Aircraft

• LINCOLN, Neb., April 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Last month, Sandhills Global reported that used aircraft inventory levels were resuming an upward trend.
• "Although the bulk of available used aircraft in the market is five years old or older, we've seen an uptick in used late-model aircraft inventory levels over the past few months," says Controller Department Manager Brant Washburn.
• Inventory levels of used piston single aircraft decreased 1.53% M/M and 18.71% YOY in March and continue to trend downwards.
• Inventory levels of used turboprop aircraft increased 8.33% M/M and 15.64% YOY and are now trending sideways.

• "This production contract reinforces the commitment of Hughes to serving GA-ASI and, by extension, the U.S. Army and this program of record, ensuring enhanced communications and ISR capabilities for today's multi-domain operations."
• This advanced, customized software-defined commercial technology is based on the HM400 modem that is operating on the GA-ASI MQ-9B UAS.
• After completing the development phase, GA-ASI awarded Hughes the initial production units; Hughes will start delivering these communications systems in the Spring.
• To learn more about how Hughes delivers secure communications, anytime, anywhere, please visit the Hughes website .

• With Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visiting Washington this week, rumours have circulated that Japan might soon join the AUKUS security pact between Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom.
• Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has downplayed the suggestion, indicating this is not something that will happen soon.

Partner on the ‘Pillar II’ level

• For some time now, Japan was talked about as a potential fourth partner in the agreement.
• The Pillar I level of the partnership involves the US transferring nuclear submarine propulsion technology to Australia.
• This level focuses on the sharing of technology related to artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, hypersonic missiles and precision guided munitions.
• Nonetheless, Japan has strong capabilities and critical skills in the areas covered by the Pillar II level of cooperation.

Complications to AUKUS expansion

• This includes ensuring the drafting and implementation of procedural mechanisms to allow technology transfers to take place between the members.
• No one inside AUKUS wants to mess with the dynamics that have enabled such close and trusted ties.
• In addition, there is a reluctance to go beyond three core members of AUKUS until the envisioned technology sharing is proven to work.
• Read more:
  Will the AUKUS deal survive in the event of a Trump presidency?

A delicate balancing act

• This is demonstrated in the trilateral arrangements between them, as well as the quadrilateral ties with India (known as the Quad).
• Japan is also boosting its ties with the Philippines, South Korea and the United Kingdom.
• So, it is a delicate balancing act to encourage Japanese engagement in external security arrangements, while being mindful the country still has a constitution that binds it to a strictly defensive and relatively benign military posture.

John Blaxland is director of the ANU's North America Liaison Office, based in Washington DC, and has been attending the US Navy's Sea Air Space Conference in National Harbor, Maryland.

• Through CCC’s G2G contract, DHC will provide the DHC-515 aircraft to Croatia, along with spare parts, training, and maintenance support.
• Building on the foundation of the iconic Canadair CL-215 and CL-415 aircraft, the DHC-515 FIREFIGHTER™ is a new purpose-built aerial firefighting aircraft.
• Currently, Croatia currently operates six CL-415 aircraft and will increase its aerial firefighting program by one-third with the acquisition of these two new DHC-515 aircraft.
• I congratulate Croatia to sign into reality the first planes of what will form a new generation of European firefighting aerial capacity.