Latest news with #Boeing-manufactured
Al Jazeera
29-03-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
North Korea's Kim Jong Un oversees tests of new AI-equipped suicide drones
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has personally supervised his country's testing of new AI-equipped suicide and reconnaissance drones and called for unmanned aircraft and artificial intelligence to be prioritised in military modernisation plans. State-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said on Thursday that Kim oversaw the testing of 'various kinds of reconnaissance and suicide drones' produced by North Korea's Unmanned Aerial Technology Complex. The new North Korean drones are capable of 'tracking and monitoring different strategic targets and enemy troop activities on the ground and the sea', while the attack drones will 'be used for various tactical attack missions', KCNA said, noting that both drone systems have been equipped with 'new artificial intelligence'. Kim agreed to expand the production capacity of 'unmanned equipment and artificial intelligence' and emphasised the importance of creating a long-term plan for North Korea to promote 'the rapid development' of 'intelligent drones', which is 'the trend of modern warfare'. Pictures from the tests, which took place on Tuesday and Wednesday, were said to show attack drones successfully striking ground targets, including military vehicles. Kim was pictured walking with aides near a newly developed unmanned aerial reconnaissance aircraft, which appeared to be larger than a fighter jet, and was seen boarding an airborne early warning and control (AEW) aircraft, according to pictures released by KCNA. The photos mark the first time such an aircraft was unveiled by the North, which was equipped with a radar dome on the fuselage, similar to the Boeing-manufactured Peace Eye operated by the South Korean air force. North Korea's efforts to create an early warning aircraft were previously reported by analysts who had used commercial satellite imagery to discover Pyongyang was converting a Russian-made Il-76 cargo aircraft into an early-warning role. The London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) said in a report last year that an AEW aircraft would help augment North Korea's existing land-based radar systems, though just one aircraft would not be enough. During his visit to the test site, Kim was also briefed on intelligence-gathering capabilities as well as electronic jamming and attack systems newly developed by the country's electronic warfare group, KCNA said. The government of South Korea and analysts have repeatedly warned about the potential transfer of sensitive Russian military technology to North Korea in return for Kim's provision of thousands of North Korean troops and weapons to support Russia's war with Ukraine. Seoul's military said on Thursday that North Korea has so far this year supplied Russia with an additional 3,000 troops as well as missiles and other ammunition. 'It is estimated that an additional 3,000 troops were sent between January and February as reinforcements,' South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said, adding that of the initial 11,000 North Korean soldiers dispatched to Russia in 2024, 4,000 are believed to have been killed or wounded. 'In addition to manpower, North Korea continues to supply missiles, artillery equipment, and ammunition,' according to a report by the JCS. 'So far, it is assessed that North Korea has provided a significant quantity of short-range ballistic missiles [SRBMs], as well as about 220 units of 170mm self-propelled guns and 240mm multiple rocket launchers,' it said. The JCS also warned that 'these numbers could increase depending on the situation on the battlefield'.
Morocco World
27-02-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Morocco Receives First Batch of Apache AH-64E Helicopters
Rabat – Morocco's Royal Armed Forces received on Wednesday the first batch of Apache AH-64E combat helicopters. The specialized military source FAR-Maroc Forum said in a post on X that an official reception ceremony will soon be held at the 7th Air Base in Khouribga. The acquisition of Boeing-manufactured next-generation aircraft adds one of the world's most advanced attack helicopters to Morocco's military arsenal. Recognized as one of the world's most advanced attack helicopters, the cutting-edge aircraft features an open systems architecture equipped with state-of-the-art communication, navigation, detection, and weapons systems. The helicopters possess a modernized target designation and tracking system, providing comprehensive target information in day, night, and all-weather conditions, along with night vision navigation capabilities. Read also: Moroccan Army Bolsters Air Defense with Advanced US Missiles In addition to classifying ground and air targets, the fire control radar has been upgraded to function in naval environments. Morocco signed a contract with Boeing in 2020 for the purchase of 24 Apache AH-64E attack helicopters at an estimated cost of $1.5 billion, with an option to acquire 12 additional helicopters. The comprehensive agreement includes Hellfire missiles, rockets, advanced communication and navigation systems, maintenance equipment, and a training program for Moroccan personnel. This acquisition represents a substantial enhancement to Morocco's military capabilities and reflects the country's ongoing commitment to modernizing its armed forces with advanced technology. The Apache helicopters will significantly bolster Morocco's defensive capabilities, positioning the Royal Armed Forces as one of the best-equipped militaries in the region. The delivery marks the beginning of the implementation phase of this major defense contract, strengthening Morocco's position as a key military power in North Africa. Tags: Apache AH-64EmilitaryMoroccan armyRoyal Armed Forces
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Japan becomes Boeing's newest customer of latest Chinook helo variant
Japan has ordered 17 of the latest variant of the Boeing-manufactured CH-47 Chinook cargo helicopter, the company said Thursday. The CH-47 Block II Chinook is an extended-range version of the aircraft that is used by the U.S. Army and U.S. Special Operations Command. Japan is the fourth customer for the new variant. Germany purchased 60 of the helicopters in a $4 billion deal in 2022, and the U.K. finalized its deal for 14 Chinooks in early 2024. The CH-47s will be co-produced by Boeing and Kawasaki Heavy Industries. The Japanese company similarly provided elements for the CH-47 JA helicopters. The helicopters purchased for the Japan Self-Defense Forces will replace some of its CH-47 JA aircraft, which were purchased in the 1980s and delivered by the early 2000s. The helicopters have been used, for example, to respond to the Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster in 2011, with special lead plates attached to the floor to protect the crew from radiation exposure. The aircraft collected ocean water and dropped it over hot spots. 'This award strengthens our decades-long relationship with [Kawasaki Heavy Industries] and provides critical capability improvements that will keep the Japan Self-Defense Forces operating heavy-lift aircraft for decades to come,' Heather McBryan, vice president and program manager for Boeing cargo programs, said in a statement. 'The Block II configuration and digital flight controls will modernize and significantly improve Japan's helicopter transport capabilities by improving aircraft stability, safety, and efficiency.' The U.S. Army decided in 2019 that it would not procure the CH-47F Block II for the active fleet so it could begin making heavier investments in its Future Long Range Assault Aircraft, or FLRAA, and the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft, or FARA, that it wanted to field in the early 2030s. The service decided it would build 69 of the latest Chinook variant for special operations in the form of the MH-47 'G' model and stop there. But the Block II had a comeback after several years of uncertainty when the Army decided to return funding to build the variant for the active force following pressure from Congress. And as the result of the service's decision to cancel its FARA program in 2024, $465.2 million in fiscal 2025 funding became available to enable a Block II production start for the regular Army. The version incorporates a new fuel system, electrical system and stronger airframe to increase lift capability. The Block II version of the Chinook featured new rotor blades, but the Army abandoned the effort in 2022 due to excessive rotor blade vibrations that, according to the Pentagon's chief weapons tester, posed a flight risk.
