APRIL 2023 news

Defense Aviation and Aerospace Industry
 

Germany gives green light to Poland to send MiG-29 jets to Ukraine

Posted On

The German government has approved Poland’s request to transfer 5 former East-German Air Force MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine. Indeed, as these MiG-29s initially belonged to Germany after the reunification that took place in 1990, Poland needed Germany’s consent to send them to a third country. German Defense Minister Pistorius said the request from Poland had arrived on April 13, adding that the same-day approval showed that “you can rely on Germany”.

Boeing and DAPA of South Korea explore joint advanced weapons systems collaboration

Posted On

Boeing and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) of the Republic of Korea (ROK) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to jointly research, develop, and market advanced weapons systems of mutual interest. Ted Colbert, President and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space and Security, signed the MOU with DAPA Minister Eom Donghwan.

Embraer launches A-29N Super Tucano in NATO configuration

Posted On

Embraer announced on April 14 the launch of its A-29 Super Tucano light attack / armed reconnaissance / advanced trainer aircraft in a NATO configuration, with an initial focus on meeting the needs of nations in Europe. The new version of the aircraft, the A-29N, will include equipment and features to fulfill NATO's operational requirements, such as a new datalink and single-pilot operation.

Ukrainian intelligence agency uses drones to attack Russian targets in Belarus and Russia

Posted On

Drone attacks carried on by both Ukrainian and Russian forces since the early stage of the war triggered by Russia have already been largely mediatized. Among the recently leaked U.S. confidential military documents, there is one, marked “Top Secret”, that notes two separate attacks carried on with drones allegedly orchestrated by Kyiv that appear to have slightly damaged two Russian targets outside of Ukraine: a Russian Air ForceA-50U AWACS based outside Minsk (Belarus), and a gas compressor station in the Moscow suburbs.

Commander of US Pacific Air Forces flies in Indian Air Force Su-30MKI

Posted On

According to a tweet posted on April 12 by Neeraj Rajput, Gen. Kenneth S. Wilsbach, Commander of the U.S. Pacific Air Forces, flew on April 11 in the backseat of an Indian Air Force Su-30MKI fighter jet from a base located at Kalaikunda. This unprecedented flight took place during an ongoing US-India joint exercise in India.

Morocco Air Force F-16 fighters to be armed with JSOW Joint Stand Off Weapons

Posted On

The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency on April announced that the State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Morocco of Joint Stand Off Weapons (JSOW) and related equipment for an estimated cost of $250 million.

Chinese Air Force's Y-20 transport aircraft gets high bypass ratio engines

Posted On

China's Y-20 large transport aircraft has been enhanced by a new type of engine with a high bypass ratio. The improvement will give the domestically developed cargo plane a higher takeoff weight and a longer range, Liu Xuanzun reports in Global Times.

US Air Force F-22A Raptor pilots test next-gen helmet

Posted On

U.S. engineers with the 46th Test Squadron and the 28th Test and Evaluation Squadron oversee the helmet testing. Approximately five F-22A Raptor pilots from the 301st Fighter Squadron, a Reserve unit with the 43rd Fighter Squadron at Eglin AFB, fly with the new lighter, cooler and more readily-equipped helmet. Samuel King Jr., Eglin Air Force Base Public Affairs, reports.

HAL Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd inaugurates 3rd assembly line for Indian Air Force LCA Tejas fighters

Posted On

Indian Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane inaugurated in Bengaluru, on April 7, a third production line for the Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA), Ajai Shukla reports in Business Standard. HAL currently operates two LCA assembly lines in Bengaluru, which allow it to deliver 16 Tejas fighters per year.

First Leonardo M346B Master jet trainer appears in Greek Air Force livery

Posted On

On 3 April 2023, the first of ten ordered Leonardo M346B Master advanced lead-in fighter trainer (LIFT) aircraft was seen flying in its full Elliniki Polemiki Aeroporia (HAF, Hellenic Air Force) livery from its birthplace Varese-Venegono Airport, Italy, scramble.nl reports. The aircraft, registered CSX55277, made it maiden flight in a primer color scheme on 30 January and was given the HAF identity 250 when painted in its final overall grey colors.

PLA Chinese Air Force old J-6 and J-7 jets being converted into kamikaze drones

Posted On

China is believed to convert some of its old fighter jets dating back to the Cold War into drones, Christopher McFadden reports in Interesting Engineering. Old fighters like the J-6 and J-7, which have been progressively mothballed since around 2018, are the prime ‘’guinea pigs’’. These drones could, according to some experts, be used as suicide drones to, for example, overwhelm Taiwan's air defenses as a prelude to a Chinese attack.

Belgium and UK sign MoU for MQ-9B SkyGuardian RPAS international cooperation program

Posted On

On April 5, 2023, Belgium and the United Kingdom signed a memorandum of understanding within the framework of an international cooperation program (MQ-9B International Cooperation Program – MICP) of the MQ-9B MALE (Medium Altitude, Long Endurance), also called 'SkyGuardian'.

AVIC Aviation Industry Corporation of China to export L-15 trainer jet to UAE

Posted On

China has sealed a deal with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) which is purchasing the L-15 trainer and light attack jet, according to the Official WeChat Account of Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC).

Lockheed Martin demonstrates scalable and portable maintenance capabilities on 5G network

Posted On

Lockheed Martin successfully demonstrated analytics-driven maintenance capabilities compatible with the U.S. Department of Defense’s 5G flight-line ecosystem, a critical step toward equipping service members with real-time, actionable information to improve aircraft readiness and reduce costs.

Saab conducts successful first flight of 4th GlobalEye Airborne Early Warning & Control programme

Posted On

The first flight of the fourth GlobalEye is an important milestone in Saab’s Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) programme and highlights that Saab can rapidly and reliably deliver GlobalEye. The aircraft took to the skies from Saab’s airfield in Linköping, Sweden on April 3, 2023, and performed several tests related to the aircraft’s capabilities.

Bell to supply 24 refurbished AH-1W SuperCobra attack helicopters to Bahrain

Posted On

The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency on March 29, 2023, announced that the State Department has made a determination approving a Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Bahrain of equipment and services to refurbish Excess Defense Article (EDA) AH-1W multi-role helicopters. The estimated total cost is $350 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale.

Belgium signs service contract with Lockheed Martin aimed at supporting Belgian aeronautical industries to stand out in the F-35 market

Posted On

The Belgian Council of Ministers approved this Friday, March 31, the signing of a framework agreement with Lockheed Martin entitled “Industrial Participation Plan Memorandum of Understanding” (IPP MoU), which aims to deepen and broaden cooperation with Belgian industry in the field of production and support of the F-35 Lightning II system.

Page 2 of 2