Croatia to donate 14 Mi-8 helicopters to Ukraine

Croatia is planning to donate 14 Mi-8 helicopters to Ukraine.

Croatian Defence Minister stated that maintenance re-serves for some of the helicopters will end next year, and they are due to be replaced with more modern military equipment.
These helicopters were already slated for decommission by 2026, as Croatia plans to retire all of its Soviet-era equipment.

english.nv.ua 

Poland To Cut Caracal Order, Reconsider Black Hawk, AW149

Poland’s has announced plans to decrease the amount of the Caracal EC725 helicopters the country is to acquire from Airbus Helicopters. This would allow the ministry to also purchase Black Hawk and AW149 helos from Sikorsky and AgustaWestland, respectively.
The decision comes following the forming of Poland’s new government in November by the conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party. Last April, the previous Cabinet decided to order 60 multi-role helos from Airbus Helicopters to replace the Polish military’s Soviet-designed Mil Mi-8, Mi-14 and Mi-17 copters.
Sikorsky’s local subsidiary PZL Mielec makes the Black Hawk, while AgustaWestland’s PZL Swidnik offshoot produces the AW149.
defensenews

Lithuanian Air Force receives first AS-365 Dauphin For SAR Mission

The Lithuanian Air Force received the first of three AS365 N3+ Dauphin search and rescue (SAR) helicopters on 2 June. The second and third helicopters will be delivered by Airbus Helicopters by the end of 2015.
The Lithuanian armed forces signed the order for three Dauphins with Eurocopter in October 2013.
The AS365 N3+ Dauphin will replace the Russian Mi-8 helicopter fleet currently being used by the air force that is reaching the end of its service life.
shephardmedia

H225M Caracal passes Polish helicopter trials, Contract To Be Signed Soon

The H225M Caracal has passed Polish state trials.
The announcement paves the way for the signing of a contract for 50 helicopters, following the preselection of the Caracal (formerly known as the EC725) for the Polish medium-lift utility helicopter programme on 21 April.
Poland will now begin final negotiations with Airbus for the helicopters.
Deliveries of the Caracal are scheduled to begin in 2017, with the type set to replace Poland's Mil Mi-8/17 utility helicopters and Mi-14 ASW helicopters.
janes

Slovak 'Hip' replacement settles on nine Black Hawks

Slovakia announced on 29 April that it will buy nine Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk medium-lift utility helicopters.
The MoD will procure the helicopters via the US Department of Defense's Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme. The procurement price will include full life-cycle support for the aircraft as well as training for aircrews and ground personnel.
janes

Russian Defense Ministry Wants 100 Mi-8 Terminator Helicopters for Arctic Command

The Defense Ministry wants up to 100 Mi-8 "Terminator" helicopters specially modified for service under the recently formed Arctic Command.
The order size may depend on how well five test helicopters perform in trials. Flight tests for the Arctic Terminator will begin later this year.
The armored assault transport helicopter is but one of a number of specialized vehicles the military hopes to procure for its Arctic forces, which Russia has been steadily building up since last year.
The Arctic's uniquely inhospitable conditions require vehicles, helicopters in particular, to be modified to operate in up to -50 degrees celsius, with strong winds and other extreme weather conditions.
themoscowtimes

Russia, Serbia to Carry Out Joint Air Force Drills

Military pilots from Russia and Serbia will conduct joint training exercises in September 2015, the Russian Defense Ministry said Thursday.
Pilots from both countries will represent tactical and ground-support units in mixed crews.
Aircrew on MiG-29 fighters will perform tasks to intercept air targets, while Mi-8 military transport and combat helicopters will work on tactical landings, covering ground units from the air, firing missiles at ground targets at the site, as well as aircrew search and rescue operations.
Aspiring EU member Serbia has maintained friendly relations with Russia despite the European Union’s numerous sanctions against Moscow, including in the military field, over its alleged involvement in the Ukraine crisis.
sputniknews

Sikorsky willing to supply S-92 VVIP helicopters to India

Sikorsky, is keen to sell VVIP transport helicopters to the Indian government.
India cancelled a deal for 12 VVIP helicopters with Italian Finmeccanica's last year over a corruption scandal.
Industry sources in India expect a new tender this year. Sikorsky, which pitched its S-92 helicopter but lost to AgustaWestland in the initial tender, could take part once again.
India needs 12 helicopters to replace its Russia-made Mi-8 aircraft. After the cancellation of the AW101 order, it modified some of its Mi-17 helicopters for VVIP missions.
Russian Helicopters could also bid for a new contract using Mi-17s while Airbus Helicopters could enter the fray with its EC225.
In May 2014, Sikorsky won an initial contract to develop and build six U.S. presidential helicopters, the first step toward a fleet of 21 new aircraft by 2023.
reuters

Russia to build more Arctic airfields

Russia is to have 14 operational airfields in the Arctic by the end of the year.
Ten airfields will be constructed by the end of 2015, in addition to the four already in use.
Separately, Russia has announced it is to boost its military capabilities in the annexed Crimea region, and in its Baltic enclave of Kalingrad.
While the United States has been pivoting its forces and its strategic focus to the Asia-Pacific region to better counter China, Russia has been increasingly focusing its efforts in the Arctic.
As the melting Arctic sea ice has opened up trade routes and potential oil reserves, Russia, more than the other four nations of Canada, Denmark, Norway, and the United States that each claim parts of the Arctic Circle's outer ring, has been beefing up its military presence in the region.
In May 2012, Russia's Ministry of Defence announced that several Arctic air bases that had fallen into disuse with the end of the Cold War would be reopened. Airfields at Novaya Zemlya, Naryan-Mar, Ostrov Greem-Bell (Graham Bell Island), and Rogachyovo have since been made operational. While the re-opening of these Arctic bases has been largely symbolic in the context of national claims on the region's resources, MiG-31 'Foxhound' interceptors have been based near Murmansk to provide additional air defence coverage of the region.
In addition to opening up the bases and the basing of the MiG-31s at Murmansk, Russia is expected to deploy a number of Pantsir-S1 ground-based air defence systems in the region, and is also upgrading its Mil Mi-8 'Hip' helicopters to function in the harsh conditions.
Russia is also increasing its special forces presence in the Arctic by more than 30%, with the revamped 61st Independent Naval Infantry Regiment to be stationed alongside the re-formed 200th Independent Infantry Brigade at Sputnik Base, Pechenga, inside the Arctic Circle (16 km from the Norwegian border and 65 km from the Finnish border).
Overarching all of this is the formation of Russia's Arctic Joint Strategic Command, which was activated on 1 December 2014. This new command, which is based on the Northern Fleet and headquartered at Severomorsk, is being equipped with assets and personnel transferred from Russia's Western, Central, and Southern (but not Eastern) Military Districts, with which it will be on a par.
janes

Russian Air Force to get 6 more modernized Tupolev Tu-160 bombers in 2015

Russia’s Long Range Aviation will get another 6 modernized strategic bombers Tupolev Tu-160 in 2015 and will bring the number of Tu-95MS bombers to 43, according Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Air Force.
The Russian Long Range Aviation which marks the 100th anniversary of creation on Tuesday is armed with the Tu-160, Tu-95MS and Tu-22M3 bombers. According to reports, the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) launched a program for these planes’ modernization. This year, pilots received after repair 9 strategic Tu-95MS and 9 long-range Tu-22M3, as well as one modernized Tu-160 bomber.
Units of long-range aviation operate the strategic missile carriers Tupolev-160 and Tupolev-95MS, long-range strategic bombers Tupolev-22M3, refueling jets Ilyushin-78, special-task aircraft Antonov-30b, the transport turboprops Antonov-12 and Antonov-26, as well as Mi-8 and Mi-26 helicopters.
Russia’s next-generation strategic bomber — PAK DA (prospective aviation complex for long-range aviation) is to perform its first flight in 2019. The new plane will be delivered to the army in 2023-2025.
itar-tass

Russian Arctic Helicopter Ready for Deliveries in 2015

Deliveries of the Mi-8AMTSh-VA helicopters, a variant of the Mi-8 medium twin-turbine transport helicopter modified for use in the Arctic, may begin as early as next year, managing director of the Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant (UUAP), said Friday.
The aviation plant reported that the helicopter meets all the requirements in order to excel in the harsh weather conditions of the Far North. Its design will allow it to operate in low temperatures and low visibility, including during the polar night
ria.ru

Ukraine caught operating Mi-24 in U.N. colors

The United Nations says it's concerned over the interim Ukrainian government's use of military helicopters bearing its signature in military operations. They were used during the operation in Donetsk Region, which is defying Kiev's authority and proclaimed independence.
Three U.N.-painted Mil Mi-24 combat helicopters and one Mi-8 transport helicopter had been spotted assisting government troops in eastern Ukraine.
Ukraine has provided equipment to several U.N. peacekeeping missions, including in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
A U.N. spokesperson told that the helicopters seen may have been aircraft used on these missions that had not been repainted on their return. This would be a violation of the U.N.'s agreement with its member states and made concerns clear about these reports.
He added: "It is the responsibility of U.N. member states to remove all logos and signs bearing the U.N.'s name once such equipment has been repatriated to the home country or is no longer being used for official U.N. purposes."
nbcnews

Hungary buys additional Mi-8 helicopters

Hungary has bought three additional Mil Mi-8T 'Hip-C' helicopters to fulfil an interim need.
The helicopters have already been transferred to Hungary's Kecskemet Air Base.
The three Mi-8Ts, said to be in good condition, will be tasked by the MoD with emergency response and search-and-rescue roles.
janes

NATO preps for military exercises in Baltic airspace

The Ministry of Defence presents this scenario: A Lithuanian Air Force C-27J Spartan transport aircraft is flying over the Baltic Sea and suddenly loses radio communication. The Airspace Control Centre of the Kingdom of Sweden immediately allows the Lithuanian aircraft to enter Swedish airspace and raises the Swedish Air Force’s JAS-39 Gripen fighter jets from standby status. Simultaneously, the U.S. Contingent conducting the NATO Air Policing mission in the Baltic States with F-15Cs is activated. As the Swedish aircraft escort the Lithuanian C-27J to the border of international airspace, US fighter jets are waiting to escort it back to the Lithuanian Air Force base in Šiauliai.
This is just one of the training scenarios in a NATO air capability exercise taking place in Baltic airspace from 1-2 April. Other scenarios that will be simulated during the training event include emergency landing and search and rescue operation using the Mi-8 helicopter of the Lithuanian Air Force.
As unrest has escalated in the near vicinity of the Baltic States, NATO has augmented the Baltic Air Policing mission with additional warplanes to further strengthen security.
The air training event will involve an F-15C Eagle of the U.S. Air Force currently deployed on NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission, a JAS-39 Gripen aircraft of the Swedish Air Force, C-27J Spartan transport aircraft and an Mi-8 helicopter of the Lithuanian Air Force. NATO Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft based in Germany and U.S. KC-135R air refuelling aircraft are also expected to join the exercise.
The training event will include low-altitude flights over Palanga and Vilnius airports.
During the two-day exercise from 1-2 April, Sweden’s JAS-39 aircraft and the C-27J of the Lithuanian Air Force will train in Palanga at about 11.00 and 11.15 hours, respectively. U.S. F-15C fighter jets will be training in Vilnius at about 15.00 hrs.
lithuaniatribune

Agusta deal over, India Air Force looks at options for VVIP Helicopter

Following the termination of the AgustaWestland deal for AW 101 choppers, the Defence Ministry is now looking at options to ferry VVIPs, given that the service life of the existing Mi 8 fleet being operated by the communication squadron of the Air Force is drawing to an end this year.
Several options are being considered by the Air Force to ensure that choppers are available for travel of VVIPs over the next few months as concerns have surfaced about the safety of the Mi 8 fleet that has now been in service for 26 years and has seen several scares in the past due to technical issues.
With the option of the AW 101 VVIP choppers firmly out of the window, sources said one option that has been floated by the Air Force is to extend the life of the existing fleet of eight Mi 8s in incremental levels over the next few months.
The Mi 8s — six were initially inducted into the VIP squadron in 1988 and two more were introduced later — are at the very edge of their maximum service life that can at best be extended to 30 years. As per current standards, the extended total technical life of the fleet is coming to an end this year. While this can, technically speaking, be extended for another four years, it is not considered to be safe for VVIP duty.
The option most likely to meet the requirement — is to upgrade some choppers of the newly acquired Mi 17 V5 fleet that has been inducted by the Air Force. This option is the easiest to implement at short notice.
The option of initiating a new acquisition process for VVIP choppers is also being considered. However, given that this new acquisition process would take at least three-four years, it is not being looked at as very viable.
The fourth option before the defence ministry is to temporarily lease choppers in the VVIP configuration from international players as an interim measure.
indianexpress

Russian Eastern Military District to Receive 40 Helicopters by 2014

Over 40 new Mi-8AMTSh and Ka-52 helicopters will be delivered to air bases in the Russia's Eastern Military District by the end of this year.
The new helicopters are expected to replace the existing fleet of aging Mi-24 Hind attack helicopters and significantly boost combat capabilities of army aviation in Russia’s Far East.
The Eastern Military District is one of the four operational strategic commands of the Russian Armed Forces.
The Mi-8AMTSh ‘Terminator’ is an upgraded, armored version of the famed Mi-8 combat transport helicopter. It can be armed with a mix of Igla (Grouse) air-to-air missiles, Shturm-V (Spiral) air-to-surface missiles, 23-mm gun pods, and rocket pods equipped with 80-mm unguided rockets.
ria.ru

Lithuania Orders Eurocopter AS35 Dauphin Helos

Lithuania has ordered three AS365 N3+ Dauphin helicopters from Eurocopter.
The new copters will replace the Soviet-designed Mi-8 and will be mainly be used in search-and-rescue missions.
The contract also covers related equipment, and training and maintenance services.
In a bid to increase the airlift capacity of its armed forces, Lithuania is reportedly planning to acquire further helicopters by 2016.
defensenews

Ukraine Repairs Ka - 27 ASW Helicopter for Vietnam

Industrial Ukraine Aircraft repair plant Sevastopol is engaged in repair and modernization of helicopters for overseas customers .In that contract with Vietnam to repair the submarine hunting helicopter Ka-28, with Iraq to repair and upgrade the Mi-8T helicopters and with Croatia to modernize the helicopter Mi-8, Mi-17.
Currently, Vietnam Navy active 2 helicopters are key hunting ground Kamov Ka-27 and Ka-28 , both helicopters have already been used for years and is gradually becoming obsolete, so need to be upgraded as well as extending the life of equipment replacement air, to fit the new maritime patrol missions to combat today.
defense-studies

Russia agrees to sell attack helicopters to Sudan and is negotiating the sale of 18 Su-30 fighters

Sudan and Russia sealed two agreements since 2011 for the sale of two dozen Mi-24 attack helicopters and 14 MI-8 transport helicopters.
The first batch of the shipment was delivered in 2012 in accordance with a contract between two countries a year earlier and the second one was scheduled for delivery this year per a second agreement.
Conditions were attached by Russia to the sale including not using it in Sudan’s restive region of Darfur per United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions banning military flights there.
Russia has already informed the UN Sanctions Committee about the pending sale in a letter sent last February.
In a related issue, a source close to Russia’s agency for defense sales known as Rosoboronexport, said that Sudan is also negotiating the purchase of 18 former Indian Su-30K fighters that are stored in an aircraft repair plant in Belarus.
sudantribune

Russian Defense Ministry Signs $380M Helicopter Deal

The Russian Defense Ministry and Russian Helicopters Holding on Saturday signed a $380 million contract for 40 Mil Mi-8 AMTSh helicopters.
rian