Czech Gripens’ ferry flight dashed after one develop technical problem

A flight of five Czech Gripens had to abandon their ferry flight to Iceland after one of the jets develop a technical fault in the air.

© Milan Nykodym, Czech Republic [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

The jets had to travel in a single group as they required help from a Italian KC-767 to refuel in mid-air.

Source: Czech Gripens’ ferry flight dashed after one develop technical problem

American, Russian pilots reenacting secret World War 2 warplane ferry flights

Two Americans and two Russians are helping to recreate a secret World War 2 mission that delivered thousands of warplanes from the United States to the former Soviet Union.

The T-6 Texan they are flying took off from Great Falls, Montana and will end in Moscow where it will go to a museum.

Source: American, Russian pilots reenacting secret World War 2 warplane ferry flights

Ground testing of the GAU-22/A on the F-35A begins

AF-2 has been busy at the Gun Harmonizing Range at Edwards Air Force Base testing the GAU-22/A 25mm canon on the ground.

Photo: Lockheed Martin

As the canon was not meant to be fired when the aircraft is not airborne, engineers had to program the jet into thinking it’s in the air to trigger the firing mechanism.

Source: Ground testing of the GAU-22/A on the F-35A begins

The Lockheed Martin Iron Dome-like interceptor that you probably never heard of

IHS Jane’s Missiles & Rockets takes a close look at Lockheed Martin’s miniature hit-to-kill (MHTK) kinetic interceptor for the U.S. Army’s Extended Area Protection and Survivability Integration Demonstration (EAPS ID) program

Photo: Lockheed Martin

Source: The Lockheed Martin Iron Dome-like interceptor that you probably never heard of

RAF will be left with just 127 fighters in 2019

An analysis by Jane’s found that the Royal Air Force will be left with just 127 front-line fighter aircraft once the Tornado and Tranche 1 Eurofighter jets are retired in 2019.

By UK Ministry of Defence [OGL], via Wikimedia Commons

The service is going to struggle to generate sorties for protecting British airspace, fulfilling its NATO commitment to help patrol Eastern Europe and conduct airstrikes in the Middle East.

Source: RAF will be left with just 127 fighters in 2019

USAF buys two Thales Deployable ILS test units

The U.S. Air Force has awarded Thales Defense & Security Inc. with a $18.4 million contract for two Deployable Instrument Landing System (ILS) Production Representative test units.

By Fred the Oyster [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons

During the test, Thales must prove that the units can provide an equivalent of a fixed-based instrument landing system capability at tactical airfields and at airfields where permanent ILS capability has been disrupted.

Source: USAF buys two Thales Deployable ILS test units

“Low-rate production” contract for KC-46 to be delayed for at least eight months

Beset by development problems with its new aerial tanker, Boeing will likely have to wait till April next year to get the “low-rate production” contract for the KC-46A.

Photo: Boeing

Source: “Low-rate production” contract for KC-46 to be delayed for at least eight months

India’s 36 Rafales will have same configuration as agreed under MMRCA

India’s Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar wrote in a reply to the upper house of Parliament that negotiations with Dassault for 36 Rafale fighters have started and the jets will be configured in the same manner as agreed under the earlier MMRCA project.

By U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. John Barton [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Source: India’s 36 Rafales will have same configuration as agreed under MMRCA