Antonov begins An-178 flight trials

Antonov has begun flight trials of its new An-178 transport aircraft.
The maiden flight took place out of Kiev-Antonov Airport in Ukraine on 7 May, and lasted for approximately one hour. No specific details relating to the flight were revealed.
The An-178 is intended to replace the An-12, An-26, and An-32 airlifters. The An-178 is, in essence, an An-158 regional jet with a rear loading ramp. The two types share a number of components, including the front fuselage and cockpit, and nosewheel leg.
The aircraft has a maximum payload of 18 tonnes; and a range of 1,000 km fully loaded. Its cruise speed is 445 kt, and requires a 2,500 m runway from which to operate.
janes

Croatia to sell surplus military Mi-24Vs, An-32Bs and PC-9s

Croatia is looking to sell a wide range of its surplus Croatian Air Force aircraft.
The country hopes to sell seven Mil Mi-24V 'Hind' attack helicopters, two Antonov An-32B 'Curl' tactical transport aircraft, and six Pilatus PC-9 turboprop trainer aircraft).
The country has set a deadline of 28 January for interested parties to submit a letter of intent.
The principal reasoning behind the sale of the aircraft is financial, caused by the declining state of the Croatian economy and its defence budget, although other reasons are also at play.
Croatia's Mi-24Vs were in limited use after the conflicts of the 1990s, and were withdrawn from service over a decade ago. Their sale has previously been contemplated on multiple occasions, but at least once a prospective sale is understood to have been squashed by active opposition from Moscow.
The two An-32Bs were recently used in Croatian Air Force service, including in both Iraq and Afghanistan, but with the aircraft due to undergo a period of deep maintenance Croatia now seeks to sell them. No official thought was given to their conversion for a naval surveillance role, although such aircraft are sorely missed in Croatia.
The sale of the PC-9s is driven partially by the imbalance between the number of training aircraft Croatia has for its pilots and its meagre number of available supersonic fighter aircraft. However, with Croatia's MiG-21 upgrade programme finally reaching completion, and with demand for foreign pilot training growing, the sale of the PC-9s may be reconsidered in the near future.
janes

India May Reconsider Avro Transport Replacement Plans

An unprecedented competition announced by the Indian government to energize local private industry in aerospace manufacturing stands on a razor’s edge, with the country’s defense ministry contemplating opening participation to India’s monopolistic state-owned defense companies as well.
A competition to replace the Indian air force’s (IAF) fleet of 56 vintage Hawker Siddley HS748 Avro medium transports was floated last year, specifically excluding state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) as an Indian contender. But pressure from politicians and lobbyists may squelch that idea. By March, Indian companies will need to submit proposals on how they plan to meet the requirement. If the defense ministry alters the competition, it will land a major blow to a private sector that has long decried preferential treatment and unfair rules for state-owned corporations.
The defense ministry wants a foreign airframer to identify an Indian production partner or consortium (which can include HAL, but not HAL alone) to which it will transfer technology to build 40 of the 56 aircraft at a local production line. The first 16 aircraft will be supplied in flyaway condition by the original equipment manufacturer. India’s minister for heavy industries protested in a letter last November, and the ministry announced it would study his concerns.
Meanwhile, the ministry postponed the last date for submission of proposals from Dec. 8, 2013, to March 8, 2014. Private industry is deeply worried that a reissue of the original request for proposals with participation restrictions expunged would kill the very spirit of the competition. India’s top private industry trade groups have raised sharp concerns.
The IAF’s 1960s-vintage Avro transports, are in poor condition and need urgent replacement. Apart from these, the IAF operates a mix of An-32, Il-76, and C-130J Super Hercules transports. India recently signed a deal with the U.S. government for six more C-130Js.
aviationweek

Ukraine to send next batch of upgraded An-32s to India in August

Ukraine is preparing to send to India in August a sixth batch of five An-32 light transport aircraft, which were modernized at the facilities of the Ukrainian defence industry on the order of the Indian Air Force.
nrcu

Indian Air Force conducts Iron Fist 2013 military exercise

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has conducted its first day-night exercise, code-named Iron Fist 2013, in an effort to display its operational and precision fire power capabilities at the Pokhran test range facility in Rajasthan, India.
Involving participation from around 230 aircraft, the exercise was used to demonstrate day, dusk and night employability of aerial weapons by the IAF's front-line fighter aircraft, in addition to highlighting their ability to conduct seamless network-centric operations with the army and navy.
The exercise featured displays of various fire power aspects, such as air defence operations, counter surface force operations, urban warfare, combat search rescue operations, assault approach and landing, combat offloading and a short take off by a C-130J Hercules transport aircraft.
Participating fighter aircraft included Su-30 MKI, Mirage-2000, Jaguar, MiG-21, MiG-27, MiG-29 and Hawk trainers, whereas the C130J, AN-32, Embraer Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) and IL-76 Candid constitute the transport aircraft elements.

airforce-technology

ACCIDENTE DE AVION DE LA FUERZA AÉREA MEXICANA

Un avión de carga de la Fuerza Aérea mexicana se desplomó e incendió miércoles en la terminal B del aeropuerto de Monterrey según fuentes informadas que no han especificado si hay vícitmas, aunque al parecer se trata de un avión de fabricación rusa y que iban cinco personas a bordo.
elmundo