March 2019 news

Air Forces - Aerospace and Aviation Defense Industry


Russia’s Aerospace Force gets sixth upgraded A-50U radar surveillance aircraft

Vega Company integrated into Ruselectronics Group (part of the state hi-tech corporation Rostec) and the Beriev Aircraft Company (part of the United Aircraft Corporation) have delivered the sixth upgraded A-50U long-range radar surveillance aircraft to Russia’s Aerospace Force, the Rostec press office reported on Thursday.

Russia developing new combat helicopter for Airborne Force

Russia is developing a new combat helicopter for the Airborne Force’s helicopter-mobile units. The new chopper will be a follow-up of Mil Mi-24 and Mi-35 models, a source in the domestic defense industry told TASS on Wednesday.

UK invests in drone swarm technology

The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) has awarded £2.5m to a consortium led by Blue Bear Systems Research Ltd to develop drone swarm technology.

Leonardo establishes helicopter production joint venture with Algeria

Leonardo and the Algerian Ministry of National Defence have established a joint venture for the local assembly, sale and support of Leonardo helicopters.

Australia commits to next Triton remotely piloted aircraft

The Minister for Defence, Christopher Pyne MP, and the Minister for Defence Industry, Senator Linda Reynolds CSC, announced on March 27  that the Government will purchase the next MQ-4C Triton Remotely Piloted Aircraft.

$43M deal to trial Heavy-lift UAS in Alaska

Sabrewing Aircraft Company, Inc. (USA) and the Aleut Community of St. Paul Island (ACSPI), the Unangan (Aleut) Tribe of Native Alaskans, located on St. Paul and St. George, Pribilof Islands, jointly announced that they have signed a history-making agreement for Sabrewing to provide a mix of up to ten aircraft – featuring both the 800-pound-payload “Rhaegal” and the 4400-pound-payload “Wyvern” aircraft.

UAC may open a Yak-130 center in Malaysia

The United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) may open a Yak-130 center in Malaysia to service Yak-130 aircraft for Southeast Asia, Yuri Slyusar, the corporation’s head, said.

Belgium to get MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones

The US State Department has given the green light for Belgium to buy MQ-9B Sky Guardian drones from General Atomics, a deal that could be worth about $600 million.

Russia: Over 2500 paratroopers to participate in regimental tactical exercise

A tactical exercise engaging paraborne and artillery regiments of the 98th Guards Airborne Division has got under way in the territories of the Ivanovo, Kostroma, Yaroslavl and Nizhny Novgorod regions under the supervision of the formation’s commander Guards Colonel Nikolai Choban, the informational support group of the Russian Airborne Troops said.

Su-30MKM to shape Royal Malaysian Air Force's backbone

Russian-made Sukhoi Su-30MKM (NATO reporting name: Flanker-H) multirole combat aircraft will shape the backbone of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) in the coming years, a source from the service told TASS at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition 2019 (LIMA 2019) that is being held in Malaysia from March 26-30.

$3.8 billion sale and upgrade of Morocco F-16 aircraft approved by US

The US State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Morocco of F-16C/D Block 72 aircraft and related equipment for an estimated cost of $3.787 billion. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on March 22.

Indian Navy may finalise $2-bn deal for MH60R Seahawk multirole naval helicopter

Indian Navy is expected to conclude contract with the US-based aerospace giant Lockheed Martin for 24 MH60R Seahawk multirole naval helicopters by October this year.

Malaysia and South Korea add Leonardo AW189s to their fire-fighting helicopter fleets

Leonardo's AW189 helicopters enter service with the Malaysian and Seoul city fire brigades. The twin-engine, medium-lift choppers will also soon be delivered to the Tokyo Fire Department.

Raytheon developing new version of advanced synthetic aperture radar for U-2 aircraft

Raytheon is developing a new version of the Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar that flies on the U-2 Dragon Lady aircraft under a $320 million undefinitized contract from the U.S. Air Force.

Indian Air Force inducts 4 multi-mission Chinook heavy-lift helicopters

The first four of the 15 CH-47F Chinook helicopters, which were ordered from Boeing in September 2015, were commissioned into the IAF’s 126 Helicopter Unit at a ceremony held at Chandigarh.

Successful trial in Ukraine for the Turkish drone Bayraktar TB2

The testing of the Turkish unmanned combat aerial vehicle Bayraktar TB2 has successfully finished in Ukraine as Ukroboronprom reported.

DARPA presents more details on unmanned aircraft equipped with CODE

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has given further details on the capabilities of its Collaborative Operations in Denied Environment (CODE) program aims to adapt and respond to unexpected threats for existing unmanned aircraft that would extend mission capabilities and improve U.S. forces’ ability to conduct operations in denied or contested airspace.

US B-52 bombers training in Europe

The U.S. Air Force has sent six B-52 long-range bombers to the United Kingdom for a series of training activities over Europe. The aircraft and over 450 airmen arrived at Royal Air Force base Fairford on March 14 from Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana.

Russian Defense Ministry plans to buy over 100 Il-76MD-90A planes before 2030

The Ulyanovsk-based Aviastar-SP enterprise (part of the transport aviation division within the United Aircraft Corporation) plans to deliver six Ilyushin Il-76MD-90A heavily upgraded military transport planes to Russia’s Defense Ministry in 2019, the Ilyushin Aircraft Company reported on its Instagram page on March 22. "Under the 2019 production program, the Ulyanovsk-based aircraft-making enterprise plans to manufacture and deliver six Il-76MD-90A aircraft," the statement says.

General Atomics awarded $123 million Netherlands MQ-9 Reaper drone contract

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., Poway, Calif., has been awarded a not-to-exceed $123,293,911 undefinitized contract action for MQ-9 Block 5 procurement.

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