Ethiopian Air Force Boosts Defense Capabilities with Acquisition of Su-30Ks and Akinci UAVs

Ethiopian Air Force has acquired Akinci unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from Turkey and Russian Sukhoi Su-30K combat aircraft as part of its ongoing modernization efforts. The Su-30K aircraft were officially introduced into service during a ceremony, and the Chief of General Staff emphasized the importance of these acquisitions in preventing attacks on Ethiopia. The Commander of the Ethiopian Air Force highlighted that the new Su-30s are capable of destroying enemy targets both in the air and on land.

The Su-30Ks acquired by Ethiopia are believed to be part of a batch originally manufactured for the Indian Air Force in 1997-1999. These aircraft were returned to Russia in 2007 and replaced by more modern Su-30MKI models. After being stored in Belarus, 18 Su-30Ks were acquired by Angola in 2013, with 12 of them later upgraded to Su-30SM standard. Ethiopia seems to have acquired the remaining six Su-30Ks, with the last four yet to be delivered.

In addition to the Su-30Ks, Ethiopia has obtained Baykar Bayraktar Akinci UAVs. These drones were first observed in November, and they have been seen with underwing MAM-L missiles manufactured by Roketsan. The Akinci UAVs have a maximum altitude of 11,000 meters and a 25-hour endurance. These new UAVs are likely to be used in combat, against the Tigray People’s Liberation Forces, alongside other UAVs acquired from China (Wing Loong) and Iran Qods Mohajer-6.

Ethiopia's modernization efforts involve strengthening its air force with both combat aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles to enhance its defense capabilities.

NEWS 2022 March, 27

Greece acquires six additional Rafales

This new contract, which follows Greece’s acquisition of 18 Rafale in January 2021, will increase to 24 the number of Rafale operated by the Hellenic Air Force.

Following the arrival at Tanagra Air Base of the first six Rafale of the Hellenic Air Force on 19 January 2022, the 18 Rafale relating to the first contract will be fully deployed in Greece by the summer 2023.The six additional Rafale will then be delivered to the Hellenic Air Force shortly thereafter, starting from the summer 2024.

dassault

Heavy losses for the Russian Air Force in Ukraine Invasion

Anti-aircraft missiles like the Stinger and Igla are not the only threats Russian pilots face in the skies over Ukraine.

A dangerous combination of doctrine, training and equipment is partly to blame for the heavy losses the of Russia’s Air Force.

Russia has not modified its ground-attack tactics and is conducting many of its attacks at low altitude, which puts Russian planes in the lethal envelope” of shoulder-fired man-portable air defense systems (MANPADs), wrote the Atlantic Council in an assessment.

The exact total of Russian and Ukrainian aircraft lost so far is unclear. On the Russian side, at least 32 helicopters and 13 fixed-wing aircraft have been damaged or destroyed, though the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense claims to have killed 81 planes and 95 helicopters. Ukraine meanwhile is down to just 56 combat aircraft, after starting the war with 98, according to Flight Global’s 2022 World Air Forces directory. For context, the U.S. lost 27 fixed-wing aircraft and five helicopters in combat across five or so weeks during the 1991 invasion of Iraq in Desert Storm.

The VKS prioritizes tactical, close air support missions over strategic missions far from the frontlines. That’s all well and good, but Russian pilots are put at greater risk while trying to achieve this mission because of the technology they work with. While the U.S. Air Force has used precision-guided munitions to great effect since at least Desert Storm, the Russian air force has nowhere near the same quantity of so-called ‘smart’ bombs. Instead, Russian pilots must use unguided ‘dumb’ bombs. But to use them accurately, pilots have to fly low and slow, which makes them vulnerable to attack from the ground.

Russia running out of precision munitions in Ukraine war

Russia is running out of precision guided munitions and it is more likely to rely on so-called dumb bombs and artillery, a senior Pentagon official said on Thursday.

Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Colin Kahl speculated that he did not believe President Vladimir Putin wanted to have an all out conflict with NATO.

reuters

Turkish drone became the star of the Ukrainian defense

Widely circulated videos of Russian armored vehicles being destroyed from the air have thrust forward a lesser-known drone called the Bayraktar TB2. Defense News Weekly's in-house expert walks through how the TB2 became central to Ukraine's defensive arsenal.

NEWS 2022, March 3rd

Norway receives its first P-8A 'Viking'

On February 24, Norway's first P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) landed at Norway's Evenes airport.
Norway’s new maritime surveillance aircraft, the P-8 Poseidon, will begin patrolling sea areas in 2023. 

The primary mission of P-8 Poseidon is to maintain maritime surveillance and to assist in the development of situational awareness in Norwegian local areas. 
navalnews

TURKEY LHD 'ANADOLU' ENTERS SEA TRIALS PHASE

On February 27, Turkey's Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD), the future TCG Anadolu, based in Spanish LHD Juan Carlos I, which is set to become the flagship of the Turkish Navy (Türk Deniz Kuvvetleri) started sea trials.

The initial plan was to commission LHD Anadolu for the Turkish Navy in 2021, but due to delays for a variety of reasons, the deadline has had to be rescheduled. As a result, LHD Anadolu was expected to enter service in 2022, but SSB’s video and statement on the Turkish Defense Industry’s 2022 Projection do not include the LHD’s commissioning.

navalnews

FOUR RUSSIAN JETS VIOLATED SWEEDEN AIRSPACE

Sweeden said four Russian jet fighters violated its airspace the day after the country’s prime minister said her government will seek to boost the country’s military capabilities in response to the invasion of Ukraine.

Swedish military officials said the four fighters, two Russian SU-24s and two SU-27s, entered into Swedish airspace on Wednesday just east of the island of Gotland over the Baltic Sea.

A Swedish Jas 39 Gripen fighter tracked the incursion and took photographs of the Russian jets, which quickly left the area.

menafn.com

TURKEY SENDS ADDITIONAL TB2 BAYRAKTAR UCAVs to UKRAINE

Turkey has airlifted additional Baykar Bayraktar TB2 unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs) to Ukraine. The Ukrainian defence minister said on 2 March that new combat ready TB2s had arrived in the country as part of a package of international military assistance. 

The minister's statement followed rumours of a delivery of new TB2s from Turkey after a Turkish Air Force Airbus A400M transport aircraft was tracked flying from Ankara to Poland on 1 March. Prior to the Russian invasion, Ukraine was known to have received six TB2s from Turkey. The minister did not say how many additional TB2s had been delivered. The TB2 is the only UCAV in Ukrainian service and was first used by the country in October 2021. 

Footage released by the Ukrainian government since the launch of offensive Russian operations on 24 February has shown the TB2s to have been heavily engaged in the fighting, destroying several ground vehicles. The TB2 is a medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that was developed to provide the Turkish Army with a tactical intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance capability. 

janes

RUSSIAN HELICOPTER ENTERS JAPAN AEROSPACE

Japan scrambled a fighter jet on Wednesday in response to what appeared to be a Russian helicopter entering its airspace, amid heightened tensions over the crisis in Ukraine. 

The helicopter crossed into Japanese airspace over waters off of the northern island of Hokkaido, the defense ministry said in a brief statement. 

Japan issued warnings and sent an Air Self-Defense Force fighter to respond to the incursion, the ministry said. Tokyo issued a protest with the Russian government through a diplomatic channel. newsbreak