Americas
* Following a five-month grounding, the US Navy has allowed the resumption of flights of its T-45 Goshawk fleet after issues arose with the system that generates and supplies oxygen to the trainer aircraft. Under the new flight regime, student pilots can continue training only on aircraft outfitted with a digital upgrade to the CRU-99 oxygen monitor, called the solid-state oxygen monitor (CRU-123), which provides information on temperature and oxygen pressure. The Navy plans to have all of its T-45 aircraft to be fitted with the CRU-123 by the end of the second quarter of 2018.
Middle East & Africa
* Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has unveiled a new unmanned helicopter that is capable of evacuating wounded soldiers from the battlefield. The firm provided a proof-of-concept demonstration for the Israeli military of the UAS, known as the Air Hopper, covering two scenarios: one simulated the carrying of a wounded soldier to an extraction point for medical treatment, with airborne monitoring of the soldiers’ vital signs, and the other was a simulated movement of logistic supplies to an isolated force on a battlefield. The vehicle is based on a small, manned helicopter with a payload of 220-397 pounds, with a flight time of two hours and speed of as much as 74.5 miles per hour. However, the firm has not given a timeframe for when the Air Hopper will be available on the market.
Europe
* Russia has commenced delivery of six MiG-29 fighter jets to Serbia, with two disassembled units arriving via cargo aircraft at a military base near Belgrade on Monday. All six are expected to be in Serbia by Oct. 20, when Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu is expected in the Serbian capital. The aircraft were gifted to Serbia by Moscow at no cost, however, it is expected that modifications and overhaul of the aircraft will cost Serbian taxpayers in the region of $236 million. Other goodies promised by Russia include 30 battle tanks and 30 armored vehicles, and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic announced plans to increase air defense, adding that negotiations were ongoing for a procurement of the S-300 air defense system.
* An agreement between Airbus and Thales will see the latter manufacture and deliver additional training simulators for Airbus’ A400M transport and refueling aircraft to the governments of France and Germany. So far, Thales has delivered five orders for A400M full flight simulators and two flat panel flight-training devices to France, Germany, Great Britain and the International Training Center in Seville, Spain, and will deliver a sixth full flight simulator to the Spanish military in 2018. Thales said the firm “is proud to have received such long-standing commitment from Airbus and we will continue to provide high-quality simulators to enable flight crews to train for their missions.”
Asia Pacific
* Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced Tuesday that nine of the country’s new fleet of frigates will come equipped with the Aegis combat system. The inclusion of the anti-missile defense system comes as tensions in the region flare amid North Korea’s continued testing of medium- and long-range ballistic missiles, some of which flew over Japan, as well as its sixth nuclear test on Sept. 3. Canberra’s decision to include the Aegis system will bring Australia in line with US, Japanese and Korean vessels, allowing for further international cooperation and training.
* Australia has been cleared by the US State Department for the possible purchase of GBU-53/B Small Diameter Bomb Increment II weapons. Valued at an estimated $815 million, the foreign military sale will see 3,900 GBU-53/B Small Diameter Bombs and related equipment and services delivered to Canberra by manufacturer Raytheon. Extras include weapon load crew trainers, practical explosive ordinance disposal trainers, bomb containers, support, and ground crew test equipment. Transportation, warranties, repair and return, maintenance, publications, and technical documentation round out the package. The awarding agency, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), said the sale will compliment the ongoing sale of F-35A Joint Strike Fighter aircraft to the Royal Australian Air Force.
* Taiwan has completed the final operational test of its indigenous Wan Chien air launched cruise missile. Conducted on September 25, the missile was launched from an Indigenous Defense Fighter (IDF), where it flew for 80 minutes and circled off Pingtun for 200km. The 650 kg missile is guided by INS/GPS and may have a terminal seeker. Its payload is approximately 350 kg with either a high explosive, semi-armor piercing, or submunitions warhead. The submunitions warhead can reportedly be equipped with as many as 100 secondary bomblet warheads. It has been developed to conduct long-range suppression attacks against coastal inland military targets, whilst operating from the Taiwan Strait airspace.
* Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems has officially launched its Typhoon Mk-30c, the latest member of the Typhoon family of small-calibre stabilised naval gun systems. The launch was at the Pacific 2017 exhibition in Sydney, and the firm is looking to market the system to navies looking to protect their surface assets from aerial threats with limited deck space. The system is equipped with the ATK Mk44 Bushmaster cannon, which can fire NATO standard 30 mm rounds, including high explosive and air burst ammunitions, in adjustable rates of fire. These can range from single-shot mode, and up to a maximum rate of 200 rounds per minute. It can also be elevated at an angle of up to 70 degrees in order counter to target small and medium aerial threats such as unmanned aerial systems (UAS).
Today’s Video
* Rafael’s Typhoon Mk-30c:
