India test fired its Astra air-to-air missile twice on May 20 and each time the launch aircraft performed a high-G maneuver when releasing the missile.
Photo: DRDO
Source: Alert 5
Boeing in “early discussions” to export A-10
Boeing hopes to export the A-10 to other countries and a company official said it has “begun early discussions.”
By Chief Master Sgt. David L. Stuppy (United States Armed Forces) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Source: Alert 5
France eyes 4 C-130s as A400M delays continue
Reuters reported that France will make a decision by end of the year whether to buy four C-130 aircraft.
By Ian Creek [GFDL or GFDL], via Wikimedia Commons
An anonymous source said the C160 Transall is getting old and delivery of the A400M is delayed.
Defense News added that two will be armed with Griffin missiles while another two can be converted for inflight refueling.
Source: Alert 5
F-35B engine component will be flown to USS Wasp using MV-22
While the F-35B is undergoing operational testing on board USS Wasp, the U.S. Marine Corps will fly one of the components of the F135 engine out to the ship using the MV-22.
By Hpeterswald (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Lt. Gen. Jon Davis, deputy commandant for Marine aviation, said the idea is to assess the difficulty of completing engine repair at sea.
Source: Alert 5
Turkey to buy, upgrade Phalanx CIWS Block 1B Baseline 2
The U.S. State Department has given the clearance to Turkey to buy 4 Phalanx Block 1B Baseline 2 Close-In Weapons Systems (CIWS) and upgrade 17 Block 0 systems to the Block 1B Baseline 2 configuration.
By Hpeterswald (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Source: Alert 5
FMS of 10 MH-60Rs for Saudi Arabia
The U.S. Congress has been notified of a potential Foreign Military Sale (FMS) of 10 MH-60Rs to Saudi Arabia for an estimated cost of $1.9 billion.
Source: Alert 5
CNN footage inside P-8A as it flies near Chinese-occupied island in South China Sea
A CNN team was given exclusive access to a U.S. Navy P-8A flight over the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.
The TV crew listened as a Chinese warship warned the aircraft to stay away via radio.
Source: Alert 5
FREMM Aquitaine fires Exocet MM40, naval cruise missile
The frigate Aquitaine, the first unit in the multi-mission frigate program (FREMM), has successfully fired its first missiles: an Exocet MM40 surface-to-surface missile and a naval cruise missile.
Photo: MBDA
Operational testing of upgraded French E-3F completed
France has declared Initial operating capability (IOC) of its modernized E-3F AWACS with the delivery of the second upgraded aircraft by Boeing.
By Jerry Gunner from Lincoln, UK [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Source: Alert 5
Vietnam converts M101 into self-propelled howitzer
Vietnam took the M101 howitzer it inherited during the Vietnam War and mounted it on the Ural-375 4.5 ton 6×6 truck to form a new self-propelled howitzer.
