Jordan Displays New, Upgraded Aircraft at SOFEX Show

Spurred partly by the crisis in Syria, with which Jordan shares a long border, and partly by a need to replace and upgrade ageing types, the Royal Jordanian Air Force (RJAF) is in the process of receiving new or upgraded aircraft. At the biennial SOFEX special forces show held last week at Amman’s Marka airport, no fewer than eight aircraft types made their public debuts in RJAF colors. Dominating the static display was the RJAF’s first Mil Mi-26T2 heavy helicopter, which was delivered in January from an order for four. The T2 is the current-production version with a BREO-26 digital avionics suite and a five-screen cockpit, permitting night/all-weather operations by a flight deck crew of two, instead of the five required to fly the original design. The Mi-26 was initially attached to the RJAF’s No. 7 Squadron at Marka, which flies Super Pumas. However, No. 26 Squadron has been formed to fly the Mi-26s. On display for possibly, the first time outside China was an example of the CH-4B armed UAV, a Predator-like product of the China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics, itself part of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC). An unknown number has been delivered to Jordan to No. 9 Squadron, which also flies the RJAF’s Schiebel S-100 Camcopter and Leonardo Falco UAVs.

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Hanwha at WDS 2024: Pioneering Global Defense Capabilities and Partnerships for Vision 2030

PR Newswire | February 05, 2024

The defense affiliates of Hanwha Group, including Hanwha Aerospace, Hanwha Systems, and Hanwha Ocean, will be participating in the World Defense Show 2024 (WDS 2024), held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from 4th to 8th Feb. With geopolitical crises increasing security demands in key Middle East regions, Hanwha Group is set to present defense capabilities on land, in the air, at sea and in space to protect customers from various threats. Under the slogan 'Opening the Future of Advanced Engine', Hanwha will explore long-term partnership with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which has made localization of the defense sector a key objective in Vision 2030. Hanwha will present its advanced aircraft engines, AESA radars, and aviation electronics equipment at the exhibition's center, as well as unveil a roadmap for the development and production of next generation engines beginning in the 2030s, leveraging the manufacturing capabilities accumulated over the previous 40 years. Hanwha aims to fortify a partnership that not only meets customer's immediate defense needs, but also foster long-term resilience and innovation in the defense sector. The company is committed to integrating advanced defense technologies into the customer's needs. An official from Hanwha stated, "The collaboration aims to significantly contribute to the growth and modernization of the local defense industry, while also fostering a mutually beneficial relationship. Hanwha takes pride in our ongoing commitment to delivering deterrence solutions to key regions with urgent needs." Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East region, Hanwha will present the cutting-edge submarine KSS-III, offering unparalleled capabilities to mitigate emerging threats to maritime security. Also, the unmanned underwater vehicles and unmanned surface ships will deliver innovative defense solutions to navigate the diverse security challenges in the region. In the face of rapidly changing regional security landscape, Hanwha will present the K9A1 155mm Self-Propelled Howitzer (SPH) equipped with exportable engine, multipurpose Unmanned Ground Vehicle(UGV), Redback armored vehicle, TIGON 6x6 wheeled armored vehicle, Chunmoo Multi Rocket Launcher, M-SAM and various air defense systems, meeting regional needs with its diverse portfolio of Land Systems solutions. Hanwha will also exhibit hyper connected tactical solutions to sensor and neutralize aerial threats, including Synthetic Aperture Radar(SAR), Multi-Function Radar(MFR), and anti-drone systems. The company will also showcase advanced air defense solutions equipped on Korean Fighter Jet, ranging from Active Electronically Scanned Array(AESA) Radar to Infra-Red Search and Track, strengthening defense capabilities to detect threats across different domains. Hanwha has decades of experience designing, developing, testing successfully manufacturing modern defense solutions. The company is adopting a cooperative approach to support the localization of key products, a private cooperation aimed at expediting the achievement of the customer's objectives.

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