F-35A is now too expensive for Canada as US$ has strengthen by 25%

An academic has pointed out that the cost of buying 65 F-35As for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) has become too expensive as the Canadian dollar has weaken by 25 percent since the Harper government announced back in 2010 to purchase the planes for $9 billion.

By MSgt John Nimmo Sr. [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Even an update of the program by the Department of National Defence (DND) in November last year used an exchange rate of US$0.92. For the last few weeks, Canadian dollar has been hovering around US$0.755.

Source: F-35A is now too expensive for Canada as US$ has strengthen by 25%

Trigger down! Firing the GSh-30-1 gun on a Su-30SM


Source: Trigger down! Firing the GSh-30-1 gun on a Su-30SM

Pentagon says Russia deployed 4 fighter jets to Syria

U.S. defense officials said Russia has deployed its fighter jets to Syria. One official say four fighters are in Latakia. A photo on social media indicated that Russia flew the Su-30 there.

Source: Pentagon says Russia deployed 4 fighter jets to Syria

USMC will operate F-35Bs from Queen Elizabeth-class carriers

Head of Fleet Air Arm (FAA), Rear Admiral Keith Blount, confirmed at DSEI 2015 that the U.S. Marine Corps will deploys its F-35B STOVL fighter on board both Royal Navy’s Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers.

See page for author [OGL], via Wikimedia Commons

“But … given the fact that the U.S. Marine Corps are buying and will operate the same type of aircraft as we are buying and operating, it would make no sense whatsoever if we were to close down the opportunity and potential of the U.S. Marine Corps working from this flight deck.
“So yes, I expect the U.S. Marine Corps to operate and work from the deck of the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier. We are going to get the most bang for the buck we can for the U.K. taxpayer, and that’s one of the ways in which we’ll achieve it”, Blount said.

Source: USMC will operate F-35Bs from Queen Elizabeth-class carriers

Pentagon awards Aerovironment contract to supply RQ-11B to Ukraine

Aerovironment has been award a $9 million contract by the Pentagon to supply the company’s RQ-11B min-UAV to Ukraine.

By The U.S. Army (www.Army.mil) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Source: Pentagon awards Aerovironment contract to supply RQ-11B to Ukraine

Venezuelan Su-30MKV crashed while trying to intercept unknown aircraft

A Venezuelan Air Force Su-30MKV crashed on Sept. 17 at approximately 21:07 p.m. local time while trying to intercept an unknown aircraft in the northwestern region of the country.

By André Du-pont (Mexico Air Spotters) [GFDL 1.2 or GFDL 1.2], via Wikimedia Commons

Source: Venezuelan Su-30MKV crashed while trying to intercept unknown aircraft

Raytheon might pair with Aermacchi to offer M-346 for T-X

An industry source told Defense News that Raytheon has been talking to Alenia Aermacchi to offer the latter’s M-346 for the U.S. Air Force’s T-X competition.

By Peter Bakema [GFDL 1.2 or GFDL 1.2], via Wikimedia Commons

The Italian aerospace company had previously partnered with General Dynamics as a subcontractor before the team was broken up unexpectedly in March this year.

Source: Raytheon might pair with Aermacchi to offer M-346 for T-X

Saab is confident of winning T-X program in partnership with Boeing

Saab Chief Executive Hakan Buskhe believes his firm will be able to snatch the U.S. Air Force’s T-X program together with Boeing.

Graphic: Boeing

“I think we will win. That is my view,” Buskhe told DESI.
If we don’t win, we have learned a lot of other things and we have shown it is possible to work together and have created a culture between Boeing and Saab (such) that we could do more things together.”

Source: Saab is confident of winning T-X program in partnership with Boeing

AFSOC’s AC-130s will soon be able to deploy tube-launched UAVs

U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) has initiated one quick concept-demonstrator program to employ a tube-launched small unmanned aerial vehicle from the AC-130 gunship.

The Raytheon-Sensintel Coyote UAV was selected for this demonstrator program. A longer term project will seek to find a UAV with an endurance of one hour.

Source: AFSOC’s AC-130s will soon be able to deploy tube-launched UAVs

Osprey spraying machine gun fire on ground targets

MV-22Bs from VMM-365 took to Piney Island bombing range, North Carolina for their air crew to practice hitting land targets with their GAU-16 .50 caliber machine guns.

Photo By: Cpl. Paul S. Martinez

Firing from the ramp, the crew chiefs’ machine gun spray hit a variety of targets resembling a convoy, barge and landing craft.

Source: Osprey spraying machine gun fire on ground targets