AGNI II

On February 22, 2018, India test-fired its medium-range, nuclear-capable Agni II missile from an island off the coast of Eastern state of Odisha. The two-stage Agni II missile, with a strike range of over 2,000km, was test-fired by the Strategic Forces Command.

AIRBUS

As part of its flight test campaign demonstrating the long range A320 variants, Airbus’ new A321LR (Long-Range) took off from Le Bourget Airport in Paris on its first transatlantic flight, bound for New York. The A321LR has the longest range of any single-aisle commercial aircraft today and is capable of flying 7,400km non-stop.

Airbus has delivered the world’s first A350-1000 wide-body airliner to launch customer Qatar Airways at a delivery event in Toulouse, France. The aircraft is the first of 37 A350-1000s ordered by the carrier and is the first ever Airbus aircraft fitted with the revolutionary new Q-suite seats, offering the first ever double bed in business class. It can carry 44 additional passengers and has a maximum range of almost 15,000km.

An Airbus spokeswoman said on February 9, 2018 that China’s Sichuan Airlines has signed a deal with Airbus to buy ten A350-900 wide-body jets worth over $3 billion at list prices. CAAC News, which is affiliated to the Civil Aviation Administration of China, earlier reported that the deal was the largest ever placed by Sichuan Airlines, whose parent is China Southern Airlines.

AIRBUS DEFENCE

Airbus Defence is finally getting serious about commercial derivatives and is offering the A320neo for maritime patrol, airborne early warning, etc. This will pose a challenge for Boeing’s 737NG derivatives such as the P-8 and the Boeing 737 AEW&C.

BAE SYSTEMS

BAE Systems has been selected by Lockheed Martin to modernise head-up displays (HUD) on F-16 aircraft for the UAE Armed Forces, replacing the fleet’s analogue system with advanced digital technology. The HUD, which sits directly in a pilot’s line of sight, is a see-through display that presents real-time, flight-critical information without obstructing his or her view of the outside world.

BOEING

Boeing will upgrade the Japan Air Self-Defense Force’s Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft under a $60.9 million US Air Force contract announced by the Pentagon. The agreement will see Boeing provide mission computing upgrade installation and checkout of four Japanese E-767 aircraft and associated ground systems. Work is expected to be completed by December 2022.

CHINA

China’s Defence Ministry has stated that the Chinese military has successfully completed another test of a ground-based midcourse anti-missile intercept system. The test, which was conducted within China’s borders, had reached its expected goals, and was defensive and not aimed at any country. Anti-missile system tests have been ongoing since 2010.

ELBIT SYSTEMS

Elbit Systems of America, LLC has announced that its joint venture with Rockwell Collins ESA Vision Systems, LLC (RCEVS) will incorporate the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System II (JHMCS II) helmet-mounted display into Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) F-16 aircraft. The ROKAF version of the JHMCS II helmet provides pilots with enhanced situational awareness during day and night missions with immediate and accurate visor-projected display of friendly, threat and unknown targets.

EMIRATES AND AIRBUS

Emirates and Airbus firmed up an earlier MoU and signed a contract for 20 additional A380 airliners with a further 16 options to be confirmed at a later date. The total agreement for 36 aircraft is valued at $16 billion based on latest list prices. Deliveries are to start as early as 2020.

INDIAN AIR FORCE (IAF)

The IAF has committed to ordering an initial batch of 15 Saras Mk 2 twin-turboprop aircraft, which it will use for liaison as well as maritime patrol and other support missions. The design and development of the aircraft is being done by CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited has been identified as the production agency for the military version of Saras, while the production of civil version will be given to identified private industries.

INDONESIA

Russia’s Interfax news agency has reported that Indonesia has finally inked contracts for the purchase of 11 Su-35 fighter aircraft. The agreement comes after two years of negotiations and will involve Jakarta supplying goods such as rubber and palm oil to help fund part of the acquisition and it is believed Moscow will also provide a loan.

KUWAIT

The State Department has made a determination approving a possible FMS to Kuwait of King Air 350ER Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance aircraft for an estimated cost of $259 million. The Defence Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on February 21, 2018.

LOCKHEED MARTIN

On February 16, 2018, Lockheed Martin was awarded a $13.9 million US Navy contract modification to supply initial spares for F-35 deliveries to Israel. The agreement tasks Lockheed with the procurement of initial air vehicle spares to include endurance spares packages to coincide with F-35 air vehicle deliveries to Tel Aviv. Work is scheduled to be completed by December 2021.

RUSSIA

On February 12, 2018, Russian newspaper Krasnaya Zvezda reported that the Russian military had test-fired an upgraded air defence missile at the firing range Sary-Shagan in Kazakhstan. The new upgraded air defence missile is capable of intercepting single and multiple strikes, including the new generation intercontinental ballistic missiles

For the first time in the recent history of Russia, pilots of the Naval Air Arm have practiced in-flight refuelling on Su-30SM aircraft. During the training, the Su-30SM and Su-24M aircraft took off from the Naval Aviation Combat Training Centre located in Yeisk. Fighters and bombers, piloted by naval flight crew, carried out more than 100 contacts with Il-78 airplane tankers.

SOUTH KOREA

It has been reported that South Korea’s Defence Acquisition Programme Administration (DAPA) has approved $53 million for the purchase of an undisclosed number of PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) interceptors. The contract is expected to be made in the second half of the year for the delivery after 2020. The PAC-3 MSE uses a two-pulse solid rocket motor that increases altitude and range to defend against evolving threats.

THALES

The Logistic Support Command of the Army (MALE) of Spain and the German Procurement Agency have just awarded Thales for a batch of respectively 1,000 and 10,000 70mm/2.75” rockets to complete the weapon systems of their Tiger HAD-E and their UH Tiger helicopters. Deliveries are expected shortly. The Spanish Army Aviation has selected Thales’s rockets to complete the weapon system of the Tiger HAD-E and the German Armed Forces have chosen Thales’s practice rockets to increase the training of the UH Tiger units.

UK MOD

A $365.4 million FMS agreement with the US Government to support RAF C-17 heavy-lift transport aircraft into the next decade has been signed by the UK’s Ministry of Defence to provide support for the RAF’s fleet of eight C-17A Globemaster III aircraft.

US

The US State Department has made a determination approving a possible FMS to Sweden of Patriot Configuration-3+ Modernised Fire Units for an estimated cost of $3.2 billion. The Defence Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on February 20, 2018.