All articles by Syeda Afshan
Syeda Afshan
September’s top stories: KC-46A first flight, UK expands counter ISIL support
The US Air Force (USAF) completed the first flight of a KC-46A Pegasus tanker at Paine Field in Washington, the UK set out plans to extend its ISR commitment to coalition operations against ISIL fighters in Iraq and Syria, and USAF deemed the design of the Space Fence System developed by Lockheed Martin to be technically mature. Airforce-technology.com wraps up the key headlines from September 2015.
August’s top stories: nEUROn UCAV tests, Turkey ISIL campaign
nEUROn, the European full-scale technological demonstrator for an unmanned combat aerial vehicle completed a series of operational tests in Italy, the US and Turkey finalised technical details for the latter’s participation in the air campaign against ISIL in Syria, while Brazil and Sweden signed financing agreement for the acquisition of Gripen NG fighters. Airforce-technology.com wraps up the key headlines from August 2015.
July’s top stories: Iraqi F-16 jets, India scraps MMRCA deal
The Iraqi Air Force took delivery of the first batch of four US F-16 warplanes, and India scrapped a multi-billion dollar tender for 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA), while Dassault handed over the first three Rafales to Egypt. Airforce-technology.com wraps up the key headlines from July.
June’s top stories: A400M deliveries, LCH hot weather trials
Airbus Defence and Space resumed deliveries of its A400M aircraft after Spanish regulator DGAM lifted all remaining flight restrictions, the UK sent a C17 Globemaster to Tunisia in order to assist with the government’s response to the terrorist attack in the country, and HAL completed the hot weather flight trials of its light combat helicopter at Jodhpur, India. Airforce-technology.com wraps up the key headlines from June.
May’s top stories: Egypt MiG-29 aircraft, A400M crash
Russia had signed a contract worth $2bn with Egypt to supply 46 MiG-29 air superiority fighters, the Israeli Air Force launched four strikes on training camp targets in the Gaza Strip, in response to a cross-border rocket attack near the port city of Ashdod, while Northrop Grumman completed the critical design review of a key weapons management software upgrade for the US Air Force’s B-2 stealth bomber. Airforce-technology.com wraps up the key headlines from May.
April’s top stories: Iran S-300 sale, Hezbollah airstrip
Russia lifted a ban that prohibited the transfer of S-300 air defence systems to Iran and IHS Jane’s Defense Weekly claimed that Lebanese Shi’a militant group Hezbollah has built an airstrip to operate its fleet of unmanned aerial vehicles in Bekaa Valley in north-east of the country. Airforce-technology.com wraps up the key headlines from April.
March’s top stories: GPS IIF-9 launch, Yemen airstrikes
USAF launched the ninth global positioning system (GPS) IIF satellite from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, US, Saudi Arabia and its Arab allies launched airstrikes against the Houthi rebels in the Yemeni capital city of Sana’a, and Korea Aerospace Industries was selected as the preferred bidder for the country’s fighter jet development project. Airforce-technology.com wraps up the key headlines from March.
February’s top stories: Egypt Rafale, Australia’s OneSKY programme
Dassault Aviation was selected by the Egyptian Government to supply Rafale fighters to the national air force, Airservices Australia signed an advanced work contracting arrangement with Thales Australia for development of a single civil-military ATM system, and Piaggio Aerospace conducted the maiden flight of the first P.1HH HammerHead UAS prototype in Italy. Airforce-technology.com wraps up the key headlines from January.
January’s top stories: Greece F-16 crash, A400M programme restructuring
At least ten soldiers died following the crash of a Hellenic Air Force’s F-16 jet at the Los Llanos base in Spain, Airbus restructured its A400M programme over production delays, and the UK Royal Air Force Typhoons intercepted two Russian Tu-95 Bear bombers that were flying in international airspace near the UK. Airforce-technology.com wraps up the key headlines from January.
2014: The year’s biggest Air Force stories
The US and its allies launched air strikes against the Islamic State terrorists in Iraq and Syria, and the UK Royal Air Force departed Kandahar Airbase in Afghanistan, while Israel and Hamas ended conflict in the Gaza Strip. Airforce-technology.com wraps-up the key headlines from 2014.