MARCH 2021 news

Defense Aviation and Aerospace Industry


 

US approves foreign military sale of AH-64 pilot training and logistic support to the Netherlands

The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of the Netherlands of AH-64 Pilot Training and Logistics Support and related equipment for an estimated cost of $190 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on March 16.

Turkey: Akinci UCAV successfully completes another test

The second prototype of Turkey’sunmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) Akinci has successfully passed another test, the manufacturer announced.

Russian Grom UAV to control and change missions of drone swarms

Russia’s latest Grom (Thunder) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) will be capable of controlling a swarm of 10 Molniya (Lightning) small-size drones in their reconnaissance and strike configurations with the option of altering their flight assignments, a representative of Kronshtadt Company (the Grom developer) told TASS on March 15.

Turkey will use Ukrainian engines for T-929 helicopter

The chairman of the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), Temel Kotil, said the company will be switching to Ukraine for the supply of engines for its T-929 attack helicopter.

Lockheed Martin receives first F-16 for depot sustainment program

Lockheed Martin has received its first F-16 from the U.S. Air Force as part of the $900 million indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract the company received in December 2020 to provide sustainment support and depot-overflow services for F-16 aircraft.

Russia and Belarus to set up joint Air Force and Air Defense combat training center

A joint Belarusian-Russian combat training center for the Air Force and air defense forces will be set up in Belarus under the agreements reached by the defense ministries of both countries, the Belarusian Defense Ministry announced on March 16.

Royal Saudi Air Force in Greece for joint air drills

In the context of the bilateral Military Cooperation between Greece and Saudi Arabia and the coordinated effort of the competent bodies of the General Staff with the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Saudi Arabia, on Saturday, March 13, 2021, the arrival of the 115th Battalion of the Royal Air Force of Saudi Arabia (RSAF), which includes six F-15C aircraft, in order to co-train with the Greek Armed Forces.

MiG-35S fighter jets supplied to Russian armed forces

The Russian armed forces received multirole MiG-35S fighter jets in March, the Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper said.

Northrop Grumman Common Infrared Countermeasures System ready for full-rate production

The U.S. Army has declared the Northrop Grumman Corporation Common Infrared Countermeasure (CIRCM) system operationally suitable, effective and ready for full-rate production following a successful six-month initial operational test and evaluation (IOT&E) activity.

Grom drone to carry Kh-38 missiles

Prospective Grom combat speed drone will be armed with guided air-to-surface Kh-38 missiles, a defense industry source told TASS.

U-UAP successfully completes training of Indian Mi-171A2 pilots

The Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant Training Center under the Russian Helicopters holding company (part of the Rostec State Corporation) has successfully completed training a second group of foreign specialists studying to operate and maintain the Mi-171A2 helicopter. The pilots and engineering staff of the Indian company Sky One Airways LTD were trained in two groups.

Collins Aerospace awarded multi-year contract to support CH-47F fleet for the Royal Netherlands Air Force

Collins Aerospace, a unit of Raytheon Technologies Corp., has been awarded a multi-year Performance Based Logistics avionics support contract to the Royal Netherlands Air Force’s (RNLAF) fleet of 15 CH-47F Chinook helicopters. Collins Aerospace will provide field service engineering, program management, logistics service and repair and overhaul for the Common Avionics Architecture System (CAAS) components installed on the aircraft at the Gilze-Rijen Air Base, in the Netherlands.

Korea Aerospace Industries and Elbit Systems to Cooperate on next-gen UAS solution for ISTAR missions

The Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. (KAI) and Elbit Systems Ltd. signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to expand cooperation in the field of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS).

US Space warriors lend support to Red Flag exercise

Soldiers from U.S. Space and Missile Defense Command’s 1st Space Brigade recently participated in Exercise Red Flag 21-1, the U.S. military’s first Red Flag exercise of the year conducted by the U.S. Air Force’s 414th Combat Training Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Jan. 25 through Feb. 12.

Finnish Air Force to fly training missions with the US and German Air Forces

The Finnish Air Force will fly training missions with the United States Air Force and German Air Force between 16 and 18 March 2021. The missions, focusing on dissimilar air combat training, will be flown in Finnish airspace as part of the Finnish Air Force's daily flight operations.

UK: Royal Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office demonstrates new technologies developed with industry partners

Under the banner of BABELFISH 7 (a nod to Douglas Adams' H2G2 ?) , the RAF’s Rapid Capabilities Office has demonstrated new technologies which offer a step-change in near real time, secure, information distribution.

MiG-29K fighters go on combat duty on Russian Arctic archipelago for first time

The crews of deck-based MiG-29K fighters have gone on experimental combat duty on the Novaya Zemlya archipelago in the Arctic for the first time, the Northern Fleet’s press office reported on March 12.

US Air Force E-4B fleet to receive communication modifications

The E-4B fleet is in the process of receiving upgrades designed to revolutionize communication capabilities and effectiveness.

Two Russian Tu-95MS bombers perform scheduled flight over Sea of Japan and Pacific

Two Tu-95MS strategic missile-carrying bombers made a scheduled flight over the Sea of Japan and the northwestern Pacific Ocean, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on March 11.

US Air Force receives first F-15EX

The U.S. Air Force officially accepted the first F-15EX from the Boeing Co. March 10 at the company’s St. Louis facility.

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