AUguST 2018 news

Air Forces - Aerospace and Defense Industry


Ilyushin progressing towards Il-276 airlifter production plans

The Ilyushin Aviation Complex, which is affiliated with the United Aircraft-Building Corporation, plans to spend 34 million rubles for preparing the Ulyanovsk-based Aviastar-SP plant for producing a perspective IL-276 airlifter and choose a cooperation scheme necessary for the aircraft’s production according to the Ilyushin’s 2018 annual procurement plant.

Turkey officially places order for four HAVA SOJ stand-off jammer aircraft

The Turkish Undesecretariat for Defence Industry (SSB) awarded Aselsan a contract for the development and delivery of HAVA SOJ stand-off jammer aircraft for the Turksih Air Force, the SSB said on August 9, 2018. A total of four platforms will be handed over to the TuAF Command starting 2023.

RNZAF orders one CAE 700MR Series NH90 flight training device

CAE on August 9 announced it has been awarded a contract from the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) to provide the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) with a CAE 700MR Series NH90 flight training device (FTD).

Serial Il-76MD-90A airlifter prepares for trials

The serial Il-76MD-90A airlifter built by Aviastar-SP enterprise will soon begin trials, the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) said. The serial Il-76MD-90A airlifter built by Aviastar-SP enterprise will soon begin trials, the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) said.

Zephyr S HAPS completes longest flight ever made

Airbus Defence and Space announced the successful landing of its first production aircraft of the Zephyr programme, the new Zephyr S HAPS (High Altitude Pseudo-Satellite). After taking off on 11th July in Arizona, USA, Zephyr S logged a maiden flight of over 25 days, the longest duration flight ever made. An application has been made to establish this as a new world record. This maiden flight of the solar powered Zephyr S proves the system capabilities and achieved all the flight’s engineering objectives.

Harris secures $400M order for F-16 AIDEWS systems

Harris Corporation has been awarded a $400 million increase to the ceiling value of a single-award IDIQ contract to supply electronic warfare (EW) systems for international F-16 fighters – helping to protect allied aircraft against evolving radar and electronic threats. The new ceiling value is $491 million and was received during the fourth quarter of Harris' fiscal 2018.

IAF appoints first-ever female flight squadron commander

On August 7, the commander of the IAF appointed a female aircrew member as the first female flight squadron commander in the IAF. Maj. G' will act as commander of the 122nd ("Nachshon") Squadron after being promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. "It is both a great privilege and a great responsibility. The real work is still ahead of me".

Triumph wins follow-up contract for C-130J airframe component production

Triumph Group, Inc. announced on August 7 that its Aerospace Structures business has been awarded a multi-year airframe component contract for Lockheed Martin’s C130J Super Hercules program. Under initial terms of the contract, Triumph Fabrications in San Diego, California will provide 108 different part numbers for the C130J program.

China sets up new helicopter detachment for UN peacekeeping mission

China’s second peacekeeping helicopter detachment, which will be deployed to the UN peacekeeping mission area in Darfur, Sudan, was established at an army aviation brigade of the PLA 81st Group Army on Tuesday morning.

Saab lands new self-protection systems order for HAL Dhruv helicopter

Saab has received a follow-on order from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the IDAS-2 self-protection suite for the Indian Army’s Dhruv helicopter. The order amounts to approximately MSEK 350 (USD 39 million).

Russia plans to upgrade five Il-22M11 airborne command posts

The Russian Defense Ministry plans to upgrade five Il-22M11 aircraft to become multirole air command posts, the Izvestia daily said. The aircraft will get a retransmitting hub integrated with ground and air automatic control systems. The work is to be done by 2021 and the total cost will exceed 1.6 bln ruble (USD 25 million).

First Tu-22M3M bomber set for maiden flight

The first modernized Tu-22M3M long-range bomber got totally new on-board equipment after renovation. The air frame and some aircraft systems are the only things left from the previous aircraft, Alexander Konyukhov, director-general of the Tupolev aerospace and defense company, told TASS.

Saab to upgrade RTAF Air Command and Control System

Saab has received an order from the Royal Thai Air Force to upgrade Thailand’s national Air Command and Control System which is based on Saab’s 9AIR C4I, the Swedish defense giant said today, August 7.

HAL successfully demonstrates new Rotary Wing UAV

The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited successfully demonstrated flight of a 10Kg Rotary Wing (Helicopter) Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (RUAV) here in the presence of its Board of Directors, recently.  The RUAV is of a 2-stroke petrol engine, twin blade main rotor and tail rotor, payload capability of 2.5Kg including live stream video camera and range of the vehicle is 8-10 Km with an endurance of one hour.

USAF OA-X program moves to acquisitions phase

The US Air Force shared a draft request for proposal for the Light Attack Aircraft with Sierra Nevada/Embraer and Textron Aviation following the conclusion of the second phase of the Light Attack Experiment, the service announced on August 6, 2018.

French Air Force successfully test fired BAT-120 GL laser-guided munition

In June 2018, a BAT-120 GL laser-guided lightweight munition prototype equipped with its guidance system was successfully fired for the first time from a French Air Force Mirage 2000D at the French defence ministry's Biscarrosse test range in Western France, Thales announced on July 30, 2018.

IAF & USAF signed new cooperation agreement

An agreement incorporating all fields of cooperation between the IAF & USAF in 2018-2019 was signed on August 1st, the IAF said. The document deals with acquisition, training, intelligence, safety, operation and medicine, with its focal point being the "Adir" (F-35I) aircraft.

US Air Force receives final upgraded C-5M Galaxy

Lockheed Martin delivered the 52nd C-5M Super Galaxy strategic transport modernized under the U.S. Air Force's Reliability Enhancement and Re-engining Program (RERP) on Aug. 2 at the company's Marietta, Georgia, facility. The delivery completes the RERP upgrade, which extends the service life of the C-5 fleet out until the 2040s.

Indonesia expecting first Su-35 fighter jet for October

Indonesia is waiting to receive the first Su-35 Russian fighter jet by October this year, Indonesian Ambassador to Russia Mohammad Wahid Supriyadi has said. "We expect the first out of eleven S-35 fighter jets to be delivered by October this year," he said. "We mark the Indonesian National Armed Forces Day in October and we want to time the aircraft’s delivery to coincide with this date," the Indonesian diplomat said.

US oks potential FMS from Latvia for UH-60M helicopters

The US State Department approved on August 3rd a possible Foreign Military Sale to Latvia of four UH-60M Black Hawk Helicopters and related equipment for an estimated cost of $200 million, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said.

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