JUNE 2021 news

Defense Aviation and Aerospace Industry


 

US Navy plans to arm F/A-18E/F and F-35C with US Air Force JASSM-ER cruise missile

According to Richard R. Burgess on SeaPower, the U.S. Navy’s 2022 budget includes funds for a cruise missile that will be new to the Navy but has been in production for the U.S. Air Force: the 2022 budget proposes a procurement of 25 AGM-158B Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile Extended Range (JASSM-ER) cruise missiles.

Royal Air Force Master Aircrew exceeds 9000 flying hours

According to information published by the Royal Air Force on June 14, 2021, a Master Aircrew has achieved the extremely rare feat of amassing 9000 flying hours whilst operating RAF helicopters.

Russian airlifter aviation faces problems – Part 1

Claims about a crisis in the Russian airlifter construction were confirmed by a meeting in Sochi in late May chaired by President Vladimir Putin with top military brass and the leadership of defense enterprises.

Saudi Arabia already bought three Turkish drones in 2020

According to information published by the United Nations Register of Conventional Weapons (UNROCA) in June 2021, Saudi Arabia already bought three Turkish Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in 2020. The report did not mention if it is about the UAV is the Bayraktar TB2 or the TAI Anka.

Turkmenistan Air Force to receive 3 more Embraer A-29B Super Tucanos

According to Scramble Magazine, on 14 June 2021, the next three Embraer A-29B Super Tucano light attack aircraft for the Turkmenistan Air Force were seen at São José dos Campos, Brazil.

EDA HEP exercise Hot Blade 2021 kicks off in Portugal

Hot Blade 2021, the 15th helicopter exercise organised under the umbrella of the European Defence Agency’s Helicopter Exercise Programme (HEP), will kick off on 16 June at Beja airbase in Portugal. It will last until 30 June.

Russian Baltic fleet aviation to get more Su-30SM multirole fighter jets

Russia is rearming the coastal forces of the Baltic fleet whose commander Admiral Nosatov said Bal and Bastion coastal complexes, Iskander operational-tactical missiles, S-400 Triumph air defense systems, Pantsir-S guns, Forpost drones, multirole Su-30SM jets, Ka-27M and Ka-29 helicopters, and other latest and upgraded hardware were supplied in the past three years.

Modernized Northrop Grumman electronic warfare for global F-16 Fleet

Northrop Grumman’s F-16 electronic warfare suite for international operators draws upon the technologies developed for the U.S. F-16 fleet. Known as the ALQ-131C, this fully modernized, digital system is ready to defend against current and future threats.

J-20 stealth fighters and new helicopters to perform at Communist Party of China centenary celebrations

According to Global Times, Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) warplanes are expected to deliver an aerial performance for the celebration activities of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC), with a large number of the country’s most advanced stealth fighter jets, the J-20, and a type of newly developed helicopter, informally known as the Z-8L, participating, a rehearsal of the event on Sunday indicated.

Indonesia reported to have signed contract to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets

According to information published by Defense Studies on June 13, 2021, Indonesia is reported to have signed a contract to buy 36 French Dassault Rafale fighter jets.

Northrop Grumman launches Pegasus XL rocket for US Space Force

Northrop Grumman announced on June 13 that successfully launched the Tactically Responsive Launch-2 (TacRL-2) payload into orbit for the U.S. Space Force (USSF), using the company’s Pegasus XL rocket. TacRL-2 was launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base.

Bronco II enters final phase of USSOCOM Armed Overwatch competition

Leidos, a science and technology leader, announced on June 11 its team was selected to enter the final phase of the U.S. Special Operations Command’s (USSOCOM) Armed Overwatch aircraft prototype program. Leidos, Paramount USA, and Vertex were among five teams awarded a total of $19.3 million for prototype demonstrations and will advance Bronco II to the Phase III Operational Prototype Demonstration later this month.

Russian Western District to receive MiG-31K with Kinzhal ALBM missiles

The Russian Defense Ministry decided to deploy aircraft with air ballistic Kinzhal missiles in the Western Military District, the Izvestia daily writes quoting Defense Ministry sources. They said the deployment places are being specified. The sources did not disclose the exact deployment time. The deliveries will depend on the implementation of the arms procurement order and the time required to train the crews, they said.

NORAD conducts Arctic air defence exercise Amalgam Dart

North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) is conducting Exercise Amalgam Dart, an arctic air defense exercise, from June 10 to 18, 2021. The exercise is featuring a variety of military aircraft from the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and U.S. Air Force (USAF) operating out of Alaska U.S. and other northern locations including Inuvik, N.W.T., Yellowknife, N.W.T, 4 Wing Cold Lake, Alta., 5 Wing Goose Bay, N.L, Iqaluit, Nun, CFS Alert, Nun, and Thule Air Base, Greenland.

Boeing awarded US Navy contract to supply 36 SLAM ER data link pods and containers to Saudi Arabia

The U.S. Department of Defense announced on June 10 that Boeing is awarded a $78,355,686 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N0001920C0003). This modification exercises an option to procure various material associated with a quantity of 36 Stand-Off Land Attack Missile Expanded Response (SLAM ER) data link pods and containers in support of the SLAM ER obsolescence redesign program for the government of Saudi Arabia.

Bangladesh confirms purchase of 24 Grob G 120TP trainer aircraft

According to Md Badaruddin, the Bangladesh Air Force will get 24 Grob G 120TPs, a two-seat turboprop training and aerobatic low-wing aircraft with a composite airframe, built by Grob Aircraft. It is based on the Grob G 120A training aircraft and has been developed for military and civil pilots training.

Northrop Grumman awarded US Air Force contract for Minuteman III ICBM sustainment

Northrop Grumman has been awarded a $287 million base contract by the U.S. Air Force to provide engineering services to assist in sustaining the Minuteman III missile system. The Propulsion Subsystem Support Contract (PSSC) 2.0, awarded last month, with options, has a contract ceiling of $2.3 billion over 18.5 years and supports the Air Force’s Minuteman III Systems Directorate, located at Hill Air Force Base, Utah.

Ecaro V-150 UAV flight trials ready to go

European provider of Rotary Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) platforms, UMS Skeldar, arrived this week at the Grottaglie Airport in Italy with its V-150 Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) air vehicle ahead of a three-week flight test campaign with the Distretto Technologico Aerospaziale (DTA).

Raytheon awarded contract for F-15E APG-82 radar system

The U.S. Department of Defense announced on June 9 that Raytheon has been awarded a $3,120,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for F-15 Radar Eagle Vision. This contract provides for the production, modernization and support of the F-15E APG-82 radar system to rapidly deliver and stay aligned with the F-15 Strike Eagle weapon system program. Work will be performed in El Segundo, California, and is expected to be completed on June 8, 2036.

Philippine Air Force receives 5 more S-70i Black Hawk helicopters

According to ti AirForceTechnology, Lockheed Martin company's PZL Mielec has delivered five additional S-70i Black Hawk combat utility helicopters (CUH) to the Philippine Air Force which will receive the third - and last - batch of five S-70i Black Hawk helicopters later in 2021.

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