Iraq Has Requested US Airstrikes

The Iraqi government has requested US military airstrikes to help combat widespread violence in Iraq, led by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), the top American general told Congress Wednesday.
Earlier Wednesday morning, Air Force Secretary would be ready to conduct air strikes and support missions in Iraq if directed by President Barack Obama.
The Air Force could be ready within hours to conduct a variety of missions in Iraq, including airlift, reconnaissance, strike, aerial refueling, and command and control.
The Pentagon has basing arrangements with numerous countries throughout the Middle East, including Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Dozens of Air Force aircraft, including F-15E, F-16 and F-22 fighters; KC-135 tankers; A-10 strike aircraft; B-1B bombers; C-17 and C-130 transports; and an array of unmanned aircraft are already based or rotating though the region.
Additional assets could be brought into the Middle East, if necessary.
The Obama administration is considering a number of options to combat ISIL, which has reportedly taken control of a number of cities throughout the country.
defensenews

Fire damages PAK-FA prototype on landing

Sukhoi has played down the impact on its T-50/PAK-FA programme of a fire that damaged one of the five flight test aircraft while on the ground at Zhukovsky air base near Moscow on 10 June.
The company says smoke was observed coming from the fighter’s starboard engine air intake during landing, and a fire broke out shortly afterwards.
However, the blaze was “quickly extinguished”, says Sukhoi, and the aircraft will now be repaired. “This incident will not affect the timing of the T-50 test programme,” it adds.
flightglobal

Equatorial Guinea inducts new frigate

Equatorial Guinea on 3 June inaugurated a new frigate in the capital Malabo.
The Equatoguinean media claimed the frigate, Wele Nzas (F 073), was built locally. However, it was largely built by MTG Dolphin in Varna, Bulgaria, as the 'salvage and rescue' vessel Savior (IMO: 9664500) under Project SV 02. It was then outfitted with combat systems at a naval shipyard - thought to be Astilleros de Guinea Ecuatorial (ASABA GE) - in Malabo. ASABA GE was established in 2010 with Israeli assistance, although Ukrainians are also involved in running the shipyard.
The warship's keel was launched in Varna on 26 February 2013. The outfitting of the ship at Malabo in a 210 m navy-owned floating dock was well underway by November 2013.
Like the 88 m corvette Bata that was built under Project SV 01 and commissioned in January 2012, the Wele Nzas was designed by the Ship Research and Design Center in Nikolaev, Ukraine. Weapons and combat systems are also largely sourced from Ukraine, probably from the company Impulse 2, which has outfitted other warships in Malabo. Like Bata , the Wele Nzas was procured from Bulgaria using various entities in Panama and the Comoros.
With an overall length of 107 m, a beam of 14 m and a draft of 3.7 m, Wele Nzas is about 20 m longer than Bata . Displacement, based on similar Ukrainian corvette designs, is around 2,500 tonnes.
Wele Nzas has a raised helicopter deck amidships. The ships' boats are housed in partially enclosed hangars amidships. These are covered by a sliding screen, with the boats launched by a swinging davit.
The combat systems are also an improvement on Bata 's capabilities. 76.2 mm AK-176 guns are fitted both fore and aft, two MS 227 multi-barrelled rocket launchers are fitted forward, while two 30 mm AK-630M guns mounted besides the funnel stack provide close-in defence.
Primary sensors include a dome-enclosed radar, two navigational radars and a Delta-M radar on a mast located ahead of the funnel stack. The Delta-M is thought to be interfaced with the Cascade integrated self-defence system that provides targeting data for the AK-176 and AK-630M guns. SATCOM antenna are also fitted.
Equatorial Guinea is currently engaged in a major, but little-reported naval expansion. In recent years it has acquired four Bulgarian-built ships (two PV 50 patrol vessels, as well as Wele Nzas and Bata ), two 62 m offshore patrol vessels, two Shaldag fast attack craft from Israel Shipyards, and a Chinese-built 91.45 m roll-on/roll-off landing ship.
janes

Russian Navy Accepts First in New Class of Nuclear Attack Submarine

Russian Navy has accepted its first Project 855 Yasen-class nuclear-powered attack submarine into this week.
Called K-560 Severodvinsk, the 13,800 ton boat has been in construction at the Sevmash yards since 1993—its completion long delayed due to Russia’s economic malaise since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. It was not until 2010 when Russia launched the new submarine, which has been undergoing sea trials since September 2011.
Severodvinsk is expected to be the quietest and most capable Russian attack submarine to date being far more potent than the older Soviet-era Akula and Sierra-class designs. But the new vessel is not expected to be quite as silent as the U.S. Navy’s Seawolf or Virginia-class boats.
Severodvinsk has a submerged displacement of 13,800 tons, length of 119 meters, speed of 31 knots, and can dive to 600 meters. It has a crew of 90 including 32 officers. It is armed with 24 Oniks (SS-N-26) and Kalibr (SS-N-27) cruise missiles along with a host of 533mm torpedoes and mines. It is the first Russian or Soviet-designed submarine to feature a spherical bow sonar array.
In addition to Severodvinsk, there are two additional Yasen-class submarines that are already under construction. These additional vessels, Kazan and Novosibirsk, are being built to a somewhat modernized design standard designated Project 855M Yasen-M. A third vessel will be laid down in August, according to Russian Television.
Russia is expected to order three further Project 855M boats in 2015, and ultimately the country could build more than eight Yasen-class submarines.
usni

A-10 backers win House vote to save plane

The U.S. House adopted an amendment to the 2015 defense appropriation bill that would prohibit the Pentagon from spending any money to retire the A-10 Thunderbolt II.
But the fate of the venerated “Warthog” close-air-support jet remains far from certain, as the Senate still must act, and the issue will likely be hammered out in conference committee.
The amendment prohibits the Pentagon from spending any money to “divest, retire, transfer or place in storage, or prepare to divest, retire, transfer or place in storage any A-10 aircraft.” It also prohibits the Pentagon from closing any active or reserve unit that flies or is otherwise associated with the A-10, Barber’s office noted.
But where to find the money to keep the A-10 flying remains a major issue.
A measure to fund the A-10 for a year in the House-passed version of the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act attracted opposition because it would use $635 million in an as-yet-unsettled overseas war fund. An amendment adopted by the Senate Armed Services Committee would use $339 million in operations funding to pay for A-10 operations for a year.
azstarnet

US Marines MV-22 Osprey first take over on Spanish Navy 'Juan Carlos I' Carrier /Primera toma de un MV-22 Osprey a bordo del buque ‘Juan Carlos I’

On 18 June, in the Gulf of Cadiz, took place on historic milestone for the "Juan Carlos I" for the first take over of an MV-22 Osprey aircraft of the US Marines deployed in Air Base Morón de la Frontera.
During operations on board ,Osprey, lashing, stop, fold up trailer and a lift were performed.
After completion of the tests, rise of the aircraft by elevator and a filling was performed in hot, after which the aircraft takeoff made ​​for a total of take overs and take offs.
During operations interoperability ship was found with this type of aircraft

El pasado 18 de junio, en aguas del golfo de Cádiz, tuvo lugar el hito histórico para el “Juan Carlos I” de la primera toma de un avión Osprey de los Marines de los Estados Unidos de América desplegados en la Base Aérea de Morón de la Frontera.
Durante las operaciones a bordo con el Osprey, se realizaron el trincado, parada, pliegue y remolque hasta un ascensor.
Tras la finalización de las pruebas, se procedió a la subida de la aeronave por el mismo ascensor y se realizó un relleno en caliente, tras lo cual la aeronave efectuó el despegue completando un total de tres tomas con sus despegues correspondientes.
Durante las operaciones se comprobó la interoperabilidad del buque con este tipo de aeronaves
armada

Some F-35s grounded as engine oil leak probed

Some Lockheed Martin F-35s remain grounded a week after an oil leak forced the pilot of the single-engined fighter to make an emergency landing on 10 June.
The onboard fault detection system alerted the pilot of the US Marine Corps F-35B of a fuel loss, prompting the pilot to return to a base in Yuma, Arizona, safely.
A root cause analysis is continuing, but the source of the oil leak in the Pratt & Whitney F135 engine “appears” to be a supply line to bearings and a special fitting within a device called the oil flow managing valve.
The bearings and the fitting “separated from the body” of the valve.
Three days later, the programme ordered all other F-35s grounded until inspectors could examine the same valve. The 90min inspection revealed three “suspect findings” on other F-35Bs at Yuma, but cleared the rest of the fleet to return to flight status.
A metric for F135 engine availability has been steadily at or above 98%.
The Yuma incident follows two other malfunctions within the last 18 months involving the F135 engine, including a cracked low-pressture turbine blade discovered early last year and a cracked fan blade on a test engine last December.
flightglobal

Royal Air Force Typhoons scrambled to Intercept Russian Aircraft during NATO Baltic Air Policing mission

RAF Typhoons were yesterday (Tuesday 17 June) scrambled to intercept multiple Russian aircraft as part of NATO’s ongoing mission to police Baltic airspace.
The Typhoon aircraft, from 3 (Fighter) Squadron, were launched after four separate groups of aircraft were detected by NATO air defences in international airspace near to the Baltic States.
Once airborne, the British jets identified the aircraft as a Russian Tupolev Tu22 ‘Backfire’ bomber, four Sukhoi Su27 ‘Flanker’ fighters, one Beriev A50 ‘Mainstay’ early warning aircraft and an Antonov An26 ‘Curl’ transport aircraft who appeared to be carrying out a variety of routine training. The Russian aircraft were monitored by the RAF Typhoons and escorted on their way.
raf

India's Rafale Negotiations Stall Over Delivery Commitments

India’s Medium Multi-role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) program has run into turbulence due to a disagreement over delivery commitments.
The Indian Air Force has told the new government that Dassault and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL), must put their delivery guarantees in writing before the MoD signs the contract.
HAL is unwilling to give any written guarantee on the delivery schedule for the Indian-made Rafales, and instead wants Dassault to guarantee deliveries of the Indian-made aircraft, a condition the French have already rejected.
The program’s request for proposal stipulates that the first 18 aircraft will be supplied by Dassault in fly condition and the remaining 108 aircraft will be manufactured, by HAL — through technology transfer. The delivery of the aircraft should begin three years after the contract is signed.
The MMRCA contract negotiations have also been delayed because HAL has not finalized the cost of the India-made Rafale.
No date is available for when the final cost of the Indian-made Rafale will be provided to the MoD.
Signing the deal within six months is unlikely.
The delays in finalizing the deal have not only pushed back delivery of the fighter, but also led to cost escalations of more than 30 percent.
Rafale beat the Eurofighter Typhoon only on the basis of cost.
defensenews

Turkey Looks To Have Dual Fighter Fleet by 2023

Turkey’s military officials are hoping to build a new generation, dual fighter jet fleet by their country’s centennial — 2023 — comprising F-35s and indigenous aircraft.
The F-35 has some weaknesses in air-to-air combat, but the TF-X would compensate. TF-X is Turkey’s indigenous fighter under development.
After delays , Turkey last month officially decided to order the country’s first two F-35s. The order is for the first F-35A aircraft with Block-3F configuration under Low Rate Initial Production-10.
Turkey joined the multinational F-35 program as a consortium partner during the concept demonstration phase in 1999.
In January 2013, Turkey indefinitely put off a decision to order the first two F-35s, citing unpredictable costs and technical snags. But procurement officials say the country’s commitment to eventually acquire 100 F-35s remains.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister is expected to give an official go-ahead for the first phase of the development stage of the TF-X this year.
Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) already has concluded the preconceptual design work and produced three draft models, one of which would become the first Turkish indigenous fighter jet. For the preconceptual design work, TAI cooperated with Sweden’s Saab. Turkey hopes that it can fly the Turkish fighter by 2023.
Turkey would eventually buy 100 to 150 of the TF-X.
defensenews

USS Ross, Second USN destroyer to arrive in Rota to begin BMD mission

The second of four US Navy (USN) destroyers assigned to support Washington's missile defence architecture in Europe has arrived in Rota, Spain, on 16 June.
Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) completed its transit from its former home port in Norfolk, Virginia, and has begun its new mission as a forward-deployed USN warship at Naval Station Rota as part of the three-pronged US plan for ballistic missile defence (BMD) in Europe.
Ross joins USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) as part of a quartet of USN destroyers to provide the initial phase of the European Phased Adaptive Approach.
janes

Russia helps keep Syria's MiG-29s flying

Documents released by RAC MiG have revealed some details about the upgrade of Syria's MiG-29 multirole fighters.
The company's 2011 annual report stated that four MiG-29s had been upgraded to the MiG-29SM standard for Syria. The report was taken down and later republished with the reference to Syria removed, emphasising the sensitive nature of the deal. The original version of the report also revealed that RAC MiG had opened an office in Damascus.
The number of MiG-29s acquired by Syria still remains a mystery with estimates ranging between 84 and 22. What is known is that there are one or two operational MiG-29 squadrons at the Sayqal Airbase and possibly more MiG-29s operating from Tiyas Airbase.
As Syrian MiG-29s use the 9.12 airframe, which differs from the MiG-29SM's 9.13M airframe, RAC MiG developed a special variant to suit Syria's needs.
Given the current conflict, arguably the most important upgrade is the ability to carry an expanded arsenal of air-to-ground weaponry, including Kh-29T/TE (AS-14 'Kedge') and Kh-31A/P (AS-17 'Krypton') missiles and KAB-500KR guided bombs. Other laser-guided weaponry could also be used by fitting a targeting pod or illuminating the target externally.
While Syrian Mig-29s have been filmed carrying out ground attack missions with guns and unguided rockets, it is unclear if they have been using guided munitions.
The upgrade also enables the aircraft to carry the R-77 (AA-12 'Adder') air-to-air missile, which would pose a threat to foreign aircraft that may intervene in the conflict. MiG-29s have already been spotted in Syria carrying the AKU-170E rails required to launch the R-77, indicating Syria also has the missiles.
Another deal, recorded in RAC MiG's 2009 report, covered the repair of an unspecified number of Syrian MiG-23MLDs. Syria reportedly received around 30 MiG-23MLDs from Belarus in 2008 for spare parts, some of which have probably been taken into service. MiG-23MLDs with Syrian markings have been photographed at Russia's Krasnodar Airbase in recent years, indicating that the repaired aircraft were not those acquired from Belarus, but MiG-23s originally supplied to Syria by the Soviet Union and then subsequently upgraded to the MLD standard.
janes

US Navy Prepares F-35C for Carrier Landing

Navy test pilots are conducting numerous shore-based test landings of the F-35C in anticipation of its first at-sea landing on an aircraft carrier later this year.
The shore landings, taking place at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., are designed to replicate the range of conditions which the F-35C is likely to encounter at sea.
Test pilots are working on what they call a structural survey, an effort to assess the F-35C’s ability to land in a wide range of scenarios such as nose down, tail down or max engaging speed.
Max engaging speed involves landing the aircraft heavy and fast to determine if it is the aircraft or the arresting gear that gets damaged.
The F-35C is engineered to be larger than the Air Force’s F-35 A or Marine Corps short-take-off-and-landing F-35B because the structure of the aircraft needs to be able to withstand the impact of landing on a carrier. Also, the F-35C has larger, foldable wings to facilitate slower approach speeds compatible with moving ships.
In total, the Navy plans to acquire 340 F-35C aircraft. Five of them have been delivered so far.
dodbuzz

RFP For US Bomber Coming Soon

The request for proposal (RFP) on the US Air Force’s long range strike-bomber program will be issued soon, perhaps in a matter of days.
The award date would have been set for the first half of 2015. Air Force had previously indicated an RFP would likely be issued in the fall.
The Air Force seeks to procure 80 to 100 long-range bombers. The program, has largely been shrouded in secrecy.
Only some basic information has been made public: The service has a mid-2020s operational date in mind; the plane will be based on existing technologies; there will be room for a large payload; and the service is at least exploring making the bomber optionally-manned. The bomber is also designed to fit into a “family of systems” that ties in ISR, electronic attack and communication systems.
The team of Lockheed Martin and Boeing are hoping to defeat Northrop Grumman on the contract.
Northrop Grumman’s design and production of the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, the bomber most recently produced by the US Air Force, positions it well for the bomber program.
While Lockheed can bring its experience with new technologies and Boeing has its construction capabilities, Northrop is betting on its experience with the B-2 stealth bomber to carry it over the line.
defensenews

Philippines to sign Letter of Credit for F/A-50 Signed Within This Month

The letter of credit(LOC) for the South Korean F/A-50 "Fighting Eagle" for the Philippines Air Force.
The signing will take place by this coming week or the next.
Contract for the Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) jet aircraft, of which the Philippines has ordered 12 units, was signed last March 28.
Upon signing of the LOC, two F/A-50 jet aircraft are expected to be delivered 18 months after.
While the next two will be delivered 12 months later and the remaining eight jet planes to be delivered in staggered basis within eight months.
The F/A-50 will act as the country's interim fighter until the Philippines get enough experience of operating fast jet assets and money to fund the acquisition of more capable fighter aircraft.
The F/A-50 design is largely derived from the F-16 "Fighting Falcon", and they have many similarities.
defense-studies

Swedish Gripen Es to be new-build rather than re-manufactured

The Swedish government is set to amend the Gripen E production contract so that the aircraft will be new-build rather than re-manufactured airframes.
The country's parliament is said to have agreed the move to procure newly-built aircraft as opposed to re-manufactured Gripen Cs some weeks ago, and approved the decision by a large majority. The move was prompted by a need to keep the Swedish Air Force's Gripen C fleet at full strength until the service fully transitions over to the Gripen E.
Under the terms of the original production contract awarded in December 2013, Saab was to convert 60 of SwAF's Gripen C platforms into the latest-variant Gripen E. The air force's 25 Gripen Ds would remain in service as lead-in fighter trainers until the full fleet of Gripen Es are delivered by 2026.
Gripen C and Gripen E share little in terms of common structures and systems.
It is not thought that this contract amendment will affect the Gripen E delivery schedule of 2018 through to 2026. Price tag for the 60 aircraft remains unchanged.
Besides maintaining the SwAF's frontline fighter strength, the change in the production contract also resulted in freeing up a larger pool of Gripen C aircraft which can be leased to prospective Gripen E customers while they await their new aircraft - this was something that both Switzerland and Brazil had requested. While the SwAF had agreed to both of these countries borrowing some of its Gripen Cs, not much spare capacity was left for it to agree to too many more such requests.
Sweden is also considering an increase in the numbers of aircraft to be procured to 70. The SwAF had originally requested between 60 and 80, and the recent tensions between Russia and Ukraine have refocused the political agenda to national defence.
janes

Carrier USS George H.W. Bush headed Into Arabian Gulf

US Defense Secretary has ordered the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush to move from the North Arabian Sea into the Arabian Gulf.
In a statement, it was said the order will provide US additional flexibility should military options be required to protect American lives, citizens and interests in Iraq.
The Bush will be accompanied by the guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea and the guided-missile destroyer USS Truxtun.
The USS George H.W. Bush left its home port of Norfolk, Virginia, in February and is operating in the Middle East region.

Armed EC-725 Undrgoes Flight Tests in Marignane

A specialized team of Helibras and Airbus Helicopters experts tested a prototype of the EC725 carrying anti-surface missiles installed on either side of the aircraft.
The Exocet AM39 missiles will equip eight of the 16 EC725 helicopters belonging to the Brazilian Navy, which are part of the contract for 50 EC725s signed with the Brazilian Ministry of Defense for the three Army corps.
More than 20 flights were performed in Marignane during a one month period, starting April 28.
defense-studies

Russian Bombers Fly 50 Miles off California. F-22s and F-15s intercept them

Four Russian Tu-95 strategic bombers triggered U.S. air defense systems while conducting practice bombing runs near Alaska this week, with two of the Tu-95 Bear H aircraft coming within 50 miles of the California coast, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (Norad) confirmed Wednesday.
The last time it was saw anything similar was two years ago on the Fourth of July.
The latest Bear H incursions began Monday around 4:30 p.m. Pacific time when radar detected the four turbo-prop powered bombers approaching the U.S. air defense zone near the far western Aleutian Islands.
Two U.S. Air Force F-22 jets were scrambled and intercepted the bombers over the Aleutians.
After tracking the bombers as they flew eastward, two of the four Bears turned around and headed west toward the Russian Far East.
The remaining two nuclear-capable bombers then flew southeast and around 9:30 pm entered the U.S. northern air defense zone off the coast of Northern California.
Two U.S. F-15 jets were deployed and intercepted the bombers as they eventually flew within 50 miles of the coast before turning around and heading west.
The four bombers also were supported by two IL-78 aerial refueling tankers that were used for mid-air refueling during the operation.
The aircraft acted professionally. The bombers appeared to be conducting a training mission.
They typically do long range aviation training in the summer and it is not unusual for them to be more active during this time, and they did not enter territorial airspace.
The bomber incursion is the latest Russian nuclear saber-rattling amid stepped up tensions over Moscow’s military annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea.
A member of the House Armed Services Committee, called the Russian flights “intentional provocations.”
The Alaska-California bombers flight also came a month after a Russian Su-27 interceptor jet flew dangerously close to a U.S. RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft flying over the Sea of Okhotsk, north of Japan.
In that incident on April 23, the Su-27 jet flew close to the RC-135, turned to reveal its air-to-air missiles to the crew, and then flew dangerously close to within 100 feet of the cockpit in a maneuver military officials called reckless.
In the past 10 years, 50 Bear H bombers were intercepted near U.S. air defense zone, although he Monday’s flight near California was unusual.
In February 2013, two of the bombers were intercepted as they circled the U.S. Pacific island of Guam, in a rare long-range incursion.
Two Bear Hs also were intercepted near Alaska on April 28, 2013.
A Russian Bear H incursion in Asia took place in in July 2013 when two Tu-95s were intercepted by Japanese and South Korean jets near the Korean peninsula and Japan’s northern Hokkaido Island.
The July 4, 2012 bomber flights near the West Coast were the first time since the Cold War that Russian jets has traveled so close to the U.S. coastline.
That action followed an earlier intrusion by Tu-95s near Alaska that were part of large-scale strategic nuclear exercises by the Russians aimed at practicing strikes on enemy air defenses.
Russia has stepped up provocative nuclear war games in recent years as part of propaganda efforts to display Moscow’s dislike of U.S. missile defenses in Europe.
freebeacon

Russian Sailors To Begin Mistral Training June 22

400 Russian sailors are expected on June 22 to start training on the Mistral-class helicopter carrier.
Russian training ship Smolny, carrying sailors is due to sail on June 18 for Saint-Nazaire, France.
Initial training on the first Russian Mistral, Vladivostock, will consist of familiarization with the ship and its equipment.
The French authorities are due to decide in October whether to hand over the helicopter carrier to Russia. Moscow has insisted on Paris observing the contract for two ships and held out prospects for further business, or pay a hefty compensation if the vessels are withheld.
defensenews

Canada To Choose New Fighter Jets in Coming Weeks

The Canadian government said Thursday it will choose one of four fighter jets in competition to replace its aging fleet of CF-18s “in the coming weeks.”
Critics, however, contend the procurement process, which was reset in 2012 amid complaints of several manufacturers being shut out of it — is rigged in favor of the American Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth fighter jet.
Over the past 14 months, an independent review panel compiled the costs, capabilities and weaknesses of Boeing’s F-18 Super Hornet, the Eurofighter Typhoon, Dassault’s Rafale and the F-35.
Prime Minister said this week his cabinet would now review the panel’s report, which has not been made public.
The F-35 has been touted as a technological wonder. However, it has suffered setback after setback, notably with troublesome software. It is seven years behind schedule with a budget blow-out, making it the costliest weapons program in US history.
Australia, Britain, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway and Turkey have also taken part in the development of the jet, along with the United States.
Australia and Turkey are the latest this year to place orders. South Korea is also expected to finalize plans to buy F-35 jets by year’s end.
defensenews

China Navy to get first homegrown carrier by 2017, claims local media

The first homegrown Chinese aircraft carrier is under construction at Dalian and will enter service by 2017, according to the June 2014 issue of Shipborne Weapons.
The magazine claims it has official data regarding the follow-on vessels to the People's Liberation Army Navy's (PLAN's) first carrier, Liaoning (CV16). It's thought it is a credible source.
The article claims that China plans to field three additional aircraft carriers by 2019.
janes

Japan Protests Chinese Flybys Over East China Sea

Japan protested to Beijing on Wednesday after Chinese fighter jets flew within 100 feet of Japanese military planes in airspace claimed by both nations. Similar flybys in the same area took place several weeks ago.
In two separate episodes on Wednesday morning, Chinese Su-27 fighters flew dangerously close to two Japanese propeller-driven reconnaissance airplanes in skies over the East China Sea.
The flybys are the latest escalation in an increasingly tense test of wills between China and Japan for dominance of the East China Sea, which includes a group of uninhabited islets that both nations claim. Japan took control of the island group when it was a rising imperial power in the late 19th century, but now a newly resurgent China wants to regain what it sees as stolen territory.
The ministry said the Japanese planes had returned safely to base, though the faster Chinese jets came close enough that the crew of one Japanese craft photographed what appeared to be white missiles on the underside of the jets.
A similar encounter took place late last month, when Chinese fighter planes flew as close as 100 feet to Japanese reconnaissance planes in the same area.
Japan’s Defense Ministry said the incidents had taken place in airspace where both nations claim overlapping “air defense identification zones” — areas bordering sovereign airspace where foreign aircraft were required to identify themselves and to provide flight plans. Japan has ignored the Chinese air zone since Beijing declared it late last year.
The flybys could be a sign that China has begun trying to enforce its air zone.
nytimes

Iraq Has Brand New F-16s, But Can't Use Them Against ISIS Yet

As ISIS militants advance in Iraq and threaten Baghdad itself after taking Mosul, the Iraqi air force is getting its first American-made F-16 fighters. But it will not be able to use the advanced jets against the militants until later this year.
Iraqi forces now field other advanced American hardware, including the M1 Abrams tank, but that hasn’t translated into the ability to defeat or even contain the threat of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. Over the past few days, Iraqi soldiers have abandoned lots of arms, equipment and vehicles to advancing ISIS fighters in the country’s north. ISIS has been able to parade in Mosul several American-made Humvee jeeps freshly captured from the Iraqi Army.
Lockheed Martin officially handed over the first F-16 to Iraq at a ceremony in Fort Worth, Texas, on June 5. The 36 fighter-bombers will be single seat C and two-seat D models, all delivered new from the assembly line and equipped with advanced air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons. That makes them useful in the fight against ISIS as well as in policing the Iraqi airspace.
Iraqi state TV reported Thursday that government aircraft bombed ISIS positions around Mosul, without saying what airplanes were used -- though they were most likely light trainer aircraft. The air force hasn’t had jet fighters since 2003.
The Iraqi air force also lacks trained pilots who can fly the F-16s in combat. Eight pilots have completed basic training, but none are combat ready yet. Currently, no other air force in the Arab world except for Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates fields fighter-bombers as advanced as the Iraqi F-16s, but the rate of deliveries and the pace of pilot training means that the planes will not be ready for action in significant numbers before next year.
ibtimes

Spain strengthens the NATO’s deployment in the Baltic with four Eurofighters

Spain has put at the disposal of the NATO four Eurofighters, that could join the forces deployed by the NATO in the Baltic.
The Spanish Executive also offered a Boeing 707, as well as a frigate for the Baltic operation and another one for the Mediterranean area and the Horn of Africa.
The inventory of means promised to the NATO is completed by the activation of a mechanized squad and an additional frigate within the framework of the rapid operational force, as well as the headquarters of Bétera (Valencia).
thediplomatinspain

Saudi Arabia gets first six PC-21 trainers

Pilatus has commenced deliveries of its PC-21 trainer to Saudi Arabia, with two batches having left the airframer’s Stans site in Switzerland so far this month.

An initial three of the turboprop-powered type took off from Stans on 2 June for their ferry flights to the Middle East, with these carrying the registrations 905, 906 and 907.
One week later, a second batch – comprised of aircraft 908, 909 and 910 (below) – also departed Switzerland for Riyadh.
Acquired as part of a training package also to include 22 BAE Systems Hawk advanced jet trainers, the six PC-21s transferred are the first examples from what will become a 55-strong fleet by early 2016. This volume will make the Royal Saudi Air Force the operator of the largest fleet of the design, which has also so far been supplied to Singapore (19), Switzerland (8) and the United Arab Emirates (25).

Pilatus in February also performed the first ground tests with a PC-21 for Qatar, which will receive 24 of the type later this year.
flightglobal

JASDF F-15Js intercepting China PLAAF Tu-154

China’s Ministry of Defense has released a video showing Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-15Js intercepting a PLAAF Tu-154 over the East China Sea on Jun. 11 between 1017 to 1028 hrs.

Cinco F-18 del Ala 46 de de Gando participan en ejercicio Atlas 2014 en Marruecos

Cinco cazas F-18 pertenecientes al Ala 46 de la Base Aérea de Gando desplegaron el lunes día 9 en la Base Aérea de Meknés para iniciar el ejercicio Atlas 2014.
El ejercicio se enmarca dentro de los realizados en virtud de los acuerdos de cooperación de Defensa, firmados entre ambos países en el año 1989. Entre sus objetivos se encuentra ejercitar el planeamiento y la conducción de operaciones aéreas combinadas para promover y mejorar la cooperación técnica y militar entre la Fuerza Aérea Marroquí y el Ejército del Aire.
Tras las reuniones previas de planeamiento, se ha llevado a cabo una visita a las instalaciones de la base principal de despliegue (Meknés) y de la base alternativa (Sidi Slimane), así como el traslado e instalación en Meknés de una barrera de frenado móvil, necesaria para la operación del F-18.
El proceso de despliegue se ha completado con el vuelo de posicionamiento de los cazas y aviones de transporte encargados de trasladar el material y personal participante, mostrando una vez más la capacidad expedicionaria del Ejército del Aire en operaciones fuera de área.
Esta es la primera ocasión en que cazas F-18 despliegan en bases marroquíes para participar en la serie de ejercicios Atlas.
Entre los días 9 y 13 de junio, en espacio aéreo de Marruecos, se ejecutarán misiones defensivas y ofensivas en coordinación con las unidades marroquíes, que participan con aviones Mirage F-1 y F-5.
ejercitodelaire

Global Hawk needs USD1.9 billion in upgrades before U-2 can retire

The RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned surveillance aircraft still needs upgrades so that it can complete all the missions done by the manned Lockheed U-2, which the US Air Force (USAF) wants to retire to save money.
The necessary work consists of upgrades to ground stations, communications and imagery capability, and the Global Hawk's weather radar.
According to a USAF spokesman, the entire effort would cost USD1.9 billion over six years.
The service earlier this year reversed course on its 2012 plan to divest its new fleet of Global Hawk Block 30 and is now proposing to retire its U-2 fleet instead.
Just two years ago, the USAF said that the Global Hawk was too costly to fly. At the time, the air service's plan to mothball the UAVs was met with strong resistance in Congress.
This year, the Department of Defense said that it has been able to reduce the cost of flying RQ-4s and that it would prefer to retire the U-2 instead.
janes

Belgium issues RFI for F-16 fighter replacement

The Belgian Ministry of Defence has issued a request for information (RFI) to five foreign government agencies regarding various aircraft that could replace the national air force's ageing F-16.
The RFI does not commit to a future purchase nor to the selection of a specific aircraft, but aims to gather information beyond the open-source data used for initial evaluation.
The RFI does not mention the number of aircraft to be acquired.
RFI has been issued to the Joint Program Office (JPO-F-35), the Navy Integrated Program Office (NIPO-F/A-18F Super Hornet), the Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) of the French Ministry of Defence (Rafale), the Swedish Defence and Security Export Agency (FXM-JAS-39) and the UK Ministry of Defence, the RFI marks the first step in a process that will lead to the acquisition of a new fighter before the retirement of the F-16s starts in 2023.
The MoD prefers a government-to-government agreement, rather than a commercial purchase from a contractor.
The selection is likely to take place in 2015 or early 2016, to facilitate the aircraft's entry into service between 2023 and 2025, when the F-16s will retire.
The Belgian Air Force currently has 54 F-16s in its inventory and all of them have completed the mid-life update (MLU).
airforce-technology