10 May 2022
by Akhil Kadidal
South Korea has announced a programme to upgrade various survival, navigation, and communication equipment of UH-60s in the army and air force. (Janes/Gareth Jennings)
Sikorsky H-60 helicopters in the service of the Republic of Korea Air Force (RoKAF) and Army (RoKA) will be upgraded to increase operational capabilities.
In an announcement on 27 April, the South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced the draft of a performance improvement programme for UH-60P Black Hawks and HH-60P Pave Hawk special operations helicopters.
The performance of the helicopters will be improved through domestic research and development (R&D). The programme is valued at KRW960 billion (USD748.8 million) and will be implemented from 2023 to 2030.
DAPA added that the project will “secure independent air penetrating operational capabilities, as well as continuously foster the aviation industry using domestic helicopter R&D infrastructure and create stable jobs”.
Speaking to Janes, the agency added that the aircraft will feature upgrades to their avionics. “Various survival, navigation, and communication equipment will be reinforced to improve survivability and mission performance,” DAPA said.
However, the agency declined to provide details, citing the sensitive nature of the project.
23 April 2024
by Gareth Jennings
A file photo of a UAE F-16 combat aircraft. While the Gulf state has traditionally enjoyed strong procurement and operational ties with the West, the UAE AFAD is now also seeking closer co-operation with the PLAAF in China. (Lockheed Martin)
The chief of joint operations for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Armed Forces has met with the head of China's People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) as the two countries look to promote closer co-operation between their respective air forces.
The UAE Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced the meeting on 23 April, saying that on the same day Major General Saleh Mohammed bin Mejren Al Ameri, commander of Joint Operations, had met with Lieutenant General Chang Dingqiu, commander of the PLAAF, at the headquarters of the Chinese MoD in Beijing.
“During the meeting, a number of topics related to the fields of joint military co-operation and work between the two countries and ways to support and develop them were discussed. The meeting was attended by a number of senior officers and officials of the MoDs of the two countries,” the UAE MoD said.
23 April 2024
by Victor Barreira
The Brazilian Navy wants to improve the radar capabilities of its OPVs. (Victor Barreira)
As part of an effort to update its Amazonas-class offshore patrol vessels (OPVs), the Brazilian Navy is acquiring a new air and surface search radar with identification friend-or-foe capability (IFF), according to the Navy Weapon Systems Directorate (Diretoria de Sistemas de Armas da Marinha: DSAM).
The Brazilian Naval Commission in Washington, DC, (Comissão Naval Brasileira em Washington: CNBW) on behalf of the DSAM has requested a request for information (RFI) and the price availability for up to three radars on 25 March.
The navy seeks to recover the combat capability of the OPVs by updating several of the ship's systems, the Navy Directorate-General for Material (Diretoria-Geral do Material da Marinha: DGMM) recently told Janes .
The modernisation of the OPVs will be carried out by the DSAM, the DGMM added, without detailing a schedule and the scale of the effort.
The DSAM is subordinated to the DGMM.
22 April 2024
by Akhil Kadidal
The two Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (Sikorsky) SH-60Ks, which crashed on 20 April, were participating in an anti-submarine exercise with the JMSDF submarines and surface vessels, according to the service. In this representative 2016 photo, a JMSDF SH-60K Seahawk (in the front) operates with a US Navy MH-60R Seahawk. (US Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Matthew C Duncker)
Two Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (Sikorsky) SH-60K helicopters of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) have crashed after they suffered a suspected mid-air collision during a night-time training exercise.
Japan Minister of Defense Minoru Kihara said the incident occurred between 2238 and 2304 h local time on 20 April, while the helicopters were conducting an anti-submarine drill with other JMSDF units. According to Kihara, three helicopters were participating in the drill, 150 n miles east of Torishima Island, in the Izu Islands chain.
“Two of the helicopters were flying in close proximity to each other and we have determined that there is a high possibility that there was a collision,” Kihara said on 21 April.
Sikorsky H-60 helicopters in the service of the Republic of Korea Air Force (RoKAF) and Army (RoKA) ...
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