Military Aviation News from around the world - III

[Tango III]

2009 U.S. Army Aviation Accidents Costly

So far, 2009 is shaping up to be a costlier year for U.S. Army aviation accidents and incidents, according to an Aerospace DAILY analysis of data provided by the Army Combat Readiness/Safety Center (USACRC).

The average cost per accident or incident for this calendar year was about $220,178 as of July 28, the last date for which data were provided, compared to about $176,638 for all of 2008, the analysis shows.

“As the Army aviation fleet continues to transform to a more high-tech and lethal force, and [given] the inflationary growth in the cost of these aircraft and the resulting costs associated with mishaps, the cost of operating and fixing Army aircraft has increased,” said Lt. Col. David Fleckenstein, director of USACRC’s Air Task Force.

The maximum single-event cost for that time period was about $26.5 million. The average cost per an accident or incident for the more than 30,000 aviation mishaps over the past three decades was about $539,000, the analysis shows, with a maximum single-event cost of about $62.4 million. (See charts pp. 6-7.)

At the same time, there have been eight fatalities as of late July for 2009, compared to 10 for all of 2008, the analysis shows. Over the past three decades, army aviation mishaps have lead to 2,874 deaths.

Army aviation accidents or incidents have proved more survivable this year and in 2008, compared to the rest of the decade. The number of fatalities spiked 875%, from eight in 2000 to 78 in 2001, after the war on terror started, the analysis shows. After that, fatalities for the remainder of the decade hovered near or at the top of the rankings of per-year costs over the past three decades.

Previously, many of the most expensive and fatal years were during peacetime. Indeed, analysis earlier this decade by the Congressional Research Service showed that peacetime proved a bit more dangerous when it came to military aviation accidents. Now, however, there have been more fatal or costly accidents as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have worn on.

From Jan. 1, 2008 through July 28, 2009, the costliest location for Army aviation incidents was Iraq, with about $78.4 million, followed closely by Afghanistan with $75.6 million.

But as this year’s cost figures show, Afghanistan is quickly outstripping Iraq as the costliest region. Last year, the Army reported about $72.3 million due to aviation mishaps in Iraq and about $44 million in Afghanistan. But as of July 28 of this year, the service showed only about $6 million from mishaps in Iraq, while reporting about $31.7 million for Afghanistan.

Operations in both countries have been particularly burdensome on Army helicopters. But “in Afghanistan you have even more of a helicopter war,” said Richard Aboulafia, vice president of the Teal Group. “You have these great distances in remote areas using small units.”

Moreover, he said, the Army aviation units in Afghanistan are paying for the high-tempo work they did in Iraq. “The forces were stretched thin as Iraq played out,” Aboulafia said. “They didn’t have a reset break.”

Thus far for fiscal year 2009, the total costs of the accidents and incidents in all countries totaled about $87.1 million, compared to $136.5 million for all of fiscal 2008, the analysis shows. The total over the past three decades has been about $16.4 billion.

The worst year over the past three decades for Army aviation accident and incident costs was fiscal 2005, for which the service reported about $407.9 million. For each of fiscal years 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007 and 2004 — in order of descending cost — the Army reported between $282.2 million and $337.3 million.

Last year’s tally is the ninth highest in the past three decades, according to the analysis. The total as of July 28 for 2009 already places it among the top 20 for total year tallies, the analysis shows. By comparison, the least amount the Army reported, besides the truncated 2008 amount, is $18.9 million in 1974 and then $19.8 million in 1973.

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/gener...dents%20Costly

[Tango III]

Related News:

The Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) presented the export version of its turboprop basic trainer KT-1 Woongbi for Turkey, a launching ceremony in Sacheon, province of South Gyeongsang The ceremony coincided with the Seoul International Aerospace & Defense Exhibition (ADEX) 2009.

[fulcrum-aholic]

[quote=Tango III;1478943]2009 U.S. Army Aviation Accidents Costly

So far, 2009 is shaping up to be a costlier year for U.S. Army aviation accidents and incidents, according to an Aerospace DAILY analysis of data provided by the Army Combat Readiness/Safety Center (USACRC).

The average cost per accident or incident for this calendar year was about $220,178 as of July 28, the last date for which data were provided, compared to about $176,638 for all of 2008, the analysis shows.

“As the Army aviation fleet continues to transform to a more high-tech and lethal force, and [given] the inflationary growth in the cost of these aircraft and the resulting costs associated with mishaps, the cost of operating and fixing Army aircraft has increased,” said Lt. Col. David Fleckenstein, director of USACRC’s Air Task Force.

The maximum single-event cost for that time period was about $26.5 million. The average cost per an accident or incident for the more than 30,000 aviation mishaps over the past three decades was about $539,000, the analysis shows, with a maximum single-event cost of about $62.4 million. (See charts pp. 6-7.)

At the same time, there have been eight fatalities as of late July for 2009, compared to 10 for all of 2008, the analysis shows. Over the past three decades, army aviation mishaps have lead to 2,874 deaths.

Army aviation accidents or incidents have proved more survivable this year and in 2008, compared to the rest of the decade. The number of fatalities spiked 875%, from eight in 2000 to 78 in 2001, after the war on terror started, the analysis shows. After that, fatalities for the remainder of the decade hovered near or at the top of the rankings of per-year costs over the past three decades.

Previously, many of the most expensive and fatal years were during peacetime. Indeed, analysis earlier this decade by the Congressional Research Service showed that peacetime proved a bit more dangerous when it came to military aviation accidents. Now, however, there have been more fatal or costly accidents as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have worn on.

From Jan. 1, 2008 through July 28, 2009, the costliest location for Army aviation incidents was Iraq, with about $78.4 million, followed closely by Afghanistan with $75.6 million.

But as this year’s cost figures show, Afghanistan is quickly outstripping Iraq as the costliest region. Last year, the Army reported about $72.3 million due to aviation mishaps in Iraq and about $44 million in Afghanistan. But as of July 28 of this year, the service showed only about $6 million from mishaps in Iraq, while reporting about $31.7 million for Afghanistan.

Operations in both countries have been particularly burdensome on Army helicopters. But “in Afghanistan you have even more of a helicopter war,” said Richard Aboulafia, vice president of the Teal Group. “You have these great distances in remote areas using small units.”

Moreover, he said, the Army aviation units in Afghanistan are paying for the high-tempo work they did in Iraq. “The forces were stretched thin as Iraq played out,” Aboulafia said. “They didn’t have a reset break.”

Thus far for fiscal year 2009, the total costs of the accidents and incidents in all countries totaled about $87.1 million, compared to $136.5 million for all of fiscal 2008, the analysis shows. The total over the past three decades has been about $16.4 billion.

The worst year over the past three decades for Army aviation accident and incident costs was fiscal 2005, for which the service reported about $407.9 million. For each of fiscal years 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007 and 2004 — in order of descending cost — the Army reported between $282.2 million and $337.3 million.

Last year’s tally is the ninth highest in the past three decades, according to the analysis. The total as of July 28 for 2009 already places it among the top 20 for total year tallies, the analysis shows. By comparison, the least amount the Army reported, besides the truncated 2008 amount, is $18.9 million in 1974 and then $19.8 million in 1973.

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/gener...dents%20Costly

[/QUOTE

While flipping channels I missed a news excerpt of a helicopter crash in an airshow not related to the subject above. The attack chopper?! made a left sharp turn and only to crash to the ground. I only managed to see the crash at the end of the report. Any ideas from where that happened?!

[Insig]

An Ecadorian Druv went down during low pass... Pilots safe!

[Tango III]

And this is a report

Helicopter crashes in Eucador air show

Two helicopter pilots have been hospitalised after a spectacular crash during a military parade in Eucador.

The recently purchased Dhruv helicopter was flying in formation with two other choppers over an air force base near Quito when it suddenly veered off course and slammed into the ground.

"The two crew members managed to get out by their own means and were taken to hospital," air force general Leonardo Barreiro told local media.

"Their condition is apparently good."

Ecuadorian Vice President Lenin Moreno was among those attending the air show, to mark the 89th anniversary of Eucador's air force, when the sudden crash plunged the carefully choreographed event into chaos.

Local authorities have grounded another six Dhruv choppers, recently purchased from India for $50 million, as they probe the exact cause of the crash.

The helicopters include one used by President Rafael Correa.

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/world/921...cador-air-show

[Tango III]

Rheinmetall Defence and Israel Aerospace Industries to Provide ISR Services for German Armed Forces in Afghanistan

Rheinmetall Defence and the German Federal Office of Defense Technology and Procurement (Bundesamt für Wehrtechnik und Beschaffung – BWB) signed a service provider contract today to provide the German Bundeswehr with intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities through the deployment of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system.

This bridges the gap prior to the “SAATEG (System zur Abbildenden Aufklärung in der Tiefe des Einsatzgebietes)” acquisition programme. Under the current multimillion-euro contract, the Bundeswehr will lease the UAV system for one year with an option for a two year-extension.

This SAATEG Interim Solution programme will significantly contribute to comprehensive situational awareness within the scope of networked command and control in Northern Afghanistan, a region for which Germany is responsible, by providing wide area real-time reconnaissance and surveillance data for German ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) troops.

Flight operations will commence by mid March 2010.

Compared to UAV systems currently in service with the Bundeswehr, the UAV system to be deployed is capable of covering a substantially larger footprint, while its high-performance sensors can provide reconnaissance data at even severe weather conditions.

Rheinmetall Defence and its partner Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) will provide IAI’s Heron MALE (Medium Altitude Long Endurance) UAV system, including full in-theatre logistical and maintenance services performed by Rheinmetall Defence.

Missions of the UAV-System will be performed and controlled by Bundeswehr personnel.

“Following the deployment of Rheinmetall’s KZO tactical UAV system by the German Army in Afghanistan earlier this year, SAATEG is set to make another important contribution to protecting our soldiers and their allies as they carry out their vital mission”, declares Heinz Dresia, Member of the Executive Board of Rheinmetall Defence, adding that “Rheinmetall’s responsibility for performing the complete package of service, repairs and maintenance for the SAATEG system positions us as a competent full-service supplier of logistic services in the field of aerial reconnaissance systems.”

Itzhak Nissan, President and CEO of IAI, said: "We are proud to provide along with Rheinmetall our operationally proven UAV systems to the German Armed Forces. Our fruitful cooperation with Rheinmetall allows for the integration of the two companies' capabilities to the benefit of both of our customers, and presents new marketing opportunities of UAVs and other airborne systems."

The Heron UAV can carry a wide variety of sensors and information systems for gathering data for intelligence analysis to protect the friendly forces during operations in theatre. Depending on its mission configuration, the sensor package provided to the German Armed Forces includes a day/night electro-optical and SAR payload.

By utilizing satellite communications the system covers the whole area of operations of the German ISAF contingent. With a wingspan of 16.6 meters and a takeoff weight of 1,200 kg, the Heron can reach an altitude of 30,000 feet and can loiter for over 24 hours.

The Canadian, Australian and French Armed Forces are already relying on the Heron as one of their main ISR sources in Afghanistan.

All logistical and maintenance services for the German Heron system will be performed by Rheinmetall Defence, which will operate a 24/7 maintenance and support centre in the theatre.


One of the most respected and best-known names in the international defence and security industry, Rheinmetall Defence is the defence technology arm of the globespanning Rheinmetall Group of Dusseldorf, Germany. Rheinmetall Defence has some 9,000 employees worldwide and generates annual sales of approximately EUR 1.8 billion.

As Europe’s leading supplier of systems and equipment for ground forces, the company offers a wide array of platforms and components. Rheinmetall Defence is synonymous with longstanding experience and innovation in the development and production of armoured vehicles, weapons and ammunition as well as air defence products and defence electronics. But its expertise also extends to air force and naval applications and homeland security technology.

Rheinmetall Defence’s KZO tactical UAV system has been in operation in Afghanistan with the German armed forces since mid 2009.

MALAT division of IAI’s Military Aircraft Group spearheads the design and manufacture of unmanned aircraft vehicles (UAVs) systems. MALAT offers a family of systems that vary in size, endurance, mission profile and onboard sensors, covering the full spectrum of operational requirements by providing micro and mini systems as well as tactical and Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) systems.

MALAT’s systems are in operational service with more than 40 worldwide customers deployed on four continents and have accumulated over 500,000 flight hours.

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/art...hanistan.html#

[Tango III]

PICTURES: Pakistan's first Saab 2000 AEW aircraft enters final testing



Pakistan's first of five Saab 2000-based airborne early warning and control aircraft has entered final system testing in Sweden, with the work having already demonstrated the capabilities of its integrated self-protection equipment.

Islamabad became the launch - and so far only - military customer for a Saab 2000 derivative when it signed a deal for the Saab Microwave Systems Erieye radar-equipped type in June 2006. Its first example made its flight debut from Saab's Linköping site in mid-2008.

Saab in early October announced the start of final system tests for Pakistan, and says its first aircraft will be flown to the country later this year to expand the work. The latter process will assess the "aircraft, radar, command and control system, communications and live situation picture into the Pakistan air force's command and control ground environment", it says.

Recent tests conducted in Sweden have included the release of flares intended to protect the modified regional turboprop against missile attack.

Saab has previously said that the AEW configuration developed for Pakistan includes five on-board operator stations, with the surveillance aircraft to have an operating ceiling of over 30,000ft (9,150m) and a mission endurance approaching 10h.

The Swedish manufacturer is promoting the AEW version of its Saab 2000 to other potential future customers, and is also offering to supply further variants of the type configured for tasks including maritime patrol and signals intelligence.

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles...rFriendly=true

[fulcrum-aholic]

Originally Posted by Tango III

And this is a report

Helicopter crashes in Eucador air show

Two helicopter pilots have been hospitalised after a spectacular crash during a military parade in Eucador.

The recently purchased Dhruv helicopter was flying in formation with two other choppers over an air force base near Quito when it suddenly veered off course and slammed into the ground.

"The two crew members managed to get out by their own means and were taken to hospital," air force general Leonardo Barreiro told local media.

"Their condition is apparently good."

Ecuadorian Vice President Lenin Moreno was among those attending the air show, to mark the 89th anniversary of Eucador's air force, when the sudden crash plunged the carefully choreographed event into chaos.

Local authorities have grounded another six Dhruv choppers, recently purchased from India for $50 million, as they probe the exact cause of the crash.

The helicopters include one used by President Rafael Correa.

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/world/921...cador-air-show

At least both the crew members were okay. Yep, that's the one I was looking for...

[Tango III]

Morocco requests three CH-47Ds

Pentagon Contract Announcements

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress today of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Morocco of three Boeing CH-47D helicopters for an estimated cost of $134 million.

http://www.dsca.mil/PressReleases/36...occo_09-53.pdf

[Tango III]

J-10S, the White Rabbit Candy.*

"August First" flight demonstration team to fly J-10 aircraft

Here is SOC's view on the new demo bird.

AAMs could be there for balance issues. J-10s seem to almost always be carrying PL-8s out there. Even the J-10B had them fitted when it first appeared in primer. Drop tank could be where the chemicals for the smoke effect are stored. In the Thunderbirds F-16 the 20mm gun and ammo can were removed for the "smoke tank", a solution which probably wouldn't work as well on the J-10 given the different gun layout and fitting. Twin-seats isn't a big deal either, it's common for display teams to use them for carrying photographers, training crews, and even handing out VIP rides.

"August First" flight demonstration team to fly J-10 aircraft

(Source: Mod.gov.cn) 2009-10-28

　　The reporters learned from relevant department of the Air Force of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) that the “August First” flight demonstration team of the PLA Air Force which took the lead in flying over the Tian’anmen Square during the military parade in honor of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China is to change its aircraft with type J-10 fighters independently developed and designed by China. And the J-10 fighters will also adopt a new coating. This is the 4th time for the team to adopt a new coating since its establishment.

　　It’s introduced that the coated marks mainly include national flag, army emblem, aircraft emblem, words of CHINA AIR FORCE, team emblem, aircraft number, flight formation and maintenance as well as warning marks (sign and symbol). The coating has distinct characteristics and “China Air Force” is the theme of the whole scheme. The national flag coated on the vertical tail, the words of “CHINA AIR FORCE” coated in the mid part of the aircraft body and the aircraft emblem coated on the aerofoil all reflect the feature of PLA Air Force and have obvious representation. The “arrow-shaped” pattern designed in combination with the aeronautic appearance and the “Flying” mark on the underside symbolize that the PLA Air Force is developing rapidly. Blue, white and red colors are used in the coating with blue color as the main hue, for blue is the universal color adopted by most top flight demonstration teams in the world. The coating well inherited the coating style of the type J-7EB/GB demonstration fighters with harmonious color which is concise, lively, solemn, artistic and easy to distinguish.

http://china-defense.blogspot.com/20...bit-candy.html

http://www.mod.gov.cn/photo/2009-10/...nt_4098481.htm

[Tango III]

Russia offers helicopters for NATO operations in Afghanistan

BRUSSELS, October 28 (RIA Novosti) - Russia could supply helicopters for NATO-led operations in Afghanistan, an executive at the state hi-tech corporation Russian Technology said on Wednesday.

"We are prepared on commercial terms to provide the NATO coalition forces with helicopters of different types," the company's deputy general director, Dmitry Shugayev, told reporters.

Shugayev said the coalition forces were experiencing helicopter shortages in Afghanistan. He also said Russia could train crews for the helicopters.

In June, Russia and NATO agreed to restart cooperation on security issues, frozen after Russia fought a brief war with ex-Soviet Georgia in August 2008.

Russia's envoy to NATO said last week the first formal Russia-NATO Council ministerial meeting since the Georgia conflict may be held in early December.

Shugayev also said that taking into account "political difficulties" in relations with the military bloc, it would be simpler for Russia to cooperate with individual NATO countries on a bilateral basis than with the alliance as a whole.

"Bilateral cooperation could demonstrate that cooperation [between Russia and NATO] is possible in principle and could be beneficial," he said.

http://en.rian.ru/russia/20091028/156627382.html

[Tango III]

11 airmen survived 2006 confrontation in Sudan

Trapped in Sudan: 11 airmen in an HC-130 ‘taxi’ run. 150 Sudanese soldiers with weapons. It added up to trouble.

One senior airman threw his weight against the door of the HC-130 King as 150 armed Sudanese soldiers surrounded the search-and-rescue plane. He and the 16 other crew members had their orders from the State Department — “If someone comes on the plane, shoot ’em.”

What started out as “taxi duty” to pick up a U.S. military liaison in the Darfur region was now stretching into a five-hour confrontation between the Americans and the Sudanese. The soldiers were convinced the airmen were at the airfield to collect evidence of war crimes, not fly a husband back to his pregnant wife.

The classified Air Force mission nearly cost the 11 airmen and six Guam National Guardsmen their lives and could have launched the U.S. into another armed conflict if they hadn’t kept their cool.

The confrontation happened three years ago but is coming to light only now because eight of the 11 airmen on board received valor medals this summer for their actions.

for complet story here

[Tango III]

2 Mi-171 to Ecuador

Google on - line translate:

Russia sells Ecuador military transport helicopters

Russia will deliver to Ecuador, two military transport helicopter Mi-171SH helicopter, reports ITAR-TASS. The agreement was signed in Moscow on Thursday, October 29. In addition, the presidents of Russia and Ecuador Dmitry Medvedev and Rafael Correa signed a declaration on strategic partnership between the two countries.
Dmitry Medvedev said that the new contract for the supply of helicopters is the beginning of cooperation between Russia and Venezuela in the military-technical field. "I believe that here in our countries have prospects", - Putin said.

Results of the negotiations was signed seven documents. Among them intergovernmental agreements on cooperation in the field of atomic energy for peaceful purposes and mutual assistance in customs matters, as well as memorandums on cooperation in the energy sector and joint action for the development of communication technologies.

Multi-purpose Mi-171 helicopter is the export version of Mi-8MTV. It can carry up to 37 fully equipped paratroopers or up to four tons of cargo in the cargo hold or on external sling. MI-171 is considered one of the most successful Russian helicopters in its class. It can reach speeds of up to 250 kilometers per hour and fly to a distance of 650 kilometers.

http://lenta.ru/news/2009/10/29/helicopter/

[Tango III]

Coast Guard: Navy chopper crashes off Calif. coast

SAN CLEMENTE ISLAND, Calif. – The U.S. Coast Guard says a Navy helicopter has crashed into the sea off the Southern California coast.

Petty Officer Henry Dunphy says the Navy reported the crash at about 7 p.m. Thursday. The helicopter went down about 17 miles east of San Clemente Island, the farthest south of the Channel Islands.

Coast Guard and Navy vessels are searching for the helicopter.

Dunphy didn't immediately say how many people were on the helicopter or release any other details on the crash.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091030/...licopter_crash

Military plane, helicopter collide off SoCal coast

LOS ANGELES – The U.S. Coast Guard and Navy were searching for as many as nine people off the Southern California coast following a collision between a Coast Guard plane and a Marine Corps helicopter, officials said.

A pilot reported seeing a fireball near where the aircraft collided, Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor said.

The crash was reported at 7:10 p.m., about 50 miles off the San Diego County coast and 15 miles east of San Clemente Island, Coast Guard spokeswoman Petty Officer Allyson Conroy said.

Cpl Michael Stevens, a spokesman for the Miramar Marine Corps Air Station, confirmed an AH-1W Super Cobra helicopter had gone down, but he had no further information. He said it belonged to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing stationed at Camp Pendleton.

The Coast Guard informed the FAA that debris from a C-130 had been spotted, Gregor said. Seven people were on board the C-130 and two people were aboard the helicopter, Gregor said. The C-130 is a long-range surveillance and transport, fixed-wing aircraft that is used to perform a variety of missions.

The Coast Guard said it sent three cutters and diverted an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter to the area to search for survivors, while the Navy sent four vessels and multiple helicopters.

Earlier this week, it was an AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter that collided with a UH-1 helicopter over southern Afghanistan, killing four American troops and wounding two more, a Marine spokesman said.

San Clemente Island is the southernmost of the eight Channel Islands located 68 nautical miles west of San Diego. The Navy has owned and trained at San Clemente Island since 1934, according to the island's Web site. Naval Air Station, North Island is responsible for the island's administration.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091030/...lsaXRhcnlwbGFu

[Tango III]

Navy Loses Communication with T-34 Training Aircraft

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (NNS) -- Naval Air Station Corpus Christi air traffic control tower lost contact with a T-34C Turbomentor aircraft at approximately 3:20 p.m. Oct. 28.

The aircraft and two pilots aboard are assigned to Training Air Wing 4 based out of NAS Corpus Christi, Texas.

Local Coast Guard surface and airborne assets are currently conducting a search near Port Lavaca, Texas. The aircraft was conducting routine training missions.

http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=49308

[Tango III]

Malaysia to consider fighter options once economy recovers

Malaysia plans to consider a variety of options for its medium multi-role fighter requirement once the direction of its economic fortunes becomes clearer.

"We are assessing whether to get the new jets from the United States, France, Sweden or Britain. The purchase will also depend on the country's economic recovery," says defence minister Zahid Hamidi.

Industry sources say the Royal Malaysian Air Force could assess the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, Dassault Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon and Saab Gripen if it decides to launch a competition. The selected type would replace some of its RSK MiG-29s and F/A-18Ds.

Kuala Lumpur wants to phase out its MiG-29s by the end of 2010, with Zahid saying the type's high maintenance costs - estimated at 17 million ringgit ($5 million) per aircraft annually - is the main reason for the decision. The air force's Sukhoi Su-30MKMs will take over the roles currently performed by the MiG-29.

"The government will save 260 million ringgit per year in maintenance costs, and these savings will be used to maintain other types of aircraft in the air force inventory," says Zahid. "Malaysia bought the MiG-29s at a relatively low price, but later on had to contend with higher expenses in spare parts replacement and maintenance work."

Separately, Malaysia's government has increased the air force's budget for the coming fiscal year, despite a 10% drop in its overall defence budget. The service will get 1.61 billion ringgit, up from 1.48 billion ringgit. Most of this sum will go towards paying for its 18 Su-30MKMs, and to finance the purchase of 12 utility helicopters.

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles...-recovers.html

[Tango III]

Tribe Finds Wreckage of Brazilian Military Plane

BRASILIA, Brazil - A Native American tribe discovered Oct. 30 the wreckage of a Brazilian military transport plane deep in the Amazonian jungle, but the fate of 11 people on board was unclear.

The Matis tribe found the plane, which disappeared Oct. 29, "in the middle of the Amazon jungle" between two rainforest villages, a statement from the Brazilian Air Force said.

Eight aircraft, including Black Hawk helicopters and an airborne radar plane, had been scouring the rainforest searching for the missing single-propeller C-98 Caravan transport plane.

The Caravan lost radio contact as it was flying from Cruzeiro do Sul, in northern Acre state, to Tabatinga in Amazonas, in far northwestern Brazil, the Brazilian Air Force said.

Four crew members and seven passengers were aboard the plane when it vanished.

Aviation expert Gustavo Cunha Mello told Globonews network said that the C-98 Caravan is a slow-flying plane and built in a way that would likely allow passengers and crew to survive if there was an emergency landing.

Among the aircraft in the search is an Embraer R99, an AWACS-type plane that carries a large radar on its back. The same plane in July found the remains of the Air France Airbus jet that crashed into the Atlantic, killing 228 people aboard.

The passengers aboard the Caravan plane belonged to a health team that included municipal workers undertaking an immunization campaign in indigenous communities, a spokesman for the National Health Foundation (FUNASA) in Cruzeiro do Sul said.

http://www.defensenews.com/story.php...75&c=AME&s=AIR

Found Caravan FAB - 9 survivors

The Air Force Command and the National Health Foundation reported that a C-105 aircraft of the Amazon 2 ° / 10 ° SEG located at 9.40 local time, the C-98 aircraft that had been missing since yesterday. Of eleven occupants of the plane, one is missing and there is evidence of a possible death. There are nine survivors who are doing well.

The aircraft landed at Ituí River, tributary of the Javari, between the villages Aurélio (Tribe of Matis) and New River (Tribe of Muruga). The C-98 was initially located by the Indians of the Matis tribe and the Brazilian Air Force sent to the local aircraft that were engaged in search operation.

The C-98 Caravan belongs to the 7th Airlift Squadron (7th ETA), based in Manaus (AM), and disappeared early Thursday (29/10) when he carried out a flight between the cities of Cruzeiro do Sul (AC) and Tabatinga (AM). Eleven people were on board, including four soldiers and seven civilians.

http://www.aereo.jor.br/2009/10/30/e...aravan-da-fab/

[Tango III]

Relateted News:

Ecuadorian Air Force received 3 Mirage-50 from Venezuela

Google on-line translate

The three Mirage 50 planes donated by the government of Venezuela are today on the Taura Air Base, on the Ecuadorian coast. The transfer operation of the aircraft was accompanied by high-Commander Aviation Venezuelan Gen. Gregorio Perez.

The information was confirmed to ANSA by the Ecuadorian Air Force. The aircraft were delivered in a special ceremony presided over by the Chief Air Operations Command and Defense of Ecuador, Alonso Espinosa.

The official assured that the aircraft will be used for operations in defense, since they are "pure interceptors. The aircraft, according to Spinoza, "are able to take off in two minutes to make any defense in any airplane that is flying in the sky Ecuador.

Ecuador has accepted the donation of six aircraft of the same model from Venezuela. The intention of the government of President Rafael Correa is to strengthen the fleet of its air force. In December, the country should receive the other aircraft.

The donation by the Venezuela has drawn criticism due to the fact that the planes were manufactured in late 1960, despite having gone through upgrades.

http://desastresaereosnews.blogspot....es-doados.html

[Tango III]

4 more F-22 for USAF

Pentagon Contract Announcements

(Source: U.S Department of Defense; issued October 29, 2009)

Lockheed Martin Corp., of Fort Worth, Texas was awarded a $474,200,000 contract which will provide for the issuance of full production of four F-22 Lot 10 air vehicles, alternate mission equipment, production engineering support and work in process through Aug. 11, 2009 for 16 shipsets of raw material aircraft fuselage titanium.

478 AESG/PK, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio is the contracting activity (FA8611-09-C-2900,P00007).

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/art...roduction.html

[Tango III]

Super Hornet favourite in Indian and Brazilian tenders

The Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is well placed to fulfil both the Indian and Brazilian fighter requirements, the company and its industry partners said on 28 October.

Boeing and its Team Super Hornet partners – Raytheon and General Electric (GE) – presented a broad-ranging review of the F/A-18E/F's position in both the Indian Air Force's (IAF's) Medium-Multirole Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) programme for 163 aircraft plus 63 options and the Brazilian Air Force's F-X2 tender for the first 36 of what is projected to be a total of 120 fighters.

Boeing stated that two major factors make the Super Hornet competitive in both markets: the first one being that the economies of scale that result from both the aircraft and its major subsystems are still hot (active) production lines and hence have steadily reduced the unit cost of the aircraft; the other is that the modular nature of the aircraft's sensors and propulsion system permit technology insertion that dramatically increases performance at minimal expense.

"The history of the F/A-18E/F's development has now seen a negative slope in terms of cost and a positive slope in terms of capability. For this reason we feel for the first time we are competing on even terms with the [Lockheed Martin] F-16 in terms of price," stated Boeing Military Aircraft IDS President Chris Chadwick.

Raytheon representatives, who also briefed during the New Delhi conference, emphasised that "Raytheon provided the first AESA [active electronically scanned array] radar sets to both the USAF [US Air Force] and USN [US Navy]", and that the company continues to leverage technological improvements across its product lines in improving the Super Hornet's AN/APG-79 radar.

http://www.janes.com/news/defence/jd...1030_2_n.shtml

[Tango III]

'One killed' in Indian military chopper crash

SRINAGAR, India — An Indian military helicopter crashed into a river in a southern district of disputed Kashmir Friday, killing one person, police said.

"An Indian air force Mi-17 helicopter has crashed in Doda district," a police spokesman said, adding one person was killed and three others on board are still missing.

"Both army and police rescue teams have reached the spot," he said.

Police said the chopper had taken off 15 minutes before the crash from the state winter capital Jammu and was on its way to Doda town.

The crash happened around 1pm (0730 GMT) on the fast-flowing glacier-fed river Chenab.

In July this year, a Hindu pilgrim was killed and five others hurt when a helicopter carrying worshippers to a Himalayan shrine crashed in Kashmir.

India's ageing air fleet is plagued by crashes.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp...N9wWYPrl2Kk-hQ

[Tango III]

TH-57 Helicopter Crashes in Florida

MILTON, Fla. (NNS) -- At 1:45 p.m. Oct. 30, a TH-57 Bell Jet Helicopter operated by two naval aviators crashed near Indian Ford Road, northeast of Milton, Fla.

The aviators and the helicopter are assigned to Training Air Wing 5 at Naval Air Station Whiting Field. The two aviators were not seriously injured but were transported to a hospital for evaluation.

There will be an investigation to determine the cause of the crash.

http://www.news.navy.mil/search/disp...story_id=49362

[Tango III]

F-35 total may be cut by half, report says

Rising costs, changing threats and rival aircraft — manned and unmanned — could cut nearly in half the number of F-35 Joint Strike Fighters that ultimately are built, a Dutch defense analyst said in a report to the Dutch parliament. And if fewer planes are built, the price for each, already $100 million or more, will undoubtedly increase, analyst Johan Boeder warned.

A “likely estimate” is that 2,500 F-35s eventually will be built, Boeder wrote in a report delivered to Dutch lawmakers in September. The Netherlands, one of nine countries financing the development of the F-35, was expected to buy 85 planes, but may cut that to 57, Boeder said.

If his overall forecast is correct, the number of F-35s built would be far fewer than the 4,500 or more that F-35-maker Lockheed Martin said it expects to sell. The U.S. military has even predicted that the market for F-35s could reach 6,000.

Lockheed dismisses Boeder’s forecast, saying that the company anticipates no drop in demand for F-35s.

“F-35 quantities have held steady for most of the decade,” Lockheed spokesman Chris Geisel said. “Year after year, the program has received strong political and budgetary support.”

Geisel said that “if F-35 numbers change, it is more likely that they will increase” than decrease. That’s because hundreds of current fighters are approaching retirement age, and nations beyond the nine countries that are F-35 partners are expressing interest in buying the aircraft, he said.

But U.S. defense analyst Barry Watts agreed that, ultimately, it is likely that only half of the planned F-35s will be built.

Watts, of the Washington-based Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, said history is against the F-35. In the four stealthy aircraft programs that preceded the F-35, the U.S. military declared a need for 2,378 planes, but ultimately bought only 267. Those programs were the F-117, A-12, B-2 and F-22.

Current plans call for the U.S. military to buy 2,443 F-35s, “but if history is any guide, I would not hold my breath waiting” for that many purchases to be completed. “I think the number is going to be about half of that,” said Watts, who is a retired Air Force combat pilot and former chief of the Pentagon’s Office of Program Analysis and Evaluation.

Watts said he expects the Air Force to buy 800 to 1,000 F-35s instead of the 1,763 in current service plans. The Air Force can get by with fewer F-35s because it has decided to keep its A-10s and F-15Es in service.

And the Navy is likely to reconsider its F-35 buys because the plane does not have adequate range to permit U.S. aircraft carriers to operate outside the range of area denial weapons being developed by China and other nations, Watts said.

Unmanned carrier-based aircraft are expected to offer the Navy much greater range, he said.

Geisel, Lockheed’s spokesman, said that the U.S. still intends to buy 2,443 F-35s, Britain plans to buy 138 and the seven other nations participating in the F-35 program plan to buy about 700. “There are no indications from any of the partner countries that they are going to trim back,” he said.

In addition to those 3,281, Lockheed expects to sell F-35s to Israel, Japan, South Korea and other customers. The total “could reach 4,500 or more,” Geisel said.

But Boeder, the Dutch analyst, said the U.S. commitment to the F-35 is already eroding.

Originally, the U.S. planned to buy 2,978 F-35s, but by 2005 had cut that number by more than 500. Since then, even lower numbers have been suggested. In 2007, Boeder said, the U.S. pushed acquisition of 515 F-35s far into the future — to between 2028 and 2035 — to ease funding problems. But Boeder said that move raises questions about whether the planes will ever be bought.

http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news...e_f35_103109w/

[Tango III]

Russian Interior Ministry plane crashes on takeoff, 11 killed

VLADIVOSTOK, November 1 (RIA Novosti) - A Russian Interior Ministry plane with eleven crewmembers on board crashed several minutes after taking off in Yakutia in the Far East, the Emergency Situations Ministry said Sunday.

"All eleven people died in the air crash," a spokesman for the ministry's regional center said.

The spokesman said the plane, an Il-76 Candid strategic airlifter, bound for the city of Irkutsk, fell and caught fire about three kilometers (1.9 miles) from Mirny airport. Seven crew as well as four members from a replacement crew had been on board.

Facilities on the ground were not damaged. An investigation is underway.

http://en.rian.ru/russia/20091101/156667385.html

[Tango III]

Related News:

Ecuador may return Indian helicopters after crash

MOSCOW, October 29 (RIA Novosti) - Ecuador could return six helicopters recently bought from an Indian company after one of the aircraft crashed at an air show last week, the Unverso newspaper reported on Thursday.

One of the seven Dhruv combat helicopters Ecuador had purchased from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited crashed during an air show in the Ecuadoran capital, Quito, last Saturday, injuring the pilot and co-pilot.

Ecuadoran Air Force chief Rodrigo Bohorquez was quoted as saying the contract allowed the return in the event of an irreparable fault.

A special commission is investigating the accident.

The rearmament of the Ecuadoran Air Force was announced in August. The Latin American country's government said it was ready to buy aircraft from Brazil and South Africa. In late September, Ecuadoran President Rafael Correa said combat aircraft from any nations, be it Venezuela, Colombia, the United States or Israel, would be welcome as gifts.

Venezuela has already given Ecuador six Mirage-50 planes it had substituted with more advanced Russian Sukhoi jets. Last year, Ecuador also received three Russian Mi-17 helicopters to carry out defense and patrol missions.

After Moscow talks between President Dmitry Medvedev and Correa on Thursday a contract was signed on the delivery of two Mi-171E helicopters.

http://en.rian.ru/world/20091029/156641113.html

[Tango III]

Another accident & sad news

Google on-line translate

Kani wreck found

After the Belarusian side of the border in the morning found a broken wreck of the Border Guard helicopter kite. None of the 3-member crew survived the crash.

Lost PZL Kania helicopter flew yesterday from Bialystok to Melnik. Border guards had lost communications with the helicopter about 17:38. The last contact with him in Czeremcha established institution. 17:55 The emergency services received a call about the outbreak in the area of the village Klukowicze. Helicopter wreckage was found, however, the Belarusian side, 200 meters from the border belt, near the town of Wyczółki. Pilot killed (with 15 years of experience), mechanic and observer.

In action, a search was involved about 200 people from police, fire, border guards and troops. Searched the belt 20 km long and the width of a kilometer along the border - near the village Klukowicze, Tokary and Wyczółki. Action was also conducted on the Byelorussian.

As long as allowed by the conditions in the action involved a helicopter Nadbużańskiego Border Guards Division. Air Rescue helicopter, which flew around 20:00 from Warsaw, had to turn back because of the mist into the database.

Wrecked helicopter PZL Swidnik produced in 2006. His purchase of the Border Guard has been subsidized by the European Union from PHARE funds. 4 PZL Kania supplied Border Guard in 2006 were the last copies of the production of the helicopter.

The overall picture of the state of aviation security police and Border Guard was considered far too good. In 2007, one event where the airline accounted for more than 360 flight hours, which was the second, the civil aviation, resulting in the entire Polish Air Force (Fly and do not complain!). In 2007, there has been no incident in which the affected people and they would not lost any aircraft.

Police and Border Guard have after 15 helicopters. In addition to Mi-2 (2 submitted in February 2009 the Police) and PZL Kania, Border Guard, Air Force helicopters have W-3 Sokol and Anaconda and 6 planes (PZL-104MF Wilga 2000 and a two-engined F-20 and M-28).

http://www.altair.com.pl/start-3640

[Teer]

Originally Posted by Tango III

Related News:

Ecuador may return Indian helicopters after crash

MOSCOW, October 29 (RIA Novosti) - Ecuador could return six helicopters recently bought from an Indian company after one of the aircraft crashed at an air show last week, the Unverso newspaper reported on Thursday.

One of the seven Dhruv combat helicopters Ecuador had purchased from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited crashed during an air show in the Ecuadoran capital, Quito, last Saturday, injuring the pilot and co-pilot.

Ecuadoran Air Force chief Rodrigo Bohorquez was quoted as saying the contract allowed the return in the event of an irreparable fault.

A special commission is investigating the accident.

The rearmament of the Ecuadoran Air Force was announced in August. The Latin American country's government said it was ready to buy aircraft from Brazil and South Africa. In late September, Ecuadoran President Rafael Correa said combat aircraft from any nations, be it Venezuela, Colombia, the United States or Israel, would be welcome as gifts.

Venezuela has already given Ecuador six Mirage-50 planes it had substituted with more advanced Russian Sukhoi jets. Last year, Ecuador also received three Russian Mi-17 helicopters to carry out defense and patrol missions.

After Moscow talks between President Dmitry Medvedev and Correa on Thursday a contract was signed on the delivery of two Mi-171E helicopters.

http://en.rian.ru/world/20091029/156641113.html

http://www.aereo.jor.br/wp-content/u...to-reuters.jpg

Indian Ministry of Defence releases official statement noting that the crash was pilot error due to an error in judgement by the pilot at the far side of the formation.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_o_no4M2xEP...1600-h/111.jpg

The FDR may not even be analysed beyond a point as it is a clear case of pilot error. HAL also criticized for being diffident (perhaps so as to not offend the Ecuadorians?) resulting in speculation by the media.

[Tango III]

Google on-line translate

Sergei Ivanov called the obsolete of Russian helicopters, 90 per cent

Less than 10 percent of helicopters in Russia's army is modren. This, as reported RIA Novosti, Said Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Sergei Ivanov at a meeting of the Military-Industrial Commission under the Government of Russia. "The existing fleet of helicopters, the state aviation largely obsolete and outdated", - added the vice-premier.
According to Ivanov, this situation has developed not only in military aviation, but also in aviation of the FSB, the Interior Ministry and the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia. He stressed that by 2020, planned to raise the rate of serviceability of the helicopter fleet to 90 percent. The number of new techniques in the Army Aviation should be no less than 80 percent.

Vice Premier said that the production of Russian helicopters over the last 3-4 years has nearly doubled. In total in 2009 will build 200 new planes. Results from the 2007 Defense Ministry has received 64 new helicopters, reports ITAR-TASS. In particular, the arms were adopted on 27 Mi-28N helicopters, seven Ka-52, three Ka-50, nineteen Mi-8 helicopters and six training Ansat.

Sergei Ivanov, referring to data of Ministry of Transport of Russia, also added that the renewal of the civil aviation in 2020 will require approximately a thousand helicopters. Approximately 800 of them will be a "cost-light helicopters."

In August this year during MAKS-2009, it was announced that the holding company "Helicopters of Russia", which brings together all the helicopters-enterprises in the country, has increased in the first half of 2009 production doubled over the same period a year earlier. In September, Deputy Defense Minister of Russia Vladimir Popovkin said that up to 2009 Russia's army will buy at least 38 helicopters.

Link:

http://lenta.ru/news/2009/11/02/helicopter/

[Tango III]

More Y-8C Ordered By The PLAAF

According to Shaanxi Aircraft Company's press release, (here) the PLA has placed its single-largest order for the Y-8C tactical transport aircraft to date. The exact number of aircrafts involved with this order has not been made public but it is rumored over a dozen and training of the new ground support personnel has already started.

The Y-8C order has been under negotiation for some time and does not seem to be related to the recent Airborne Maneuver 2009 military exercise. However, it does indicate that PLAAF is no longer waiting for the Y-9 project to bear fruit (here) and opted for a less capable but presently available solution for its immediate tactical airlift need.

http://china-defense.blogspot.com/20...-by-plaaf.html

[kev 99]

UK could arm its Watchkeeper UAVs
By Craig Hoyle
The UK could integrate a lightweight weapon with its Thales UK/Elbit Systems Watchkeeper 450 tactical unmanned air vehicles, operations of which should begin from late next year.

"We are conducting analysis to investigate the contribution that an armed Watchkeeper UAV system could make in current and future operations," confirms minister for international defence and security Baroness Taylor. The work is being conducted as part of the Ministry of Defence's "routine capability planning process", she says.

Taylor's comment represents the first time that the MoD has acknowledged the possibility of arming the British Army's future WK450 air vehicles. However, the ministry adds: "We are still at an early stage of considering the benefits, and as yet no decisions regarding which munitions should be used have been made."



One likely candidate for a weaponised version is Thales Air Systems' lightweight multirole missile (LMM), which has previously been shown at exhibitions with a model of the WK450.

Unveiled in mid-2008 and based on elements of Thales's Starstreak ground-based air-defence weapon, the precision-guided LMM has a launch weight of around 13kg (28lb), including a 3kg warhead. Thales has previously said that production deliveries of the up to 8km (4.3nm) range weapon could be made from 2011.



Thales/Elbit joint venture U-TacS is building WK450 air vehicles at its Leicester production facility in the UK. Flight-test activities involving the type, which has already undergone extensive testing in Israel, should start before year-end at the ParcAberporth UAV centre of excellence in west Wales.


Watchkeeper air vehicles have already undergone testing in Israel

Thales UK provides interim tactical UAV services for the UK armed forces in Afghanistan using unarmed Hermes 450s leased from Elbit. The larger WK450 design is derived from the Israeli system.

The WK450 will have a maximum take-off weight of more than 450kg. It has a twin-payload configuration comprising an Elop Compass IV electro-optical/infrared sensor and the Thales I-Master synthetic aperture radar/ground moving target indication payload.

Being acquired under a deal worth around £900 million ($1.48 billion), the Watchkeeper system is intended for use during intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance tasks.

The UK Royal Air Force already operates armed General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper UAVs over Afghanistan, with the type carrying Raytheon GBU-12 Paveway II precision-guided bombs and Lockheed Martin AGM-114 Hellfire air-to-surface missiles.

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles...eper-uavs.html