May 2017 Air Force Military Aviation Defence Industry News
 

Saudi Arabia procures 150 S-70 utility helicopters from Lockheed Martin

Saudi Arabia procures 150 S-70 utility helicopters from Lockheed Martin
 
On May 22nd, the United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) took major steps to enhance global security and stimulate economic progress in the United States and the Middle East. KSA has expressed its intent to procure more than $28 billion worth of Lockheed Martin integrated air and missile defense, combat ship, tactical aircraft and rotary wing technologies and programs. The agreement includes $6 bn deal for around 150 S-70 Black Hawk utility helicopters.
 

Arctic Challenge 17 Multinational Training Exercise takes off

Arctic Challenge 17 Multinational Training Exercise takes off
 
The Air Forces of Finland, Norway and Sweden today launched the third edition of multinational Arctic Challenge exercise. Over one hundred aircraft and thousands of personnel from eleven nations are participating in the exercise. They will mainly be located at Bodø in Norway, Luleå in Sweden and Rovaniemi in Finland, each of which will see dozens of aircraft at its base, the Finnish Air Force said.
 

L3 WESCAM introduces MatriX ISR kits for airborne platforms

L3 WESCAM introduces MatriX ISR kits for airborne platforms
 
L3 WESCAM announced on May 16 the launch of its MatriX ISR system solutions kits for fixed- and rotary-wing platforms. L3’s MatriX kits combine a series of best-in-class Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) technologies that provide an advanced level of ISR mission capabilities in airborne platforms that have traditionally conducted missions without them.
 

China deploying first peacekeeping helicopter unit to Sudan

China deploying first peacekeeping helicopter unit to Sudan
 
China deploying first helicopter unit to Sudan 640 001
China has established its first peacekeeping helicopter unit for operations in Sudan. The unit was established by an army aviation corp of the 81st Group Army of the PLA. On May 19, the unit took oaths during a special ceremony, the state-run newspaper Xinhua said on May 19, 2017.
 

US Air Force tests U-2 Dragon Lady integration with 5th-gen fighter jets

US Air Force tests U-2 Dragon Lady integration with 5th-gen fighter jets
 
Looking across the flight line at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska during previous Northern Edge exercises one would have seen a mass of gray and white aircraft, but this year the distinctly black U-2 Dragon Lady from Beale Air Force Base, Calif., made its presence known for the first time at Northern Edge, and showcased the unique capabilities it can bring to the joint fight, the USAF 9th Reconnaissance Wing Public Affairs said on Thursday.
 

US Army orders additional Saturn Arch aerial anti-IED platform

US Army orders additional Saturn Arch aerial anti-IED platform
 
Leidos has been awarded a $21,121,384 US Army contract to design, build, test, and deliver one Saturn Arch configured aircraft in support of the ongoing continued operations, sustainment, and Integration Quick Reaction Capability program, the US DoD announced on May 18, 2017.
 

China's homegrown Z-19E attack helicopter makes maiden flight

China's homegrown Z-19E attack helicopter makes maiden flight
 
China's homegrown Z-19E armed helicopter made its maiden flight Thursday in Harbin in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. The Z-19E featured hovering maneuvers, close ground-effect maneuvering and low passes above the airport to demonstrate its performance.
 

Belgian Air Force's B-Hunter UAVs now used for border protection

Belgian Air Force's B-Hunter UAVs now used for border protection
 
Belgium’s fleet of military drones will now be authorized to support customs missions on Belgian borders, the Belgian Defense Ministry announced on Wednesday. An agreement was signed on May 17 by the country’s minister of Defense Steven Vandeput and minister of Finance Johan Van Orteveldt.
 

CPI Aero delivers first F-35A fighter jet lock assemblies to Lockheed Martin

CPI Aero delivers first F-35A fighter jet lock assemblies to Lockheed Martin
 
CPI Aerostructures, Inc. (CPI Aero) announced on May 17 that it made its first delivery to Lockheed Martin Company under a $10.6 million multi-year contract to manufacture lock assemblies for the F-35A Conventional Takeoff and Landing ('CTOL') variant aircraft.
 

Russian Helicopters' Ka-62 medium multirole chopper to fly before year-end

Russian Helicopters' Ka-62 medium multirole chopper to fly before year-end
 
The flight tests of the new Ka-62 helicopter will begin this year, Sergey Yemelyanov, Director of the Aviation Industry Department at Russia’s Ministry of Industry and Trade, said Tuesday. "This year, we expect that it will perform its first full-fledged flight. Last year, it performed a hovering test, this year a full-fledged flight and the beginning of flight tests will take place," Yemelyanov said in reply to the relevant question.
 

UVision introduces Hero-400EC extended-range loitering munition system

UVision introduces Hero-400EC extended-range loitering munition system
 
UVision Air Ltd., an Israel-based global pioneer of lethal aerial loitering systems of all sizes, unveils the Hero-400EC, its new enlarged, extended-range, extremely precise loitering munition system. The system’s unique cruciform aerodynamic design delivers high-accuracy and reduces collateral damage.
 

RAAF comments Air Task Group last strike missions in Iraq

RAAF comments Air Task Group last strike missions in Iraq
 
Among the multitude of international voices that can be heard on the combat aircraft radio net above Mosul the Australian accent stands out for many reasons, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) said today. Well regarded for their professionalism, dedication and long-term commitment to defeating Daesh, the Australian voices are a reminder that the RAAF’s Air Task Group is continuing to take the fight to the enemy in support of Iraqi Security Forces, who are slowly but surely liberating West Mosul.
 

Safran lands 7-year contract to support German NH90 RTM322 engines

Safran lands 7-year contract to support German NH90 RTM322 engines
 
Safran Helicopter Engines has signed a 7-year support contract with BAAINBw (Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support) to support RTM322- powered NH90 operated by the German Army (Heer) and German Navy (Marine). This contract will support a total fleet of around 100 NH90 (82 TTH and 18 NTH).
 

GA-ASI lands a $400mn USAF order for 36 MQ-9 Reaper RPAS

GA-ASI lands a $400mn USAF order for 36 MQ-9 Reaper RPAS
 
The US-based aircraft manufacturer General Atomics - Aeronautical Systems Inc (GA-ASI) has been awarded a $399,979,895 US Air Force contract for MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft production, the US Department of Defense announced on May 16, 2017.
 

Textron's Fury precision guided munition successfully tested against moving targets

Textron's Fury precision guided munition successfully tested against moving targets
 
Textron Systems Weapon & Sensor Systems, a business of Textron Inc., announced on May 15 the successful testing of the Fury lightweight precision guided glide munition against moving targets at Yuma Proving Grounds in Arizona. This test marks a significant milestone, as it marks the completion of the Fury weapon’s development.
 

Lockheed Martin to provide Kuwait Air Force with Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods

Lockheed Martin to provide Kuwait Air Force with Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods
 
Lockheed Martin received a delivery order from the U.S. Air Force to provide Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods (ATP) to the Kuwait Air Force for its F/A-18C/D Hornet aircraft, the US-based company announced on May 16, 2017.
 

BAE rolls out Royal Air Force of Oman's first Eurofighter Typhoon and Hawk aircraft

BAE rolls out Royal Air Force of Oman's first Eurofighter Typhoon and Hawk aircraft
 
BAE rolls out Royal Air Force of Oman s first Eurofighter Typhoon and Hawk aircraft 640 002
The first Eurofighter Typhoon and Hawk advanced jet trainer aircraft for the Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO) have been formally presented to the customer in a ceremony held at BAE Systems’ Military Air & Information business in the UK, the company announced today May 16, 2017.
 

Safran lands 5-year contract for US Army UH-72A Lakota helicopters support

Safran lands 5-year contract for US Army UH-72A Lakota helicopters support
 
Texas-based, Safran Electronics & Defense, Avionics USA, LLC. will provide Contractor Logistics Support (CLS) services to Airbus Helicopters Inc. for the U.S. Army fleet of UH-72A Lakota Helicopters, the company announced on May 9, 2017.
 

India's Tejas LCA successfully test fires Derby beyond visual range missile

India's Tejas LCA successfully test fires Derby beyond visual range missile
 
India's indigenously-made Tejas Light Combat Aircraft LSP4 on May 11, 2017, successfully demonstrated an Air-to-Air Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missile firing capability by releasing Derby Air-to-Air BVR missile in RADAR guided mode. The missile launch was performed in Lock ON after Launch mode for a BVR target in the look down mode and the target was destroyed.
 

CAE lands $41 mn order from UAE for RPA integrated training solution

CAE lands $41 mn order from UAE for RPA integrated training solution
 
CAE announced on May 8 it was awarded a USD41 million contract by the General Headquarters (GHQ) of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to provide the UAE Air Force and Air Defence with a comprehensive training solution for remotely piloted aircraft (RPA).
 

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