News Report: Myanmar Military Jet Goes Missing During Training Mission

G-4 Super Galeb trainer/light attack aircraft (Image: Wiki Commons)

A military G-4 fighter jet from Myanmar’s Air Force went missing in the southern Ayeyarwady region.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – A military fighter jet from Myanmar’s Air Force went missing on Tuesday during a training mission in the country’s south, according to local media reports.

The incident occurred at about 03:00 GMT in the southern Ayeyarwady region, the Xinhua news agency reported citing Myanmar’s Office of the Commander-in-Chief of the Defense Service.

News Report: HAL-BAE Starts Most Lethal Upgrade of Hawk Trainers to Combat Aircraft

An Indian Air Force Hawk trainer aircraft (File Photo)

The combat-ready prototype was flown during 2017 Aero India at Bangalore. HAL-BAE is currently integrating indigenous head up display, ring laser gyroscope based inertial navigation system and anti airfield missile with the prototype version to make the aircraft more lethal.

New Delhi (Sputnik) — Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has started manufacturing the combat-ready version of Hawk trainer aircraft under the Indian government's indigenous role change development program. The upgrade is being jointly carried out by original manufacturers HAL and UK's BAE Systems.

Rechristened as Hawk-i, the combat-ready aircraft is capable of carrying the load of up to 3000 kilograms and delivering precise munitions including air-to-air missiles; air-to-surface missiles; air-to-surface rocket and bombs. The platform would provide support to troops into low-level threat zone.

News Story: Pakistan to sell 10 Super Mushshak aircraft to Azerbaijan - officials

Super Mushshak (Image: Wiki Commons)

ISLAMABAD July 27 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan on Thursday signed an agreement with Azerbaijan for sale of 10 Super Mushshak training aircraft to Azerbaijan Air Force, Pakistan Air Force (PAF) said.

The contract was signed at Azerbaijan, where Air Marshal Arshad Malik, Chairman Pakistan Aeronautical Complex at the town of Kamra represented Pakistan, whereas Azerbaijan was represented by Air Force Commander Azerbaijan Lieutenant General Ramiz Tahirov at the occasion.

This contract would also include operational training and technical support and assistance to Azerbaijan Air Force, said a PAF statement issued in Islamabad.

"This landmark agreement will further strengthen the bilateral ties between the two brotherly countries," it said.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: Swiss firm not extending maintenance deal for India's PC-7 trainers

By: Vivek Raghuvanshi

NEW DELHI — The maintenance contract for the Indian Air Force's 75 PC-7 Turbo Trainers will not be extended, according to a Ministry of Defence official. 

The aircraft, manufactured by Pilatus Aircraft of Switzerland and acquired in 2012, was under a maintenance deal that expired in December 2016.

"The follow-on guarantee of further 36 months beyond December 2016 is not being cleared by MoD on grounds of steep price," the MoD official said.

The Swiss company was unavailable for comment, but an Indian Air Force official asserted that the Pilatus is not extending the contract because the MoD decided against buying additional PC-7 Turbo Trainers, "which were earlier agreed upon."

"Due to no maintenance contract, IAF is using its own resources and resorting to buying parts from the local market to maintain the Pilatus fleet," the Air Force official said.

The PC-7 trainers were purchased by the outgoing government despite opposition to the foreign purchase by the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. HAL had wanted a contract for the HTT-40 basic trainer that it was developing. 

Read the full story at DefenseNews

News Story: Thai cabinet OKs air force's planned procurement of aircraft from South Korea

A KAI T-50 Golden Eagle Trainer Aircraft

BANGKOK, July 11 (Xinhua) -- The Thai cabinet on Tuesday acknowledged the air force's planned procurement of eight trainer aircraft from South Korea, according to air force spokesman AVM Pongsak Semachai.

During a weekly cabinet meeting at Government House chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, the planned purchase of the second batch of T-50TH jet trainers was acknowledged by the cabinet.

Those South Korean trainer aircraft are to be procured at a combined cost of 8.8 billion baht (about 258 million U.S. dollars), which is to be paid on three-year instalment basis, AVM Pongsak said.

Read the full story at Xinhua

Think Tank: Sea, air, land and space updates (4-Jul-2017)

HMS Queen Elizabeth (File Photo)

Zoe Glasson, Sophie Qin, Madeleine Nyst and Patrick Kennedy

Sea state

After a tricky few weeks, HMS Queen Elizabeth’s cyber security resilience has been called into question after photos taken during a tour of the ship appeared to show computer screens running the out-dated Windows XP operating system—the same system targeted by the recent WannaCry ransomware attack. In response, the Ministry of Defence said that Windows XP wouldn’t be used ‘when the ship becomes operational’, but many still criticised the claim that the system wasn’t vulnerable to attack. In defence of the carrier’s cyber capabilities, Commander Mark Deller said the crew included a specialist cyber team and that, with respect to naval procurement, we should ‘think more NASA than NHS’.

After Boaty McBoatface set off on its maiden mission earlier in the year, scientists have reported that it has obtained ‘unprecedented data’ from the Orkney Passage, about 800 km from the Arctic Peninsula. Water flow speed, underwater turbulence and temperature data collected by Boaty (from as deep as 4,000 m) will improve scientists’ understanding of ‘the complex ways that mixing ocean waters affect climate change’.

Also, Australia may soon get its very own Boaty McBoatface—the Australian Antarctic Division is running a competition for school students to name Australia’s new Antarctic icebreaker. Any suggestions?

News Story: Malaysia air force plane goes missing & Malaysia - Two pilots killed in training military plane crash

An Indian Air Force Hawk Trainer Aircraft (File Photo)

Malaysia air force plane goes missing

Kuala Lumpur, (VNA) – Malaysia’s air force said on June 15 that one of its Hawk training aircraft has gone missing. 

The plane took off from a base in Kuantan at around 11 a.m. local time (or 10 a.m. Vietnam time) and lost contact 30 minutes later.

Read the full story at VietnamPlus

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Malaysia: Two pilots killed in training military plane crash

Hanoi (VNA) – The Malaysian Air Force on June 15 announced that two pilots of the missing military aircraft Hawk 108 have died after falling into a swamp in a forest.

Read the full story at VietnamPlus

Think Tank: Sea, air, land and space updates (16-May-2017)

Zoe Glasson, Sophie Qin, Madeleine Nyst and Patrick Kennedy

Sea State

President Trump has been blowing off steam about the US Navy’s catapults. Apparently, the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) on the USS Gerald Ford—‘slated to become the crown jewel of the US Navy’—may not be long for this world. In an interview with TIME, Trump queried the use of ‘digital’ catapults and appeared to suggest a reversal to the previous generation steam-powered catapults. It’s true that EMALS has been beset by cost and schedule overruns, but the system is expected to save the Navy US$4 billion in maintenance costs over the ship’s 50-year lifetime (not to mention its many other potential benefits). Facing an impossible re-engineering task on the Ford class, and said to be ‘blindsided’ by Trump’s comments, Navy officials have declined to comment.

The Philippines is buying a second-hand warship from South Korea for just US$100 (!). But, the 30 year old Pohang-class corvette was decommissioned in December 2016 and will require considerable investment (an estimated US$4 million) to return to service. And it won’t come with all its weaponry. Luckily, South Korea, which is working to build its own arms export industry, ‘is well positioned to re-equip it for the Philippines, at a price’.

News Story: Taiwan to begin production of jet trainer aircraft

by Elizabeth Shim

Taiwan has begun to manufacture next-generation trainer jets as it militarizes an island in the South China Sea in response to Chinese buildup in the Spratly Islands.

Taiwanese newspaper Liberty Times reported Wednesday that Chung-shan Institute of Science and Technology president Chang Guang-chung signed a contract, on behalf of the government to produce 66 advanced jet trainers with the Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation.

The policy measure is being taken as part of Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen's initiative to domestically develop the country's fighter aircraft, according to the report.

Taiwanese Defense Minister Feng Shih-kuan, Mayor of Taoyuan Cheng Wen-tsan, and Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs Shen Jong-chin were in attendance at the signing ceremony.

Read the full story at SpaceDaily

News Story: Vietnam's Air Force Shops for New Trainer Jet

Yak-130

by Chen Chuanren

The Vietnam People’s Air Force (VPAF) needs a new jet for training. Local media report that the service is close to selecting the Russian Yak-130, but the Czech-built Aero Vodochody L-39NG may also be in contention.

“We have been equipping ourselves with state-of-the-art fighters in recent years, but our training system still consists of the old Yak-52 and L-39,” said VPAF Commander Lieutenant General Lê Huy Vịnh at a pilot training conference held in Hanoi. “The operational conversion of pilots after their graduation therefore places a challenge on the combat units,” he continued. Vietnam operates 22 Yak-52 and 34 L-39C/Z. After the conference, the VPAF announced its intention to set up a new division dedicated to supersonic fighter training.

VPAF acquired 36 Sukhoi Su-30MK2 fighters between 2004 and 2016.

Read the full story at AINonline

News Story: Four more brand-new FA-50Ph fighter jets arriving to PH

PAF FA-50PH (002) Fight Aircraft

Philippine Air Force (PAF) is expecting for four more FA-50PH Fighter/Surface Attack/Lead-in Fighter Trainer (F/SA/LIFT) from Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) to arrive this month until May.

The fifth and sixth batch of the delivery of planes with tail numbers 009 to 012, are four months earlier than the original date which was set in September, said Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla.

Padilla hinted interest to procure six more similar aircraft if they continue excellent performance and if the AFP have enough funds.

Read the full story at Tankler

News Story: PH Air Force has now 8 supersonic jets, eyeing procurement of 36 more FA-50s

Philippine Air Force FA-50PH (File Photo)

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) has now eight jets in its inventory while the delivery of the rest of the jets will be completed this year.

The fourth batch of FA-50PH jets with tail number 007 and 008 arrived on March 29 at the Haribon Hangar, Air Force City, Clark Air Base in Pampanga with the Vice Commander of PAF, Major General Conrado V. Parra Jr. AFP, as Guest of Honor.

Last year, IHS Jane’s reported the PAF confirmed it would look to secure government approval for 36 additional FA-50s after the delivery of the initial 12 aircraft.

Read the full story at Tankler

News Story: Malaysian Hawks To Be Upgraded

RMAF BAE Hawk 208 (Image: Wiki Commons)

by Chen Chuanren

BAE Systems will partner with Malaysian MRO company Airod to upgrade the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) Hawk 208 single-seat light attack aircraft and ensure its continued operational availability. AIN understands that the upgrade will include a new radar warning receiver, electronic countermeasures and a digital video recorder. New  mission-planning software will also be provided, and possibly also a new radar.

The renewal of partnership and memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed on March 22 at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) exhibition. A previous MoU between the two companies, signed a year ago, did not state which variant of the Hawk the RMAF will upgrade. The RMAF flies six two-seat Hawk 108s and 12 single-seat Hawk 208s.

Read the full story at AINonline

News Report: Demand for Russian Weapons Grows as Langkawi Exhibition 2017 Kicks Off

Russian Su-35 Flanker Fighter

The 14th Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) exhibition 2017 has attracted over 555 participants from 36 countries. A total of 101 aircraft, 61 ships and boats will be on aerial and static displays.

Reports coming in from LIMA suggest that new contracts are being signed for supplies of Russian arms to countries of Southeast Asia. The regional market is one of the most important for Russia despite its geographical distance.

According to expert from the Center for Strategic Research Anton Tsvetov, the growing demand for Russian weapons speaks not only of the quality of Russian equipment but also of regional tensions.

The terms of contract for the supply of 12-18 multi-purpose SU-35 fighters of the 4+ generation are being discussed with Indonesia. The same fighters are being supplied to China. Other potential buyers include Venezuela and Vietnam.

News Story: Air force pilot instructor badly injured when seat ejects

Royal Thai Air Force Alpha Jet at Children's Day 2007
(Image: Wiki Commons)

WRITER: WASSANA NANUAM

LOEI - An air force instructor was seriously injured after he ejected from a two-seat Alpha Jet at low altitude on Wednesday morning during a training flight out of Wing 23 in Udon Thani province.

The trainee pilot later landed the aircraft safely. The incident is being investigated.

The instructor, identified as Sqn Ldr Sukhothai Srisomsai, was ejected from the aircraft above Ban Charoensuk village in tambon Na Din Dam of Loei's Muang district about 11.15am.

The aircraft was at low altitude and the seat's parachute had not opened when he hit the ground, Royal Thai Air Force spokesman AVM Pongsak Semachai said.

Read the full story at BangkokPost

News Story: Taiwan to build new jet trainer fleet by 2026 in defence push

Taiwan's F-CK-1 Ching-kuo Indigenous Defense Fighter, the
only locally designed fighter jet (Image: Wiki Commons)

Taiwan officials said Tuesday a new generation of locally built jet trainers would be completed by 2026, part of a push to strengthen the defence industry against a growing China threat.

The island has developed jets and missiles at home in the past, but relies on its main ally the US as its biggest arms supplier.

Relations are worsening with China, which sees Taiwan as a breakaway province to be brought back within its fold -- by force if necessary.

President Tsai Ing-wen has faced a mounting backlash from Beijing since she took office in May because she has refused to recognise that Taiwan is part of "one China".

Beijing has severed all official communications with Taipei and reportedly discouraged Chinese visitors from travelling to the island.

The current ageing trainer fleet will be replaced by 66 advanced jet trainers by 2026, with their first flight scheduled for 2020, according to the military-run National Chung Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST).

The programme has a budget of some Tw$68 billion ($2.2 billion).

Read the full story at SpaceDaily

News Story: 2017 Forecast - Air Force Faces Intense Trump Scrutiny

Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James
(Image: Wiki Commons)

By SYDNEY J. FREEDBERG JR.

ARLINGTON: The Air Force got blasted from Donald Trump’s bully pulpit before the President-Elect was even inaugurated. It looks like 2017 — the youngest service’s 70th year — will be full of presidential turbulence.

Outgoing Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James put the best face on Trump’s intervention on Lockheed’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and Boeing’s Air Force One replacement, which moved swiftly from social media to private meetings with the CEOs of both contractors at Mar-A-Lago. But her concerns were clear.

“What all of that really signals to me is that the President-Elect is going to be focusing on the taxpayer dollar, on efficiencies,” James told the Air Force Association this morning during her last public appearance as Secretary. “I think that’s an important focus. I tried to make it my focus for three years” — ever since her confirmation — and the service tries to inculcate a culture of cost-effectiveness in “even the brand new A1Cs [Airmen First Class] that come into the Air Force.”

That said, James continued, “it’s an unusual approach. It’s an approach that I’m not sure there’s another example of… doing a deep dive at this point into a program like this. But I think the signal is cost controls matter, efficiencies matter, and there will be times when perhaps a headline captures the attention of a senior policymaker.”

Read the full story at BreakingDefense

News Story: Pakistan hands over 4 Mushshak aircrafts to Nigerian Air Force

A Mushak at IDEAS 2008 (Image: Wiki Commons)

ISLAMABAD, Dec. 5 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Chief of Air Staff Marshal Sohail Aman on Monday handed over four Super Mushshak aircraft to Nigerian Air Force, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) said in a statement in Islamabad.

The aircrafts, which are modernized model equipped with glass cockpit and enhanced environmental control system, were handed to Nigeria at a ceremony held in the African country, according to the PAF.

Pakistan and Nigeria signed an agreement for sale of 10 Super Mushshak aircraft to Nigerian Air Force at Abuja last month, the PAF statement said.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: International defense show concludes in Karachi

ISLAMABAD, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- The 9th International Defense Exhibition and Seminar 2016 (IDEAS) concluded in Pakistani city Karachi on Friday. The four-day show witnessed bigger-than-ever participation by Chinese, Russian, and Turkish companies.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chief of the Army Staff General Raheel Sharif inaugurated the event on Tuesday. The strategic show was organized by the Defense Export and Promotion Organization.

The theme for this year's exhibit was "Arms for Peace" which was spelled out by PM Sharif on the inaugural day.

Chinese, Turkish and Russian companies made their presence felt with an enormous participation. The number of Russian defense manufacturers increased to three this year including the state-controlled arms import and export company Russia Rosoboron export.

Nine Chinese companies including China Aerospace Long-March International, China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation and Poly Technologies Inc. took part in the exhibition.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: Bangladesh buys two submarines from China

Bangladesh took delivery on Monday of its first submarines, bought from China, as it seeks to boost its naval power in the Bay of Bengal.

Bangladesh paid a reported $203 million for the two submarines, a deal that reflects the country's growing economic and defence ties with Beijing.

Armed forces spokeswoman Taposhi Rabeya said they would become part of the country's naval fleet at the beginning of next year.

"This is the first ever addition of submarines in Bangladesh defence force," she told AFP.

Bangladesh has been expanding its defence capabilities in recent years, building a new airbase close to neighbouring Myanmar, opening several new military cantonments across the country and adding new frigates to its naval fleet.

Read the full story at SpaceWar