The Aegis Combat System’s Baseline 9 combat system upgrade is powered by IBM’s x86 BladeCenter HT server. The U.S. Navy is now looking for another vendor to replace that unit after IBM sold its server line to Lenovo.

By U.S. Navy photo [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

“The Department of Homeland Defense identified security concerns with the IBM Blade Center sale and placed restrictions on federal government procurement of Lenovo Blade Center server products,” Navy spokesman Dale Eng told USNI News.

Source: Alert 5

The Indian Army inducted the Akash air defense missile system into service on May 2. The indigenous surface-to-air missile is operational with the Indian Air Force as well.

Photo: DRDO

Source: Alert 5

Israel carried a test of a “new rocket propulsion system” on May 5 from an air force base at Palmachim in the southern part of the country.

Source: Alert 5

Sweden’s fleet of five C-130H and a single KC-130H tanker will have to be retired by next decade and the Swedish Air Force is looking into replacing them with the KC-390 or A400M.

By Laurent ERRERA from L’Union, France (DSC_8340-EC-402Uploaded by russavia) [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Source: Alert 5

Aviation Week reported that Airbus Defense and Space will soon receive a request for proposals from Netherlands, Norway and Poland for a joint purchase of the A330 MRTT.

By Robert Frola (Flickr) [GFDL or GFDL], via Wikimedia Commons

Up to four A330s are to be bought and operated as a single fleet under Dutch registration and regulations.

Source: Alert 5

The U.S. Navy will stick to using the Super Hornet as the aerial tanker for the Carrier Air Wing, Navy spokesman Lt. Rob Myers told USNI News.
<img src="http://alert5.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/c3e9b977-25b1-4373-bcfe-3f5a456c4217.Full1_-500×357.jpg" alt="c3e9b977-25b1-4373-bcfe-3f5a456c4217.Full[1]" width="500" height="357" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-24714"

The service has chosen to focus on maturing the HV-22 for the carrier onboard delivery (COD) mission.
The Pentagon aviation outlook report to Congress states that the C-2A could be recapitalized for the tanker role.

Source: Alert 5

Photos: PLAAF

Source: Alert 5