U.S. military aircraft arriving in Nepal

To aid in earthquake relief efforts, the US has sent four MV-22 Ospreys and two KC-130 cargo aircraft to Nepal.
nepalitimes

Malaysia Receives First A400M

Malaysia has received the first of its four Airbus Defence and Space A400M Atlas , the company announced on 10 March.
The handover of aircraft MSN022 to the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) took place at the final assembly line in Seville, Spain.
The aircraft will shortly arrive in Malaysia, ahead of the LIMA Airshow that is to take place in Langkawi from 17 to 21 March.
Malaysia became the A400M's first (and so far only) export customer in 2005 when it signed a contract for four aircraft to supplement its Lockheed Martin C-130H-30/KC-130H Hercules fleet.
The RMAF was originally due to have received its first two aircraft in the second half of 2013, with the remaining pair to follow in 2014. However, this timeline was revised when the programme was re-baselined in 2009, with the commencement of deliveries put back to the first quarter of 2015. Malaysia is due to receive two more aircraft this year, with the final one set to arrive in 2016.
With 12 of the 174-aircraft orderbook now delivered to five customers (France, Germany, Malaysia, Turkey, and the United Kingdom) in a logistics configuration, Airbus DS will shortly begin rolling out additional tactical capabilities (featuring full airdrop, self-defence, and a tanker role). This will lead through to the release of the Full Common Standard Aircraft in 2018.
defense-studies

US Aircraft sent to Italy for possible Libya evacuation

A Marine crisis-response team has deployed additional aircraft to Sicily as it awaits orders for a possible evacuation of American officials in Libya.
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

Spanish Air Force Has A330 MRTT Ambitions

The Spanish air force is looking to purchase a trio of Airbus Military A330-200 multi-role tanker-transports (MRTTs) to replace its aging Boeing KC-707 tankers.
The purchase of new tankers is now one of the air arm’s top priorities.
But the country’s financial troubles are having major effects on equipment programs for the entire Spanish armed forces, and there is no funding for the project.
Spain is hopeful the current air force budget will begin to increase in 2016 from an expected record low in 2014. Spanish officials hope their buy will come off the back of an expected European Defense Agency (EDA) purchase of tankers expected during the second half of this decade. EDA hopes to have an agreement signed in late 2014 allowing for the possible procurement of tankers in conjunction with Occar, the European armament cooperation agency, for initial operations in 2020 and a full operational capability in 2021.
But Spain wants its own sovereign aircraft that it can configure to transport Spanish royal family members, who currently use a pair of Airbus A310s in a VIP configuration.
Air force officials had hoped the A330s could be purchased by adjusting the air arm’s order for the Airbus A400M airlifter, but Airbus Military would not allow such a change. Spain has 27 of the new transport aircraft on order, but the financial constraints mean it is currently budgeting to operate only 14, and may store the other 13. It has previously said it may try to sell the aircraft.
Spain’s first A400M is due to roll off the Seville line in 2014 and enter service in late 2015. The air force will then receive four or five aircraft per year until 2022.
Spain will use the A400M to replace its C-130 and KC-130 Hercules transports and tankers. Spain had planned to retire its C-130s in 2016. But delays with the A400M have pushed that aircraft’s introduction back, forcing the air force to embark on a C-130 life-extension program.
aviationweek

U.S. military speeds aid to Philippines for Typhoon Haiyan victims

American military search-and-rescue helicopters, surveillance planes and Marines streamed toward the central Philippines on Sunday to survey the devastation and assist survivors whose homes were washed away by one of the largest Pacific storms on record.
Typhoon Haiyan — called Typhoon Yolanda by Filipinos — may have killed more than 10,000 people.
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel directed the U.S. Pacific Command to deploy rescue teams, helicopters for airlifts, logistics officers and cargo planes to assist in the relief efforts.
At the request of the Philippine armed forces, the Navy was flying two P-3 Orion surveillance planes above the islands to help rescuers locate the most severely damaged areas and find survivors.
In a statement released Sunday, President Obama said that he and First Lady Michelle “are deeply saddened by the loss of life and extensive damage done by Super Typhoon Yolanda.”
On Sunday, some 80 Marines from the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade stationed in Okinawa, Japan, boarded two KC-130 cargo planes bound for the Philippines, Col. Brad Bartelt, a Marine Corps said in a statement. They were taking supplies and communications equipment.
The Marine Corps will also be sending MV-22 Osprey aircraft.
latimes

Argentina comprará nuevos aviones Mirage F1 a España

De los 15 aviones Mirage F1 que comprará la Fuerza Aérea Argentina, la mitad tendrá la capacidad de reabastecerse de combustibles en pleno vuelo. Fuentes de la fuerza destacaron que se “siete u ocho de los F1” que se adquirirán a España “tienen la capacidad de reabastecerse de combustible en el aire, a través de un avión tanque, como los Hércules C-130”.
Las aeronaves serán compradas al Ejército del Aire de España y prestaron servicios en la base aérea de Albacete, y reemplazarán a los viejos Mirage III, que tienen más de 30 años de servicio en la Argentina y hasta combatieron durante la guerra de Malvinas en 1982.
La adquisición de estas aeronaves figura en el mensaje firmado por el jefe del Gabinete, Juan Manuel Abal Medina, que acompañó el envío al Congreso del presupuesto 2014 .
En ese escrito se explica que deben ser desactivados los Mirage III, de la década del 70, y el cambio por el modelo que el Ejército del Aire español operó hasta julio de este año. La primera partida prevista para la operación es de unos 217 millones de dólares.
nuevodiarioweb

Primer enfrentamiento con fuego real del KC-130J Harvest Hawk en Afganistán/ KC-130J Harvest Hawk had first weapons engagement in Afghanistan

El único KC-130J Harvest Hawk desplegado en Afganistán llevó a cabo su primer enfrentamiento armado el pasado 4 de noviembre.
El avión cisterna reconvertido, disparó un misil Hellfire contra la insurgencia, en la provincia de Sangin.
(leer más)
_____________________________
The only KC-130J Harvest Hawk in Afghanistan carried out its first weapons engagement on Nov. 4.
The converted aerial tanker fired a Hellfire missile during a firefight between Marines and insurgents in Sangin.
(read more)

Kuwait compra 3 KC-130J de reabastecimiento en vuelo/Kuwait buys KC-130J Tankers

Estados Unidos entregará a Kuwait tres KC-130J a través del programa de ventas militares al extranjero. Serán utilizados para reabastecer a sus F-18, y complementar a la flota de transporte existente de Lockheed Martin L-100.
La primera entrega está prevista en 2013, completándose en 2014.
(leer más)
___________________________________________
Lockheed Martin has received a $245 million contract from the U.S. Government for the Foreign Military Sale of three KC 130J tanker aircraft to Kuwait.
The Kuwait Air Force’s new KC-130Js will provide aerial refueling for its F 18 fleet and augment its current airlift fleet of three Lockheed Martin L-100s. Kuwait’s KC-130Js also will perform air mobility, disaster relief and humanitarian missions throughout the world.
Kuwait’s first KC-130J delivery is scheduled for late 2013, with deliveries completed in early 2014.
(read more)

PRIMER REABASTECIMIENTO EN VUELO DEL F-35 STVOL/FIRST IN FLIGHT REFUELLING OF F-35B SHORT TAKE OFF/VERTICAL LANDING

El F-35B STOVL, variante de aterrizaje y despegue vertical ha sido reabastecido de combustible en vuelo por primera vez durante una reciente misión llevada a cabo en la planta de Lockheed Martin en Ft. Worth, Texas. La misión fue llevada a cabo por un KC-130 de la base naval de Patuxent River, Maryland. Las pruebas de reabastecimiento seguirán realizándose en los próximos meses.
____________________________________________________________________________________

Wyle air crew personnel have become the first aviators to aerially refuel the F 35-B short takeoff/vertical landing variant (STOVL) during a recent mission at Lockheed Martin’s Ft. Worth, Tex. manufacturing facility.
These first aerial refueling missions were performed using Navy KC-130 tanker at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. Two of the first five F-35B aircraft slated for flight testing arrived at Patuxent River in the last quarter of 2009 and Wyle’s KC-130 aircrew team will continue to assist with refueling missions as testing progresses.