DECEMBER 2019 news

Air Forces - Aerospace and Aviation Defense Industry


Russian Air Force cadets using Syrian experience in training

The training centre of the Zhukovsky and Gagarin Air Force Academy in Syzran in the Volga area is using the experience gained by army aviation units in the Syrian Arab Republic, the Defense Ministry’s press office said.

Piaggio Aerospace signs 196M€ contract with Italian Ministry of Defence for 9 Avanti EVO

Just five days after the signing of an agreement on the Chinook helicopter’s engines worth € 50 million, Piaggio Aerospace has announced it signed a new contract, whose total value is close to € 200 million.

Boeing awarded contract for C-17 simulator training supporting NATO partners

Boeing Co., Saint Louis, Missouri, has been awarded a $9,500,000 modification to previously awarded contract FA3002-16-D-0006 for C-17 simulator training supporting North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) partners.

Pakistan Air Force has launched the first batch of JF-17B dual seats JF-17 fighter aircraft

On Friday, December 27, 2019, Pakistan Air Force has launched the first batch of its JF-17 indigenous double-seat fighter jets dubbed JF-17B. An official ceremony was held at the Aircraft Manufacturing Factory, Kamra. This event was attended Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan, Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force as well as Mr. Yao Jing, Ambassador of People’s Republic of China, and Mr. Hao Zhaoping, Executive Vice President, Aviation Industries of China.

Pakistani new JF-17 Block 3 fighter aircraft has performed its first flight in China

The first JF-17 Block 3 fighter aircraft has performed its first flight on December 15, 2019, on a factory runway in China. The new version of the JF-17 is set to operationally deploy with the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) in 2020 and all 50 planned JF-17 Block IIIs are expected to be inducted by 2024.

Greece has awarded a contract to Lockheed Martin to upgrade F-16 fighter to F-16V standard

The government of Greece has awarded a $280 million contract to American Company Lockheed Martin Corporation to upgrade its F-16 fighter jet fleet to the advanced-tech F-16V Viper class over the next seven years, according to local media. The Hellenic defense ministry procurement agency announced Friday, December 27, 2019, that the deal was signed Tuesday, December 24, 2019, finalizing details of Lockheed's use of a Greek subcontractor.

US contract for Raytheon to deliver AMRAAM air-t-air missiles to US and 23 foreign countries

U.S. Department of Defense has announced on December 27, 2019, that Raytheon Missile Systems Co., Tucson, Arizona, has been awarded a $768,283,907 non-competitive fixed-price incentive (firm) contract to deliver Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) AIM-120 Production Lot 33 to U.S. and 23 foreign countries.

US Air Force, Navy and Army conduct first real world test of Advanced Battle Management System

In the first field test of a novel approach to warfighting, communicating and decision-making, the Air Force, Navy and Army used new methods and technology Dec. 16-18 for collecting, analyzing and sharing information in real time to identify and defeat a simulated cruise missile threat to the United States.

US Navy buys three MQ-4 Tritons and upgrades jamming systems on EA-18G Growler aircraft

The US Navy awarded Northrop Grumman a pair of contracts worth nearly $287 million to buy unmanned surveillance aircraft and to develop upgraded tactical jamming capabilities on manned aircraft.

First batch of Russian-made Su-30SM fighters arrives in Armenia

The first pair of Russian-made Su-30SM multirole fighters purchased by Armenia at the beginning of 2019 landed at an aerodrome in Southern Caucasus republic, Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced on his Facebook page on December 27.

Ecuador orders Grob G 120TP trainer aircraft

The Ecuadorian Air Force confirmed that it acquires eight aircraft of the Grob G 120 TP model for the training of its pilots.

Boeing to deliver AH-64E Apache helicopters to three allied countries

Boeing and the U.S. Army have finalized orders from three nations to provide their armed forces with the new, more capable AH-64E Apache model. The contracts are for the remanufacture of 47 existing AH-64D Apaches. The total combined value of the orders is more than $560 million.

F-16 downs target drone with laser guided rocket in unprecedented test

The 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron shot down a subscale drone using an AGR-20A Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) laser-guided rocket on December 19, 2019, providing a proof of concept for using rockets queued from an F-16 targeting pod as viable munitions to perform cruise missile defense.

Joint state tests of Mi-26T2V helicopter started

Russian Helicopters holding company (part of Rostec State Corporation) and representatives of the Russian Ministry of Defense started joint state tests of Mi-26T2V heavy-lift military transport helicopter which are to last until the end of 2020.

Embraer KC-390 Millennium airlifter successfully concludes airdrop testing campaign

The KC-390 Millennium new generation multi-mission medium airlifter has successfully concluded the testing campaign for gravity airdrop and extraction drop of heavy loads by the use of the Container Delivery System (CDS) and Low Velocity Air Drop (LVAD), respectively.

Poland Special Forces get 4 Black Hawk helicopters

On December 20, Poland has taken delivery of four Sikorsky S-70i Black Hawk helicopters for operation on special forces missions. Head of the MoD, Mariusz Błaszczak and Polish President, Andrzej Duda, as well as the US Ambassador to Poland, Georgette Mosbacher, participated to the  official handover ceremony at the 1st Air Base in Warsaw.

Leonardo M-40 target drone used to prove latest Mistral missiles

Leonardo has concluded a series of flights with its M-40 target drone as part of a trials campaign in Italy. This saw the drones simulating modern airborne threats, allowing for the realistic demonstration of MBDA’s latest surface-to-air Mistral missile.

Mass deliveries of fifth-generation Su-57 fighter to Russian troops to begin in 2020

The first large-scale deliveries of the fifth-generation Su-57 fighter jet to Russia’s Aerospace Force will begin already next year, CEO of the state hi-tech corporation Rostec said in a material published by RBC media group on Thursday December 24.

Latvian company UAV Factory still supplies Latvian armed forces with unmanned aircraft

The Latvian Ministry of Defense has signed an agreement with Latvian manufacturer UAV Factory to continue supplying and maintaining unmanned aerial vehicle systems, the ministry said December 23.

AgustaWestland was awarded a contract for seven AW119Kx helicopter for Israel

According a statement released on December 23, 2019, to the official website of U.S. Department Of Defense, AgustaWestland Philadelphia Corp., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was awarded a $38,432,233 firm-fixed-price Foreign Military Sales (Israel) contract for seven new AW119Kx helicopter, pilot and maintainer training, initial spares package, tools and ground support equipment, engine spares and the development of training aid devices.

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