DECEMBER 2018 news

Air Forces - Aerospace and Defense Industry


Hensoldt launches Captor-E e-scan antenna production

The Eurofighter will be equipped with a new generation of radar which will enhance the aircraft’s capabilities and survivability. In the Euroradar consortium, the sensor solutions provider HENSOLDT is pressing ahead with the development of the Eurofighter’s new Captor-E radar system.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police receives first H145 chopper

Airbus has delivered Canada’s first H145 helicopter to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). RCMP’s Air Support Unit will utilize the versatile twin-engine H145 helicopter for a variety of missions.

Boeing awarded $48M order for further Little Bird MELB kits

Boeing was awarded a $48 million IDIQ contract for the production of Mission Enhanced Little Bird (MELB) kits to upgrade the USSOCOM A/MH-6 helicopters, the US Department of Defense said on December 19, 2018.

Turkey, Philippines sign MoU for T129 combat helicopter purchase

Turkey and the Philippines on December 18 signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for defense cooperation in the Philippine capital Manilla. The deal, which includes a potential order of TAI 129 attack helicopters, was signed by Ismail Demir, the head of Turkey's Defense Industries Presidency (SSB), and Delfin Lorenzana, the Defense Secretary of the Philippines.

FLIR Star SAFIRE 380-HDc selected for USAF UH-1N replacement program

FLIR Systems announced today it has been selected by Boeing to provide the FLIR Star SAFIRE 380-HDc EO/IR surveillance sensor for the United States Air Force (USAF) UH-1N replacement contract. The replacement program will replace the current fleet of USAF UH-1N helicopters, which support the service’s nuclear intercontinental ballistic missile bases in Wyoming, Montana and North Dakota.

Pakistan officially inducts new Mi-35M helicopters

The Pakistani military has officially adopted four Russian-made Mil Mi-35M (NATO reporting name: Hind-E) transport-combat helicopters, a source from the country`s Ministry of Defense (MoD) told TASS.

L3 selected as prime contractor for US Air Force's F-16 Simulators Training Program

L3 Technologies has been selected as the prime contractor for the F-16 Simulators Training Program (STP) by the U.S. Air Force. Valued at $350 million, the F-16 STP contract consolidates the previous F-16 Mission Training Center (MTC), F-16 Weapons and Tactics Trainer (WTT) Advanced Sustainment, and F-16 Training System (TS) programs into a single, unified program.

Hungary becomes launch customer for Saab's Deployable Aircraft Maintenance Facility

Saab has signed an order to provide enhanced aircraft maintenance capability to the Hungarian Air Force, using the mobile solution Deployable Aircraft Maintenance Facility, the Swedish defense contractor said on December 19, 2018.

Lockheed Martin hands over first AGM-158C missiles to USAF operational units

Lockheed Martin has delivered the first Long Range Anti-Ship Missiles (LRASM) to U.S. Air Force operational units, achieving Early Operational Capability (EOC) status ahead of schedule, the US defense giant said on Tuesday.

Korea Aerospace Industries unveils prototype of light attack helicopter

On 18 December 2018, the prototype of South Korea's home-made light attack helicopter was unveiled by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) after years of development based on European technology. It will replace the current fleet of MD500s and 70 AH-1S Cobras.

NATO receives final upgraded AWACS aircraft

Boeing delivered the final Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft modernized with avionics and a digital cockpit to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in Manching, Germany. This delivery is the final of 14 and ensures NATO AWACS compliance with current and future air traffic control and navigation requirements.

Norwegian army to receive decommissioned British Seaking Mk.4 helicopter

A Sea King Mk.4 helicopter, currently stored in HMS Sultan’s helicopter graveyard, is to be gifted to the Norwegian military, Forces Network reports. An RAF CH-47 Chinook airlifted the retired Sea King and flew it as an underslung load to the Sea Mounting Centre at Marchwood in Hampshire this18 December. It will then be shipped to Bardufoss, Norway.

China testing J-10B mid-air refueling at night

China's armed forces successfully performed a complex mid-air refueling for its J-10B fighter jet at night, local medias said on December 17, 2018.

Airbus first serial H160 helicopter took to the skies

The first serial H160 to roll off the brand new assembly line in Marignane performed a flight demonstration on the 17 December in front of the H160 team in an end-of-the-year celebration of the programme’s achievements in 2018, Airbus Helicopters said today.

CASIC's HW-350 drone made its maiden flight

The HW-350 drone able to fly more than 24 hours on just one charge made its first flight on December 12, according to China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC).

Lockheed Martin's JAGM missile approved for LRIP phase 3

Lockheed Martin landed a $91,25 million contract for procurement of Joint-Air-to-Ground missiles (JAGM) under the initial phases of the Low-rate Initial Production 3, the US Department of Defense announced on December 17, 2018.

Northrop lands $3.6Bn order for LAIRCM countermeasures system support

Northrop Grumman has been awarded a $3.6 billion IDIQ contract for Large Aircraft Infrared Counter Measures (LAIRCM) equipment and support, the US Department of Defense said on December 17, 2018.

IAF successfully flies biofuel-powered military aircraft

On 17 December 2018, Experimental Test Pilots and Test Engineer from Indian Air Force’s premier testing establishment ASTE, flew India’s first military flight using blended bio-jet fuel on the An-32 transport aircraft.

Netherlands to buy 15 more F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters

On 14 December, The Netherlands pledged to buy more F-35 fighter jets and strengthen its special forces and cyber capabilities. "Extra investment in defense is a necessity because our surrounding safety zone has become a more instable place," the Defense Ministry said. "There are more threats to contend with and threats have become more complex," it. The F-35A comes with a current price tag of $89.2 million (78.9 million euros), according to Lockheed Martin.

European MALE RPAS completes system preliminary design review

The European MALE RPAS programme successfully passed the system preliminary design review as final milestone of the programmme definition study, the European agency OCCAR said on December 13, 2018.

Page 2 of 4