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

U.S. pilot that lead the first Israeli Air Force ground attack dies at 94

A U.S.-born pilot who lead the first Israeli Air Force attack against an Egyptian armored column during the war in 1948 has passed away.

See page for author [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

The attack lead by Lou Lenart did little damage but had a profound effect on the Egyptian forces, which stop their advance into the young nation.
After the war, Lenart went on to produce Hollywood movies including “Iron Eagle.”

Source: U.S. pilot that lead the first Israeli Air Force ground attack dies at 94

CH-53 helps refuel USMC 1st Tank Battalion’s M1A1s

A CH-53 from HMH-465 carried out a rare tactical refueling exercise with M1A1 Abrams tanks from Company A, 1st Tank Battalion on Jul. 16.
Marines of Company A, 1st Tank Battalion, prepare an M1A1 Abrams tank to receive fuel from a CH-53 Super Stallion with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 465 at Acorn Training Area, July 16, 2015. Each tank has the capability to hold 500 gallons of fuel. (Official Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Thomas Mudd/Released)
Photo By: Lance Cpl. Thomas Mudd

The heavy-lift helicopter brought in 800 pounds of fuel for the 14 tanks that were taking part in a gunnery exercise at Acorn Training Area.

Source: CH-53 helps refuel USMC 1st Tank Battalion’s M1A1s

Czech to call global tender to arm Gripens for ground attack

The Czech Republic will soon launch a tender to arm its Gripen fighters with weapons for ground attack. The project is expected to be completed by 2018.

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

Source: Czech to call global tender to arm Gripens for ground attack

Iraq parades its F-16s

The Iraqi Air Force parades its new F-16IQs to reporters at Balad air base on Jul. 20. The handover ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, Minister of Defense Khalid al-Obeidi and the U.S. Ambassador Stuart Jones.

Source: Iraq parades its F-16s

GoPro cockpit video of a Chinese front-line fighter jet

【#軍事專題】飛行，是不少人自幼的夢想，後來卻因為體位等因素而無法實現。不過沒關係，現在就讓udn tv，透過GoPro微型攝影機，帶您上天翱翔，看空軍F-16飛行訓練時的編隊變換。※更多政軍新聞，參見天橋底下說政治
Posted by udn tv on Saturday, July 18, 2015

Source: GoPro cockpit video of a Chinese front-line fighter jet

Raytheon and partners have developed lower-cost carbon fiber airframe for MALD

Raytheon , in partnership with Fokker and Dallara, has managed to reduced the airframe production costs of the Miniature Air Launched Decoy (MALD) by 25 percent.

By Service Depicted: Air Force (ID:DFSD0108201 / 990702F9448S009) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

The savings were achieved by using robots to wind the carbon fiber fuselage rather than by hand.

Source: Raytheon and partners have developed lower-cost carbon fiber airframe for MALD

Denmark’s first MH-60R being prepared for delivery

The first two MH-60Rs for Denmark have arrived at Lockheed Martin’s Owego, New York facility for digital cockpit and integrated mission systems and sensors installation on Jul. 9.

Photo: Lockheed Martin

Denmark will be the second export customer for the helicopter when it takes delivery of the aircraft later this year.

Source: Denmark’s first MH-60R being prepared for delivery

British counter-MANPADS team training foreign governments

The British government has formed a counter-MANPADS team comprising of experts from the Royal Air Force, Scotland Yard and British Airways to teach foreign governments on how to prevent terrorists from shooting down airliners with shoulder-launched missiles.

By DTRA photo [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

The focus of the team has been around Africa and the Gulf as thousands of such missiles were looted from Libya.
A major part of the training is to teach foreign security personnel on how to prevent such attacks at airports.

Source: British counter-MANPADS team training foreign governments