Bulgaria's government is gathering offers from the major producers. Italy has already made an offer for second-hand Eurofighter jets.
novinite
May 31, 2014
Bulgaria's Government to Decide on New Fighter Planes in June
Bulgaria's government is gathering offers from the major producers. Italy has already made an offer for second-hand Eurofighter jets.
novinite
Portugal to induct Harpoon Block II for submarines in 2014
Eight Portuguese Navy RGM-84 Block I surface-launched anti-ship missiles are being adapted into Block II weapons in Den Helder, the Netherlands, with the installation of upgrade kits. Upgrade of the first missile was completed on schedule at the end of 2013; the navy plans to formally induct the updated UGM-84 missile into service in the fourth quarter of 2014.
Portugal also purchased eight capsules and associated containers in 2009 under its Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LoA) agreement with the United States.
In mid-2012, Tridente carried out sea trials at the US Navy's (USN's) Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Connecticut, where it fired several capsules to qualify both the missile launch procedure, and integration with the weapon system's fire control unit and other submarine systems.
The diesel-electric/air-independent propulsion submarines were delivered with the Advanced Harpoon Weapon Control System (AHWCS) fitted. Alongside active radar guidance for the prosecution of anti-ship targets, the Block II introduces GPS-aided inertial navigation to provide a land attack capability against fixed targets.
Along with the missiles, the boats' eight 533 mm torpedo tubes are capable of firing Black Shark heavyweight torpedoes, 24 of which were purchased in March 2005.
Intended to replace the Albacore-class Daphné boats, Tridente and Arpão were commissioned in June and December 2010 respectively. The vessels were acquired in April 2004 for EUR833 million by the Portuguese procurement agency (DGAIED) from what is known today as ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS).
janes
May 30, 2014
Russian Naval Aviation Monitoring NATO Warships in Black Sea – Source
During the flights, combat training is carried out to provide surface image coverage in the neutral waters of the Black Sea. These flights, performed mainly by Su-24 attack aircraft, allow monitoring of NATO warship maneuvers, which have increased in activity in recent months.
NATO member countries deployed three ships to the Black Sea earlier this month: the French La Fayette-class frigate Surcouf, the French Dupuy de Lôme intelligence ship, and the US Ticonderoga-class Aegis guided-missile cruiser Vella Gulf something unmotivated for Russia.
The operations are in compliance with international regulations that govern flights over the neutral waters.
NATO Secretary General Anders said Tuesday the alliance would intensify its naval presence in the Baltic and Black Seas amid the crisis in Ukraine.
ria.ru
Israeli phased out the AH-1 attack helicopter fleet due to budget cuts
Israel's last squadron of Cobras, was pulled from service late last year. The decision was previously kept under wraps but disclosed in an increasingly public feud between the Defence Ministry and Treasury over budget cuts.
Israel began flying Cobras after the 1973 Middle East war, when its forces were battered by Egyptian and Syrian armour and air defence units.
With Egypt now at peace with Israel, and Syria riven by a more than 3-year-old revolt, the main threat Israel faces from their territories, as with neighbouring Lebanon and Gaza, is sneak attacks by guerrilla rocket crews or riflemen.
Israel retains two squadrons of Apache helicopters. It also flies an undisclosed number of pilotless drones.
The Cobras were axed as part of budget cuts.
Israel had a fleet of approximately 33 AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters.
Locally made Israeli drones increasingly patrol combat zones such as the Gaza Strip. They can circle for long hours on propeller engines, beaming back video to mark ground targets or to guide troops.
reuters
Peru to Get 8 Mi-17 Helicopters in November
The Mi-171Sh multi-purpose helicopters were sold to Peru in December, and are likely to replace the eight Mi-17 transport helicopters that were sold to Peru in 1984.
The Peruvian government has set aside $11 million to repair and refit the three Mi-171s it bought in 2010, and an additional $2.8 million to overhaul the presidential transport Mi-17-1B.
Russia will build a maintenance and repair center for the helicopters in Peru by 2016. Peru will be able to offer the services of this center to other countries in the region that own Russian helicopters and aircraft like the Su-25 fighter jet.
themoscowtimes
Ukraine army helicopter shot down near Sloviansk
The rebels used a Russian-made anti-aircraft system. An army general was among the dead.
The town of Sloviansk has seen fierce fighting between separatists and government forces in recent weeks.
Russia has reiterated calls for Ukraine to stop its military campaign against the pro-Moscow rebels.
bbc.com
Latest Voyager arrival completes 'core' fleet for RAF
Flown to the RAF’s air transport hub from Airbus Defence Space’s Getafe modification centre near Madrid, Voyager ZZ338 will begin operations once transferred to the UK military aircraft register.
Eight converted Voyagers have now been delivered to Brize Norton for use by the service’s 10 and 101 squadrons, including five three-point tanker/transports and two equipped with under-wing pods only. The ninth – currently unmodified – example is operated by AirTanker and retained on the UK civil aircraft register. All of the aircraft are configured with a 291-seat, single-class passenger cabin, and are capable of carrying a maximum fuel load of 111t.
Since entering use, the UK’s Voyagers have been flown for a combined 9,750h, and have transported more than 172,000 passengers. In the air-to-air refuelling role the fleet has completed over than 230 sorties and delivered in excess of 400t of fuel, supporting types including the RAF’s Eurofighter Typhoons and Panavia Tornado GR4s.
In addition to supporting quick reaction alert activities with Typhoons in the UK and the Falkland Islands, the Voyager fleet is also currently supporting testing of the RAF’s future tactical transport.ZZ334, a three-point tanker, has completed the military conversion programme and is currently in Spain as part of the UK’s commitment to support the Airbus A400M flight test programme.
A further five Voyagers will be delivered by the end of 2016.
flightglobal
Budget spat grounds Israeli training flights
Announced on 28 May, the decision means training flights for reservist pilots – usually carried out once a week – will also be cancelled. The air force's flight academy is the only unit not impacted by the decision.
According to the defence ministry, a cash injection is needed just to continue basic functions for the remainder of the year. It is also asking for increased funding in 2015.
Israel's finance ministry is against any increase in the defence budget, claiming money can be saved though a change in spending procedures.
flightglobal
May 29, 2014
Third NATO Ship Enters Black Sea, Russia Vows Increased Military Air Presence
Surcouf (F711) La Fayette-class frigate was spotted by amateur photographers crossing the Bosporus strait on Wednesday joining French signals intelligence ship Dupuy de Lôme (A759) and U.S. guided missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG-72) — both which entered the region earlier this month.
In reaction to the increased NATO naval presence in the region, Russian officials said they would begin to fly more air patrols over the Black Sea.
"During the flights, combat training is carried out to provide surface image coverage in the neutral waters of the Black Sea," state run RIA Novosti quoted a military source.
A Fencer buzzed the guided missile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG-75) in April in what the Pentagon called a "provocative and unprofessional Russian action."
atlanticcouncil
Spain to extend AV-8B Harrier service life
The allocation was announced by the cabinet on 23 May, five months after the Chief of Navy Staff, warned that the Armada's fixed-wing capability could be coming to an end.
A government statement said the investment was necessary because funds were not available to buy replacement aircraft to operate from the service's sole flat top, the Juan Carlos I .
The opportunity to extend the programme of our EAV-8B Plus Harrier has opened up because the United States is also going to extend the useful life of its Harrier aircraft, in the face of development delays with the new vertical take-off F-35 JSF.
Spain has a joint programme with the United States for the Harrier, which was set up in 1990 with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for development and support that also included Italy.
A 10-year agreement covering post-production and life-cycle support, in which those three countries were joined by the United Kingdom, was signed in 2004 and is due to run out on 9 December.
Speaking at a press briefing in January, spanish chief of Navy Staff said the only possible replacement for the Harrier was the F-35.
But as Spain had not been involved in the project from the start, trying to join at a late stage would make the aircraft "very expensive".
He warned then that the navy's Harriers would need to be retired between 2020 and 2025 and that "we have to start thinking, to see if we can come up with a replacement".
The AV-8B was acquired originally for the Armada's first modern aircraft carrier, Principe de Asturias , which was decommissioned in December 2013, following the commissioning of the much larger Juan Carlos I .
janes
Qatar nears talks to buy Rafales
The contract is of vital importance for Dassault and the French government.
Dassault has had difficulty in selling the aircraft abroad, despite successful high-profile combat missions in Libya and Mali.
Qatar Emir might announce during his visit to Paris that Qatar have opted for the Rafale and would open exclusive talks with Dassault Aviation.
Negotiations would last about a year but the contract would be less complex than one signed with India.
France, which expects to slow down the rate of production of the planes owing to a lack of export orders, and Qatar resumed talks on the matter in March.
In March, the head of Dassault Aviation, Eric Trappier, said that the company had reached an understanding with India on how to organise construction of the plane in India. India began exclusive talks with Dassault in January 2012, for the purchase of 126 fighters.
gulfnews
Brazil details new C295 acquisition
The new aircraft are to enhance endurance, range, and cargo capability, for the FAB.
The contract also includes service support for five years, field service representatives, aircraft ground equipment, a mission support centre, training services, and more. Mission fittings cover the company's Fully Integrated Tactical System mission suite, a thermal imaging system, personnel locator, file transmission system, and satellite communication capability.
janes
Turkey Completes Predesign of Indigenous Helo
The helicopter will be in the Turkish inventory by 2023.
The Turkish government last year signed a contract with TAI for the design, development and manufacturing of the helicopter. A TAI official said the helicopter is intended to replace Turkey’s aging UH-1s, but it also could be used to meet helicopter training needs of the Army.
Turkey could eventually buy more than 800 helicopters and with exports final sales numbers could reach about 1,200.
TAI also is the prime local contractor of a $3.5 billion program under which Sikorsky will co-produce 109 utility helicopters for the Turkish military. Turkey intends to use know-how and technology transfers from the Sikorsky-led program in its indigenous helicopter effort.
Turkey in 2011 selected Sikorsky Aircraft as its partner company to lead production of the country’s next-generation utility helicopters.
defensenews
Australia could buy F-35B
The F-35B would be considered within the construct of the Defence White Paper, which is due in the second quarter of 2015.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott has instructed planners working on the White Paper to examine the possibility of buying F-35Bs to operate from the Royal Australian Navy's (RAN's) two Canberra-class landing helicopter dock (LHD) amphibious ships.
The first of the two 27,800-tonne LHDs is currently undergoing delivery trials. The second will be commissioned in 2016.
The government announced on 23 April its decision to acquire a further 58 F-35As to take Australia's total commitment to 72. The first two will be delivered later this year, although they and subsequent deliveries will not arrive in Australia until late in 2018.
It is unclear whether any F-35B acquisition would be in addition to the 72 CTOL variants or be subtracted from that number.
Informed sources confirmed the prime minister's interest in the STOVL aircraft but pointed out that significant upgrades would be necessary to the LHDs to operate F-35Bs on anything more than a cross-decking basis with the US Marine Corps and other partner nations.
These upgrades would need to include heat-resistant deck coating for extended operations, additional fuel and weapons bunkerage, and enhancements to the command and control facilities, which are now focused on amphibious operations involving helicopters and water craft.
janes
May 28, 2014
Belgian air force introduces A321 transport
The asset will be used to transport troops and conduct the emergency evacuation of people and cargo, if required.
Based at Brussels-Melsbroek, the grey-liveried aircraft has already conducted its first operational flight, to Bamako in Mali.
The new aircraft is leased from a Portuguese company.
flightglobal
Brazil to add third converted 767 tanker
In March 2013, the Brazilian air force selected Israel Aerospace Industries for the conversion of two commercial Boeing 767-300ERs, with options for an additional two. These will replace the service’s four retired KC-137s, which had been in use since 1986.
The modified 767s will be configured with under-wing hose-and-drogue refuelling pods to support Brazilian air force fighters.
IAI is offering the Boeing 767 in a flexible configuration comprising hose-and-drogue pods, a boom, or both. It has already delivered one modified example to the Colombian air force, nicknamed “Jupiter”.
flightglobal
Royal Navy takes over Hawk T1 jets
The 14 Hawk T1 jets now make up 736 Naval Air Squadron and are flown by military and civilian pilots.
Until recently the aircraft were operated by private contractor SERCO which still provides three of the civilian pilots.
Their role includes acting as target aircraft to train ship crews.
Lt Cdr Tim Flatman, the squadron's commanding officer, says they will also help train pilots for the new Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier, pretending to be enemy aircraft and missiles.
bbc.com
RC-135 Rivet Joint first RAF flight
The first RC-135W flight with a Royal Air Force crew in the U.K. has been completed.
Scorpion jet pitched for Swiss air force
Acording Textron president “The Scorpion is ideally suited to Switzerland’s circumstances”, It is cheaper than the Gripen and still meets 90 percent of the tasks at hand”.
Swiss voters on May 18th shot down a deal approved by the government to buy 22 Gripen fighter jets from Saab.
The planes were to replace the Swiss air force’s fleet of 54 F-5.
Scorpion, is not a supersonic fighter and is not intended to be and is designed to be an affordable option for air forces to provide air space surveillance and intelligence.
The Swiss department of defence is not commenting on the Scorpion proposal.
thelocal.ch
Ambassador IV missile craft bound for Egypt
The two vessels were seen being loaded into a civilian transport ship in Florida, on 25 May. First-of-class S Ezzat (682), which was officially handed over to the Egyptian Navy on 19 November. The second Ambassador IV, F Zekry (683), was handed over in December.
janes
May 27, 2014
UK's Rivet Joint Wins Interim Approval To Fly
The aircraft, part of the Airseeker program, has been grounded at the Royal Air Force base at Waddington awaiting approval for release to service by the Military Aviation Authority (MAA) and others at the Ministry of Defence.
The vintage age of the original design and the unavailability of some design and qualification evidence has posed problems for RAF safety authorities conducting the release to service approval process.
The RC-135W’s are the first of three signals intelligence aircraft due to be delivered to the Royal Air Force by the US government under an Foreign Military Sales agreement signed in 2010.
The aircraft are 50-year-old KC-135 tankers upgraded and modified to the Rivet Joint configuration.
The aircraft has recently been granted interim approval pending a full release to service later in the year and flew for the first time May 23.
The aircraft is on track to enter service by the end of the year. A second Rivet Joint is scheduled for delivery next year and the final aircraft should be handed over two years later.
Britain axed its remaining Nimrod R1 signals intelligence aircraft after the 2011 military campaign in Libya.
Royal Air Force air and grounds crews have been co-manning US Air Force Rivet Joint aircraft and ground stations with American personnel to retain skills and operational capabilities.
defensenews
Sweden May Fund Gripen-E Even Without International Partner
The government’s new, softer line, reinforced by the Ministry of Defense, puts the Gripen-E project into the category of “too big to fail.”
In the 2012 Gripen-E project agreement with Saab, the MoD stipulated that it held the right to rescind funding if an international partner could not be found to share costs and develop export markets for the aircraft. The Swedish state has already invested more than $300 million in the Gripen-E development program.
Saab has now turned its attention to Brazil. Sweden continues to negotiate a broad industry partnership to produce an initial 36 Gripen-Es for the Brazilian Air Force in cooperation with the country’s aerospace sector. Under this industrial program, Saab is building an aircraft production facility outside Sao Paulo.
Under a framework agreement signed in February 2013, Saab is contracted to deliver 60 Gripen-E aircraft to the Swedish Air Force. This could rise to 80 when the defense allocation is increased significantly after 2015 to accommodate an expanded 40-year Gripen-E program.
defensenews
UK To Acquire Missile Warning System for Helos, Fixed-Wing Craft
The military will replace some second-generation systems and outfit new aircraft. Platforms, including Apache, Chinook, Wildcat and Merlin helicopters, will receive the equipment.
The contract will ensure armed forces will have around 300 systems in total. The system would be used predominantly on rotor-wing aircraft, but one fixed-wing platform would also be outfitted.
Small arms and rocket-propelled grenades have been a constant threat to air crews in Afghanistan.
defensenews
USS George Washington departs Yokosuka; carrier’s future uncertain
About 5,500 sailors, Marines and other personnel left Yokosuka for a cruise that will include multiple port visits throughout Asia, as well as exercises at sea with Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force.
Long-term patrols for a carrier generally run about six months, though they have been lasting considerably longer recently. The USS Truman returned to Virginia in April after nearly nine months away.
Some carriers, like George Washington, often return to their homeport for a mid-patrol break.
In the summer of 2015, USS Ronald Reagan is scheduled to replace George Washington as the Navy’s Japan-deployed carrier.
USS George Washington’s future remains uncertain after that.
The ship is scheduled for a mid-life nuclear refueling and maintenance overhaul in 2016, which would take up to four years to finish. Some lawmakers and Pentagon officials have suggested retiring the ship instead, in order to meet mandatory budget caps on defense spending.
stripes
Success for First Aegis Ashore Missile Launch
Aegis Ashore is being developed for installation on land facilities in Europe. Ground for the first installation was broken in October at a military base in Romania, and the system is scheduled to become operational by late 2015.
Launch of a Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) Block IB, from a test installation , was conducted by the Missile Defense Agency, the US Navy and engineers from Lockheed.
The test validated the layout of Aegis Ashore, which differs from the shipboard installation familiar to thousands of cruiser and destroyer sailors in that the vertical launch cells are considerably farther from the system’s command-and-control facilities.
In Hawaii, the launcher is about three-and-a-half miles from the Aegis deckhouse . The layout in Romania will be closer together.
Aegis Ashore uses a system nearly identical to the seagoing version, with the same vertical launch system, fire control system and SPY-1D radar. The building housing the system is strikingly similar, inside and out, to the steel deckhouse of Aegis ships.
The test, was also the first launch of an SM-3 by Aegis Baseline 9, the latest iteration of the Aegis combat system.
The flight test in Hawaii used Aegis Ashore Controlled Test Vehicle 01, and used a simulated target.
Only one more Aegis Ashore flight test is scheduled in Hawaii. An event using a real target is planned for next year.
The US Army Corps of Engineers is building an Aegis Ashore complex on 269 acres at a base near Deveselu, Romania.
defensenews
Russian Air Force to receive 16 MiG-29SMT in 2015-2016
The contract is aimed at maintaining combat readiness of the Russian fleet of light fighters. The Russian Air Force had received 18 MiG-29SMT fighters in 2009-2010.
The MiG-29SMT is a qualitatively new version of the MiG-29 light frontline fighter. The plane may be equipped with a broad variety of air-to-air and air-to-surface weapons and can efficiently destroy aerial, ground, and seaborne targets.
It was reported that the MiG-29SMT's combat efficiency had tripled compared to the basic MiG-29 version, and its operation costs had been reduced by some 40 percent.
voiceofrussia
Czechs will accede to NATO request to protect Iceland for longer
The government and the Chamber of Deputies,must approve the new mandate.
Iceland air policing this autumn by Czechs, was planned for three weeks, and it is intended to be extended at least twice, and probably longer.
The mission will possible double the costs.
The Czech fighters will supervise the security of Iceland, which does not have its own military, between September and December. Physically, the planes will only be on the island for about three weeks. The mandate approved in 2012 expects a maximum stay of five weeks. For the rest of the time, the Gripens would only fly to the northern Atlantic Ocean from the Czech Republic in case of danger.
In the Baltics, the aircraft of NATO states stay in the countries throughout the mission. Czech aircraft supervised the air spaces of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia in 2009 and 2012.
praguepost
PLAAF aircraft carried out road runway exercise
PLAAF Su-27UBK, Z-9 and Y-7 carried out a road runway exercise on S82 Zhengmin expressway in Kaifeng, Henan province.
SU-27
SU-27
Z-9
Y-7
Brazil Army to upgrade Esquilo/Fennec helicopter fleet
The first batch of six helicopters will be completed by 2014.
The upgrade includes new artificial horizon, altimeter and airspeed indicator.
thalesgroup
PLAAF Su-27s intercept JSDF aircraft
mod.go.jp
RMAF To Upgrade Radar Technology
RMAF is also studying the need to upgrade the airspace detecting system.
Defence Minister said the country's radar system and national defence should be re-evaluated being that the government had exposed its military capability and assets during the search and rescue mission for MH370.
May 24, 2014
Canada’s modernized CP-140M achieved IOC
The Block III modernization puts the Aurora tops among the world's leading surveillance planes of its kind.
19 Wing Comox, British Columbia, and 14 Wing Greenwood, Nova Scotia, are home to the Aurora. The aircraft functions primarily as a command, control, communication, computer, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance platform for domestic and international operations.
The Aurora, Canada's strategic surveillance aircraft, is tasked with domestic surveillance of Canada’s Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic coastlines and maritime approaches. It also conducts anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, maritime and overland ISR, strike coordination, and supports search and rescue in a secondary role.
The Aurora was originally acquired in the 1980s, and the Aurora Incremental Modernization Project (AIMP), consisting of blocks of modernization work, began in 1998 to upgrade its capabilities. To ensure its continued viability as an ISR platform, the RCAF additionally developed the Aurora Extension Proposal (AEP), which combines the original Aurora Incremental Modernization Project and the Aurora Structural Life Extension Project (ASLEP) with three additional capability enhancements. Moreover, the total number of modernized and life-extended aircraft is now 14, up from 10.
This work will ensure that the fleet remains effective up to the 2030 timeframe.
airforce.forces.gc.ca
ROKAF F-15 Scrambled against Russian IL-38 entering South Korea Air Space
According to the Korean Ministry of National Defense on Tuesday, the training area for the military exercises conducted by Beijing and Moscow partly overlapped with the Korean and Japanese ADIZs.
A no-fly zone declared by China for the joint maritime drill with Russia intruded 230 kilometers (142 miles) northward into the Kadiz and 172 kilometers eastward, according to a Korean military official.
Defense Ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok said that in a response, Korea stepped up surveillance and reconnaissance activities in the part of its air defense zone area in which China and Russia were conducting military exercises.
At around 8:40 a.m. yesterday, two Russian IL-38 maritime patrol aircraft crossed in Korea’s air defense zone for less than an hour.
In response, Korea scrambled two Air Force F-15K fighter jets and transmitted a radio message warning the planes to retreat. The Russian planes retreated.
Russian aircraft have violated the Kadiz before, and defense officials here did not confirm if these aircraft were a part of the China-Russia naval drills.
koreajoongdaily
Royal New Zealand Navy new SH-2G(I) undergos test flights with Penguin missile
Ten of these machines are on order to replace the existing five Seasprites.
The first should arrive late this year with all in service by 2016.
defense-studies
Finnish jets scrambled to intercept Russian planes
The information was confirmed by the Finnish Defence Ministry. A Russian state aircraft entered Finnish airspace after 6 P.M.
The Russian planes entered Finnish air space within two hours of each other and they were not commercial aircraft. Finnish fighter jets were scrambled to carry out a reconnaissance flight over the Gulf of Finland where the intrusion happened.
People living in Eastern Uusimaa could hear the sonic boom created by the Finnish jets. Finland and Russia share a common 1,300 kilometer land border.
beyluxe
Sweden May Fund Gripen-E Even Without International Partner
The government’s new, softer line, reinforced by the Ministry of Defense, puts the Gripen-E project into the category of “too big to fail.”
In the 2012 Gripen-E project agreement with Saab, the MoD stipulated that it held the right to rescind funding if an international partner could not be found to share costs and develop export markets for the aircraft. The Swedish state has already invested more than $300 million in the Gripen-E development program.
Sweden had long pinned its Gripen-E international partner hopes on Switzerland, but this avenue of cooperation was closed on May 18 when the Swiss rejected a government plan to spend $3.5 billion on acquiring 22 aircraft from Saab.
Saab has now turned its attention to Brazil. Sweden continues to negotiate a broad industry partnership to produce an initial 36 Gripen-Es for the Brazilian Air Force in cooperation with the country’s aerospace sector. Under this industrial program, Saab is building an aircraft production facility outside Sao Paulo.
Under a framework agreement signed in February 2013, Saab is contracted to deliver 60 Gripen-E aircraft to the Swedish Air Force. This could rise to 80 when the defense allocation is increased significantly after 2015 to accommodate an expanded 40-year Gripen-E program.
defensenews
Russia's PAK-DA bomber to fly in 2019
The PAK-DA programme has lumbered on since first being disclosed in 2007. United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) is under contract to develop the aircraft, with the holding company's Tupolev design bureau and the KAPO production plant in Kazan developing the aircraft.
The new aircraft type is understood to be designed to include reduced radar cross-section 'stealth' features, although speculation over whether the PAK-DA will feature a flying wing or convention design has yet to be answered.
In 2012 a debate emerged in Russian policy circles over the need for the PAK-DA, and on whether it should be capable of hypersonic speeds. With the programme continuing, this debate appears to have been settled, and it is understood that the aircraft will not be hypersonic - unsurprisingly given the immense technical challenge involved. In April, the head of UAC is understood to have confirmed that Tupolev had completed the design of the PAK-DA and that fabrication of certain parts for a prototype had begun.
When, and if, the PAK-DA does enter Russian Air Force service the aircraft will likely cause older Russian strategic bomber designs to be phased out of service. Currently Russia operates three strategic bomber types, all also designed by Tupolev: the Tu-22M3 'Backfire; Tu-95 'Bear'; and the Tu-160 'Blackjack'.
janes
Eurofighter launches new Typhoon enhancement package
The package incorporates lessons learned during the operations in Libya, and are designed to significantly enhance the air-surface capabilities and completely revise the human machine interface for multirole operations.
The enhancements are also expected to enable the pilot to seamlessly transition between air-to-air and air-to-ground modes.
Phase 1 Enhancements (P1Eb) package is a significant advancement for the programme, and allows Typhoon to realise both its air-to-air and air-to-ground capability to full effect.
This package also paves the way for the Eurofighter to deploy deep strike stand-off weapons that can target high-value highly protected surface targets. The company is currently conducting the integration and flight test of the Storm Shadow missile.
The package also integrates the Meteor beyond visual range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM), which has higher average speed than conventional missiles, and when combined with Typhoons' kinetics, is claimed to deliver a 'no escape zone' greater than three times that of comparable weaponry.
The package also includes a suite of capability upgrades for the aircraft's defensive aids sub system (DASS), and the latest interoperability updates for its multifunction and distribution systems (MIDS).
airforce-technology
May 23, 2014
SOCOM Soon Getting More Capable, Deadlier Ospreys and C-130s
After three of AFSOC’s Ospreys were shot up over Juba, South Sudan in December, resulting in the injuries of four Marines on board, the command realized that the birds needed better armor.
SOCOM leadership is also working on beefing up the firepower on the aircraft, testing new forward-firing weapons that it wants to put in place by the end of this year.
defensenews
US Aircraft sent to Italy for possible Libya evacuation
Seven Ospreys and three KC-130s from an air base in Spain have been positioned at U.S. Naval Air Station Sigonella with another Osprey arriving soon.
About 180 Marines and sailors with the team were moved last week with six aircraft from Morón Air Base in Spain; there are now 250 Marines there. The move was in response to growing concerns over militia battles in northern Libya and their proximity to Americans at the embassy in Tripoli. Several countries, including Saudi Arabia and Algeria, have already closed their diplomatic missions in Tripoli.
There have been no requests for assistance from the Marines in Sigonella. But if called on to help with evacuations of U.S. diplomatic personnel the team is in a posture and in a location that should they be needed in North Africa, specifically Libya, that they would be ready to do so.
The crisis-response team has been mobilized periodically as threats arise in Africa. The team took part in embassy evacuations in South Sudan last year.
The battles in Libya come after fighters loyal to a former regime general and later rebel leader attacked Islamist militias in the eastern city of Benghazi and the parliament in Tripoli.
stripes
Saudi Arabia, Spain sign security co-operation agreement
The agreement was announced in Madrid on 19 May, following the return of a Spanish ministerial delegation to Saudi Arabia led by King Juan Carlos.
King Juan Carlos has been involved in a series of trade missions around the Gulf Cooperation Council nations in recent weeks, starting with the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, which is aimed at boosting Spanish trade with the region, particularly in the areas of defence and infrastructure.
janes
Airbus seeks deal to supply Germany with Israel drones
Airbus signed a deal on Wednesday with Israel Aerospace Industries to team up on a bid for a bridging contract to supply the German armed forces with military drones until 2020.
The armed forces currently use an IAI Heron 1, which is made by the Israeli firm and operated by Airbus Defence & Space. However, Germany's contract with the two companies is due to expire in 2015.
Airbus Defence & Space said on Wednesday it had struck a deal with Israel Aerospace Industries to make an offer to supply Germany with an upgraded drone, the Heron TP, after 2015 to allow the country to keep its surveillance capabilities until the arrival of a European drone.
The German government would have the choice of either a purchase option or a lease for the system, Airbus said.
European aerospace companies on Monday put forward proposals for a medium-altitude long endurance (MALE) drone program that would have to be agreed by governments in the region, before potential production for 2020.
May 21, 2014
Brazil to order 28 KC-390
First delivery of production aircraft is expected at the end of 2016, with production under the contract running for ten years.
In addition to the aircraft, the contract includes a comprehensive logistics support package covering spare parts and maintenance services.
This is the first firm order of the type and it paves the way for the conclusion of further firm sales for the program´s current industrial partners Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Portugal and the Czech Republic.
These countries have signed memorandum of understanding comprising potential demand for a further 32 KC-390.
To be able to certify the KC-390 for Antarctic operations, one of its most demanding roles, comprehensive cold weather tests are to be held, possibly in Canada.
Final assembly is to begin in June.
flightglobal
B-52s get communications upgrade
CONECT is currently in low-rate initial production, though the Air Force anticipates modernizing its entire B-52 fleet with the innovative CONECT capability. The CONECT kits are being installed at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma.
c4isrnet
US Senators Develop Plan to Keep A-10s Flying for One Year
Committee Chairman, told reporters on Tuesday that he and other panel members who want to block the service’s plans to retire the fleet to save money have found hundreds of millions in budgetary offsets to keep the venerable attack planes flying.
The House Armed Services Committee-approved A-10 provision prohibits retiring the attack planes until the US comptroller general makes a number of certifications and completes several studies, including a report to evaluate all Air Force platforms that are used for CAS missions.
The comptroller general also would be required to assess the cost per plane for conducting CAS missions, such as whether other aircraft are able to successfully perform CAS missions, and the capabilities of each plane used in that role.
defensenews
Swiss voters reject Gripen purchase
In a major blow to Saab, the country voted 53.4% against the proposed purchase of the Gripen E to replace the F-5 Tiger II fighter aircraft.
The Gripen E had been selected by Switzerland in November 2011 to replace the F-5s.
The 54 Tiger II fleet has been in Swiss service since 1978 and is scheduled to be withdrawn from service in 2016. Meanwhile, the other element of the Swiss Air Force's combat fleet, its 32 Boeing F/A-18C/D Hornets, is itself currently scheduled to be withdrawn from service in 2025. With the purchase of the Gripen now rejected, Switzerland urgently needs a solution to maintain the country's air policing capabilities.
A short-term solution could involve upgrading and refurbishing the country's existing Tiger II fleet, which could be maintained in service until at least 2020.
Other options include relaunching the original Tiger replacement programme, in which the Eurofighter Typhoon and Dassault Rafale had also competed. Alternatively, with the purchase of Gripens now ruled out, Switzerland could lease a fleet of the aircraft, as the Czech Republic and Hungary do.
janes
Poland receives first Leopard 2A5 MBTs
A total of 11 Leopard 2A5s were delivered by rail to west Poland, where their intended user, the 34th Armoured Cavalry Brigade, is based.
Poland ordered a total of 105 Leopard 2A5 MBTs, plus 14 of the earlier Leopard 2A4 variant and around 200 support and logistics vehicles, from ex-German stocks in 2013. Poland already operates 124 Leopard 2A4 MBTs, plus a large inventory of Soviet-era T-72M and PT-91. The new Leopards will replace the 34th Armoured Cavalry Brigade's two battalions of PT-91 tanks, while Poland's T-72M MBTs are planned to be phased out of service.
49 of the new tanks should be delivered by mid-2014, with all vehicles being delivered by mid-2015.
janes
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