A Forecast International blog about the arms trade, geopolitics, defense and security, and military spending.
The Croatian Air Force has received the first batch of Dassault Rafale fighter jets under a 2021 contract. The six jets arrived at an airbase close to the capital, Zagreb, …
Rafale Fighter Jets Delivered to Croatia Read More
BY AUDREY DECKER, Staff Writer, Defense One The estimated lifetime cost to operate and maintain the Pentagon’s F-35s just took a big jump, even though the U.S. military is flying …
The F-35 Program is Costing More and Doing Less, GAO Says Read More
The Serbian government is close to signing a contract for the purchase of French-made fighter jets. This week, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic made a visit to France, where he held …
Serbia Close to Signing Rafale Deal Read More
The British Ministry of Defence (MoD) has announced that it will move forward with procurement of 14 Boeing extended-range CH-47 Chinook heavy-lift helicopters following a nearly three-year postponement due largely …
U.K. Ready to Move Forward with Extended-Range Chinook Procurement Read More
Fleet-wide Ospreys will slowly return to flight after a more than three-month-long grounding following an Air Force CV-22B crash off Japan in November 2023, resulting in the loss of eight …
For the Embroiled V-22 Osprey, Perception Matters Read More
Jockeying is beginning for rotorcraft manufacturers to build their case for NATO’s Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability Program (NGRC). The NGRC initiative began in 2022 with partners France, Germany, Greece, Italy, …
NATO’s NGRC Effort Begins to Heat Up Read More
On February 08th, the United States Army sent shockwaves through the rotorcraft industry via a bundle of major announcements pertaining to the future force structure profile of the service’s vast …
FARA Cancellation Upends Rotorcraft Retrofit Outlook Read More
In a shocking development, Army leaders told reporters yesterday they are canceling the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) program. The course change will alter long-range strategic aviation plans for the …
Army Drops Multi-Billion Dollar FARA Helicopter Program Read More
The Department of Defense’s (DOD) V-22 Osprey fleet remains grounded (save for one deployed Marine unit), having not flown since before the beginning of the new year. Each additional no-fly …
Grounded: Assessing the V-22 Osprey’s Challenges Read More
During its earnings call for the fourth quarter of 2023, Lockheed Martin detailed its 2023 financial results and its plans for deliveries of its F-35 fighter aircraft in 2024. The …
Lockheed Martin Details 2024 F-35 Delivery Plans Read More