Indian Air Force wants to upgrade its Il76/78 fleet

The Indian Air Force has put forward a plan to upgrade 17 of its Il76 transport aircraft, as well as the seven Il78 aerial tankers.

By Chris Lofting [GFDL 1.2 or GFDL 1.2], via Wikimedia Commons

Source: Indian Air Force wants to upgrade its Il76/78 fleet

RAC MiG to develop new lightweight fighter

Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG says it will come up with a new lightweight fighter that is loosely based on Mikoyan Project 1.44 as well as incorporating technology developed for the MiG-35.

By Anynobody (Own work) [GFDL or CC BY-SA 4.0-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Source: RAC MiG to develop new lightweight fighter

Neuron completed flight test campaign in Italy

Alenia Aermacchi announced that the Neuron unmanned combat aerial vehicle has completed its test campaign in Italy. Twelve sorties were flown at the Italian Air Force’s Decimomannu Air Base, in Sardinia.

Source: Neuron completed flight test campaign in Italy

France to propose selling Mistral ship to Malaysia

French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian is expected to propose the sale of a Mistral helicopter carrier to Malaysia, La Tribune reported.

By Ludovic Péron (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons

France has been looking for buyers to take over the two Mistral ships it built for Russia.

Source: France to propose selling Mistral ship to Malaysia

New flight endurance record for MQ-8C

The MQ-8C Fire Scout managed to fly 11 hours, with over an hour of fuel in reserve, during testing at Naval Base Ventura County, Point Mugu recently.

By U.S. Navy (http://www.navy.mil/view_image.asp?id=164296) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Source: New flight endurance record for MQ-8C

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