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Third RAAF F-35 Makes First Flight

05 Desember 2017 A35-003 takes off from Fort Worth. (photo : AustralianAviationCarl Richards) The Royal Australian Air Force’s third F-35A Lightning II, A35-003, has completed its first flight. Photographer Carl Richards captured these images of A35-003 taking off on its first flight, from Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, on December 1. The aircraft is due to be delivered to Luke Air Force Base, Arizona in early 2018 to be used for pilot and maintainer training, before being permanently relocated to Australia in 2020. A35-003, known to its manufacturer Lockheed Martin as AU-3, had its RAAF markings, including its 3 Squadron tail flashes, applied in early November, the final phase of the aircraft’s production process. 3 Squadron is due to become the first RAAF F-35 operational unit. ( AustralianAviation )

15th Strike Wing will Operate 6 Brand-New Super Tucanos

04 Desember 2017


A-29 Super Tucano (photo : Rafael Nunes)

PAF unit to get 6 'Super Tucanos'

MANILA -- Once delivered in 2019, the six brand-new Embraer A-29 "Super Tucano" light attack aircraft will be turned over to the Philippine Air Force’s (PAF) 15th Strike Wing, a defense official said.

"They will be turned over and maintained by the 15th Strike Wing, the PAF's end-user," Department of National Defense (DND) public affairs office chief Arsenio Andolong told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) in an interview late Friday.

Andolong said the A-29 is a durable, versatile, and highly advanced aircraft capable of carrying out a wide range of missions.

"(It can) even (operate) on unimproved runways," he added.

The 15th Strike Wing, based in Sangley Point, Cavite City, is the operator of all the Air Force's ground attack aircraft, including the venerable Rockwell OV-10 "Broncos" and assorted armed helicopters.

Earlier, Andolong announced that Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer Defense and Security has been selected by the DND as the supplier of the six brand-new close air support aircraft (CASA), with a contract of PHP4.96 billion.

"Yes. A Notice to Proceed for the supply and delivery of six close air support aircraft has been transmitted to and received by Embraer Defense and Security," Andolong said when asked to confirm whether the contract was indeed bagged by Embraer.

"The aircraft that was selected after a rigorous public bidding process that was participated in by several manufacturers from different countries was the Super Tucano A-29, which is compliant with the stringent technical specifications required by the PAF," he added.

Andolong said the contract is being crafted for signing by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana. The six brand-new CASA, once delivery begins in 2019, is expected to augment or replace the eight to 10 ageing Rockwell OV-10s being used by the PAF in close-air support missions.

Funds will be sourced from the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Modernization Act Trust Fund. 

(PNA)

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