Defense Projects and News

The Airbus A400M has now been certified for automatic low-level flight. To achieve this certification a test regime took place in the Pyrenees mountains and central France in the month of April. The A400M was taken down to 500-feet for its testing. Transitions from low-level flight to other operations like aerial delivery were also conducted. "Inherent to the fighter aircraft world, and as a unique capability for a military transport aircraft, automatic low-level flight improves the A400M’s terrain masking and survivability, making the aircraft less detectable in hostile areas and less susceptible to threats when cruising towards key military operations like aerial delivery, air-to-air refuelling, logistic or other specific special operations," the company says.

The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) has made an order for 5 C130J Super Hercules aircraft. The overall cost for the five aircraft is 1.52 billion dollars. The Air Force already operates the C130H Hercules which they plan to retire as they receive the new aircraft. The new C130J Super Hercules should start delivery in 2024.

Boeing has handed over the first two examples of the F/A-18 Block III Super Hornet to the US Navy for flight testing. Today (June 17th) Boeing delivered a single seat E model and a twin seat F variant to the Navy to commence testing. Since they are going to be used for testing, the Navy will be evaluating the new mission systems, familiarizing aircrew with new systems and test suitability for aircraft carriers.

C-5 Galaxy departure sequence.

The Brazilian Air Force has now taken a third KC-390 transport/tanker.

Indonesia is shopping for Eurofighters and are currently eyeing used ones from the Austrian Air Force. There is presently interest in 15 of the aircraft in Austria's inventory. In an interesting twist, some of these Eurofighters have been at the center of a bribery case that Airbus willingly coerced Austria to purchase the aircraft and not competing aircraft. Vienna said they were then looking to get rid of the aircraft from their fleet 2020 which perhaps is why Indonesia is interested in the aircraft to modernize their Air Force fleet.

Military movements...

According to the Times of India, the first five Dassault Rafales for the Indian Air Force have arrived at the Indian Air Force base in Ambala. The aircraft made it to India with mid-air refueling and a stop in the UAE. The Air Force believes the new advanced jets will give them a significant advantage over India's neighbours.

Not news but some nice footage of military movements from the German and French Air Forces.

Panavia Tornado spotting from the German Air Force.

NATO has received its second Airbus A330 MRTT from Airbus Defense. The aircraft was delivered to The Netherlands in Eindhoven. The initiative has been funded by multinational unit formed by the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Norway, Germany, Belgium and the Czech Republic.

Xian Y-20 of the Chinese Air Force arriving and departing after bringing troops for a parade.

The German Armed Forces formally took delivery of the first Airbus A350-900 from Lufthansa Technik. Of course the aircraft will not go into service yet as the Armed Forces still have to test the aircraft for themselves over the next couple of weeks. The aircraft bears the designation 10+03 and is the first of three Airbus A350s for the German government. "Today (Aug 20th) we are proud to present to the Federal Minister of Defence the new flagship of the Federal Government's Special Air Mission Wing, the world's very first Airbus A350 as a government aircraft," said Dr. Johannes Bussmann, Chairman of the Executive Board of Lufthansa Technik AG. "The 10+03 and its two subsequent sister aircraft are a continuation of the successful tradition of supplying the German Armed Forces and having them as one of our best and most important customers."

A look at this C-17A Globemaster III landing at RIAT (Royal International Air Tattoo) back in 2013.

A sprinkling of defense movements at SJU.

Military recon movement with a NATO E-3A Sentry.

Another one...

Embraer has delivered the first four A-29 Super Tucanos to Manila. It is part of a deal signed a few years ago in 2017 to ship six of the type to the country.

Belgian Air Force C130 Hercules departing Eindhoven Airport.

No news here but always like to see planes that can 'reverse' themselves. In this case it is a Saab AJS37 Viggen.