Story ID: 5021712ADP
Defense News from the Singapore Airshow
By: Chris Pocock
Caption: 
Word Count: 364
News highlights from the Singapore Airshow this week: Lockheed Martin announced a new version of the evergreen F-16 fighter designated F-16V. It includes the upcoming AESA radar upgrade as well as a new mission computer and cockpit display. Lockheed Martin also said it would offer a lower-cost version of the C-130J airlifter. Boeing confirmed that it would be bidding the F-15 Silent Eagle for the first time, in Korea’s KFX-3 fighter competition, against the F-35 and the Eurofighter Typhoon.

Northrop Grumman was putting a brave face on the termination of the Global Hawk Block 30 for the U.S. Air Force, by briefing on one of the surviving derivatives of the high-altitude UAV, the U.S. Navy’s Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) system. Airbus Military brought an A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport to the show, and bolstered its new relationship with Indonesian Aerospace by consigning a deal to supply nine C-295 transports. Alenia had two M346 jet trainers on static display, and reported progress on the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) contract. ST Aerospace showed off a new version of its Skyblade UAV series.

As usual, Israel’s aerospace industry made a strong showing in Singapore. The first IAI Heron UAV for the RSAF was on static display, and so was Elbit’s Hermes 900 UAV. Rafael’s Spyder-SR truck-mounted air defense system was also on display, as sold to Singapore, and the company’s president and CEO described his philosophy to AIN. IMI was offering a new 500-pound bomb that can substitute for the larger Mk 84. IAI’s Elta divison announced new orders for combat aircraft radars and revealed a new maritime patrol conversion of the Bombardier Q400 regional airliner.

Raytheon brought news of a new application for its Griffin small precision weapon, and for the laser-guided version of the Maverick missile. The company also revealed new modes for the APY-10 radar that it is supplying for the Boeing P-8 maritime patrol aircraft, including air-to-air capability. Rockwell Collins described the avionics upgrade it has done on the Royal Thai Air Force’s C-130 fleet. More news from the show is available on AINonline.