The Farnborough International Airshow was supposed to continue the coming-out party for the F-35 that started the previous week at the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT). But the F-35B STOVL stealth fighter was displayed on only one of the four trade days, and was not in the static display. Lockheed Martin was upstaged by Boeing, which chose Farnborough to celebrate its 100th anniversary, and was confirmed by the British Ministry of Defence (MoD) as the recipient of orders for the P-8 and AH-64E worth $6 billion.
However, there was plenty of program news about the F-35, and the British outlined their plans to introduce the Lightning II into service. Rolls-Royce provides the LiftFan for the F-35B, and together with Pratt and Whitney announced plans for in-service support in the UK. Raytheon was highlighting the aircraft’s weapons carriage capabilities, andAIN provided an update. We also reported on the aircraft’s controversial Autonomic Logistics Information System (ALIS); its P&W F135 engine; and training challenges. Martin Baker and program officials said that a problem with the F-35 ejection seat is being fixed.
The Embraer KC-390 tanker/transport made its international show debut and attracted plenty of interest in the static park. A marketing agreement with Boeing was extended to in-service support, although Embraer has still not clinched any export sales. Rival airlifters were also on display, including a C295 that Airbus Defence & Space has converted for air-to-air refueling. There was news of an armed version of the C295 to come. Leonardo (formerly Finmeccanica) had both the armed MC-27J and the U.S. Coast Guard C-27J in the static park.
Leonardo was also displaying an M346 jet trainer that highlighted the Italian company’s joint bid with Raytheon for the upcoming T-X competition in the U.S. Leonardo also had an M346FT (Fighter Trainer) on display with weapons attached. The Italian company revealed that it had won a big contract to upgrade all the UK’s defense platforms to IFF Mode 5, in conjunction with Airbus Defence & Space. It announced two unidentified customers for the Falco Evo UAV.
Saab had a new outdoor display building and was highlighting the new Gripen E fighter, as well as the Skeldar UAV joint venture with Swiss company UMS. Swedish air force Gripens are the first to go operational with the MBDA Meteor missile. MBDA talked about the Spear missile being developed for the UK’s F-35s, and the flight-testing of the Brimstone missile on an AH-64 Apache. Eurofighter flew a Typhoon with some of the new weapons that are finally making it a multi-role fighter. Boeing flew an F/A-18F Hornet at the show again.
Whether such manned fighters will ever be replaced by UCAVs is a moot point. BAE Systems briefed on the Taranis UCAV again. General Atomics noted that the UK was buying the certifiable Predator B, although the MoD told AIN that no contract had been finalized.
Textron grouped its various subsidiaries in another new outdoor display building. It showed special missions versions of the Cessna Grand Caravan and Beechcraft King Air 350ER. The Scorpion jet was on display again, and was proposed for a new UK training requirement. Textron has formed a new company to bid on outsourced adversary training.
CAE announced new simulation and training contracts, and we reported on its flagship military helicopter training facility in the UK. Other helicopter developments included the V-22 Joint Program Office talking about international acquisitions of the tiltrotor, and Bell talking about the V-280 Valor third-generation tiltrotor. We described new efforts by Airbus Helicopters to cost-effectively convert civil helicopters for military missions. Lockheed Martin showed an armed version of the Sikorsky S-70 Black Hawk. Ukrainian Helicopters displayed a modernized Mi-17. Fuji Heavy Industries and Bell featured the UH-X development of the Bell 412EPI for Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force.
ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconaissance) is always a big airshow topic. L-3 Communications brought its Spydr II conversion of then King Air 350 to the show. We reported on the product line of IAI subsidiary Elta Systems, and on the latest developments of the reconnaissance systems offered by UTA Aerospace Systems.
Economic sanctions prevented Russian exhibitors from showcasing any defense equipment, but do not apply to Ukraine, which had plenty on show.
Thales was showcasing its Fulmar UAV, and had news of a joint development with Textron of a new smart weapon for UAVs, plus sales of the Scorpion helmet sight. Thales and Elettronica announced a joint venture for electronic warfare (EW). Harris Corp briefed on its ALQ-211 EW pod.
Israeli companies showed some new products. Elbit Systems launched an imaging and laser-designating turret, and described its C-130 upgrades. IAI and Honeywell talked about their joint development of a "sense and avoid" system for the Heron UAV. Rafael showed a system that counters the growing threat of micro-UAVs.
