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November 2023 news
Defense Aviation and Aerospace Industry |
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According to a tweet posted on November 23, 2023, the Belgian F-35 Conversion Unit, now integrated into the U.S. 312 Fighter Squadron at Luke AFB, Arizona, is preparing for a significant role in training 48 pilots, 14 simulator instructors, and 120 technicians. In 2025, the first of 34 F-35Aswill arrive at Florennes Air Base.
According to a tweet posted by SA Defensa on November 24, Embraer delivered the fifth and last upgraded E-99M AEW&C aircraft to the Brazilian Air Force. The aircraft, registered FAB6704, is one of the key aircraft of the Brazilian Air Force, allowing for airborne strategic communication and intelligence gathering.
According to a tweet posted by SA Defensa on November 23, the Argentinian government has officially authorized the spending of a total of $60 million USD for the purchase of three second-hand P-3C and one P-3N Orion maritime patrol aircraft from Norway, the deal having been cleared by the US State Department. The first aircraft will be received next month.
The US-Czech startup, Vrgineers, specializing in Virtual and Mixed Reality technologies for pilot training, has teamed up with AMD and NVIDIA, graphical chip rivals, to pioneer an innovative architecture for mixed reality simulators. Vrgineers will unveil the new MR headset XTAL3 CAVU at I/ITSEC 2023.
Cyprus has delivered its old Russian Mil Mi-35 attack helicopters to Serbia as part of a deal, Laurent Lagneau reports in Opex360. Cyprus, which has had good relations with Moscow for a long time, had equipped its National Guard with Russian-made equipment, including the Mi-35P Hind attack helicopters. However, due to European sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine and other operational challenges, Cyprus decided to withdraw these helicopters from service in 2021.
As reported by Andrew Salerno-Garthwaite in Airforce Technology, Boeing has secured a contract worth $33 million to provide support and logistics for the Small Diameter Bomb I (SDB-I), also known as the GBU-39, as announced by the US Department of Defense on November 22. The GBU-39 is a next-generation precision strike weapon known for its cost-effectiveness and minimal collateral damage, and it is compatible with a variety of aircraft, including the F-15E, F-22A, and F-35 fighters.
Reiser Simulation and Training (RST) has recently been awarded a contract for the provision of the NH90 Rear Cabin Trainer by its highly regarded clients, NAHEMA (NATO Helicopter Management Agency) and the German Federal Armed Forces BAAINBw.
EDGE, one of the world's leading advanced technology and defence groups, and Calidus, a UAE-based provider of next-generation aeronautical and land systems, signed an MoU at Dubai Airshow 2023 to integrate EDGE precision-guided munition (PGM) and guided-glide weapon (GGW) solutions onto the B-250 light attack aircraft, and other Calidus platforms.
Leonardo, in collaboration with the Air Armaments and Airworthiness Directorate of the Secretariat General of Defence/National Armaments Directorate, has finalized a Purchase Contract aimed at providing the Slovenian Defence Ministry with an additional C-27J Spartan aircraft. This agreement also encompasses comprehensive logistics and training services, bolstering the defense capabilities of Slovenia. This contract is a result of the Government-to-Government (G2G) accord between Italy and Slovenia, inked on November 17, 2021, designed to enhance bilateral cooperation between the two nations.
A U.S. Air Force AC-130J Ghostrider attacked an Iran-backed militant group after the group used a ballistic missile to attack U.S. and coalition forces on Al-Asad Airbase, Iraq, the deputy Pentagon press secretary said on November 21 quoted by C. Todd Lopez.
Boeing has made significant progress in its initiative to supply a new helicopter for patrolling the United States' nuclear-armed intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) silos. On November 20th, the aerospace manufacturer announced the successful delivery of the sixth and final test aircraft to the US Air Force (USAF) as part of the MH-139A Grey Wolf program. The delivery was completed in October, as reported by Boeing and echoed by Ryan Finnerty in Flight Global.
The Kalashnikov Concern fulfilled ahead of schedule its 2023 obligations under the state contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense for the supply of Vikhr-1 guided missiles. Before being transferred to the Ministry of Defense, the ammunition underwent control flight tests, during which they confirmed full compliance with the contract requirements.
On November 10, 2023, in a significant move to strengthen its aerial capabilities, the Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force integrated a new aircraft, the Piper Pa-31-350 Navajo/Chieftain, into its fleet. The aircraft was officially received in a ceremony at the V.C. Bird International Airport, located near the capital, St. John's.
According to a report by Sakshi Tiwari in the EurAsian Times, the RVV-MD2 short-range air-to-air missile, specifically designed for Russia's 5th-generation Su-57 Felon stealth aircraft, has made its debut on the international stage at the Dubai Air Show. This missile, which was initially unveiled in Moscow at the Army 2023 exhibition, was showcased as part of a static display by the Russian state arms export agency, Rosoboronexport, as reported by the European Defense Review magazine.
The Royal Air Force’s newest aircraft has taken its first flight in the UK, the RAF announced on November 17. The General Atomics MQ-9B Protector RG Mk.1, a remotely piloted aircraft system, took to the skies from RAF Waddington, marking another important milestone in the delivery of the surveillance, intelligence, and precision strike aircraft to the front line.
Russia is believed to envisage the reintroduction of the old Soviet-Era Miassichtchev M-55 Mystic B surveillance aircraft for observation missions over Ukraine. In the 1950s, Laurent Lagneau reminds us in Opex 360, the US Air Force initiated the Genitrix program, which involved sending stratospheric balloons beyond the reach of existing air defense systems and fighter planes over the Soviet Union and China for intelligence purposes. This led to a race between the US and the Soviet Union to develop advanced reconnaissance capabilities.
The Royal Jordanian Air Force (RJAF) has taken delivery of the initial batch of Bell 505 helicopters from Bell Textron, with a total of 10 helicopters set to be delivered. The purchase agreement, inked in July 2022, encompasses not only the aircraft but also includes a flight training device and an extensive computer-based training package. These resources will be instrumental in supporting both basic and advanced rotorcraft flight training at the King Hussein Air College in Mafraq, Jordan.
After successfully demonstrating its functional compatibility and physical installation feasibility, BAE Systems Digital GPS Anti-jam Receiver (DIGAR) has been chosen to advance to the next phase of the Phase 4 Enhancements (P4E) capability program for the Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft. DIGAR will enhance the aircraft's protection against GPS signal jamming, spoofing, and Radio Frequency (RF) interference, enabling pilots to carry out their missions even in heavily contested RF environments.
On November 16, C. Todd Lopez, of the U.S. Defense Department, informed that the DoD is already participating in providing training to help ready Ukrainian pilots to fly the F-16. The U.S. also expects to be ready to make sure spare parts are available for those aircraft.
In a noteworthy milestone, Paramount, a global aerospace and technology company, along with its strategic partner, AAL Group Ltd, has accomplished the initial testing phase of their innovative composite helicopter blades designed for Mi-type helicopters.
