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Indian Defense Minister Wants Early Close to Rafale Deal

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India expressed interest in purchasing a first batch of 40 US-made Predator C "Avanger" unmanned aerial vehicles.

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Egypt to get 50 MiG-29s from Russia

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The Russian Commission for Military Technical Cooperation has confirmed Egypt as the North African buyer of 50 MiG-29M fighter jets and released fresh details of the Egyptian purchase of several other weapons systems worth at least $5 billion in 2015.

In February Russian officials confirmed the sale of 50 MiG-29M fighter jets to a North African country but declined to identify the buyer.

Rosoboronexport signed the deal in April 2015, and expects to deliver the first two aircraft this year. RAC MiG deputy director general Alexey Beskibalov in February said deliveries should be completed by 2020.

The MiG-29M (and two seat MiG-29M2) is an improved version of the MiG-29 featuring longer range due to increased internal fuel, a lighter airframe, slightly more powerful and improved RD-33MK engines, an in-flight refuelling probe, multi-function displays in the cockpit and improved avionics.

In a report submitted to Russian President Vladmir Putin during its last session that was held in the city of Nizhny Novgrod last week, the Commission said Egypt was one of the biggest customers of Russian weaponry in 2015, ordering MiG-29Ms, Buk-M2E (SA-SA-17 Grizzly) and Antey-2500 (SA-23 Gladiator/Giant) missile systems and 46 Ka-52 helicopters worth a combined $5 billion. Deliveries are expected to start this year.

The report also detailed Algerian defence acquisitions in 2015, which included the delivery of six Mi-26T heavy lift helicopters, Pantsir S-1 air defence systems, T-90 tanks and modernised BMP-2 vehicles. According to the report, Algeria is negotiating for the acquisition of additional aircraft, aerial defence systems and aircraft self-protection systems. The country is due to take delivery of additional Mi-26T2s and Mi-28NE helicopters this year.

According to the Commission report, excerpts of which were published by the TASS news agency, Russian earned a total of $14.5 billion from weapons sales in 2015 while its global arms sale order book swelled to $56 billion.

"Combat gear was exported to 58 countries, but the key customers for Russia’s materiel were India, Iraq, Vietnam, China and Algeria. For instance, India received 12 Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter knockdown sets, 23 Mil Mi-17V-5 helicopters and AL-31FP and RD-33 aircraft engines and had its Project 877 (Kilo-class) Sindhukitri diesel-electric submarine, six Kamov Ka-31 helicopters and other hardware upgraded to the tune of a total of $4 billion."

Military equipment was exported to Iraq in 2015 under deals clinched in 2013. The deliveries included Mi-35M, Mi-28NE and Mi-171Sh helicopters, Pantsir S1 (SA-22 Greyhound) air defence systems, TOS-1A self-propelled flamethrowers and T-72B main battle tanks, with the hardware being worth in excess of $4 billion. Vietnam took delivery of two Project 6361 Varshavyanka-Class (Improved Kilo-class) diesel-electric submarines, four Su-30MK2 fighters and associated munitions – worth a total of about $1 billion, the Commission report said.

China ordered several Ka-32 (Helix) helicopters and D-30KP2 aircraft engines in 2015. Azerbaijan received T-90 tanks, BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles and Mi-17 helicopters. Belarus received four Yak-130 aircraft and Kazakhstan four Su-30 fighters. The report said the Russian Defense Ministry exported four S-300PS air defence systems free of charge to Belarus while Kazakhstan received five S-300PS systems and Kyrgyzstan received ten BTR-70M vehicles.

It was noted that Russia’s military deployment to Syria was expected to drive further arms sales, as the Russian equipment in Syria has now been proven in combat. This could drive another $6 billion worth of sales to Russia, reports Russia’s Kommersant newspaper, which said the Kremlin’s intervention in Syria had created a “marketing effect” leading to increased interest from Algeria, Indonesia, Vietnam and Pakistan. Russian officials told Kommersant the countries were interested in buying Sukhoi fighter and strike jets.

Algeria increases orders of Russian Mi-28 "Night Hunter" attack helos to 42

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GABORONE, Botswana — The Algerian Air Force (AAF) has ramped up its order of Russian-made Mi-28NE "Night Hunter" attack helicopters from the eight initially reported in January to 42, the Russian-language newspaper RIA-Novosti reported.

Quoting an unnamed military-industrial source last week, Russian media outlets RIA-Novosti and TASS said Algeria and Iraq have become the first international customers of the Mi-28NE helicopter with confirmed orders of 42 and 19 respectively while more countries are negotiating for similar acquisitions.

“These are Commonwealth of Independent States (a grouping of traditional Russian military customers) countries, [countries] in Latin America, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, Bahrain, Iran, Egypt, Algeria and also countries in sub-Saharan Africa which are negotiating for the acquisition of the Mi-28NE," said the source, who works at the Russian Defense Ministry’s International Cooperation Department.

Last week, Russian Aerospace Forces Mi-28NEs, armed with AT-9 Spiral 2 guided missiles, made their battle debut, pounding Islamic State targets in the Syrian province of Homs.

The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that the helicopter's radio-electronic jamming systems easily suppressed man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS) deployed against them by the insurgents.

The hostile anti-aircraft systems destroyed by the Mi-28NE reportedly included Soviet-made Strela-1, the Igla-1 and the Chinese-made Hong

Ying-5 surface-to-air (SAM) missile systems deployed against airborne attacks on insurgents' positions.

The source told TASS that the Mi-28 attack helicopters due to be delivered to Algeria, which are capable of carrying out day and night missions in extreme weather conditions, will be modified so that they can be flown from both the pilot’s cockpit and the operator pilot’s cockpit.

Developed by Russian Helicopters industrial subsidiary Rostvertol, the Mi-28NE is an export version of the Mil-28N that is designed to identify and destroy battle tanks, armored vehicles, personnel, boats, small naval vessels, low-speed and low-altitude aircraft.

The source said that after excelling on combat duty in Iraq and Syria, the Mi-28NE helicopter is being sought by countries that include Brazil, Vietnam and several other North African countries apart from Algeria.

Russian ambassador to Algeria Alexander Zolotov declined to comment on the Mi-28NE order but confirmed that the Algerian military is keen to acquire new Russian defense platforms.

“The Algerian military is satisfied with the quality of Russian weapons, which has proven itself well in the specific conditions here, namely the desert with its extremely high temperatures and sandstorms,” Zolotov said.

Last month, Algeria and Russia started sharing intelligence satellite imagery of terrorist movements from Libya across the Maghreb and North-West Africa and announced plans to enhance bilateral military cooperation.

Venezuela inducts nine Hongdu K-8W into service

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U.S. Air Force call Private Companies To Fly Drones In War Zones

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A fully armed MQ-9 Reaper taxis down an Afghanistan runway Nov. 4. The Reaper has flown 49 combat sorties since it first began operating in Afghanistan Sept. 25. It completed its first combat strike Oct. 27, when it fired a Hellfire missile over Deh Rawod, Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Brian Ferguson)

U.S. Air Force officials has begun to hire private companies to fly drone aircraft operating over Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria. The unprecedented move is in response to demands from the Obama administration to dramatically expand the drone war just as the Pentagon faces a critical shortage of military pilots.

As a result, civilian pilots will directly participate in military operations for the first time since the drone wars began about a decade ago. According to the Los Angeles Times, the Air Force signed contracts with two private companies in 2015 to provide enough pilots to fly two “combat air patrols” or 24-hour surveillance flights that would involve as many as eight MQ-9 Reaper drones per day. The Air Force plans to eventually expand its fleet of privately piloted drones to 40 over the next four years.

Of the two companies, one, Aviation Unmanned, is a small, veteran-owned outfit operating out of Dallas, Texas, which was awarded a contract on August 24. The second is General Atomics, a large San Diego, California-based military contractor that builds both the Reaper and Predator drones and has been paid at least $700 million over the last two years for a variety of drone support services. Their contract was awarded April 15.

This is not the first time that private contractors have played a role in the drone wars. Companies such as Booz Allen Hamilton, General Dynamics and SAIC have long held contracts to analyze surveillance data gathered by drones flying over war zones.

While Reaper drones are designed to be able to carry multiple Hellfire and Sidewinder missiles, the Pentagon insists that these privately operated Reapers will simply do reconnaissance and not carry weapons, nor will the pilots have clearance to fire missiles.

Nonetheless, these contracts mark a dramatic uptick in the direct involvement of private companies in military actions, which has drawn criticism even from within the Air Force Judge Advocate General’s office who say that such involvement may be a violation of international law. “Military services should be vigilant to avoid contracted intelligence activities where civilians may exert a significant amount of influence or control over targeting and weapons release decisions,” wrote Major Keric Clanahan, a legal advisor to the U.S. Special Forces, in a recent article in Air Force Law Review. “It is imperative that contractors not get too close to the tip of the spear.”

The decision to deploy private drone pilots stems from a longstanding crisis inside the U.S. military In early 2015, the Air Force operated 65 combat air patrols, or up to 260 drones patrolling war zones around the world, but was under pressure from the Pentagon to expand the number of drones in the air to 360. But pilots, overwhelmed by the complexity of the work and the grueling schedule, began to vote with their feet and quit.

At an October conference of military contractors and government officials, General Robert Otto, the Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, summed up the problem. “Those crews have been stressed about to the limit,” Otto said. “Over time, pulling twelve hour shifts, six days a week, year after year, and the only light at the end of the tunnel is their Form DV-214, which their, you know, separation from service. And many of the pilots have decided to take that option.”

This summer, the Air Force was forced to reduce the number of combat air patrols from 65 to 60, in order to keep its remaining pilots from retiring at the end of their contracts. Nonetheless, the Air Force projects that it will be 400 pilots short of the roughly 1,200 it needs to keep the drone program running at current capacity.

Officials hope that the private contractors, along with additional support from Army drone pilots, will fill the gap in the short term. But over the long term, the problem of keeping a fleet of pilots in the service is expected to get substantially worse.

According to a separate Los Angeles Times article, the Air Force recently announced plans to radically expand its global drone operation, adding 65 new Reapers to its fleet, doubling the number of pilots, and building new drone operations centers at Air Force bases around the U.S. The plan is expected to cost roughly $3.5 billion, and the service will have to get Congressional approval before conducting the expansion. Even if lawmakers go along, training new pilots and building the new drone centers will take years. It will be a long time before the service’s current pilots see any relief, so the contractors may well be called upon again to fill an ever-widening gap.

India finalized buying American F16 and F/A 18 fighter jets. What happened to the Rafale deal?

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Key Points

Boeing and Lockheed Martin have made unsolicited bids to sell India F/A-18E/F and F-16IN fighters respectively
India’s ongoing issues with Dassault over a deal to buy Rafales are prompting other manufacturers to sense an opportunity

While the Rs 60,000 crore Rafale deal is stuck in a deadlock, India considers the possibility of buying American F/A- 18 "Super Hornet" fighter jets for the Indian Air Force.

With the Rafale deal between India and France being stuck in a deadlock, it seems like India is considering the possibility of buying American F/A- 18 "Super Hornet" fighter jets for the Indian Air Force.

The top officials of the defense ministry met rivals Boeing and Lockheed Martin (LM) to discuss the production of an American fighter jet in India. The two companies offered to produce locally the F16 'Super Viper' and a customised F/A 18 'Super Hornet' for Indian Air Force requirements under the Make in India program.

There has not been any concrete outcome of the meeting as no formal offer letter with pricing and availability of the aircraft has been drafted.

India is considering the proposal to manufacture the F 16 fighter jets only after LM offered to shift the production here and to meet both Indian requirements and for exports, reported The Economics Times.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had earlier announced that the ministry is interested in setting up production lines for 'one or two' fighters at the earliest.

Law Ministry's advice to reconsider clauses in Rafale deal

Moreover, the Law Ministry had earlier cautioned the government that certain clauses of the inter-governmental agreement signed for the purchase of 36 French Rafale fighter aircraft were not in the country's interest.

The Law Ministry is of the opinion that the liability clause should be more stringent and in case of material breach by the French companies, India should be able to involve the French government while taking a legal recourse. It also said that in case of any commercial, the arbitration proceedings should take place in India and not in Switzerland as suggested in the draft.

The Rs 60,000 crore deal to acquire 36 Rafale fighters from France's Dassault Aviation was inked on January 25, 2015 but was not finalised due to 'financial' issues.

Kazakhstan Air Force received UH-1 Huey helicopter from the United States

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Polish Air Force MiG-29 and Su-22 Jets: Successors to Be Selected By 2022

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The Polish Ministry of Defence plans to initiate the selection process for a new multirole fighter to replace the Soviet-made Su-22 sand MiG-29s now in service and which are reaching the end of their service life.

Operational requirements pertaining the new airframes have already been defined, any new procurement is dependent, to a significant degree, on economic conditions.

Sources tell Defence24 that the Ministry of Defence is initially focusing on the replacement of the Sukhoi Su-22M4 / UM3K with a modern, multi-role jet capable of engaging airborne, ground and naval threats, in any weather conditions, and in full cooperation with the relevant systems used by the NATO forces.

Within the framework of the regular Reviews of the Requirements for Operational Capability carried out in the Polish Armed Forces, operational requirements are being drawn up to determine how modern combat aircraft will be procured to consecutively replace the Su-22 and MiG-29 airframes when they are withdrawn.

“Initially, it is planned that a procedure making it possible to acquire a modern multi-role combat aircraft will be launched during the current planning term, i.e. by 2022,” said the spokesman for the Polish Ministry of Defence, Bartłomiej Misiewicz.

Despite the fact that a decision had been taken by the previous government to prolong the lifetime of the Su-22s by another 10 years, there is now an urgent need to replace those airframes, since their value on the contemporary battlefield is significantly limited.

Complex work carried out by the WZL-2 [Military Aviation Works No. 2] facility will allow further use of those jets in the NATO airspace, but modernization will not provide the Su-22 with the required combat capabilities. Regarding the MiG-29s, which are ten years younger and NATO-compliant, the issue is less pressing but the capabilities offered by these airframes, especially in comparison with the Polish F-16 C/D Block 52+ fighters, are very limited.

General Jerzy Gotowała told Defence24 that the Polish air force’s missions require the procurement of two squadrons of multi-role jets, so that the total number of airframes reaches at least 80. However, the criteria are not only tactical or technical, and financial aspects as well as the overall concept of operational employment are also very important.

It would be good if the air force could phase in the new aircraft before it retires their predecessors, especially in the case of aircraft that have been modernized, and that are still being used operationally at the moment.

The Su-22s are, at the moment, only used to maintain proper pilot skill levels, so if this role remains unchanged, they might be replaced by advanced jet trainers, or combat-capable trainer aircraft. The M-346 Master AJT platform is one of the considered options., but other manufacturers have offered solutions with a greater combat potential, such as the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II or the Eurofighter Typhoon. The latest version of the F-16 is also being considered in this respect.

Final decisions will be made on the basis of the operational plans, and with proper consideration given to the available funds. However, it is important to make a decision which would be informed and which, to the largest possible extent, would take the tactical and technological conditions into account, along with the urgent need to replace the obsolete aircraft which are harder and harder to maintain.

It is also going to be required to secure significant funds, and this will be a critical issue, as new investments will also be required for operational and training infrastructure, which could diminish future operating costs, such as for example training pilots overseas. We cannot rule out a situation, in which it would be required to increase the defence spending level above the current level of 2% of GDP in order to purchase the multi-role aircraft as well as other major weapons, such as new infantry fighting vehicles.

USA sets up a secret military base in Israel for missile

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A Royal Air Force Reaper RPAS (Remotely Piloted Air System) Spotted at Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan.

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Syrian Air Force in cooperation with Russian fighters delivered about 30 tons of humanitarian cargos to besieged Deir ez-Zor

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Russia's Ka52 Alligator attack helicopters in action in Syria

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Russia soon get Vikhr-1 Guided Missiles from Kalashnikov Concern

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Iranian army presents 2 new fighter jets "Saak" & "Azrahash" based on the American F-5

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There were reports in the late 1990s of the development of an indigenous fighter design called the Owj (Zenith), although this could have reflected a nomenclature confusion with the IRIAF Owj Industrial Complex. This name was not applied to a publicly displayed aircraft type as of 2008.

In December 1998 Chancellor of Martyr Sattari University, Brigadier General Ali-Akbar Showqi told the President Mohammad Khatami that the fighter Saeqeh (also written Saeqeh, Sa'eqeh, Saegheh, or Saeqeh-80, and alternately translated as Lightning or Thunderbolt), then in the design phase, would do its experimental flight in the year 2001. Although the long-awaited Azarakhsh had yet to enter series production, some reports claimed that IRIAF officials were saying that the service's main indigenous fighter project was actually the Sa'eqeh-80 (lightning), said to be an advanced design twin-fin and twin-engine fighter-interceptor in the class of the F-14 Tomcat. Sa'eqeh-80 was then undergoing wind tunnel tests and is hoped to make its maiden flight in late 2001 or early 2002.

Despite using reverse-engineered parts in the design of Sa'eqeh-80, it was claimed to be original and not similar to any aircraft currently in Iranian service or elsewhere. All the design and prototyping of the new fighter project had reportedly been completed by IRIAF's Sattari Aeronautical University and the Owj Industries." This first prototype's landing gear had been of Polish origin, but Iranian-manufactured landing gear will be installed from second example.

By one account the Shaequeh was originally called the Azarakhsh 2 or Shaequeh-80. The number 80 corresponded to the Iranian year 1380 (2001), which was the originally planned date for the first flight. However, after delays in development, the number 80 was abandoned, and the Saegheh (Thunderbolt) project continued with the alias "Azarakhsh-2".

The Saeqheh is the most advanced F-5 modification project known, intended to learn about the effects of twin tail on the aircraft's performance. It was developed by MATSA Air Force Technology and Electronic Center and the Shahid Sattari Air Force University of Tehran, starting in 1998, first flight occurring on 30 May 2004.

In July 2004 Iran showed a video and pictures of the latest prototype fighter jet, called Saeqeh, or Saeqeh-80 (after the Islamic year 1380). The aircraft resembled an F-5E Tiger II with a pair of canted vertical stabilizers, resembling those of the American F/A-18. The similarities were reinforced by the announcement that this new aicraft was a follow on to the Azarakhsh (Thunder) aircraft, which also bore significant similarities to the F-5E.

The Saeghe-80 (first prototype) featured a double Tail and new afterburners and very similar general lines to the F-5E. The air inlets were classic as in the F-5 style "Coke bottle". By another account the first prototype serial [S110-001] had the "F/A-18" and new square air inlets [other sources call this aircraft the Azarakhsh]. It was known from participation in the exercise "Blow of Zolfaqar", which began on 19 August 2006, carrying out attack missions armed with Multiple Rocket Launcher. Two additional prototypes flew from Tehran on 20 September 2007. The second prototype [S110-002] was photographed landing at Mehrabad on 22 September 2007. The second prototype featured a modified pitot tube, fin attachment to fuselage, normal round air inlets, and new, slightly different paint for each aircraft, similar to the US Blue Angels aerobatic team colors. The three aircraft joined the IRAF on 22 September 2007 when they made their appearance to fly-by at the National Army Day. All three aircraft participated to the same event in the year 2008. In September 2006 Iranian reports said the remodeled plane, called the Thunderbolt (Saequeh, in Persian) was redesigned and upgraded using only Iranian expertise and equipment. The jet carried a locally built missile with the same name. Iran's army chief, Ataollah Salehi, is quoted as saying the new fighter carried out a mock bombing mission in northwestern Iran. He added that Iran received no outside help for the project.

The fighter jet is claimed to be "similar to the F-18 fighter jet, but it is more capable and has been manufactured domestically," the commander of the Iranian army General Attollah Salehi was quoted as saying by the state news agency IRNA. The aircraft presents some alterations in the lines, but the main alteration, consists of the existence of two vertical helms, against only one in the F-5. The installment of the aircraft will not be superior to the ones of the F-5, for the capacity to load armaments also will not be very different. However there is speculation on the capacity that this Saeghe-80 will have in terms of better maneuverability that will be conferred to it by the different lines of the tail and the body of the airplane. The double tail, in the style of American F/A-18 fighter, led to some Iranian reports that technician had constructed an airplane with identical capacities to the ones of the F/A-18, which in reality did not happen. The Saeghe, with the same number of attachment points on the wings and identical configuration, will be able to serve as attack airplane but it will hardly be able to face more sophisticated aircraft. The new design is said to show a significantly improved take-off and turning performance. Depending on the success of the test program, the Sa'eqeh could enter series production, with a digital glass cockpit and other improvements.

On 6 August 2007 the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) had reported Ministry of Defense Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar as saying that successful test of the Azarakhsh would lead to plans for "manufacturing of the fifth generation of Iranian aircraft." Army and Defense Ministry experts were currently working on the second type of Azarakhsh fighters, to be called Saeqeh, which would be also tested in the near future, Mohammad-Najjar added.

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called for the armed forces to be boosted, as the Islamic republic unveiled the locally developed fighter jet. During his tour of the western city of Hamedan, Khamenei was shown the Saeqeh. The jet had been shown on state television making a test flight. No information about its operational capacity, technical specifications or production were given. In his address to a group of pilots and air force commanders, at the third air force base in Hamedan, Ayatollah Khamenei hailed the key role of the air force. The Supreme Leader said successful manufacture of the Saeqeh jet fighter by the Islamic Republic Iran's Air Aorce and elevation of their combat readiness were the results of their faith, hard endeavors and strong will. The Saeqeh jet fighter made a successful test flight in the presence of the Supreme Leader during the ceremony.

On 23 September 2007 President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad inspected three models of jet fighters -- Saeqeh, Azarakhsh and Tazarv -- Iran Air Force unveiled on the anniversary of the Iraqi invasion of Iran in 1980. He attended the Air Force Base 1 in Southern Tehran to appreciate the technical teams involved in manufacturing the Iranian made jet fighters. Saeqeh and Azarakhsh jet fighters manufactured jointly by the Ministry of Defense and Logistics of the Armed Forces and the Air Force of the Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran are for military missions and Tazarv (pheasant) is for training. President Ahmadinejad expressed pleasure with success of Iranian technicians in manufacturing the planes.

Shaequeh was never powered by RD-33, which is very big engine for the F-5 and woul require a redesign all tail part first. That never happened - it was just rumor.

The Iranian military has introduced a new squadron of domestically-manufactured Saeqeh fighter-bombers to the country's Air Force to strengthen its deterrence power, according to Press TV. This fleet is the first fighter-bomber squadron made up of domestically manufactured aircraft,” a top Air Force officer, Seyyed Mohammad Alavi, explained on 27 February 2010 . “The plane's parts have all been produced inside the country in a joint project between the Defense Ministry and the Air Force,” he added. Alavi did not elaborate on the number of aircraft in the squadron, but said that several new Saeqeh fighters would be added at a later date making a full fleet of 24 aircraft.

Iran unveiled its first squadron of Saeqeh fighter bombers in an air show in September 2010. 'Iran's domestically-made fighters like Azarakhsh (Lightening), Iran 140 and Saeqeh will be used during the air show,' Iranian Air Force Commander Brigadier General Hassan Shahsafi told FNA, noting that the Iranian Army Air Force will display different kinds of fighter-bombers in the parade as well. The parades took place September 22, at the beginning of the Week of Holy Defense, marking Iranian sacrifices during the 8 years of Iraqi imposed war on Iran in 1980s. The large air show is aimed at displaying the defensive power of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Referring to the completion of 'a squadron of Saeqeh fighters' by Iranian experts, Shahsafi reiterated that Iran could boost its position in the arena of aerial power by the move and that Iran's Air Force and Defense Ministry showed their proper management to succeed in such an important and modern field.

A senior commander of the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) said Iran plans to carry out technical improvements in the domestically-made Saeqeh (Thunderbolt) warplane. According to IRNA, Deputy Commander of the IRIAF Abdollah Kashanifard said 26 September 2011 that enhancing military capabilities of the aircraft has been put high on the agenda of competent Iranian experts. Kashanifard went on to say that the unique design of the jet fighter, which is a light and efficient aircraft, has facilitated the process of supplying its weapons and accessories. The Iranian commander further explained that the pre-flight preparations for Saeqeh require fewer personnel and take less time in comparison with other types of warplanes. Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi announced the addition of three new indigenous Saeqeh (Thunderbolt) fighter jets to the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) fleet. “The building and delivery of new fighter jets will take place without delay and according to the preset schedule,” Vahidi said on May 14, 2012. Vahid added that the fighter jets can play an important role in boosting Iran's defense prowess and safeguarding its sovereignty.

A senior commander of the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) said 25 September 2012 that a new generation of indigenous Saeqeh fighter jets will join the Iranian Air Force fleet before the end of the year (March 20, 2013.) “The new generation of indigenous Saeqeh fighter jets is being produced and will soon join the Air Force fleet under a new name,” IRIAF Deputy Commander Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh noted on Monday. The commander added that the new fighter jets are more advanced than the current ones and have been optimized by the Iranian specialists. He noted that the new aircraft can be equipped with enhanced ammunitions, smart bombs and modern electronic systems.

In April 2012, IRIAF Deputy Commander for Coordination Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh said the country planned to build a new generation of the Saeqeh fighter jets with enhanced radar systems and smart munitions.

The Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) claimed to have started the mass production of the indigenous Saeqeh (Thunderbolt) fighter jets. A spokesman for the IRIAF announced on 07 January 2015 that the indigenously developed fighter jet "has already gone through mass production." Brigadier General Hossein Chitforoush said the IRIAF has built squadrons of Saeqeh and they are "going through their evolutionary process." Chitforoush said the fighter is continuously conducting reconnaissance missions across Iran.

In February 2015 Iran unveiled a new version of its supersonic fighter, Saeqeh-2. The aircraft can reportedly be used for combat and tactical missions, as well as advanced pilot training, according to Brigadier General Amir Hatami, Iran’s deputy defense minister. Saeqeh-2 jet is a twin seated aircraft as opposed to the sinngle-seat Saeqeh. Iran’s air force has 18 F-5F fighter jets which can be converted into Saeqeh-2.

28 Typhoons For Kuwait Air Force

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Kuwait Becomes Eighth Eurofighter Customer

Kuwait has ordered 28 Eurofighter Typhoon multirole combat aircraft for its Air Force. The order makes Kuwait the Typhoon's eighth customer to date

Kuwait is set to become the eighth nation equipped with Eurofighter Typhoon multirole combat aircraft.

Announced on 5 April 2016, a contract signed between Italy and Kuwait covers the supply of 28 Typhoons for the Kuwait Air Force. News of today’s Kuwaiti Typhoons contract follows an agreement involving the same two countries made public last September.

22 of these Kuwaiti Typhoons will be single-seat models: twin-seat models make up the balance. All will be examples of the latest ‘Tranche 3’ Typhoons, featuring state-of-the-start E-Scan radar technology. Two other Gulf Region nations – Saudi Arabia and Oman – are previous Typhoon customers.

Kuwaiti Typhoons Order

“We are delighted to officially welcome the State of Kuwait as a new member of the Eurofighter family”, Eurofighter CEO Volker Paltzo commented in the firm’s official Kuwaiti Typhoons order news release. He added: “The confirmation of this order is further testament of the growing interest in the Eurofighter Typhoon in the Gulf Region. It will enable Kuwait to benefit from the critical mass being developed in the Gulf and the many advantages that it brings to an Air Force in terms of interoperability, training and in-service support.”

BAE Systems, that makes the Typhoon’s forward fuselage, fin and flap components, has publicly approved this deal, stating: ‘We welcome the signing of the contract today between Italy and Kuwait for the supply of 28 Eurofighter Typhoons. The State of Kuwait will be the third country in the Middle East, and the eighth country overall to operate the aircraft. This confirms Typhoon’s position as the most advanced new generation swing role combat aircraft available today.’

Eurofighter Typhoon

Developed by a four-nation consortium – Germany, Italy, the UK and Spain - the Eurofighter Typhoon first flew on 27 March 1994. More than two decades later, some 470 Typhoon deliveries have since taken place.

The German Air Force, Italian Air Force, Royal Air Force, Spanish Air Force, Austrian Air Force and Royal Saudi Air Force all presently operate the type, while Oman’s 12 Typhoons – ordered in December 2012 – are still to be delivered. According to Eurofighter, 22 operational units are currently Typhoon-equipped. Furthermore, the world’s in-service Typhoons have so far accumulated some 330,000 flying hours.

Powered by two Eurojet EJ200 afterburning turbofan engines, each producing 20,227 pounds of thrust, the Typhoon has a top speed of 1,324 miles per hour (2,125 kilometres per hour) and a maximum range of 2,302 miles (3,705 kilometres). Operating at up to 42,540 feet (13,000 metres), it can be loaded with a variety of missiles and bombs. They include AIM-120 AMRAAM andAIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles and Paveway LGBs (laser-guided bombs). Other Typhoon armament includes a 27mm Mauser BK-27 cannon, which carries 150 rounds.

Kuwait Air Force

The Kuwait Air Force was formed in 1953. Today, it employs circa 5,000 personnel and has three air bases: Abdullah Al-Mubarak (its headquarters), Ali Al Salem and Ahmed Al Jaber.

The only Kuwait Air Force squadron based at Abdullah Al-Mubarak is 41 Transport Squadron, which operates the Lockheed Hercules’ L-100-300 version. Ali Al Salem is home to the middle eastern air arm’s number 12 and 19 training squadrons (flying the British Aerospace Hawk Mk64 and Short Tucano Mk52 trainers), 17 and 20 attack squadrons (equipped with Boeing AH-64D Apache helicopter gunships), 32 and 33 helicopter squadrons (Aerospatiale AS332B /AS332M Super Puma utility helicopters and SA342K Gazelle liaison helicopters) and 62 Utility Squadron (an Aerospatiale SA330H Puma transport helicopter unit).

Its two fighter and attack squadrons – numbers 9 and 25 – are located at Ahmed al Jaber. Both operate the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet’s C (single-seat) and D (twin-seat) versions.

Kuwait Air Force Typhoon images copyright Eurofighter – reproduced with grateful thanks

Israel's F-35I Fighter's C4 Systems Enter Production at IAI

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