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.

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News Story: Philippines Likely To Buy Super Tucanos

A-29 Super Tucano's of the Afghan Air Force (File Photo)

by Chen Chuanren

The Embraer Super Tucano is the sole compliant bidder for a Philippines Air Force (PAF) requirement for a new close air support (CAS) aircraft. The PAF has prioritized CAS and air to ground munitions procurement as a result of the takeover by Muslim extremist insurgents of the city of Marawi on the southern island of Mindanao. An Embraer spokesperson said the company is committed to fulfilling the requirement.

The PAF is seeking six aircraft for CAS to complement, and eventually replace its aging fleet of OV-10 Bronco twin turboprops. The Broncos have recently flown missions over Marawi, dropping 500-pound Mk 82 bombs against the insurgents. The PAF has also deployed its Leonardo AW109 helicopters and KAI FA-50 Golden Eagle fighters to help ground forces retake the city. The last of 12 FA-50s was delivered to Clark airbase on May 31.

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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.

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News Story: Vietnam disciplines over 40 officers after 4 military aircraft crashes in 2016

HANOI, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- Over 40 officers, including two general officers, have been disciplined following four military aircraft crashes in Vietnam so far in 2016, said Nguyen Minh Hoang, Deputy Political Commissar of Vietnam's Military Zone 7 on Wednesday.

Hoang made the remark at a discussion held during the ongoing second session of Vietnam's 14th National Assembly in capital Hanoi on Wednesday, reported local Tuoi Tre (Youth) online newspaper.

So far in 2016, there have been four military aircraft crashes in Vietnam, including that of Su-MK2 jet fighter in waters off central Nghe An province in mid-June, CASA aircraft in the Beibu Gulf in mid-June, training aircraft L39 in central Phu Yen province and chopper EC 130T2 in southern Ba Ria-Vung Tau province in mid-October.

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News Story: Vietnam's military aircraft crash caused by engine failure - DM

An L-39 Albatros (Image: Wiki Commons)

HANOI, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- The military aircraft crash during a training session in Vietnam's central Phu Yen province on Friday morning was caused by engine failure, said the country's Ministry of Defense.

The aircraft L39 coded 8705, operated by staff of Regiment 910 of the Air Force Academy under the Air Defense and Air Force Service, went down several minutes after taking off at 8:45 a.m. local time (01:45 GMT) on Friday.

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