Search

The article focuses on the concerns of governments on the industrial base for combat aircraft. In the U.S., military airframers, Lockheed Martin, Boeing and Northrop Grumman, are participating in a study intended to assess the status of the future industrial base and secure capabilities required for future fighters and bombers. In Europe, the four Eurofighter partner nations are struggling to strike a deal for the third Typhoon production tranche, while France is pushing for further consolidation of the region's combat aircraft sector.

The article reports that the U.S. and Europe soon are expected to decide whether to embrace an upgraded Patriot interceptor for their Medium Extended Air Defense System, marking one of several important events ahead this year for naval-, ground- and space-based missile defense projects. Lockheed Martin Corp. has been developing a longer-range version of its Patriot Advanced Capability missile since 2003 for eventual use on U.S. Army air defense batteries. Now, Germany, Italy and the U.S. are considering making the improved weapon, called Missile Segment Enhancement, part of the baseline Meads project.

The article discusses the planned delivery of the Aegis Ashore ballistic missile defense radar system from aerospace company Lockheed Martin to Romania in 2015. Topics include the systems aim to provide protection for European North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) countries, Russian President Vladimir Putin's opposition to U.S. missile defense systems in Eastern Europe, and testing of the Aegis system.

The article discusses offers by Lockheed Martin C-130 suppliers for a host of avionics upgrade to ensure that tactical airlifters have access to preferred air routes. The U.S. Department of Defense is the largest C-130 customer whose U.S. Airforce has put on hold its C-130 Avionics Modernization Program (AMP) due to price considerations. Lockheed Martin is reportedly taking advantage of the AMP market in the Middle East and Europe by offering customized fleet management and upgrade services.