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| UAC |
Vietnam Orders $350M Combat Training Jets From Russia – Vedomosti - The Moscow Times:
Vietnam would reportedly be the sixth country to import the Yak-130 combat training jet.
Vietnam has signed a $350 million deal last year to buy a dozen combat training aircraft from Russia, the Vedomosti business daily reported Wednesday.
Russia is the biggest arms supplier to Vietnam and Southeast Asia. Vietnam’s fleet deploys Russian-made fighters jets, surface ships and submarines, according to the state-run TASS news agency.
The 2019 deal covers at least 12 Yak-130 combat training jet purchases, Vedomosti cited two unnamed Russian defense industry executives as saying. The publication did not indicate when the jets would be delivered to Vietnam.
Intended for training pilots of advanced fighter aircraft, the Yak-130 can also be equipped with air-to-surface weapons including guided missiles and bombs.
Vietnam would be the sixth country to import the Yak-130, according to Vedomosti. Russia has previously sold the jets to Algeria, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Laos and Belarus.
Neither Russia’s state arms exporter Rosoboronexport nor the federal military cooperation service commented on the report that Vietnam had ordered 12 Yak-130s last year.
The contract paves the way for the purchase of more advanced jets from Russia, including the Su-30SM and the Su-35, military expert and Arms Exports magazine editor-in-chief Andrei Frolov was cited as saying.
Vietnam has been one of the world’s most active arms importers in recent years, according to Reuters. Hanoi stepped up its imports amid China’s increasingly aggressive territorial claims in the South China Sea, where the neighbors have long-standing rival claims.
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| jarud (flickr) |
Norway Will Solve Missions on Iceland with the Brand New F-35 Fighter:
"Participation has a high symbolic effect, both for Norway and the rest of NATO," says colonel Ståle Nymoen.
FROM
SIRI GULLIKSEN TØMMERBAKKE
Norway is now ready to solve missions both in Norway and abroad with the new fighter aircraft, the F-35, the Norwegian Armed Forces says in a press release.
In March, Norway will solve missions in the international operation Iceland Air Policing (IAP) with F-35. This is the first foreign mission to the 332 Squadron after the F-35 was declared initially operational in November.
NATO country Iceland does not have its own defense and thus no capacity to meet the country's need for sovereignty and airspace surveillance. NATO therefore rolls with periodic air defense presence in peacetime.
"The fact that the F-35 can show operational capability in such an operation is an important milestone towards full operational capability in 2025," says Chief of the Air Force, Major General Tonje Skinnarland.
The tasks are similar to those carried out by the Norwegian F-16 from Bodø (QRA), call-out to identify unknown aircraft. Norway, on behalf of NATO, will be responsible for this for a period of 3 weeks. The detachment consists of 130 soldiers, commanders, officers and civilians.
High symbolic effect
Colonel Ståle "Steel" Nymoen, commander of the 332 Squadron, has been appointed as head of the Norwegian contribution, called Detachment Commander.
"The fact that Norway fulfills the mission of Iceland Air Policing shows that we are a reliable, high quality allied partner. Participation has a high symbolic effect, both for Norway and the rest of NATO," says Nymoen.
He adds that the personnel are now in the preparation phase at the Orland fighter jet base before departure.
"The F-35 is now in daily use in Norway, and we have come so far with the phasing in that we can now also solve missions for NATO. Thus, one of the milestones in phasing in the F-35 has been reached," he adds.
Lots of experience
The QRA mission engages Norway on a daily basis. At one time there are two F-16 on 15 minutes of standby time in Bodø. The air defense is therefore well acquainted with the mission. In addition, the Air Force has performed Air Policing missions in the past, both in Lithuania and several times in Iceland. Both of these missions have been solved with the F-16.
Now it is the F-35 that will take over the baton. For the Armed Forces, the F-35 is an important part of the total defense, which will protect Norway and assert both our and NATO's borders in the north.
"The F-35 has proven to be a very good tool and works better than expected," concludes colonel Nymoen.
Norway declares IOC for F-35A
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| Vladislav PERMINOFF |
Production of Mi-28N helicopters: plans for a new hundred:
Translated by google
One of the expected new equipment for the Aerospace Forces of the Russian Federation is a promising attack helicopter Mi-28NM. This machine has already been brought to mass production, and soon the helicopters will go to the troops. The transfer of the first batch is scheduled for 2020. Next year, large-scale deliveries await the VKS.
Recent past
Tests of the upgraded Mi-28NM helicopter started in 2016 and ended relatively recently. Even before their completion, plans for future mass production were identified. In the early summer of last year, domestic media, citing unnamed sources, wrote about the need to purchase about a hundred cars. In the future, such data received official confirmation. At the end of June, the leadership of Russian Helicopters spoke about the latest developments and specified plans for the Mi-28NM. At that time, two pilot helicopters had already been handed over to the Ministry of Defense for state tests. For 2020, it was planned to supply an installation batch of six cars. Just a few days later, at the Army-2019 forum, the public first showed the first production Mi-28NM built as part of this batch.
Soon, details of the further construction of helicopters became known. Under the signed contracts, the Ministry of Defense ordered 98 Mi-28NMs in total. Under the terms of the contracts, the first 18 vehicles will be delivered to the VKS until 2021 inclusive. Then the pace of construction will increase, and until 2027 the army will receive another 80 helicopters. Procurement is carried out as part of the current State Arms Program for 2018-27.
Last year, the media repeatedly raised the issue of disagreements between the Ministry of Defense and industry in the field of equipment prices. According to some reports, the military even planned to abandon the purchase of helicopters with an excessively high cost. Subsequently, the leadership of the military department indicated that the new Mi-28NM turned out to be about one and a half times more expensive than the existing Mi-28UB, but this did not provide a proportional increase in capabilities.
Fortunately, all these problems have been successfully resolved. Participating enterprises optimized their costs, and the signing of a contract for 98 helicopters reduced the cost of a series. The consequences of this are obvious. The industry has a fairly large order, and the Ministry of Defense will be able to get all the desired equipment of a new type.
According to updated data ...
January 24, 2020 Izvestia published new data on the progress of work on the Mi-28NM. The publication managed to get a plan for the supply of components for this equipment, which allows to draw certain conclusions. Data on the future operation of equipment received from sources in the Ministry of Defense is also provided.
It is reported that in 2020 the first six helicopters will be handed over to the army. The next 2021 is scheduled to supply twice as many helicopters. Thus, in 2020-21. The previously mentioned plans for the purchase and delivery of 18 new machines will be fulfilled. Only after this, deliveries to combat units are expected.
The first-party helicopters will arrive at the 344th Center for Combat Training and Retraining of Flight Personnel (Torzhok). This organization has to master new equipment and provide training for pilots from combat units. By the time the first helicopters are delivered to combat regiments, the training of personnel will be completed.
Second hundred
Serial production of Mi-28 helicopters was launched in 2006. For a number of reasons, early modifications of this machine were not mass-produced, and a full-fledged series began only with the "night" version of the Mi-28N. The first serial helicopters were handed over to the armed forces in early 2008. The 344th Pulp and Paper Mill and PLC in Torzhok received this technique.
Subsequently, supplies of equipment to combat units of the armed forces began. In 2010, the first squadron fully equipped with the Mi-28N began full service. By this time, dozens went to serial helicopters. Continuation of mass production, including under new contracts, allowed to rearm several more units.
Until recently, in the interests of the domestic customer, the Mi-28N helicopter and its version Mi-28UB with dual control and some special equipment were mass-produced. To date, the army managed to get about a hundred helicopters of these modifications. This equipment is operated in several parts in all major strategic areas.
Recent contracts provide for the delivery of 98 helicopters of the new Mi-28NM version until 2027. The implementation of these plans will double the number of modern combat helicopters and accordingly increase the combat effectiveness of aviation. There is also information about the planned modernization of the already manufactured Mi-28N to the “NM” state.
It is important that the Russian army is no longer the only customer of the Mi-28 family helicopters. In the recent past, helicopters of export modification Mi-28NE were acquired by Algeria and Iraq. In recent years, Iraqi machines have been actively used in various military operations and show all their capabilities.
Deep modernization
The Mi-28NM helicopter is a modernized version of the existing Mi-28N. The update was carried out by replacing a number of units and introducing new devices. According to the results of such processing, the helicopter retains the main potential of its immediate predecessor, and also receives new functions, including borrowed from the combat training Mi-28.
The power plant and helicopter control systems have been modernized. Based on the experience gained, the booking of the most important sites and sites has been updated. It provides for the installation of a full-fledged airborne defense complex capable of identifying threats in a timely manner and taking the necessary measures. The idea of double control was borrowed from the Mi-28UB project, but other training equipment is not used.
The Mi-28NM receives the N025 radar with over-sleeve antenna placement, which has proven itself in other projects. The sighting and navigation system has undergone a deep modernization. Now it provides the use of both modern and promising weapons. There is evidence of the possibility of using guided missiles of new types, such as Chrysanthemum-VM or Hermes-A. Communication equipment provides both data exchange and UAV control.
Army benefits
In general, the Mi-28NM is an improved version of the existing Mi-28N, but with several important differences. It retains all the benefits of its predecessor, and also receives new ones. As a result, the aerospace forces will be able to get a modern attack helicopter capable of solving a wide range of combat missions at any time of the day and in different conditions.
The launch of mass production of new equipment will allow for several years to re-equip a number of combat units and partially abandon obsolete models. The appearance of new helicopters with higher performance and wide capabilities will lead to an obvious increase in combat readiness. The training of personnel and the operation of equipment will also be somewhat simplified.
According to current plans and signed agreements for serial production, until 2027 inclusively, almost 100 new Mi-28NMs will be at the disposal of the aerospace forces, which will almost double the fleet of modern attack helicopters of this family. And the first results of mass production of a new modification will appear this year.
Author:
Ryabov Kirill
Russian hi-tech firm develops new flight control system for Mi-28NM combat helicopters
Six states seek to buy Russia’s Mi-28NE attack helicopter, says defense cooperation agency
Production of 100 Mi-28NM helicopters for VKS began in Rostov
Source: Mi-28NM will receive a new guided missile "product 305" with a range of more than 25 km
The Defense Ministry may conclude a contract for the supply of up to 18 Mi-28NM helicopters - ТАСС
Russia’s Aerospace Force to get advanced Mil Mi-28NM attack helicopters by year end
Russian Mi-28N/NM Night Hunter: Details
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| Jamie Hunter |
U.S. will either hand over F-35s or reimburse the money, Turkey’s Erdoğan says | Ahval:
“Either they (the United States) will give us the money or the planes,” Yeni Şafak daily quoted Erdoğan as telling reporters.
The United States will either deliver the F-35 stealth fighters that Turkey has purchased, or return the payments already made, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Wednesday.
Washington blocked the delivery of F-35s to Turkey, after Ankara started receiving Russian S-400 air defence systems in July.
The United States also suspended Turkey’s participation to the joint programme to build F-35 jets on the grounds that Turkey’s acquisition of S-400s could pave the way for Russian subterfuge that could undermine the defences of the fifth generation fighters.
“Either they (the United States) will give us the money or the planes,” Yeni Şafak daily quoted Erdoğan as telling reporters.
Even if the United States does not reimburse Turkey, Ankara has other alternatives, Erdoğan said. “We will find and purchase them from another place, or we build them ourselves,” he said.
Erdoğan said no concrete progress had been made about Ankara’s proposal to U.S. President Donald Trump to establish a bilateral commission to resolve the dispute over S-400 missile systems and F-35 stealth fighters.
“The S-400 issue is over,” Erdoğan said. “It is out of the question for us to turn back from this deal.”
Turkey risks further U.S. sanctions that can be imposed under a 2017 law that aims to punish U.S. allies that purchase arms from Russia.
Raytheon wins US Navy NGJ-MB’s SDTA contract:
Raytheon has been awarded a contract for the next phase of the development of the US Navy’s Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band (NGJ-MB) programme.
The $403m contract will see the delivery of system demonstration test articles (SDTA) for the advanced electronic attack system.
The contract modification covers the supply of an additional seven SDTA shipsets, 60 SDTA pod subsystems, 27 pieces of peculiar support equipment, one fatigue test pod, and one static test pod.
This associated equipment will support the initial operational test and evaluation phase of the NGJ-MB programme.
According to the company, the delivery of the SDTA pods will take place after the completion of development and operational testing.
Raytheon Electronic Warfare Systems director Dan Theisen said: “These test assets will be used to show NGJ-MB is ready for operation.
“We’re at the stage where testing is essential. The test programme is on target to meet initial operating capability in 2022.”
The company is expected to complete the work in December 2022.
In September, CPI Aerostructures was awarded a $2m contract for the production of components of the pod for the SDTA phase.
The system completed the first power generation flight test in New York in October last year.
Developed for use on the EA-18G Growler aircraft, NGJ-MB will be capable of disrupting and denying enemy communication tools and air-defence systems. It will replace the legacy systems installed on EA-18G.
NGJ-MB features advanced jamming techniques, open systems architecture, and active electronically scanned array (AESA) antenna technology, as well as other offensive and defensive technologies.
The system also offers enhanced reliability and is easy to maintain.
Raytheon delivered the first NGJ-MB pod to the US Navy for ground and aircraft integration testing in July last year.
In April 2016, the company received a potential $1.01bn contract to help the navy design, build, integrate and demonstrate 15 NGJ-MB engineering development model pods for the engineering and manufacturing development phase.
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| Dafydd Phillips |
Lockheed Martin begins build of first F-35 for Denmark | Jane's 360
Gareth Jennings, London - Jane's Defence Weekly
28 January 2020
Lockheed Martin has begun building the first F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) for Denmark at its Fort Worth production facility in Texas.
The company announced on 27 January that the forward fuselage of aircraft L-001, the first of 27 F-35As destined for the Royal Danish Air Force (RDAF), entered production the week prior. Completion of this aircraft is scheduled for late 2020.
Having selected the F-35A to replace its Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcons in 2016, Denmark decided in 2018 to hedge payments of USD3.7 billion so that the country's department of defence could acquire the aircraft at a fixed price in its local currency, the Krone.
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| Lockheed Martin |
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| Pantsir-SM - rg.ru |
ZRPK "Shell-S" received a new hypersonic missile:
Translated by google.
The Russian anti-aircraft missile and cannon system (ZRPK) "Shell-S" was equipped with the latest hypersonic missile. About this in an interview with TASS said the chief designer of air defense systems of the Design Bureau of Instrument Engineering named. Shipunova Valery Slugin.
According to the designer, the Pantsir-S air defense missile launcher received a hypersonic missile capable of speeds up to 5 Machs. The missile was developed recently, successfully passed all tests and was introduced into the armament of the complex.
"There are two missiles, they are fighting with a whole range of targets. One standard, another recently developed, it is hypersonic - its speed is 5 Machs and more. This missile flies faster to the target, which significantly increases the rate of fire of the complex, as the firing channel is freed faster. In addition, you don’t need to put a lot of explosives into the warhead to disperse the fragments - higher impact speed, higher efficiency of the fragments" he said.
In his interview, Slugin noted that the Pantsir-S missiles were not equipped with homing heads. According to him, at the ranges at which the complex operates, the tasks of hitting the target are solved by the telecommand system of the missile from the complex.
The Pantsir-S anti-aircraft missile and cannon complex is designed to cover objects from air attack weapons in the near range of destruction. The complex is able to hit targets at any time of the day in any weather with high efficiency. In addition to hitting air attack weapons, it can hit ground (surface) targets.
Last year, it was reported that the state tests of a new version of the Pantsir-SM air defense missile system, intended for the Russian army, were announced. Unlike the Pantsir-S1 air defense system already in service, the new complex received a new missile and a new multifunctional aiming station with a phased antenna array, which allows you to "see" targets at ranges up to 75 km. Sighting range of the new complex increased to 40 km. The complex is capable of recognizing and hitting all types of unmanned aerial vehicles.
Israel ridiculed the American "Patriot" and recommended everyone to buy "Panstir-S"
New Pantsir-S1M upgraded after Syria to be able to hit any drones — designer
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| Petr @flickr |
State to sell five F-16 fighter jets to Romania in €130M deal - The Portugal News:
The five F-16 fighter jets that Portugal will sell to Romania, in a deal officialized Monday, will be modernized and updated at the Monte Real Air Base, according to a source from the Ministry of Defense.
At the ceremony to make the sale of the aircraft official, which took place at the Air Base, the Minister of Defense, João Gomes Cravinho, said the fighters were going to be modernized and updated at OGMA - Indústria Aeronáutica de Portugal SA, information that later the communication office came to change.
"With this process we are not only selling aircraft, but also establishing a very close relationship of collaboration with the Romanian Air Force, with the pilots and the entire maintenance team," said the minister, who was accompanied by his Romanian counterpart.
According to the minister, in June the first aircraft will be handed over, in October two more and the last one will be in early 2021.
The €130 million deal includes, in addition to the F-16 fighters, technical conversion to Romanian specifications and the work of the Portuguese Air Force in Romania for information transmission and maintenance.
The Minister of Defence also said that the two countries will work together within NATO and the EU and that the strengthening of cooperation with Romania is being studied in a number of areas.
"Romania is interested in our textile industry, which has equipped our Armed Forces, and we also talked about the possibility of working together at GEOMETOC - Centre of Excellence of Nato in Portugal, Romania's centre of excellence on human intelligence, which is of interest to Portugal, and collaboration in space," he said.
He also mentioned that both countries feel the need "to strengthen their naval capabilities, with the construction of ships in Portugal and Romania".
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| John Clarke @flickr |
US Air Force reveals intention to sole source F-15EX jets:
The US Air Force (USAF) Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) has issued a pre-solicitation notice of a proposed contract action to procure new F-15EX fighter jets from Boeing.
The notice states that the AFLCMC is planning to award a sole source, indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract for the aircraft.
The contract will include upgraded F-15EX aircraft, hardware and software design, development integration, test, subsystem and structural component production, as well as product support.
Additionally, it covers the installation of future modernisation kits and delivers improvements to the F-15E weapon system.
The new Boeing jets will be procured as ‘a refresh to the F-15C/D fleet and augment the F-15E fleet’.
The centre has also issued a second pre-solicitation notice indicating plans to award a sole-sourced IDIQ contract to GE Aviation for the delivery of F110 turbofan engines.
It will purchase as many as 480 F110 engines, including an engine monitoring system, integrated logistics support, tooling and other support equipment.
The engine type is being procured in support of the derived configured F-15EX weapon system and is claimed to meet the requirements.
Orders and contract awards are expected to commence in May this year.
The Boeing F-15EX is the most developed variant of Boeing F-15 Eagle / F-15E Strike Eagle fighter aircraft.
The US Department of Defense requested $1.1bn to procure eight F-15EX fighters in the fiscal year 2020.
It has plans to procure a total of 144 F-15EXs in the future.
Congressional Authorizers Endorse F-15EX Buy, With Caveats
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| shutcho1973 (flickr) |
Egypt requests $1bn sale of AH-64E Apache attack helicopters from US:
The US DSCA has notified Congress of a possible foreign military sale of AH-64E Apache attack helicopters to Egypt for an estimated cost of $1bn.
The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has notified Congress of a possible foreign military sale of AH-64E Apache attack helicopters to Egypt for an estimated cost of $1bn.
Under the potential deal, the Government of Egypt has requested the acquisition of ten AH-64E helicopters, in addition to 24 units of the 1700-GE-701D engines with containers, 12 modernised target acquisition designation sights / pilot night-vision sensors, and 24 Honeywell embedded global positioning systems (GPS) with inertial navigation system.
In addition, the sale includes the possible delivery of 24 M299 Hellfire launchers, 135 Hellfire missiles, five M36E9 captive air training missile AGM-114R and 12 AAR-57 (V) common missile warning systems.
Approved by the US State Department, the sale also covers M230 30mm automatic guns, AVR-2 B laser detecting sets, AN/ARC 201E single channel ground and airborne radio systems, AN/APR- 39D radar warning receivers, AN/AVS-6 night vision goggles, and AN/ASN doppler radar systems.
Furthermore, Egypt has requested US Government contractor technical assistance, quality assurance and construction services, and other associated elements of logistics and programme support.
Delivery of the AH-64E Apache aircraft and other equipment will enable the country to expand its existing fleet of multi-mission heavy attack helicopters to address US-Egyptian interest in countering terrorist activities emerging from the Sinai Peninsula region, as well as to further improve interoperability between Egypt, the US and other allies.
Implementation of the deal will require 25 US Government contractor representatives to carry out a 12-week visit to the country to carry out equipment checks and training.
Boeing, Lockheed Martin, General Electric Company, Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Sensors, and Raytheon will serve as the primary contractors for the proposed sale.
In September, Egypt requested a possible sale of 120mm ammunition rounds for use by the country’s military battle tank fleets for an estimated cost of $99m.
US approves possible sale of 10 AH-64E Apache helicopters and tank ammunition to the Egypt
Lockheed awarded $8M contract for Arrowhead upgrade kits for Egyptian Air Force AH-64 fleet
Ah-64 Apache: Details
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| BAE Systems |
Go Glasgow – new frigate more than half built:
27 January 2020
This is HMS Glasgow – the first of the Royal Navy’s next-generation frigate flotilla – more than half-way through construction.
Or rather this is part of the forward section of the ship – the fore and aft sections of the 8,000-tonne warship are being built separately; the aft is currently hidden behind lots of tarpaulin, and not especially photogenic presently we’re told.
In fact, the ship is being built in numerous sections – or ‘units’, each one constructed in BAE’s fabrication facility at their Govan yard.
From there, once complete, the units are wheeled to the ship block and outfit hall where they are joined together and pipes and cabling linked up.
Just over half of HMS Glasgow is now complete or under construction, out of eight planned vessels in the class (all are named, three have been ordered, two are in build at Govan – HMS Cardiff is No.2).
Once the fore and aft sections are complete they will be joined on the hard in front of the block hall, before the bridge/main mast are craned into place.
The completed ship will then be ‘launched’ by being lowered into the Clyde via a barge, then towed downstream to BAE’s yard at Scotstoun to complete fitting out.
The 26s replace the ‘souped-up’ anti-submarine Type 23s which will begin retiring from service later this decade after more than 30 years on patrol, while still to come are five Type 31 general duty frigates which have yet to be ordered/named and will replace their five Type 26 counterparts like for like.
Well over 1,500 people are involved in the Type 26 programme – not just at BAE on the Clyde but nationwide – with an estimated 3,400 jobs created or supported when construction is in full swing.
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| royalnavy.mod.uk |
Analysts say Type 26 Frigate sales make MT30 turbine into ‘serious market contender’
New sixth Type 26 frigate to be named HMS Sheffield
