F-35B Joint Strike Fighters with Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 from Eglin conducted the first air-to-air refuel of an operational aircraft in the program’s history. Previous aerial refueling operations with the F-35 had been conducted with test aircraft
While NATO nations make large cuts to their defense budgets for the next fiscal year, Asian and Eastern European countries are taking advantage of their increased budgets. However, despite the decrease in defense budgets this year, it does not gap the wide difference in budgets between the two realms
The Norwegian government will spend $7.4 billion on defence in 2013, an increase from 2012’s $52
In the next 10 years, Australia will spend about $150 billion in defense procurement as part of a new Defense Capability Guide and Defense Capability Plans recently introduced by the government. Regarded as a key document for the country’s defense industry, the new document provides general guidance for industry on projects for the six year period following the four years Forward Estimates period of the Defence Capability Plan (DCP)
The U.S
Despite huge military cuts, the U.S plans the costliest modernisation and maintenance of over 5000 nuclear warheads worth $352 billion
The Italian government plans to buy 40 VTMM medium tactical worth $151 million from Iveco with an option for 40 more with the first batch to be delivered this year. Designed to carry a crew of five, the route clearance package will be deployed in Afghanistan next year
Turkey is expected to order a second pair of jointly-made, next-generation, stealth F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Lightning II aircraft to be delivered by 2016. The first pair of the jets are expected to be delivered in 2015
Lockheed Martin has been awarded a $206 million contract from the U.S DoD to support the F-35A Conventional Take Off and Landing (CTOL) Air System for Israel under the Foreign Military Sales Program
Boeing has been awarded a $1.4 million contract by the USAF to help design a rocket-propelled bomb for the F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter-bomber that can attack and destroy enemy bunkers, tunnel complexes, and other important deeply buried targets