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Scramble 469
undergoing various modifications to meet Finnish require-
ments, including an avionics and electronic systems upgrade,
this work being carried out by Patria Aviation Oy. Once this
is completed, they will replace the Valmet L-70 Vinka train-
ers in their current role. the allocated serials will be GO-1 to
GO-28. The exact tie-up is not yet known.
F-18C-50-MC
HN-419 IlmaStk ex HävLLv 11 1407/FNC019 may18
Grob G115E
GO-.. d/d 14mar18, ex RAF G-CGKM 82313E mar18
GO-.. d/d 14mar18, ex RAF G-CGKO 82315E mar18
GO-.. d/d 14mar18, ex RAF G-CGKT 82319E mar18
GO-.. d/d 14mar18, ex RAF G-CGKX 82323E mar18
Italy
Aeronautica Militare (AF)
AW139
I-AWTJ Leonardo ex 208° Gruppo 31087 may18
This civil registered AW139 was leased by the 208° Gruppo/72°
Stormo and was returned to Leonardo Elicotteri.
F-2000A
MM7322/36-40 936° GEA special NTM 2018 tail IS054 may18
MM7351/- Leonardo ex CSX7351/Leonardo IS077 may18
Eurofighter F-2000A MM7322 was adorned with a special blue
and white ‘351ª Squadriglia Tigri Bianche’ tail for the NTM
2018 at Poznan, Poland.
T-346A
CSX55145/- Leonardo ex 61-03/212° Gruppo apr18
TF-2000A
MM55133/4-36 Leonardo ex 37-33/18° Gruppo IT012 may18
Norway
Norske Luftforsvaret (AF)
Three new F-35A Lightning IIs have been delivered to Norway
on 22 May 2018. The three F-35As (serials 5205 to 5207) flew
straight from the Lockheed-Martin’s facility at Ft Worth (TX)
to Ørland Main Air Station, where they arrived just before
sunset.
F-35A-4
5205 NDMA d/d 22may18 AM-11
5206 NDMA d/d 22may18 AM-12
5207 NDMA d/d 22may18 AM-13
AW101
0270 OT&E d/d 25may18 50270/NOR05
Russia
Voyenno Vozdushnyye Sily (AF)
The Defense Ministry said a special modification of the MiG-31
interceptor was created for the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal («Dagger»)
air-defense missile system, the MiG-31K, which significantly
differs from the basic version. The Russian military has tested
the new air-launched hypersonic missile that reportedly can
travel as fast as Mach 10 over a distance as great as 1.200
miles, all while maneuvering. Now in the experimental-com-
bat operation there are about six MiG-31BM that were con-
verted to MiG-31K. They are based in Akhtubinsk (Astrakhan
region). New on-board equipment was installed. The radar
was removed from the MiG-31, while the fuel capacity grew
to allowe the MiG-31K to increase the time of patrolling. The
cabin of the crew was redesigned - systems were installed for
the management of new weapons. Also, new communication
equipment was needed to receive target designation signals.
The overall and weight characteristics of the missile have
led to the fact that the center of the mass of the aircraft has
changed, that is, the MiG-31K behaves differently in flight
than a conventional interceptor. Because of this, Russia had
to change the method of combat use and specifically train the
MiG-31K pilots to take off and land with a Kinzhal missile sus-
pended under the fuselage. As part of the «Dagger» complex,
the aircraft actually acts as a ‘first stage’. After receiving the
appropriate command, it accelerates and gains altitude and
only then performs the start. This allows several times to
increase the range and speed of the rocket. A unique target
designation system allows to enter a flight task for the missile
directly from the aircraft in real time. By the end of 2018,
Russian Air Force will form an aviation squadron with 10-12
MiG-31Ks especially modified for carrying the Kinzhal hyper-
sonic missile in one of its Fighter Regiments.
The Russian defense ministry has dropped earlier plans to
buy several Ilyushin Il-96-400TZ air tankers after the indus-
try failed to offer a cost-effective conversion of some air-
craft that were previously built as Il-96-400T commercial
freighters. Meantime, UAC’s Aviastar plant in Ulyanovsk has
completed the first Ilyushin Il-78M-90A air tanker that is
Belgian Air Force C-130H CH09 was at Lanzarote from 7 till 10 May with United Nations titles before departing to Bamako. In Mali the Hercules
is supporting the NH90 detachment. (10 May 2018, Malcolm Nason)
