October 07, 2016 Military Aviation News

Italy Is Prepping Its Only Aircraft Carrier to Handle F-35B Stealth Fighters

10/07/2016

Cavour, Italy’s only aircraft carrier, is designed to accommodate up to 12 F-35B stealth jump jets. In theory. In reality, actually operating the stealth fighters requires Cavour to undergo some significant modifications. Although conceptually similar to the smaller Harrier jump jet that already flies from Cavour, the Lockheed Martin F-35B produces much more heat than the older Boeing fighter does.

Is Poland really considering restarting production of its indigenous obsolete I-22 Iryda trainer aircraft?

10/07/2016

On Oct. 3, Mateusz Morawiecki, Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of development visited Chelm State Higher School of Vocational Education (PWSZ – Panstwowa Wyzsza Szkola Zawodowa). Among the things said during the visit one is particularly interesting: a claim has been made by the school officials that the Polish indigenous PZL I-22 Iryda trainer program will be reactivated, with the jets being manufactured in Chelm, alongside small UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) and drone systems.

BAE Systems in arms talks with Saudi Arabia

10/07/2016

The announcement by the defence, aerospace and electronics giant will stoke controversy over weapons sales to the Arab kingdom. However, it will hold out a lifeline to aircraft factories in the North West. The UK has been one of the biggest suppliers of defence equipment to Saudi Arabia for more than 40 years, including the 1980s al-Yamamah deal.

Attrition: Turkey Loses Its F-16 Surge Mojo

10/07/2016

The July 2016 coup attempt in Turkey had many victims and one of the lesser known ones was the effectiveness of Turkish fighter fleet. While few F-16 pilots took part in the coup, the government lost (through dismissal or resignation) 274 combat pilots. This reduced the ratio of pilots per F-16 from 1.25 to .8. Suddenly the combat capabilities of the Turkish air force were greatly reduced, especially if the F-16s were called on to engage in large scale and intensive operations.

Germany may buy as many as six C-130Js

10/07/2016

Germany has signalled its intention to acquire as many as six Lockheed Martin C-130J tactical transports as its frustrations deepen with the underperforming Airbus Defence & Space A400M. As part of a memorandum of understanding with France, signed by the defence ministers from both countries, the Hercules would be part of a “common air transport squadron” to be created by 2021.

Finnish Air Force Suspects Two Airspace Violations by Two Different Su-27 Planes

10/07/2016

On Thursday, Finland's Yle television reported citing border guard services that a Russian Su-27 jet had alleged stayed in the Finnish airspace for about a minute after crossing the border near the town of Porvoo some 30 miles east of the capital, Helsinki.

Russian Military Denies Violation of Finland's Airspace by Su-27 Fighter Jet

10/07/2016

"A Russian Su-27 combat plane on October 6, 2016, carried out a training flight over neutral waters of the Bay of Finland," the ministry said in a statement. "The plane did not deviate from the established route, which is confirmed by means of objective monitoring," the statement said.

Russian Tu-95 and Tu-22M3 Bombers to Patrol Airspace Between Hawaii and Japan

10/07/2016

A new division of Tu-95MS and Tu-22M3 strategic bombers will soon appear in the Russian Far East to patrol the area over the Pacific Ocean inside the Japan – Hawaii – Guam triangle, Izvestia reported.

Third Russian Black Sea Fleet Missile Ship en Route to Syria

10/07/2016

The Kalibr cruise missile-equipped Serpukhov and Zeleny Dol corvettes are planned to join the Russian Navy's permanent task force as part of an off-shore maritime zone rotation in the Mediterranean.

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