Pakistan Will Show Its JF-17s in Paris Air Show

At least three Pakistan Air Force JF-17, departed for Paris today, to participate in the upcoming Paris Air Show 2015.
One JF-17 fighter aircraft will perform in the flying display and another will be on static display throughout the Air Show.
The JF-17 Thunder has already participated in various air shows around the world including Farnborough Air Show (UK), Zhuhai Air Show (China), Turkish Air Show (Turkey) and Dubai Air Show (UAE).
dawn

Russian Air Force Grounds Tu-95 Fleet after fire in engines

A Tupolev Tu-95 overran the take-off runway in Russia's Amur Region, the press service of the Russian Defense Ministry reported Monday.
"The accident occurred during a practice flight at the Ukrainka airfield in the Amur region at 17:00 Moscow time. The Tu-95 ran over the runway during acceleration. There was no ammunition onboard. According to preliminary information, engine fire was the cause behind the accident," the ministry said.
Flights of Tu-95 strategic bombers have been suspended, the ministry said.
"The commander-in-chief of the Russian air forces has ordered to suspend Tu-95 flights for a period of investigation," the press service said.
tass

Airbus hopes to resume A400M pre-delivery test flights soon

Airbus hopes to be able to restart production test flights of its A400M military aircraft soon, paving the way for a rapid resumption of deliveries that were halted following a recent crash, the company said on Sunday.
Its chief executive simultaneously moved to allay Spanish concerns about its workers carrying the blame for the accident, which has been linked in part to a software installation error.
A senior Airbus executive was quoted last month as blaming the crash on poor quality controls in Seville where the A400M is completed. The remarks ruffled feathers in Spain, where an investigation is continuing into the causes of the crash.
Airbus Group Chief Executive Tom Enders sought on Sunday to smooth the concerns.
businessinsider

USAF Deploy B-2, B-52 bombers to Europe for military exercises

Two U.S. Air Force B-2 stealth bombers on Sunday joined B-52s in Europe for additional exercises.
The Spirits and airmen from the 509th and 131st Bomb Wings traveled from Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, to RAF Fairford, England, and conducted hot-pit refueling and engine-running crew change skills tests, according to an Air Force news release.
The events were meant to demonstrate the "ability of the aircraft to forward deploy and deliver conventional and nuclear deterrence anytime and anywhere," the release said. The release did not say how long the B-2s would remain in the region.
On Friday, three B-52 bombers deployed to Europe where they will fly training missions over the Baltic Sea.
The Stratofortresses and 330 airmen, assigned to 5th Bomb Wing, Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, will participate in multinational exercises Baltic Operations 15 (BALTOPS) and Saber Strike 15 during their month-long deployment to RAF Fairford.
The aircraft will demonstrate the "United States' long-range global strike capability" in the region in addition to coordinate training with partners and allies at a time when Russian-backed separatists have increased their offensive in eastern Ukraine.
Recently, Russian aircraft acted aggressively toward American warships in international waters. The Navy released footage last week of Russian Su-24 aircraft flying past the USS Ross in the Black Sea.
militarytimes

Canada Finally Advances Search Plane Bid

After more than 10 years of delay, Canada is moving forward with its purchase of new search-and-rescue aircraft in a competition that could attract bids from European and US aerospace firms.
Lockheed Martin, Alenia and Airbus are expected to respond to the request for bids for the CAN 3.1 billion dollar (US $2.9 billion) program.
defensenews

Vietnam eyes Western warplanes, patrol aircraft to counter China

Vietnam is in talks with European and U.S. contractors to buy fighter jets, maritime patrol planes and unarmed drones, as it looks to beef up its aerial defenses in the face of China's growing assertiveness in disputed waters.
The battle-hardened country has already taken possession of three Russian-built Kilo-attack submarines and has three more on order. Upgrading its air force would give Vietnam one of the most potent militaries in Southeast Asia.
The previously unreported aircraft discussions have involved Swedish defense contractor Saab, Eurofighter, and U.S. firms Lockheed Martin Corp and Boeing,.
Vietnam has ordered about a dozen more Russian Sukhoi Su-30 front-line fighters to supplement a fleet of older Su-27s and Su-30s.
Vietnam had held talks over the Typhoon warplane made by Eurofighter as well as the F/A-50 light fighter jointly developed by Korea Aerospace Industries and Lockheed.
Lockheed had discussed its Sea Hercules, the maritime patrol version of its C-130 transport plane.
Boeing wanted to sell its maritime surveillance aircraft P-8 Poseidon.
Vietnam has already started moving slowly away from Russia in recent years, buying Canadian Twin Otter amphibious planes and Airbus C-212 maritime patrol aircraft for its coastguard and Airbus C-295 transport planes.
Airbus Defence had been in talks to offer maritime patrol and airborne early warning systems on the C-295.
reuters

U.S. orders components for 94 F-35s

The U.S. Department of Defense is awarding Lockheed Martin a $920.3 million advance acquisition contract for long lead time items for F-35 fighters.
The materials, parts and components are for the manufacture of 94 F-35A Lightning II low-rate initial production aircraft -- 44 F-35As for the U.S. Air Force, two each for Italy and Turkey, eight for Australia, six for Norway, and 16 for other countries.
In addition, this contract provides for the procurement of parts for the manufacture of 14 F-35B variant aircraft for the U.S. Marine Corps, Britain and Italy and for two F-35C variant aircraft for the U.S. Navy and Marines.
upi

Canada looks at Ex-US presidential helicopters for SAR Mission

Lost hikers or stranded fishermen could find themselves being rescued by helicopters once designed to transport U.S. presidents.
The Canada's Department of National Defence had been insistent that the presidential helicopters, purchased in 2011 for spare parts for Canada’s current search-and-rescue choppers, would never be used as actual aircraft.
But in an about-face, the military and DND now acknowledge they are looking at doing just that.
Defence sources say senior officers inside the Royal Canadian Air Force have successfully argued that since the $3-billion helicopters, known as the VH-71, were airworthy, it didn’t make sense to strip them down for parts. They are pushing for the aircraft to be added to the RCAF flight line.
When Barack Obama came to the presidency, he balked at the high cost of the VH-71 helicopter program, which had been started under former president George W. Bush. Around $3 billion had already been spent and the program was expected to more than double in price.
As a result, the U.S. government shut down the program.
The VH-71s are similar to the search-and-rescue Cormorant helicopters currently used by the RCAF.
The nine new helicopters, as well as more than 800,000 spare parts, were purchased by DND for about $164 million. Seven of the choppers are airworthy.
Defence sources say the RCAF is considering using the helicopters to bolster the search-and-rescue fleet in the coming years since it will have to remove some Cormorants from service as they go through what is known as a mid-life upgrade.
A fleet of 21 helicopters would allow for better coverage, particularly in the Arctic.
Canada embarked on the presidential helicopter deal with the aim of trying to cut down on the excessive amount of time the Cormorants spent on the ground because of a lack of parts.
calgaryherald

The Philippines Could Acquire P-3C Orion From Japan

Japan and the Philippines agreed to strengthen security ties and discussed transferring military equipment and technology on Thursday in Tokyo's latest move to strengthen cooperation with Southeast Asian countries to counter China's maritime ambitions.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and visiting Philippine President Benigno Aquino also agreed to expand joint training and exercises between their militaries and to co-operate in building up the Philippines Coast Guard.
China has become increasingly assertive in the South China Sea, building artificial islands in areas over which the Philippines and other countries have rival claims.
The Philippines has already handed the Tokyo government a list of Japanese military equipment it wants to acquire such as P-3C maritime surveillance aircraft, a senior Philippine naval officer has said.
reuters

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

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

India Requests ISTAR Aircraft From US

India has offered to buy two intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) aircraft from Raytheon on a government-to-government basis.
The Defence Ministry's official release did not mention India's offer, but the MoD source said the proposal has been kept low key.
The Air Force has already been briefed by Raytheon about the ISTAR aircraft and has evinced interest in wanting to procure planes that will use an active electronically scanned array radar and be able to scan more than 30,000 kilometers in a minute and analyze that data in 10 to 15 minutes to identify the targets.
defensenews

Kuwait, Italy Discuss Eurofighter Buy

Kuwait has started discussions to buy up to 28 Eurofighters.
Kuwait is discussing the deal with the Italian Defense Ministry, the Italian Air Force and Italian firm Alenia Aermacchi.
Talks started May 31 and representatives of the Italian Defense Ministry, Air Force and Alenia Aermacchi are in Kuwait participating.
The talks cover the possible acquisition of two squadrons — or between 24 and 28 aircraft.
Under a military cooperation deal signed between Italy and Kuwait, two groups of Kuwaiti pilots have already trained at the Italian Air Force's training school in Lecce in southern Italy.
The report that Kuwait is talking to Italy follows reports last month that the US government was in discussions with Kuwait to sell up to 40 Boeing F/A-18 E and F Super Hornet strike fighters.A Eurofighter deal would be welcome news for the European consortium building the aircraft, which consists of Italy's Finmeccanica, BAE Systems and Airbus, after the French Rafale scooped new orders from Egypt and Qatar.
defensenews

Russia to complete Tu-160 upgrades ahead of time

Russia is to complete a major upgrade of its Tupolev Tu-160 'Blackjack' strategic bomber fleet a year earlier than previously announced, with the final aircraft now set to be delivered back to the air force in 2019.
The work, is geared at replacing all of the aircraft's Soviet-era equipment with modern systems.
The first phase, now completed, involved bolstering the aircraft's nuclear armament with the capacity to carry 12 conventionally armed Raduga NPO Kh-555 (AS-15 'Kent') long-range cruise missiles and laser-guided bombs. The first such upgraded aircraft was delivered back to the air force in April 2008.
The second phase is focused on replacing the radar, as well as the electronic navigation and communication systems. The first flight of a Tu-160 fitted with these new systems took place out of the Kazan Aircraft Plant (KAPO) east of Moscow in November 2014. The aircraft's engines are also to be upgraded under this effort at a later date.
The modernisation programme to the 16 bombers in the air force's inventory is now expected to be completed in 2019, rather than 2020 as previously stated.
Russia's new PAK-DA bomber is expected to make its maiden flight in 2019, before being inducted into service in the 2023-25 timeframe to replace the Tu-160, Tu-22M3, and Tu-95 platforms.
janes

FBI have a secret surveillance air force

The FBI uses a fleet of planes registered under fictitious companies in order to conduct warrantless surveillance during federal, state and local investigations.
Aerial surveillance by the FBI is nothing new, but a review by The Associated Press published this week reported that the scale of the fleet is larger than previously known and the planes are registered in a way to mask that they are owned by the FBI.
The agency flew above more than 30 cities in 11 states over a 30-day period. The planes are masked by the existence of at least 13 fictitious companies.
At least 115 planes, including 90 Cessna aircraft, were mentioned in a federal budget document from 2009.
FBI routinely uses aviation assets in support of predicated investigations targeting specific individuals. The aircraft are not equipped, designed, or used for bulk collection activities or mass surveillance. The FBI uses all tools and equipment, and conducts all investigations, in accordance with the Attorney General Guidelines and the FBI's Domestic Investigations and Operations Guide.
The planes, which are equipped for electronic surveillance, are used both for FBI investigations and also at the request of state and local officials.
The FBI has acknowledged using drones for domestic surveillance.
cnn

3 out of 4 four engines on the crashed Airbus A400M were ‘power frozen'

Airbus said Wednesday that three of the four engines on an A400M military plane failed before it crashed near Seville, Spain last month, killing four people.
In a statement, Airbus Defense and Space says the faulty engines were confirmed by Spanish accident investigators after completing their preliminary analysis of the aircraft's digital flight data and cockpit voice recorders.
Three of the hulking gray aircraft's four turboprop engines suffered what it called "power frozen" after lift-off, and failed to respond to the crew's efforts to regain control. A fourth engine responded normally. No other problems have been identified by the preliminary analysis.
Airbus says the A400M's eight-bladed turboprop engines are the most powerful in production. They are built by a consortium made up of Rolls Royce, Snecma, MTU and ITP.
Last month Airbus sent a so-called Alert Operator Transmission notice to all operators of the giant airlifter, warning them of the need to perform checks of its Electronic Control Units before they are next flown.
Four of the five countries that already have A400Ms — Britain, Germany, Malaysia and Turkey — grounded the plane after the crash. France, which has six, says it will only use the aircraft in urgent operations.
Twelve of the aircraft were delivered as of March, with Malaysia's air force being the most recent customer. A further five aircraft were due to be delivered to Germany this year, but Airbus has notified the German government to expect delays.
businessinsider

Slovakia Confirms Interest in Upgrading Its S-300 Missile System

Slovakia confirms its interest in the modernization of the Russian S-300 missile defense system, Slovakian Prime Minister said Tuesday.
“I would like to confirm the Slovak Republic’s interest if we’re talking about the modernization of the S-300 system,” Prime Minister said during a meeting with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.
sputniknews

Taranis UCAV Set for New Flight Tests

A third and possibly final series of flight tests planned for Britain's Taranis unmanned combat air vehicle demonstrator is planned for later this year.
An industry team led by BAE Systems completed two phases of trial flights at Woomera, Australia, between August 2013 and January 2014, and a third series of test flights is now planned for the end of this year.
The British and French governments signed a US $183.4 million FCAS study last year to investigate the feasibility of jointly building an unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV). Each nation additionally injected a further £40 million into national UCAV technology programs.
A consortium of European nations and companies led by Dassault is conducting flying trials on their own demonstrator UCAV known as Neuron.
defensenews

KC-46A Test Aircraft Resumes Flights

The first US Air Force (USAF) Boeing KC-46A Pegasus aerial refuelling tanker test aircraft on 28 May resumed flights after a nearly five-month hiatus as part of the process to certify airworthiness.
The next milestone is delivery of 18 operational aircraft to the USAF by August 2017.
Meanwhile, Boeing will deliver four test aircraft as part of the programme's engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) phase.
janes

Mexican Air Force selects Boeing 737-800 transports

The Mexican Air Force (FAM) will procure two Boeing 737-800 aircraft as part of a MXN3.9 billion (USD254 million) programme that so far is the sole authorised procurement project in 2015.
The aircraft will be assigned to the 502nd Air Squadron based at the No 1 Military Air Base (BAM-1) Santa Lucia, in Mexico State.
The 737-800 was selected over the Boeing 737-900ER and the Airbus A320-200.
The 502nd Squadron currently uses three Boeing 727-200 airliners built in 1981 and acquired in 2002, and a single 727-100 built in 1965 and acquired in 1981 (all second hand).
janes

HMS Ocean conducts first-time operations of Wildcat helicopter

The UK Royal Navy's latest helicopter, the Wildcat, has landed on the HMS Ocean for the first time during Exercise Joint Warrior in the North Sea.
The attack helicopter was commissioned last year at Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton in Somerset, and began its operational deployment at sea this year.
The new helicopters are scheduled to replace the Lynx helicopter.
naval-technology

F-35s To Take Part in Major Military Exercise For The First Time

F-35 fighter jet will drop weapons and take part in a major U.S. military exercise this week for the first time.
The exercise, called "Green Flag West," tests the U.S. military's ability to engage in air-to-surface conflicts and helps get ground troops who pinpoint potential air strikes ready for combat.
Several F-35 A-model jets, along with a host of other warplanes and other weapons, will participate in the exercises.
The Air Force has used aircraft equipped with F-35 sensors in past exercises, but this will be the first time that more operationally representative aircraft take part.
The Marine Corps is expected to declare an initial squadron of 10 F-35B jets ready for initial combat use in July, with the Air Force to follow suit in August 2016.
reuters

Japan cleared to buy 4 E-2D Hawkeye

Japan has requested a possible sale of four E-2D Advanced Hawkeye AEW& C aircraft, ten (10) T56-A-427A engines (8 installed and 2 spares), eight (8) Multifunction Information Distribution System Low Volume Terminals (MIDS-LVT), four (4) APY-9 Radars, modifications, spare and repair parts. The estimated cost is $1.7 billion.
The principal contractor will be Northrop Grumman .
dsca

UAE Requires 1000 GBU-31s and 600 GBU-12s

The United Arab Emirates has requested a possible sale of 500 GBU-31B/B(V)1 (MK-84/BLU-117) bombs, 500 GBU-31B/B(V)3 (BLU-109) bombs, and 600 GBU-12 (MK-82/BLU-111) bombs, containers, fuzes, spare and repair parts. The estimated cost is $130 million.
The principal contractors will be Boeing and Raytheon.

Malaysia to upgrade MiG-29N

The Royal Malaysian Air Force fleet of MiG-29N fighter aircraft will remain an important asset to the country's air defence. RMAF chief said there has been no decision to replace the MIG-29N which had been in service since 1990 and the aircraft will still remain in service. He said RMAF will scrutinise the capabilities of the existing MIG-29N fleet to ensure it remains competitive and relevant in safeguarding the country's air space. "Initially, there were plans to phase out the aircraft and replace them with another multi-role combat aircraft. "However, we have decided to upgrade the aircraft to ensure it has similar capabilities with fighter jets owned by other countries," he told reporters after opening RMAF's 57th anniversary here today.
nst

USAF A-10 'Warthog' likely to keep flying

The A-10 is poised to dodge retirement. Again.
After a near-death experience in 2014, the aircraft appears to be cruising toward renewal from Congress.
The Air Force has waged a protracted battle to mothball its fleet of A-10s, calling it a necessary cost-saving move that would save roughly $4 billion. Service leaders say the A-10’s close air support mission can be carried out by other planes, including the F-16 fighter, the B-1 bomber and the long-awaited F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
But that argument has failed to persuade lawmakers, who counter that the service has no suitable replacement for the aircraft that today is flying missions in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Earlier this month, the House approved a fiscal 2016 national defense authorization act (NDAA) that includes roughly $683 million to keep the A-10 flying, rebuffing the Air Force’s pleas.
While the Senate proposal, which could reach the floor in June, does not include around $240 million to re-wing the aging fleet, it does ask the Air Force to maintain, at minimum, 171 A-10s in combat status.
thehill

USAF QF-4 targeting drone takes last flight

The mission for the QF-4 targeting drone is over, with the last of the converted F-4 Phantom IIs destroyed over the Gulf of Mexico.
Since 1997, the Air Force has flown 315 QF-4 drones as targets for training and weapons testing. On Wednesday, the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron operated the last of the fleet on a training mission out of Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. The jet was destroyed during a live weapons testing flight.
The Air Force's new fleet of QF-16s, converted Fighting Falcons, will now take over the unmanned targeting drone role. The aircraft, converted block 15, 20 and 30 variants of the F-16, first began unmanned test flights in 2013, with the first production model arriving at the Florida base in March 2015. The service expects to field 210 of the converted jets.
QF-4s, and QF-16s, are outfitted with electronic and infrared countermeasures to fully mimic an adversarial aircraft in training, according to the Air Force. The aircraft are outfitted with explosive devices to destroy them over a designated area of the sea, should they become uncontrollable during targeting missions. A pilot operates the aircraft from a ground station, and the drone is followed by a trailing aircraft.
airforcetimes

Marine Corps F-35Bs depart USS Wasp after carrier tests

Six US Marine Corps F-35B have departed the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp following a one-and-a-half-week trial that included 108 test sorties and an F135 engine delivery from a V-22 Osprey as the first combat fighter squadron stationed in Yuma, Arizona, prepares to declare initial operational capability this July.
Each of the 10 F-35 pilots involved are now qualified for daytime carrier operations and another three have received their night-time flying qualifications.
The six aircraft have accumulated 85.5 hours of flight time collectively since arriving on the USS Wasp May 18.
The squadrons will now continue their land-based preparations with the aim of passing a final operational readiness assessment due to take place over a two-week period in July if all goes according to plan.
The first squadron will become operational with 10 short-takeoff-vertical-landing (STOVL) F-35Bs, including some that are still being modified to correct deficiencies identified during testing.
flightglobal

Italian Budget Protects JSF Buy

Italy appears set to push ahead with its order of 90 F-35 joint strike fighters, and has said it will buy 38 by 2020, despite simmering pressure from politicians to trim the program.
In its definitive budget plan for 2015, published in May, the Italian Ministry of Defense said it would spend €582.7 million (US $634.3 million) to maintain JSF purchases this year. So far, Italy has ordered eight F-35As, including three from low rate initial production (LRIP) lot 6 for delivery this year and next year, three from LRIP 7 for delivery next year, and two from LRIP 8 for delivery in 2017.
In March, the first JSF rolled off the assembly line built at Cameri in northern Italy, making it the first JSF assembled outside the US.
Italy's stated ambition to order 38 aircraft by 2020 follows criticism of the program by Prime Minister, who said the JSF program would be "revised" after he took office last year.
defensenews

Pentagon eyes three-year block buy of F-35s from fiscal 2018

The Pentagon said Friday it would talk to U.S. lawmakers about approving a three-year block buy of Lockheed Martin Corp F-35 fighter jets beginning in fiscal 2018 that would include U.S. purchases and international buyers.
Such a deal would not constitute a formal "multi-year buy," but would still require congressional approval.
A block buy of more than 400 jets would allow for "double-digit" cost savings from larger economies of scale when orders reach around 150 planes a year.
The Pentagon's chief arms buyer, said the $391 billion F-35 program was meeting or exceeding performance and cost milestones set during a 2011 restructuring of the program.
It remained on track for a key milestone this summer when the U.S. Marine Corps expects to declare an initial squadron of jets ready for combat use, followed by the Air Force in 2016.

Thailand Interested in US-2 Amphibious Aircraft

Thai Prime Minister and Defense Minister of Thailand in exclusive interview with Kyodo News in Bangkok said, "Thai Air Force has expressed interest in Japan aircraft."
The aircraft is meant seaplane of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force US2, which aims to export overseas.
He stressed that "it is necessary to comprehensively determine such as price and convenience." If the conditions are agreeable, it suggested the possibility to start a specific study toward the purchase. India and Indonesia also have shown an interest in buying on US-2 aircraft.
defense-studies