Boeing eyes international orders for P-8A Poseidon

Boeing has not signed any extra customers for its P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, but the company expects to sign addition nations on after the aircraft becomes operational with the US Navy.
The P-8A is set to become operational in 2013, says Chris Chadwick, president of Boeing Military Aircraft. The programme is on schedule and on budget, he adds. The first few aircraft are already being used to train new aircrews in Jacksonville, Florida.
The US Navy plans to buy a total of 117 of the aircraft. India has ordered 12, but could buy more. Meanwhile, Chadwick says there has been strong interest in the aircraft from other foreign buyers.

Read More............. 

Russia Keen to Be Seen on Airshow Radar

Sukhoi Superjet 100


Russia is eager to demonstrate it still produces cutting edge aerospace technology at the Farnborough show, which runs July 9-15.
Despite a recent string of failed tenders and incidents, including the crash of Sukhoi Superjet 100 during a demonstration flight in Indonesia in May, Moscow is looking to disprove any suggestion that Russian aircraft and equipment are no longer competitive.
Fifty-five Russian companies are bringing 114 items to the show this year (compared to 250 in 2010).

Read More.............. 

C-27J Refueling Capability Proved

Alenia’s C-27J tactical airlifter has recently undergone a series of successful refueling trials with an Italian air force Boeing KC-767A tanker. During the test campaign the C-27J undertook “contacts” at altitudes between 10,000 and 20,000 feet, and at speeds of up to 220 knots. The trials also involved tanking at night with night-vision goggles. Refueling runs during turns, in turbulence and in an emergency descent were also accomplished successfully. The campaign demonstrated the C-27J’s ability to take on fuel at the rate of 2,800 liters per minute, which allows a complete top-up in five minutes. For the trials, Alenia provided a test crew and an instrumented aircraft. The aim of the campaign is to certify the aircraft’s in-flight refueling system, which has currently been adopted for Italy’s 12 C-27Js, and one of the three aircraft supplied to Lithuania.

Read More............... 

Italy Delays Vehicle, Helicopter Buys

Above, an NH90 helicopter. Italy has pushed full delivery of Army and Navy NH90 helicopters back from 2018 to 2021. (NHIndustries)

ROME — Italy’s newly released Defense Ministry budget for 2012 reveals that a number of key procurement programs are to be slowed as spending cuts announced last year begin to bite.
After deciding last year to slash 28 percent off procurement spending, Italy has reduced its F-35 Joint Strike Fighter order, announced a fire sale of Navy ships and hatched plans to cut 30,000 troops.
But Rome had not, until now, gone public with a full breakdown on its truncated spending plan for 2012. Due for publication last November, Italy’s 2012 budget had been delayed as generals divided up scarce funds for ongoing programs.
Released to the parliament at the end of June and seen by Defense News, the spending document describes a “reduction, remodulation, slow down and reorienting” of procurement in 2012.
The completion of Italy’s purchase of 249 VBM Freccia armored vehicles, built by Iveco and Oto Melara, slips from this year to 2016, while the full buy of Italy’s second pair of U 212 submarines is pushed back from 2016 to 2017.

Read More............... 

A400M Named Atlas But Props Not Yet Ready To Bear The World

Europe’s A400M heavy-lift transport is here with an appropriate new name, but technical teething difficulties prevent it from flying in this week’s air displays. Photo: Mark Wagner

Europe’s A400M airlifter was named Atlas, after the Greek god who carried the world on his shoulders, last Friday in a rain-soaked ceremony at the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT), RAF Fairford.
 
The aircraft, which is the first production representative aircraft (MSN6), repositioned from Fairford to the Farnborough static park yesterday. However, Airbus Military has canceled plans to fly in the daily display, admitting that “engine maturity challenges” had not yet been solved.

Read More................ 

Russia will not deliver fighter jets to Syria as situation remains ‘unresolved’

Russia will not deliver Yak-130 fighter planes to Syria. Moscow reportedly signed an order to deliver 40 fighter-trainer jets to Damascus at the end of last year. (File Photo)

Russia will not deliver Yak-130 fighter planes to Syria while the situation there remains “unresolved,” the country's service for military cooperation said on Monday, according to the RIA news agency.

“In the current situation talking about deliveries of airplanes to Syria is premature,” Vyacheslav Dzirkaln, deputy director of the service, told journalists at the Farnborough Airshow, RIA said.

Russia reportedly signed an order to deliver 40 fighter-trainer jets at the end of last year, despite controversy surrounding its arms sales to violence-torn Syria.

Putin urges for peace in Syria

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday that Syria needed dialogue between the regime and opposition rather than foreign intervention to ensure a lasting peace.

Read More.................. 

Mozambique receives FTB-337G utility aircraft from Portugal

Portugal's defence minister, Jose Pedro Aguiar-Branco, has delivered its second decommissioned FTB-337G Milirole utility aircraft to the Mozambican Air Force.

Delivered under the Cooperação Técnico-Militar (CTM), a technical military cooperation agreement between both nations, the upgraded utility aircraft from Portugal Air Force will be used by Mozambique to primarily provide training to its air force pilots.

During a visit to Mozambique to boost bilateral defence ties between the nations, Aguiar-Branco added, "We know how important it is in building an Air Force to have well-trained, educated pilots who are able to fulfil their missions flawlessly."

Under the CTM agreement, Portugal and Força Aérea Portuguesa (FAP) will jointly work with the Mozambique Air Force to provide pilot and ground crew training in both countries.

The twin-engine FTB-337G aircraft will also be used by the air force to conduct medical evacuations and maritime surveillance to better counter Somali pirates, as part of international crime and piracy efforts.

Capable of carrying five passengers or two stretchers and a medic, the aircraft also has underwing hardpoints for storage purpose.

Read More..................