January 2018 Air Force Military Aviation Defence Industry News
 

The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), the University of Manchester and TWI have signed agreements with BAE Systems in support of proposals to develop two National Innovation Centres in Flanders and Wallonia, if Eurofighter Typhoon is selected by the Belgian Government to replace the country’s F-16 fleet, BAE Systems said on January 31, 2018.

According to China Military newspaper, the logistics department of the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) conducted in late January the first joint logistics support drill with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) from two civilian companies which are both strategic partners of the PLAAF.

Jordan Armed Forces officially received the final shipment of new UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters from the United States, bringing the total to 12 aircraft received over the last nine months. The helicopters will strengthen the JAF, its Quick Reaction Force, and Jordan’s security, the US Embassy in Amman stated.

Japan deployed its first F-35A stealth fighter on Friday at the Misawa Air Base in Aomori Prefecture in the country's northeast, the country's defense ministry stated on January 26, 2018. The deployment of the next-generation fighter marks the beginning of the formation of an Air Self-Defense Force (ASDF) squadron comprising 10 of the jets at the base from the next fiscal year starting in April, the defense ministry said.

According to pictures recently released on social medias, The Royal Jordanian Air Force (RJAF) has received its first Mi-26T2 heavy lift helicopter. Jordan signed a contract for the purchase of four Mi-26T2 choppers on April 17, 2016. Flight tests of the first aircraft began in October 2017.

U.S. Air Forces Central Command has realigned aircraft, Airmen and assets to Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, to support increased airpower requirements of Afghan National Defense and Security Forces and U.S. forces tasked to carry out the South Asia Policy under Operation Freedom’s Sentinel and the Resolute Support Mission, the US AFCENT press office said on January 24, 2018.

China will launch the Wing Loong ID in 2018, the latest model of the domestically-developed Wing Loong UAS family, with a series for a new model also underway, its developer AVIC has announced. The Wing Loong ID is developed by Chengdu Aircraft Design & Research Institute (CADI), a subsidiary of the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) in southwest China's Sichuan Province.

Russia's first Il-78M-90A prototype successfully performed its maiden flight today, the Russian aicraft maker Ilyushin announced today. The first tanker aircraft produced in Russia in the post-Soviet period perfectly took off and landed at the Aviastar SP plant today, January 25.

Russian Helicopters' Mi-171A2 completes low temperature trials
 
Russian Helicopters Mi 171A2 completes low temperature trials 640 001
Russian Helicopters today confirmed the possibility to operate the latest multirole Mi171A2 helicopters in harsh climatic conditions at air temperatures down to minus 50 degrees. The trials in Yakutia confirmed the operability of the main systems and onboard equipment, the holding said.
 

Spanish Air Force receives first two Eurofighter Typhoons in P1Eb FW standard
 
Spanish Air Force receives first two Eurofighter Typhoons in P1Eb FW standard 640 001
Airbus Defence and Space has delivered to the Spanish Air Force the first two Eurofighter Typhoons to be produced in the latest configuration with enhanced air-to-surface capabilities, the European aircraft maker announced on January 23, 2018.
 

Leidos wins $75M US Army contract for Night Eagle support
 
Leidos wins 75M US Army contract for Night Eagle support 640 001
The US-based defense contractor Leidos was awarded a $75Mn contract for continued deployed contingency operations in support of the existing Night Eagle system, the US Department of Defense stated on January 23, 2018.
 

Orbital ATK picked for DARPA’s Advanced Full Range Engine program
 
Orbital ATK picked for DARPA dvanced Full Range Engine program 640 001
Orbital ATK has entered into a contract with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to study potential integration of turbine and hypersonic engine technologies into a new aircraft propulsion system under DARPA’s Advanced Full Range Engine (AFRE) program, the company announced on January 23, 2018.
 

China launches first civilian-military air cargo route
 
China launches first civilian military air cargo route 640 001
SF Airlines, a Chinese cargo airline owned by SF Express, successfully launched the civilian-military air cargo route from southwestern China's Chengdu to western China's Lhasa and held its maiden flight on Jan. 22, 2018, the China Military Online newspaper reports.
 

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