April 2021 news

Defense Aviation and Aerospace Industry


 

Argentina to buy 10 Beechcraft C-12B Huron aircraft from USA

Argentina has approved the purchase of 10 C-12B Huron aircraft and related services from USA. The amount of this acquisition is around 16.6 millon dollars.

MQ-9 Reaper mods targeted to provide capability for near-peer threats

The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center's MQ-9 Program Office is moving forward with several fleet enhancement capabilities aimed at increasing the MQ-9 Reaper's effectiveness against near-peer adversary threats.

Boeing to integrate LRASM missile onto US Navy P-8A Poseidon

The Boeing Co., Seattle, Washington, is awarded a $73,951,846 cost-plus-fixed-fee order (N0001921F0876) against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N0001921G0006). This order provides for the design, development, and test of software and ancillary hardware necessary for the integration of the Long Range Anti-Ship Missile onto the P-8A aircraft for the Navy.

Second F-15EX delivered to US Air Force

On April 20, a Boeing-led industry team  officially delivered a second F-15EX fighter aircraft to the U.S. Air Force earlier than the contract requirement. The result of a collaboration across industry, the US Air Force and the Air National Guard, the F-15EX is a ready-now replacement for the F-15C that includes best-in-class payload, range and speed and an all-new digital infrastructure.

AeroVironment awarded $45 Million option for Switchblade Tactical Missile Systems under US Army lethal miniature aerial missile systems contract

AeroVironment, Inc. , a global leader in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), announced the U.S. Army has exercised an option on its Lethal Miniature Aerial Missile Systems (LMAMS) contract for additional Switchblade 300 tactical missile systems for the Army and for export to an allied nation. The $44,961,751 contract option increases the total value of the contract to $122,523,677. Delivery will take place over a two-year period.

UK confirms USD 2Bn purchase of 14 additional CH-47 Chinook helicopters

The British Ministry of Defence has confirmed its decision to purchase another 14 Chinook heavy-lift helicopters from the US. According to Blomberg, who first reported the deal, the $2 billion agreement between the UK and the Pentagon would also include engines, machine guns, radar and missile-jamming equipment.

Chinese J-20 fighter jet to ideally get 2D thrust vectoring nozzles

The pilot who first flew the Chengdu J-20 believes that China's most advanced stealth fighter jet will be upgraded with 2D thrust vectoring nozzles for its engines, according to a recent news report. This means the aircraft will receive enhanced maneuverability and stealth capability, Liu Xuanzun reports on Global Times.

Saab delivers first T-7A Red Hawk aft airframe to Boeing

Saab has shipped its first aft airframe section for the T-7A Red Hawk program. This is a key delivery in the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) program to Boeing, its T-7A Red Hawk advanced trainer aircraft partner.

Russian Air Force receives new smart bombs

The Russian defense industry launched the batch production of new smart bombs. K08BE, K029BE, and KAB-250LG-E will be soon delivered to the troops, the Independent Military Review writes. Tactical Missiles Corporation completed trials of a new family of air bombs of 250, 500, and 1,500 kg. Region enterprise will produce the new bombs. Contracts for the new bombs have been signed and batch production launched. Trials of bombs for Su-57 aircraft are ongoing.

Boeing Logistics contract builds on decades of support for Israeli AH-64 Apaches

Boeing on April 20 announced a contract to provide the Israeli Air Force (IAF) with integrated logistics support for Israel’s AH-64A and D Apache helicopters. The direct commercial sale, awarded in December 2020, is a five-year follow-on contract that builds on Boeing’s current IAF Apache support.

Saudi company Advanced Electronics to provide the RSAF with upgraded Electronic System Test Set

The U.S. Department of Defense on April 19 announced that Advanced Electronics Co., based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, has been awarded a $10,605,836 modification to contract FA8575-20-C-0004 to definitize the previously awarded letter contract for the F-15 Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) Electronic System Test Set (ESTS).

Morocco buys 13 Bayraktar TB2A UCAVs from Turkey

Morocco’s Royal Armed Forces signed an acquisition contract of 13 Bayraktar TB2 unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAV) and related equipments with Turkey.

US Marine Corps MQ-9 reaches 10.000 flight hours in Central Command

On March 31st, the Marine Corps’ first MQ-9A Unmanned Aerial System achieved 10 thousand total flight hours in the Central Command area of responsibility, a major milestone for the modernization of the force.

US Naval Research Laboratory flew Hybrid Tiger UAV for 24 hours

US Naval Research Laboratory engineers recently demonstrated Hybrid Tiger, an electric unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with multi-day endurance flight capability, at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland.

B-52 bombers deploy to Guam for Bomber Task Force deployment

In correlation with a Bomber Task Force (BTF) deployment, four U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress bomber aircraft recently returned to Andersen Air Base, Guam, to conduct operations in the Indo-Pacific region.

Airbus A400M conducts major helicopter refuelling certification campaign

The Airbus A400M new generation airlifter has successfully conducted a major helicopter air-to-air refuelling certification campaign, completing the majority of its development and certification objectives. Airbus Defence and Space aims to achieve full helicopter air-to-air refuelling certification later this year with the conclusion of all mandatory night operation trials.

Greece hosts Iniochos 2021 exercise

The INIOCHOS 2021 (or Iniohos 2021) exercise  take place at Andravida Air Base, Greece, from 12 to 22 April. It is an annual medium scale exercise with the participation of all branches of the Hellenic Armed Forces with the addition of foreign participants.

The Bundestag approves the financing of Eurodrone

Conceptualized for twenty years, developed for five years and blocked for two years, the Eurodrone has just made significant progress with the backing of the Bundestag.

Finnish Air Force to participate in Ramstein Alloy 21-1 exercise

The Finnish Air Force will take part in the first Ramstein Alloy exercise of 2021 with two F/A-18 Hornet multi-role fighters from 20 to 22 April 2021.

Elbit Systems awarded contract for the establishment and operation of the International Flight Training Center of Hellenic Air Force

Elbit Systems announced on April 18 , further to the company’s announcement of January 5, 2021, that it was awarded a contract valued at approximately $1.65 billion (approximately €1.375 billion) for the establishment and operation of the International Flight Training Center of the Hellenic Air Force, as part of an agreement between the Israeli Ministry of Defense and the Hellenic Ministry of National Defense. 

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