06 January 2022
by Gareth Jennings
The delivery figure of 142 F-35s for 2021 builds on the 120 aircraft delivered to customers in 2020 (down from its target of 141 because of the Covid-19 pandemic), 134 for 2019, 91 for 2018, and 66 for 2017. (Crown Copyright)
Lockheed Martin exceeded its 2021 delivery target for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter by handing over 142 aircraft against its goal of 139 for the year.
Announced by the company on 3 January, the tally for 2021 is the largest recorded so far by the programme, and brings to more than 750 the number of F-35 aircraft delivered to global operators.
The figure for 2021 builds on the 120 aircraft delivered to customers in 2020 (down from its target of 141 because of the Covid-19 pandemic), 134 for 2019, 91 for 2018, and 66 for 2017. Besides the delivery tally for the year, Lockheed Martin noted a number of milestones for the F-35 programme in 2021, including the F-35A being selected by both Switzerland and Finland.
The Block 4 full combat-capable standard (also known as Continuous Capability Development and Delivery) should begin rolling off the line from Lot 17 in the mid-2020s.
29 March 2024
by Akhil Kadidal
The first production Tejas Mk 1A takes off from the HAL airport in Bangalore on 28 March 2024. (HAL)
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has test-flown its first production Tejas Mk 1A Light Combat Aircraft (LCA). However, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is unlikely to get the aircraft until mid-2024, an industry source told Janes .
According to HAL, the first production aircraft, serial no LA-5033, conducted an 18-minute successful sortie from the HAL airport in Bengaluru on 28 March. HAL intended to deliver at least one Tejas Mk 1A to the IAF by February 2024, a deadline that was subsequently moved up to 31 March. Janes understands that the handover of LA-5033 to the IAF could possibly require at least two additional months.
An industry source told Janes that the delay in delivery is because of ongoing “disruptions in the supply chain” for the programme.
28 March 2024
by Akhil Kadidal
This concept image of China's new attack helicopter, tentatively designated as Z-21, is based on photographs of the prototype aircraft in flight. (Janes)
China is developing a new attack helicopter that appears to be in the same weight class as the US Boeing AH-64 Apache and the Russian Mil Mi-28 Havoc.
Images of the new helicopter, which emerged on Chinese social media in March 2024, show an aircraft that is larger than the People's Liberation Army's (PLA's) in-service AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Changhe Aircraft Industries Group (CHAIG) Z-10 attack helicopter, and with a wider central fuselage that is comparable with the Apache. The fuselage includes cheek fairings similar to the AH-64 Apache and a nose configuration similar to the Mi-28. The AH-64E and the Mi-28N have a maximum operating weight of 10–12 tons.
The new helicopter (tentatively designated as Z-21 by Chinese military observers) also appears to incorporate some of the PLA's latest combat helicopter features such as upward-facing engine exhausts to reduce its infrared signature.
27 March 2024
by Gareth Jennings
The Bird AeroSystems defensive aids installation fitted to an A319 airliner (pictured here) of an undisclosed European operator. (Bird AeroSystems)
Bird AeroSystems has fitted its aircraft defensive aids system (DAS) for an undisclosed European A319 operator, likely the Hungarian Air Force (HuAF).
The Israeli company said on 27 March that its Self Protection Radar Electro-Optic System (SPREOS) directed infrared countermeasure (DIRCM) and Aeroshield Missile Protection System (AMPS) had been fitted to multiple A319 aircraft for an undisclosed customer to protect against surface-to-air missile threats.
“At the core of this project is the SPREOS, a patented DIRCM system for missile approach verification, tracking, and laser jamming,” the company said. “The installation also included Bird's versatile AMPS solution, designed for both military and civilian markets, providing complete protection against ground-to-air threats, including [manportable air-defence system] MANPADS attacks, for helicopters and VVIP aircraft for heads of states. Additionally, the installation of the AeroShield pod solution on the Airbus A319 aircraft was expanded to be installed also for Dassault Falcon 7X aircraft,” it added.
Lockheed Martin exceeded its 2021 delivery target for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter by ...
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