LUANDA - Airbus Defence and Space has delivered two C295 Maritime Surveillance Aircraft to Angola, completing a three aircraft order and giving the Forca Aerea Nacional de Angola its first dedicated maritime patrol fleet. The aircraft will support search and rescue, illegal fishing patrols, border control, and maritime traffic monitoring along Angola's 1,600 kilometer Atlantic coastline.

Angola ordered one C295W tactical transport and two C295s in maritime surveillance configuration in 2022. The transport aircraft was delivered in 2024, while the new MSAs are the first in Africa equipped with Airbus' Fully Integrated Tactical System, which fuses radar, electro optical sensors, and mission systems across multiple consoles. All three aircraft feature Collins Aerospace's Pro Line Fusion glass cockpit avionics.

The C295s are part of a broader effort to protect offshore energy assets and improve maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea. Angola is now among 11 African operators that have ordered a total of 54 C295s for transport and ISR roles.

Source: AeroTime
Associated URL: https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/angola-receives-c295-maritime-surveillance-aircraft

ABU DHABI - Milkor UAE's new Commander high speed patrol craft has completed final qualification sea trials off Abu Dhabi, clearing the way for its market launch. The 16.5 meter aluminium monohull was put through crash stops, high speed turns and figure eight maneuvers to validate its performance as an interceptor platform.

Powered by twin Caterpillar C12.9 or Volvo D13 engines rated at 1,000 horsepower each and twin waterjets, the vessel reaches 45 knots and cruises at 35 knots with a 500 nautical mile range. Its shallow 0.8 meter draught and tight 48 meter turning radius are designed for littoral operations, including border control, anti piracy and IUU fishing patrols.

Class approved for Sea State 5, the Commander features a reinforced hull, bulletproof glass, spall lining and a remote weapon station for crew protection. A multi sensor suite, including multimode radar, EO/IR gimbal and 360 degree thermal camera, supports detection and interdiction missions for coast guard and law enforcement users.

Source: Asian Military Review
Associated URL: https://www.asianmilitaryreview.com/2025/11/milkor-commander-spotted-undergoing-trials/

WASHINGTON - Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has announced a significant overhaul of the Pentagon's weapons acquisition enterprise, prioritizing "speed" in delivering new capabilities. In a recent speech at the National War College, Hegseth outlined a plan to fundamentally change how the Defense Department defines requirements, manages programs, and tests new systems.

The reforms aim to inject agility into the procurement process to outpace adversaries, particularly in areas like AI, cyber, and space. Key changes include scrapping the existing Joint Capability Integration and Development System (JCID) in favor of a new Requirements and Resourcing Alignment Board. Program Executive Offices will also be replaced with a more flexible "portfolio" management approach. This new structure will emphasize iterative delivery, fielding incrementally improved technology more frequently rather than waiting for a perfect solution.

Additional reforms include a "multi-track" acquisition approach to maintain competition among multiple vendors and the creation of a new Wartime Production Unit to boost manufacturing capacity, replacing the Joint Production Accelerator Cell. The Pentagon also plans to streamline the Foreign Military Sales process by moving oversight from the policy office to the acquisition office, with a new emphasis on designing systems for exportability from the start.

Source: Air and Space Forces
Associated URL: https://www.airandspaceforces.com/hegseth-acquisitions-weapons-pentagon/