At the Paris Air Show in June TAI revealed its concept for the
Turkish Air Force’s TF-X future fighter. TAI plans to have rolled out a
prototype by 2023 with first flight taking place during 2025 with
deliveries starting in 2028. The fighter is intended to replace the
Turkish Air Force fleet of F-16s.UKRAINESerial notes – Ukraine Air Force
L-39ZA Albatross
On 2nd July 2019 a L-39ZA was written off after being caught in the
wake of another aircraft causing the pilot to loose control. The aircraft
crashed near Starovirivka, Kharkiv region and the pilot managed to
eject safely.AFRICA
LIBYASerial notes – Libyan Air Force
L-39ZO Albatross
Serial Remarks
9444/9435 Misrata Air Academy – Made an emergency landing on a
rural road in the Beni Khadash aera, Tunisia on 22/7/19
Rather interesting was that the aircraft carried two serials of 9435
and 9444 which seem to suggest a ‘cut and shut’ has been
undertaken.MADAGASCARSerial notes – Madagascar Air Force
Airbus CN235M-10
Serial msn Remarks
5R-MUQ C008 ex ZU-SOO, ZS-SOO, N124CL, 5V-MBM,
N820CA, Botswana Defence Force OG1.
This was delivered in late June 2019 – it had originally been intended
for the Togolese Air Force as 5V-MBM but this deal did not take place.MIDDLE EAST
IRANSerial notes – Islamic Republic of Iran Army Aviation (IRIAA)
Qods Mohajer 6 UAS
Three of these indigenously manufactured UAS systems have been
delivered to the IRIAA recently. The type was introduced into Iranian
service during 2018 and reported serials to date are as follows:
Serial Remarks
P071A1111-004 Prototype
P071A-002 Serial reported
P071A-006 Serial reported
P071A-007 Serial reported
P071A-009 Serial reported
P071A-020 Noted at Eqtedar 40 defence exhibition in Tehran
1/19.
P071A-021 Noted at Kish Air Show 11/18
P071A-030 Serial reported
If serials run concurrently the above would suggest some thirty UASs
have been built to date.ISRAELThe Israeli government submitted a Letter of Request on 16th May
2019 for two KC-46 tankers and options on an additional six aircraft.
Delivery would take place sometime during 2022-2023 and they will
be used to start replac ement of the ageing Boeing 707 tankers.
On 1st July 2019 Sde Dov Airport ceased all operations and will be
redeveloped as it is valuable beachfront land. The airport, along with
civil operations, had been home to a number of Israeli Air Force
squadrons – 100 Squadron ‘The Flying Camel Squadron’ operating
Beech 200 Zufit, RC-12 Kookiyah and A36 Chofit, and 249 SquadronSerial notes – Royal Netherlands Air Force
F-35A Lightning II
Serial msn Remarks
F-008 AN-08 FMS 17-5307; Delivered to 308th Fighter
Squadron, Luke AFB 25/7/19
This is the final US built F-35A for the Royal Netherlands Air Force.
Netherlands Government
Boeing 737-700BBJ
Serial msn l/n Remarks
PH-GOV 64790 6845 ex N513BJ; Delivered
18/6/19 to Woensdrecht,
Netherlands
It will be operated by KLM and be based at Schiphol IA P.
PORTUGALOn 11th July 2019 the Portuguese Government announced the
purchase of five Embraer KC-390 trasnports to replace its fleet of
C-130H Hercules. The first aircraft are due for delivery during 2023.
Serial notes – Portuguese Air Force
F-16AM
Serial msn Remarks
15142 61-545 FMS 82-0952; destined for Romania
15143 61-597 FMS 82-1004; destined for Romania
F-16BM
Serial msn Remarks
15144 62-99 FMS 82-1033; destined for Romania
ROMANIAOn 3rd July 2019 it was announced that Romania would be purchasing
a further five ex Portuguese Air Force F-16s – comprising of four
F-16AM and one F-16BM.
RUSSIAOn 29th July 2019 the Sukhoi Aircraft Company announced that it had
started building of the first production version of the Su-57 for the
Russian Federation – Aerospace Forces (RF VKS). During June the
company had been awarded a contract to manufacture 76 Su-57s –
deliveries are to take place over the period 2019–2028.
Serial notes – Russian Armed Forces
Mil Mi-28NM
Serial Bort no Remarks
RF-13489 70 red noted 7/19 at Rostov-on-Don
RF-13490 71 red noted 7/19 at Rostov-on-Don
These are the first two from a test batch of eight Mi-28NM ordered
12/17. They will be followed by 98 helicopters ordered 27/6/19.
SLOVAKIAA contract signed recently will see the Slovak Air Force fleet of MiG-29s
receiving an upgrade by RSK MiG. The ten MiG-29As and two MiG-
29UBs will be upgraded in order to remain in service until delivery of
the F-16V due for delivery between 2022 and 2023.
TURKEYI am sure you may have noted that Turkey has been removed from the
F-35 Lightning II programme as announced on 17th July 2019.
The reason is primarily due to Turkey’s decision to purchase the
Russian S-400 air defence system which as far as the US is concerned
will compromise the F-35’s advanced capabilities. All Turkish pilot
training on the F-35A at Luke AFB was terminated as of 10th June 2019.
Lockheed Martin announced on 23rd July 2019 that it will remove
Turkey from the F-35 supply chain by 2020, meaning that some 900
components/assemblies will now be redistributed to other F-35
program partners. Several countries are interested in the 100 aircraft
that were originally intended for the Turkish Air Force.