Czech Gripens conclude their air policing mission in Iceland
Czech Republic will end its air policing mission in Iceland on Aug. 25 and all five aircraft will return home accompanied by a Italian KC-767.
By Milan Nykodym [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Czech Defense Minister Martin Stropnický who was visiting the contingent in Iceland said the next mission for his country will be in the third quarter of 2016.
Source: Czech Gripens conclude their air policing mission in Iceland
Bangladesh to buy seven Mi-171s
Russia will sell six Mi-171Sh and one Mi-171E helicopters to Bangladesh. The contract was signed in April.
By Faisal Akram from Dhaka, Bangladesh (Bangladesh Air Force Mil Mi-17 245 Flight Past) [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Russia is said to have provided Bangladesh with a $1 billion loan to buy the helicopters.
Source: Bangladesh to buy seven Mi-171s
Two USAF C-17s entered Finnish airspace
Two U.S. Air Force C-17s flying west entered Finnish airspace on Aug. 23 for around 15 minutes.
By U.S. Air Force [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
The Finnish Border Guard is investigating the incident, which took place south of the maritime province of Åland.
Source: Two USAF C-17s entered Finnish airspace
State trials of Mi-28NM to be completed next year
A modernized version of the Mi-28N, the Mi-28NM, will be finishing its state trials by next year.
By Alex Beltyukov – RuSpotters Team [CC BY-SA 3.0, CC BY-SA 3.0 or GFDL 1.2], via Wikimedia Commons
Russian Helicopters Deputy CEO for Production and Innovations Andrei Shibitov said everything is going according to schedule and deliveries will start once the trials are completed.
Source: State trials of Mi-28NM to be completed next year
U.K. ordering more Giraffe AMB plus upgrades
Britain is buying more sets of the Saab Giraffe AMB radar and will upgrade its existing radars to the same production-build standard as the new Giraffe AMB.
By Duch.seb (Own work) [GFDL or CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Source: U.K. ordering more Giraffe AMB plus upgrades
Kazakhstan received five S-300PS air defense systems for free
Russia has donated five S-300PS air defense systems to Kazakhstan. The systems were delivered by railway to the Zhetysu station near Almaty.
Photo: Kazakhstan Ministry of Defense
Source: Kazakhstan received five S-300PS air defense systems for free
Denmark withdrawing F-16s from Middle East
Denmark’s Foreign Minister Kristian Jensen said over the weekend that the seven F-16s that are currently in the Middle East will soon return home.
By Tim Felce (Airwolfhound) (F16 – RIAT 2008Uploaded by russavia) [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
This is to give the crew much needed rest and to carry out maintenance on the jets.
Source: Denmark withdrawing F-16s from Middle East
PAK FA will be armed with new variant of R-73
An upgraded R-73E dogfight missile will be one of the new weapons made available on the Sukhoi PAK FA.
By RuLavan (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Source: PAK FA will be armed with new variant of R-73
USAF deploying F-22s to Europe very soon
U.S. Air Force Secretary Deborah James told a news conference at the Pentagon that an unspecific number of F-22s will be deployed to Europe soon.
By U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Ben Bloker [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Source: USAF deploying F-22s to Europe very soon
Indian Air Force MiG-21 crashed
The pilot of a Indian Air Force MiG-21 ejected before his jet crashed Jammu and Kashmir’s Badgam district on Aug. 24.
aeroprints.com [CC BY-SA 3.0 or CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
The jet had taken off from Srinagar air base just before it went down.
Source: Indian Air Force MiG-21 crashed