AIRBUS HELICOPTER

The first of 16 Airbus Helicopter H125 training platforms have arrived in Qatar. The Ministry of Defence ordered the platforms in 2018. Footage shows two helicopters painted in the colours of the Qatar Armed Forces Academy. The H125 is a single-engine light utility helicopter formally known as the Eurocopter AS350 Ecureuil.

AUSTRIAN ARMY

Austria’s Federal Army’s S-70 “Black Hawk” fleet will be expanded by three additional units to 12 helicopters through additional funds from the “Civil Protection Package.”

The order was confirmed after the countersignature of the company “ACE Aeronautics” and the first helicopter will be delivered in 2021.

BELL BOEING

The Defence Logistics Agency has awarded the Bell-Boeing Joint Programme Office $143.9 million for V-22 support. The contract includes performance-based logistics and engineering support for the V-22 platform. The Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey is a multi-mission, tiltrotor aircraft that has vertical takeoff and landing as well as short takeoff and landing capabilities.

BOEING

The Boeing Company, Pennsylvania, has been awarded a $3,90,38,317 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification for an existing cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for finalisation of four new-build MH-47G rotary-wing aircraft. This action is required to satisfy an urgent need to sustain US Special Operations Forces (SOF) heavy assault, rotary-wing aircraft in light of increased SOF operational demands.

Boeing and United Airlines announced that the carrier has ordered 24 additional Boeing 737 MAX jets and four more 777-300ER (Extended Range) airplanes last year. The $4.5 billion order, according to list prices, was booked as unidentified on Boeing’s Orders & Deliveries website.

CFMI

Orders for CFM International’s two product lines again achieved near-record levels in 2018, with the company booking orders for a total of 3,337 engines, including 126 CFM56 engines (commercial, military and spares) and 3,211 LEAP engines (including commitments and spares).

CHINA

Close-up details of the Chinese anti-ship ballistic missile DF-26 show that the missile can adjust its position mid-flight to accurately attack a moving aircraft carrier, experts said after China showed the launch of its new-generation missile for the first time. Western media frequently questioned the DF-26’s ability to hit a moving vessel.

Chinese TV reported that PLA Rocket Force conducted a live-fire exercise somewhere in Northwest China featuring the launch of two DF-26 intermediate-range ballistic missiles.

DRDO

India’s state-owned Defence Research and Development Organisation has tested a new indigenous air-launched missile called NGARM which is designed to destroy a variety of surveillance and radar targets on the ground. The missile was launched from a Sukhoi SU-30MKI fighter to strike at a range of 100 kilometers.

GULFSTREAM

The US Air Force has awarded Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation a $80.6 million contract modification for C-20/C-35 fleet sustainment. The company is a US subsidiary of General Dynamics that designs, develops, manufactures, markets and services business jets. The C-20 is a military version of the commercial Gulfstream aircraft.

INDONESIAN AIR FORCE

The Indonesian Air Force has ordered eight additional twinengine multirole Airbus’ H225M helicopters as part of the country’s fleet-strengthening initiative for a combat search and rescue-capable fleet.

IRAN MOD

State media in Iran has reported the successful test of a new cruise missile with a range of 1,350 kilometers. The February 2, 2019 test came as Iran was celebrating the 40th anniversary of its 1979 Islamic Revolution. Defence Minister Amir Hatami said on state television “The test of the Hoveizeh cruise missile was carried out successfully at a range of 1,200 km and accurately hit the intended target.”

LOCKHEED MARTIN

Lockheed Martin rolled out the first operational F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter for the Netherlands. The aircraft will be temporarily based at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona where it will join the USAF’s 308 Fighter Squadron for international training before being transferred to Leeuwarden in the Netherlands this year.

SAAB

Saab has submitted its proposal to offer Gripen E for the Swiss New Fighter Aircraft procurement to armasuisse, the Swiss defence procurement agency. The proposal consists of option for 30 and 40 new Gripen E fighter aircraft in response to the RFP by armasuisse. Switzerland seeks to replace its fleet of F/A-18 Hornet and F-5 E/F Tiger combat aircraft.

SINGAPORE

Singapore wants to acquire Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters (JSF) as a replacement for the Republic of Singapore Air Force’s (RSAF) F-16C/D multirole combat aircraft. This is the outcome of a technical evaluation by the RSAF and the Defence Science and Technology Agency which lasted more than five years.

SOUTH KOREA

South Korea will receive the first F-35A stealth fighters in March, 2019. The first two jets are scheduled to be combat-deployed in April or May and 10 other jets are supposed to be ready for deployment by the end of this year. South Korea approved a deal in September 2014 to acquire 40 F-35As for about $6.8 billion.

With South Korea becoming the latest country to buy the US F-35 stealth fighter jets, Chinese military observers are certain that an upgraded Chinese J-20 fighter will gain superiority over the F-35. J-20 which is a single-seat, twinjet, all-weather stealth fighter has been in service since early 2018. It is endowed with state-of-the-art aviation and electronic technologies.

TURKEY

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on January 10, 2019 that Turkey is ready to consider US proposal on deliveries of Patriot air defence systems but refuses to abandon the S-400 deal with Russia as a potential precondition for the Ankara-Washington agreement.

The Turkish drone maker Baykar Makina has won a contract to sell Bayraktar TB2 UAVs to the Ukraine. The $69 million deal involves the sale of ammunition for the armed version of the Bayraktar TB2. The Bayraktar TB2 is a medium-altitude, long-range tactical UAV system that can carry out reconnaissance and intelligence missions.