Australia now has the most advanced air battle space management capability in the world, with the Royal Australian Air Force?s E-7A Wedgetail aircraft achieving Final Operational Capability.

The fleet of six Wedgetail aircraft reached the milestone this month with the entire capability, from physical aircraft to logistics, management, sustainment, facilities and training, now fully operational and able to support ongoing operations.

The Wedgetail has already proven to be highly reliable and effective on operations and this achievement will further Australia?s capabilities.

The aircraft deployed on Operation Okra in the Middle East region, completing over 100 surveillance sorties with our coalition partners, flying more than 1,200 hours.
LINK - http://www.airforce.gov.au/News/Wedgetail-aircraft-achieves-Final-Operational-Capability/?RAAF-Xnf8Ih8uSUaS3FSo+HlgM4CTmsWllKEN


Bengaluru, May 26, 2015:
HAL signed an MoU with BAe Systems UK recently for Hawk Mk132 Upgrade, development of combat Hawk for Indian and export markets and maintenance solutions for supporting Jaguar and Hawk fleet. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. T. Suvarna Raju, CMD, HAL expressed confidence on success of the proposed collaboration between HAL and BAeS. ?It is important that both the teams finalise the scope of Hawk Mk132 Upgrades and other work packages under the MoU agreement at the earliest?, he said.
LINK - http://www.hal-india.com/HAL-BAeS%20Sign%20M/ND__122

ATLANTIC OCEAN (May 25, 2015) An F-35B Lightning II takes off from the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1). Wasp, with VMFA-121 and VMFAT-501 embarked, is underway conducting the first phase of operational testing (OT-1) which will evaluate the full spectrum of F-35B measures of suitability and effectiveness in an at-sea environment. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Rawad Madanat/Released)

From a couple of months ago, but to good not to post

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. -- May 27, 2015 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has successfully demonstrated to the U.S. Air Force that its plans to upgrade key weapons management software for the B-2 stealth bomber are on track and ready to proceed to the next level of development.

The company successfully completed the critical design review (CDR) of the service's Flexible Strike Phase 1 program on Feb 3. Air Force approval of the CDR authorizes Northrop Grumman to begin development and integration of the new software and hardware required for the upgrade.

Northrop Grumman is the Air Force's prime contractor for the B-2, one of the most powerful and survivable long range strike systems in the world.

"The Flexible Strike software upgrade lays the foundation for future system enhancements, including the ability to carry multiple weapon types," said Col. Robert Strasser, U.S. Air Force, B-2 system program manager and chief of the B-2 division of the Air Force's Fighters and Bombers Directorate. "This 'mixed loads' capability will ensure maximum strategic nuclear and conventional strike capability."

CDR is a key review point in a three-year, $102 million contract awarded to Northrop Grumman in Aug. 2014. The contract covers the engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) portion of the Flexible Strike Phase 1 program.

"The Flexible Strike software upgrade program will give the B-2 a simpler, more powerful way to manage communications with its weapon systems," said Dave Mazur, vice president and B-2 program manager, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems. "It will also reduce B-2 maintenance costs, increase mission flexibility and increase aircraft reliability."

The B-2 currently uses software called an operational flight program (OFP) to manage the communication between the jet and the hardware that holds and dispenses its weapons. Under its EMD contract, Northrop Grumman is replacing several mission-specific OFPs with a single OFP that can manage all of the B-2's weapons carriage devices.

TASS news agency; published May 26, 2015.
KAZAN, Russia --- A major overhaul of Tupolev Tu-160 strategic bombers will be completed in 2019, Boris Naishuler, the director of the Gorbunov Kazan Aviation Production Association?s design center, which upgrades the aircraft, said Tuesday.

"The first stage of modernization has been completed; the second stage connected with replacement of nearly all onboard radioelectronic equipment on existing aircraft is expected to be completed in 2019," Naishuler told TASS.

He said the process of modernization started with replacement of equipment installed on the planes back in Soviet times.

"The planes have equipment that was manufactured in former republics of the Soviet Union. The modernization is aimed at replacing all that equipment, including navigation systems and communications equipment, with Russian," Naishuler said.

Russia?s Air Force currently has in operation service about 15 Tu-160s, they are undergoing modernization announced in 2012. Besides, it was reported that Tu-160s will get upgraded NK-32 engines - a development batch is to be handed to the military in late 2016.

Russia is currently developing a new strategic bomber dubbed PAK DA (prospective aviation complex of long-range aviation). The new bomber is expected to make its first flight in 2019 and become operational in the Russian Air Force approximately in 2023-2025.

In late April, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu ordered his subordinates to work out the issue of resuming production of those bombers at the Kazan aircraft manufacturer.

The Kazan Aviation Plant, founded in 1927, is a subsidiary of JSC Tupolev. It currently manufactures special purpose aircraft on the basis of Tu-214, as well as repairs and modernises bombers. In addition, the company manufactures and supplies components and assemblies within the framework of cooperation with other plants of the United Aircraft Corporation. In particular, the Kazan plant is preparing for the production of wings and tail assembly for the IL-476 planes.

USS WASP -- Marines and sailors have worked together since May 18 to conduct Operational Testing 1, the assessment of the integration of the F-35B Lightning II, at sea, aboard USS Wasp (LHD-1).

Throughout OT-1, the aircraft and personnel involved have been challenged with a wide variety of flight and deck operations, allowing the gathering of data which will lay the groundwork for future F-35B deployments aboard U.S. Navy amphibious carriers.

?This operational test period that we are conducting is going to be a direct representative of fleet Marine Corps operating forces,? said Col. Robert Rauenhorst, the commanding officer of Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron 22. ?We are taking a look at how the F-35 program is developing, as well as ship modifications that have been worked through Naval Sea Systems Command, as well the F-35 Joint Program Office.?
From Here - http://www.marines.mil/News/NewsDisplay/tabid/3258/Article/589883/marines-make-progress-with-f-35b-during-ot-1.aspx

OT-1 offered many first experiences for both personnel and the F-35B itself. One of these firsts was operational Marine Corps pilots landing the aircraft on a carrier at night.

?This is the first time we are doing this on a ship with six aircraft instead of two, and the standard Marine Corps footprint of roughly 150 Marines to work on the aircraft,? said Lt. Col. Michael Dehner, the F-35 Operational Test Director with the Department of the Navy, and the Deputy Combined Test Director with the Joint Strike Fighter Operational Test Team. ?We are at that transition step before anyone will be able to use the F-35B as a warfighting platform.?

Not only is the F-35B the most versatile and technologically advanced aircraft in the skies today, it will also be replacing three legacy Marine Corps platforms; the AV-8B Harrier, the F/A-18 Hornet, and the EA-6B Prowler.

?I initially flew Harriers,? said Capt. Colin Newbold, an F-35B pilot with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121, Marine Aircraft Group 13, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. ?It is a very different airplane to fly than the Harrier. However, it?s a great jet to fly, very pilot friendly. And I think we?ll find a lot of success with it.?

Another unique aspect of OT-1 has been the United Kingdom?s involvement.

Prior to and throughout the course of OT-1, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force personnel have been imbedded with both the Joint Strike Fighter community and participating Marine units to observe and receive hands-on training with the aircraft.

?For the United Kingdom, this is a great opportunity to see the same variant aircraft that they will procure work through that air-ship integration,? said Dehner. ?It is valuable insight as they are working on the Queen Elizabeth Class Carriers.?

In addition to doing operational testing and seeing how the aircraft is compatible with the Marine Corps? warfighting components, the ability to logistically support aircraft aboard a U.S. Navy amphibious ship was also assessed.

?Our learning points from this are going to not only stress the design, but also the logistics footprint for the aircraft,? said Dehner. ?We want to see how it works in that confined space, which is the ship, as we get into when we want to deploy this aircraft with all the logistics support behind it. This is a great stress test.?

OT-1 has ultimately provided the Marine Corps and partner nations with a greater understanding of the F-35B?s capabilities, and a collection of data that will lay the foundation for future F-35B operations.

As of May 26, F-35B pilots aboard USS Wasp have flown more than 80 sorties from the ship. For the first time, the Marine Corps proved that a spare F-35B engine power module, a very large and intricate piece of machinery, can be safely transported from shore to ship in an MV-22 Osprey, providing depth to the Corps? F-35B supply chain. Maintenance has been conducted around the clock; both to keep the F-35B in the air, and to assess the Marines? ability to conduct complex maintenance procedures to simulate maintenance situations that could arise on a standard shipboard deployment.

?Being out here and participating in this is a milestone,? said Newbold. ?We have accomplished so much in such a short period of time. It?s really great to be a part of something like this.?

OT-1 will continue through May 29. As the F-35Bs participating in the exercise will return to their home bases, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121, based in Yuma, Arizona, prepares to undergo an operational readiness inspection prior to the Marine Corps? declaration of the F-35B?s initial operational capability, scheduled to take place this summer.


Gavi?o Peixoto, Brazil, May 26, 2015 ? Embraer Defense & Security held the delivery ceremony, today, of the first modernized AF-1 (AF-1B) fighter jet to the Brazilian Navy at its industrial plant in Gavi?o Peixoto, in outstate S?o Paulo. The ceremony was attended by the Navy Commander, Fleet Admiral Eduardo Bacellar Leal Ferreira, and officers of the High Command of the Brazilian Navy. The AF-1 program (the name given by the Navy to the McDonnell Douglas A-4 Skyhawk) provides for the revitalization and modernization of 12 subsonic jets ? nine AF-1 single-seaters and three AF-1A two-seaters.

The AF-1 is an intercept and attack airplane operating from an aircraft carrier to provide air defense for the fleet. These modernized Navy jets received new navigation, weapons, power, tactical communications and sensor systems, plus computers and multimode state-of-the art radar. This equipment, along with the structural work that was performed, will make it possible for these jet fighters to continue operating until 2025. Embraer?s modernization program also includes supplying briefing and debriefing stations that are already being used for the training and proficiency of pilots of the VF-1 Falc?o Squadron, in order to improve their use, to reduce costs, and to bring greater effectiveness to mission planning and execution.

?For the Brazilian Navy, the modernization of the AF-1 aircraft at Embraer is another important step in capacitating base of Brazil?s defense industry, and the results achieved will allow Naval Aviation to operate an aircraft with state-of-the-art sensors and equipment, representing a large forward leap in the Navy?s capacity,? said Fleet Admiral Eduardo Bacellar Leal Ferreira, Navy Commander.

?This is the first contract for systems integration that we have signed with the Brazilian Navy and, therefore, is a landmark in our relations,? said Jackson Schneider, President and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security. ?The modernization of the AF-1 was a significant technological challenge, since it is a platform that we did not develop. Nevertheless, with the support and competence of the staff of the Brazilian Navy, we were able to deliver a solution that fully meets the operational needs of our client in demonstration of our commitment to the Navy?s projects.?

From here- http://www.embraer.com.br/en-US/ImprensaEventos/Press-releases/noticias/Pages/Embraer-Defesa-e-Seguranca-entrega-primeiro-caca-AF1B-modernizado-para-a-Marinha-do-Brasil.aspx

Denver, May 27, 2015 ? Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) has assembled NASA?s InSight Mars spacecraft, which is now undergoing environmental testing at the company?s Space Systems facilities near Denver. InSight is NASA?s next mission to Mars and will be the first mission devoted to understanding the interior structure of the planet.

InSight will endure the extreme vibration and noise of launch, a long journey through the vacuum and cold of deep space and the gauntlet of entry through the Martian atmosphere before beginning operations on the surface. Because of the extreme environments the spacecraft will encounter during its mission, the lander will undergo a variety of rigorous tests that will ensure it can survive the journey.

In this photo taken April 30, 2015, Lockheed Martin engineers and technicians test the deployment of the InSight lander?s solar arrays. This configuration is how the spacecraft will look on the surface of Mars.

During the environmental testing phase, the lander will be exposed to extreme temperatures, vacuum and a litany of other tests through the end of the year. The first of these tests will be a thermal vacuum test in the spacecraft?s ?cruise? configuration used during its seven-month journey to Mars.

InSight will then be subjected to a barrage of additional tests, including reverberant acoustic, separation and deployment shock, and electromagnetic interference and compatibility testing. The testing phase concludes with a second thermal vacuum test where the spacecraft is exposed to the temperatures and atmospheric pressures it will experience as it operates on the surface of Mars.

?The assembly of InSight went very well, and now it?s time to see how it performs,? said Stu Spath, InSight program manager at Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company. ?The environmental testing regimen is designed to wring out any issues with the spacecraft so we can resolve them while it?s here on Earth. This phase takes nearly as long as assembly, but we want to make sure we deliver a vehicle to NASA that will perform as expected in extreme environments.?

Scheduled to launch in March 2016 from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, InSight is a robotic exploration mission that will record measurements of the interior of the Red Planet, giving scientists unprecedented detail into the evolution of Mars and other terrestrial planets. The InSight mission will address one of the most fundamental issues of planetary and solar system science; understanding the processes that shaped the rocky planets of the inner solar system (including Earth) more than four billion years ago.

As part of a series of deployment tests, the InSight spacecraft was commanded to deploy its solar arrays to test and verify the exact process that it will use on the surface of Mars.

?It's great to see the spacecraft put together in its launch configuration,? said InSight Project Manager Tom Hoffman at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). ?Many teams from across the globe have worked long hours to get their elements of the system delivered for these tests. There still remains much work to do before we are ready for launch, but it is fantastic to get to this critical milestone.?

The InSight mission is led by Bruce Banerdt of (JPL). The science team includes U.S. and international co-investigators from universities, industry and government agencies. The French space agency (CNES) and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) are also each contributing a science instrument to the two-year scientific mission. InSight?s international science team combines researchers from Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. JPL, a division of the California Institute.

HOUSTON, May 27, 2015 ? NASA issued a task order as part of Boeing?s [NYSE: BA] $4.2 billion Commercial Crew Transportation Capability (CCtCap) contract recently to include the company?s first-ever service flight to the International Space Station. The award marks the first time in human spaceflight history NASA has contracted with a commercial company for a human spaceflight mission.

?This occasion will go in the books of Boeing?s nearly 100 years of aerospace and more than 50 years of space flight history,? said John Elbon, vice president and general manager of Boeing?s Space Exploration division. ?We look forward to ushering in a new era in human space exploration.?

Boeing was selected in September 2014 to build and fly the United States? next passenger spacecraft, the Crew Space Transportation (CST)-100. The Commercial Crew Transportation System (CCTS) is being developed in partnership with NASA?s Commercial Crew Program which aims to resume U.S.-based flights to space by 2017.

As part of the tCap contract with NASA, Boeing is guaranteed at least two and potentially six service flights after completing human certification.

The company has successfully demonstrated to NASA that the Commercial Crew Transportation System has reached design maturity appropriate to proceed to assembly, integration and test activities.

?We?re on track to fly in 2017, and this critical milestone moves us another step closer in fully maturing the CST-100 design,? said John Mulholland, vice president of Commercial Programs. ?Our integrated and measured approach to spacecraft design ensures quality performance, technical excellence and early risk mitigation.?

The CST-100 can transport up to seven passengers or a mix of crew and cargo to low-Earth orbit destinations like the International Space Station (ISS) and the Bigelow planned station.

28 May 2015 Press Release

The first 242-tonne Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) variant of the A330-300 was delivered today to Delta Air Lines. The Atlanta, Georgia (U.S.) ? based airline is the first to receive the aircraft type from among 11 worldwide customers for the option. Delta has selected GE CF6-80E1 engines to power its new A330-300.

Launched in 2012 as Airbus? latest evolution to the twin-engine widebody A330 Family, the increased take-off weight A330-200 and A330-300 incorporate a new aerodynamic package, engine improvements and an optional centre fuel tank (the latter for the A330-300 version). These upgrades on the A330-300 allow for an extended range of up to 6,100 nautical miles while offering up to 2 percent fuel consumption reduction. This incremental innovation to Airbus? A330 Family received airworthiness approval from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in April 2015, and received parallel certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) earlier this month.

The delivery ceremony today at Airbus? headquarters in Toulouse, France, is particularly notable as the airline brought some 100 employees ? each a member of Delta?s Chairman?s Club. The group is selected by their peers annually from 10-thousand nominees in Delta?s most prestigious corporate recognition program.

?Delta?s addition of this Airbus A330-300 marks a major milestone and reflects our continued strategy of making prudent investments in our fleet that enhance our customer experience and operational reliability,? said Delta President Ed Bastian from the delivery event. ?Having our Chairman?s Club honorees, true examples of the Delta spirit of service, here to help us welcome this new aircraft into the Delta family makes this occasion even more special.?

?As the launch customer and launch operator of the 242-tonne A330-300, Delta is demonstrating its continued confidence in the performance and comfort of the A330, which has been part of the airline?s fleet for twelve years,? said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer ? Customers. ?The higher take-off weight allows the airline to fly both trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific routes, all in unrivalled comfort with operational reliability over 99 percent. The 242-tonne A330 clearly paves the way for the A330neo and A350 XWB to join Delta?s fleet in the next few years.?

Delta Air Lines, Airbus? biggest A330 customer in North America, flies currently both Airbus single-aisle and widebody aircraft, including 57 A319ceo and 69 A320ceo aircraft, plus 11 A330-200s and 21 A330-300s. In addition to nine more A330-300s and 45 A321ceos still to be delivered to Delta, the airline ordered 25 A350-900 and 25 A330-900neo Airbus widebody aircraft last year.

Meanwhile in Germany

Marines load ordnance onto an F-35B Lightning II during Operational Testing 1 aboard USS Wasp at sea, May 27. Marines and sailors have been working together since May 18 to assess the integration of the F-35B Lightning II, which is currently on track to replace the F/A-18 Hornet, and the AV-8B Harrier. By the end of the testing period on May 29, U.S. Marine pilots had flown 110 F-35B sorties from USS Wasp, racking up more than 85 flight hours. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo's by Cpl. Anne K. Henry/Released)



"ABOARD THE AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT SHIP WASP ? Test pilots for the Marine Corps' highly anticipated next generation jump jet recently slugged it out in simulated aerial fights off the Eastern seaboard as part of the aircraft's first round of operational testing.

Marines with three squadrons aboard the amphibious assault ship Wasp flew dozens of sorties a day at the stick of the F-35B, the service's next generation short-takeoff, vertical-landing fighter that will replace the AV-8B Harrier and EA-6B Prowler.

The sea trials, which ran May 18-29, put the aircraft to the test in a real-world environment just weeks before it could be tasked with crisis response or attack missions. The first F-35B is expected to hit the fleet in July.

During testing, pilots were tasked with launching simulated attacks on each other or intercepting aircraft attacking the ship. The 'dogfights' showcased the aircraft's technology, which is far more advanced than legacy jets. The F-35 has more sophisticated stealth and electronic warfare capabilities ? all in a single airframe.

"When you put together the stealth with the situational awareness, with it being connected to all the other airplanes, with the information sharing ? this airplane is going to be pretty darn hard to beat," said Maj. Michael Roundtree, one of the test pilots with Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 out of Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina.

The pilots noted the aircraft's ability to provide "unparalleled situational awareness" through its advanced sensor system, including a $400,000 helmet. The helmet displays all flight data on its visor, allowing pilots to fly without glancing down to read instruments. It also feeds streaming video from an array of six infrared cameras around the aircraft, providing a seamless 360-degree view.

When paired with the aircraft's communications capabilities, F-35 pilots have unprecedented awareness of their environment, Roundtree and his fellow pilots said. Maj. Richard Rusnok, the F-35B detachment officer in charge for Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron 22, declined to offer specifics on the aircraft's classified radio system, but said pilots can communicate with the ship and each other without using radios. The system, which is shrouded in secrecy, allows pilots to silently and seamlessly divvy up targets.

The next round of tests for the aircraft will involve live-fire weapons training in Arizona.

"We have a lot of weapons for each pilot to drop, a lot of missiles to shoot in June and July," Walsh said.

While still in the early stages, the F-35 won't have its full arsenal of weapons capabilities until additional brackets are added to the aircraft in 2017, according to Lt. Gen. Jon Davis, deputy commandant of Marine aviation. Still, some of the Corps' first F-35s could be called on for real-world missions before then.

The Corps will orient its F-35 fleet toward the Asia-Pacific region as the Air Force focuses on Europe. By 2017, the Marine Corps will have two operational F-35 squadrons, one of which will be relocated from Arizona to Japan. Other future stateside F-35 squadrons will also rotate through Asia on six-month intervals as part of the Unit Deployment Program."
FROM HERE - http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/


25 May 2015
Another 39 IL-76MD-90A aircraft delivered for painting after final assembly in CJSC ?Aviastar-SP?

From Here - http://ilyushin.org/en/press/news/
2 June 2015 Press Release

The first A350 XWB for Vietnam Airlines has completed its first flight in Toulouse yesterday bearing the airline?s distinctive blue and gold lotus livery. The aircraft will now enter the final phase of production, including cabin completion, as well as further ground and flight tests. The aircraft, which will be leased from AerCap, is scheduled for delivery in the middle of the year.

Vietnam Airlines will become the first Asian airline to fly the A350 XWB and the second operator in the world. Vietnam Airlines will acquire 14 A350 XWBs, including ten on order from Airbus and four under lease agreements. The carrier will operate its A350 XWB fleet on premium long haul routes, beginning with services between Hanoi and Paris.

The A350 XWB is Airbus? all-new mid-size long range aircraft family and the newest member of Airbus' leading widebody family. The A350 XWB is the world?s most modern and efficient aircraft family, setting new standards in terms of flight experience for passengers, operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness for airlines. The A350 XWB had received 780 Firm orders from 40 customers at the end of April 2015.

WASHINGTON ? June 2, 2015 ? Changing, integrating or upgrading sensors on a military aircraft can be an expensive, time-consuming and complex endeavor. Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) new OpenPod(TM) sensor system, unveiled at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., overcomes these challenges by making it possible for maintainers to swap sensors in theater.

More information about the briefing is available at: http://www.northropgrumman.com/MediaResources/MediaKits/OpenPod%28TM%29/Pages/default.aspx

The OpenPod(TM) system consists of line-replaceable units and a set of interchangeable sensors that can be swapped out in minutes. Enabled by open architecture principles, OpenPod(TM) is the first of its kind to accommodate a range of sensors with one pod.

"The battlespace can change quickly. OpenPod(TM) keeps the complexity of the mission in mind by allowing warfighters to match the sensors to the mission quickly, giving them flexibility they have never had before," said James Mocarski, vice president, Airborne Tactical Sensors business unit, Northrop Grumman. "When you have OpenPod(TM), you can have IRST, you can have targeting, you can have communications without having to acquire multiple pods. That gives our customers a significant affordability advantage."

OpenPod(TM) will be available with targeting and IRST packages at launch, followed by communications, LIDAR, 5th-to-4th generation communications and other options in in the future. Because the pod allows for sensor changes without modifications to the aircraft or mission computer, OpenPod(TM) can be upgraded independent of the aircraft. That allows for more rapid and affordable upgrades and integration of new technologies.

OpenPod(TM) is the next step in sensor evolution for users of the AN/AAQ-28(V) LITENING family of advanced targeting systems. Any LITENING pod can be converted to an OpenPod(TM), so operators can take full advantage of their existing investments, training and operational experience.

SUNNYVALE, Calif., June 3, 2015 -- Following successful completion of on-orbit testing, the U.S. Navy accepted the third Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT)-built Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) satellite.

Launched January 20, MUOS-3 is the latest addition to a network of orbiting satellites and relay ground stations that is revolutionizing secure communications for mobile military forces. Users with operational MUOS terminals can seamlessly connect around the globe, beyond line-of-sight, with new smart phone-like capabilities, including simultaneous and crystal-clear voice, video and mission data, on a high-speed Internet Protocol-based system.

?MUOS is a game-changer in communications for every branch of our military, which all have mobile users who will benefit from these new capabilities,? said Iris Bombelyn, Lockheed Martin?s vice president for narrowband communications. ?This latest satellite will expand the MUOS network?s coverage over more than three-quarters of the globe, including significantly more coverage north and south than the current legacy voice-only system.?

With on-orbit testing complete, MUOS-3 is being relocated to its on-orbit operational slot in preparation for operational acceptance.

The MUOS network is expected to provide near global coverage before year end. MUOS-1 and MUOS-2, launched respectively in 2012 and 2013, are already operational and providing high-quality voice communications. Lockheed Martin handed over the last of four required ground stations to the Navy in February. MUOS-4 is expected to launch later this year.

RENTON, Wash., June 2, 2015 ? Boeing (NYSE: BA) employees in Renton, Wash., have started building the first 737 MAX on schedule. Last week, employees started to assemble the wings for the first 737 MAX flight test airplane. Wings are the first 737 components to be assembled in the Renton production process.

Pictured here, machine operator Les Nystrom is loading 737 MAX wing skin panels and stringers into the new panel assembly line that uses automation to drill holes and install fasteners in the upper and lower wing panels. The skins and stringers were machined by Boeing Fabrication Skin and Spar in Auburn and Fredrickson, Wash.

2 June 2015 Press Release

Frontier Airlines, headquartered in Denver, Colorado (U.S.), has placed a firm order for 10 A321 and two A320 aircraft. All 12 aircraft are current engine option (ceo) aircraft. This is the second time in less than a year that the airline has ordered the A321, the largest member of the Airbus A320 Family. Including this order announced today, Frontier has a backlog of 101 Airbus single-aisle aircraft. Their current in-service fleet consists of 55 A320 Family aircraft (34 A319s and 21 A320s).

Each of the newly ordered planes will feature lightweight composite Sharklets, 2.4-meter/94-inch tall wing-tip devices that provide a fuel consumption reduction of up to 4 percent, plus either a range extension of 100 nautical miles or increased payload of up to 450 kilograms/992 pounds.

?This announcement paves the way for us to grow, modernize and renew our fleet while helping us build a strong foundation for the future,? said Barry Biffle, President, Frontier Airlines. ?We remain focused on our Low Fares Done Right business model for long-term success and we look forward to working with Airbus to achieve it.?

?With every flight of an Airbus aircraft, our customers gather feedback from their passengers and employees, and those customers become repeat customers when they realize the A320 Family optimizes every aspect an aircraft has to offer,? said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer - Customers. ?As we have continued to evolve the efficiency of each of our aircraft families, customers such as Frontier have been paying attention, and know that growing their Airbus fleet is the best investment in their future.?

Frontier took delivery of its first Airbus aircraft in 2001 and has since transformed into an all-Airbus, all-A320 Family fleet, allowing the airline to optimize efficiency and economy by streamlining crew training and maintenance operations. The A320 Family also offers the most comfortable single-aisle cabin in the sky at a full seven inches wider than competing aircraft allowing for 18?-wide seats in comfort economy as standard.

Seattle.
Boeing concluded the first phase of airworthiness testing of its 767 tanker prototype Tuesday. This time the plane even looked like a real tanker, though it isn?t quite there yet.

This first prototype plane is testing the airframe and how it flies. The second test plane, which will be a real KC-46 tanker outfitted with working aerial-refueling systems, is to fly in summer.

On Tuesday?s flight, the prototype for the first time carried a refueling boom, a rigid tube extended back from the plane?s underside that?s used to pass fuel to an aircraft flying behind and below the tanker. The prototype was also fitted with wing-refueling pods, which are used to refuel aircraft with different in-flight fuel-docking systems that fly behind and to the side of the tanker.

This equipment was not wired up and was not functional. However, the flight provided data on how these external attachments affect the jet?s behavior.
FROM HERE - http://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/boeing-wraps-up-tankers-initial-flight-tests/

June 4
PALMDALE, Calif. ? June 4, 2015 ? Expanding NATO's joint intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capability, Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) and its industry partners together with NATO leaders unveiled the first NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) aircraft to an audience of customers, distinguished guests, employees and community leaders.

The unmanned aircraft, a wide area surveillance Global Hawk, is part of a broader system of systems solution that will advance the Alliance's evolving ISR needs during a full range of NATO's missions such as protection of ground troops and civilian populations, border control and maritime safety, the fight against terrorism, crisis management and humanitarian assistance in natural disasters.

"This marks a significant step forward in achieving NATO's goal of acquiring NATO-owned and operated AGS Core Capability," said Erling Wang, chairman of the NATO AGS Management Organization (NAGSMO). "What you see here today is the result of one of the commitments made at the 2012 NATO Summit ? to bring this advanced and critical persistent ISR capability to the Alliance to help ensure we can continue to address the range of challenges our member and other allied nations face."

The NATO-owned and operated program comprises five air vehicles and fixed, mobile and transportable ground stations. Northrop Grumman's primary industrial team includes Airbus Defence and Space (Germany), Selex ES (Italy) and Kongsberg (Norway), as well as leading defense companies from all participating countries.

The industries of the 15 participating nations (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and the United States), are each contributing to the delivery of the AGS system. All 28 Alliance nations will take part in the long-term support of the program.

"We are establishing the necessary ground stations, command and control systems, and training and logistics support services at the NATO AGS main operating base at Sigonella Air Base in Italy," stated Jim Edge, general manager of the NATO AGS Management Agency.

With the ability to fly for up to 30 hours at a time, the high-altitude long-endurance system will provide NATO leaders with persistent global situational awareness. The aircraft is equipped with leading-edge technology, including the Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program (MP-RTIP) sensor. The MP-RTIP will provide critical data to commanders during operations in any weather, day or night. The NATO AGS system will also be able to fuse sensor data, continuously detect and track moving objects and provide detailed imagery.

"The level of collaboration required to bring together successfully so many international partners in the development of this tremendous system of systems capability for NATO speaks to the commitment and strength of the trans-Atlantic relationships we have built with our key partners, to deliver what is truly a European program," said Janis Pamiljans, sector vice president and general manager, unmanned systems, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems.
From here - http://www.globenewswire.com/newsarchive/noc/press/pages/news_releases.html?d=10137382



An F-22 Raptor from the 1st Fighter Wing at Joint Base Langley-Eustis receives fuel during aerial refueling from a 92nd Air Refueling Wing KC-135 Stratotanker from Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., on their way to Amalgam Dart 15-2 May 27, 2015, over British Columbia, Canada. A Tanker Task Force assembled from the 92nd and 22nd ARWs joined approximately 300 military personnel and 15 aircraft in exercise Amalgam Dart 15-2 May 26 through June 1. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Benjamin W. Stratton)

Staff Sgt. Shawna Sims, a 92nd Air Refueling Squadron KC-135 Stratotanker boom operator from Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., connects with a B-52H Stratofortress from Minot Air Force Base, N.D., during an aerial refueling mission as part of exercise Amalgam Dart 15-2 May 28, 2015, over the Alaskan coastline. Amalgam Dart, a North American Aerospace Defense Command exercise, is an annual training opportunity affording American and Canadian forces field training exercises aimed at improving NORAD?s operational capability in a bi-national environment. The exercise spanned two forward operating locations in Canada?s Northwest Territory, two U.S. Air Force bases in Alaska and a mobile radar site in Resolute, Nunavut, as well as, the sky over much of NORAD?s area of responsibility. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Benjamin W. Stratton)

Royal Canadian Air Force CF-18 Hornets fly alongside a 22nd Air Refueling Wing KC-135 Stratotanker from McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., operated by a 92nd Air Refueling Wing crew from Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., as the CF-18s each take turns refueling from a multi-point refueling system pod during exercise Amalgam Dart 15-2 May 29, 2015, over the Arctic Ocean. These pod modifications enhance the efficiency and flexibility of the Air Force's aerial refueling fleet, enabling KC-135s to refuel NATO and U.S. Navy aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Benjamin W. Stratton)

A F-35B during asymmetrical stores testing over the Eastern Shore of Maryland on May 26, 2015.

6/7/2015 - A B-2 Spirit lands June 7, 2015 at Royal Air Force Fairford, England, with both active duty and Air National Guard Airmen from the 509th and 131st Bomb Wings participating in hot-pit refueling and an engine-running crew change. These skills tests validate the vital importance RAF Fairford plays in projecting the Department of Defense's strategic bomber force to other areas of responsibility. The tests took place alongside the recent deployment of three B-52 Stratofortresses from Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota. Both aircraft and personnel deployments are part of regularly planned U.S. Strategic Command deployments of forces, meant to enhance vital crew skills and build partnerships with allies and partner nations.
LINK -- http://www.afgsc.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123450108





Moscow - Sheremetyevo Airport June 4th
The unveiling of the new Il-62M monument.

9 June 2015.(photos MOD)
RAF Typhoon jets deployed as part of the NATO Baltic Air Policing mission intercepted two unknown aircraft on a mission over the Baltic Sea.

The aircraft were scrambled from Amari air base in Estonia yesterday, to intercept aircraft approaching Baltic airspace without sharing a flight plan. The first aircraft was identified as a Il-20M ?Coot? A surveillance aircraft, which they shadowed for a period. The Typhoons were then re-tasked to check out a second unidentified aircraft, which was identified as an An-26 ?Curl? transport plane flying north from Kaliningrad.

The intercepts are the Typhoon?s fourth tasking since deploying to the Baltic in May.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon, who plans to visit the Baltic Air Policing detachment later this month, said:

The interception of Russian military aircraft by our RAF Typhoon fighters underlines our commitment to NATO and the security of the Baltic region. RAF air and ground crew are doing vital work to defend the skies above and around the Baltic States and I look forward to seeing that work first hand in the near future.

Yesterday?s mission was enabled by close teamwork between the Estonian Air Force and the RAF Air Surveillance and Control System (ASACS) detachment at Amari. ASACS detachment commander, Flight Lieutenant Paul ?Griff? Griffin said:

In this case the Typhoons were given the nod and the Estonian controllers hit the scramble button. The Estonian controllers picked up the aircraft on their radar picture and evaluated whether it had a flight plan and its heading, height and speed. Once it was clear it was an unknown they gave it an appropriate identification colour which made it stand out on our radar scopes. Once airborne it was my job to ensure a quick and efficient intercept, steering the Typhoons to intercept the unknown aircraft.

Four RAF Typhoons deployed to Amari under the command of Wing Commander Stu Smiley on 1 May and are operating alongside Norwegian aircraft between May and August, working to secure NATO?s airspace over the Baltic nations of Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania. The UK is making a range of contributions to NATO?s Assurance Measures which are designed to reassure Allies that the UK takes its collective defence obligations seriously, while improving coordination between NATO nations and partners through education and training, increased exercises, and better use of technology.


An A-10 aircraft from Maryland Air National Guard?s 104th Fighter Squadron, 175th Wing out of Warfield Air National Guard Base, Md., fires its 30 mm gatling cannon during a close air support mission during Saber Strike in Adazi, Latvia, June 6. The 104th Fighter Squadron, along with other U.S. Military personnel, are currently deployed throughout Europe as part of Saber Strike 2015, a long-standing U.S. Army Europe-led cooperative training exercise. This year?s exercise objectives facilitate cooperation amongst the U.S., Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland to improve joint operational capability in a range of missions as well as preparing the participating nations and units to support multinational contingency operations. There are more than 6,000 participants from 13 different nations. (Photo by U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Brooks Fletcher, 16th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

ORLANDO, Fla., June 9, 2015 ? The German Federal Ministry of Defence has chosen the Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS) as the basis for Taktisches Luftverteidigungssystem (TLVS), a next-generation network-based tactical air and missile defense system. It will replace Patriot air defense systems initially fielded in the 1980s.

Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) will share in development of Germany?s TLVS with its MEADS International partner MBDA Deutschland.

?Lockheed Martin is fully committed to the success of TLVS,? said Rick Edwards, president of Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. ?It reflects our continuing commitment to international partnerships and ongoing support for the German government?s leadership role in European missile defense.?

MEADS has been developed through MEADS International, a cooperative venture between MBDA and Lockheed Martin. The TLVS program ensures seamless continuation of this successful development partnership. Lockheed Martin companies in Dallas, Texas; Huntsville, Alabama; Orlando, Florida; and Syracuse, New York, are expected to support the German program.

?With this decision in favour of MEADS, Germany has opted for a powerful, state-of-the-art, long term ground-based air and missile defence system sufficient to meet the threats both of today and of the future,? said Thomas Homberg, managing director of MBDA Deutschland. ?It is now our shared responsibility, together with the armed forces, to provide a solid basis for the introduction of the system.?

In 2013, at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, MEADS became the first air and missile defense system to demonstrate a dual intercept of targets attacking simultaneously from opposite directions. MEADS is designed to significantly reduce operation and support costs by covering a larger area with less manpower and equipment, and less demand on airlift. Once in theater, MEADS elements emplace more quickly and can be repositioned without shutting the system down.

?We are honored that MEADS will provide the foundation for Germany?s next-generation air and missile defense system,? said Mike Trotsky, vice president of air and missile defense at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. ?Only MEADS has demonstrated the advanced network capabilities and 360-degree defense that are now essential requirements for air and missile defense systems.?

9 June 2015 Press Release

On the occasion of the visit by Tunisia?s Minister of Transport, Mahmoud Ben Romdhane to Toulouse, Tunisia?s national airline, Tunisair, took delivery of its first A330-200 in Toulouse on 9 June, thus becoming a new operator of this type of aircraft.

Named ?Tunis?, the wide-body aircraft flew out from Toulouse and landed at Tunis-Carthage Airport in the evening, thus joining the airline?s existing fleet of Airbus aircraft comprising four A319s and seventeen A320s.

Boasting an entirely new, fully equipped cabin, Tunisair?s A330-200 will offer its passengers greater comfort, more space, Wi-Fi connectivity and the very latest-generation in-flight entertainment system. The new Tunisair cabin can accommodate 24 passengers in business class and 242 in economy class.

?I am extremely happy to welcome the A330-200 to our fleet, its unique profitability and unrivalled operating costs will allow us to develop our operations and win new market shares, thus supporting our country?s growth in the areas of tourism and economic development,? said Sara Rejeb, President and Chief Operating Officer of Tunisair, during this ceremony held at the Airbus Delivery Centre in Toulouse.

?We are delighted to welcome Tunisair among the A330 operators, the number of which never ceases to grow,? said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers. ?The A330?s winning combination of efficiency, operational reliability and comfort will perfectly serve Tunisair?s ambitious plans for growth?, he added.