First AC-130U to retire

First AC-130U to retire

The AC-130U to retire to Davis-Monthan Air Base left Hurlburt Field on Sept. 21. “Bad Omen” was delivered to the base in Feb. 17, 1995.

U.S. Air Force photos by Airman Kai White

All together, tail number 0163, had accumulated more than 2,300 sorties with over 10,000 flying hours during its twenty-years career.

Source: First AC-130U to retire

Russia building air defense base in Arctic

Russia building air defense base in Arctic

Interfax reported that Moscow intends to build an air defense base on Sredniy Island. The Northern Fleet has dispatched an icebreaker to carved a channel for construction ships to reach the area.

By Mohonu at en.wikipedia (Transferred from en.wikipedia) [Public domain], from Wikimedia Commons

Source: Russia building air defense base in Arctic

Any F-35 pilot weighing less than 136 pounds cannot fly the jet

Any F-35 pilot weighing less than 136 pounds cannot fly the jet

The U.S. military has slapped a restriction on any F-35 pilot weighing less than 136 pounds as there are worries that person might be injured during low-speed ejections.

Source: Any F-35 pilot weighing less than 136 pounds cannot fly the jet

France successfully test-fired M51 SLBM

France successfully test-fired M51 SLBM

France has successfully test-fired a version of the M51 submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) on Sept. 30 from a test site in Biscarrosse.

The impact zone was located in the North Atlantic several hundred kilometers from the coast.

Source: France successfully test-fired M51 SLBM

USAF HH-60Gs, HC-130s deployed to southeast Turkey

USAF HH-60Gs, HC-130s deployed to southeast Turkey

The U.S. Air Force has deployed a number of HH-60Gs and HC-130s at Diyarbakir Air Base in southeast Turkey.

By Senior Airman John Pharr (https://www.dvidshub.net/image/870822) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Source: USAF HH-60Gs, HC-130s deployed to southeast Turkey

RN’s AW159 in joint training exercise with South African submarine

RN’s AW159 in joint training exercise with South African submarine

Royal Navy warships HMS Lancaster and Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel RFA Gold Rover are in South Africa last week for a joint training exercise with South African Navy Type 209 submarine SAS Queen Modjadji.

Photo: Royal Navy

During the exercise, Lancaster’s AW159 Wildcat helicopter “maintained an eye in the sky helping the surface vessels locate their elusive underwater foe and then simulate the dropping of stingray torpedoes onto the submarine’s location.”

Source: RN’s AW159 in joint training exercise with South African submarine

Bulgaria to amend legislation to allow NATO to patrol its airspace

Bulgaria to amend legislation to allow NATO to patrol its airspace

Bulgaria has tabled a draft amendment to the Law on Defense and Armed Forces to enhance NATO’s role in helping patrol its airspace.

By Chavdar Garchev (Чавдар Гърчев) [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

At the same time, the planned changes will also guarantee the sovereignty of its air space.

Source: Bulgaria to amend legislation to allow NATO to patrol its airspace