TATV Defence Monthly: F-35 Lightning II jets

With this, the first Defence Monthly programme for TATV – produced in association with the World Defense Show – host Alan Peaford is joined by legendary defence editor Jon Lake and defence correspondents Alan Warnes in central Europe and Jay Menon in India to pick up on the key talking points in the defence industry in Africa, the Middle East and West Asia.

With Donald Trump signing $23.37 billion deal to sell 50 F-35 Lightning II jets as well as 18 MQ-9 Reaper drones and munitions to the United Arab Emirates as he left the White House, there had been speculation that the new Democrat administration may overturn it. On Wednesday the US opted to review the deal. While this is a normal thing for arms contracts during administration transitions there are questions over which way the review will fall.

India however is celebrating the firm order for its Tejas fighter aircraft for the beleaguered Indian Air Force.

The impact of the withdrawal of US military from Somalia is also a discussion point from the programme’s guests.

Alan Peaford

Alan Peaford MBE

Alan is a regular broadcaster and is the consultant editor-in-chief and presenter for Times Aerospace TV and is a regular commentator on aviation issues for many global broadcasting channels. He is conference chairman of the Aviation Africa summit and the Aviation MENA summit and has moderated or chaired conferences for organisations such as IATA, DCAA, the Global Aerospace Summit and business aviation associations in the Middle East, Africa and Europe.

Jon Lake

Jon Lake

Jon is defence editor for both Arabian and African Aerospace magazines.