AERO VODOCHODY

Czech Republic’s Aero Vodochody will team up with Israel Aerospace Industries to improve and market the light attack and trainer aircraft L-159. According to the technical and marketing cooperation agreement, the team will integrate new avionics and other solutions on the L-159 platform as well as jointly market the aircraft.

AIRBUS HELICOPTERS

Airbus Helicopters has secured an additional order for one H-225 helicopter from the Japan Coast Guard (JCG), bringing JCG’s H-225 fleet to ten units. JCG currently operates three AS-332s and five H-225s, both from the Super Puma family. With this order, the customer’s Super Puma fleet will grow to 13 units by March 2021.

CHINA

China’s new weapon system is said to be analogous to the Kinzhal, a new, highly maneuverable, hypersonic air-launched Russian missile system whose existence was unveiled last month. It was reported that China has conducted five flight tests of a new nuclear-capable air-launched ballistic missile (ALBM) and a modified longrange strategic bomber to go along with it. The missile has been classified by US intelligence as the CH-AS-X-13, is a two-stage, solid-fuel ballistic missile with a 3,000km range

China has entered its Dong-Feng 26 (DF-26) IRBM into service with the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force. A statement by the Ministry of National Defense said the missile is capable of nuclear, conventional and anti-ship roles. Dubbed the “Guam-killer” by US military officials for its ability to potentially reach the island chain, is thought to have a range of around 4,000km and is capable of delivering both nuclear and conventional payloads.

New Images of underdevelopment Chinese ten tonne Z-20 Medium Lift Utility Helicopter suggest that it is in final stages of testing and will soon be ready for operational testing by China’s People’s Liberation Army. Z-20 Medium Lift Utility Helicopter has already completed its high altitude tests at Xiahe airfield in China’s Gansu Province.

DASSAULT AVIATION AND AIRBUS

Dassault Aviation and Airbus have decided to join forces for the development and production of Europe’s Future Combat Air System (FCAS), which is slated to complement and eventually replace current generation fighters, the Eurofighter and Rafale, between 2035 and 2040. FCAS will be developed as a system of systems, including unmanned aerial vehicles, connectivity and secure communications

EMBRAER

Embraer and American Airlines have signed a firm order for 15 E-175 jets with a 76-seat configuration. The contract valued at $705 million based on current list prices, will be included in Embraer’s 2018 second-quarter backlog. Deliveries will take place in 2019 between March and November.

GA-ASI

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems has announced that it will conduct maritime surveillance flight demonstrations in May 2018 using their MQ-9 Guardian Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA). The Guardian will collect data and conduct scientific research while operating from the island of Iki, in Japan’s Nagasaki Prefecture. This will be the first demonstration of a long endurance RPA by a private company in Japan.

INDIAN MINISTRY OF DEFENCE (MoD)

A delegation from the Indian MoD is to visit Kamov Design Bureau of Russian Helicopters Holding Company (part of Rostec) in order to participate in the demonstration flight of a light utility Ka-226T rotorcraft and to familiarise themselves with its ship-based version.

INDIAN AIR FORCE

A defence deal valued at over $300 million for the provision of 20 Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer’s to the Indian Air Force could fall through as the negotiations for it have been stuck for almost three years now, mostly due to a steep price hike by the vendors.

INDIAN SPACE RESEARCH ORGANISATION (ISRO)

Due to additional technical checks to be carried by ISRO on GSAT-11 satellite, the Ariane-5 VA243 launch initially planned for May 25, 2018, has been postponed to July with VA244.

LOCKHEED MARTIN

It is reported that Lockheed Martin plans to offer Japan a stealth fighter design based on its export-banned F-22 Raptor and advanced F-35 Lightning II aircraft. It has discussed the idea with Japanese defence ministry officials and will make a formal proposal in response to a Japanese request for information after it receives permission from the US government.

RUSSIA

The ground frequency tests of Russia’s IL-78M-90A tanker have been successfully completed in Ulyanovsk. The results will be the basis for analysing possible deviations from the operating standards during the whole life of the aircraft.

Russian news agency Interfax has reported that India is on course to sign a deal with Russia later this year for the purchase of the S-400 Triumf air defence system and corresponding missiles. Quoting Russia’s Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, the report said that all the technical aspects of the contract had been agreed and a price just needed to be decided.

RAYTHEON

Raytheon has received on April 24, 2018 a $12.1 million contract modification for the AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile. Awarded by the US Air Force, the agreement calls for production Lot 32 field spares and initial depot spares for FMS going to the Governments of Australia, South Korea, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and Turkey. Work is expected to be completed by January 31, 2021.

TURKISH AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES

Turkish Aerospace Industries Inc (TAI) has started work to produce Turkey’s national fighter jet, the TF-X. The fifthgeneration fighter jet, one of the country’s largest design projects announced by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, will be realised within a project-based incentive system. Preliminary design activities received a TL 4.8 billion ($1.16 billion) incentive certificate under the incentive programme.

USA

As part of efforts to boost the competitiveness of its arms manufacturers internationally, the US government is planning to drop its administrative surcharge on foreign arms exports. As of June 2018, the surcharge will drop from 3.5 to 3.2 per cent, Defense Security Cooperation Agency director US Lieutenant General Charles Hooper said during an interview at the ILA Berlin Air Show.

US DSCA

The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency has approved the possible FMS of 12 AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters to the kingdom of Bahrain. The fleet will be armed with 14 AGM-114 Hellfires and 56 Advance Precision Kill Weapon System II. The estimated cost of the acquisition is set at $911.4 million. The Viper’s manufacturer Bell, alongside Textron and General Electric have been listed as principal contractors on the sale.

USAF

The Air Force’s 45th Space Wing supported United Launch Alliance’s successful launch of the AFSPC-11 spacecraft aboard an Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station April 14, 2018. The successful launch of AFSPC-11 enables the opportunity for increased satellite communications capabilities for the war fighter once its payload reaches geosynchronous orbit.

US NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND

The US Naval Air Systems Command has confirmed that the V-22 Aerial Refueling System (VARS) will start testing this fall. According to a US Marine Corps statement, VARS-equipped Ospreys will be capable of providing an additional 10,000 pounds of fuel to aircraft forward deployed with Marine Expeditionary Units, extending the range of aircraft such as the F-35B and other V-22s. The new refueling system is to be operational by September 30, 2019.