THE YEAR HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY EVENTFUL, WE LOOK AT some major milestones achieved in the military aviation domain.
GERMAN AIR FORCE DECIDES ON F-35S
Lockheed Martin's F-35 undoubtedly seems to be the fighter aircraft of the year 2022. Germany in March 2022 put to rest its long raging debate about the best aircraft to replace its ageing Tornado strike fighters. F/A-18E/Fs and EA-18Gs so far was a strong contender, the German government decided to buy 35 Lockheed Martin F-35, at an estimated cost of Euro 7.6 billion, and additional Euro 2.4 billion for weapons and infrastructure at its operating base.
In 2021, Finland and Switzerland selected the F-35, thereafter, the Czech Republic opted for F-35As and Greece submitted a request to purchase the US built fighter.
The F-35 is a $412 billion programme, started in 2019, and is yet to enter full rate production, owing to testing delays and other issues. The US Air Force (USAF) plans to buy 1,763 of these, although it has hinted it may cut that to 1,050; the US Navy wants 273; and the US Marines want 420. Under current plans, the Pentagon will buy one third of its 2,470 aircraft F-35 fleet (including 14 test models) before green lighting full rate production. 2022 was also the year when, delivery of new F-35s was temporarily halted when it was discovered that there were Chinese made materials in the aircraft.
AUTOMATED REFUELING
In July 2022, Airbus A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) became the first tanker to be certified for automatic air-to-air refueling (A3R) without a boom operator. Spain's National Institute of Aerospace Technology signed off on the A3R capability to refuel the F-16 during daylight following a test campaign in collaboration with the Republic of Singapore Air Force.
Denne historien er fra Issue 2, 2023-utgaven av SP’s Aviation.
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Denne historien er fra Issue 2, 2023-utgaven av SP’s Aviation.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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'ZEITENWENDE' - THE TURNING POINT!
In an exclusive interaction, Chief of Luftwaffe (German Air Force) Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz speaks with Consulting & Contributing Editor Manish Kumar Jha, in New Delhi on a comprehensive range of issues concerning German forces' modernisation, NATO's role, military acquisitions, and Germany's presence in the Indo-Pacific building a new era of military cooperation with India.
REWRITE THE RULE BOOK
The success of the Bhartiya Vayuyan Vidheyak Bill 2024 hinges on the Ministry of Civil Aviation's ability to translate its vision into reality through efficient administration and regulation.
DRIVING SUSTAINABLE AND ADVANCED AVIATION TECHNOLOGIES
Over seven decades of FIA, the airshow still remains significant, underscoring the industry's collective drive towards sustainability, Al-based solutions, advanced air mobility, strategic partnerships, significant orders and groundbreaking technologies
STEERING ECONOMIC GROWTH AND SOCIOECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
The UDAN scheme has been a game-chan¢ger for India’s aviation industry, democratising air travel, stimulating economic development, and fostering regional connectivity becoming a cornerstone of India’s aviation strategy
THE HIGH-FLYING PATH TO A $5 TRILLION ECONOMY
A robust commercial aviation sector is propelling the Indian economy forward by serving as a catalyst for economic growth, driving tourism, trade, employment, and infrastructure development.
ROLE OF THE IAF IN NATION BUILDING
IAF's global reach to ensure India's ability to conduct defence diplomacy and humanitarian operations, highlight its crucial role in safeguarding and supporting the nation way beyond the traditional military functions.
EXPANDING INDIA'S GALACTIC HORIZONS
India's space economy is set for significant growth as the nation continues to be a major global player, driven by momentum in the private sector, new industry entrants, substantial investments, and supportive policy initiatives.
PRATT & WHITNEY EXPANDS INDIA OPERATIONS
New center will employ 150 aerospace experts and drive customer service and operations support
ADVANCING THE INDIAN AIR FORCE TRAINING CAPABILITIES
A new chapter has been introduced in the history of the Indian Air Force (IAF) with the inauguration of the Weapon Systems School (WSS) by Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari, Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), at Air Force Station Begumpet, Hyderabad on July 1, 2024.
PIPER J-3 CUB: TRUSTED TRAINER
When the Civilian Pilot Training (CPT) programme was established in anticipation of US involvement in World War II, the Piper J-3 Cub was chosen as the primary training aircraft. Ultimately, 75 per cent of all CPT pilots trained on a Cub