FAB, is the eighth customer of the Hermes 900.
Elbit Systems subsidiary in Brazil, AEL SYSTEMAS S.A. will supply FAB with technical and engineering support as well as logistic and maintenance services.
elbitsystems
Mar 26, 2014
Elbit Systems Awarded Contract to Supply Brazil with Hermes 900 UAS
FAB, is the eighth customer of the Hermes 900.
Elbit Systems subsidiary in Brazil, AEL SYSTEMAS S.A. will supply FAB with technical and engineering support as well as logistic and maintenance services.
elbitsystems
HMS Queen Elizabeth Aircraft Carrier to Take to the Water in July
HMS Queen Elizabeth,, will move to “flood up” within weeks of a naming ceremony on July 4.
A second ship, HMS Prince of Wales, is following 20 months behind the first, with both vessels designed to be put together at the yard near Edinburgh from sub-assemblies built at five other sites, some weighing as much as smaller Royal Navy ships.
Once floated, the Queen Elizabeth will be towed from her dock and across a basin where the ship will tie up alongside the harbor for the completion of fitting out, making way for the assembly of the second carrier. Outfitting is due to be completed in 2015, with sea trials commencing a year later.
F-35B Joint Strike Fighter jump-jets should be flying from the plane by 2018.
bloomberg
TriStar Retires After 30 Years Service with the RAF
On Monday 24th March two TriStar’s of 216 Squadron based at RAF Brize Norton flew an air-to-air refuelling mission over the North Sea.
During its service the TriStar, has formed the backbone of long range air transport and air-to-air refuelling, participating in nearly every British conflict since it was brought into service.
The fleet of nine aircraft were acquired as a direct result of the Falklands conflict and the need to provide support to forces in the South Atlantic and to bolster the air-to-air refuelling fleet.
In more recent times TriStars have provided air-to-air refuelling to fast jet aircraft operating over Afghanistan and Libya and provided the vital air bridge, transporting troops and cargo to Iraq and Afghanistan. Over a period of eight years 216 Sqn flew 1642 times to Afghanistan, carrying a quarter of a million passengers.
The remaining four TriStar aircraft will leave RAF Brize Norton for the final time on 25th March, when they will depart to Bruntingthorpe Airfield, Leics for disposal.
raf
Mar 25, 2014
IAI courts buyers for AEW-equipped C295
Airbus has previously flown one of its C295 development aircraft with an aerodynamic model of an AEW rotodome installed.
Elta is offering a mission system including a radar, command, control and communications equipment and electronic intelligence sensors.
An Israeli source says the proposed AEW version of the C295 is an attractive option for air forces that already use the European design for transport applications. The current interest includes some nations that currently use the twin-turboprop, the source reveals.
Airbus says an AEW version of the C295 would have a mission endurance of up to 9h, and be capable of operating at an altitude of up to 26,000ft (7,930m).
flightglobal
Mexican navy orders two Beechcraft T-6 trainers
The aircraft, designated T-6C+ models, will be delivered this summer.
Beechcraft, is also working on a contract to provide two years of parts support, pilot and mechanic training and field support to the Mexican navy.
The Mexican air force already has six T-6s, and has placed an order for an additional six aircraft.
The announcement comes two months after news broke that New Zealand will buy 11 T-6Cs.
flightglobal
El Eurofighter del Ejército del Aire dispara por primera vez un misil IRIS-T en modo digital
El Ejército del Aire se ha convertido en la primera Fuerza Aérea usuaria del sistema de armas Eurofighter en haber realizado un disparo del misil IRIS-T con integración digital, lo que supone un salto cualitativo de gran magnitud en las capacidades de combate aire-aire de dicha plataforma.
ejercitodelaire
US to Kill Tomahawk, Hellfire Missile Programs
The Tomahawk missile program is set to be cut by $128 million under Obama’s fiscal year 2015 budget proposal and completely eliminated by fiscal year 2016.
In addition to the monetary cuts to the program, the number of actual Tomahawk missiles acquired by the United States would drop significantly—from 196 last year to just 100 in 2015. The number will then drop to zero in 2016.
The Navy will also be forced to cancel its acquisition of the well-regarded and highly effective Hellfire missiles in 2015.
The proposed elimination of these missile programs came as a shock to lawmakers and military experts, who warned ending cutting these missiles would significantly erode America’s ability to deter enemy forces.
The U.S. Navy relied heavily on them during the 2011 military incursion into Libya, where some 220 Tomahawks were used during the fight.
Nearly 100 of these missiles are used each year on average, meaning that the sharp cuts will cause the Tomahawk stock to be completely depleted by around 2018. This is particularly concerning to defense experts because the Pentagon does not have a replacement missile ready to take the Tomahawk’s place.
The administration seems to be taking the millions typically spent on the Tomahawk program and investing it in an experimental missile program that experts say will not be battle ready for at least 10 years.
Navy experts and retired officials fear that the elimination of the Tomahawk and Hellfire systems—and the lack of a battle-ready replacement—will jeopardize the U.S. Navy’s supremacy as it faces increasingly advanced militaries from North Korea to the Middle East.
freebeacon
Republic of Korea Formally Selects Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II
Following a comprehensive evaluation process for their F-X program, the Republic of Korea becomes the third Foreign Military Sales country to procure the F-35, joining Israel and Japan.
The program also currently includes participation from three U.S. military service branches and eight international partner countries. The F-35 will replace the A-10 and F-16 for the U.S. Air Force, the F/A-18 for the U.S. Navy, the F/A-18 and AV-8B Harrier for the U.S. Marine Corps.
lockheedmartin
Mar 24, 2014
India To Buy More Pilatus PC-7 Mk. 2s
The PC-7 be acquired from the Swiss company under the “Buy & Make (Indian)” category, in accordance with India’s defense procurement policy.
India is already taking delivery of PC-7 Mk. 2 aircraft from Pilatus under a contract for 75 such aircraft signed in 2012.
Pilatus will have to form a joint venture or establish a production arrangement with an Indian company to execute the contract.
A Request for Information (RFI) calls for delivery of aircraft and equipment to begin by 2015-16, with all 106 PC-7 Mk. 2’s to be delivered by 2020-21.
aviationweek
Boeing U.S. tanker program seen $1 billion over budget
The Air Force plans to buy 179 of the new refueling planes to start replacing its fleet ofKC-135 tankers.
The Air Force has repeatedly raised its cost estimates of the development part of the tanker program, but insists that the fixed-price terms of its contract with Boeing will keep cost overruns from affecting the federal budget.
Boeing remains on track to deliver the first 18 refueling planes by August 2017 as scheduled, despite a report from the Pentagon's chief weapons tester that warned that testing could be delayed by at least six to 12 months.
reuters
Lockheed Martin F-35 Jet’s Software Delayed
The Marine Corps F-35 version, has a key milestone next year. While the Marines want the plane to be deemed ready for warfare in mid-2015, tests on some of its software might not be completed on time, and may be as much as 13 months late.
Delays of this magnitude would mean that the Marine Corps will not likely have all of the capabilities it expects in July 2015.
The Air Force’s F-35 version is supposed to meet a similar deadline in 2016, and the Navy model in 2018. Italy and the U.K. are buying the Marine Corps model.
Lockheed Martin is confident to complete flight testing of the software required for Marine Corps initial operational capability this year.
The company plans to release the required software for the Marine version no later than July 2015. This software will enable the Marines to identify, target and engage the opposition.
Lockheed Martin is improving its production processes and reduced problems with its pilot helmet, the Navy F-35’s tailhook, which enables the plane to land on aircraft carriers, and an automatic diagnostic system.
The company and the Pentagon program office also made progress in 2013 toward reducing the cost of the Navy and Air Force models, though not the Marine Corps version.
bloomberg
Poland speeds up missile defense plan amid Ukraine crisis
Poland had planned to determine the supplier of its missile defence system in 2015, but the crisis in Ukraine and concerns about Russia's annexation of Crimea have prompted officials to speed up the timetable.
There are four bidders: France's Thales, in a consortium with European group MBDA and the Polish state defence group; the Israeli government; Raytheon of the United States; and the MEADS consortium led by Lockheed Martin.
The decision to accelerate the process is partly caused by Russia's military intervention in Ukraine's Crimea Peninsula.
The first phase of the Polish system is to comprise eight sets of mid-range interceptor rockets, which may later be supplemented by short-range ones. Poland has already passed legislation to secure funding for the shield.
The planned system is separate from elements of a U.S. missile shield to be deployed in Poland by 2018.
France offers 4 fighter jets to Poland, Baltics to boost NATO patrols
Besides the Rafale and Mirage 2000 aircraft, Paris will also offer to ensure "AWACS patrols from France around twice a week" if asked by NATO.
The United States is responsible for the patrols until May. Given the situation in Ukraine, it sent additional F-15 fighter jets to the region earlier this month, bringing their total to 10 aircraft.
Poland will then take over the patrols from the US. The ministry source said France will offer the fighter jets, along with the AWACS early warning aircraft, if NATO and Poland deem them necessary.
NATO has already deployed AWACS reconnaissance aircraft to overfly Poland and Romania as part of its efforts to monitor the Ukraine crisis.
expatica
F-35 training at night to start soon
About nine of the F-35s at Eglin Air Force Base are equipped for use in training pilots to navigate at night. The wing slowly and steadily has been ramping up its training of pilots and maintainers for the F-35.
If all goes as planned, pilots may start night flying as early as Monday evening. Takeoffs would be about 8 p.m. and flights would last about an hour.
nwfdailynews
South Korea to Award Tanker, Fighter Contracts by End of Year
The service will also announce its next-generation fighter selection next month.
The F-X program will replace South Korea’s aging F-4 and F-5 fighter fleet. It is widely believed that Seoul has settled on Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
The selection will also help kick off the KF-X program, South Korea’s development program of an indigenous fighter design. The two programs are directly linked.
The Korean air force opened its doors for bidding on its KC-X tanker program in October. Korean is looking for something with cargo capacity as well as both boom and drogue refueling capabilities.
Three platforms have been entered into the competition: The Airbus A330, Boeing’s KC-46A platform and an offering from Israeli Aerospace Industries of modified, previously owned Boeing 767s.
Other modernization priorities are also moving along. Korea will introduce it’s first C-130J transport next month, while it expects to see movement on its purchase of four Global Hawk unmanned systems.
defensenews
Argentina buying Kfir from Israel
haaretz
Turkey downs Syria military jet 'in airspace violation'
Syria accused Turkey of "blatant aggression", saying the plane had been over Syrian territory at the time.
The incident reportedly occurred in an area where Syrian rebels and government forces have been fighting for control of a border crossing.
Turkey has broadly sided with the rebels in Syria's war since October 2011.
Turkish forces launched artillery strikes on Syrian targets in late 2012 after the Syrians shot down a Turkish jet.
According to one report, the plane's pilot was able to eject.
In a media statement on the incident, the Turkish General Staff said two Syrian military jets were involved, and that they had been "warned four times that they were approaching Turkish airspace".
One of the Syrian MiGs turned back.
The second Syrian jet entered Turkish airspace despite of the warnings. It then turned westwards and continued flying in our Turkey's airspace for a distance of 1.5km.
At this point one of two Turkish F-16s flying Combat Air Patrol in the region fired a missile at the Syrian jet in accordance with the rules of engagement at 1314. Hit, the Syrian jet fell in the vicinity of Kesab on Syrian soil 1,200m south of the border.
In September last year, Turkey said it had shot down a Syrian helicopter close to its border. Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc said the aircraft was engaged by fighter jets after violating Turkish air space.
A Turkish fighter jet was shot down by Syria over the Mediterranean in June 2012, after Syrian forces said it had entered its airspace.
bbc
Czechs offer Gripens to protect airspace near Ukraine
The participation of the Czech Republic in any massive NATO manoeuvres in reaction to Russian military activities in Ukraine is not being prepared.
If the Czech Republic is asked, it can send event its supersonic Gripen fighters to protect the airspace of its partner countries.
Information surfaced a few days ago saying the Czech military might participate in some larger military exercises with the United States, Poland and probably some other NATO member states.
The Czech Defence Ministry´s representatives are negotiating about a joint exercise with the United States and Poland but it is not planned in reaction to the Russian occupation of Crimea.
In the past, Czech pilots of Gripens helped protect the airspace of the three Baltic NATO member states, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, repeatedly.
In the autumn, Czechs are to take part in a similar mission in the airspace of Iceland.
ceskenoviny
Mar 23, 2014
Los V-22 Osprey de los US Marines llegan a la base de Gando en Gran Canaria.
Los V-22 #Osprey de los US Marines llegan a la base de Gando en Gran Canaria. Fotografía via @tbanobre pic.twitter.com/A7krnWok60
— linceanalista (@linceanalista) March 23, 2014Mar 22, 2014
El Ejército del Aire despliega un C-130 Hércules en Libreville Gabón, en apoyo de la Operación MISCA
La misión, se encuentra amparada en las resoluciones adoptadas por el Consejo de Seguridad de Naciones Unidas para la protección de los civiles y el restablecimiento de la seguridad y el orden público en laRepública Centroafricana.
El vuelo inicial que está previsto para la operación MISCA se efectuará el domingo 23 de marzo, una vez establecido el nuevo destacamento.
ejercitodelaire
Ejercicio Heliborne training entre helicópteros de las FAMET (Tigre y Chinook) y Osprey del US Marines
Ejercicio Heliborne training entre FAMET (helicópteros TIGRE, CHINOOK) y OSPREY del @USMC pic.twitter.com/Pp5R4pBb4M
— Ejército de Tierra (@EjercitoTierra) March 21, 2014Iran building giant fake U.S. Navy aircraft carrier
Intelligence analysts studying satellite photos of Iranian military installations first noticed the vessel rising from the Gachin shipyard, near Bandar Abbas, last summer. The ship has the same distinctive shape and style of the Navy’s Nimitz-class carriers, as well as the Nimitz’s number 68 neatly painted in white near the bow. Mock aircraft can be seen on the flight deck.
The Iranian mock-up, which American officials described as more like a barge than a warship, has no nuclear propulsion system and is only about two-thirds the length of a typical 1,100-foot-long Navy carrier. Intelligence officials do not believe that Iran is capable of building an actual aircraft carrier.
Analysts says: “Based on our observations, this is not a functioning aircraft carrier; it’s a large barge built to look like an aircraft carrier”(...) “We’re not sure what Iran hopes to gain by building this. If it is a big propaganda piece, to what end?”
Whatever the purpose, American officials acknowledged on Thursday that they wanted to reveal the existence of the vessel to get out ahead of the Iranians.
Navy and other American intelligence analysts surmise that the vessel, which Fifth Fleet wags have nicknamed the Target Barge, is something that Iran could tow to sea, anchor and blow up — while filming the whole thing to make a propaganda point, if, say, the talks with the Western powers over Iran’s nuclear program go south.
Iran has previously used barges as targets for missile firings during training exercises, filmed the episodes and then televised them on the state-run news media, Navy officials said.
But while Iran has tried to conceal its underground nuclear-related sites, the Iranian Navy has taken no steps to cloak from prying Western satellites what it is building pierside at the busy shipyard. “The system is often too opaque to understand who hatched this idea, and whether it was endorsed at the highest levels”.
nytimes
Brazil gifts Tucano training aircraft to Mozambique
The need to protect and defend natural resources in Mozambique is very big. Brazil and Mozambique’s economic interests are mainly focused on mining resources, through Brazilian company vale, and agriculture, through the ProSavana project, which also involves Japan.
macauhub
Mar 21, 2014
Lockheed Martin awarded Contrat to Upgrade Egypt's F-16
AH-64E looking increasingly likely for UK
The government is currently considering options to sustain the British Army's Apache fleet until its planned out of service date in 2040.
The 66 WAH-64D Block I helicopters in the UK inventory are rapidly becoming unsupportable, as the US Army and Boeing shift their attention to the AH-64D Block II and AH-64E fleets as operated by the US and most international customers.
Given the success of the Apache in Afghanistan and Libya, the British Army has made clear its desire to upgrade its current WAH-64D Block I helicopters with the latest variant AH-64E. The deputy commander of the tri-service Joint Helicopter Command (JHC), said that the army "rather hopes" that the AH-64E will be the chosen successor, for fielding before 2020.
The MoD is currently undertaking a capability sustainment programme to sustain the UK's attack helicopter capability out to 2040 and beyond.
janes
Mar 20, 2014
First Israeli M-346 Lavi rolled out
Dating from a July 2012 order, the company will supply 30 of the aircraft to the nation’s air force to replace its fleet of aged 60 Douglas A/TA-4 Skyhawks.
Delivery of the first two M-346s "Lavi" in Israeli service, is scheduled for summer 2014, with a further seven aircraft to be handed over this year, 18 in 2015 and the remainder in 2016.
flightglobal
Dutch maritime NH90s suffer corrosion
After an inspection conducted following the mission, it was concluded that the amount of wear and tear and corrosion to the helicopter was much higher than anticipated. The same problems were noted on another aircraft deployed to the Caribbean.
The air force has come to the conclusion that the problems seem to be caused by design and assembly failures, and incomplete maintenance instructions..
NH Industries has acknowledged the problems and started its own investigation into possible solutions.
Information about the Dutch corrosion issue has also been shared with the NATO helicopter management agency and other NH90 partner countries. France has also reported two cases of corrosion.
Meanwhile, Italy has recently started naval operations with its NFH-variant aircraft.
flightglobal
First Italian air force HH-101A breaks cover
To be designated the HH-101A Caesar in Italian service, Rome has ordered 15 of the type to replace its current fleet of Agusta/Sikorsky HH-3 Pelicans for use on personnel recovery and special forces operations.
They will be handed over to the Italian air force in the fourth quarter.
The HH-101A will be equipped with three M134 7.62mm pintle-mounted miniguns, armoured cockpit seats, ballistic protection for the door gunners as well as for the helicopter's critical systems. It will also feature an air-to-air refuelling kit for extended range operations.
flightglobal
Russian jets buzz Norwegian coast
Newspaper Aftenposten reported on Wednesday that the Russian fighter jet flights have been occurring on a weekly basis, with between 50 and 90 registered every year since 2009 according to numbers from the Norwegian military’s operational headquarters. The Russian pilots stay just outside the so-called 12-mile zone, or roughly 22 kilometers offshore, and usually fly from north to south, often turning around over the scenic archipelago of Lofoten.
Military officials believe the missions are fueled by a need for pilot training and to simply show off.
The Norwegian military responds to every flight by sending its own F16 jet fighters up. During the Cold War, Norway and NATO registered hundreds of such flights a year, but they tapered off dramatically when the Soviet Union broke apart in the early 1990s. The flights started to take off again around 2000.
Today the Russian military presence and visibility in the northern areas” is stronger than it’s been in many years.
newsinenglish
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