Spain to patrol Baltic States' airspace with four Eurofighter Typhoon in 2016

Four Spanish Eurofighter Typhoon jets will begin patrolling the Baltic states' skies in 2016 as part of the rotating NATO mission.
A Spanish contingent with four Eurofighter Typhoons from 14 Wing, with base in Albacete, will be stationed in Lithuania, marking the third time for the Spanish air force to take part in the Baltic air policing mission. They will replace the Hungarian jets and crews who have been guarding the Baltic airspace with four JAS-39 Gripen jets since the beginning of September.
The official changeover ceremonies are scheduled for January 7.
unian.info

First NATO AGS aircraft gets off the ground

The first of five NATO Global Hawk Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) conducted a successful first flight in California on Saturday (19 December). Taking off from Palmdale Airbase, NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) UAV aircraft successfully soared to 40,000 feet before landing at Edwards Air Force Base 2.5 hours later.
The NATO-owned and operated AGS Core System will enable the Alliance to perform persistent surveillance over wide areas from high-altitude in any weather conditions. The system will give commanders a comprehensive picture of conditions on the ground.
nato

US Navy races to keep aging F/A-18 Hornets flying longer

The Navy is in a race against the clock to keep enough fighter jets in the air to support deployments and train troops at home, forcing expensive and time-consuming maintenance that will continue into 2016.
With F/A-18C Hornets staying online years past their originally planned sundown, and F/A-18E-F Super Hornets rapidly approaching their 6,000 flight-hour limits, aviation leadership is working to keep the aging airframes in service while it waits for reinforcements in the form of the F-35C Lightning II.
navytimes

Bulgaria retires last MiG-21 fighters

The Bulgarian air force on 18 December held a ceremony to mark the retirement of its last Mikoyan MiG-21 fighters.
Involving the nation's last three serviceable examples – two single-seat MiG-21bis's and a two-seat MiG-21UM1 trainer – the event marked the end of regular flight operations, although the former pair will remain available to conduct quick reaction alert sorties until 31 December. The fighters will then be kept in storage at Graf Ignatievo air base, ready to be returned to airworthy status should the need arise.
Bulgaria's MiG-21 fleet had originally been slated for retirement in 2012, but the type's availability was continued through two life-extension efforts. This was deemed necessary due to airworthiness problems experienced by the air force's Mikoyan MiG-29 fleet.
A potential further extension of the remaining MiG-21s has been rejected due to the cost of overhauling the aircraft, which were manufactured in 1981 and 1982. Instead, the air force has opted to direct its efforts and available funds towards maintaining its struggling MiG-29 fleet.
flightglobal

China Builds Its Own'Wild Weasel' To Suppress Air Defenses, The J-16D

While China's Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2/AD) operations rely on heavy air defenses, Chinese air force planners may also have to account for enemy surface to air missiles, all the more with Taiwan and Japan embarking on a new buildup of missile shields. In December, one of the responses was revealed: the Shenyang J-16D.
The J-16D is a J-16/Su-30 multi-role fighter optimized for "Wild Weasel" missions. Starting in the Vietnam War, Wild Weasels are fighters designed to take on surface-to-air missile batteries in a SEAD (Supression of Enemy Air Defense) role. Armed with anti-radiation missiles (which lock on and target radars by their electronic emissions) and electronic intelligence and electronic warfare jammers, they are designed to engage and suppress defenses, opening the way for traditional air attacks.
Compared to the baseline J-16, the J-16D has removed its Infrared Search Tracking sensor and 30mm cannon to accommodate more electronics inside its fuselage. It also has several antennas mounted around its fuselage. The J-16D also two large ELINT pods on its wingtips, similar to those on the E/A-18 Growler, to collect enemy radar and electronic activity. Additionally, the J-16D has smaller radome, likely to include an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar optimized for electronic warfare, including signals collection and jamming. The J-16D will be fitted with large AESA jamming pods, a development of current jammers on JH-7A attack aircraft; its attack ability will come from YJ-91, LD-10 and other anti-radiation missiles.
popsci

Poland To Cut Caracal Order, Reconsider Black Hawk, AW149

Poland’s has announced plans to decrease the amount of the Caracal EC725 helicopters the country is to acquire from Airbus Helicopters. This would allow the ministry to also purchase Black Hawk and AW149 helos from Sikorsky and AgustaWestland, respectively.
The decision comes following the forming of Poland’s new government in November by the conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party. Last April, the previous Cabinet decided to order 60 multi-role helos from Airbus Helicopters to replace the Polish military’s Soviet-designed Mil Mi-8, Mi-14 and Mi-17 copters.
Sikorsky’s local subsidiary PZL Mielec makes the Black Hawk, while AgustaWestland’s PZL Swidnik offshoot produces the AW149.
defensenews

Pakistan Looks to Procure F-16s Over Home Grown JF-17s

While praising the abilities of the home made JF-17 Thunder fighter, Pakistan’s Air Chief Marshal, Sohail Aman has said that they are in negotiations external link with the US government to procure some of the latest F-16s. The announcement was made as the 16th JF-17 aircraft was unveiled and handed over to the Pakistan Air Force. Manufactured locally in cooperation with China, the JF-17 has been lauded as being able to compete with the best of other lightweight multi-role aircraft, and has been marketed heavily by Pakistan at recent air shows. While production for export seems to be on the increase, one wonders exactly why Islamabad is looking to purchase foreign made fighters ahead of locally produced ones, as well as planning to retire older aircraft simultaneously.
defenseindustrydaily

Carrier Truman joins ISIS fight alongside French flattop

The aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman joined the fight against the Islamic State group Tuesday, launching the first missions over Iraq since the flotilla arrived in the Middle East in mid-December.
Truman joins Operation Inherent Resolve more than two months after the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group departed U.S. Central Command, leaving the region without a carrier for the first time in years.
The Truman is in the Persian Gulf with the French carrier Charles de Gaulle, which is fresh off strikes in Syria after the IS-directed terror attacks in Paris.
navytimes

Vietnam Receives 2 More Su-30MK2

Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Production Association (KNAAPO) has delivered 2 more Su-30MK2 multi-role fighter for Vietnam Air Force.
A super-heavy transport aircraft An-124-100M Ruslan from Volga-Dnepr aviation company (Russia) has shipped two new Su-30MK2, bearing number 8589 and 8590 to Vietnam on Tuesday 29/12.
All Su-30MK2 12 aircraft in a deal worth $ 600 million signed in 2013 were produced at the KNAAPO. Plan early handover is scheduled for completion before the end of 2015.
However, according to sources, to the present time, Vietnam has received 8 Su-30MK2 in the contract on. The remaining 4 units will be handed over in 2016.
Eight Su-30MK2 are handed over to Vietnam from bearing number 8583 to 8590. Of which 4 units delivered in 2014 and the next four delivered in 2015, more slowly than originally planned to handover.
Up to now, Vietnam has purchased 36 Russian Su-30MK2 fighters, and has received 32 units. Which is composed of 4 units in the first purchase contract in 2003, 8 the purchase in 2009, 12 in 2010 and the purchase of 12 more aircraft bought in 2013.
defense-studies

Iran denies it fired rockets near U.S. warships in Strait of Hormuz

Iran on Thursday denied U.S. accusations of launching a provocative rocket test last week near Western warships in the Strait of Hormuz, dismissing the claim as "psychological warfare" against the Islamic Republic.
Gen. Ramezan Sharif, a Revolutionary Guard spokesman, said his forces didn't carry out any drills in the key Persian Gulf waterway.
The denial came a day after Cmdr. Kyle Raines, a U.S. Central Command spokesman, said Revolutionary Guard vessels fired several unguided rockets about 1,370 meters from the aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman and other Western warships and commercial traffic last Saturday. The firing came after Iranians announced over maritime radio 23 minutes earlier that they'd be carrying out a live-fire exercise, according to Raines.
"The Guard's Navy had no drills in the vicinity of the Strait of Hormuz and didn't fire missiles or rockets during the past week and the time claimed by the Americans," Sharif said in comments posted on the Revolutionary Guard's website. "Publication of such false news under the present circumstances is more of a psychological warfare."
Raines said while the rockets weren't fired in the direction of any ships, Iran's "actions were highly provocative" because firing so close to coalition ships and commercial traffic in international waters is "unsafe, unprofessional and inconsistent with international maritime law."
militarytimes

Sri Lanka May Buy JF-17 Fighters

Following the first export deal for its JF-17 multirole fighter to Myanmar, Pakistan is expected to be pushing hard for a follow-up agreement with Sri Lanka that would mark an important step in further extending its defence co-operation footprint in the Indian Ocean region.
With Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif scheduled to visit Sri Lanka in the first week of January 2016, efforts to secure an agreement in principle for the sale of the JF-17 Thunder are likely to be high on his agenda.
Sharif's upcoming talks in Colombo follow a mid-November visit to Pakistan by Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) commander Air Marshal Gagan Bulathsinhala during which the JF-17 was showcased by the Pakistanis.
The SLAF - which already flies several other Chinese-made aircraft types - is currently looking to upgrade its fighter capabilities. At present these rely on the Kfir, which served as the workhorse of SLAF ground attack operations in the 1983-2009 civil war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
Currently the JF-17 is flown only by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), with the first squadron of Block 1 aircraft becoming operational in 2010. In late December 2015, PAC rolled out the 16th of a planned total of 50 Block 2 aircraft to complete the PAF's fourth JF-17 squadron in service.
Phasing out its older Dassault Mirage III/5s and Chinese F-7Ps fighters, the PAF reportedly plans to induct at least 250 JF-17s. By contrast, China's People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) does not fly the JF-17.
janes

China says it is building second aircraft carrier

China on Thursday confirmed that it is building its second aircraft carrier.
Col. Yang Yujun, a spokesman from the Ministry of Defense, told reporters that the 50,000 ton China-designed vessel is being constructed in the northern port of Dalian with domestic technology.
In February, officials in Changzhou, eastern China, said Jiangsu Shangshang Cable Group — a local company — won a contract to supply cabling for the carrier, but their comments were soon deleted from the internet.
Chinese media has published images appearing to show the development of the vessel. The country's aircraft carrier program is a state secret.
China's existing aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, isn't yet fully operational. In October, the Associated Press reported that 27 U.S. Navy personnel visited it, where they discussed issues including training.
Yang said work on the second carrier has drawn on China's experience refitting the Liaoning, which was purchased from Ukraine in 1998.
He said the new carrier will have a ski-jump take-off, unlike the the Liaoning, but did not say when it will enter service, according to Reuters.
China, which has included new frigates, destroyers and nuclear submarines in its naval fleet, claims territorial sovereignty to virtually all of the South China Sea, which includes some of the world's busiest trade routes. Five other countries have competing claims in the same region.
usatoday

Germany has withdraw Patriot Missiles from Turkey

Germany has withdrawn its Patriot missile systems from Turkey, three years after bringing them in to contribute to the defense of Turkish airspace from possible threats from Syria.
All parts of the German patriot air missile defense systems have been loaded on a Danish ro-ro ship named “Britannia Seaways”.
The German government announced earlier this year that the patriot defense system was set to be withdrawn as its term would terminate early January 2016.
The patriot systems were demounted from Turkey’s southeastern province of Kahramanmaraş, where it was positioned for three years.
The German patriot was deployed to the Gazi Barracks in Kahramanmaraş in January 2013, after Turkey’s appeal to NATO, against missile attack threats from Syria.
A military ceremony marking the term end of the Patriots was held at the barracks last month.
Currently, the only patriot batteries stationed in Turkey are Spain’s, which are located in the southern province of Adana.
Initially, the Dutch, U.S. and German missile systems were stationed in early 2013. Spanish patriots replaced the Dutch systems early 2015.
Spain agreed to extend its patriot surface-to-air missiles along Turkey’s border to shoot down any missiles from Syria’s conflict fired into Turkish territory.
hurriyetdailynews

Supplies of S-300 air defense systems to Iran to begin in January 2016

The deliveries of Russian S-300PMU-2 air defense systems to Iran will begin in January, a source in the military and technical cooperation system told TASS on Friday. "It is planned to begin the process of delivery of the first regiment of the S-300PMU-2 air defense systems in January and to complete it in February. Iran is due to receive the second regiment of these systems in August or September 2016," the source said. "Russia will thus fulfill its obligations to supply the S-300PMU-2 air defense systems to Iran," he added. According to the source, about 80 Iranian specialists will be trained to use the S-300 missile systems (NATO reporting name SA-10 Grumble) at the Mozhaisky Military Space Academy.
tass

South Korea to Sign Contract on KF-X Next Week

South Korea's state arms procurement agency said Thursday it will sign a formal contract next week,around Dec. 28 on its fighter jet development project, known as KF-X.
The Defense Acquisition Procurement Administration plans to ink the deal with Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd.
South Korea hopes to produce its own fighter jet to replace the aging fleet of F-4s and F-5s by mid-2020.
Last month, KAI secured Indonesia's assurance that it will pay for 20 percent of the total cost expected to reach $15 billion.
Under the contract between the DAPA and KAI, six test planes will be manufactured by 2025.
The KF-X project received a boost from the U.S. pledge to transfer some of its jet technologies. But South Korea faces a daunting task of finding an alternative as the U.S. made it clear that four core technologies will be excluded.
Those are the active electronically scanned radar, infrared search-and-rescue system, electro-optical targeting pod and radio frequency jammer.
defense-studies

Final Two RQ-1 Predators Delivered to Italian Air Force

General Atomics announced that the Italian Air Force (ItAF) has accepted delivery of two RQ-1 Predator RPA systems, marking final deliveries of GA-ASI's Predator A product line, completing over two decades of delivering Predator A capabilities to the United States and other allied countries.
The Italian Air Force is a leader in the utilization of Predator and MQ-9 RPA to support a wide range of Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions in Italy, over the Mediterranean, and in support of NATO operations. Italy is the first country in Europe to have achieved an RPA airworthiness certification.
ga-asi.com

Russia Prepares For Dogfights With NATO Over Syria

Russia is now equipping its Su-34 fighters with air-to-air missiles in preparation for potential dogfights with NATO over Syria.
Russia is not equipping its jets with air-to-air missiles to fight ground-based ISIS militants but rather to prevent Turkish F-16s from shooting down more of its planes.
Turkey, a NATO ally, shot down a Russian Su-24 bomber on Nov. 24, claiming it had violated Turkish airspace, but Moscow rejected the claim.
Numerous analysts also pointed out that even if the Russian jet did cross through the tiny strip of Turkey bordering Syria, it would have only been in Turkey for a matter of seconds.
infowars

Romania receives modernised IAR-330 Puma Naval helicopters

Romania's IAR Brasov announced on 17 December that it had delivered the third IAR-330 Puma Naval to the Romanian Ministry of Defence, completing a modernisation process on the navy's three Puma helicopters that lasted 10 years.
During the last stage of the modernisation, between 2013 and 2015, the helicopters were fitted with torpedo launchers, extending their operability to anti-submarine warfare. The Pumas had previously been fitted in 2012 with two machine guns, of 7.62 mm and 12.7 mm respectively, for anti-piracy operations. The helicopters can also be used in anti-surface warfare operations, as well as for transport, surveillance, or search-and-rescue missions.
janes

France Orders 7 More Tiger Attack Helicopters

On Dec. 17, France ordered a further seven Tiger attack helicopters, aimed mainly to boost support for troops deployed against insurgents in sub-Saharan Africa.
The seven helicopters will be delivered between 2017-18. The Tigers will be the attack version, or hélicoptère appui-destruction (HAD), which are equipped with a more powerful engine, improved targeting system, additional combat external fuel tanks, and certified for Hellfire and Spike air-to-ground missiles in addition to the Mistral air-to-air weapon.
The latest order brings the French fleet to 67 Tigers and follows a request last year from the French Army to send a mixed batch of some 10 attack and transport helicopters to boost the present deployment of helicopters supporting troops in the Barkhane anti-insurgency operation in the Sahel.
defensenews

Finland kicks-off F/A-18 replacement process

Finland has notified five manufacturers of its intention to seek bids for its HX fighter-replacement programme, which will see it replace its 61-strong Boeing F/A-18C/D Hornet fleet.
On 16 December, the Finnish ministry of defence notified the governments of France, Sweden, the UK and the USA that it will be seeking information on seven aircraft types from five different manufacturers.
Requests for information (RFI) will be issued by March 2016, Finland says, which will include the Eurofighter Typhoon, Dassault Rafale, Saab Gripen, Boeing F-18 and F-15, and Lockheed Martin F-35 and F-16.
Replies to the RFI are to be submitted to Helsinki by the end of October 2016, with the contest to be launched in “spring 2018”, followed by a selection in 2021.
HX was introduced in October after a working group recommended the F-18s be replaced with new multi-role fighters, concluding extending the life of the Hornet fleet would not be cost-effective.
flightglobal

F-22 Has Flown Almost 300 Sorties Against Islamic State

Lockheed Martin F-22s have dropped 446 weapons during 50 strike missions against Islamic State targets in Iraq, Syria, Air Combat Command says in statement.
Plane flown over half of all escort missions in 16-month campaign, ACC says
Majority of F-22 strikes against buildings, oil infrastructure, Air Force says
NOTE: F-22 made combat debut last year in early strikes against Islamic State; it was declared combat ready in December 2005
Through Feb. 2 at seven-month-mark of campaign, F-22s flew 112 Syria and Iraq sorties, dropped 132 munitions
about.bgov.com

Australia Set to Acquire Three More Chinook CH-47F

The seven CH-47Fs were ordered in March 2010, with order for three more, would take the fleet to 10 CH-47Fs.
The US State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Australia for CH-47F aircraft, related equipment and support. The estimated cost is $180 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on December 18, 2015.
defense-studies

Lockheed to reveal 'ultimate offering' for T-X next year

Earlier this year, the company disclosed that its Skunk Works advanced design and development division had also been working on a clean-sheet alternative as a back-up if the air force’s performance specifications for the next-generation replacement for the 55-year-old Northrop T-38 evolve.
Although Lockheed’s long-term relationship with Korea through the country’s indigenous T-50 programme has been expected to form the basis for its T-X offering, Skunk Works declines to confirm that the clean-sheet offer is off the table for the $8 billion new-build trainer contest.
The unveiling at KAI’s Sacheon facility came as somewhat of a surprise, with no advanced notices sent to aerospace reporters by either company, and no Lockheed press release. The event was attended by a mostly South Korean audience, including the country's president Park Guen-Hye.
flightglobal

India Clears Purchase of S-400 AD System

India has cleared the purchase of five units of Russian-made S-400 Triumf (AD) advanced Air Defence Systems [with Indian specifications] at a cost of about $4.5 billion. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), the highest body under the Ministry of Defence (MoD) which decides weapons purchases, cleared the purchase of S-400 AD systems at its meeting here December 17.
An advanced team is leaving for Moscow on Dec. 17 to negotiate the purchase of the S-400 systems.
Sources in MoD, however, said it is not certain if the deal for the S-400 will be inked during the upcoming Dec. 24-25 visit by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Moscow.
defensenews

Second Royal Malaysian Air Force A400M Undergoing Test Flights

The second Second Royal Malaysian Air Force A400M airflifter – M54-02 – is currently undergoing flight tests in Seville, Spain prior to the handing over and the flight home. The aircraft is undergoing a battery of tests under the watchful eyes of a RMAF acceptance team.
As reported previously the aircraft was supposed to fly home in December. However industry sources told Malaysian Defence that it was more likely that the flight is expected next year though the exact timing remained uncertain.
The delay was unavoidable as the manufacturer of the A400M, was under pressure from other buyers to deliver their aircraft first. The fatal crash in May – which caused a temporary test flight pause – is the main reason for the delays in delivery.
During the test flights and until the aircraft is accepted by RMAF, the aircraft will carry the EC400 registration number. This is the same flight number for all the A400M undergoing flight and acceptance tests at Seville.
It is likely that the third aircraft will be delivered in late 2016 and fourth in early 2017.
defense-studies

Turkey receives final Peace Eagle AEW&C platform

Turkey received the last of four Boeing 737 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft at the type's main operating station of Konya Air Base on 9 December.
The handover of the aircraft, dubbed Peace Eagle in Turkish service, concludes a delivery process which began last year. The three aircraft previously handed over will now be upgraded with new software to bring them up to a common configuration with this latest addition to the fleet.
While Boeing has not commented on the nature of these upgrades, the company has previously stated it was looking to give the platform the ability to detect and track incoming ballistic missiles. Other improvements proposed that build on the Block 40/45 upgrade for the 707-derived E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) platform include equipping the aircraft for the airborne command-and-control mission, as well as for the onboard control of unmanned aerial vehicles. The fitting of an infrared search-and-track sensor has also previously been touted by Boeing.
Turkey signed up for the 737 AEW&C programme in May 2003. Under the deal, Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), Turkish Airlines, Havelsan, and Aselsan received workshare as part of an offset deal with local industry.
The first fully integrated 737 AEW& C was due to be handed over to Turkey in 2009. That date was not met with Boeing having informed Turkey in November 2006 of a 26-month programme slippage arising from delays caused by software and equipment integration problems. Further delays ensued that it was not until 21 February 2014 that the first example was delivered, with a second following at the beginning of May and a third on 4 September 2014. With the final example now handed over, all four aircraft are assigned to 131 Squadron at Konya.
janes

Third and Final C-295 Arrived at Philippines

The Philippine Air Force (PAF)'s third and last C-295 medium-lift transport aircraft finally arrived at Clark Air Base, Angeles City, Pampanga Friday afternoon.
The plane departed from Seville, Spain last Dec. 4 and made stopovers in several countries before landing in the Philippines.
The last C-295 transport aircraft was flown by pilots of Airbus Defense and Space.
It will still undergo technical inspection and acceptance process before it will be turnover to the PAF.
Last Dec. 5, President Benigno S. Aquino graced the turnover of the second C-295, two FA-50PH supersonic lead-in fighter jets and six AW-109E Attack Helicopter at 250th Presidential Airlift Wing Ramp,Villamor Air Base while Secretary Voltaire Gazmin led the turnover of the first C-295 last March 30.
The three C-295 medium-lift fixed-wing acquisition program is part of the PAF modernization program amounting.
defense-studies

Navantia to Manage Australia’s AWD Destroyer Program

Navantia has signed a contract with Australian shipbuilder ASC for providing management services to AWD program. The signing took place in Sydney.
Navantia has been working in three important programs for the ADF since 2007, namely the Air Warfare Destroyers (AWDs), Landing Helicopter Docks (LHDs), and the LHD Landing Craft (LLC), under different contractual schemes to deliver to the best of its ability. ASC has signed a contract with Navantia whereby Navantia will provide the Shipbuilding Management Services (SMS) for the AWD Program.
Navantia will bring it significant experience in AWDs to support ASC in building the AWDs. Navantia is fully committed in delivering this key capability to the Royal Australian Navy, as it has already done with the two LHDs, HMAS CANBERRA and HMAS ADELAIDE, this last unit being commissioned into the RAN on the 4th of December.
defense-studies

Taranis UCAV Completed Third Series of Test Flights

The Taranis UCAV demonstrator completed a third and final flight-test campaign last month. A key objective was to prove a low radar cross-section measurement but—as usual—program officials remain tight-lipped. Meanwhile, the Anglo-French study of a Future Combat Air System (FCAS) that could lead to an operational UCAV is entering its second and final year.
BAE Director of programs and support said that the Taranis program had “met all its test objectives”
ainonline

Norway authorizes purchase of 6 more F-35

Norway has approved a defense budget that authorizes the purchase of six additional Lockheed Martin Corp F-35 fighter jets for delivery in 2020, a spokesman for Norway's F-35 program, said on Friday.
The purchase will bring the total number of jets authorized by Norway to 28.
reuters