Pegasus Can Refuel All Versions Of F-15s and F-16s | V-200 VTOL UAV Completed surveillance Flight Trial | Austal Launched 1st CCPB

Americas

Vertex Aerospace won an $8.7 million contract modification, which adds scope to provide intermediate-level maintenance and repair services and logistics support for the T-45 aircraft and T-45 support equipment in support of the Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department for Chief of Naval Air Training aircraft, tenant activities, and transient aircraft. Work will take place in Texas, Florida and Mississippi. Expected completion is in September 2022.

The Boeing-made KC-46A Pegasus multirole tanker has been given the green light to refuel all versions of F-15 and F-16 fighter jets. Gen. Mike Minihan, commander of Air Mobility Command, approved a third Interim Capability Release (ICR) mission set for the KC-46A Pegasus, on October 13. This ICR decision allows the KC-46 to refuel all variants of the F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon during US Transportation Command tasked missions.

Middle East & Africa

Turkish defense company Otonom Teknoloji has said it signed a deal with the Iraqi government for supplying aerostat and airship systems. The company said on October 17 that the deal would also involve technological know-how transfer and co-production options in the future. No financial details of the sale were disclosed.

Europe

UMS Skeldar’s V-200 medium-range VTOL UAV has completed five-day long surveillance flight trial demonstrations aboard the OPV Turva as part of the Valvonta2 project led by the Finnish Border Guard and funded by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund. The project aims to achieve an understanding of how authorities could use unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for diverse and demanding operations at sea both now and in future scenarios.

Asia-Pacific

The Philippine Air Force is looking at acquiring heavy-lift helicopters and the technical working groups within the service are carrying out studies. PAF spokesperson Lt. Col. Maynard Mariano declined to identify what models of helicopter are being considered but there have been reports that the service is interested in the CH-47.

Austal has launched the first of six Evolved Cape-class Patrol Boats (CCPBs) ordered by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Construction has commenced on the remaining five patrol boats. The first boat will be handed over to the Navy early next year.

Today’s Video

Watch: Australia Launches 1st of New “Evolved” Cape-class Patrol Boats…