September 2018 news

Air Forces - Aerospace and Defense Industry


Russia Central Military District set up first Su-34 squadron

The first Su-34 frontline bombers of Russia's Central Military District arrived at Shagol airfield in Chelyabinsk region, the district said on September 10, 2018.

US Air Force Moving Forward with Lockheed's JASSM-XR missile development

Lockheed Martin has been awarded a US$51 million contract for Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile Extreme Range (JASSM-XR) development and testing, the US Department of Defense stated on September 10, 2018.

Boeing awarded $2.85Bn order for Lot 4 KC-46 delivery

Boeing has been awarded a US$2,85 billion contract for lot 4 production KC-46 aerial refueling aircraft, initial spares, and support equipment, the US Department of Defense said on September 10, 2018.

Meggit to provide South Korea's KF-X program with new Engine Vibration Monitoring Unit

Meggitt PLC, a leading international company specialising in high performance components and sub-systems for the aerospace, defence and energy markets, have signed a contract for the development of an Engine Vibration Monitoring Unit (EVMU), the company said on September 10, 2018.

Seaplane Global Air Services orders 10 Be-200ES amphibious aircraft

The US-based company Seaplane Global Air Services on September 8 ordered 10 Be-200ES, the Russian aircraft makers consortium UAC said announced in an official statement. The contract was signed during the "Hydroaviasalon 2018" exhibition, held last week in Gelendzhik.

Indian LCA Tejas successfully completes Mid-Air Refueling trial

India on Monday joined the elite group of countries who have developed the air-to-air refueling (AAR) system for military aircraft when a warplane at a height of 20,000 feet was successfully refueled mid-air. According to sources, the light combat aircraft (LCA) - Tejas LSP8 completed the "wet (actual) engagement" transferring 1,900 kg fuel from Indian Air Force's IL78 mid-air refueling tanker.

Belgian F-16 intercepts Russian An-12 airlifter above Baltics

Both Allied detachments in the Baltics conducted their first alert scramble yesterday performing visual identification of Russian Federation aircraft that flew in international airspace close to NATO territory and were not on a flight plan, the Allied Air Command said on September 6, 2018.

Russian Helicopters lands massive order for 152 medical helicopters

During the Hydroaviasalon-2018 exhibition, subsidiaries of Rostec State Corporation — Russian Helicopters, National Service of Medical Aviation and Avia Capital Services LLC — signed a contract to supply 104 Ansat and 46 Mi-8AMT medically equipped helicopters. Agreements on after-sales service were also signed.

Belgium C-130H airlifter to temporarily support French Operation Barkhane

The Belgian Council of Ministers on Friday agreed on to temporarily allocate a Belgian Air Force (BAF) C-130H military airlifter to support the French Armed Forces' Barkhane operation in the Sahel region.

DFS Aviation Services to provide European MALE RPAS Preliminary Safety Assessment

The European MALE RPAS Programme Division (MRPD) placed a contract with the German Air Navigation Service Provider – DFS Aviation Services (DAS) – on a Preliminary Safety Assessment. The objective of the safety assessment focuses on facilitating the integration of the European MALE RPAS in segregated and non-segregated airspaces.

Rostec launches T-500A aircraft amphibious variant

Russian State Corporation Rostec has presented T-500A aircraft with flotation landing gear for water deployment at the Hydroaviasalon-2018 exhibition. This modification can be used to carry out patrol and search and rescue operations in coastal areas, as well as for cargo delivery.

GAIC rolls out first FTC-2000G multirole fighter jet

China-developed FTC-2000G, an export version versatile aircraft, on Wednesday hit the production line in the city of Anshun in southwest China's Guizhou Province, according to its developer.

Bulgaria issues tender for Su-25 CAS aircraft overhaul

The Bulgarian Air Force (BuAF) is planning to conduct the maintain, repair and overhaul (MRO) of its Sukhoi Su-25 (NATO reporting name: Frogfoot) close air support (CAS) aircraft, according to Bulgaria`s Ministry of Defense (MoD).

KC-46 tanker and transport aircraft achieves FAA certification

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted Boeing’s KC-46 tanker program a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC), verifying that its refueling and mission avionics systems meet FAA requirements. The milestone marks completion of KC-46 FAA certification.

Boeing and PGZ join forces for Poland's Kruk attack helicopter program

Boeing and Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ) have signed an agreement to partner on a range of business opportunities for the AH-64 Apache in support of the KRUK Attack Helicopter Program, the companies said on September 4, 2018, in a joint release.

Russia redeploys Su-30SMs and Il-78Ms to Syria for drills over Mediterranean

Multirole Su-30SM (Flanker by NATO classification) fighter jets of the naval aviation and Il-78M (Midas) air tankers were redeployed to Humaymim airbase in Syria for an exercise over the Mediterranean held on September 1-8, the Zvezda and Russia Today broadcasters said.

Sierra Nevada lands $1.8Bn FMS for A-29 Super Tucano supply to Afghanistan

Sierra Nevada Corp. has been awarded a ceiling US$1,8 billion IDIQ contract for potential procurement, sustainment, modifications, ferry, and related equipment for the A-29 Super Tucano light attack aircraft, the US Department of Defense announced yesterday.

RAAF F-35A launches GBU-31 guided bombs for the first time

An Australian F-35A aircraft dropped two inert GBU-31v3 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) weapons for the first time on July 20, marking a ground-breaking step in the evolution of Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF) fifth-generation strike capability, the Australian Defence Ministry said on September 3.

Upgraded Su-30SM to be powered by AL-41F-1S engine

Upgraded Su-30SM fighter jets will be equipped with turbojet engines of Su-35S aircraft, Ufa engine-manufacturing company (ODK-UMPO) said in its paper submitted to the Aviastroitel of the Year contest.

Sentient Vision Systems joins Team Reaper Australia

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), yesterday announced the further expansion of Team Reaper Australia. Sentient Vision Systems, Team Reaper Australia’s newest member, is the only Australian provider of Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) solutions that has been an integral part of every Australian Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) program to date.

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