Air-to-air video of H-6K bomber

CCTV has a report on today’s H-6K flights to Western Pacific.

Source: Air-to-air video of H-6K bomber

Chinese twin-fuselage UAV as seen from satellite

Image: Google Earth
Source: Chinese twin-fuselage UAV as seen from satellite

PLAAF flew multiple aircraft to Western Pacific

The People’s Liberation Army Air Force flew multiple aircraft to the Western Pacific and back via Bashi Channel on Aug. 14. This is the third time it had done so.

A spokesman from the air force said the various types of aircraft took off from various bases and all flew at a distance of 1,000km away from the coastline.

Source: PLAAF flew multiple aircraft to Western Pacific

First two combat-coded F-35As for Hill AFB will arrive home next month

5071 and 5072, the first two combat-coded F-35As for Hill Air Force Base are undergoing final flight testing by Lockheed Martin and both jets are expected to arrive at Hill next month.

By A1C Joshua D. King [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Target date for the arrival is current set on Sept. 11 but the date is still subject to changes.

Source: First two combat-coded F-35As for Hill AFB will arrive home next month

USMC wants to upgrade MV-22 fleet to C-model

Currently, most of the Ospreys flown by the U.S. Marine Corps are A and B models and now Lt. Gen. Jon Davis wants to change that and have the aircraft upgraded to the C-model.

By Cpl Christopher Q. Stone [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Source: USMC wants to upgrade MV-22 fleet to C-model

AIDC shows off advanced jet trainer concepts

Taiwan’s Aerospace Industrial Development Corp (AIDC) unveiled two advance jet trainer concepts to the public at the 2015 Taipei Aerospace and Defense Technology Exhibition on Aug. 13.

AT-3MAX is an upgraded variant of the AT-3 in service with RoCAF and the XAT-5 is essentially based on the F-CK1 fighter. Although a scale model of the M346 was situated next to the two models, AIDC chairman Anson Liao said even if the foreign aircraft is selected by the air force, production of the jet will still have to be done locally.

Source: AIDC shows off advanced jet trainer concepts

Weapons chosen for Brazil’s Gripen E/Fs

Brazil’s Gripen E/F fighters will be armed with A-Darter, IRIS-T, SPICE-250 and SPICE-1000 weapons when they enter service. The Brazilian Air Force has also chosen the RecceLite 2 tactical recon pods and Litening G4 targeting pods for the fighters.

By Photo taken 2005-07-16 in Koblenz by Owly K (Own work) [GFDL, CC-BY-SA-3.0 or CC BY-SA 2.5], via Wikimedia Commons

Source: Weapons chosen for Brazil’s Gripen E/Fs

China’s Airfield Construction at Fiery Cross Reef in Context: Catch-Up or Coercion?

This blog post from RAND looks at China’s construction of air strips in the South China Sea.

Source: China’s Airfield Construction at Fiery Cross Reef in Context: Catch-Up or Coercion?

Nigerian Air Force deploys more aircraft northeast to combat Boko Haram

The Nigerian Air Force has deployed more F-7 fighters and helicopters to an air base in the northeast of the country to combat the Boko Haram insurgents under operation “Lafiya Dole.”

Photos: Nigerian Army

Source: Nigerian Air Force deploys more aircraft northeast to combat Boko Haram