Friday, 25 June 2021

Lockheed Martin to offer new and used F-16 Vipers to Ukraine

US Air Force / Senior Airman Alexander Cook


Lockheed Martin to offer new and used F-16 Vipers to Ukraine

on 24th June 2021

CLEMENT CHARPENTREAU

Image : A Polish Air Force F-16V Viper, U.S. Air Force photo


Lockheed Martin is ready to offer Ukraine the F-16 Viper, the latest version of its best-seller, to compete in the “Air Force Vision 2035” tender.

The information was unveiled during the Weapons and Security 2021 exhibition, organized in Kyiv, between June 15 and 18, 2021. The US manufacturer would offer new and used F-16s, all upgraded to the latest Block 70/72 “Viper’ standard, which features improved connectivity and an APG-83 SABR AESA radar system.

If Lockheed Martin was to compete with the F-16 Viper, the F-35 Lightning II would most likely be ruled out from the equation, despite Kyiv’s intentions. In April 2021, Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Defense Oleksandr Myronyuk considered the acquisition of the fifth-generation fighter jet. However, much like India and Indonesia before, Ukraine received the F-16V as a counter-offer. 

The sale of the F-16V would have first to be approved by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency in charge of Foreign Military Sales.

With all its fighter jets dating from the Soviet era, the Ukrainian Air Force is in dire need of modern equipment. During the annexation of Crimea by Russia, it even lost 45 of its MiG-29s. Thus, in May 2020, the “Air Force Vision 2035” plan was announced in order to bring it up to Western standards. 

The plan includes the acquisition of a 4.5 generation multirole combat aircraft to replace the fighter fleet currently in service, composed of MiG-29 and Su-27 fighter jets. One MiG-29 was recently destroyed after a drunken Ukrainian Air Force officer rammed his car into the aircraft, causing a fire. With an investment of €7.5 billion, the Ukrainian authorities hope to acquire up to 40 fighters. 

Rumors emerged in March 2021 that France could offer the Dassault Rafale fighter jet during an upcoming visit of President Emmanuel Macron in Ukraine. The prospect, however, has not been confirmed.


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Gerasimov announced Russia's right to use nuclear weapons in response to aggression

Sputnik


Герасимов заявил о праве России применить ядерное оружие в ответ на агрессию -


Valery Gerasimov Photo from the website of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation

Moscow. June 23rd. INTERFAX-AVN - Russia reserves the right to use nuclear weapons in response to the use of weapons of mass destruction against it, said Chief of the General Staff of the RF Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov.

      "The Fundamentals (of the state policy of the Russian Federation in the field of nuclear deterrence, -" IF ") confirms the position of the Military Doctrine that the country's nuclear policy is of a purely defensive nature. The Russian Federation reserves the right to use nuclear weapons in response to the use against it or its allies nuclear and other types of weapons of mass destruction, as well as in the event of aggression against the Russian Federation with the use of conventional weapons, when the very existence of the state is threatened, "Gerasimov said at the IX Moscow Conference on International Security.

     According to him, the conditions for the use of nuclear weapons are strictly limited and regulated.

Source militarynews.ru



St. Petersburg. June 24. INTERFAX-AVN - Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy Nikolai Evmenov regards the incident in the Black Sea with a British destroyer as a gross provocation and violation of maritime law.

      "And what to comment on, this is a gross provocation and violation of all international norms. I regard it as a provocation, as an attempt to check us. The British side must conduct a thorough investigation and assess the actions of the captain. We comply with all maritime law and partnerships," he said. Interfax ".

     On Wednesday, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that the Russian military and border guards opened warning fire at the course of the destroyer Defender, which violated the Russian border in the Black Sea near Cape Fiolent (Crimea). The Russian Defense Ministry announced that it regards the actions of the destroyer as a gross violation of the UN convention and called on the British side to conduct a thorough investigation of the actions of the Defender's crew.

     For its part, the British Embassy in the Russian Federation stated that the British destroyer Defender made a peaceful passage through the territorial waters of Ukraine in accordance with international law. "No shots were fired at the destroyer Defender. The ship of the Royal Naval Forces made a peaceful passage through the territorial waters of Ukraine in accordance with international law. telegram channel.

Source militarynews.ru
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Thursday, 24 June 2021

Egyptian Air Force received 17 new Su-35

NskPlanes



Published 06/23/2021

Author: Rustam Osetrov 



Citing Egyptian sources, Military Watch announced the arrival in Egypt of 17 heavy Su-35 fighters belonging to the 4 ++ generation.

The African state placed orders for about 24-26 fighters towards the end of 2018, and the contract was announced in March next year, making Egypt the second largest exporter of the aircraft after China. 

The Su-35 was designed primarily for air superiority missions and is a modern modification of the leading Cold War era fighter, the Su-27. In service since 2014, this aircraft is prized for the high level of situational awareness provided by the Irbis-E radar, for its long flight range, excellent flight characteristics and the availability of many modern types of ammunition. 

The Su-35 is one of three "descendants" of the Su-27 currently being produced in Russia. Russian sources express confidence in its ability to counter 5th generation stealth fighters such as the American F-22 Raptor. 

During the 20th century, Egypt made several attempts to purchase high-performance heavy fighters from the United States, but was repeatedly denied not only high-end fighters, but even modern ammunition for [sold to Cairo] the cheaper F-16 aircraft. 

The 2013 overthrow of the Western-oriented Islamist government led to a shift away from the [Egyptian] military's reliance on US weapons and fighters. In particular, the new Egyptian authorities quickly invested budgetary funds in the acquisition of Russian MiG-29M fighters, as well as the S-300 Favorit and Buk-M2 air defense systems. 

The Su-35 is the newest acquisition, but it will not remain the last military novelty in the Egyptian Air Force for a long time, as it is expected to receive orders from Cairo for modernized MiG-29M fighters or the latest MiG-35. 

The Su-35 fighter in the Arab world is considered the most combat-ready in terms of air-to-air characteristics. However, as reported, neighboring Algeria with Egypt expects to receive even more modern and combat-ready Su-57 at the end of this decade. Since the Su-57 has not yet entered mass production, it is assumed that the delivery of these fighters will take significantly longer than fulfilling export orders for the Su-35.


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Eight upgraded Su-34M fighter-bombers to arrive for aviation regiment in the Chelyabinsk Region

Alexander Beltyukov



Russian Aviaton » Tuesday June 22, 2021 12:19 MSK

© Russian Ministry of Defence

Eight upgraded generation 4++ Su-34M fighter-bombers will arrive for the Central Military District’s composite air regiment in the Chelyabinsk Region by the end of this year, the District’s press office reported on Tuesday.

"Until the end of the year, the air regiment stationed in the Chelyabinsk Region will get eight upgraded Su-34M planes. The flight and ground personnel are completing re-training at the Lipetsk Frontline Aviation Combat Employment Center to learn to operate this type of aircraft," the press office said in a statement.

The upgraded Su-34M fighter-bombers will be outfitted with multi-purpose reconnaissance systems created as a result of the Sych R&D work. The installed equipment will boost the aircraft’s capabilities to detect aerial and ground targets, using new radio-technical, optoelectronic and radar reconnaissance systems.


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Lockheed Martin F-35 leads in Swiss fighter jet evaluation

U.S. Air Force / Staff Sgt. Codie Trimble


Lockheed Martin F-35 leads in Swiss fighter jet evaluation - TV | Reuters

Reuters

A formation of U.S. Air Force F-35 Lightning II fighter jets perform aerial maneuvers during as part of a combat power exercise over Utah Test and Training Range, Utah, U.S. November 19, 2018. U.S. Air Force/Staff Sgt. Cory D. Payne/Handout via REUTERS

ZURICH, June 21 (Reuters) - Lockheed Martin's (LMT.N) F35-A Lightning II performed the best in a Swiss evaluation of what fighter jet to buy next, although the final political decision was still open, Swiss broadcaster SRF reported on Monday, citing three unidentified sources.

The government is supposed to decide this month among the Eurofighter from Airbus (AIR.PA), the Rafale from France's Dassault (AVMD.PA), Boeing's (BA.N) F/A-18 Super Hornet, or the F35-A.

Swiss voters in September backed the government's plan to spend up to 6 billion Swiss francs ($6.53 billion) on new fighter jets in a surprisingly close referendum.

"According to insiders, Switzerland can buy a larger number of F-35s with the budgeted 6 billion Swiss francs than would be the case with the three competitors. The F-35's simulator could also be an asset: it would allow the F-35 to carry out significantly more virtual training missions than the competition," SRF's investigative programme Rundschau said in a summary of a report to air on Wednesday.

The defence ministry declined to comment.

The aircraft will replace Switzerland's ageing fleet of 30 F/A-18 Hornets, which will go out of service in 2030. New jets are to be delivered by 2025.

At least two of the seven Cabinet members would prefer a European fighter jet, SRF said, while critics have promised to launch a referendum campaign under the Swiss system of direct democracy against any decision to buy a U.S. fighter jet.

($1 = 0.9183 Swiss francs)

Reporting by Michael Shields; editing by Jonathan Oatis


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Wednesday, 23 June 2021

Defect delay Boeing T-7A trainer serial production by a year

Boeing


Defect delay Boeing T-7A trainer serial production by a year

on 18th June 2021

CLEMENT CHARPENTREAU

Image : Boeing


Flying instability was discovered while testing the upcoming T-7A Red Hawk advanced trainers, leading the United States Air Force to delay the full-rate production decision from 2022 to 2023.

On June 16, 2021, USAF officials said that a wing rock issue at high angles of attack was identified during flight tests. Coupled with a lack of spare parts from suppliers due to the COVID-19, the military decided to postpone their decision regarding full-rate production.

A day later, Boeing responded in a statement seen by Aviation Week saying a software fix to resolve the flight envelope problem had already been unrolled on the two test aircraft.

Boeing, in partnership with the Swedish manufacturer Saab, started the conception of the T-7A Red Hawk after winning the TX competition, which aimed to find a replacement for the Cold War-era Northrop T-38 Talon. Saab began production work in January 2021.

Only 36 months passed between the first concept of the aircraft and its maiden flight, something that Boeing says it owes to ‘digital engineering and design.’ As such, it became the first in the USAF E-Series, which designated it eT-7A. The name of Red Hawk was chosen as an homage to the African-American fighter pilots of the Second World War, the Tuskegee Airmen, who painted their planes’ tails red.

The T-7A Red Hawk should enter service by 2023 for the advanced training of future fighter pilots. 351 aircraft were ordered by the USAF, for a total of $9.2 billion.

Source aerotime.aero


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Russian Tu-22M3 deployed to Syria to demoralize British aircraft carrier

Artyom Anikeev - AviaPressPhoto


Российские Ту-22М3 перебросили в Сирию для деморализации британского авианосца

Nina Lukasheva
June 23, 2021

Russian Tu-22M3 bombers were again transferred to Syria. There is a version that long-range aircraft were sent to the region with the aim of demoralizing the strike group of ships led by a British aircraft carrier.

Image via: Commons.wikimedia.org

At the moment, there are no details about the transfer of the Tu-22M3. Sources do not report the number of aircraft and do not provide official comments. It is known that this is the second transfer of bombers to Syria in a month. It is noteworthy that Russian Tu-22M3s headed for the Middle East after news broke that the British aircraft carrier Queen Elizabeth with other AUG ships had moved into the area.

Earlier it became known that two Russian missile cruisers, as well as a missile frigate and a submarine came out to cut across the ships of the NATO aircraft carrier group. This information was later confirmed by a representative of the Royal Navy. He admitted that as soon as the group entered the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea, it immediately came under the control of the Aerospace Forces and the Russian Navy.

Russia has already stated that it is not against the appearance of foreign ships in the region, but it will not allow NATO ships to attack Syria and pose a threat to Russian troops who are in the country on completely legal grounds.


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