Military Aviation News and Discussion

[SolarisKenzo]

A very interesting and well-written article on why the Eurodrone is so important for Europe and the future of European military aviation.

Meta-defense.fr: più che notizie sulla difesa

Méta-defense.fr: più che notizie sulla difesa. Tutte le notizie di difesa analizzate e messe in prospettiva per capire i problemi

www.meta-defense.fr

 

[Sandhi Yudha]

An unknown military jet aircaft (F-18?) crashed during an airshow near Michigan.

Both pilots successfully ejected and were taken to the hospital.

 

[Terran]

Mig 23UB

MiG-23 Flogger Crashes In Michigan (Updated)

Both crew safely ejected from the stricken Soviet-era swing-wing MiG-23 Flogger, with it flying uncontrolled into the ground seconds later.

www.thedrive.com

 

[Sandhi Yudha]

Mig 23UB

MiG-23 Flogger Crashes In Michigan (Updated)

Both crew safely ejected from the stricken Soviet-era swing-wing MiG-23 Flogger, with it flying uncontrolled into the ground seconds later.

www.thedrive.com

Thank you, i just found this. It was once part of the Czech Air Force.

Thunder Over Michigan MiG-23 crash

Thunder Over Michigan MiG-23 crash The privately owned Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23UB Flogger C with registration N23UB (former 8107 of the Czech Air Force, msn 1038107) was destroyed w...

scramble.nl

 

[Terran]

Though I suppose a more apt description is Mig23U-Was… past tense… I’ll let myself out.

 

[MickB]

Catalina Aircraft are set to produce a turboprop version of the traditional Catalina aircraft.
They claim to be better than the C130 floatplane being trialed by the USMC.
May be useful with the idea of small groups dispersed among small islands.

Waterbomber is another application.

 

[John Fedup]

An amusing application for AI, figuring out Area 51 creations.

We asked AI to show us the secret aircraft hidden in Area 51

Using an AI tool called DALL-E 2, we created a series of images meant to depict what secret aircraft hidden in Area 51 might look like.

www.sandboxx.us

 

[John Fedup]

JetZero has been selected to develop a full scale BWB aircraft for future studies and development of a more efficient transport/refuelling jet. NG will also be supporting this.

Blended Wing Body Demonstrator Jet Contract Awarded By Air Force (Updated)

The Air Force wants the highly-efficient blended wing body demonstrator, which could inform various future projects, to be flying by 2027.

www.thedrive.com

 

[Sandhi Yudha]

With the arrival of these AB412s, the Al-Qūwāt al-Gawwīyä as-Ṣūmāl (Somalia Air Force) has become a real air force, one with flying aircrafts.

Somalia receives Bell 412

Somalia receives Bell 412 It was reported that in July 2023 the Federal republic of Somalia received a shipment of two Bell 412 helicopters for its counter-insurgency fight against...

scramble.nl

 

[ngatimozart]

Thank you, i just found this. It was once part of the Czech Air Force.

Thunder Over Michigan MiG-23 crash

Thunder Over Michigan MiG-23 crash The privately owned Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23UB Flogger C with registration N23UB (former 8107 of the Czech Air Force, msn 1038107) was destroyed w...

scramble.nl

Yep it was the only flying one in the US. Put on a great display at Oshkosh. Rumour has it that it may have eaten a bird or two, resulting in the flameout. The good news is that the crew banged out safely.

 

[Ananda]

Iran unveils armed drone resembling America's MQ-9 Reaper and says it could potentially reach Israel

Iran’s Defense Ministry has unveiled a drone resembling America’s armed MQ-9 Reaper, claiming that the aircraft is capable of staying airborne for 24 hours and has the range to reach the country's archenemy Israel.

apnews.com

Iran is not unlike North Korea if want to show off their latest Military Tech achievements. However seems this time they are try to show off not only they have manage to copy Reaper, in Physically but also Flight Capabilities. Well at least that's their claim.

Iran drones especially the kamikaze ones now already being tested in real war by Russian. Well they are now try to show off they can move to more advance stages.

 

[John Fedup]

Not sure what to make of this article on the J-20, perhaps wishful thinking. In any event apparently there has been few sightings of the J-20 and none over Taiwan. The new WS-15 engine is just starting production so perhaps this one reason. Another might be the PLAAF wants to minimize knowledge of its capabilities to adversaries. Still, pilot training is essential so unless there are numerous J-20 simulators and perhaps a very secret base with some J-20s for actual flight training, the PLAAF fleet of J-20s might not be all that useful against well trained opponents. There is also the question of how stealthy is the J-20?

https://warriormaven.com/china/chinas-stealthy-5th-gen-j-20-a-jet-without-a-mission

 

[koxinga]

Interesting, if unconfirmed report of Iran getting YAK-130s. Interesting in the sense that the only credible program in Iran was Kowsar.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1697905239800606863

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1697905571788095896

The SU-35 news or lack of seem to suggest reports earlier in the year about the acqusition seem credible.

 

[Sandhi Yudha]

Interesting, if unconfirmed report of Iran getting YAK-130s. Interesting in the sense that the only credible program in Iran was Kowsar.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1697905239800606863

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1697905571788095896

The SU-35 news or lack of seem to suggest reports earlier in the year about the acqusition seem credible.

Yes, last month in late August 2023, the first two Yak-130s for the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) have been delivered to Iran.
Back in 2021, Iran requested for 24 Yak-130 advanced jet trainer/ light combat aircrafts, but it is unclear how many are really acquired.
Here are the serial numbers and other details.

Breaking news ... first Yak-130s delivered to Iran

Breaking news ... first Yak-130s delivered to Iran Late August 2023, the first two Yak-130s for the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) have been delivered to Iran. The two ...

scramble.nl

 

[John Fedup]

An assessment by Boeing’s CFO on the likely date for a return to profitability for Boeing’s defence business, not a pretty picture for stock holders. The problem areas are briefly discussed. Some lingering issues on the commercial side are also mentioned. Given Boeing’s performance of late, there must be some serious concerns about Boeing being picked for NGAD projects by USAF and USN officials.

Boeing CFO signals fresh losses in Q3 for contractor's defense sector - Breaking Defense

Boeing Chief Financial Officer Brian West previously warned that it could take several years until the company’s struggling defense sector turns a profit.

breakingdefense.com

 

[FormerDirtDart]

It will be interesting to see if they focus strictly on their own designs or also look at licensed production of existing systems in an effort to expand production rates

Exclusive: Ukraine's Antonov turns to drones in response to Russian invasion

Ukraine's Antonov is expanding in drone making, a presentation by the country's umbrella defence group seen by Reuters shows, as it diversifies its core cargo plane business in response to Russia's invasion.

www.reuters.com

 

[FormerDirtDart]

It will be interesting to see if they focus strictly on their own designs or also look at licensed production of existing systems in an effort to expand production rates

Exclusive: Ukraine's Antonov turns to drones in response to Russian invasion

Ukraine's Antonov is expanding in drone making, a presentation by the country's umbrella defence group seen by Reuters shows, as it diversifies its core cargo plane business in response to Russia's invasion.

www.reuters.com

Dawned on me that I have a subscription to Reuters, so others might not get the same access to their articles as me.
So....

Reuters: Cargo plane manufacturer Antonov moves to drone production

The Ukrainian cargo plane manufacturer Antonov is turning to drone production in response to the full-scale invasion, Reuters reported on Sept. 12.

news.yahoo.com

 

[FormerDirtDart]

Austria has announced the selection of the C-390 to replace their small (3) C-130K fleet.
Austria is looking to procure 4 C-390 and are in discussions with the Netherlands, which has previously stated an intent to acquire the aircraft, on a possible joint order
Other reporting has stated that Austria hopes to finalize a contract sometime in 2024.

Austria taps Embraer's C-390 aircraft to replace retiring C-130 fleet

Austria on Wednesday selected Embraer's C-390 Millenium military cargo aircraft to replace its airlifter fleet, as the Brazilian planemaker is wrapping up talks to further beef up its defense order backlog, an executive told Reuters.

www.reuters.com

 

[John Fedup]

Austria has announced the selection of the C-390 to replace their small (3) C-130K fleet.
Austria is looking to procure 4 C-390 and are in discussions with the Netherlands, which has previously stated an intent to acquire the aircraft, on a possible joint order
Other reporting has stated that Austria hopes to finalize a contract sometime in 2024.

Austria taps Embraer's C-390 aircraft to replace retiring C-130 fleet

Austria on Wednesday selected Embraer's C-390 Millenium military cargo aircraft to replace its airlifter fleet, as the Brazilian planemaker is wrapping up talks to further beef up its defense order backlog, an executive told Reuters.

www.reuters.com

Big win for Embraer, good on them! The Herc is great but many AFs really need to give this aircraft a hard look IMHO.

 

[Sandhi Yudha]

Slovakia will be the first European country using this latest version of the F-16 Fighting Falcon.
Delivery of the first four F-16Vs, out of a total of fourteen, is expected in the second half of 2024. These 14 F-16Vs were ordered in 2018, roll out this month, but the delivery of the first four end next year, in my opinion Lockheed-Martin is very slowly with it's orders.

First flight of Slovakian Air Force F-16V

First flight of Slovakian Air Force F-16V After the roll out of the first Lockheed Martin F-16C Block 70 Fighting Falcon for the Vzdušné sily Ozbrojených sil Slovenskej Republiky (...

scramble.nl