Spain Asks U.S. for More Help to Fix Flawed Sub

In a recent U.S. visit, the Spanish Defense Minister asked American officials for more help to correct design problems with its S-80 diesel-electric submarine program.
Minister asked the U.S. for continued cooperation, with S-80 builder Navantia to resolve a technological rough patch, in the program.
U.S. submarine builder General Dynamics Electric Boat was contracted last year through a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contract to help correct a problem with the first-in-class Isaac Peral (S-81) — the first of four boats.
The submarine was found to be up to 75 tons overweight.
Navantia tells the problem with the submarine should be solved by June, when it expects to be able to release details about the extent of the redesign, the time needed to sort it out, and the extra costs involved.
Some estimates say correcting the problem could delay Spain’s first operational S-80 submarine by two years from 2015 to 2017.
usni.org

Saab Offers Info on Gripen Lease to Malaysia

Saab has confirmed it has submitted proposals to the Malaysian government for the lease of Gripen fighters but said it wasn’t responding to a formal request for information.
SAAB delivered proposals earlier this year but wouldn’t reveal how many ex-Swedish Air Force C/D model aircraft are involved or the length of a possible lease deal.
The new aircraft is meant to replace 18 MiG-29s due to go out service in the next couple of years.
Without a replacement, the Malaysian Air Force fast jet fleet would comprise F/A-18 D and Sukhoi Su-30s.
Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet, Dassault’s Rafale, the Eurofighter Typhoon and Sukhoi have previously been involved in bidding for the program.
Saab already has lengthy experience in leasing Gripen C and D model jets to the Czech and Hungarian air forces.
Boeing is reckoned to have lodged proposals for an F/A-18 Super Hornet lease. It has the advantage of being the incumbent fighter supplier to the Malaysian Air Force.
A BAE offer based on second-hand Eurofighter Tranche 1 Typhoons failed to materialize as expected, but it could be submitted soon.
BAe, which represents the Eurofighter partners Airbus Defence and Finmeccanica, considered using Spanish Tranche 1s but have opted for Royal Air Force jets.
Dassault’s plans to address the Malaysian affordability issues are not known at this time.
Russia have been offering the Su-35MKM but could also offer the Su-30.
defensenews

USAF, US NAVY to Lose 17 F-35s and other equipment in FY 2016 Under Automatic Pentagon Cuts

The Pentagon will cut 17 of the 343 F-35 fighters it planned to buy from Lockheed Martin in fiscal 2016 through 2019 unless Congress repeals automatic budget cuts.
The move would save about $1.7 billion from $45.5 billion in planned spending for the F-35, the costliest U.S. weapons program. The report spells out an array of cuts in other projected purchases, from air-to-air missiles made by Raytheon to aerial refueling tankers from Boeing.
The military service chiefs have been pressing Congress to avert the process called sequestration, which is scheduled to take full effect again in fiscal 2016 after two years of temporary relief.
The cuts in F-35 funding would pare 15 planes from the Air Force’s version and two from the Navy’s.
Sikorsky also would lose 61 UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters of 410 planned through 2019.
Boeing also would lose five KC-46 refueling tankers through 2019. The Air Force would buy 64 aircraft instead of 69.
Planned orders for refurbished AH-64 Apache attack helicopters would drop by 67 to 192.
Quantities of Boeing P-8 , would be cut to 50 from 56 as the Navy.
Delivery of the second carrier in the class, the John K. Kennedy, would be delayed to 2024 from 2022.
bloomberg

N. Korea's Drones Prompt Seoul To Seek Radars

In the wake of suspected infiltration by unmanned aircraft presumed to be made in North Korea, Seoul has laid out plans to buy low-altitude radars to help detect enemy drones.
In recent weeks, three crashed UAVs were discovered near the border areas, including on an island just south of the sea border between the two countries.
Painted sky-blue, the planes were less than 2 meters in length and width and were equipped with Japanese Nikon digital cameras to take pictures of key military installations, as well as the presidential office in central Seoul.
Receiving a barrage of criticism for its air security loophole, the South Korean military said it is considering buying Israel’s RPS-42 Tactical Air Surveillance Radar System.
The system is fitted with an active electronically scanned array radar built by RADA Electronic Industries, and it can detect aerial objects within a radius of 30 kilometers. The radar is also known to detect a 2-meter-long object within 10 kilometers.
The South Korean military operates TPS-840K missile control and ground surveillance radars, but these are not known for being able to detect a non-metal object less than 2 meters wide.
The military also is considering modifying UK-made multipurpose radars for UAV detection. Twenty-four Blighter electronic scanning radars, developed by Plextek, are being operated in South Korea.
Blighter is a long-range ground surveillance radar suited to detecting moving vehicles and people.
In the latest test, the radar detected a UAV 10 kilometers away and a helicopter-borne camera 1.5 kilometers away.
The military asked Plextek to modify the radar enough to spot a UAV that is less than 2 meters.
On top of the radar, the military is pushing to acquire more thermal observation devices and multipurpose telescopes.
A laser weapon system that can destroy an approaching UAV is being considered for integration with the low-altitude radar. A candidate is a system made by Germany’s Rheinmetall Defence.
In bids to bolster the air security in the South, Seoul and Washington plan to define threats of North Korean drones and come up with countermeasures as part of their joint military operational plans.
The military made locally built UAVs public on April 8 amid criticism for failing to counter North Korea’s UAV threats.
One of them is the Remoeye-006, developed by Uconsystem. It is 1.72 meters long, 2.72 meters wide and weighs 6.5 kilograms.
The Remoeye-006 can conduct missions at day and night with infrared cameras and relay data in real time. It can fly up to 12 hours at a maximum speed of 75 kilometers per hour.
South Korea also operates the RQ-101 Songgolmae UAV built by Korea Aerospace Industries. Its camera can swivel around to offer panoramic pictures covering up to 20 kilometers during the day and 10 kilometers at night. It is 5 meters long and 6.2 meters wide and can fly at a maximum speed of 150 kilometers per hour.
South Korea is introducing medium- and high-altitude UAVs in coming years. Last month, the Defense Ministry announced it would buy four Global Hawks from Northrop Grumman million with the first delivery by 2018.
North Korea is believed to have about 300 reconnaissance drones and about 10 Russian-made Shmel UAVs carrying bombs.
Drones called Banghyeon are said to have been remodeled Chinese-made D-4 UAVs. Each drone’s fuselage is estimated to be 3.6 meters long with a wingspan of 4.8 meters. The UAV is believed to fly at a maximum speed of 160 kilometers per hour.
The Shmel is a short-range UAV that the North is believed to have procured in the 1990s. With a range of 60 kilometers, it can fly at a maximum speed of 150 kilometers per hour.
defensenews

Scorpion Eyed For RIAT, Farnborough Debut

Textron is hoping to send its Scorpion prototype light attack, reconnaissance aircraft to an international coming-out at the U.K.’s Royal International Air Tattoo and Farnborough Air Show in July.
Industry sources say thus far the company has been able to work through the FAA’s requirements to do so.
Scorpion, a light attack/reconnaissance aircraft, was conceived by Textron in an attempt to fill a gap between armed turboprop trainers and jet-powered, high-performance fighters. Company officials are targeting a $3,000/hr. operating cost that would be appealing to smaller air forces.
Textron , began building the demonstrator in January 2012; it first flew in December 2013 for 1.4 hr. It has since racked up nearly 60 hr. of flying.
Though company officials are hoping the U.S. Air Force would buy some of the aircraft, its best chances are for sales internationally.
aviationweek

Denmark Kicks Off Fighter Contest

Denmark has fired the starting pistol in its contest for a new fighter aircraft, sending out requests for information to four manufacturers sending Requests for Binding Information (RBI) to Boeing for the F/A-18F Super Hornet, to Eurofighter for the Typhoon, to Lockheed Martin for the F-35A and to Saab for the Gripen E, as the country looks to replace its fleet of F-16 Fighting Falcons. Dassault and its Rafale have not been invited.
Candidates are expected to return the information in July, with officials due to make a selection on the aircraft in mid-2015 based on the platform’s ability to be updated during its operational life, its operations and maintenance costs, and also a willingness by the companies to develop industrial relationships with Danish industry.
The new aircraft are likely to enter service between 2020-2024, by which time the Danish F-16s will be up to 45 years old.
Denmark is already a Level 3 signatory to the Joint Strike Fighter program, having signed up in 2002. Indeed, one of its F-16Bs is stationed at Edwards AFB, Calif., to support the aircraft’s flight test program. But being a signatory to the program does not oblige it to purchase the aircraft, and Danish industry has reportedly expressed disappointment about the amount of business won from the F-35 program.
Meanwhile, Boeing is planning to send the Super Hornet to the Royal Danish Air Force’s main airshow at Karup, Denmark on June 22.
Tony Osborne-aviationweek

Provocative Russian military action against U.S. Navy ship

A Russian fighter jet on Saturday made repeated provocative close-range, low-altitude passes above the U.S. Navy destroyer Donald Cook while it was steaming in the Black Sea, heightening Cold War-style tensions.
The Russian SU-24 Fencer made a total of 12 passes above the destroyer that is equipped with the powerful Aegis missile defense system. The incident occurred in international waters about 48 hours after the Navy ship arrived in the Black Sea.
The aircraft did not respond to multiple queries from the Donald Cook’s bridge. The Navy destroyer did not respond and the incident ended after about 90 minutes. The fighter jet did not appear to be carrying missiles under its wings.
This provocative and unprecedented Russian action is inconsistent with international protocols and previous agreements on the professional interaction.
The Donald Cook was never in any danger and is more than capable of defending itself against an SU-24.
The provocative acts come about a month after Russia launched a ground invasion of Ukraine’s Crimea region and the Russian military amassed an estimated 40,000 troops along Ukraine’s eastern border. Russia maintains a large naval base in Crimea.
The Donald Cook was dispatched to the Black Sea last week in an effort to reassure NATO allies, which includes Romania, of U.S. support in the face of Russian aggression.
The ship has now pulled into port in Constanta, Romania, near the Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, which is a permanent post for several thousand U.S. troops, including airmen and Marines.
militarytimes

First nEURON formation Flight

First look at the formation flight of the nEUROn unmanned combat air vehicle with a Rafale fighter and a Falcon 7X business jet.
It’s the first time a combat drone has flown in formation with other aircraft. The flight took place on 20 March 2014 over the Mediterranean ocean. Lasting 1 hour, 50 minutes the flight involved four manned aircraft and the UCAV flying alongside each other in a confined space.
aviationweek

Czechs plan new light helicopter purchase

The Army of the Czech Republic announced plans to acquire up to 16 new light, multi-purpose helicopters between 2016 and 2020.
The new helicopters will primarily replace the country's Mil Mi-24/35 'Hind' combat support helicopters and PZL W-3 Sokol MEDEVAC/SAR helicopters.
The new light, multi-purpose helicopters will serve in the armed combat support; light troop transport and MEDEVAC/SAR roles according to Gen Pavel.
It hasn't been specified what specific platform is being sought by the ACR, but it was said that it would be in a class slightly smaller than the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk.
The ACR plans to retire its fleet of Russian Mil Mi-24/35 helicopters between 2016 and 2018, when some of the aircraft reach the end of their operational service life while the remainder would require costly mid-life upgrades (MLUs).
janes

X-47B completes night flight

The X-47B clocked its first night flight at Naval Air Station Patuxent River on Apr. 10.

First overhauled MiG 21 sent back to Croatia from Ukraine

The first out of a total of five MiG 21 BIS aircraft of the Croatian armed forces that underwent overhaul in Odessa, Ukraine, was delivered back to Croatia on Saturday afternoon. The second overhauled aircraft can be expected in Croatia in mid-next week. A Ukrainian team of 11 engineers and technicians will arrive in Zagreb on 15 April to help their Croatian colleagues to re-assemble the overhauled planes.
dalje.com

UK May Waive Rivet Joint Certification Requirements

Britain may waive its normal aircraft certification process to approve Royal Air Force operation of the RC-135W Rivet Joint.
The age of the Boeing 707-based airframe means Rivet Joint will not meet current or previous UK certification regulations in place before the MAA was formed in 2010.
The likely change to RC-135W certification requirements is contained in a report warning that shortages of qualified and experienced safety staff at DE&S could undermine military air safety.
DE&S, the procurement arm of the Ministry of Defence, purchased three RC-135Ws in a 2010 deal with L-3 Communications. L-3 is converting 50-year-old KC-135 tankers into the Rivet Joint configuration to replace Nimrod R1 aircraft taken out of service.
The first of the aircraft was delivered ahead of schedule in November, but it has yet to fly again. The plane, known in British service as the Airseeker, is on track to enter service at the end of this year.
Due to the age of the original Boeing 707 design and the unavailability of certain design and qualification evidence, it is unlikely that the full UK certification requirement will be satisfied and a waiver may be required.
defensenews

German Government To Cancel Saudi Tank Deal

The German government will not approve a reported deal to sell up to 800 battle tanks to Saudi Arabia.
The sale of the Leopard-2 tanks was billed as one of the biggest deals for the German armaments industry.
Economy Minister , a Social Democrat in the left-right “grand coalition,” has “positioned himself against a tanks delivery to the autocratic royal house,” it said.
Without agreement from the economy minister, the deal has no chance.
In 2012 was reported that Saudi Arabia wanted to buy 600-800 Leopard battle tanks from Germany, more than twice as many as originally envisaged.
The Leopard-2 tanks, Germany’s main battle tank, is also produced under license in Spain.
Germany declined to sell heavy weapons to Saudi Arabia for decades because of concerns over human rights and fears for Israel’s security.
defensenews

US Army Explores Sea-Basing Helos

The US Army is considering certifying some of its attack helicopters to operate from ships — a mission historically conducted by the Marine Corps — as the service looks to broaden the role it would play in an Asia-Pacific battle.
The service has been running drills on landing AH-64 Apache helicopters on Navy ships in recent months.
The Asia-Pacific region, an area of increased focus for the US military, is primarily maritime. The Pentagon has said it does not envision prolonged land wars in its future after more than a decade in Afghanistan and Iraq, and is planning to shrink the Army. Experts say the Pacific is a theater geared more toward Navy and Air Force capabilities, due to the sheer size of the region.
defensenews

South Korea, US To Hold Largest-Ever Joint Air Drill

South Korea’s military said Thursday it would hold its largest-ever joint air drill with the United States as tensions mount over a series of threats from North Korea.
The twice-yearly Max Thunder exercise — to be held from Friday to April 25 — will be the largest-ever involving 103 aircraft and 1,400 troops.
Seoul’s F-15K jet fighters will take part along with US Air Force F-15 and F-16s and US Marines’ FA-18 and EA-18 aircraft.
The exercise will focus on “practical scenarios” involving precision attacks on enemies or supply drop missions for troops infiltrating enemy territory.
North Korea has slammed the drills as a rehearsal for invasion. In a pointed protest, Pyongyang has launched a series of rockets and missiles in recent weeks.
The two Koreas also traded fire across the tense Yellow Sea border on March 31, after the North dropped some 100 shells across the border during a live-fire drill, prompting the South to fire back.
The rare exchange of fire came a day after the North warned that it might carry out a “new” form of nuclear test — a possible reference to a uranium-based device or a miniaturized warhead small enough to fit on a ballistic missile.
South Korean President this week called for tighter vigilance against the North, days after its leader Kim Jong-Un warned of a “very grave situation” on the peninsula.
defensenews

Japan’s Dispatches of Jets Against China Rise to Record

Japan’s dispatches of fighter jets to pursue Chinese aircraft rose by a third in the past year to a record 415 times, reflecting growing tensions stemming from a territorial dispute in the East China Sea.
Planes and Coast Guard ships from both countries regularly tail one another around a chain of uninhabited islands known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China. Tensions over the dispute have led to a deterioration in Sino-Japanese relations at a time when both countries are increasing military spending.
The total number of times Japanese jets were sent up reached 810 in the year to the end of March, compared with 567 the previous year. Dispatches against Chinese aircraft made up 51 percent of the total, with the bulk of the remainder against Russian planes and nine against North Korea.
China this week accused Japan of taking provocative actions around the islands and said his country would never back down on its territorial claims.
Tensions over the islands, which are under Japanese administration, have been on the rise since Sept. 2012, when the Japanese government bought three of the five islands from a private. That decision prompted anti-Japanese protests across China and led to boycotts of Japanese goods there.
China further fanned tensions in November when it declared an air defense identification zone over a large swath of the East China Sea covering the islands and demanded that all foreign aircraft report their flight plans to Chinese authorities.
bloomberg

Germany offers Typhoons to bolster Baltic air policing

Germany has offered to send six Eurofighter Typhoon fighter aircraft to help bolster the NATO Baltic Air Policing Mission.
The offer has been made to support the Portuguese rotation of four Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcons, which is due to take place out of Siauliai Airbase in Lithuania from September to December. The German Typhoons may deploy to Amari Airbase in Estonia.
The news that Berlin has offered to bolster the mission follows similar offers made by the UK, France, and Denmark, in light of the Russian invasion and annexation of Crimea and the continued tensions with Ukraine.
With the US currently performing the role with 10 Boeing F-15C Eagle fighters, Poland is set to take over the rotation with four MiG-29 'Fulcrum' fighters from the beginning of May to the end of August.
The NATO official said that the UK's offer of four Typhoons to support the Poles has been accepted, as has the Danish offer of four F-16s (with a further two on standby in Denmark). The UK Typhoons will operate out of Siauliai Airbase alongside the Polish MiG-29s, while two Danish F-16s will fly from Amari Airbase on Quick Reaction Alert (QRA). The remaining two F-16s will be held in reserve and contribute to enhanced training exercises with the Baltic states.
A French offer of assistance involving either Dassault Rafale or Mirage 2000 fighters should see them operate out of Malbork Airbase in Poland. According to NATO, these French fighters will conduct air policing training, but will not be part of the Baltic mission.
Separately, Bulgaria has indicated that it is looking for increased air defence cooperation with its NATO neighbours Romania and Turkey. This follows a spike in QRA scrambles that has reportedly seen the Bulgarian Air Force intercept more Russian military aircraft in the last year than it has over the last 20 years combined. In March that Bulgaria had already agreed such cooperation with Greece.
janes

Atlas 5 Launches Classified Satellite from Cape Canaveral

An Atlas 5 rocket carrying a classified payload lifted off April 10 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., following a 16-day delay caused by technical issues at the launch range.
Denver-based United Launch Alliance conducted the launch on behalf of the National Reconnaissance Office, the Chantilly, Va.-based federal agency responsible for the design, construction and operation of the country’s intelligence-gathering satellites.
Because the mission is classified, few details about the launch or the payload’s purpose were publicly released. Liftoff of the mission, known as NROL-67, occurred at 1:45 p.m. local time.
The mission went into a media blackout shortly after its successful liftoff, but the Air Force confirmed in a press release the successful launch.
The launch, originally scheduled for March 25, was delayed due to a down-range tracking radar that overheated and stopped working, U.S. Air Force officials said. The glitch also delayed a scheduled launch of Space Exploration Technologies Corp.’s Falcon 9 from the Cape.
Repairs of the radar were expected to take three weeks, but the Air Force was able to press another radar that had been in “standby status” into duty for the April 10 launch, the service said in an April 7 press release.
spacenews

Lawmakers readying legislation to block A-10 cuts

Lawmakers in both the House and Senate are planning legislation to block the Air Force’s plans to retire the A-10.
The announcement comes during a week of contentious dialogue between the Air Force and Congress, with lawmakers alleging that the service is breaking the law by cutting back A-10 flying hours and by inflating its estimate of savings possible by retiring the A-10. Air Force officials say they are frustrated with lawmakers’ offbase claims that the service does not care about the close air support mission.
The Air Force, in deciding to cut the A-10 in order to save about $3.7 billion, analyzed other options, including cutting 350 F-16s, cutting the entire B-1B Lancer fleet and delaying the purchase of 40 F-35s. It determined the best decision was to get rid of the Warthog.
However, other aircraft do as well, USAF said. F-16s have flown more close air support sorties than the A-10 over the past eight to nine years. The F-15E, B-1, AC-130 and B-52 also provide close air support.
airforcetimes

Australia Likely To Order More F-35s

Australia is likely to commit to buying 58 more Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightnings this month, setting aside the alternative of consolidating its combat aircraft squadrons on the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. The decision will increase the country's total commitment to 72 F-35s and expand the Royal Australian Air Force's fast-jet fleet, counting a separate order for 12 EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft as additional to, not part of, the fighter force renewal.
The defense department has recommended the F-35 order. The government shows every sign of accepting the recommendation. Australia had issued an original requirement for about 100 F-35.
The Royal Australian Air Force's (RAAF) originally simple and logistically attractive plan to buy about 100 F-35s to replace a similar number of F-111s and F/A-18A/B Hornets was thwarted by delays to the F-35 program, unexpectedly early retirement of F-111 strike bombers in 2010 and a decision last year to buy Growlers. With 24 Super Hornets having replaced the F-111s and no longer considered stopgaps, the issue now is how to replace the 71 surviving Hornets, which will run out of airframe life around 2020.
The official answer has always been the F-35, but the introduction of Super Hornets into service has presented a clear alternative: Australia has had the choice of buying more of the Boeing fighters and waiting for F-35 to look dependable, or giving up on the stealth fighter and going for a homogenous Super Hornet fleet.
Canberra has already ordered two F-35s and committed itself to another 12.
If the government does buy 58 F-35s, then the RAAF will have a fast-jet force of 72 Lightnings, 24 Super Hornets and 12 Growlers, not counting BAE Systems Hawk fighter trainers. The total of 108 is about 10% higher than the 1980s levels that previous policy has consistently sought to maintain. Unlike other Western countries, Australia has not felt more secure since the end of the Cold War, and in general has not cut its forces. It has added important capabilities such as airborne early warning, in-flight refueling and over-the-horizon radar. Fast population growth and 23 years of unbroken economic expansion have helped, although defense spending has lately been a historically small fraction of GDP.
aviationweek

New Indonesian Air Force One arrives in Jakarta

New Indonesian Air Force One aircraft Boeing Business Jet 2 (BBJ2) for the activities of the Indonesian president arrived at Indonesia.
The new Indonesian Air Force One has been designed in such a way to meet the requirement and to make presidential trips more efficient.
The interior configuration includes an executive office, conference rooms, private offices and bedrooms.
This aircraft seats up to 63 passengers and can fly nonstop for up to 5,620 nautical miles.
antaranews

USAF begins fielding JASSM-ER

The USAF has received into operational service the Lockheed Martin AGM-158B Joint Air-To-Surface Standoff Missile - Extended Range (JASSM-ER).
JASSM-ER has more than two and a half times the range of the standard AGM-158A JASSM on which it is based, meaning it can be launched from outside of defended airspace and the coverage of long-range surface-to-air missiles, and is intended for use against high-value, well-fortified, fixed and relocatable targets.
Currently the JASSM-ER is only integrated onto the Rockwell B-1B Lancer bomber, but there are efforts underway for it also to be fitted to the Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle, Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon and Boeing B-52H Stratfortress.
janes

Rota based Destroyer Donald Cook to enter Black Sea amid standoff

The destroyer Donald Cook is set to enter the Black Seaamid tensions over eastern Ukraine.
Pentagon spokesman saidthat the move shows America’s commitment to the region.
The Donald Cook’s mission is to reassure NATO allies and Black Sea partners of America’s commitment to strengthen and improve interoperability while working towards mutual goals in the region.
The Donald Cook changed home ports from Norfolk to Rota, Spain, to be one of eventually four ships stationed there for ballistic missile defense patrols. The crew arrived in their new homeport in February.
The ship will participate in exercises with regional partners. The Donald Cook’s presence follows that of the destroyer Truxtun, which left the area in late March.
Truxton entered the Black Sea ahead of the disputed Crimea referendum that Russia used as a basis to annex the region. At the time, military officials said the Truxtun was there on a pre-planned mission conducting exercises with the Romanian and Bulgarian navies.
navytimes

Iran Unveils 1st Home-Made Simulator for Mirage Fighters

Iran unveiled and launched its first home-made Mirage fighter jet simulator. The Mirage simulator system has been designed and built by Iranian engineers and all its parts have been produced domestically.
Military officials said the machine enjoys the capability to simulate flights in different weather conditions.
In January, Iran’s Khatam ol-Anbia Air Defense Base unveiled simulators for anti-aircraft Hawk and Skyguard missile systems.
Iran has recently renewed and upgraded the weapons and defense systems of its air defense units.
Senior Iranian military officials announced in September 2010 that Iran gained self-sufficiency in manufacturing simulators, adding that the country possessed more than 800 home-made simulators then.
In August 2010, the Iranian Army started using two home-made Cobra Chopper simulators in an airborne base.
In recent years, Iran has made great achievements in the defense sector and gained self-sufficiency in manufacturing essential military hardware and defense systems.
farsnews

Armed Forces of Malta Acquire a Second AW139 Helicopter

AgustaWestland has announced that the Armed Forces of Malta has taken up the option for a second AW139 helicopter. The helicopter will be used to conduct mainly maritime border control missions. The delivery of the second AW139 is scheduled for June 2015, while the first helicopter will be delivered in June 2014.
This order is part of the ongoing plan to strengthen the capabilities of the Armed Forces of Malta, who benefit from the European Borders Fund and Internal Security Fund Programmes. The AW139 is equipped with equipment package for maritime patrol and SAR missions and includes a high-definition FLIR system, search/weather radar, cabin mission console, naval transponder, search light, satellite communication system, a 4-axis autopilot with SAR modes, external rescue hoist and a four bag floatation system.
The AW139 has been selected for performing border patrol and SAR duties by alarge number of operators in Italy, UK, USA, Spain, Estonia, Bulgaria, Japan, Republic of Korea and Malaysia
agustawestland

Israel Inaugurates New C-130J Super Hercules Aircraft Into Service

The first of the C-130J Hercules, landed in Israel at Nevatim airbase.The "Elephants" squadron sign was pasted on the tail of the first "Shimshon" and the plane officially joined the ranks of the IAF.
Accompanied by the older planes on base - Boeing 707, Gulfstream, and Hercules planes - the plane landed on the runway of its home in the Negev desert.
For some time now, the IAF and Nevatim airbase have been preparing for the arrival of the plane and from now on, the "Elephants" squadron will be able to train alongside the plane and go out on operational missions.
iaf.co.il

Netherlands to deploy Chinooks to Mali

After committing four Boeing AH-64D Apache attack helicopters in November last year to support the UN's stabilisation activities in Mali, the Royal Netherlands Air Force has announced it will also deploy three Boeing CH-47 Chinook transport helicopters.
The reason behind the expanding deployment is that the UN cannot guarantee the medical evacuation of Dutch forces on a "24-7" basis. Currently-available civilian helicopters are unable to operate at night or in high-risk areas, due to a lack of self-protection capabilities.
Expected to arrive in the second half of this year, the Dutch Chinooks will be stationed in Gao. In addition to medical evacuation tasks, the rotorcraft will also be used for tactical transport and logistical support.
French helicopters participating in the nation's Operation Serval campaign in Mali will support Dutch ground forces until the Chinooks arrive.
flightglobal

All F-22s To Have Backup Oxygen Systems Within 12 Months

Full installation of automatic backup oxygen systems on the F-22 fleet is expected to be complete by this time next year. Raptors in Alaska have already begun using the system.
Lockheed Martin was awarded by USAF contracts to install the systems following a grounding and multiple high-profile reports of pilots experiencing hypoxia-like symptoms while flying the F-22, including a fatal November 2010 crash of a jet based at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.
Most of the current backup oxygen systems in the F-22 fleet require activation by the pilot, which might not be possible in the case of extreme hypoxia-like symptoms, such as a pilot blacking out.
The Air Force in its fiscal 2015 budget request asks $330.6 million in research, development, test and evaluation for the F-22, and $331 million in procurement. This funding covers the Increment 3.1 software suite, which is scheduled to be complete in fiscal 2017. It includes new air-to-ground capabilities such as a new ground mapping radar, threat geolocation and the ability to carry the small diameter bomb.
defensenews

Lockheed Revives an Old Idea for New Carrier Cargo Plane

The Northrop Grumman C-2A has been a familiar sight aboard US aircraft carriers for decades, shuttling people and cargo from ship to shore in the carrier-on-board-delivery (COD) role. The venerable aircraft are wearing out, and an unusually intense competition between Northrop Grumman and Bell Boeing already has garnered attention, even though the program to buy 35 replacement aircraft is not expected to officially begin until next year at the earliest.
Now, a third player has entered the COD fray, with Lockheed Martin offering refurbished and remanufactured versions of its S-3 Viking antisubmarine aircraft, nearly all of which were retired by early 2009. Ninety-one of the aircraft remain in storage at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona.
Those aircraft still have quite a bit of life on them, having flown an average of 9,000 hours.
Designed in the early 1970s as a carrier-based anti-submarine aircraft, the Viking was used in its later service years as a tanker. Lockheed’s COD proposal — dubbed the C-3 — would replace the S-3’s fuselage with a wider version, but retain the original wings, tail assembly, engines and crew compartment.
A refurbished and remanufactured aircraft, would have a flying life greater than 10,000 hours.
The aircraft would be big enough to transport Pratt & Whitney jet engines for the F-35 joint strike fighter.
With an unrefueled range of 2,400 nautical miles carrying a 10,000-pound load, the C-3 would have twice the range of a new C-2, and triple the range of an Osprey.
Of the 91 S-3s in storage, 87 are useable. A number of spare General Electric TF-34 turbofan engines used by the S-3 also are in storage.
Lockheed has also proposed refurbishing S-3s for the Republic of Korea, which is seeking an anti-submarine aircraft. Those planes would not be rebuilt as in the C-3 proposal, but retain their original fuselages.
defensenews

IAI mulls pooled tanker solution

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is looking at options for offering nations a pooled aerial refuelling capability based on the Boeing 767-300 Multi-Mission Tanker Transport (MMTT) tanker conversion work of its Bedek division.
The group was looking at new ways of providing aerial refuelling capabilities to nations that might not choose to field their own dedicated tanker fleet.
An IAI converted B767-300 MMTT would cost about a quarter of an A330-200 MRTT or KC-46A to procure.
With more than 45 years' experience of aerial refuelling conversion work, having converted KC-97 tankers for the Israel Air Force in 1969, IAI remains the only company to offer a tanker solution based on converted pre-owned aircraft.
To date, Colombia and Brazil have signed up for IAI's B767 MMTT conversions, with one 767-200 and two 767-300 aircraft respectively.
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