Latest news with #Sidewinder
Perth Now
4 days ago
- Perth Now
Air Force power to wow crowds in anniversary airshow
Dozens of Air Force planes in full flight are set to wow crowds at a special centenary celebration. RAAF Base Richmond, in Sydney's northwest, will host an airshow to celebrate 100 years since it became the second permanent such base in Australia. Highlights on September 27 and 28 include displays from the fleet of C-130J Hercules cargo aircraft as well as the top-line F-35A Lightning II fighter jet. A rare glimpse on Wednesday included an F-35 cruising over northwestern Sydney as the media watched from the hold of a C-130. The F-35 is Australia's most advanced air combat asset and will show off its airborne capabilities in the centenary spectacular. Capable of withstanding 9Gs, the maximum speed of the jet is nearly 2000 km/h, or about 1.6 times the speed of sound. It carries some of the RAAF's most sophisticated weaponry including laser-guided bombs and "Sidewinder" air-to-air missiles. The Lockheed Martin jet was accepted into Australian service in 2018 and the first squadron was based at RAAF Base Williamtown, near Newcastle. The C-130J is used extensively for deploying personnel and aid, and assisting with medical evacuations. The air-lifter, in use since 1999, can accommodate up to 88 paratroopers for aerial deployment. More traditional airshow fare will also be on offer for spectators, with the RAAF Roulettes Aerobatic Team set to show off their daring stunts. Only RAAF Base Point Cook, established in 1921 in Melbourne's Port Phillip Bay, is older than RAAF Richmond. Tickets for the RAAF Richmond Airshow 2025 are on sale from August 13.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
The Navy is spending $1.1 billion on the most successful air-to-air missile in the world
Raytheon announced in June 2025 that it was awarded a $1.1 billion contract by the U.S. Navy to produce AIM-9X Block II missiles. This represents the largest contract ever awarded for the program and will increase Sidewinder production to 2,500 missiles annually. The contract will bolster and modernize America's missile supply as existing stockpiles are depleted to support foreign military aid worldwide. With this milestone contract, let's take a look at how the Sidewinder became the most successful air-to-air missile in history. Entering service in 1956, the AIM-9 Sidewinder uses infrared homing to lock on to and track a target like the snake it's named after. The missile was so revolutionary when it came out that the Soviet Union reverse-engineered it from a Sidewinder fired by a Taiwanese F-86 that failed to detonate and lodged itself in a Chinese MiG-17 in 1958. Imitation is the highest form of flattery, but the dud missile also reflected poorly on the AIM-9 shortly after its introduction. Despite upgrades to the AIM-9E, the Sidewinder struggled in Vietnam with an 8% success rate. That's worse than Billy Bergen's MLB batting average of .170. Subsequent upgrades led to the AIM-9L version, which was used to great effect by the British in the 1982 Falklands War, with an estimated 80% launch-to-kill ratio. 'Most Improved' might be a bit of a backhanded award to receive, but this marked the turning point in the Sidewinder's reputation. With further upgrades to its speed, range, and homing ability, the Sidewinder is now the most widely used air-to-air missile in the West. Over 110,000 missiles have been produced and deployed by more than 30 countries worldwide. With an estimated 270 aircraft kills as of 2004, the Sidewinder has earned its status as the most successful air-to-air missile. The latest version of the Sidewinder, the AIM-9X Block II, is a joint program led by the Navy in collaboration with the Air Force. It's so advanced that it can lock on to and hit targets behind the launching fighter and even strike targets on the ground. Moreover, the Sidewinder has been adapted for use with ground launchers. With the proliferation of drones in the modern battlefield, ground-based air defense has seen a renewed focus. The infantry that used to make fun of the air defense battery for playing Magic the Gathering in air-conditioned trailers still make fun of them; they're just thankful to have Patriot missiles keeping the skies clear of lawnmowers of death. Although the exact numbers were not published, AIM-9 Sidewinders have been sent to Ukraine as part of the $31.7 billion drawdown from DoD stockpiles. Capable of being fired by the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System, these missiles are a critical piece of Ukraine's air defense network. In May 2025, Ukraine reported that AIM-9 Sidewinders were used to shoot down two Russian Su-30 Flanker fighter jets in the Black Sea. The Russian Defense Ministry did not comment on the incident. Dialing the clock back, the Israeli Air Force reported that one of its F-35s shot down a cruise missile using an AIM-9X in November 2023. The most recent U.S. employment of the Sidewinder was during the infamous Chinese spy balloon incidents in February 2023. The Air Force confirmed that an F-22 Raptor used an AIM-9X to shoot the balloon down off the coast of South Carolina on February 4 of that year. Then another F-22 shot a balloon down over Alaska with an AIM-9X on February 10. February 11 and 12 saw additional balloon shoot downs over Yukon, Canada and Lake Huron, Michigan, respectively. While the February 11 shoot down followed the pattern of an F-22 and an AIM-9X, February 12 shook things up. The AIM-9X was fired by an F-16 and the first missile missed, reportedly due to the balloon's small size. Imagine the grief the pilot got upon return. With the record $1.1B contract for the AIM-9X and accelerated production, the Sidewinder doesn't look like it's going anywhere. Logistics matter and a shooting war is going require ammo…lots of ammo. While modern fighter jets can employ long-range radar-guided missiles that can shoot beyond the horizon, the Sidewinder remains an essential weapon in the arsenal of any flying force. Featured Navy Why the Hellfire is one of America's favorite missiles By Logan Nye Fixed Wing The sidewinder missile is still lethal after 60 years The sidewinder missile is still lethal after 60 years By Harold C. Hutchison Military News Canada is sending Sidewinder missiles to Ukraine Canada is sending Sidewinder missiles to Ukraine By Miguel Ortiz Surface The Israeli Navy fought the first surface battle between missile boats The Israeli Navy fought the first surface battle between missile boats By Miguel Ortiz Aviation Why the US military loves the Hellfire missile Why the US military loves the Hellfire missile By Harold C. Hutchison
Hindustan Times
24-07-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
The West's Insatiable Demand for Missiles Is Boosting U.S. Weapons Makers
It's a good time to be in the missile-making business. A Lockheed Martin Thaad interceptor system was included in an event at the White House in 2019. Western companies that build missiles, including offensive rockets and defensive interceptors, say they are fielding a surge in new orders. Heavy demand for Patriot antimissile arrays, Thaad interceptors and Sidewinder missiles is keeping defense contractors from Lockheed Martin to RTX busy while some other business lines stumble. Lockheed Martin on Tuesday reported an 11% increase in second-quarter sales within its missiles and firing control division, which makes Patriot air-defense missiles and high-end Thaad interceptors. Revenue rose 8% at RTX's Raytheon unit, powered by higher sales of its Patriot equipment and of Nasams, another surface-to-air missile system. The U.S. Army asked Lockheed to quadruple production of its PAC-3 missiles for Patriot batteries. The company said it expects backlogged orders for its weaponry to hit a record later this year. The backlog at Raytheon swelled to $63.5 billion at the end of June, nudged higher by Navy contracts for new ship-fired SM-3 projectiles and AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles. 'The demand is very durable,' said RTX finance chief Neil Mitchill, citing continuing talks with European customers. 'That's why we're investing. These are very complicated products and many require a long lead time.' The U.S. has been hoarding missiles for several years to strengthen its position in the Pacific region against China. But protracted fighting in Ukraine and the Middle East have drawn down Western missile supplies, according to Wes Rumbaugh, a fellow at the missile defense project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. A Nasams surface-to-air missile launcher sat on a production floor in Norway in 2023. 'A lot of the spike in the demand recently that has stressed the U.S. industrial base is the pop up of conflicts that they weren't expecting,' he said. 'They're sending a very strong short-term signal. The long-term question is whether or not those investments will translate into sustainable funding.' The missile boom offers a contrast with other areas of the U.S. defense-industrial complex that are struggling to get off the ground. Lockheed surprised investors Tuesday by booking $1.8 billion in write-downs from big-budget jet-fighter and helicopter programs. The biggest loss came from a contract in the company's secretive Skunk Works unit, which designs advanced aircraft and other weaponry. The same program booked a $555 million loss last year. Aircraft makers are wrestling with changing orders and costly research and development overruns. Shipbuilders are finding it hard to keep construction costs in check. Drone warfare is changing the way countries around the world equip their armies. Still, the stepped-up demand for missiles is giving a jolt to the entire supply chain. Defense contractor Northrop Grumman said Tuesday it expects to pump out 25,000 solid rocket motors a year by 2029, up from 13,000 units today. Europe's largest missile maker, MBDA, has proven lucrative for its three listed owners, BAE Systems, Airbus and Leonardo. MBDA now represents 13% of BAE's $44.5 billion order book, up from 6.5% in 2021, just before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In the first quarter of this year, growth for Norwegian technology company Kongsberg was mainly driven by increased delivery volumes for missiles—and defenses against them. Kongsberg's order backlog for missiles and air-defense systems now totals more than $8.4 billion, with sales of a naval strike missile to the U.S. being particularly lucrative. Missile makers could reap another windfall from the Trump administration's Golden Dome for America antimissile shield project. The president called for an extensive buildup of air and space defenses to protect the U.S. against ballistic missiles and newer threats such as hypersonic weapons. The Defense Department hasn't detailed the high-level design of the antimissile shield, but Trump's call for an operational system by the end of his term could end up boosting companies such as Lockheed, RTX and others ready to field more missile interceptors on short notice. Write to Drew FitzGerald at
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Gilat Secures $27 Million for Gilat's Stellar Blu Portfolio
Orders and deliveries highlight continued interest in Stellar Blu Sidewinder ESA terminal for commercial, business and defense aviation markets PETAH TIKVA, Israel, June 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. (NASDAQ: GILT, TASE: GILT), a worldwide leader in satellite networking technology, solutions and services, today announced that its Commercial Division secured $27 million for Gilat Stellar Blu's ESA Terminal technology. Deliveries are expected primarily over the next 12 months. Gilat Stellar Blu's compact, high-performance, multi-orbit ESA terminal, technology, products and solutions are gaining traction across the aviation market as they are designed to meet the increasing connectivity demands of commercial, business and defense airborne platforms. The platform enables high-capacity communications with the agility and scalability required for next-generation aviation networks. The market for airborne communications is seeing strong momentum, with sustained investment from all sectors. This trend supports continued demand for innovative, high-value connectivity solutions worldwide. 'These orders and deliveries represent an important step forward in the continued expansion of our Sidewinder platform,' said Tracy Trent, President of Gilat Stellar Blu. With Gilat Stellar Blu's innovation and momentum, we're enabling more and more agile, scalable, and mission-critical airborne communications solutions for commercial, business and defense sectors.' About Gilat Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. (NASDAQ: GILT, TASE: GILT) is a leading global provider of satellite-based broadband communications. With over 35 years of experience, we develop and deliver deep technology solutions for satellite, ground, and new space connectivity, offering next-generation solutions and services for critical connectivity across commercial and defense applications. We believe in the right of all people to be connected and are united in our resolution to provide communication solutions to all reaches of the world. Together with our wholly owned subsidiaries—Gilat Wavestream, Gilat DataPath, and Gilat Stellar Blu—we offer integrated, high-value solutions supporting multi-orbit constellations, Very High Throughput Satellites (VHTS), and Software-Defined Satellites (SDS) via our Commercial and Defense Divisions. Our comprehensive portfolio is comprised of a cloud-based platform and modems; high-performance satellite terminals; advanced Satellite On-the-Move (SOTM) antennas and ESAs; highly efficient, high-power Solid State Power Amplifiers (SSPA) and Block Upconverters (BUC) and includes integrated ground systems for commercial and defense markets, field services, network management software, and cybersecurity services. Gilat's products and tailored solutions support multiple applications including government and defense, IFC and mobility, broadband access, cellular backhaul, enterprise, aerospace, broadcast, and critical infrastructure clients all while meeting the most stringent service level requirements. For more information, please visit: Certain statements made herein that are not historical are forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words 'estimate', 'project', 'intend', 'expect', 'believe' and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Gilat to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, among others, changes in general economic and business conditions, inability to maintain market acceptance to Gilat's products, inability to timely develop and introduce new technologies, products and applications, rapid changes in the market for Gilat's products, loss of market share and pressure on prices resulting from competition, introduction of competing products by other companies, inability to manage growth and expansion, loss of key OEM partners, inability to attract and retain qualified personnel, inability to protect the Company's proprietary technology and risks associated with Gilat's international operations and its location in Israel, including those related to the hostilities between Israel and Hamas. For additional information regarding these and other risks and uncertainties associated with Gilat's business, reference is made to Gilat's reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements for any reason. Contact: Gilat Satellite NetworksHagay Katz, Chief Product and Marketing Officerhagayk@ Alliance Advisors:GilatIR@ +1 212 838 3777Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Our Best Look Yet At Ukraine's AIM-9 Sidewinder-Toting Magura-7 Drone Boat
Ukraine's Defense Intelligence Directorate (GUR) released new video and details about the Magura-7 uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) the spy agency claims it used to down two Russian Su-30 Flanker multirole fighters. The revelations came during a ceremony to introduce a new stamp honoring Ukraine's USV campaign that offered our best view yet of the Magura-7 in various configurations. GUR commander 'Lt. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov, and a team of special service specialists publicly presented the Magura series of naval strike drones for the first time,' GUR stated on Telegram Thursday. The video shows a Magura-7 armed with two live AIM-9M Sidewinder infrared-guided air-to-air missiles for use as surface-to-air interceptors. TWZ was the first to report on the claimed use of AIM-9-toting Magura-7s to shoot down a pair of Flankers flying over the Black Sea, in an exclusive interview with Budanov, which you can read here. That engagement marked the first time a drone boat destroyed a combat jet. A previous image that emerged of the Magura-7 armed with two Sidewinder was much lower quality which you can see below. The boat displayed by GUR at the ceremony also features the missiles loaded on aircraft-style launch rails that would be elevated at an upward angle before launch, but they do not appear to provide any lateral traverse. This is significant since, as TWZ has pointed out previously, the M variant of the Sidewinder lacks the high-off-boresight (HOBS) capabilities of the infrared-guided R-73 (AA-11 Archer) short-range air-to-air missile. In December, GUR claimed it downed a Russian Mi-8 Hip helicopter fired from a Magura V5 USV operated by GUR's Group 13 unit. From our most recent coverage of the Magura-7: 'Missiles with HOBS engagement capability feature articulating seekers that make it easier for them to lock onto dynamic targets when loaded on a fixed launch rail. As such, the AIM-9M-armed Magura-7 looks as if it would have to be physically pointed relatively precisely in the direction of the target before launch. Meeting the parameters for a successful intercept from this platform could be very challenging, especially with the added factor of the drone boat bouncing up and down on the waves. Getting the targeted aircraft at the right height and distance to enter into the seeker's more limited viewing envelope wouldn't be that easy and it may require some amount of luck, at least based on the general launcher configuration we are seeing.' In addition to displaying a Magura-7 with two Sidewinders, GUR also showed off for the first time one of the USVs, also known as drone boats, equipped with a machine gun turret. In addition to displaying the Magura-7s, the GUR video also offered new details about these drone boats, answering questions we previously raised. As we recently surmised, it is roughly 23.5 feet long. In addition, it has a range of up to 540 nautical miles and can operate autonomously for at least 48 hours and up to seven days with a generator. Weighing more than 2,800 pounds unloaded and nearly 7,500 pounds loaded, it can carry a 1,433-pound payload. The 270 hp diesel engine can generate a top speed of 39 knots and a cruising speed of 23 knots, which it can do up to Sea State 3. Under the Beaufort Scale, that means a 'gentle breeze' of up to 10 knots and maximum wave heights of three feet. It has multiple video feeds for operators to exploit, with day/night gyro-stabilized turret — likely for general surveillance and target acquisition cueing — and two staring video systems. Its product card also listed 'acoustic environment monitoring systems.' It is controlled remotely with an encrypted satellite link, according to the card. We spotted no less than three planar satellite antenna's atop the boat's hull in previous imagery. The newly revealed specifications confirm our previous observation that the Magura-7 is larger than the Magura-5 with a greater range. The Magura-5 has a reported length of 18 feet and has a top speed of 42 knots, a cruising speed of 22 knots, and a range of 450 nautical miles. During the stamp ceremony, the commander of Group 13, GUR's drone boat unit, talked about how the campaign against Russia developed. 'It was a challenge for us to start our work from scratch,' he said, said the commander, identified only by his callsign, Thirteenth. 'Previously, there was no such experience anywhere, there was no place to draw information. But two years ago, we first hit the Russian reconnaissance ship Ivan Khurs. And today we can confidently say that the GUR of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Group 13, has displaced the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation to their bases. They are constrained in their actions, they do not perform any tasks as intended.' You can watch Ukraine's video of that encounter below. When the russian reconnaissance ship "Ivan Khurs" met a Ukrainian a perfect match! — Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) May 25, 2023 During 'two years of combat use of various modifications of the Magura drone, the masters of military intelligence hit a total of 17 sea and air targets of the aggressor state of Russia,' Thirteenth claimed, adding that '15 of which were completely destroyed.' In addition to the aforementioned Flankers and Mi-8, that list includes 'large ships of the Russian Black Sea Fleet – Sergey Kotov, Ivanovets, Tsezar Kunikov and other vessels. The damage inflicted on the enemy is estimated at more than half a billion dollars.' The War Zone cannot independently verify these claims, but there is no doubt that Ukraine's drone boats have done significant damage to Russian forces. Russian military correspondents posted the following video of the Tsezar Kunikov engagement, which took place in March 2024. Kremlin military correspondents have published a video of an alleged Ukrainian naval drone attack on the Big Landing Ship "Tsezar Kunikov" on February 14In the video, armed men try to hit surface targets with firearms, then an explosion is heard and a fire — NEXTA (@nexta_tv) March 6, 2024 Ukrainian military expert Mykhailo Samus suggested that 'the evolution and combat successes of drones in the Black Sea waters are causing a revision of naval doctrines in other countries of the world.' 'It is obvious,' he surmised, 'that the classic large-tonnage fleet of the 20th century is losing to the latest unmanned vehicles. Thanks to the 'Maguras' and other naval drones, a doctrinal shift has already taken place.' Drone boats, he added, are 'a modern fleet of the 21st century. I am convinced that right now, during a large-scale war, Ukraine and the GUR of the Ministry of Defense as a leader in this regard have really made a revolution…Patrolling the sea area, controlling sea communications, destroying air and sea targets… All this is already a reality. This is a new doctrine that has become a reality in Ukraine.' The success of Ukraine's USV program is not lost on the U.S. Navy. GUR's drone boat campaign was a major topic of conversation earlier this month at the (Special Operations Forces) SOF Week conference held earlier this month in Tampa. Several drone boats, like the one in the video below, were displayed for SOF leaders. 'We've learned a lot from international partners and current events,' Navy Cmdr. Michael Linn said during a PEO Maritime panel at the conference. 'So I want to make sure that we're prioritizing rapid, iterative improvements and adaptations that are critical to success. You know, everyone likely saw the news out of Ukraine … that a Magura 7 USV shot down an SU-30 fighter with a SAM. That's another major milestone coming out of [Ukraine].' It remains unclear how many Magura-7s GUR is operating, how many are fitted with AIM-9s or machine guns or the exact role anticipated for the machine gun-equipped variants. 'Sorry, but that information is classified,' Budanov told us. Contact the author: howard@
