Category: Military & Defense

The Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) and Lufthansa Technik have signed a contract regarding the equipment of two brand-new Airbus A321neoLRs (Long Range) for the German Air Force. The aircraft are scheduled to arrive at Lufthansa Technik in Hamburg in August and October 2021, where they will be multifunctionally equipped for various missions. Lufthansa Technik’s VIP & Special Mission Aircraft Services business unit will prepare the two aircraft for various types of missions such as troop transport and the MedEvac role (medical evacuation). With the appropriate installations, the aircraft can be used in 18 Read more

Airbus’ A330 Multi Role Tanker Transports (MRTTs) are now being outfitted for their multi-mission duties in an optimized industrial process – enabling five aircraft to undergo the conversion every year. The A330 MRTT is based on Airbus’ popular A330 widebody passenger airliner, with the aircraft produced on the company’s commercial airplane final assembly line in Toulouse, France. Once their initial built-up is complete, they are flown to Airbus’ military aircraft facility in Getafe, Spain to be transformed with hardware and systems for their dual roles as an air-to-air refueling platform and an airlifter for troops and cargo. During the conversion, Read more

Lockheed Martin, the Joint Program Office, and the U.S. Air Force have successfully connected the F-35, F-22, F-16 and E3 Sentry in a highly contested simulated environment during a Distributed Mission Training final acceptance test at Nellis AFB, Nevada. This simulated training event was the first time these platforms were connected virtually. Additional platforms such as the F-15 can also connect into this shared virtual environment. The F-35 DMT capability creates interoperability across military platforms for continuation training and large force exercises. The initial delivery at Nellis AFB is a major step forward as it establishes the framework for F-35 Read more

GKN Aerospace has signed a follow-on Performance Based Logistics (PBL) contract with the Swedish Armed Forces for the provision of comprehensive support for the GKN Aerospace RM12 engine. The RM12 engine powers the JAS 39 Gripen C/D fighter. This contract follows a series of multi-year RM12 PBL agreements and is expected to be worth approximately US$440 million. Under the agreement, GKN Aerospace will continue its support for the day-to-day operations of JAS 39 Gripen C/D users. The company will ensure engine availability for every Swedish Air Force mission as well as for Gripen C/D export customers: the Czech Republic, Hungary Read more

Embraer has delivered the third multi-mission medium airlift C-390 Millennium in the series to the Brazilian Air Force (FAB). The aircraft will be operated by First Troop Transport Group (1st GGT). Similar to the first two units delivered in 2019 and the additional 25 which will be delivered to the FAB, this third unit is prepared to perform aerial refueling missions, with the KC-390 Millennium designation. The C-390 Millennium was developed as a joint project between the Brazilian Air Force and Embraer to set new standards for efficiency and productivity in its category, while delivering the lowest life-cycle cost in Read more

FMV (Swedish Defence Materiel Administration) has contracted GKN Aerospace Sweden to continue biofuel testing of the RM12 engine. The biofuel for this test is an ATJ (alcohol to jet)-SKA developed and manufactured by Swedish Biofuels AB. The test is part of a bilateral biojet-project collaboration between FMV and USAF/NAVAIR, which started in October 2013 and will be completed in the fall of 2020. GKN Aerospace Sweden is Type Certificate holder for the RM12 engine and has reviewed fuel specifications and material compatibility for all fuel-wetted components in the engine in order to ensure safe engine operation during this test. Performing Read more

Boeing has delivered the first two F/A-18 Block III Super Hornets to the U.S. Navy for flight testing. One jet is a single-seat E model and the other is a two-seat F model. The Navy will use the aircraft to familiarize pilots with the advanced cockpit system’s new 10-inch-by-19-inch touchscreen display and test the capabilities delivered with the enhanced network capability. In addition to these enhancements, the Block III configuration adds capability upgrades that include longer range, reduced radar signature and an enhanced communication system. The fighter’s life will also be extended from 6,000 hours to 10,000 hours.