Saudi Arabia to start taking deliveries of AH-6i from June 2016
A U.S. Army spokesperson confirmed to IHS Jane’s that the first delivery of the AH-6i helicopter to Saudi Arabia will take place starting from June 2016.
By Dave1185 (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Source: Saudi Arabia to start taking deliveries of AH-6i from June 2016
Quality issues forced Luftwaffe to suspend deliveries of Eurofighter
The Luftwaffe has again found issues with the way holes are drilled on the fuselage of the Eurofighter. This time, it has decided to halt deliveries of new jets.
By Aldo Bidini [GFDL 1.2 or GFDL 1.2], via Wikimedia Commons
Apparently, the snag affects all Eurofighters manufactured since Tranche 1.
Eurofighter consortium said the new issue is over four holes for bolts to connect the vertical fin to the rear fuselage. The drilling and de-burring by BAE Systems was no carried out according to specifications.
Source: Quality issues forced Luftwaffe to suspend deliveries of Eurofighter
Alenia Aermacchi’s testing of ATR 72-600-derived P-72A is nearly completed
Alenia Aermacchi is in the last-leg of a test and evaluation phase for the P-72A maritime patrol aircraft.
By Laurent ERRERA from L’Union, France (DSC_3502-F-WWEX – MSN 1055Uploaded by russavia) [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
The first aircraft is expected to be handed over to the Italian Air Force in March next year.
Source: Alenia Aermacchi’s testing of ATR 72-600-derived P-72A is nearly completed
South Africa sending pilots to Russia for training
The South African Air Force is sending some of its military pilots to Russia for flight training.
By Alex Snow (http://russianplanes.net/id151073) [CC BY-SA 4.0 or CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons
A large majority of them are actually qualified pilots that lacked the neccessary flying hours to build their experience. By sending them to Russia, Moscow will bear the costs of training them. South Africa will only need to pay for their lodging and traveling expenses.
Source: South Africa sending pilots to Russia for training
Stratfor’s analysis of an expanded Russian air campaign into Iraq
An analysis by Stratfor concluded that if Russia decides to expand its air campaign into Iraq, it will costs Moscow more time and money. It also risks antagonizing the United States.
Source: Stratfor’s analysis of an expanded Russian air campaign into Iraq
Boeing expects to sell 150 CH-47Fs through 2022
Boeing’s vice president for cargo helicopters told Reuters that his company is confident to sell 150 CH-47F helicopters to foreign countries from now till 2022.
By Mark Marcus (https://www.dvidshub.net/image/591778) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Source: Boeing expects to sell 150 CH-47Fs through 2022
Russia summoned U.K. defense attache after claims that RAF cleared to down Russian jets
Russia’s defense ministry has summoned the British defense attache after news reports in U.K. said RAF Tornado fighters were given green light to shoot down Russian fighters in the Middle East
The Foreign Office has refuted the reports from Daily Star and the Sunday Times.
Source: Russia summoned U.K. defense attache after claims that RAF cleared to down Russian jets
Deliveries of THAAD interceptors halted after chip failed acceptance tests
Lockheed Martin was force to halt production of THAAD missile interceptors for seven months after a component inside the weapon failed acceptance tests.
“THAAD Launcher“. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons.
The part was revealed to be the Static Random Access Memory, according to a report released by the THAAD program manager last week.
So far, Lockheed Martin has only managed to delivered 3 out of 44 interceptors on contract.
Source: Deliveries of THAAD interceptors halted after chip failed acceptance tests
EASA issues bulletin to airlines after Russia fired cruise missiles into Syria
The European Aviation Safety Agency has issued a safety bulletin on Oct. 9, warning airline companies of the potential danger of flying over Iran, Iraq and the Caspian Sea after Russia fired cruise missiles into Syria.
The regulator however stop short of telling airlines to avoid flying over the region.
Source: EASA issues bulletin to airlines after Russia fired cruise missiles into Syria
India to test Nirbhay on Oct. 8
India will conduct the third test of its Nirbhay cruise missile on Oct. 8 from from the Integrated Test Range in Odisha.
Source: India to test Nirbhay on Oct. 8