December 2015 Air Force and Aerospace Defence Industry News
 
 

Kazakhstan considers the acquisition of up to 24 Su-30SM fighter aircraft

Kazakhstan considers the acquisition of up to 24 Su-30SM fighter aircraft
 
Kazakhstan considers the acquisition of up to 24 Su 30SM fighter aircraft 640 001
Kazakhstan is contemplating an acquisition of a batch of Sukhoi Su-30SM (NATO reporting name: Flanker-H) multirole fighters in Russia, a source in Russia’s defense industry told journalists on Tuesday, December 22, 2015. The future contract’s value is estimated at over $140 million. Kazakhstan can buy up to 24 aircraft, and, as far as the source is aware, a contract for seven fighters can be signed before year-end.
 

Russia could purchase Il-114 turboprop aircraft for patrol missions

Russia could purchase Il-114 turboprop aircraft for patrol missions
 
Russia could purchase Il 114 turboprop aircraft for patrol missions 640 001 The Russian Ministry of Defense considers the possibility of purchasing Il-114 two-engined turboprop patrol aircraft, a source in the Russian defense industry reports. "To be considered soon is the first customer for the Il-114 aircraft, which could be the Ministry of Defense. Following the issue of specifications, the Ilyushin Aviation Complex will be prepared to create, in a short space of time, a patrol version of the Il-114-300 aircraft," the source said.
 

Saab offers Gripen local production and technology transfer to India

Saab offers Gripen local production and technology transfer to India
 
Saab offers Gripen local production and technology transfer to India 640 001
Swedish defence major Saab has offered to manufacture its fifth generation Gripen fighter aircraft here with technology transfer to India, in a renewed bid for a pie in the multi-billion dollar worth Indian Air Force (IAF) modernisation plan. Saab, which had lost out in the Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft tender in 2011 which was won by French firm Dassault Aviation, anticipates that the IAF will need more the 36 Rafale fighter jets that India is buying from France to beef up its depleting fleet.
 

NATO's first Alliance Ground Surveillance aircraft successfully took flight

NATO's first Alliance Ground Surveillance aircraft successfully took flight
 
NATO first Alliance Ground Surveillance aircraft successfully took flight 640 001
Northrop Grumman Corporation and members of NATO's Alliance Ground Surveillance Management Agency (NAGSMA) celebrated an important and much anticipated milestone on December 19, 2015. Leaving from Palmdale, NATO's first Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) aircraft successfully executed a comprehensive range of test points before landing at Edwards Air Force Base.
 

Three more H225M tactical multirole helicopters delivered to Brazil's Armed Forces

Three more H225M tactical multirole helicopters delivered to Brazil's Armed Forces
 
Three more H225M tactical multirole helicopters delivered to Brazil s Armed Forces 640 001
Airbus Helicopters’ customer center in Brazil, Helibras, has delivered three additional H225M to the Brazilian Armed Forces. Two are destined for the Brazilian Army and the third for the Brazilian Air Force, bringing to seven the total number of H225M delivered to Brazil in 2015.
 

South Korea selects Lockheed as new contractor for its KF-16 fighter upgrade program

South Korea selects Lockheed as new contractor for its KF-16 fighter upgrade program
 
South Korea selects Lockheed as new contractor for its KF 16 fighter upgrade program 640 001
South Korea's government Wednesday picked U.S. defense giant Lockheed Martin as the new contractor for its project to renovate the aviation electronic systems of KF-16 fighters that has sat dormant for months due to demands for a cost hike by a previous partner.
 

US oks possible FMS from Australia for three CH-47F Chinook transport helicopters

US oks possible FMS from Australia for three CH-47F Chinook transport helicopters
 
US oks possible FMS fromAustralia for three CH 47F Chinook transport helicopters 640 001
The US State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Australia for CH-47F aircraft, related equipment and support. The estimated cost is $180 million, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced today, December 21, 2015. The principal contractor will be the Boeing Helicopter Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
 

Saab and UMS Aero Group form strategic partnership to market unmanned aerial vehicles

Saab and UMS Aero Group form strategic partnership to market unmanned aerial vehicles
 
Saab and UMS Aero form strategic partnership to market unmanned aerial vehicles 640 001
The swedish defence and security company Saab and UMS Aero Group AG, a Swiss supplier of tactical unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), are forming a joint venture under the name UMS Skeldar AG. UMS Skeldar will strengthen Saab's offerings in the tactical UAV market. Saab will transfer all assets relating to the Skeldar unmanned helicopter to UMS Skeldar.
 

Antonov signed MoU with Taqnia Aeronautics for the delivery of 30 An-178 aircraft to Saudi Arabia

Antonov signed MoU with Taqnia Aeronautics for the delivery of 30 An-178 aircraft to Saudi Arabia
 
Antonov signed MoU with Saudi Arabia for the delivery of 30 An 178 transport aircraft 640 001
On December 17, 2015, the Ukraine-based Antonov Company and Taqnia Aeronautics of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia signed a Memorandum of Understanding. This document confirms the parties’ intention to deliver 30 multipurpose AN-178 aircraft to Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF).
 

China's new electronic warfare variant of the J-16 fighter reportedly made its maiden flight

China's new electronic warfare variant of the J-16 fighter reportedly made its maiden flight
 
China new electronic warfare variant of the J 16 fighter reportedly made its maiden flight 640 001
A dedicated electronic warfare variant of the Shenyang J-16 strike fighter has been unveiled by China's People's Libeartion Army Air Force (PLAAF) last week. The aircraft made its maiden flight on December 18, 2015, and is in many aspects similar to the US-made EA-18G Growler EW fighter aircraft.
 

Russia plans to start fielding PAK DA advanced strategic bomber for 2024

Russia plans to start fielding PAK DA advanced strategic bomber for 2024
 
Russia plans to start fielding PAK DA advanced strategic bomber for 2024 640 001
Russia’s advanced strategic bomber, tentatively dubbed Future Long-Range Bomber (PAK DA), will start fielding en masse in 2024-2025, Maj. Gen. Anatoly Konovalov, deputy commander, Long-Range Aviation Command, Russian Air Force, told the Russia-based Echo Moskvy radio station in an interview.
 

France confirms order for eight Airbus A330 MRTT "Phénix" tanker aircraft

France confirms order for eight Airbus A330 MRTT "Phénix" tanker aircraft
 
MRTT Phenix A330 French Air Force
Airbus Defence and Space has received a firm order from the French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) for a further eight A330 MRTT Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft. The aircraft constitute the second tranche of the multi-year contract for 12 A330 MRTTs signed by the French Ministry of Defence in November 2014 and bring the total firm order to nine. The remaining three are scheduled to be confirmed in 2018, permitting deliveries of the 12 aircraft before 2025.
 

Rafale Contract in Qatar Came Into Force Today

Rafale Contract in Qatar Came Into Force Today
 
The multibillion-dollar contract between the State of Qatar and Dassault Aviation for 24 Rafale multirole fighter aircraft has been signed on Monday, May 4 in Doha in the presence of Mr. François Hollande, President of the French Republic. Following on from the Mirage F1, the Alpha Jet and the Mirage 2000, the Rafale is set to extend the historic partnership between Qatar, France and Dassault Aviation.
The contract for the purchase of 24 Rafale aircraft by Qatar came into force today. Signed in Doha on 4 May 2015, in the company of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar, and Mr. François Hollande, President of the French Republic, this contract represents a new milestone in the strategic partnership between Qatar and France. It also confirms the historical ties that have been forged with Dassault Aviation for almost forty years.
 

Roke Manor Research to develop new communication payload for high-altitude UAVs

Roke Manor Research to develop new communication payload for high-altitude UAVs
 
Roke Manor to develop new communication payload for high altitude UAVs 640 001
The British Ministry of Defence (MOD), as part of its Defence Growth Partnership (DGP) Innovation Challenge, has selected Roke Manor Research (Roke) to develop an innovative data link solution capable of transmitting real-time images and video from Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) using 3G cellular technology.
 

Russia plans to induct two upgraded Tu-160 and seven Tu-95MS strategic bombers in 2016

Russia plans to induct two upgraded Tu-160 and seven Tu-95MS strategic bombers in 2016
 
Russia plans to induct two upgraded Tu 160 and seven Tu 95MS strategic bombers in 2016 640 001
Russian Aerospace Force will receive two upgraded Tu-160 and seven Tu-95MS strategic missile carriers, Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu announced at the expanded MoD board. "It is imperative to put five missile regiments armed with modern missile systems on combat duty and to deploy two upgraded Tu-160s and seven Tu-95MSs to the strategic aviation force," he said, speaking about the Defense Ministry’s plans.
 

Vietnamese scientists developed new HS-6L long-range UAV

Vietnamese scientists developed new HS-6L long-range UAV
 
Vietnamese scientists developed new HS 6L long range UAV 640 001
The Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology has successfully developed a long-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with equipment for scientific research and electronic reconnaissance to serve national security, local media reported Friday.
 

Airbus delivered third and last C295 tactical airlifter to the Philippines

Airbus delivered third and last C295 tactical airlifter to the Philippines
 
Airbus delivered third and last C295 tactical airlifter to the Philippines 640 001
The third and last Airbus' C295 transport plane ordered by the Philippine Air Force (PAF) arrived at the Clark Air Base from Spain on Friday, Dec. 10, 2015. In February 2014, Airbus was selected to supply three C295 planes to PAF at a cost of $118 mn, to enhance help the overall lift capability of the air force. The first two arrived early this year.
 

Bangladesh takes delivery of five Mi-171Sh multirole helicopters

Bangladesh takes delivery of five Mi-171Sh multirole helicopters
 
Bangladesh takes delivery of five Mi 171Sh multirole helicopters 640 001
Aircraft manufacturer Russian Helicopters has delivered five Mil Mi-171Sh (NATO reporting name: Hip) transport helicopters to the Bangladeshi Defense Ministry, the manufacturer’s press office told journalists on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2015.
 

Raytheon to upgrade radio communications systems of USAF C-130H military airlifters

Raytheon to upgrade radio communications systems of USAF C-130H military airlifters
 
Raytheon to upgrade radio communications systemsof USAF C 130H military airlifters 640 001
The U.S. Air Force has awarded Raytheon Company a $29.6 million contract to install MXF-626K VHF Communications Systems on 178 C-130H Hercules aircraft. The upgrade ensures C-130 radios comply with newly adopted European Air Traffic Management requirements by providing 8.33 kilohertz (kHz) channel spacing in the range of 118 to 137 megahertz (MHz).
 

TAI and LHTEC to provide CTS800 turboshaft engines for Turkey's Light Utility Helicopter

TAI and LHTEC to provide CTS800 turboshaft engines for Turkey's Light Utility Helicopter
 
TAI and LHTEC to provide CTS800 turboshaft engines for Turkey s Light Utility Helicopter 640 001
Turkish Aerospace Industries and the Light Helicopter Turbine Engine Company (LHTEC), a 50-50 partnership between Honeywell International Inc. and Rolls-Royce, have signed an agreement to supply CTS800 turboshaft engines for the Turkish Light Utility Helicopter, a program of the Undersecretary for Defense Industry since September 2013.
 

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