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JANUARY 2020 news
Air Forces - Aerospace and Defense Industry |
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The Air Force Research Laboratory, along with partner Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc., completed the successful fourth flight test of the XQ-58A Valkyrie low-cost unmanned air vehicle demonstrator Jan. 23, 2020, at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona.
The Afghan Air Force (AAF) continues using Mil Mi-17V-5 (NATO reporting name: Hip-H) utility rotorcraft during a wide range of missions, despite the fact that Sikorsky UH-60A+ Black Hawk rotorcraft, which are intended for their replacement, have already been fielded, says the United States of America’s Department of Defense’s (DoD) annual report ‘Enhancing Stability and Security in Afghanistan’.
Boeing has signed an agreement with Israel-based Tactical Robotics to explore the development of a ducted fan propulsion technology with potential uses for piloted and autonomous light aircraft.
Russian Helicopters (a Rostech subsidiary) developed a new version of the Mi-8AMTSh-VN Special Forces helicopter with enhanced weapons, says CEO Andrey Boginsky.
On 14th January 2020, Airbus Helicopters delivered the last Spanish HAD Helicopter to the Spanish Army. Originally, this helicopter was used as a prototype for the development of the Spanish HAD fleet and was finally retrofitted into the serial configuration Block 2 (B2).
Batch production of upgraded Su-34 frontline bombers will begin in 2020. The aircraft was assigned the "new capabilities" index (NVO). It will be armed with modern weapons, improved electronic warfare and reconnaissance containers. It is upgraded according to the Syrian experience, the Izvestia daily writes.
3rd Marine Air Wing welcomed the Marine Corps’ first F-35C Lightning II to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, Jan. 21, 2020.
US Air Force's MQ-9 Reaper Remotely Piloted Aircraft, personnel and support equipment with the 52nd Expeditionary Operations Group Detachment 2 at Miroslawiec Air Base, Poland, have temporarily relocated to 71st Air Base at Campia Turzii Air Base, Romania, in support of a range of operations on the continent that support our NATO allies. This includes cold weather operations and participation in various exercises in the region.
On January 18, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) announced that it has received two new Leonardo AW109 Power helicopters.
"Russia’s Kamov Ka-52 attack helicopter is the world’s sole gunship that has received a broadband communications suite, which provides for high-speed data transmission", CEO of RTI Group Pavel Laptayev told TASS on Wednesday.
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) on November 19, 2019 completed the first in a series of internally-funded Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) demonstrations using a company-owned Gray Eagle Extended Range (GE-ER) Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS). The flight series will continue in 2020 and show that a GE-ER equipped with long-range sensors and Air Launched Effects (ALE) is able to Detect, Identify, Locate and Report (DILR) targetable data to support Long Range Precision Fires (LRPF) systems.
The MOD’s UK Military Flying Training System (UKMFTS) has signed a £183 million contract to boost training services for new Rotary Wing pilots.
Leonardo has signed a contract with Indonesian company PT Len Industri (Persero) to provide a RAT 31 DL/M radar system for the Indonesian Air Force (IAF). The IAF will operate the radar to strengthen the air defence system of the Republic of Indonesia.
According to the Indian newspaper The Economic Times, the Indian Navy will purchase only six additional Ka-31 radar patrol helicopters in Russia, instead of ten previously planned. This is due to insufficient financing of the Indian fleet, which in 2020 was allocated only 41259 crore rupees ($ 5.815 billion) from the budget, instead of the required Navy 64307 crore rupees ($ 7.654 billion). However, the purchase of a batch of Ka-31 remains one of the priorities of the Indian Navy.
Sierra Technical Services, Inc. (STS) achieved a major milestone on the 10th of January with the completion of Engine Run Testing on the 5thGeneration Aerial Target (5GAT). The 5GAT contract is administered by the U.S.Army Corp of Engineers Contracting Office (USACE) located in Sacramento, CA and is managed by the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Director of Operational Test and Evaluation (OSD/DOT&E). STS was awarded a Prime Contract in March 2017 to design, manufacture, assemble, integrate and ground/flight test the 5GAT Demonstrator and has provided subject matter expertise to the U.S. Government while developing the design of the 5GAT aircraft concept since 2008.
The first CMV-22B Osprey, built by Boeing and Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc. company, completed first flight operations at Bell’s Amarillo Assembly Center. The CMV-22B is the latest variant of the tiltrotor fleet, joining the MV-22 and CV-22 used by the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Air Force.
Saab started assembly production on January 10, 2020 of its section of the T-7A aircraft, the advanced trainer developed and produced together with Boeing for the United States Air Force.
The new HALE drone with 3 piston engines from the Tengden start-up successfully made its first flight independently, at Zigong airport, on January 16.
On January 17, Russian deputy chief of mission Roman Babushkinsaid all S-400 air defence missile systems will be delivered to India by 2025.
Recently, the Indonesian Minister of Defense explained to France that his country wanted to arm itself to counter the Chinese threat. According to some sources, Jakarta is interested in buying up to 48 Rafale fighter jets, 4 Scorpene submarines and 2 Gowind corvettes.
