Aircraft
Defense Sector Makes Strong Showing at Farnborough
There was plenty of defense news at the 2012 Farnborough airshow. (Photo: Mark Wagner)
There was plenty of defense news at the 2012 Farnborough airshow. (Photo: Mark Wagner)

AIN’s team of editors and reporters provided full coverage of the Farnborough International airshow this week. All the stories can be found online. Major items of defense interest included the prospects for industrial cooperation in Europe on a new generation of unmanned aerial systems, such as the BAE Taranis and Mantis and Thales Watchkeeper. As at the Paris Air Show last year, a flying display by the Airbus Military A400M airlifter, now named the Atlas, was cancelled. Engine reliability problems were to blame. Airbus Military is also still facing challenges on the A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport. The presence of Omega Air’s KDC-10 in the static park was a reminder that a commercially run refueling service is available as an alternative.