Eyeing First Customer, Scorpion Comes to UK

Roughly 10 months ago, Textron unveiled its Scorpion to US audiences. Now, it is showing it off to the international market.
The jet will be displayed at the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) and the Farnborough International Airshow.
While it won’t fly during the shows, company officials plan to put the plane on static display — and hope to generate interest from international customers.
The Scorpion test model has flown about 80 hours over the past six months, but Farnborough represents the first public appearance of the plane.
The Scorpion is equipped with twin turbofan engines and a tandem cockpit, although the jet is designed to be flown by a single pilot. There are six hard points that could hold a variety of equipment, as well as a large internal compartment.
That space gives the Scorpion great flexibility, particularly with intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) packages, which are desired by countries in Southeast Asia and Latin America. The projected price point will be under $20 million a copy.
defensenews

Jordan to arm donated IOMAX Block 1 BPAs, UAE to order Block 3 aircraft

Jordan is to arm the six IOMAX Border Patrol Aircraft (BPA) Block 1 precision strike turboprop aircraft that were gifted to the country by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2013.
This new capability will allow the BPA aircraft to carry six GBU-58 250 lb precision-guided bombs and/or six AGM-114 Hellfire missiles. Additionally, precision strike weapons training will begin immediately for the Royal Jordanian Air Force (RJAF). The intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR)/weapons training and weapons integration will be completed with operational employment of the platforms to occur by the end of the third quarter of 2014.
When the Block I IOMAX aircraft were first donated to Jordan by the UAE in the latter half of 2013, they were handed over in an unarmed configuration to be used purely for ISR duties. However, with all six aircraft now operational with the RJAF, the US government has approved IOMAX to proceed with weaponising these platforms.
Once armed, the six BPAs will join the RJAF's two Airbus CN235-100M gunships, and six Cessna C208B Grand Caravan turboprop command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) platforms. The RJAF recently announced its intention to convert one of its Airbus C295 tactical transport aircraft into a gunship also.
While the Jordanian aircraft will not be equipped with a gun at this time, IOMAX plans to integrate the GAU-19B 12.7 mm (.50 calibre) Gatling gun pod onto the Block III aircraft currently being developed for the UAE and other potential export customers; dubbed Archangel. The gun is being supported in the UAE by a number of former US Air Force Fairchild-Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II pilots who are now advising the UAE government.
janes

F-35B training squadron arriving in MCAS Beaufort, to start training in October

Members of one of Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort's new F-35B squadrons are arriving in Beaufort, but the new jets won't take to local skies until later this fall, according to air station officials.
The arrival of Marines from VMFAT-501, the F-35B training squadron that will call the air station home, will be celebrated in ceremonies July 11 on base and in the city of Beaufort. However, the first training class won't start flying until fall.
Squadron members began arriving in April and will continue to move in through July. The jets, currently stationed at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, will arrive as pilots finish their training there.
The training squadron, formerly VMFA-451, was stationed at MCAS Beaufort from 1963 until it was decommissioned in 1997. The squadron was reactivated in April 2010 for F-35B training, according to an air station release.
islandpacket

Spain joins European Air Transport Command

Spain is the sixth country to assign air transport and refueling assets to the European Air Transport Command (EATC) in Eindhoven, the Netherlands.
As of January 1, 2015, 28 Spanish aircraft will be assigned: 13 C-295 tactical transports, seven C-130 transports, five KC-130 tankers, and three Boeing 707 tanker and strategic transport aircraft .
The aircraft will join Airbus A310 passenger and transport aircraft, Airbus A321s, Airbus A340s, C-160 Transalls, C-130s, Falcon DA-20Es and DA-900Bs, Embraer ERJ135s and 145s, and KDC-10s from Belgium, Germany, France, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.
aviationweek

Airbus rebrand leads Indian MoD to delay A330 MRTT contract signing

The Indian Air Force's  plans to procure six Airbus Military A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft are delayed again, this time by the trivial procedural hurdle of the manufacturer changing name.
In June 2014 India's Ministry of Defence (MoD) requested a legal opinion from the Law Ministry over the renaming of Cassidian to Airbus Defence and Space, which became effective from 1 January.
The then Cassidian bid for the MRTT contract in 2010 and was selected in early 2013 over Russia's Ilyushin Il-78.
Industry sources said parent company EADS had kept India's MoD informed of its impending rebranding exercise, as well as Cassidian's consequent name change, during negotiations for the six A330 MRTTs in 2013.
Although industry officials claim Cassidian's name change is unlikely to have "significant" bearing on the eventual MRTT contract outcome, they believe it will lead to delays in signing the deal as the MoD is seeking legal guarantees to ensure it is in line with the Defence Procurement Procedure.
janes

Northrop Takes The Lead From BAE On $11B USAF T-X Trainer

While Northrop Grumman isn’t doing much at the upcoming Farnborough Air Show — at least publicly — they certainly shook things up today with their announcement that they are swapping places with BAE Systems to take the lead role in the competition for the $11 billion, 350-plane T-X trainer program.
While the BAE-Northrop team is still offering BAE’s Hawk jet, being the lead or prime contractor on a program is where the real money lies, so this move highlights Northrop’s political and manufacturing power:
“The decision to realign was reached mutually by all team members to better leverage Northrop Grumman’s domestic development and production capabilities, which were realized through the company’s establishment and investment in its Centers of Excellence last year. The Northrop Grumman, BAE Systems, L-3 and Rolls-Royce team is committed to providing the Hawk as the most capable and affordable training solution for the Air Force.”
breakingdefense

Poland Shortlists Patriot Missile, Excluding MEADS

Poland has decided to admit Raytheon’s Patriot to a short list of bidders for its anti-missile program, while excluding the Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS) program.
On June 30, the Polish Defense Ministry announced that it was narrowing its search for a missile defense system to two candidates, the Patriot and the Aster offered by the Eurosam consortium of Thales and MBDA.
That ended the hopes of fellow contenders MEADS — proposed by a Lockheed Martin-led consortium — and the Israeli “David’s Sling” system.
After making it to the final shortlist, a Raytheon official said the firm was also focusing hard on selling an upgrade of the Patriot system to Germany, where its competitor is once again MEADS.
defensenews

Philippines to Open Letter of Credit for F/A-50 Within 7 Days

The letter of credit for the purchase of the South Korean F/A-50 will be opened within seven day.
Upon opening of the LOC, two F/A-50 jet aircraft are expected to be delivered within 18 months.
The next two units will be delivered 12 months later and the remaining eight jet planes in staggered basis within eight months.
The F/A-50 will act as the country's interim fighter aircraft until the Philippines get enough experience of operating fast jet assets and money to fund the acquisition of more capable fighter planes.
defense-studies

Japan's Mitsubishi eyes F-35 missile deal with Europe's MBDA

Japan's Mitsubishi Electric has agreed to take the first step towards a partnership with European missile maker MBDA to develop a medium-range air-to-air missile for the F-35 stealth fighter.
The preliminary deal marks an extension of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's bid to launch Japan's military suppliers into the global arms market through international tie-ups, and thereby bring down costs for Japan's defense procurement.
If successful, it would represent the first time Japanese-built components had been used on a missile sold overseas, one of a string of potential international arms deals to emerge since Abe's government moved in April to end a more than four decade-old ban on military exports.
Mitsubishi Electric, is the prime supplier of air-to-air missiles to Japan's Self Defense Forces.
reuters

Plan to deliver F-16s to Iraq in September on hold

A plan to start delivering F-16s to Iraq in September is on hold until the security situation improves.
Last month, the U.S. evacuated contractors building the base for the F-16s at Balad as Sunni militants took large swathes of Iraq.
Currently, 18 Iraqi pilots are training in the U.S. to fly F-16s.
While the Iraqi pilots are skilled aviators, the complete training program could take two more years, but their government may call them to fly combat missions before then.
Meanwhile, the Iraqi government has purchased Russian fighters to attack Sunni insurgents who have taken large swathes of Iraq, but it is unclear who will fly the planes.
Accelerating the F-16 flying training program for any pilot, Iraqi or U.S., would be insufficient for training them to the skill level necessary to adequately employ the aircraft systems and to fly and fight in combat.
Iraqi officials have complained that the U.S. is taking too long to deliver the 36 F-16s that Iraq has purchased. The fighters were expected to be delivered between September and the fall of 2017. Recently, the Iraqi government purchased SU-25 fighters, raising questions about whether Iraq has pilots who are trained and experienced enough to fly them.
militarytimes

Iraqi military can't regain lost territory on its own

Army Gen. Martin Dempsey on Thursday issued a bleak assessment of the crisis in Iraq, saying that nation’s armed forces are probably incapable of regaining control of areas captured by Islamic extremists and the U.S. may need to expand its military support mission there.
Initial intelligence reports from the 200 U.S. military advisers on the ground in Iraq now suggest that Iraqi security forces “are stiffening, that they are capable of defending Baghdad ... [but] would be challenged to go on the offense, mostly logistically challenged,” Dempsey said.
The American troops on the ground have a limited, two-pronged mission — to provide security for U.S. personnel at the embassy and at the Baghdad airport, and to work alongside the Iraqi army to both assess its capabilities and offer advice in the fight against the group known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, or ISIL.
ISIL, estimated to have about 10,000 fighters across Syria and Iraq, has consolidated control over large swaths of territory during the past several weeks and recently declared the formation of their own Islamic state, or caliphate.
militarytimes

US Defense Deparment Grounds Entire F-35 Fleet; Plane Might Not Make UK Debut

The European debut of the Lockheed Martin F-35 joint strike fighter is now in question after the Pentagon grounded the entire fleet late Thursday.
The US Defense Department says it is still making preparations to send the jet to the Farnborough International Airshow and Royal International Air Tattoo in the UK, but would not make a final decision until “early next week.”
The Pentagon says it is still investigating the cause of the June 23 fire the broke out in the rear of an Air Force F-35 during takeoff at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida.
DoD temporarily grounded the F-35 fleet and ordered inspections of all jets before returning the aircraft to flight testing.
defensenews

Still no replacement for Canada F-18

Canada Defence Minister continues to refuse to say when the government will announce which fighter jet will replace the fleet of CF-18s.
The government acknowledged that it received a report analyzing the pros and cons of replacing the CF-18s with one of four types of fighter jets: Lockheed Martin's F-35 stealth fighter jet, Boeing's Super Hornet, the French-made Rafale and the Eurofighter Typhoon.
Canada will spend up to $5 billion for the acquisition and 20-year support program for the aircraft.
torontosun

India considering Downsizing Rafale order from 126 to 80 fighters

As the French foreign minister met Indian political leadership, including prime minister Narendra Modi, pressing for sealing the multi-billion Rafale combat aircraft deal, New Delhi has raised serious concerns over the cost escalation of the fighter jet deal. Struggling to pay the heavy cost of the deal, the ministry of defence (MoD) is considering an option of down-sizing the deal from 126 to 80 fighter jets.
The air force is seeking to replace its ageing MiG-21s with a modern fighter and MMRCA fits between India's hig-end Sukhoi-30MKIs and its low-end Tejas LCA lightweight fighter. The IAF has a sanctioned strength of 45 fighter jet squadrons. However, it only has 30 squadrons operational as old aircraft have been retired.
Eighteen of the 126 planes will be purchased directly from Dassault, while Hindustan Aeronautics Limited will manufacture the other 108 under a licence.
dnaindia

Her Majesty the Queen names UK's future flagship

The Prime Minister, Secretary of State for Defence and First Sea Lord joined the celebrations, along with allies from around the world and more than 3,500 people involved in the design and construction of the largest warship ever built in the UK.
The event marked the first time in more than 15 years that the Queen has christened a Royal Navy warship and in time honoured tradition, Her Majesty gave her blessing as a bottle of finest Scotch whisky shattered against her hull.
The Royal Air Force’s Red Arrows joined the celebrations in a dramatic fly past. An airborne procession showcasing the Royal Navy’s past and present air capabilities followed. This included several Sea Hawks and present day Merlin, Lynx Wildcat, Chinook and Sea King.
baesystems

Pentagon Grounds F-35 Fighter Jets as Fire Is Investigated

The Pentagon late Thursday grounded its entire fleet of F-35 JSF jets as it investigates the cause of a June 23 engine fire on one of the planes.
Additional inspections of the jets, which aren't yet in service, have been ordered following initial findings of the accident probe. Return to flight will be determined based on inspection results and analysis of engineering data.
The F-35, the Pentagon's most expensive weapons program at $399 billion, has been beset by problems that have included failing tires, engine oil leaks and issues with pilot helmets. Development costs have risen and the military services due to operate the jet have had to delay plans to operate the plane. The U.S. Marine Corps, the first user, wants the jets to be ready by next summer.
The exact cause of the engine fire on an F-35A at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida is still not known.
The inspections have put in jeopardy a plan by the Pentagon and Lockheed Martin to have the F-35 make its overseas airshow debut this month in Britain.
wsj

Iraq to get another King Air

Iraq is to get another King Air 350ER to be delivered by 30 March 2015.
The Iraqi Air Force already operates King Air 350ERs that have been modified into intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) platforms and one King Air 350 light transport aircraft.
janes

Iraq's Latest Su-25s Come From Iran

The latest delivery of Russian-made Su-25 Frogfoot aircraft to the Iraqi Air Force originated from Iran, according to the International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS). The close-air support and ground attack aircraft are using the same serial numbers used by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, which operate the aircraft.
In a video posted by the Iraqi Ministry of Defence, the aircraft appeared with wing-mounted fuel tanks; the Russian-supplied aircraft were disassembled and flown into Iraq.
Iranian Su-25s have been assigned a narrow range of six-digit serial numbers, all with the prefix 15-245x, with the last two digits repeated on the aircraft nose. While the full serial numbers are not present, the three individual examples identified on the video each featured two-digit numbers on their nose. Two are coded 51 and 56, while 58 is visible on the sole Su-25UB, correlating with identified Iranian numbering.
The camouflage scheme visible on the three aircraft is also identical to that currently applied to Iranian Su-25s, a scheme not adopted by any other operators.
These aircraft are externally in much better condition relative to that of the recently delivered Russian Su-25s thought to be drawn from storage.
Although these aircraft were likely delivered to Iraq by Iranian pilots, it is unclear who will now be responsible for crewing and maintaining them.
It seems increasingly unlikely that Iraq retains the capacity to operate this type of aircraft in any significant number without some level of external support.
defensenews

German Defense Minister Favors Armed Drones

German Defense Minister supports the procurement of UAVs that have the capability of being armed.
She suggested the parliament decide on their deployment and armament, and if they will be used for combat missions. While emphasizing that parliament would not vote on equipment for the troops, she pointed out that the parliament is deciding on the legitimacy of close air support.
Germany only uses UAVs for reconnaissance missions. For Afghanistan the Bundeswehr has leased some Heron type UAV systems. During missions those are operated by military personnel. However, this contract will expire in a few month.
defensenews

German Tigers Leave Afghanistan

The Bundeswehr's Tiger mission ended June 30 with none of the four combat helicopters firing a shot.
Since the mission began January 30, 2013, the Tigers flew 260 missions, clocking around 1,860 hours supporting NATO ground troops and Afghan seccurity forces. Shows of force by the Tigers sufficed to overcome threats, according to the Bundeswehr.
The helicopters are scheduled to return to Germany in August.
aviationweek

British F-35B Not Yet Ready for Transatlantic Crossing

The transatlantic crossing of the F-35B for its international air show debut is on hold, as one of the four Lockheed Martin fighters due to make the trip remains on the ground at Eglin AFB, Florida.
The other three F-35Bs have arrived at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, the departure point for their historic Atlantic crossing to the United Kingdom. All four F-35Bs are due at RAF Fairford in England the week of July 7 at the latest to allow pilots time for verification flights for their displays at the Royal International Tattoo and Farnborough air show this month.
But the fourth F-35B — and perhaps most notable as it is the single British jet slated for the shows — is still on the ground at Eglin following an F-35A fire last week. U.K. defense officials have not yet replied to queries as to why the jet has not transited to Patuxent River.
Because of a 36-hr. turnaround time on the ground at Patuxent River upon arrival from Eglin, it is looking increasingly unlikely that the F-35B will make an appearance at the naming ceremony for the HMS Queen Elizabeth on July 4 in the U.K. Though the ceremony is not on the official F-35B schedule, program officials had hoped to arrive in time to conduct a flyover, as this class of ship will eventually host the single-engine, stealthy fighters to re-build the U.K.’s carrier strike capability.
aviationweek

Russian Pilots Set to Fly Over Iraq

Russia may not have boots on the ground in Iraq—yet. But it will have them in the sky; Russian pilots could be flying over Iraq within days.
While the Obama administration struggles to speed up delivery of U.S. military assistance to the government of Iraq, Vladimir Putin has already delivered not only fighter jets but also the pilots needed to fly them, according diplomatic sourcest.
On Monday, Russian television trumpeted the arrival of the first five of 12 promised Sukhoi Su-25 combat fighter jets to the Iraqi government, saying it had also sent “trainers” to help the Iraqis use them.
Russian pilots will fly the planes due to a lack of Iraqi pilots with the proper training. Neither Russia nor Iraq as explained how the Iraqi air force could possibly have pilots trained and ready to fly the Russian fighters. The Su-25 planes were used in the Iraq-Iran war but have not been employed in Iraq since at least 2002.
thedailybeast

China to have 1,500 fourth-gen fighters by 2020

An Asian government source has disclosed estimates of China's future combat aircraft fleet size and composition that are larger - and more specific - than those offered in the annual China Military Power reports published by the US Department of Defense.
The latest Pentagon report issued on 5 June 2014 sounded an alarm about China air combat forces, saying the People's Liberation Army Air Force "is pursuing modernisation on a scale unprecedented in its history and is rapidly closing the gap with Western air forces across a broad spectrum of capabilities including aircraft, command and control, jammers, electronic warfare, and datalinks".
janes

USAF F-15 Fleet in Europe will shrink in the coming years

The size of the F-15 fleet in Europe will shrink in the coming years, according to the head of U.S. forces in Europe.
In Europe, there are 21 F-15Cs assigned to RAF Lakenheath.
In March, Air Force officials said the service wants to retire 51 F-15C Eagles, including 21 overseas, starting in fiscal 2015. The reductions would be made over the next five years, leaving the Air Force with 179 F-15Cs.
The upcoming F-15 cuts are one element of a broader Air Force plan to trim its force structure in the face of budget constraints.
stripes

US Navy awards contract to buy 25 E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Aircraft

The U.S. Navy has awarded Northrop Grumman a contract to deliver 25  E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft, bringing the total number of aircraft on contract to 50.
The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye is the world's only aircraft specifically designed as a carrier-based airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) system.
The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye is the Navy's primary airborne early warning and battle management command and control platform.
The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye has undergone a significant transformation from previous E-2 models, including more powerful AN/APY-9 radar system, exclusive to the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, which represents a two-generational leap in radar technology and allows the warfighter to "see" a greater number of targets at much greater distances.
The Navy's E-2D Advanced Hawkeye program of record is for 75 aircraft, 13 of them have been already delivered.
northropgrumman

Canada receives last CH-147F Chinook

Boeing delivered to the Royal Canadian Air Force the last CH-147F of a total of 15 on order.
The Canadian CH-147F features a modernized airframe with a long-range fuel system allowing it to fly twice as far as standard range models. An upgraded electrical system provides additional power and redundancy, while a fully integrated Common Avionics Architecture System cockpit and Digital Automatic Flight Control System reduce pilot workload and provide greater situational awareness.
The aircraft also has an advanced Aircraft Survivability Equipment suite.
Boeing is providing in-service support to the CH-147F fleet over the next 20 years.
The final CH-147F will join the Royal Canadian Air Force’s 450 Tactical Helicopter Squadron, under command of 1 Wing Kingston, Ontario, and will be based at CFB Petawawa.
boeing

Singapore considers buying larger ship for humanitarian ops

Singapore is considering buying a Joint Multi-Mission Ship (JMMS),that will enable it to send more helicopters to crisis-hit areas.
After the Singaporte experience in helping with relief efforts for Typhoon Haiyan, which hit the Philippines in November, it was underscored the need for a JMMS, which has greater capacity and longer range than the LST. The latter can carry two Super Puma helicopters or one Chinook.
The Ministry of Defence is in the final legs of evaluating what is required for such a ship.

US Navy awards contract to produce final 44 F/A-18 Super Hornets and EA-18G Growlers

The F/A-18 and EA-18G Program Office announced a contract award to Boeing for 44 F/A-18 Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler aircraft over the next two years.
With this production contract, the Navy will acquire the remaining aircraft included in the program of record by the end of fiscal year 2016 in addition to the 12 EA-18Gs requested by Australia in July 2013.
navair

Eurofighter prepares Tranche 3A model for AESA upgrade

Eurofighter’s push to bolster its export sales prospects with an upgrade featuring an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar has taken a step forward, after diversion from final assembly of a Tranche 3A aircraft, which will be fitted with the new system.
Instrumented production aircraft IPA8 was pulled off the final assembly line at Airbus's Manching site near Munich, Germany on 26 June. The two-seater, which will ultimately be delivered to the German air force, is like other Tranche 3As – in that it has been built with AESA-capable electrical power and liquid cooling systems. The electronically-scanned system requires more power – and generates more heat – than its mechanically-scanned predecessor, the Euroradar Captor-M.
By contrast, single-seat validation aircraft IPA5 is a UK Royal Air Force Tranche 1 version which needs more extensive upgrade work to accommodate the new radar. IPA5 is being modified at BAE Systems's site at Warton in Lancashire. The aircraft, expected to fly with its AESA radar in the third quarter of this year, will be on display at the Farnborough air show.
flightglobal

First Block 2 JF-17S Under Construction In Pakistan

Production of the first two of 50 Block 2 JF-17s on order by the Pakistan Air Force is now well under way at the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, Kamra.
The Block 2 JF-17 has several capability increases over the Block 1s, but the main boost to the PAF as well as to export potential is the installation of an air-to-air refuelling system.
chinadefense