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JANUARY 2024 news
Defense Aviation and Aerospace Industry |
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Lockheed Martin has delivered the first two F-16 Block 70 aircraft to the Slovak Air Force, marking a significant leap in technology and a strong commitment to bolstering Slovakia's national security.
The IA-58 Pucará's engine replacement program, now known as the Pucará Fénix, has reached a pivotal milestone with the achievement of its remotorization certification from Argentina's Joint Military Aeronautical Airworthiness Directorate (Digamc). This certification, awarded to the Argentine Aircraft Factory (FAdeA), signifies the commencement of the series aircraft's update.
As reported by the Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA) on January 10, 2024, the German government has approved the export of 150 Iris-T air-to-air missiles to Saudi Arabia, a decision that marks a shift in the country's arms export policy. The missiles, manufactured by Diehl Defence in Baden-Württemberg, are intended for use with the Saudi Air Force's Eurofighter jets.
The U.S. Department of Defense on January 10 announced that Northrop Grumman Systems was awarded a $16,497,388 firm-fixed-price delivery order for the KC-135 Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) Generation 3 Pods.
South Korea is on the brink of a significant advancement in its defense capabilities with the initiation of production of the KF-21, an indigenous advanced fighter jet, as confirmed by the state's arms procurement agency on January 10, 2023.
On January 8, 2024, Indonesia finalized a major agreement for the acquisition of 42 Rafale fighter jets from the French manufacturer Dassault Aviation. The total cost of the purchase amounts to 8.1 billion US dollars, equivalent to approximately 122.8 trillion Indonesian Rupiah. The third and final installment of the transaction involved the last 18 Rafale fighter units.
According to a report by Laurent Lagneau in Opex360, the French Ministry of Defense has formally placed an order for eight more NH-90 helicopters designed for special forces use. This procurement aligns with the Special Operations Command's (COS) objectives and will facilitate the relocation of Caracal helicopters from the 4th Special Forces Helicopter Regiment (4e RHFS) to the 1/67 Pyrénées Squadron of the French Air and Space Force.
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) demonstrated its rapidly maturing open standards-based autonomy ecosystem for Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles (UCAVs) on an MQ-20 Avenger as part of a live flight test on Nov. 2, 2023. The flight combined three autonomy providers, government-provided human-machine interface (HMI) hardware, and GA-ASI’s autonomy core to meet multiple objectives for collaborative combat missions and closed the Find, Fix, Track, Target, Engage, and Assess (F2T2EA) engagement chain using a mix of Live, Virtual, and Constructive (LVC) entities.
According to Clash Report on January 4, 2024, Mali recently received a shipment of Turkish Bayraktar TB2 unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs). The delivery, which included a minimum of five units, took place at Modibo Keita International Airport, situated approximately 15 km to the south of Mali's capital, Bamako. A ceremony was conducted to commemorate the event, attended by Mali's interim leader, Colonel Assimi Goita.
Germany has reversed its stance and will now allow the delivery of 48 additional Eurofighter Typhoon jets to Saudi Arabia. This policy shift is a response to Saudi Arabia's actions in the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip and its improved relations with Israel.
The training of the initial six Ukrainian pilots, following their completion of English language courses, will keep on in the Danish airspace. It is anticipated that their training may be finalized for combat operations before the arrival of spring. Nevertheless, there have been setbacks in the delivery schedule of the six aircraft initially intended for New Year deployment, as reported by Andreas Lindqvist in the Danish newspaper Berlingske. The delay may extend up to six months.
The Ukrainian National Resistance Center claims to have discovered documents showing that the Russian Ministry of Defense plans to equip Kh-32 cruise missiles with cluster munitions, the Kyiv Post reports.
According to the Liberty Times on December 24, 2023, the Taiwanese National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology has been actively involved in the development of the Tengyun Type II UAV, which has now achieved a flight duration exceeding 20 hours. This achievement has expanded its operational capabilities, enabling it to cover the country's air defense identification zone and conduct medium and long-range maritime and aerial reconnaissance missions. Additionally, it has gained the capability for all-weather monitoring of the Taiwan Strait.
Belgium is set to dispatch two F-16B two-seater aircraft to Denmark between March and September 2024. Their mission is to actively participate in the training of Ukrainian pilots on these highly anticipated aircraft, eagerly awaited by Kyiv. This collaborative training initiative is an integral part of the "F-16 coalition," which consists of thirteen nations led by Denmark, the Netherlands, and the United States. The primary objective is to equip the Ukrainian Air Force with single- and two-seater F-16 fighter-bombers manufactured in the 1980s and 1990s. The ultimate goal is to empower capable personnel to effectively employ these aircraft in countering the Russian invasion.
The Mirage 2000-5, a French-made fighter aircraft, has been a cornerstone of the Taiwan Air Force's fleet since its acquisition in the 1990s. Despite over two decades in service, the aircraft's combat readiness remains a top priority for Taiwan's Defense Ministry. To secure the longevity and operational effectiveness of this fighter fleet, the ministry has allocated a substantial budget of US$328 million for the procurement of engine spare parts, Wu Sheng-hung and Joseph Yeh report in Focus Taiwan.
On Dec. 5, 2023, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) completed a major milestone with the full-scale fatigue testing of an MQ-9B Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA). The team completed the “first lifetime” of fatigue testing – which is equivalent to 40,000 operating hours – and represents an important step in validating the design of the airframe system. The testing is part of the aircraft certification to the NATO standard STANAG 4671, where the aircraft will ultimately be tested through three lifetimes, thereby proving the 40,000-hour lifetime of the airframe.
According to Newsis on December 21, 2023, South Korea's Ministry of National Defense recently announced an increase in its defense budget for the year 2024, totaling 59.42 trillion won (approximately $50.2 billion), which represents a 4.2% rise from the previous year. This budget includes funding for the mass production of the KF-21 Boramae fighter jet, a key component of South Korea's defense strategy.
The U.S. Air Force awarded Raytheon, an RTX business, a $400 million contract to produce and deliver more than 1,500 StormBreaker air-launched, precision-strike standoff smart weapons. StormBreaker is the leading air-to-surface, network-enabled weapon that can engage moving targets in all weather conditions using its multi-effects warhead and tri-mode seeker.
According to a report by Mi-Sun Kang in The Korea Economic Daily, South Korea is currently engaged in discussions with Poland to ensure the fulfillment of arms deals between the two nations, as previously arranged. Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. (KAI), the exclusive manufacturer of military aircraft in South Korea, has successfully delivered its initial batch of fighter jets to Poland. This development comes against the backdrop of growing concerns that the change in government leadership in Warsaw might jeopardize a series of substantial arms contracts valued at billions of dollars between the two countries.
On December 27, 2023, the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) confirmed a Letter of Acceptance (LOA) signed with the United States government for the procurement of 20 Lockheed Martin F-35A fighter aircraft, as reported by Clément Charpentreau in AeroTime. This acquisition was authorized by the United States in September 2023, allowing for the potential purchase of up to 25 Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fifth-generation fighters.
