International Briefs

Volume 48, No. 4, March 23, 2006

First F-35 JSF

THE first F-35 Joint Strike Fighter has come off the assembly line from Lockheed Martin and was delivered to Fort Worth in Texas. Ground tests will begin in preparation for the first flight later this year.

Portugal to get C-295Ms

PORTUGAL has ordered 12 C-295M multi-role aircraft, with seven to be supplied in a military transport configuration and five in a maritime surveillance variant. Three of the five maritime aircraft will be equipped with the fully integrated tactical system.

US Bomber program

THE US Air Force plans to start a long-range heavy-payload bomber program by 2008, which could include a mix of manned and unmanned aircraft, including the possibility of a new long-range bomber. Aerospace companies have begun developing concepts for the new program, including a scaled-up version of the YF-23 design to a very large subsonic unmanned aerial vehicle.

Indian MiG-29 upgrade

THE Indian Air Force is looking to upgrade its fleet of 67 MiG-29 fighters, including eight trainers. India is already retro-fitting 125 MiG-21 and 40 MiG-27 fighters in its long-term plan to modernise its fighter fleet. Once complete, the three MiG aircraft types will have increased commonality and improved serviceability.

Israeli crash landing

AN Israeli Defence Force Skylark mini unmanned aerial vehicle crashed into a refugee camp in the West Bank city of Nablus during a Special Forces reconnaissance mission recently. Palestinians who rushed to the crash site dismantled the remains of the drone and its payload.

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