April 30, 2024 | International, Aerospace
This is the second critical Nunn-McCurdy breach incurred by a major Air Force program this year, following the Sentinel ICBM's cost overruns.
https://www.defensenews.com/air/2024/04/30/grey-wolf-helicopter-cuts-lead-to-cost-overrun-breach/
June 13, 2024 | International, Land
The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs, together with the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, will make an announcement regarding affordable housing in Atlantic Canada.
May 24, 2019 | International, Aerospace
Frédéric Lert, Bordeaux - Jane's Defence Weekly The French Air Force is ramping up the recruitment and training of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) crews to cope with the service's expanding air vehicle inventory. While the 1/33 Belfort UAV squadron currently flies five GA-ASI MQ-9 Reaper medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) UAVs using 20 qualified crews (with each crew consisting of a pilot, sensor operator, tactical co-ordinator and image analyst), the plan is to have 24 MALE UAVs operational by 2030, generating a requirement for 80 to 100 crews. The greatest urgency is to train the pilots to cope with this expansion, so the air force is introducing a new course into its flying schools alongside those already existing for fighters, transport aircraft and helicopters. The first phase of training will fall under the responsibility of the Centre d'excellence drone (CED) in Salon de Provence, southern France. The CED, which until now was more oriented towards research, thus sees its mission considerably evolve. During this phase the students will fly Cirrus light aircraft and receive some specific training, especially in relation to instrument flight rules (IFR). The second phase will then take the student pilots to the air force flying school in Cognac, where they will improve their piloting skills on the Grob 120 basic trainer. They will then move on to the UAV Operational Conversion Squadron (Escadron de Transformation Opérationnelle Drone - ETOD) and the 1/33 Belfort to acquire the particular tactical know-how required to operate the Reapers. https://www.janes.com/article/88729/french-air-force-introduces-new-uav-pilot-training-scheme
November 12, 2020 | International, Aerospace
By: Aaron Mehta WASHINGTON — The U.S. State Department on Tuesday cleared a massive package of F-35 fighter jets and MQ-9 unmanned systems for the United Arab Emirates, making official a potential sale still opposed by many congressional Democrats. In a statement, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that the package, which comes with an estimated price tag of $23.37 billion, includes up to 50 F-35s worth $10.4 billion, 18 MQ-9Bs worth $2.97 billion, and $10 billion worth of air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions. “This is in recognition of our deepening relationship and the UAE's need for advanced defense capabilities to deter and defend itself against heightened threats from Iran,” Pompeo said. “The UAE's historic agreement to normalize relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to positively transform the region's strategic landscape. Our adversaries, especially those in Iran, know this and will stop at nothing to disrupt this shared success.” “The proposed sale will make the UAE even more capable and interoperable with U.S. partners in a manner fully consistent with America's longstanding commitment to ensuring Israel's Qualitative Military Edge,” he added, referencing a U.S. legal standard that Israel maintain a military technological advantage over its neighbors. The sale was expected ever since the signing of peace agreements between Israel and the UAE. The administration previously informally notified Congress of the sale's details, with leading foreign policy Democrats signaling they would act to block it. Potential foreign military sales notified to Congress are not guaranteed to move forward, and the quantities and dollar figures can often change during final negotiations. But even getting this far is a big win for the UAE, which has long sought the stealthy F-35; it also represents a win for the Trump administration, which has made increasing U.S. weapon exports a key part of its economic platform. https://www.defensenews.com/global/mideast-africa/2020/11/10/uae-purchase-of-f-35-mq-9-officially-cleared-by-state-department/