Monthly Archives: May 2015

Hungarian Gripen crashed after runway excursion

A Hungarian Gripen was lost after it failed to stop on the runway and entered the field during exercise Lion Effort on May 19.

Both pilots ejected safely from the JAS-39D and this was the first crash of an export Gripen.

Source: Alert 5

U.S. Army UAS trainee pilots had to mow the lawn, perform janitorial services too

The U.S. Government Accountability Office had eight focus group sessions with U.S. Army pilots training to fly UAVs and found that trainees did not get adequate training as they had to perform menial tasks.

By Photo Courtesy of U.S. Army [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

“Army UAS pilots in all of the focus groups we conducted stated that they had difficulty completing UAS pilot training in units because they spend a significant amount of time performing additional duties such as lawn care, janitorial services, and guard duty,” according to the 44-page report.

Source: Alert 5

Boeing expects Pentagon to order more GBU-57A/Bs

A Boeing official said the Pentagon is expected to order more of the GBU-57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP).

By DoD photo (http://www.flickr.com/photos/dod_dtra/4327700817/) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

“MOP is not only in the inventory, but there’s additional procurements expected in the near term as well,” Debbie Rub, vice president and general manager of Boeing Global Strike, says.

Source: Alert 5

Indian Air Force deploying Su-30MKIs to U.K. for Ex. Indra Dhanush this July

This July to August, the Indian Air Force will deploy some of its Su-30MKI fighters to U.K. for exercise Indra Dhanush.

By Tim Felce (Airwolfhound) (SU30 – RIAT 2007Uploaded by russavia) [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

The fighters will be supported by il-78 tankers.
If everything goes according to plans, the IAF will participate in Red Flag Alaska next year as well. IAF chief Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha is currently on a working visit to the U.S. where he is expected to be brief on Red Flag Nellis.

Source: Alert 5