APRIL 2018 news

Air Forces - Aerospace and Defense Industry


Czech Air Force's Gripen fighter jets completed MS 20 upgrade

Czech Air Force's JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets are now upgraded and deployed in the latest version, announced the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV). This program provides Czech pilots with access to new weapons, sensors and communication solutions, radar functions and improvements in the interface between the pilot and the aircraft.

Iran successfully overhauled another F-4 fighter jet

Iran's Air Force successfully overhauled an F-4 fighter jet, state TV reported on Sunday. The 1.5-year-long project at the Shahid Lashkari Air Force Base in northern Tehran Province was finished, using up to 18,000 man-hours, Tasnim News Agency reported on Sunday.

Greek government approves HAF F-16 fighters upgrade program

Greece’s government council for foreign affairs and defense, chaired by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, has approved a plan to upgrade 85 F-16 fighter aircraft to the F-16V standard through a potential $1.45 billion contract, Reuters said on April 28, 2018.

US clears $911M FMS from Bahrain for 12 AH-1Z attack helicopters

The US State Department approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Bahrain of 12 AH-1Z attack helicopters for an estimated cost of $911.4 million, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on April 27, 2018.

TAI, Aselsan sign preliminary agreement for TF-X development

Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) and Aselsan signed a preliminary agreement on April 26 for the development of Turkey's future National Fighter Jet, the TF-X. The deal was signed during the first edition of Eurasia Air Show, held this week in Antalya.

Cobham lands USAF T-38C trainer radio retrofit contract

Cobham Aerospace Communications has been awarded the contract to supply Boeing with advanced FliteLineTM communication and navigation radios for retrofit on more than 450 Northrop T-38C military trainer aircraft operated by the United States Air Force.

Russian MoD could order up to 40 SSJ-100 airliners

The Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company may deliver up to 40 75-seat SSJ-100 planes to the Russian Defense Ministry and up to 10 aircraft of the same type to the Rossiya special flight detachment, Company President Alexander Rubtsov said.

Leonardo to establish new NH90 service center in Australia

Leonardo and the Australian Ministry of Defence have agreed to establish a helicopter transmission repair and overhaul facility in Melbourne capable of servicing MRH Taipan, foreign NH90 and certain civil helicopter main gear boxes. Planned to be set up into an existing facility of Leonardo and to commence operation in mid-2020, the centre will employ at least 12 technical staff for 30 years or more.

BAE to protect US Army aircraft with next-generation missile warning system

The U.S. Army has awarded BAE Systems a contract worth up to $97.9 million to develop a Quick Reaction Capability (QRC) next-generation missile warning system for aircraft that will protect pilots and crews from new and emerging threats.

French Air Force's C-130H aircrews to be trained in Belgium

French Air Force C-130H Aircrews are set to be partly trained in Belgium, according to a contract announcement issued today by the European "Tenders electronic daily" (Ted).

Finland officially sends tender requests for F/A-18 Hornet replacement

The Finnish ministry of defense has completed the tender requests to five producers that are expected to participate in the purchase of the new fighters of the Finnish air force, the ministry said on Monday, April 23 2018.

ILA 2018: Hensoldt introduces TwInvis passive radar system

HENSOLDT, a leading German sensor solutions provider, is presenting its passive radar system called "TwInvis" to the public for the first time in live operation during this year's International Aerospace Exhibition (ILA) in Berlin, it said yesterday.

ILA 2018: DLR to convert Falcon 2000 LX into iSTAR flight test vehicle

On 25 April 2018, at the Berlin Air Show ILA 2018, the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR) and Dassault signed the purchase contract for a Falcon 2000 LX twinjet in the presence of German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The agreement involves the delivery of the aircraft and its conversion into the flight test vehicle iSTAR (in-flight Systems and Technology Airborne Research) by 2020.

GE completes T-901 engine Preliminary Design Review

GE Aviation hosted the U.S. Army for the successful Preliminary Design Review (PDR) of the T901-GE-900 engine in early March. The T901 is GE Aviation’s engine for the Improved Turbine Engine Program (ITEP), the U.S. Army’s undertaking to re-engine its Boeing AH-64 Apaches and Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawks. The PDR is a major milestone within the Technology Maturation and Risk Reduction (TMRR) contract, a $102 million, 24-month contract the Army awarded GE in September 2016.

Netherlands requests $110M FMS for US-based F-16 training

The US State Department approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Netherlands of defense articles and services in support of continuation of a Continental United States (CONUS) based Royal Netherlands Air Force F-16 Formal Training Unit for an estimated cost of $110 million, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said today.

Airbus and Dassault join forces on Europe's Future Combat Air System

Airbus and Dassault Aviation have decided to join forces for the development and production of Europe’s Future Combat Air System (FCAS), which is slated to complement and eventually replace current generation of Eurofighter and Rafale fighter aircraft between 2035 and 2040, the two aircraft manufacturers announced today.

European Defense Giants team up for EuroMALE future ISTAR function

Four European Champions in the area of Defence Mission Systems intend tocombine their unique and complementary capabilities to provide the drone programme of France, Germany, Italy and Spain – designated European MALE RPAS (Remotely Piloted Aircraft System) – with a future-proof ISTAR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance) function.

Meggitt selected for KF-X advanced total braking system

Meggitt PLC, a leading international company specialising in high performance components and sub-systems for the aerospace, defence and energy markets, has secured a multi-million dollar contract for an advanced wheel and digital braking system for the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) KF-X fighter.

Eurofighter team submits bid for Bundeswehr's Tornado replacement

On the eve of the ILA Berlin Air Show 2018, Airbus and Eurofighter GmbH have submitted their offer to the German Ministry of Defence for a replacement of the Bundeswehr’s ageing Tornado combat aircraft, which was developed in the 1960s, and have established the Eurofighter as its ideal successor, Airbus said today.

Airbus Helicopters & Schiebel demonstrate Manned Unmanned Teaming capabilities with H145 and S-100 platforms

Airbus Helicopters and Schiebel have tested Manned Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) capabilities between an H145 platform and a CAMCOPTER S-100 Unmanned Air System (UAS), thus becoming the first European helicopter manufacturers to demonstrate this technology with the highest level of interoperability (LOI°5).

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