August 2019 news

Air Forces - Aerospace and Aviation Defense Industry


Chinese Air Force flies new version of fighter bomber based on JH-7

The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force is now flying a new type of warplane that is based on the JH-7 fighter bomber, which Chinese military experts said is likely to have enhanced flight performance and firepower compared to its predecessors. Liu Xuanzun reports on Global Times.

Belgian F-16s still benefit from updates for SATCOM, nuclear purposes

Although the F-16 AM/BM Fighting Falcon of the Belgian Air Component will be withdrawn from service by 2028, they nevertheless benefit from a last update to integrate, among others, the last version of the B61 nuclear bomb, the -12 currently under development.

State Department clears sale of 12 MH-60R multi-mission helicopters with support to South Korea

The U.S. State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Republic of Korea of MH-60R Seahawk multi-mission helicopters with support for an estimated cost of $800 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on August 7, 2019.

Full-scale air and air defense exercises begin in Russian Southern Military District

A full-scale two-side air and air defense exercise has begun in the Southern Military District (YuVO). The drills engage more than 300 aircraft and helicopters of YuVO’s 4th Air and Air Defense Forces Army; operational groups of the YuVO military administrations, services and departments; armies and formations of the Southern Military District; air defense formations and units of combined-arms armies; the coastal troops and naval aviation of the Black Sea Fleet as well as electronic warfare (EW), communication and logistics support units, the district said.

Northrop Grumman to develop the next generation tactical radar antenna for US Army

Northrop Grumman Corporation has received a contract award from the U.S. Army to develop the next generation tactical radar antenna. The Re-scalable Aperture for Precision Targeting Radar (RAPTR) will be composed of small radar building blocks to allow the antenna to be scaled to fit a wide range of mission and platform requirements.

Russian heavy strike drone S-70 Okhotnik maiden flight video

On  August 7 , Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation released a video of the maiden flight of the Russian heavy strike S-70 Okhotnik UAV.

Pulselite System selected as standard equipment on the Bell 407GXi

Precise Flight, Inc. has announced that Bell, a Textron Inc. company, has selected Precise Flight's patented Pulselite System as standard equipment for the Bell 407GXi.

Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace to supply air-to-air pylons for the F-35 program

Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace AS has signed a contract with Marvin Engineering worth 113 MNOK to supply air-to-air pylons for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Program. The agreement covers production lot 12 for air-to-air pylons for all variants of the fighter.

BIRD Aerosystems will provide additional Airborne Missile Protection Systems (AMPS) to the UN Air Operations

BIRD Aerosystems, the developer of Airborne Missile Protection Systems (AMPS) and Special Mission Aircraft Solutions (ASIO), has received an order for additional AMPS systems from the UN Air Operations. Under the contract, BIRD will provide its AMPS-MV solution, which includes the MACS sensor, and install it on the UN Mi-17 Helicopters, that are operating in the most dangerous and complicated areas in Africa. The UN is already using BIRD's AMPS systems, and this is a follow-on order that will allow the UN to install the systems on additional helicopters.

Lockheed Martin awarded contract in support of KC-130J aircraft

Lockheed Martin Corp., Marietta, Georgia, is awarded $16,465,887 for modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract . This modification increases the ceiling of the contract to procure consumable parts and material, technical publications and engineering services in support of the C/KC-130J aircraft.

Russian Aerospace Forces to receive upgraded Su-30SM1 fighters

The Russian Aerospace Forces will receive upgraded Su-30SM1 aerial fighters. The Defense Ministry has already placed an order with manufacturers for the first lot of upgraded multirole fighters. The aircraft has been updated taking into account the results of the first years of its operation and the experience gained in the Syria mission. The Su-30SM1 got new engines and radars, which enhances its agility and combat efficiency. The Aerospace Forces will receive the first machines before the end of next year. Large-scale deliveries will start in 2021. Over time, all the Su-30SM aircraft will be updated to the SM1 standard, the "Isvestia" newspaper reports.

China: MOZI 2 solar-powered UAV successfully made its maiden flight

A new solar-powered unmanned aircraft, the MOZI 2, completed its first successful test flight at an airport in the eastern Chinese province of Zhejiang on July 27, 2019.

UK :Rolls-Royce awarded £350m Typhoon engine support contract

The MOD has signed a contract worth almost £350 million to support the engines that power the UK’s fleet of Typhoon fighter jets.

Raytheon awarded contract for missile launchers

The Raytheon Co., Indianapolis, Indiana, is awarded $17,486,136 for modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract to procure 72 LAU-115 D/A missile launchers; 16 LAU-116 B/A missile launchers left hand; and 32 LAU-116 B/A missile launchers right hand.

Russian heavy drone Okhotnik made its first flight

Russian heavy strike unmanned aerial vehicle Okhotnik, developed by the KB Sukhoi Design Bureau, made its first flight, the Russian Defense Ministry reports. "The "Okhotnik" military long endurance unmanned aerial vehicle has made its first flight.

Russia develops new air-launched weapons

Russia’s JSC Tactical Missiles Corporation (Korporatsiya Takticheskoe Raketnoe Vooruzhenie, KTRV) is developing two new air-launched weapons (ALWs), Grom-E1 and Grom-E2, according to the company’s Director General Boris Obnosov.

Rockwell Collins Simulation & Training Solutions awarded $40M contract for E-8 aircrew training device sustainment

Rockwell Collins Simulation & Training Solutions, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has been awarded a $40,219,702 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for E-8 Aircrew Training Device sustainment.  

Prospective strategic bomber will be tested at the Tupolev’s base in Zhukovsky

A prospective long-range aviation complex (PAK DA), which is being developed in the interest of the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS), will undergo trials at the Tupolev flight test and development site in Zhukovsky, the company’s press service said.

Turkey: SOM-J missiles could be used on future Turkish fighter and UAVs instead of F-35

Turkish SOM-J missiles developped for the F-35 fighter jet could be used with Turkey's locally developed national combat aircraft and UAVS, the country's industry and technology minister said on August 3.

Hebco awarded $80M contract for A-10 technical order sustainment

HEBCO Inc., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, has been awarded an $80,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for A-10 technical order sustainment. 

Page 3 of 4