European Union to provide fighter jets to Ukraine

The European Union will provide Ukraine with combat aircraft and weapons worth EUR 500 million. This was announced by the Center for Strategic Communication and Information Security on Facebook with reference to the High Representative of the European Union, Josep Borrell, according to Ukrinform. "We're going to provide even fighting jets. We're not talking about just ammunition. We are providing more important arms to go to a war," Borrell told a press conference. 

He added that more lethal aid, worth EUR 500 million, is to be delivered to Ukraine. 

ukrinform

 

UAE to buy a dozen Chinese L-15 trainer aircraft

The United Arab Emirates has signed a letter of intention to procure 12 L-15 jet trainers from the China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation. 

UAE Air Force Col. Abdulnaser Al Humeidi revealed the country’s intent to buy the fixed-winged Chinese aircraft, with the possibility of increasing the quantity to 36. 

The L-15 is a training and light-attack aircraft for fourth- and fifth-generation fighter pilot training. 

The decision reflects the UAE’s approach to diversify its sources of weapons.

defensenews

 

Six USAF F-35 Deployed to Baltic and Black Sea Region to Support NATO's Eastern Flank

Six U.S. F-35A Lightning II fighter jets deployed from Germany to multiple countries on NATO’s eastern flank on Thursday for air policing flights in solidarity with the transatlantic alliance. 

They’ll disperse alongside F-16 Fighting Falcon and F-15 Eagle fighter jets across Poland, Estonia, Lithuania and Romania, U.S. Air Forces in Europe said. 

The presence of the Air Force’s most advanced fighter jet signals a swift response if Russia expands its offensive outside Ukraine’s borders and into NATO countries. The F-35A can act as a quarterback to pass targeting information and other data between other U.S. and NATO fighters in the region, should the alliance need to react quickly to Russian aggression. The six F-35As come after the Defense Department promised on Tuesday to send up to eight Lightning IIs that had arrived at Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany from Hill Air Force Base, Utah. Two of the F-35 jets arrived in Estonia, two arrived in Lithuania and two arrived in Romania. The aircraft are in operation from Estonia’s Amari Air Base, Lithuania’s Siauliai Air Base, and Romania’s Fetesti Air Base. 

airforcetimes

UK interested in acquiring an additional A400 batch

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has for the first time revealed its interest in acquiring an additional batch of Airbus Defence & Space A400M Atlas tactical transports, as the Royal Air Force (RAF) draws close to completing its 22-strong fleet of on-order examples. 

London’s expression of interest in a potential follow-on procurement was briefly included within the MoD’s Defence Equipment Plan 2021-2031 publication, released on 21 February. 

No details about the number of transport aircraft to be sought or the possible timing of an order have been disclosed. The UK had 25 A400Ms on order at the time of the programme’s formal launch in 2003, but its offtake was reduced to 22 as part of an emergency contract revision subsequently agreed between Airbus and its European launch customers. 

Twenty Atlas airlifters have so far been delivered to the RAF, with its remaining two examples due to be delivered this year. The service is facing a looming major reduction in its tactical transport capabilities, due to the early retirement of its remaining Lockheed C-130J Hercules, the last of which are due to depart in 2023. 

flightglobal

 

Germany, France, Italy and Spain stamp deal for 60 Euromale RPAS

Airbus and the Organisation for Joint Armament Co-operation (OCCAR) have signed the Eurodrone global contract, which includes the development and manufacturing of 20 systems and 5 years of initial in-service support. Industry prime Airbus Defence and Space GmbH signed in representation of the three Major Sub-Contractors (MSC) Airbus Defence and Space S.A.U in Spain, Dassault Aviation in France and Leonardo S.p.A. in Italy, while OCCAR has signed on behalf of the four launch nations Germany, France, Italy and Spain. Eurodrone is a Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS). 

airbus

 

USAF Retires First E-8C JSTARS

The Georgia Air National Guard’s 116th Air Control Wing, in cooperation with the 461st Air Control Wing, officially retired the first E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System aircraft here Feb. 10.

 “The first retirement of a JSTARS aircraft gives us an opportunity to celebrate the operational accomplishments and the pivotal role the aircraft has played since the first one came to Robins in 1996,” said Col. Amy Holbeck, 116th ACW commander. 

eglin