aviation - the past, present and future of flight

Germany to Buy Six New Hercules

The US State Department has approved

the possible sale of six Lockheed Martin

C-130Js to the Luftwaffe. The German

government had requested permission to

purchase three C-130J-30 airlifters and a

trio of KC-130J aerial refuelling transports,

plus defensive electronic systems and

countermeasures, electro-optical/infra-red

(EO/IR) sensors, spares, training and other

equipment for the aircraft. The Luftwaffe

aircraft will become a component of a joint

Franco-German allied squadron based in

Évreux, France. The unit will operate ten

C-130Js and will achieve initial operating

capability in 2021. Tom Kaminski

Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II,18-0001,

the  rst example for the Turkish Air Force,

made its maiden  ight from Fort Worth, Texas,

on May 10. The  fth-generation  ghter was

 own by US Navy test pilot CDR Tony Wilson.

Turkey is expected to take delivery of its  rst

F-35A during an official handover event in the

US on June 21, with the  rst pair of aircraft

being scheduled for delivery to Turkey in

September 2019. The nation intends to buy

100 F-35s and is one of six prime Joint Strike

Fighter partner nations.

In further F-35 news, three examples

were delivered to Norway on May 23. They

were assisted in their Atlantic crossing by the

Mildenhall-based 100th Air Refueling Wing,

which supplied support via its Boeing KC-

135R Stratotanker force. (See page 42 for

more on the latter unit.)

Guto Bebb, the UK’s Minister for Defence

Procurement, visited RNAS Yeovilton in

Somerset on May 24 to witness the delivery

of the  rst Commando Merlin Mk4 for the

Royal Marines. The new helicopter has a

folding main rotor and tail, upgraded  ight

controls and a tactical computer, optimising

the aircraft for use from ships including the

Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers, which

are yet to enter service. In total, 25 will be

delivered to the Commando Helicopter Force

(CHF) – the air wing of the Royal Marines.

Mr Bebb said: “The Commando Merlin

will provide an essential bridge between

sea and land, supporting Royal Marines

Commandos operating from ships including

the UK’s two aircraft carriers. In support of

our carrier strike capability, these ship-

optimised aircraft will strengthen the ability

of the UK’s armed forces to protect our

national interests at home and overseas.”

The new variant of the Merlin is an

upgrade from the Mk3 and is being delivered

through the Merlin Life Sustainment

Programme contract between the MoD

Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S)

and Leonardo Helicopters. AVM Graham

Russell, director helicopters at DE&S said:

“DE&S is proud to have delivered the  rst

Merlin Mk4 to the Royal Navy. We look

forward to delivering all 25 aircraft by 2023.”

The delivery will allow aircrews to

familiarise themselves with the new variant

before it enters service, which is expected this

summer. When not deployed on operations

they will be based at Yeovilton, the home of

the CHF since it was formed in 1997.

MILITARY NEWS

10

Landmark CHF Merlin Delivery

Commando Merlin Mk4 ZJ129/N at Yeovilton on May 24. Mark Bryan

F-35A Lightning II, 18-0001, making its  rst  ight at Fort Worth on May 10. Jim Firmin

Turkish Lightning Takes Flight

Aviation News incorporating Jets July 2018

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