169th Fighter Wing Participates In Relampago VII | US Sanctions Iranian Firm That Helped Ship Drones To Russia | HAF’s First F-16Vs To Return Home

Americas

Raytheon won a $9 million contract for the procurement of nine active electronically scanned array radar system APG-79 weapon repairable assemblies in support of the F/A-18 aircraft. The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet is a twin-engine, supersonic, all-weather, carrier-capable, multirole combat jet, designed as both a fighter and attack aircraft. Work will take place in Mississippi. The deal contains no options and work is expected to begin October 2022 and be completed by January 2024.

Six F-16s from South Carolina Air National Guard’s 169th Fighter Wing are in Colombia for exercise Relampago VII. The purpose of this exercise is to provide the Colombian Air Force with requested realistic interoperability training as allied countries, under NATO standards.

Middle East & Africa

The United States on Thursday placed sanctions on an Iranian company that helped to ship drones to Russia for use in Ukraine, and warned non-Iranian firms against becoming involved in the trade. The US Treasury said it had placed Tehran-based Safiran Airport Services on its sanctions blacklist, two months after the White House divulged intelligence that Russia was seeking Iranian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for its war in Ukraine.

Europe

The first pair of upgraded F-16Vs from the Hellenic Air Force (HAF) will return home from the United States on September 12. They will land at the Hellenic Aerospace Industry facility in Tanagra. They were sent to Forth Worth, Texas for modifications by Lockheed Martin in February 2021. The HAF is expected to receive six more F-16Vs this year.

According Jane’s, Belarus’ Belspetsvneshtechnika has outlined improvements to the 61 mm-calibre Sapphire disposable rocket launcher. Detailing the new features at ADEX 2022 in Baku, a company representative highlighted a new tandem warhead configuration, enhanced lethality, and ongoing work on what was described as a “smart sighting system” that is intended to automate processes and assist the user through a fire control unit that presents an aiming point once a target is designated, among other features.

Asia-Pacific

The Japanese government is set to acquire the site of an abandoned school and school dormitory on Mageshima island as part of the plan to turn the island into a field carrier landing practice (FCLP) site for the US Navy. The city council will vote on the proposal on Sept. 9 and the news reports say council members will likely approve the acquisition.

Today’s Video

WATCH: F-18 Hornet Fighter Jet in Action