APRIL 2019 news

Air Forces - Aerospace and Aviation Defense Industry


Boeing awarded post-production contract for US KC-46 Pegasus

The Boeing Co., Seattle, Washington, has been awarded a $US 5,7 billion indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity post-production contract for KC-46 Pegasus refuelling tanker aircraft for Combat Capability (PC2).

Lockheed Martin awarded support contract for US F-35 Lightning II

Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded a $1,148,847,334 cost-plus-incentive-fee, cost-plus-fixed-fee, firm-fixed-price, cost share contract for sustainment services in support of the F-35 Lightning II aircraft for the Air Force, Navy, non-U. S. Department of Defense (non-U.S. DoD) participants and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers.

TsAGI designs new low-noise acoustic wind tunnel for aircraft industry

The Zhukovsky Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute (TsAGI) designed a unique low-noise acoustic wind tunnel, the institute said.

India to test-fire an air-launched variant of the BrahMos missiles

According to an Indian senior official, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited is working to equip Sukhoi aircraft to carry and launch an air-launched variant of the BrahMos missiles. Once successful, Su-30MKIs could easily carry out the long-range strike.

Russia and Turkey to jointly develop aircraft and helicopters

Russia and Turkey are jointly working on creating promising aircraft and helicopters, and also components for the armour, the press office of Russia’s state arms seller Rosoboronexport (part of the state hi-tech corporation Rostec) recently reported.

Irkut upgrades YaK-130 operational trainer

Russia`s Corporation Irkut (a subsidiary of the United Aircraft Corporation) is continuing the modernization of the Yakovlev YaK-130 (NATO reporting name: Mitten) operational trainer, according to the press department of the state corporation Rostec.

Greece to buy General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper drones

The Greek Defense Ministry has reportedly agreed to buy three US-made unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to boost its defense capabilities and improve reconnaissance over the Aegean Sea.

Gentex awarded $27,000,000 contract for Head Gear Unit 56/P Rotary Wing Helmet

Gentex Corp, Simpson, Pennsylvania, was awarded a $27,860,817 firm-fixed-price contract for the Head Gear Unit 56/P Rotary Wing Helmet.

Lockheed Martin awarded $723 million Hellfire missile contract for France, Lebanon and the Netherlands

Lockheed Martin was awarded a $723,550,174 modification to domestic and Foreign Military Sales (Lebanon, Netherlands and France) contract to procure a variety of HELLFIRE II missile variants.

All Mi-35M assault helicopters equipped with Vitebsk onboard defense system

Experts of the Moscow Helicopter Plant named after M.L. Mil (MVZ, an affiliate of the Russian Helicopters holding company) have installed additional Vitebsk onboard defense systems at all Mi-35M assault helicopters, which are in service with the Russian Air Force judging from the MVZ presentation materials, which have been received by TASS.

Armenia: first Su-30SM jets expected by early 2020

The first multifunctional Su-30SM fighters will be delivered to Armenia by early 2020, with further plans to buy more of the aircraft, Armenian Minister of Defense David Tonoyan told reporters on the sidelines of the Eighth Moscow Conference on International Security, TASS reports.

Mi-26 and Mi-8AMTSh deliver 1000 tons of Arctic cargoes

Mi-26 and Mi-8AMTSh helicopters of the air formation of the Eastern Military District deployed in Khabarovsk region continue combat duty in the Arctic area of responsibility, the district said.

US Army announces Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft Prototype award

The U.S. Army awarded five Other Transaction Authority for Prototype Agreements for the aircraft design, build, and test of the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft, April 23. The FARA shall be capable of achieving and sustaining overmatch against potential competitors and enduring asymmetric threats by closing or mitigating gaps in Army aviation attack and reconnaissance.

Russian experts make observation flight over US territory

A group of Russian inspectors is making an observation flight over the US territory on board of a Tu-214ON aircraft under the International Treaty on Open Skies, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

Argentine Air Force to receive refurbished Super Etendard jets from France

The Argentine Air Force will soon receive five refurbished Dassault-Breguet Super Etendard (SEM) aircraft from France. The modernized aircraft were purchased in 2018 from retired surplus stocks of the French Navy for a total contract cost of approximately €13 million. The Super Etendard series was decommissioned from active French Naval service in 2016 and replaced with the Dassault Rafale Marine.

New Orlan-10 drones come into service with Russian military base in Tajikistan

Four new Orlan-10 drones have come into service with a newly-formed battalion of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) deployed at the Russian military base in Tajikistan, the Central Military District (TsVO) said.

Hungary will lead 50th NATO Baltic Air Policing detachment

Hungary is scheduled to be the lead nation for NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission at Šiauliai, Lithuania, together with augmenting nations Spain and the United Kingdom.

General Atomics awarded $99 million for support of the MQ-1C Gray Eagle UAS

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., Poway, California, was awarded a $99,020,937 cost-plus-incentive-fee contract for performance based logistics support services for the MQ-1C Gray Eagle Unmanned Aircraft System.

Mi-26T2V rotorcraft to receive Vitebsk DIRCM system

Russia`s newest Mil Mi-26T2V (NATO reporting name: Halo) heavy transport rotorcraft will be fitted with the L-370 Vitebsk direct infrared countermeasures (DIRCM) system, according to the press department of the state corporation Rostec.

Kazan Helicopter Plant and Kumertau aircraft enterprise to jointly produce helicopters

Kazan Helicopter Plant (KVZ) and Kumertau aircraft enterprise (KumAPP) are integrating effort to create a machine-building cluster in Tatarstan and Bashkortostan and produce components and units for Ansat and Mi-38 helicopters, Russian Helicopters Holding said.

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