Leasing Gripen C/D fighters still on the table for Brazilian Air Force

A spokesperson for the Brazilian Air Force told Jane’s that his service has not given up the chance to lease Gripen C/D fighters from Sweden while waiting for new Gripen E fighters to be delivered.

By Mike Freer – Touchdown-aviation [GFDL 1.2 or GFDL 1.2], via Wikimedia Commons

Earlier this year, the FAB canceled the lease for 12 Gripens due to budget concerns.

Source: Leasing Gripen C/D fighters still on the table for Brazilian Air Force

Belarus signs contract for 12 Mi-8MTV-5s, to buy another four Yak-130s

Earlier this year, Belarus announced its intention to buy 12 Mi-8MTV-5 helicopters, the contract was signed recently. Air Force chief Maj. Gen. Oleg Dvigalev added that a deal for four more Yak-130s will be sealed in two-weeks time.

Photos: VoenTV

Source: Belarus signs contract for 12 Mi-8MTV-5s, to buy another four Yak-130s

Russian military personnel inscribed ‘To Berlin’ and ‘For Stalin’ on bombs

Russian naval news website Flot recently published photos taken during an exercise in Kaliningrad, two of the photos show bombs with the inscription ‘To Berlin’ and ‘For Stalin.’

Photos from Flot

The Russian Ministry of Defense is playing down the incident. “This is either just nonsense, a fake or an attempt to tug at anti-Russian sentiments,” an anonymous source for the Russian Ministry of Defense told Russian news agency Interfax.

Source: Russian military personnel inscribed ‘To Berlin’ and ‘For Stalin’ on bombs

Russia has started developing new version of Buk air defense missile system

The V.V. Tikhomirova Scientific Research Institute of Instrument Design has announced plans for a new version of the Buk air defense missile system.

By Yuriy Lapitskiy (originally posted to Flickr as 9M317) [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

“The management of Almaz-Antey Group has set the task of working out proposals on further developing the Buk antiaircraft missile systems. We’ll prepare and submit these proposals jointly with the Group to the Defense Ministry,” Institute Chief Yuri Bely said.

Source: Russia has started developing new version of Buk air defense missile system

USS Gerald R. Ford will have to undergo shock tests

U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Robert Work has ruled that the U.S. Navy is required to conduct shock tests on its latest aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford before deploying the ship.

By U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Second Class Aidan P. Campbell [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Navy leaders had wanted to postpone the tests until as late as 2025, arguing that doing so before deployment would delay the return to an 11-carrier fleet, the number mandated by Congress.

Source: USS Gerald R. Ford will have to undergo shock tests

Oldest American fighter ace has passed away

Brig. Gen. Frederick “Fritz” Payne Jr., who was the oldest living American fighter ace at age 104, has passed away on Aug. 6.

Payne had shot down five and a half Japanese planes as a Marine fighter pilot over a two-week period during fighting at Guadalcanal.

Source: Oldest American fighter ace has passed away

Portugal negotiating with Northrop Grumman to upgrade its F-16s

Portugal announced on Aug. 11 that it has started talks with Northrop Grumman to upgrade the targeting capabilities of its F-16A/B fleet.

By Carlos Menendez San Juan (F-16AM) [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Source: Portugal negotiating with Northrop Grumman to upgrade its F-16s

Russian Defense Ministry plans to buy more than 30 MiG-35s

Russia’s Air and Space Forces Commander Col.-Gen. Viktor Bondarev said the defense ministry will sign a contract to purchase more than 30 MiG-35s by 2018.

By Dmitry Terekhov from Odintsovo, Russian Federation (Micoyan&Gurevich MiG-35) [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Bondarev added that state trials of the aircraft has to be completed by 2017.

Source: Russian Defense Ministry plans to buy more than 30 MiG-35s

Two sailors injured after Hornet caught fire on board USS Harry S Truman

A F/A-18 from VFA-106 caught fire while refueling on board USS Harry S Truman on Aug. 11. Two sailors were injured as a result. One of them was the pilot of the aircraft who ejected.

By Official U.S. Navy Page from United States of America MC2 Lyle Wilkie/U.S. Navy (130913-N-GR168-110) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Both were flown to New Hanover Regional Medical Center, Wilmington, North Carolina to treat their injuries.

Source: Two sailors injured after Hornet caught fire on board USS Harry S Truman

Video of Taiwan’s Sea Oryx missile system

The latest edition of Taipei Aerospace & Defense Technology Exhibition this week gave Taiwan’s National Chung-Shan Institute of Science & Technology (NCSIST) a chance to showcase its Sea Oryx air defense missile system for the first time.

Photo: CNA

The missile is based on the TC-1 short-range air-to-air missile and is similar to the American Rolling Airframe Missile.

Source: Video of Taiwan’s Sea Oryx missile system