MILAVIA - Military Aviation News Archive 2005

On Monday 21 December 2005, Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom government signed an agreement for the acquisition at least 24 Eurofighter Typhoons to replace the Royal Saudi Air Force's current fleet of Panavia Tornado ADV air defence fighters.

The multi-billion pound order will be part of a third phase of the Al Yamamah arms agreement, which previously covered the delivery and support of the Tornado ADV and IDS, BAE Systems Hawk, Pilatus PC-9, and other equipment.

The 24 Typhoons will be drawn from the UK production run of 89 Tranche 2 Eurofighters. The UK MoD stressed that the RAF will receive additional Tranche 2 airframes, and that the deal with Saudi Arabia will have no impact on its commitment to sign a Tranche 3 deal to take the UK's total Typhoon purchase to 232 aircraft.

The agreement also covers technology transfer from BAE Systems to further develop Saudi national aerospace industry. Meanwhile BAE is promoting its extensive upgrade for the RSAF current fleet of Tornado IDS aircraft.

Photo by Leandro Maldonado, click to view all photos.

On December 14, 2005, the Brazilian Air Force officially retired its Dassault Mirage III (F-103) from operational service. In a ceremony overflowing with emotions, four F-103s performed a series of flypasts over the Anápolis AB runway and one aircraft broke the sound barrier over the Air Base. It was one of the greatest moments of the event.

Emotions overwhelmed part of the guests, when group of pilots walked in the direction of the shelters, to board their fighters. Among the GDA pilots were three of the very first Brazilian Mirage III pilots, the reserve Colonels Ivan Von Trompowsky Douat Taulois (Jaguar 05), Thomas Anthony Blower (Jaguar 07) and José Isaías Vilaça (Jaguar 08); In 1972, these three pilots were part of a team of eight Brazilian pilots (the Dijon Boys) who went to France receive the new Mirage IIIs acquired by FAB and to graduate as Mirage III instructors.

Each one of the three Dijon Boys took off in the rear seat of the three FAB F-103Ds, followed by a single F-103E and performed many flypasts and manoeuvres over the Air Base. The emotion came out when the pilots left their aircraft and told everyone that they were very luck guys, because they had begun and ended three decades of Mirage III operations in Brazil.

After the historic flight, the F-103E FAB-4910 was covered with a grey cover marked with the special badge of the 33 years of Mirage III operations. The Mirages still continue flying until December 31st, when they will make their last operational flight in Brazil.

View all photos of the event

In a ceremony that took place on December the 8th at Lima 2005, the first A109 LOH was handed over to the Malaysian Army Aviation. Accepting the aircraft on behalf of the Malaysian Army Aviation was Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Honourable Datuk Seri Mohamed Najib Bin Tun Haji Razak.

AgustaWestland was awarded a contract by the Malaysian Ministry of Defence for the supply of eleven A109 Light Observation Helicopters (LOHs), together with an initial product support and training package, in late 2003. The A109 LOH, a version of the well known A109 LUH, was selected as the best and most cost effective helicopter following a rigorous process of evaluation run by the Malaysian Ministry of Defence against several competitors. The primary purpose of the LOH is to serve as a cost efficient system for observation, reconnaissance, tactical transport and area suppression missions.

The Malaysian Army Aviation will become the first operator of the A109 LOH in Asia and the third customer to start operations worldwide. A109 LUHs are already in service with the South African and Swedish Armed Forces. The A109 LUH, with 61 units ordered so far, is the foremost light twin engine helicopter for military utility and advanced training purposes.

Photo courtesy of Aeronautical Development Agency, via http://www.Bharat-Rakshak.com/

On Thursday 1 December 2005, a new prototype of India's indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) successfully completed its first test flight. The flight lasted 26 minutes and was piloted by Wing Commander Vikram SignhIndian Air Force, who is attached to the Aircraft Systems and Testing Establishment (ASTE).

The PV-2 prototype has now joined the LCA test fleet, which also include Technology Demonstrators TD-1 and TD-2, and the PV-1 prototype. PV-2 incorporates additional use of composite materials to save weight as well as the integration of modular avionics system with open architecture.

Previously it was reported that PV-2 was expected to be first flown in June 2005. PV-2 is presenting a big step towards LCA production standard. The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) is now starting work on two final single-seat prototypes (PV-3 and PV-4) which are expected to be build close to production standard. Additionally, the development of a seventh prototype (PV-5) for the two-seat trainer version is underway.

Photo via http://www.vaq34.com/oldtacamo/

On Tuesday 22 November 2005, the contract was signed for the acquisition of two C-130 Hercules aircraft. The Royal Netherlands Air Force will expand its Hercules fleet with two additional medium-heavy tactical transport aircraft.

Acquired through Derco Aerospace the aircraft included in the deal are former TACAMO EC-130Qs N14781 (c/n 4781, ex USN/160608) and N9239G (c/n 4988, ex USN/162313). A third EC-130Q (N54595, c/n 4595, ex USN/159469) will serve as a source for spare parts. All three were retired to the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, in 1991, and were sold off in 1997 which moved them into the Dross Metals Inc/ARM yard in Tucson, Arizona, adjacent to AMARC.

Previous plans to acquire only a third Hercules from the UK MOD (planned to be followed by a fourth example several years after) were cancelled because of delays. In mid-2005 the Dutch Ministry of Defence decided to purchase two C-130s now to enter service in 2007. The two C-130s will replace the four Fokker 60 medium-light transport aircraft. The C-130 is more capable and better equipped for the tactical transport role (rear cargo ramp), and also offers better range and capacity.

After transport, the two aircraft will get a complete overhaul, and receive fully refurbished engines and propellors. They will also be fitted with modern avionics and "glass" cockpit. The two reworked C-130H (short) Hercules aircraft are expected to enter service in 2007 with Eindhoven-based 334 Squadron, joining the two existing C-130H-30 (stretched) aircraft already in service, which will in future also be fitted with updated cockpits similarly to the two new C-130H.

Prince Feisal Bin Al Hussein of Jordan and the Dutch Ministry of Defence signed a Declaration of Intent regarding the sale of three Dutch F-16s to Jordan during the Dubai Air Show currently held in the U.A.E.
The deal concerns three F-16BM two-seat trainers, which will be operated by the Royal Jordanian Air Force for training purposes. Delivery is expected to take place in October 2006.

Photo by Frans Dely, via Gripen International

The first dual seat Gripen made its maiden flight on Friday 11 November 2005. The aircraft painted in South African Air Force (SAAF) grey livery was flown by South African test pilot Charl Coetzee and Saab test pilot Magnus Olsson. The flight lasted 1 hour 10 minutes, taking off from Saab's Flight Test Centre in Linköping, Sweden.

The aircraft will now undergo a thorough inspection and systems validation, followed by more flight tests later this month. It will be transferred to South Africa in August 2006 joining the flight development program to integrate South Africa's custom avionics and weapons systems.

South Africa ordered 28 Gripen multi-role fighters in 1999, together with 24 BAE Systems Hawk advanced jet trainers. The Gripen fighters will be delivered to the SAAF from 2008 onwards.

The U.S. Air Force received its second CV-22 Osprey on October 27th, 2005. The aircraft was delivered at Edwards AFB two months ahead of the contract due date.

The first Air Force CV-22 was delivered for electromagnetic testing to NAS Patuxent River, Md. on Sept. 16, 2005, and will arrive at Edwards in December. The third CV-22 is due to be delivered in February 2006, and the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center will use these first three aircraft to conduct an Operational Utility Evaluation next summer. If the CV-22 completes the evaluation successfully it will be certified for use in training operations at Kirtland Air Force Base next fall. The Initial Operational Test and Evaluation for the CV-22 is planned to begin in October 2007.

The Navy\’s Operational Test and Evaluation Force and AFOTEC conducted an operational evaluation of the MV-22, the Marine variant of the Osprey, between March and June this year, and rated it operationally effective, suitable and survivable.

The CV-22 is the Special Operations Forces (SOF) variant of the V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft. Modifications to the Osprey aircraft made for the CV-22 variant are concentrated in the areas of communication, navigation, mission management and aircraft survivability. The Osprey flight characteristics, including vertical take-off and landing, short take-off and landing and conversion to airplane mode, provide considerable operational flexibility from small landing zone operations to high-speed (230 knots) flight. The Air Force and U.S. Special Operations Command plan to procure 50 CV-22s to conduct day or night long-range infiltration, exfiltration and re-supply of special operations forces

Photo courtesy of Saab - click for larger image

Yesterday, the first completed Gripen destined for South Africa was unveiled in a roll-out ceremony at Saab's production facility at Linköping, Sweden.

The aircraft will now be prepared for an extensive flight test programme to integrate South Africa's custom avionics and mission systems. First flight is scheduled to take place in Sweden in two weeks. In mid-2006 the first Gripen will arrive at the Test and Flight Development Centre in South Africa.

In November 1998, South Africa ordered 28 Gripen fighters, 19 single-seater and 9 two-seaters. The aircraft will be delivered to the South African Air Force from 2008 onwards, with all aircraft to be delivered by 2012. The combined contract for 28 Gripens and 24 Hawks signed with BAE Systems is estimated to be worth US$2.2 billion.

Photo courtesy of FMV - click for larger image

The maiden flight of the first Hungarian dual seat Gripen aircraft took place yesterday at Saab in Linköping, Sweden. The aircraft, which was flown by a test pilot from Saab, was painted with the new gray Hungarian national insignia on the aircraft.

Following this maiden flight, the aircraft now enters a period of ground and flight-testing to verify that all systems are operating in accordance with the Hungarian Gripen configuration plan.

This is the first of two Gripen dual seat aircraft, together with twelve single seat aircraft, that Hungary will lease for a period of 10 years, before taking ownership of the aircraft under the terms of the agreement signed between the Swedish and Hungarian authorities in February 2003. Deliveries of the 14 Gripen aircraft to Hungary will take place between March 2006 and December 2007.

Hungarian pilots and technicians have been undergoing training - in Sweden with the Swedish Air Force, from the beginning of 2005 and are scheduled to return to Hungary ahead of the arrival of the first Gripen aircraft in March 2006.

Hungary will be the second NATO country to operate the latest Gripen fighter, but will be the first NATO operator to equip the latest versions of the Gripen aircraft for the air-to-surface role. These aircraft are the latest standard of the Gripen and are equipped with full color cockpit displays, a retractable air-to-air refueling probe and are fully NATO-interoperable.

Today the South African Air Force (SAAF) took delivery of the first four Agusta Westland A109 Light Utility Helicopters. The official hand over took place at the SAAF Bloemfontein Base.

The first batch is part of an order for 30 A 109 LUH helicopters powered by Turbomeca Arrius 2K2 engines. the A109 LUHs will initially be based at Bloemfontein to be used in various roles, including humanitarian operations and disaster relief. The initial five aircraft were produced in Italy, after which the production and assembly line was moved to Denel of South Africa. The first of these was rolled out in September 2002. Denel will manufacture the remaining 25 A 109 LUHs, the first of which was completed about one year ago.

The purchase of the 30 helicopters was approved by South Africa's cabinet in September 1999, including an option for a further 10 aircraft. The A 109 LUH/LOH has also been ordered by Sweden (20) and Malaysia (11).

On 14 October 2005, a possible U.S. Foreign Military Sale to Colombia of two Sikorsky UH-60L MEDEVAC Black Hawk helicopters as well as associated equipment and services was announced.
The Government of Colombia has requested a possible sale of two UH-60L MEDEVAC Black Hawk helicopters with T700-GE-701C or 401C engines, spare and repair parts, communications and support equipment, publications and technical data, personnel training and training equipment, contractor engineering and technical support services and other related elements of logistics support. The estimated cost is $43 million.
Colombia already operates UH-60 helicopters, but is in need of additional SAR/MEDEVAC capability. Current personnel losses in the field can be directly attributed to the lack of helicopters for search and rescue.

Recently Boeing has started production of the CH-47F heavy transport helicopter. In December 2004 the U.S. Army and Boeing signed a US$549 million contract for the delivery of 17 new-build CH-47F Chinooks, following approval of the plan to modernize its fleet of about 390 CH-47D Chinooks and procure at least 55 additional new-build CH-47Fs. Deliveries of the 17 new-build helicopters are planned to start in September 2006 and continue through the end of 2008.

The CH-47F will be produced with advanced manufacturing techniques resulting in reduced operating and support costs while improving the structual integrity, extending the overall usefull life of each Chinook. The CH-47F features improved avionics including digital map display, data transfer system, and Digital Advanced Flight Control System (DAFCS). Survivability features include a Common Missile Warning and Improved Countermeasure Dispenser Systems. More powerful new Honeywell T55-GA-714A engines will be fitted,

The CH-47F fleet upgrade is the second modernization of the type in U.S. Army Service, and will extend Chinook service beyond 2030. The CH-47F program was initiated in 1998, the first prototype's maiden flight took place on June 29, 2001. The first remanufactured CH-47F was delivered to the U.S. Army 'Lead the Fleet' test program in May 2002. This was followed by a first Low Rate Initial Production contract in January 2003 for the remanufacturing of seven Chinooks, one to CH-47F standard and the other six being converted to MH-47G Special Operations variant.

On September 21, 2005 the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) received its first upgraded Northrop F-5EM from Embraer. The aircraft was handed over to the 1º/14ºGAv 'Pampa' squadron at Canoas AB. The upgrade includes a new glass cockpit, HOTAS configuration, new multimode FIAR Grifo F radar, a RWR system and a data-link which will allow the F-5M to transfer data with the R-99 AEW&C aircraft. The total cost of the program is USD 285 million for the development and the upgrade work. A total of 46 airframes will be upgraded and delivered until 2007, with two aircraft being delivered each month.
The FAB is studying the possibility to buy 9 more F-5s from Saudi Arabia, most of them will be F-5Fs to complement the Brazilian fleet, as only 3 two-seaters are operational today. The Air Force commander also stressed the intention to create a new F-5 fighter unit at Natal AB, in the north-east of Brazil.

On September 19th, the U.S. Air Force took delivery of the first production CV-22 Osprey at the Bell Helicopter production facility in Amarillo, Texas. Produced jointly by Bell Helicopter and Boeing, the CV-22 is the US Air Force Special Operations variant of the V-22 and will be used for long-range special operations missions, contingency operations, and evacuations and maritime operations.
In addition to the standard communications and navigations suite found on all V-22s, the CV-22 has an advanced electronic warfare suite, a multi-mode radar which permits flight at very low altitude in zero visibility, a retractable aerial refueling probe, four radios and flight engineer seat/crew positions in the cockpit.
The current program calls for the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command to field 50 CV-22s to join the global war on terrorism and other special operations missions. Prior to initial operational capability in 2009, the CV-22 will complete developmental testing at Edwards AFB, Calif., followed by initial operational test and evaluation. Then the aircraft will conduct an operational utility evaluation next year.

Italy decided to operate a mixed fleet of conventional and short take-off and landing (CTOL/STOVL) Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighters. Earlier Italy planned to acquire only F-35B STOVL variants to replace its Alenia/Embraer AMXs and Boeing AV-8B Harrier IIs, but now it also plans to acquire the conventional F-35A variant enabling the Italian Air Force to replace some of its Panavia Tornados as well.
The decision could increase Italy's JSF requirement from 130 aircraft to 200. This would strengthen Italy's position in the programme.

Development of the Nimrod MRA4 by BAE Systems continues to gather pace. On 29 August 2005, a third development aircraft (PA03, serial ZJ517, ex-XV242) successfully completed its first flight. It took off from BAE Systems’ Woodford site, near Manchester at 1645hrs on Monday, 29 August, and landed at the Company’s Warton base, near Preston after a 75 minute sortie It now has joined the test fleet.
PA03 is the third and final development aircraft to join the flight trials programme which continues until 2007. PA03 will test the whole of the MRA4's mission systems and enables BAE Systems to demonstrate systems maturity to the customer. All three development aircraft will be reworked to production standard when they have completed their flight trials.
BAE submitted its proposal to the UK MoD for delivery of 12 production aircraft in mid-July. These include the three development aircraft conversions. It is expected that the production go-ahead will be given by October and the contract is expected to be signed by years end. The MRA4 is planned to enter RAF service in 2009. In anticipation of gaining production approval, BAE has started strip and survey work on the next four airframes at Woodford, where they will also be rebuilt to MRA4s.

Northrop Grumman Corporation has begun initial flight testing of the advanced fire-control radar being developed for the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) aircraft. The radar is designed to enable F-35 pilots to effectively engage air and ground targets at long range, while also providing outstanding situational awareness for enhanced survivability.
Designated the AN/APG-81, the active electronically scanned array radar was first flown on Aug. 23 and 25 on Northrop Grumman's BAC-1-11 testbed aircraft. During the flights, the all-aspect search, air-track and synthetic-aperture radar mode capabilities of the radar were successfully evaluated against airborne and ground-based targets.
The radar's first flight tests in the BAC-1-11 aircraft were conducted over the local airspace in the vicinity of Northrop Grumman's Electronic Systems sector headquarters complex adjacent to the Baltimore/Washington International Airport. In November, the first F-35 radar system will be delivered to Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. in Fort Worth, Texas, where it will be installed into the JSF Mission Systems Integration Lab and tested with other F-35 mission-avionics systems.

Russia and China have reached an agreement for the delivery of 38 new-build Il-76TD military transport aircraft. The contract is expected to be worth $850 million.
China appears to be more interested in military support equipment from Russia today. Russian Defence Ministry and state export agency Rosoboronexport are hoping for additional orders from China following the joint Russia-China exercise held this summer. The 10,000 troop exercise included also naval forces, Sukhoi Su-27 fighter planes and Tupolev Tu-95MS and Tu-22M3 bombers.
Russia is also prepared to sell stock Tu-95MS and Tu-22M3 bombers to China if it would be interested.

Singapore has selected Boeing's proposal as the winner of the RSAF Next Fighter Replacement Programme and is currently in the final stages of negotiations. Boeing offered the F-15T, a derivative of the F-15E Strike Eagle, probably similar to the F-15K developed for the Republic of Korea Air Force. The competition was for a contract for up to about 20 aircraft, to replace the RSAF A-4SU Skyhawks. However a second contract is expected in the near future since the RSAF will replace its F-5S/T Tiger IIs soon as well. Although quite likely, it remains to be seen if Boeing will be contracted for that as well. The deal is expected to be worth USD 1 billion.
Earlier Singapore released that it had dropped the BAE Systems offer consisting of the Eurofighter Typhoon, because it did not meet schedule and system requirements. Although this was good news for the Dassault Rafale at the time, it now came out as the loser as well. Even though meeting technical and operational requirements, Singapore seems to prefer the US as their source for military equipment and benefit from the weak dollar in the process.

On 31 August 2005, two JAS 39D two-seat Gripen multi-role fighters arrived at Cáslav Air Base in the Czech Republic after their one hour delivery flight from the Swedish Defence Material Administration (FMV) facility near Linköping. The aircraft were flown by FMV pilots.
The two dual seat aircraft are the final deliveries joining 12 single-seat version delivered from April 2005 onwards. The total of 14 aircraft are leased by the Czech Republic for a ten year period, after which they become property of the Czech Republic.
Czech Gripens have accumulated about 300 hours to date since the first aircraft arrived, and taken over the air defence task. The second class of Czech Air Force pilots have arrived in Sweden for their conversion training on the Gripen.

Russia plans to offer the MiG-35 fighter in India's tender for the acquisition of about 125 new multi-role fighter aircraft to replace the Indian Air Force MiG-21 fleet. The MiG-35 is offered along with technology transfer for indigenous production in India.
RAC MiG recently introduced the MiG-35 designation to market its latest MiG-29 derivative. The MiG-35 consists of the MiG-29OVT fitted with thrust vectoring control (TVC) and incorporates all features of the MiG-29M/M2 fighters.
Other candidates for the IAF tender include the F-16 Advanced Block 50/52, F/A-18 Super Hornet, Mirage 2000-5, Saab Gripen. All are modern multi-role combat aircraft featuring the latest weapons technology and in-flight refuelling capability, the MiG-35 however will be the only one offered with TVC and super-manoeuvrability similar to the Sukhoi Su-30MKI.

On August 17th, Boeing delivered the first AH-64D Apache Longbow to the U.S. government for its Foreign Military Sales contract with Kuwait for the purchase of 16 AH-64D attack helicopters. The aircraft will remain in the USA until next year undergoing a series of qualification tests.
Maintenance personnel from Kuwait are currently in the U.S. for training, and will be followed by Kuwaiti pilots later this year. No firm in-country delivery schedule or contract details have been announced.
Kuwait's ministry of defense initially signed a letter of offer and acceptance with the DoD in 2002, making Kuwait the seventh international defense force to select the AH-64D and the 11th Apache customer worldwide.

On August 16th, Embraer announced the delivery of three specially configured Legacy Executive Jets to the Indian government. India ordered five aircraft with options for two more. Two of the Legacys delivered will serve the Indian Air Force and one will serve India’s Border Security Force. Embraer is expected to have delivered the remaining two aircraft by October this year.
The Legacy jet is Embraer's corporate variant in the ERJ-145 family derived from the widely used ERJ-135 aircraft. The Legacy Jet can carry up to 16 passenger in business-class comfort, and the Indian examples are specially equipped for authority transportation.

South Korea is to sell its F-5A/B fleet at a symbolic price of $100 per unit. The nearly 40-year old F-5A/B jets will be retired from service this month. Korea currently has about 50 F-5A/Bs, half of which are used for educational and demonstrational purposes. The remainder may be offered to foreign nations including Mexico and Poland. The virtual donation is believed to be part of a sales strategy to export KT-1 and T-50 supersonic trainers developed and produced by KAI to the foreign nations.
South Korea acquired 120 F-5A/B fighter jets from the United States in the late 1960s and it was the first supersonic fighter of the Korean Air Force. The US first needs to approve a possible sale. In the past, South Korea also sold F-5A/Bs to the Philipines at $100 per aircraft.

On August 4th, Lockheed Martin formally delivered the first F-16 Block 50 to the Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO) at a ceremony at Forth Worth, Texas. The aircraft is the first of 12 new F-16s to be produced for Oman.
In May 2002, the Sultanate of Oman signed an agreement with the U.S. government to purchase 12 Advanced Block 50 F-16s in the Peace A’sama A’safiya (Clear Skies) Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. The agreement includes eight single-seat F-16Cs and four two-seat F-16Ds, powered by the General Electric F110-GE-129 engine.
The first Oman F-16 is a two-seat F-16D model and was accepted by the U.S. government (as agent for Oman in the FMS process) on July 19, one month ahead of schedule. The first single-seat F-16C version will fly in August and be accepted in September. These two aircraft will be ferried to Oman in mid-October to support the 35th National Day celebrations on November 18. The remainder of the aircraft will be ferried to Oman during 2006.

On 28 July 2005, the first production MH-60R completed its maiden flight at the Sikorsky Aircraft facility. The aircraft flew a total of 1.5 hours and performed the entire flight acceptance profile, which included flight control checks, vibration measurements and engine power checks, without incident.
The Sikorsky MH-60R is the US Navy's next generation submarine hunter and surface attack helicopter. It will replace the fleet's legacy SH-60B and SH-60F aircraft. The Navy is expected to order as many as 254 MH-60R aircraft through 2015, with production quantities increasing to 30 aircraft per year.
MH-60R test aircraft completed a six-month Techinical Evaluation by the US Navy in February 2005. Since May, the 'Romeo' has been in Operational Evaluation (OPEVAL) with VX-1, based at Patuxent River. OPEVAL is expected to complete in September, after which introduction into the fleet and full-rate production will follow.

The Bush administration has approved an initial shipment to Pakistan of two older but refurbished F-16s. A larger sale of newer fighter planes is still in the works. The sale of F-16s to Pakistan had been blocked since 1990 because of Pakistan's nuclear program. The U.S. changed its policy and declared Pakistan a major U.S. ally following Pakistan's support in the War on Terror.

The United States Army has awarded Textron's Bell Helicopter a $2.2 billion contract for the delivery of 368 Armed Reconnaissance Helicopters (ARH). The ARH will replace the OH-58D Kiowa Warrier in service with the U.S. Army since 1985. Delivery will take place during fiscal years 2006 through 2013.
The Bell ARH is a military version of the Bell 407 single engine light helicopter. It will feature a modern glass cockpit, FLIR and can carry Gatling guns, rockets, Hellfire missiles or up to 38 APKWS (?) tubes. In addition to the two pilots it can carry three passengers.

On 15 July 2005, the Fuerza Aerea de Chile (Chilean Air Force) signed a Declaration of Intent (DOI) with Airbus Military under which it indicates its intention to purchase up to three A400M military transport aircraft.
A detailed contract is planned to be signed by December 2005. A firm order is expected for two or three aircraft and options for three more to replace Chile's current fleet of six C-130B/H Hercules aircraft. The DOI provides for Chile to take delivery between 2018 and 2022 and to benefit from industrial participation.
Chile preferred the A400M over the C-130J because of its larger payload and troop carrying participation. The A400M programme has gained orders for 180 aircraft by seven European nations and will fly in 2008 with deliveries starting in 2009. Chile follows South Africa is becoming export customer for the new military airlifter.

Lockheed Martin has formally received the contract to start the development of the systems upgrade for Turkish Air Force F-16 fighters. The long-lead contract ,signed on 20 July, is valued at $67.7 million and will be followed by the total contract valued at $800 million expected to be signed in mid 2006. The Foreign Military Sale titled Peace Onyx III includes kits for kits for 37 Block 30s, 76 Block 50s and four Block 40s with an option for 100 more Block 40 upgrade kits, which will bring the aircraft to one common avionics configuration.
The Turkish configuration being integrated consists of the APG-68(V)9 multimode radar (currently being installed on new Advanced Block 50/52 F-16s), color cockpit displays and recorders, new core avionics processors, the Joint Helmet-Mounted Cueing System, Link 16 data link, advanced interrogator/transponder, integrated precision navigation, an upgraded version of the Self-Protection Electronic Warfare System (SPEWS II) and compatibility with a number of new weapons and targeting systems.

The NH90 serial production is rapidly progressing today with more than 40 NH90 on assembly lines in France, Germany, Italy and Finland. Currently a total of 357 helicopters have been ordered plus options for 86 and order for 45 more are expected. 17 armed forces of 13 countries selected the medium helicopter as its next tactical transport, medevac or naval helicopters.
On 13 July 2005, the first NH90 destined for the Greek army made its maiden flight from the Eurocopter Marignane facility. It is the sixth serial production aircraft to fly, following NH90s for Germany, Finland, Italy and Sweden. On 23 August 2003, Greece placed an order for total of 16 NH90 Tactical Transport and 4 NH90 Special Operation variants for its Special Forces, with options for 12 more Tactical Transports and 2 more Special Operation. Delivery will have commenced by late 2005 and be ultimately completed in 2010 (including options).
Another first on 13 July 2005, was the maiden flight of the first NH90 assembled by Patria Aviation, see photo. The Finnish company Patria is subcontracted by Eurcopter to assemble 50 NH90s using modules and components supplied by NH Industries partners: Eurocopter (France/Germany), Agusta (Italy) and Fokker Stork (the Netherlands).
Earlier, we also reported NH90 contracts by Australia and Spain, maiden flights of the first Swedish high cabin version and the first Italian Army example. See the News Archive.

MILAVIA - MILITARY AVIATION