Russian MiG-31s flew 4,000km non-stop with 3 mid-air refuelings
Russian Air Force MiG-31s have flown non-stop from Zabaikalsky Territory in Siberia to Perm Territory in Russia’s Ural in a six-hour flight that involved three refuelings.
By Alex Beltyukov (http://russianplanes.net/id148046) [CC BY-SA 3.0, CC BY-SA 3.0 or GFDL 1.2], via Wikimedia Commons
Source: Russian MiG-31s flew 4,000km non-stop with 3 mid-air refuelings
Talks between France and Russia over Mistral ships are over
An adviser to Russian President Putin said talks are effectively over and Moscow will soon announce the cancellation of the deal.
By Ludovic Péron (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Both sides have agreed on the amount of compensation and the dateline to make payment.
Source: Talks between France and Russia over Mistral ships are over
Dassault still finding it difficult to sell Rafale to India
Paris and New Delhi have missed a target to finalized the sale of 36 Dassault Rafale fighters to India.
Alan Wilson [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
India has insisted on a 50 percent offset requirement and Dassault is pushing against it, arguing that doing so will raise the price of each jet beyond the $200 million agreed earlier. France has offered to do a 30 percent offset instead.
Source: Dassault still finding it difficult to sell Rafale to India
Israeli Air Force joins the 3D printer revolution
The Israeli Air Force has been secretly testing out a 3D printer to manufacture parts for its Eitan UAV.
By SSGT REYNALDO RAMON, USAF [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
“We’ve conducted experiments on the ground with the parts that were printed and installed onto the planes, and it was successful,” a senior IAF officer told Ynet.
Source: Israeli Air Force joins the 3D printer revolution
New highway under contruction in India will have a section built as fighter runway
The Indian Air Force is working with the Uttar Pradesh government to ensure that a stretch along the Lucknow-Agra Expressway will be able to land fighter jets in the future.
Photos: Indian Ministry of Defense
More land are being acquired to expand the road for installing an air traffic control tower, taxiway for planes and parking area.
Source: New highway under contruction in India will have a section built as fighter runway
Latvia to acquire FIM-92 Stinger
Latvia is set to buy the FIM-92 Stinger MANPADS next year, Armed Forces commander Gen. Raimonds Graube said.
By Christopher O’Quin, U.S. Marine Corps (http://www.marines.mil; ID: 5966 (cropped)) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Source: Latvia to acquire FIM-92 Stinger
25 years of continuous RC-135V/W service in U.S. Central Command’s AOR
This month marks the 25th year that the RC-135V/W has been operating continuously in U.S. Central Command’s area of responsibility.
See page for author [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
The massive ELINT aircraft first flew to Saudi Arabia on Aug. 9 at Riyadh Air Base after Iraqi forces invade Kuwait.
Source: 25 years of continuous RC-135V/W service in U.S. Central Command’s AOR
F-35B is now operational
The U.S. Marine Corps has declared the F-35B operational on the last day of July. VMFA-121 is the first unit in the world to have achieved Initial Operational Capability with the stealth fighter.
By U.S. Air Force photo by Samuel King [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
The next squadron to go operational with the F-35B will be VMA-211.
Source: F-35B is now operational
KC-46’s fuel system damaged, could delay first flight
The first fully fitted KC-46 prototype was at the fuel dock on Paine Field last week when a wrong chemical was pumped into its fuel system, causing damage.
Photo: Boeing
The heart of the new aerial tanker suffered corrosion and unspecific damage. Engineers have removed the auxiliary fuel tanks and flying boom for inspection and so far the auxiliary fuel tanks appear to be undamaged.
Source: KC-46’s fuel system damaged, could delay first flight
KC-46’s fuel system damaged, could delay first flight
The first fully fitted KC-46 prototype was at the fuel dock on Paine Field last week when a wrong chemical was pumped into its fuel system, causing damage.
Photo: Boeing
The heart of the new aerial tanker suffered corrosion and unspecific damage. Engineers have removed the auxiliary fuel tanks and flying boom for inspection and so far the auxiliary fuel tanks appear to be undamaged.
Source: KC-46’s fuel system damaged, could delay first flight