMA already operated by the customer, by upgrading their Mission Management System (MSIS), adding sensor enhancements, and improving connectivity and data sharing within the task force.

The UK considers replacing the seven Boeing E-3D Sentry AEW.Mk 1 airborne warning and control (AWACS) aircraft currently in service. The E-7 aircraft, based on the Boeing 737 platform, is the forerunner for this replacement. Although the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) called for Sentry to remain in service until 2035, London plans to accelerate their replacement...

IAI’s combat-proven Conformal Airborne Early Warning and Control (CAEW) aircraft have a proven record performing missions better than the bigger legacy airborne warning and control (AWACS) such as the E-3, for longer durations, at a much lower cost.

The U.S. Navy is testing an upgraded weapon kit for the KC-130J Harvest HAWK to provide close support for Marine and special operations forces. The HH+ is an upgrade to the original Harvest HAWK roll-on, roll-off precision strike package weapons system. The team also develops an engineering change proposal (ECP) to improve the Hellfire weapons capacity on the aircraft and ensure the KJ platform is sensor-shooter, electronic warfare and digitally interoperable capable.

Australia commits to buy six Northrop Gruman MQ-4C Triton maritime surveillance drones, to be fielded beginning in 2023, at an investment of $1.4 billion. The Tritons will operate with manned aircraft to enhance Australian anti-submarine warfare, maritime strike, and search and rescue capabilities.

The Russian aerospace company United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) delivered the second of two Tupolev Tu-214 PU-SBUS communications support special mission aircraft (ПУ-СБУС) ordered by the Russian Ministry of Defense. The aircraft was delivered on June 18, 2018. The first aircraft was delivered on March 26 this year. The two aircraft provide a communications support platform, carrying the SBUS-214 carried the communication node payload, housed in a large ventral fairing and SATCOM dome.

Models of India's future hope for indigenous airpower: Ghatak stealth combat UAV and Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) on display at DEFEXPO 2018. Other models included Airborne Early Warning (AEW) platforms and the Advanced Air Defence missile, part of India's strategic missile defense network, can be seen in the background.

An Airbus A400M has successfully refueled six Spanish Air Force F-18 fighters in a single mission as part of an air-to-air refueling (AAR) human factors certification flight. The 13 December mission featured a complex series of AAR scenarios such as changes of area, receivers with unknown priorities, and unexpected increases in numbers of receivers. Through multiple contacts, the six...

Elbit Systems J-Music Directional Infrared Countermeasures (DIRCM) and PAWS-IR missile approach warning systems, comprising anti-missile self-protection systems were selected to be fitted to the new Airbus A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aerial tankers scheduled to join the fleet beginning 2020.

The Mexican military and security forces are fielding an integrated network of intelligence gathering, surveillance and response capabilities designed to bolster homeland security and combat narco-trafficking.

Airbus Defence and Space and Airbus Helicopters have recently demonstrated a refueling of H225M Caracal helicopter from C295W. The new capability will be applicable to existing and prospective C295 operators requiring support for special operations and extending the range of search and rescue missions.

The U.S. Navy has entered the final phase of development of the Next Generation Jammer (NGJ) pod that will replace the ALQ-99 that has been in use since the Vietnam War. The new electronic attack pod matches advanced electronic-attack technology that combines high-powered, agile, beam-jamming techniques with cutting-edge, solid-state electronics.

The US Air Force Special Operations Command is planning to use air-launched drones to enable Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) AC-130 aerial gunships and MQ-9 Reaper drones to operate in all weather conditions, particularly above the clouds.