Belgian Air Force receives first A400M

The Belgian Air Force has taken delivery of its first of seven Airbus A400M.

The aircraft was handed over to the customer at the A400M Final Assembly Line in Seville (Spain) and subsequently performed its ferry flight to the 15th Wing Air Transport in Melsbroek (Belgium), where the aircraft will be based. This A400M, known as MSN106, will be operated within a binational unit composed of a total of eight aircraft, seven from the Belgian Air Force and one from the Luxembourg Armed Forces. The second A400M for Belgium will be delivered in early 2021.  

airbus

SPAIN GETS FULL PARTNERSHIP IN FCAS PROJECT

Spanish industry has been formally included within a multinational effort initiated by France and Germany to develop a Future Combat Air System (FCAS), following a 10-month “onboarding” process. 

The step sees Madrid attain equal status to Paris and Berlin during the FCAS initiative’s Joint Concept Study activity, including a Phase 1A work package launched in February 2020. Airbus Spain will be prime contractor for work related to the FCAS project’s low observable technology, acting in partnership with Airbus Germany and Dassault. 

Airbus also will head New Generation Fighter (NGF) activities for Madrid, while Indra is to lead on sensors. Current Phase 1A activities are working towards a series of technology demonstrations to be conducted from 2026, including of an NGF platform, which should get airborne for the first time in the second half of that year. 

flightglobal

Spain’s first PC-21 enters ground testing phase

Pilatus has conducted the first engine run of a PC-21 trainer for the Spanish air force. 

Photographed at the airframer’s Stans site in Switzerland on 2 December, the lead aircraft has already been painted, and carries the air force registration E.27-01. 

Madrid on 30 January 2020 signed a €204 million ($247 million) contract to acquire 24 of the turboprops, along with simulators and support services. 

At that time, it said the first six aircraft would be delivered in 2020. Spain will use the Swiss-built type to begin replacing an aged inventory of 60 CASA C-101 jet trainers, which Cirium fleets data shows have been in use for up to 40 years. 

flightglobal

Final Two MQ-9 Reaper for Spain delivered

General Atomics delivered the final two MQ-9A Block 5 (RPA) and a Ground Control Station (GCS) to the Spanish Air Force (SpAF) on Nov. 23, 2020, completing a Foreign Military Sales acquisition of four aircraft and three GCSs. 

The new MQ-9s will be operated by the 233rd Squadron at Talavera la Real Air Base near Badajoz, Spain.  

The final delivery was preceded by acceptance test procedures (ATP) completed at GA-ASI's Gray Butte Flight Operations Facility near Palmdale, Calif. on Sep. 29, 2020. The ATPs were witnessed by the U.S. Air Force MQ-9 System Program Office (SPO) acting on behalf of Spain's Directorate General for Armament and Materiel (DGAM) procurement team due to COVID-19 restrictions. 

The successful ATPs, in conjunction with the integration of System 1 by the SpAF in Badajoz, Spain, resulted in Spain's issuance of an Airworthiness Military Type Certificate for the aircraft, which is first time this has been done for the MQ-9A Block 5. 

The 233rd Squadron has flown nearly 300 hours with its MQ-9A Block 5 aircraft and is steadily building the expertise of its crewmembers and maintainers as the SpAF moves towards declaring the Initial Operational Capability for the system. 

prnewswire

The Republic of Mali orders an additional Airbus C295

The Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Mali has placed a firm order for an additional Airbus C295 airlifter in the transport configuration. 

This second aircraft, to be delivered in 2021, will supplement the first C295 already in operation since December 2016 which has already accumulated 1,770 flight hours and transported more than 38,000 passengers and 900 tonnes of cargo in less than four years of operations. This new order also includes an integrated logistics support package with spare parts for the two aircraft and training for flight crews and mechanics. 

This acquisition is in response to the urgent need of the authorities of the Republic of Mali to have permanent air transport capacity within a very short timeframe, providing a vital link supporting operations and actions for the development of isolated areas in the northern regions of the country.  airbus

France and Indonesia in talks for the purchase of 48 Rafale fighters

Negotiations between France and Indonesia for the purchase of 48 French Rafale fighter jets are “very well advanced”, French Defense Minister Florence Parly said on Thursday, confirming earlier press reports. 

“If this order goes through ... that means 7,000 jobs during 18 months. That is massive”, Parly told BFM TV. 

French website La Tribune.fr, citing several sources, reported a deal could be signed soon. Indonesia would like to seal a deal before the end of the year but French negotiators want to take the time necessary to fine-tune the details, it said. 

Parly also said France was talking to Greece, Finland and Switzerland about Rafale jets 

reuters