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AUGUST 2023 news
Defense Aviation and Aerospace Industry |
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According to Premium Times, the head of the Nigerian Air Force, Hassan Abubakar, announced during a one-day visit to the 115 Special Operation Group (SOG) at Port Harcourt on 23/08/2023 that the USA and Türkiye would soon deliver 18 attack helicopters to Nigeria, enhancing the nation's aerial capabilities.
The U.S. Defense Department will begin training Ukrainians to fly and maintain F-16 fighter jets in the coming months, Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said on August 24. The training is expected to begin in October at the Morris Air National Guard Base in Tucson, Arizona, and will be facilitated by the Air National Guard's 162nd Wing. Joseph Clark, U.S. DoD, reports.
On August 24, 2023, Lockheed Martin announced the awarding of a $2.7 billion contract between the US Navy and Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, for 35 CH-53K King Stallion helicopters.
On August 24, 2023, Norway announced its intention to donate a fleet of F-16 fighters to Ukraine. This act of solidarity falls within Norway's ongoing commitment to support Ukraine in its quest for an air defense system capable of matching Russia's. This delivery will complement those promised by the Netherlands and Denmark.
Airbus has been awarded a $27.8 million contract to upgrade 50 UH-72A Lakotas with advanced avionics, enhancing the Army National Guard's reconnaissance mission capabilities. This significant upgrade will provide the National Guard with increased functionality and the ability to conduct more demanding missions.
On August 24, 2023, the Turkish company Baykar delivered a Bayraktar TB2 to Ukraine as a gift on its Independence Day, and what's even more remarkable, is that it was provided free of charge. In this article, we will delve into the technical details of the Bayraktar TB2 and explore the significance of this gesture.
According to an article by Alona Mazurenko in Ukrainska Pravda, Kyrylo Budanov, the Chief of Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, has revealed that a Russian pilot defected and cooperated with Ukrainian Defence Intelligence by flying a Mi-8 AMTSh helicopter nearly 100 km into Ukraine, landing in the Kharkiv region after covering a distance of nearly 100km on August 23rd. Budanov stated that the pilot is in good spirits and is inclined to remain in Ukraine. The pilot is set to play a prominent role in an upcoming film produced by Defence Intelligence, scheduled for release on September 7th.
Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, announced on August 23 the signing of an agreement with Indonesian aerospace firm PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) to enter into a strategic partnership to pursue a sales agreement of up to 24 Sikorsky S-70M Black Hawk helicopters for the Republic of Indonesia.
The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency on August 23 announced that the State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States of F-16 Infrared Search and Track (IRST) systems and related equipment for an estimated cost of $500 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this sale.
The partnership between Belgium and the United States has given birth to a new training unit specialized in the F-35 multirole fighter jet. Recently inaugurated at the American base of Luke, this joint venture between the U.S. Air Force and the Belgian Air Force (Air Component) aims to train the next generation of Belgian F-35 pilots and technicians.
Australian Defence Force (ADF) received the first delivery of three UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters. The Australian Defence Department announced the arrival of these helicopters via Twitter on August 22, 2023, highlighting their role in modernizing the country's aviation assets.
As part of an initiative aimed at strengthening Ukraine's aerial defense capabilities, General James Hecker, representing the U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Africa, unveiled an innovative training plan for Ukrainian pilots on the F-16 multirole fighter jets.
The Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) is set to increase its procurement of MQ-9A Reaper Remotely Piloted Aircraft, expanding the total order quantity from four to eight aircraft. The initial delivery to the RNLAF in 2022 included four MQ-9A Block 5 Reapers along with their corresponding Ground Control Stations. The MQ-9A platform is the creation of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI).
The latest version of Iran’s Mohajer drone - the Mohajer 10 - was unveiled in a ceremony held on August 21 that marked the Defense Industry Day. An exhibition was held, showcasing Iran’s latest achievements in the defense industry. with President Ebrahim Raisi as well as the Defense Minister and senior military commanders in attendance. No surprise at all that this new drone closely resembles the American GA-ASI MQ-9A Reaper.
The Belarusian Air Force has recently received four new Mi-35M combat-transport helicopters from Russia. This development underscores Russia's persistent arms exports despite the Ukraine war. The delivery of these helicopters serves to underscore the strengthening military collaboration between Belarus and Russia.
According to a tweet from OSINT defender dated August 20, 2023, light attack A-29 "Super Tucano" aircraft from the air forces of Burkina Faso and Mali have landed in Niger. This move is seen as a strategic decision to bolster Niger's defenses against a potential military intervention by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Russian defense industry firms have been showcasing a growing array of novel products within the realm of advanced technologies, topwar.ru reports. Among these innovations is the "Admiral-Aircraft Carrier," a concept centered around an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), specifically designed for transporting First Person View (FPV) combat drones to designated targets. The core of this system revolves around the "Admiral" fixed-wing UAV, capable of sustaining flight for durations ranging from 4 to 6 hours.
On August 21, 2023, after a meeting with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that Greece would be training Ukrainian pilots on the F-16 multirole fighter jets. This announcement is another step for Ukrainian Air Force as Zelenskyy continues his European tour, with stops in countries like Denmark and the Netherlands, to secure the delivery of F-16s for Ukraine.
On August 21, 2023, marking a notable advancement in defense relations, the U.S. State Department authorized a Foreign Military Sale to Poland, estimated at $12.0 billion. The deal allows Poland to procure 96 AH-64E Apache Helicopters, accompanied by a substantial quantity of missiles, including 1,844 Hellfire, 460 JAGM air-to-ground missiles, and 508 air defense missiles. Additionally, the package encompasses 7,650 laser-guided rocket systems.
Boeing on August 21 announced that the Republic of Indonesia and Boeing shared their commitment to finalize the sale of 24 F-15EX Eagle II fighters to Indonesia, subject to U.S. government approval, during a visit of Indonesia’s Minister of Defense Prabowo Subianto to the United States.
