October 2015 Air Force Military Aviation Defence Industry News
 
 

Indian MoD officially approves induction of women fighter pilots in the IAF

Indian MoD officially approves induction of women fighter pilots in the IAF
 
Indian MoD officially approves induction of women fighter pilots in the IAF 640 001
In a big boost, the Indian Ministry of Defence on Saturday approved the induction of women pilots into the fighter (combat) stream of the Indian Air Force (IAF). "Inducting them (women) into the fighter stream would provide them with an equal opportunity to prove their mettle in combat roles as well," said a Ministry of Defence press release.
 

KAI could scrap T-50 trainer jets deal with Uzbekistan due to U.S. opposition

KAI could scrap T-50 trainer jets deal with Uzbekistan due to U.S. opposition
 
KAI could scrap T 50 trainer jets deal with Uzbekistan due to U S opposition 640 001
South Korea may have to scrap the lucrative sale of T-50 trainer jets to Uzbekistan due to U.S. opposition, revealed local medias today October 26, 2015. A government source on Friday said Korea Aerospace Industries had been in negotiations with the Uzbek government to sell 12 T-50s, but the U.S. government opposes the deal citing possible technology leaks and foreign-policy concerns. The deal could have netted South Korea some US$400 million.
 

Russia could equip India's future Ka-226T helicopters with night vision goggles and HMTDIS systems

Russia could equip India's future Ka-226T helicopters with night vision goggles and HMTDIS systems
 
Russia could equip India s future Ka 226T helicopters with night vision goggles and HMTDIS systems 640 001
Russia may outfit Ka-226T light multirole helicopters with helmet mounted target designation and indication system (HMTDIS), a source in the defense industry told TASS. "All of the Ka-226T helicopters for India will be fitted with night vision goggles and HMTDISs since the machine will be used, among other functions, for reconnaissance and target designation," the official told the agency.
 

RAAF extends contract with Northrop Grumman for F/A-18 Hornet Litening pod support

RAAF extends contract with Northrop Grumman for F/A-18 Hornet Litening pod support
 
RAAF extends contract with Northrop Grumman for F A 18 Hornet Litening pod support 640 001
The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has extended its contract with Northrop Grumman Corporation to provide logistics support for its F/A-18 Hornet Target Designation Systems, which use the AN/AAQ-28(V) LITENING pod.
 

USAF to start updating its C-130 airlifters with Rolls-Royce's T56 Series 3.5 engine upgrade

USAF to start updating its C-130 airlifters with Rolls-Royce's T56 Series 3.5 engine upgrade
 
USAF to start updating its C 130 airlifters with Rolls Royce s T56 Series 3 5 engine upgrade 640 001
The US Air Force will begin updating its C-130 transport fleet with the Rolls-Royce T56 Series 3.5 engine upgrade after awarding a $36 million contract. Series 3.5 kit deliveries will begin in December 2015 and introduce the engine improvements into USAF and US Air National Guard C-130s. The Series 3.5 upgrade kits are already demonstrating success in a Hurricane Hunter WP-3D aircraft of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), with fuel savings exceeding 12 percent.
 

Avio Aero and Selex ES to develop a new hybrid electric propulsion system for UAVs

Avio Aero and Selex ES to develop a new hybrid electric propulsion system for UAVs
 
Avio Aero and Selex ES to develop a new hybrid electric propulsion system for UAVs 640 001
Avio Aero, a GE Aviation business, has teamed up with Finmeccanica - Selex ES to develop a hybrid electric propulsion system for use on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The partnership is part of a € 5 million research project called “Hybrid energy management for aeronautical applications” financed through the framework research agreement between the Puglia regional government and the Italian Ministry for Universities and Research.
 

USAF purchases Lockheed Martin's new Sniper ATP-Sensor Enhancement pods

USAF purchases Lockheed Martin's new Sniper ATP-Sensor Enhancement pods
 
USAF purchases Lockheed Martin s new Sniper ATP Sensor Enhancement pods 640 001
Lockheed Martin received $176.1 million in contracts from the U.S. Air Force for Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod-Sensor Enhancement (ATP-SE) production and upgrade kits that will convert Sniper ATPs to the ATP-SE configuration, the US-based defense giant announced Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015.
 

South Korea plans to arm its FA-50 light combat fighters with new variant of the Taurus missile

South Korea plans to arm its FA-50 light combat fighters with new variant of the Taurus missile
 
South Korea plans to arm its FA 50 light combat fighters with new variant of the Taurus missile 640 002
The South Korea's military is reviewing whether it is possible to arm its FA-50 light combat fighters with a new variant of the Taurus air-to-surface missile to enhance combat capabilities, a RoK military official said Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015.
 

UIC to provide navigation systems and other airfield equipment to Vietnam and Kazakhstan

UIC to provide navigation systems and other airfield equipment to Vietnam and Kazakhstan
 
UIC to provide navigation systems and other airfield equipment to Vietnam and Kazakhstan 640 001
The United Instrument Corporation (UIC, a subsidiary of Rostec) will ship short-range radio navigation systems to Vietnam and Kazakhstan to outfit airfields there, UIC said on Wednesday. "In particular, short-ranger radio navigation systems are being made under the contract placed by the Kazakh Air Force. The contract provides for two ‘turn-key’ systems to be delivered to two airfields in Kazakhstan," UIC said.
 

Finland starts its HX Fighter Programme

Finland starts its HX Fighter Programme
 
Finland starts its HX Fighter Programme 640 001
The Finnish Ministry of Defence has authorized the start of the HX Fighter Programme, which will replace the fleet of Boeing F/A-18 Hornet with a new fighter aircraft. The Hornets are scheduled to be withdrawn from service in the 2025-30 period, so that the new fighter will be fully operational by 2030.
 

New Canadian Government to cancel F-35 participation and bolster its Navy

New Canadian Government to cancel F-35 participation and bolster its Navy
 
New Canadian Government to cancel F-35 participation and bolster its Navy 640 001
The newly elected Liberal Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, is planning to cancel the procurement of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. The funds of this programme will be directed to bolstering the country’s Navy. According to his statements the past days, Canada does not need a stealth aircraft, which is also too expensive, while investments in the Royal Canadian Navy will be a top priority.
 

South Korea to receive key F-35 technologies for its KF-X programme

South Korea to receive key F-35 technologies for its KF-X programme
 
South Korea to receive key F 35 technology for its KF Xprogramme 640 001
South Korea will soon receive key technologies from the F-35 programme, according to the Yonhap News Agency. Lockheed Martin officials have stated that the US Government will approve in the near future the transfer of 21 technologies that are important for the development of the indigenous fighter aircraft under the KF-X programme.
 

US reportedly ready to sell 8 F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan

US reportedly ready to sell 8 F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan
 
US reportedly ready to sell 8 F 16 fighter jets to Pakistan 640 001
The US is set to sell eight new F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan, a media report said. The decision comes ahead of US President Barack Obama's meeting on Thursday with Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, which will mainly focus on the president's decision to extend the American troop presence in Afghanistan and a quiet effort to get Sharif to halt the deployment of a new generation of tactical nuclear weapons, The New York Times reported on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2015.
 

South Korea buys a 4th Surion helicopter for law enforcement missions

South Korea buys a 4th Surion helicopter for law enforcement missions
 
South Korea buys a 4th Surion helicopter for law enforcement missions 640 001
The South Korean government signed a 21.7 billion won ($19.2 million) deal on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2015, to buy its fourth Surion helicopter for police use, to be stationed on Baengnyeong Island in the Yellow Sea, the state procurer said. The rotary aircraft will be an upgrade from existing Surions in service with law enforcement, said Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. (KAI), the maker of the chopper.
 

Belarus plans to replace MiG-29 fighters with Su-30SMs after 2020

Belarus plans to replace MiG-29 fighters with Su-30SMs after 2020
 
Belarus plans to replace MiG 29 fighters with Su 30SMs after 2020 640 001
The Belorussian Defense Ministry plans to replace MiG-29 fighters with Su-30s after 2020, Major-General Oleg Dvigalev, Belorussian Air Force and Air Defense Commander declared today, Oct. 21, 2015, to the russian news agency TASS.
 

Italian Army received first LOAM-equipped NH90 helicopter

Italian Army received first LOAM-equipped NH90 helicopter
 
Italian Army received first LOAM equipped NH90 helicopter 640 001
The Italian Army has its first NH90TTH helicopter equipped with the Laser Obstacle Avoidance and Monitoring system operation. The LOAM was developed, produced and delivered by Finmeccanica - Selex ES, after the completion of the validation tests, which were carried out in cooperation with the Italian MoD's Aeronautical and Navigation Equipment Directory (ARMAREO).
 

Lockheed Martin's F-16V Viper fighter aircraft made its maiden flight

Lockheed Martin's F-16V Viper fighter aircraft made its maiden flight
 
Lockheed Martin s advanced F 16V fighter aircraft made its maiden flight 640 001
Lockheed Martin successfully completed the maiden flight of the F-16V, the latest and most advanced F-16 on the market today. The October 16 flight marks the first time an F-16 has flown with Northrop Grumman’s advanced APG-83 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Scalable Agile Beam Radar (SABR), which will deliver a quantum leap in capability for the venerable F-16.
 

USAF deploys A-10s to Turkey to fight ISIS

USAF deploys A-10s to Turkey to fight ISIS
 
USAF deploys A 10s to Turkey to fight ISIS 640 001
The US Department of Defence has decided to increase its pressure the Islamic State by deploying 12 A-10 attack aircraft to Incirlik Air Base in Turkey. The news was initially made public by Agence France Press and Turkish Media, but later confirmed by the DoD. The aircraft have already arrived at the airbase and replaced six LM F-16 which were deployed last August from Aviano Air Base.
 

Cobham received orders from BAE Systems for F-35 Lightning II microelectronic products

Cobham received orders from BAE Systems for F-35 Lightning II microelectronic products
 
Cobham received orders from BAE Systems for F 35 Lightning II microelectronic products 640 001
Cobham recently received a series of orders from BAE Systems for microelectronic products totaling approximately $51M for the F-35 Lightning II platform. The work will be performed by Cobham Microelectronic Solutions, a business unit of the Cobham Advanced Electronics Solutions sector. Cobham's offering for the recent orders on the F-35 platform includes microelectronic components and integrated microelectronic assemblies for radar and electronic warfare (EW).
 

EU Commission approves Lockheed Martin’s Sikorsky acquisition

EU Commission approves Lockheed Martin’s Sikorsky acquisition
 
EU Commission approves LM’s Sikorsky acquisition
The European Commission has cleared one of the biggest acquisition deals in the defence industry. Under the EU Merger Regulation, the EC has approved the acquisition of Sikorsky Aircraft by Lockheed Martin. According to the statement, the proposed acquisition would raise no competition concerns, because there are no overlaps between the companies’ activities. The deal is expected to close by the end of October.
 

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