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In Brief
The Israeli air force has begun an initial selection process aimed at replacing the Eurocopter AS565MA (Atalef) helicopters operated from the Israeli navy's missile boats. The current type's crew consists of two air force pilots and a navy officer who operates the aircraft's sensors and is in contact with combat vessels and other aircraft operating in the area. In some cases this includes Israel Aerospace Industries Seascan maritime patrol aircraft also operated jointly by air force and navy personnel to extend the helicopter's surveillance envelope. Israel requires a more capable replacement for the AS565MA due to the harsh maritime environment and an expansion to the operational capabilities of the navy's Saar-5 missile boats. "In the future we will put rotorcraft UAVs [unmanned air vehicles] on our missile boats, but in the coming years we will need a replacement [helicopter]," says a senior air force source.

Japan's defence ministry has taken delivery of Kawasaki Heavy Industries' prototype XP-1 maritime patrol aircraft for a long-term programme of test and evaluation activities. Flown for the first time in September 2007, the demonstrator has completed an initial 11-month phase of testing by its prime contractor, which expects to build 70 production P-1s to replace Japan's KHI/Lockheed Martin P-3C Orions. Handed over on 29 August at the company's Gifu site, the Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries XF-7 turbofan-powered XP-1 will now enter flight test and evaluation by the defence ministry's Technical Research and Development Institute and Japanese navy at the latter's Atsugi air base. Flight testing is expected to continue until the end of fiscal year 2015

Delivery former Belgian Air Force F-16's to Jordan. At September 10th 2008 four F-16AM/BM's, former Belgian Air Force, will be flown to Jordan. 10 pilots are in training at Kleine Brogel AB. Aviamagazine will be there to make a report of it! Stay tuned!

Help Us
Please help us with the completion of our Dutch Viper Special, by sending your RNLAF F-16 photo's!

We are not only seeking your help with MLU, block 15 and OCU photographs, also written off aircraft and special color schemes.

Argentine Navy receives refurbished Sea King
The Argentine Navy received two of a lot of six UH-3H Sea King helicopters, four of them refurbished in Maryland and two for spares, following an agreement signed last year by the Argentine Defence Ministry and the US Navy.

New radar could boost Rafale's export
French industry is pinning its hopes for reviving the flagging export fortunes of the Dassault Rafale fighter on the entry into production this month of Europe's first active electronically scanned array radar.

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Changes Needed to Keep Canadian EH101s Flying
Availability of Canada's CH-149 Cormorant search-and-rescue helicopters is less than 50 percent, and minimum operational requirements can only be met by buying more aircraft or reducing maintenance inspections, says an official report.

Top 4 Last Viewed
Fokker 50 at Gilze-Rijen AB, Netherlands (93 views)
Mirage 4 at Kleine Brogel, Belgium (242 views)
B737 at Schiphol, Netherlands (70 views)
F-16 at Twenthe AB, Netherlands (108 views)

Finnish Air Force eyes F-35 as future plane
The Finnish Air Force is keen on Anglo-American stealth strike fighter F-35 as a potential replacement of the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18, the FAF's current mainstay, Finnish national daily Helsingin Sanomat and the Finnish Broadcasting Company (YLE) reported on Wednesday.

First Of Four C-130J RNorAF
Lockheed Martin Delivers First Of Four C-130J Airlifters Marietta, Ga., November 12th, 2008 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] delivered the first of four C 130Js to the Royal Norwegian Air Force at a ceremony today with U.S. and Norwegian officials at the company’s Marietta, Ga, facility.

Lockheed Martin F-35A Logs 50th Mission
F-35A Lightning II notched its 50th flight last week in preparation for testing at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., while the F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) variant began a planned modification interval that will lead to STOVL-mode flight early next year. In preparation for its deployment to Edwards, the F-35A is conducting a final series of in-flight refueling tests from its Fort Worth base, having taken on 12,000 pounds of fuel during a three-hour flight on Thursday, Sept. 25.

Delivery of Italy's Tankers Slips to '09
ROME - Boeing has confirmed what Italian Air Force officials predicted in July: Italy will take final delivery of its first 767 tanker in early 2009, four years after the planned initial delivery date of 2005.

C-17 Ifor South Korea
Boeing is well placed to pick up another small C-17 order after South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Committee approved a plan to buy “large transport aircraft” for about 700 billion won ($620 million).

US approves 25 F-35's sale to Israel
US F-35 can strike air and ground targets The Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency has approved the $15.2 billion sale of 25 F-35 Strike Fighters for Israel with an option for another 50, saying it is vital to US national security interests to assist Israel develop "a strong and ready self-defense capability."

Iraq Seeks F-16 Fighters
WASHINGTON -- The Iraqi government is seeking to buy 36 advanced F-16 fighters from the U.S., say American military officials familiar with the request, a move that could help reduce its reliance on U.S. air power and potentially allow more American forces to withdraw from the country than had been proposed.

First C-27s Delivered to Pentagon
The first C-27J Spartan cargo aircraft was delivered to the Pentagon on Thursday, on time and on budget, according to officials at L-3 Communications, the lead contractor on the Joint Cargo Aircraft (JCA) contract.

Pentagon Buys G-222s For Afghan Army
The Pentagon has awarded Alenia North America a $287 million contract to refurbish and deliver 18 former Italian air force G-222s tactical transport aircraft for the Afghan National Army Air Corps. The deliveries are to start mid-2009 and be completed by 2011, according to Alenia officials.

First EC-635 deliverd to Swiss Air Force
The first EC-635 to assembly in Alpnach and deliver to Swiss Air Force Berne, Switzerland - Part of a 20 light and training helicopters' order (WAPA) - Swiss Air Force received the first EC-635 light cargo and training helicopter, which final assembly will be carried out in Switzerland by Ruag Aerospace of Alpnach as sub-contractor of Eurocopter.

Iran 'Indigenous Fighter' Jets by 2009
The Iranian Air Force announced the first Saeqeh (Lightning) fighter-jets capable of conducting long-range air missions would be delivered in 2009. Officials said the indigenous Lighting featured an operational range of 3,000 kilometers. They said the aircraft was modeled partly on the US Navy's F-14 and F/A-18 fighters. "They will arrive within a few months," Iranian Army commander General Ataollah Salehi said.

Final mission for venerable MH-53
Born from a helicopter designed to pluck aircrews out of the jungles of Vietnam, the MH-53 Pave Low will die just like it was born — in combat. The storied heavy-lift helicopter was to fly its last mission Sept. 30 in Iraq. The Air Force has gradually phased out the Pave Low after Air Force leaders decided to replace it with the CV-22 Osprey tiltrotor.

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Chiefeditors: Gostar den Daas and Frits Jongerman.

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