Kiev began to receive monthly fines for non-delivery of An-178 aircraft

Martyn Cartledge ASP Photography @flickr

Kiev began to receive monthly fines for non-delivery of An-178 aircraft: 

December 17 2021

Photos used: Julian Herzog / julianherzog.com / wikimedia.org

Ukraine was unable to fulfill the contract with Peru and deliver the An-23 transport aircraft by October 178 of this year. Thus, penalties come into effect in relation to the Ukrainian side for the breakdown of the agreement concluded in 2019.

So, for each of the two months of delay, Kiev must pay a fine of $ 5, from the third to the fifth months - 35 thousand, and from the sixth to the twelfth - 70 thousand dollars. Then the contract can be terminated.

According to one of the sources, Ukraine at one time deliberately misled Peru about the production of engines for the An-178 without Russian components. However, this could not be done without Russia's help (the transport aircraft is only 40 percent ready), so Ukraine was unable to fulfill its obligations.

Kiev won a tender for the supply and maintenance of a transport aircraft to the Peruvians in 2018. Ukroboronprom, represented by Spetstechnoexport, signed a corresponding agreement with Lima for $ 65 million.

Peru planned to use the An-178 as a replacement for the aging An-32 multipurpose transport aircraft. But now local journalists with grim irony call the An-178 an "invisible plane", and General Alfredo Vildoso Rojas, who was present at the conclusion of the contract, is in prison on corruption charges. It is also reported that the deal with the Ukrainians was concluded in violation of Peruvian law.

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The new Mi-8AMTSh-VN "Sapsan" - a flying BMD with an impressive strike potential

Andrey Vechernin

The new Mi-8AMTSh-VN "Sapsan" - a flying BMD with an impressive strike potential

December 14 2021

The Russian troops received the first batch of Mi-8AMTSh-VN Sapsan fire support helicopters, which is a modification created on the basis of one of the most widespread rotary-wing aircraft in the world.

The newest fire support helicopter was developed taking into account the experience gained during the counter-terrorist operation in Syria and is intended for special forces.

To begin with, the "Sapsan" can "boast" with a capacity of 2800 hp, which without any problems allows you to "throw" 37 paratroopers at a given point or evacuate 12 wounded soldiers on a stretcher. In addition, the helicopter is capable of taking a large weapon load.

Flight and navigation equipment allows you to effectively control the rotorcraft at night and control the air situation around 360 degrees. Another important feature of the new helicopter is that the crew and important units are reliably protected by titanium alloy armor, and the floor and sides are covered with Kevlar plates.

The peregrine falcons are equipped with a digital autopilot and the Vitebsk defense complex, which ejects false heat targets and interferes with enemy missile guidance heads.

Finally, about the weapons. The Sapsan carries a double-barreled 23-mm rapid-fire cannon, guided and unguided missiles, 250-kg high-explosive fragmentation bombs, and four machine guns: two course guns, one to support the landing and loading, and one in the tail of the vehicle. In addition, it is reported that the helicopter is capable of carrying Hermes-A supersonic missiles.

Considering all of the above, the newest Mi-8AMTSh-VN can be safely called a flying BMD with an impressive "destructive potential".

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Romania eyes Norwegian F-16s under $513 million deal

Harri_1970

Romania eyes Norwegian F-16s under $513 million deal

By Jaroslaw Adamowski

Dec 14, 02:24 AM

A Royal Norwegian Air Force F-16 Falcon flies above Bodø Main Air Station in 2013. Romania is interested in buying the planes, as Norway takes delivery of new F-35w. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Lee Osberry/Released)

WARSAW, Poland — The Romanian Ministry of National Defence has asked the country’s lawmakers to approve the purchase of 32 second-hand F-16 fighter jets from Norway under a contract estimated to be worth about €454 million ($513 million).

The Romanian ministry has discussed potential acquisitions of used F-16s from a number of allies, including Belgium, Denmark, Greece, The Netherlands, Norway and Portugal, but the only partner with which an agreement could be reached was the Norwegian government, according to the information obtained by local broadcaster Digi24.

The deal comprises a €354 million allocation to Norway, as well as a €100 million payment for logistics and equipment to the U.S.

The contract comes as the Royal Norwegian Air Force is phasing out the aircraft which have been replaced by new F-35 fighter jets, as announced by the Norwegian Ministry of Defence earlier this month.

“The F-16 has served the Norwegian Armed Forces and the nation very well for over 40 years until their replacement by the F-35. The Ministry of Defence has been clear on their wish that Norwegian F-16s should see continued use by others within the NATO alliance,” Norwegian Defence Minister Odd-Roger Enoksen was quoted in a statement.

Acquiring a further 32 fighter jets will allow Romania’s Air Force, which already operates 17 F-16s, to retire its remaining outdated Soviet-designed Mikoyan MiG-21 aircraft.

Source defensenews.com

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Boeing to build another six special forces MH-47G twin-rotor heavy-lift helicopters in $212.6 million order

Josh Kaiser

Boeing to build another six special forces MH-47G twin-rotor heavy-lift helicopters in $212.6 million order | Military Aerospace

Nov. 30, 2021

The MH-47G is the most sophisticated MH-47, with infrared exhaust suppressors to reduce the helicopter's vulnerability, and infrared-guided missiles.

John Keller

MacDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – Combat helicopter designers at the Boeing Co. will build six MH-47G twin-rotor heavy-lift helicopters for U.S. Special Operations Forces under terms of a $212.6 million order announced last week.

Officials of U.S. Special Operations Command at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., are asking the Boeing Defense, Space & Security segment in Ridley Park, Pa., to provide six MH-47G rotary wing aircraft to sustain U.S. Special Operations heavy-assault helicopters.

Boeing engineers are carrying out a MH-47G renew project by using new, salvaged, reworked, or recapitalized components into an upgraded airframe, Special Operations Command officials say.

This upgrade to the special forces MH-47G includes new composite rotor blades, an improved drive train, single sponson fuel tanks, as well as strengthened aft, pylon, and nose sections.

The MH-47G heavy-lift helicopter is similar to the MH-47E, but has more sophisticated avionics including a digital common avionics architecture system (CAAS) -- a common glass cockpit used by different helicopters.

The MH-47G is an advanced heavy-lift helicopter that is operated by the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR) at Fort Campbell, Ky.

The MH-47G is the most current and sophisticated MH-47 in service. It uses two T55-GA-714A engines with infrared exhaust suppressors to reduce the helicopter's vulnerability to infrared sensors and infrared-guided missiles.

Large fuel tanks that stick out from the sides of the helicopter extend the MH-47G's range, and the aircraft has an extendable probe for mid-air refueling.

The MH-47G has a glass digital cockpit that is compatible with night-vision goggles. It has five 6-by-8-inch liquid crystal multi-function display screens and two control display units. The cockpit shares the same processing and display units as the MH-60M Black Hawk helicopter.

The cockpit also has a digital moving map display, dual MIL-STD-1553 digital databuses, AN/ASN-137 inertial Doppler navigational set, CP1516-ASQ automatic target hand-off system, AN/ASN-149(V)2 GPS receiver, and Rockwell Collins AN/ARN-149(V) low-frequency automatic direction finder.

A forward-looking infrared (FLIR) and visible-light camera are mounted in a bubble under the helicopter's chin to enable pilots to fly at low levels at night and in bad weather. The CH-47G also has the Raytheon Silent Knight multi-mode radar that enables terrain-following, terrain-avoidance, and weather detection.

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Leonardo delivers first two Eurofighter Typhoons for Kuwaiti Air Force

Alessandro Maggia

Leonardo delivers first two Eurofighter Typhoons for Kuwaiti Air Force

15 Dec 2021 (Last Updated December 15th, 2021 10:25)

The Leonardo-built Eurofighter Typhoon for the Kuwaiti Air Force feature several operational capabilities.

Leonardo has delivered the first two of 28 Eurofighter Typhoon swing-role combat aircraft to the Kuwaiti Air Force.

The delivery was marked with a ceremony that took place on 14 December at the Caselle air base in Turin, Italy.

The two Kuwaiti Eurofighters flew from Italy, where they were assembled, with a refuelling escort provided by two Italian air force KC-767 tankers.

Two Grosseto 4th Squadron Eurofighters of Italy also provided an escort.

In September 2015, Kuwait signed an agreement with Italy to procure 28 Eurofighter Typhoons to strengthen the country’s military capabilities.

Italian Defence Minister Lorenzo Guerini said: “This is an excellent operation for Italy, demonstrating the success of Italian products abroad and an important step towards consolidating the position of Italian industry in the world.

“Defence is a stimulus for the development of innovative and increasingly advanced technological solutions.”

In a statement, Leonardo said Kuwait pilots were training at the Italian Air Force’s 20th Group of the 4th Squadron at Grosseto in central Italy.

In addition, Leonardo test pilots and instructors from the Italian air service will support the initial training of Kuwaiti pilots and the operational conversion unit (OCU) at Kuwait’s Al Salem base.

Leonardo CEO Alessandro Profumo said: “The Eurofighter Typhoons we have developed and produced for the Kuwait Air Force are the most advanced in the whole history of the European programme.

“We will provide the country with an impressive air defence capability. In cooperation with the Italian Air Force we trained their pilots in our training centres in Italy, we built state-of-the-art infrastructures to support and maintain a fleet of 28 aircraft.

“The milestones we are celebrating today is the result of the effective cooperation between the two countries, where institutions, armed forces and industry have worked together in synergy.”

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Advancing F-35 electronic warfare capabilities

Jacob Swinson

Advancing F-35 electronic warfare capabilities | BAE Systems | International

15 Dec 2021

BAE Systems received a $493M contract to significantly upgrade and modernize the EW system for the F-35 Lightning II, enabling the fighter to quickly detect and address evolving electromagnetic threats.

BAE Systems received a $493 million contract modification from Lockheed Martin to significantly upgrade and modernize the electronic warfare (EW) system for the F-35 Lightning II, enabling the fifth-generation fighter to quickly detect and address evolving electromagnetic threats in contested battlespaces.

Under the contract, BAE Systems will deliver enhanced and highly capable core hardware for the F-35’s high-performance EW mission system, known as AN/ASQ-239, and will provide engineering support services and test infrastructure. The upgraded system will improve superior situational awareness and electromagnetic attack and countermeasure capabilities with new sensors and more powerful signal processing.

“The capabilities we will deliver in this contract are foundational and will be leveraged to other platforms to ensure all warfighters have the most advanced EW capability at the ready,” said Lisa Aucoin, vice president of F-35 Solutions at BAE Systems. “The highly adaptable mission system will allow our warfighters to outpace evolving threats and defend democracy around the globe.”

The enhanced electronic warfare system’s robust design will enable rapid future upgrades, aligning with the U.S. Department of Defense’s strategy for continuous capability development. The system’s modular architecture will also allow for efficient hardware upgrades that reduce lifecycle and retrofit costs, and support faster software updates across the global F-35 fleet. The system also includes the Non-Intrusive Electronic Warfare Test Solution (NIEWTS) fault isolation and diagnostics capability, which enables precise troubleshooting that further reduces maintenance costs.

BAE Systems is a leader in integrated, full-spectrum, multi-domain EW systems for defense and attack applications across domains. Under the company's Extreme EW 2.0 (EWX) strategy, its world-class agile engineering, next-generation manufacturing, and reimagined sustainment solutions are creating the market's fastest pathway from the lab to the field, and delivering systems that will keep warfighters safe from the threats of the future.

BAE Systems is a major global partner to Lockheed Martin on the F-35 program. In addition to delivering world-class EW systems, the company also manufactures the aft fuselage, active inceptor control system, and vehicle management computer for each F-35 at state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in the U.K., Australia, and U.S. The company also provides sustainability, technical support, and training services to keep the F-35s mission-ready.

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Su-57 will receive a part from the Hunter drone

Kirill Gnusarev - AviMedia

Su-57 will receive a part from the Hunter drone: Weapons: Science and technology: Lenta.ru

Pilot Popov: Su-57 fighter can get a nozzle from the "Okhotnik" drone

Photo: Maxim Blinov / RIA Novosti

The Russian fifth-generation Su-57 fighter may receive a part from the S-70 Okhotnik drone. Honored military pilot of Russia, Major General Vladimir Popov, suggested that the plane would be equipped with a flat nozzle, which was shown on the "Okhotnik". TASS reports .

“The Su-57 will most likely also take similar measures, but this will probably be the second stage of its development. There will be a new engine on it, ”Popov said, commenting on the rollout of the first flight model of a flat nozzle drone.

The military pilot suggested that the modified aircraft engine would have a flat nozzle. “But since the fighter uses forced engine modes, this nozzle will have to be able to change its configuration,” he said.

Popov noted that the flat nozzle would reduce the Hunter's vulnerability. The new detail will reduce the visibility of the device in the infrared and optical ranges.

Earlier, at the Chkalov Novosibirsk Aviation Plant (NAZ), the first flight model of the Okhotnik strike drone was rolled out. The drone received a flat nozzle.

In October, the US commented on the size of the C-70. The Drive noted that the Hunter is slightly smaller than the fifth-generation Su-57 fighter.

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Source

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