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November 2023 news
Defense Aviation and Aerospace Industry |
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The first Boeing T-7A Red Hawk successfully arrived at Edwards Air Force Base, California, on Nov. 8, 2023, Chase Kohler, 412th Test Wing Public Affairs, reports. This milestone formally commences the Air Force’s developmental flight test campaign for the aircraft, aimed at fielding a replacement pilot training capability for the 1960s-era Northrop T-38 Talon.
On November 5, 2023, the United States deployed a B-1B bomber, no doubt in response to the growing number of attacks on its military bases in the region. Syrian and Iraqi militants allegedly carried out the attacks. A few days after this announcement, U.S. Central Command published on November 9, 2023, that the U.S. had carried out a series of air strikes against the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
The French Air and Space Force is considering equipping the C-130H Hercules of the 3/61 Poitou squadron with a fire support capability for special operations, which would essentially turn them into a kind of gunship. Meanwhile, the US Air Force is currently working on modifying the armament of its AC-130J Ghostrider gunships, as reported by Laurent Lagneau in Opex 360, echoing a story published in Defense News.
The appearance of a mysterious AGM-114 Hellfire missile on an Israeli AH-64D Apache attack helicopter in promotional material released by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) has left observers puzzled, as reported by Parth Satam in EurAsian Times. Based on the color of the 'bands' and the missile's overall color scheme, it could either be equipped with a thermobaric warhead designed to destroy Hamas's underground infrastructure or an incendiary explosive.
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (JB MDL) has successfully completed the certification of the KC-46A Pegasus aircraft for Air Force Force Generation (AFFORGEN). This achievement came during the Neptune Series exercise, which took place at Travis Air Force Base from October 21 to November 2, with approximately 120 service members and five KC-46A tankers from JB MDL participating.
Strix, the long-range drone by BAE Systems Australia, has cleared a significant milestone by passing its critical design review (CDR), as reported by UAS Vision. Although the project is slightly delayed for its first flight, BAE Systems is aiming to deliver an operational system for Strix by 2026. The CDR process prompted key modifications in certain platform elements compared to the model showcased at the Avalon International Airshow and DSEI London, leading to a shift in the initial flight schedule from late 2023 to the first half of 2024.
Textron Aviation on November 7 announced it has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Army Contracting Command for Cessna SkyCourier, Cessna Grand Caravan EX, Beechcraft King Air 360 and Beechcraft King Air 260 turboprop aircraft in support of Foreign Military Sales (FMS). The indefinite-delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract allows up to $100 million U.S. dollars for the acquisition of Textron Aviation aircraft over a five-year period. The Cessna SkyCourier, Cessna Grand Caravan EX and Beechcraft King Air are designed and manufactured by Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. company.
The Indian Army is gearing up for an ambitious modernization of its air fleet, planning the gradual replacement of its Chetak and Cheetah helicopters with indigenously manufactured Light Utility Helicopters (LUH) and scaling up its Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) capabilities. over the next two decades.
The Australian Department of Defense posted a tweet on November 8 to announce it will enhance the Air Force fleet with four Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton UAS, plus associated support and mission systems in the framework of the Air Force’s Maritime Patrol and Response program.
The Dominican Republic Air Force (FARD) has successfully completed its 'Maura 2023' interception exercise, a significant training event aimed at enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of its personnel in aerial interception missions. The exercise took place at the San Isidro Air Base from October 23 to 25 2023.
There is a growing need for helicopter versatility as public safety and defense requirements continue to grow. As a pioneer in delivering breakthrough innovations, Bell is no stranger to providing dynamic solutions to maximize aircraft effectiveness. Bell's Special Missions Aircraft (SMA) satisfies this need for versatility by taking proven para-public helicopters and integrating them with modern military systems. Bell's line of Special Missions Aircraft combines real-world experience with next-generation technology. The result is an unparalleled solution for more missions, including air transport, search and rescue, armed reconnaissance, and more.
Five Dutch F-16 fighter aircraft are currently on their way to the European F-16 Training Center (EFTC) in Romania. The aircraft are intended to train Romanian and Ukrainian pilots.
The eRADAR channel on Telegram, known for its close ties to the Ukrainian military, has reported the presence of the new-generation Russian multi-role fighter aircraft, the Su-57 (NATO codename: Felon), in the skies above the Luhansk region. The Su-57 first saw combat action in 2018 over Syria, where it played a role in saving the highly disputed Assad regime.
The 18th Dubai Airshow is set to commence. On November 6, local time, two L-15A attack fighter trainers completed a remarkable journey over the Karakoram Mountains and touched down in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). These aircraft are making their first public appearance since the UAE signed the sales contract. The two participating jet trainers have been adorned primarily in the colors of the UAE flag, with the addition of a rich golden hue.
Munich-based drone manufacturer elevates Trinity Pro capabilities with integration of Phase One P5 camera. The combined solution from the three technology leaders within each of their fields forms a generational leap in UAV-based mapping and surveying capabilities.
Japan is reportedly preparing to deploy fighter jets in Australia on a rotational basis starting in the upcoming fiscal year to conduct joint exercises aimed at strengthening defense capabilities in the face of escalating tensions with China, according to a report by Ashish Dangwal in EurAsian Times.
The Pentagon has confirmed the deployment of MQ-9 Reaper drones to patrol the skies above Gaza in a non-combat surveillance capacity, to assist in the search for hostages taken by Hamas following the Gaza attack on October 7, 2023, against Israel.
To modernize its air component, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has announced the acquisition of six indigenous Tsaigumi drones. This initiative, which also includes the purchase of ground control stations and spare parts, represents an investment of $1.54 million by the Nigerian government.
On November 1, Boeing tweeted a short video showing its F-15EX EX3's first flight test before delivery to US Air Force. The F-15EX is a ready-now replacement for the F-15C that includes a best-in-class payload, range and speed. This is an aircraft with a digital backbone, open system architecture and the capacity to carry hypersonic weapons, making it a key element of the U.S. Air Force’s tactical fighter fleet.
The U.S. State Department has authorized a potential foreign military sale to Iraq, valued at an estimated $300 million, to provide Contracted Logistics Support (CLS) by Bell Helicopter. This development was officially communicated to Congress on November 2, 2023, by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA).
