September  2015 Air Force Military Aviation Defence Industry News
 
 

Full Operational Capability for the Royal Navy’s Mk2 Merlins

Full Operational Capability for the Royal Navy’s Mk2 Merlins
 
The first AgustaWestland AH101 Mk2 Merlin helicopters of the Royal Navy have achieved full operational capability. Of the total 30 Merlin Mk1 23 have already been delivered on time and budget under the 25-year Merlin Capability Sustainment Programme (MCSP), awarded in January 2006 to Lockheed Martin UK.
The first AgustaWestland AH101 Mk2 Merlin helicopters of the Royal Navy have achieved full operational capability. Of the total 30 Merlin Mk1 23 have already been delivered on time and budget under the 25-year Merlin Capability Sustainment Programme (MCSP), awarded in January 2006 to Lockheed Martin UK.
 

Orbital ATK’s AGM-88E AARGM Missile scores direct hit against a mobile ship target

Orbital ATK’s AGM-88E AARGM Missile scores direct hit against a mobile ship target
 
Orbital ATK a global leader in aerospace and defense technologies, and the U.S. Navy successfully launched and scored a hit against the Mobile Ship Target during Block 1 upgrade test firings of the AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) at the Point Mugu Sea Range on Aug. 18, 2015.
Orbital ATK a global leader in aerospace and defense technologies, and the U.S. Navy successfully launched and scored a hit against the Mobile Ship Target during Block 1 upgrade test firings of the AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) at the Point Mugu Sea Range on Aug. 18, 2015.
 

Spirit AeroSystems completed first fuselage of the V-280 Valor next generation tiltrotor

Spirit AeroSystems completed first fuselage of the V-280 Valor next generation tiltrotor
 
Spirit AeroSystems Inc. announced it has completed the first fuselage to Bell Helicopter for the Joint Multi-Role Technology Demonstrator (JMR-TD) program. The unit was designed and assembled in Spirit's rapid prototyping facility in Wichita, Kan., in just 22 months. The composite fuselage is being prepped to ship to Bell's Amarillo, Texas , facility for final assembly.
Spirit AeroSystems Inc. announced it has completed the first fuselage to Bell Helicopter for the Joint Multi-Role Technology Demonstrator (JMR-TD) program. The unit was designed and assembled in Spirit's rapid prototyping facility in Wichita, Kan., in just 22 months. The composite fuselage is being prepped to ship to Bell's Amarillo, Texas , facility for final assembly.
 

Indian Security Committee approved the procurement of Boeing helicopters

Indian Security Committee approved the procurement of Boeing helicopters
 
The Indian Cabinet Committee on Security approved today the acquisition of Boeing attack and heavy-lift helicopters. The decision has put an end to a three-year delay and allows the expansion of the bilateral defence relations.
The Indian Cabinet Committee on Security approved today the acquisition of Boeing attack and heavy-lift helicopters. The decision has put an end to a three-year delay and allows the expansion of the bilateral defence relations.
 

Philippine Air Force about to take delivery of its second C295 medium military airlifter

Philippine Air Force about to take delivery of its second C295 medium military airlifter
 
The Philippine Air Force (PAF)’s second Airbus Military C-295 medium transport aircraft will arrive at Clark Field, Pampanga Tuesday afternoon. “C-295M tail number 140 left Spain last Sept. 8. It is expected to arrive at Clark Field tomorrow Sept. 15 on the afternoon. It will undergo technical inspection and acceptance process [before being] formally turned over to PAF later,” said PAF spokesperson Col. Enrico Canaya, in a message to the PNA Monday.
The Philippine Air Force (PAF)’s second Airbus Military C295 medium transport aircraft will arrive at Clark Field, Pampanga Tuesday afternoon. “C295M tail number 140 left Spain last Sept. 8. It is expected to arrive at Clark Field tomorrow Sept. 15 on the afternoon. It will undergo technical inspection and acceptance process [before being] formally turned over to PAF later,” said PAF spokesperson Col. Enrico Canaya, in a message to the PNA Monday.
 

Lockheed Martin receives FMS from Poland for JASSM missiles

Lockheed Martin receives FMS from Poland for JASSM missiles
 
Lockheed Martin has received a Foreign Military Sales contract from the U.S. Air Force to provide the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM®) to the Polish Air Force for its F-16 fighter aircraft fleet. Lockheed Martin is providing hardware and software, documentation, program management and missiles in support of the Polish Shield initiative. Poland is the third international customer for JASSM.
Lockheed Martin has received a Foreign Military Sales contract from the U.S. Air Force to provide the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM®) to the Polish Air Force for its F-16 fighter aircraft fleet. Lockheed Martin is providing hardware and software, documentation, program management and missiles in support of the Polish Shield initiative. Poland is the third international customer for JASSM.
 

Algeria signs contract with Russia for 14 Su-30MKA fighter aircraft

Algeria signs contract with Russia for 14 Su-30MKA fighter aircraft
 
Russia and Algeria have signed contract details for 14 Sukhoi Su-30MKA (NATO reporting name: Flanker) multirole fighters, Rostec state corporation Director General Sergey Chemezov said on Friday, September 11, 2015.
Russia and Algeria have signed contract details for 14 Sukhoi Su-30MKA (NATO reporting name: Flanker) multirole fighters, Rostec state corporation Director General Sergey Chemezov said on Friday, September 11, 2015.
 

Boeing handed over its 8th and last C-17A Globemaster III military airlifter to the RAAF

Boeing handed over its 8th and last C-17A Globemaster III military airlifter to the RAAF
 
Boeing handed over its 8th and last C-17 Globemaster III military airlifter to the Royal Australian Air Force on last Friday, September 4th, local media announced. Friday’s delivery comes just five months after Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced that his government plans to buy two more C-17s as part of his country’s $1 billion investment in the C-17 fleet and upgrades to the fleet’s military base.
Boeing handed over its 8th and last C-17 Globemaster III military airlifter to the Royal Australian Air Force on last Friday, September 4th, local media announced. Friday’s delivery comes just five months after Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced that his government plans to buy two more C-17s as part of his country’s $1 billion investment in the C-17 fleet and upgrades to the fleet’s military base.
 

China and Pakistan air forces launched joint military drills Shaheen-4

China and Pakistan air forces launched joint military drills Shaheen-4
 
China and Pakistan air forces launched joint military drills Shaheen-4
Chinese and Pakistani air forces on Sunday Sept. 6th launched joint drill codenamed Shaheen-4 (Eagle-4) by pressing in several contingents of fighter jets, bombers and early warning aircraft. The joint exercise is part of a series of military exchange programmes between the two air forces, Chinese Air Force spokesperson Shen Jinke said.
 

Italy's first F-35A Lighting II fighter aircraft performed its first flight

Italy's first F-35A Lighting II fighter aircraft performed its first flight
 
Italy’s first F-35A Lightning II, known as AL-1 and assembled at the Cameri Final Assembly and Check Out (FACO) facility, flew for the first time today marking the program’s first-ever F-35 flight outside the United States., the defense giant announced today September 7th, 2015.
Italy’s first F-35A Lightning II, known as AL-1 and assembled at the Cameri Final Assembly and Check Out (FACO) facility, flew for the first time today marking the program’s first-ever F-35 flight outside the United States., the defense giant announced today September 7th, 2015.
 

Indonesia officially chooses the Su-35 multirole fighter to replace ageing F-5 Tiger IIs

Indonesia officially chooses the Su-35 multirole fighter to replace ageing F-5 Tiger IIs
 
Indonesia has decided to acquire Russian-made fighter jet Sukhoi Su-35 to replace its F-5 Tiger II which set to be decommissioned in the near future. The decision was announced by Indonesian Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu on Wednesday when he inspected the readiness of the armed forces arsenals.
Indonesia has decided to acquire Russian-made fighter jet Sukhoi Su-35 to replace its F-5 Tiger II which set to be decommissioned in the near future. The decision was announced by Indonesian Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu on Wednesday when he inspected the readiness of the armed forces arsenals.
 

More power for the US Army helicopters through the ITEP programme

More power for the US Army helicopters through the ITEP programme
 
More power for the US Army helicopters through the ITEP programme 640 001
In anticipation of the Future Vertical Lift platform, the United States Army has launched the Improved Turbine Engine Program (ITEP). After ten years of stalemate, the programme will lead to a new more powerful and cost-efficient engine being integrated in the Sikorsky’s Blackhawk and Boeing’s Apache helicopters.