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http://www.airforcesmonthly.com #358 JANUARY 2018 // 11

IN EARLY November 2017,
Russian Helicopters won
an official tender from the
Hungarian government for
the overhaul of 12 Mi-24s
for the Magyar Légier ̋o
(Hungarian Air Force).
Valued at nearly €70m,

the deal provides for the

complete overhaul of the

airframes and the engines

and crew training. The

contractor is to return the

helicopters to Hungary

within ten months.

The Hind last flew in

Hungary in 2012 before

being grounded. In 2016

the Hungarian government

decided that all Russian-

made helicopters with

adequate time on their

airframes, including the

remaining Mi-17s, would be

overhauled. The same year,

four Mi-17s (serials 702, 703,

704, 705) were transported

to Novosibirsk Aircraft

Repair Plant and a fifth

(serial 701) was sent a year

later. The first four returned

to Hungary in May 2017.

Volga-Dnepr began

transferring the Mi-24s to

Russia on November 22,

when An-124 RA-

landed at Kecskemét air

base to pick up Mi-24V

serials 711 and 720 and

Mi-24Ps 335 and 366.

They were flown to St

Petersburg the same day

for overhaul at the 419th

Aviation Repair Plant.

A further four Mi-24Ps

were transported a few

days later. All former East

German aircraft, they were

last flown more than 20

years ago, before being

donated to Hungary in 1995.

Although never receiving

Hungary colours, they have

been marked with their

future serials. For example,

the East German serial 415

will become 334, because

Hungary uses the ‘last

three’ of the factory number,

in this case c/n 340334.

Four more Mi-24s were

due to be transported to

Russia before the end

of 2017. All 12 will be

provided with another five-

to-six years of service

or 2,000 flight-hours.

Benedek Levente

RNoAF F-35A deliveries and runway tests

Above: Maj Jonathan ‘Spades’ Gilbert, US Air Force F-35 test pilot, demonstrates the handling qualities of the F-35A during icy runway ground runs at Eielson

AFB, Alaska. This is part of the certifi cation process for the drag chute requested by the Norwegian government. Lockheed Martin

THE FIRST three F-35As

for the Royal Norwegian

Air Force touched down

at Ørland flystasjon on

November 3, 2017. The

Lightning IIs had departed

Lockheed Martin’s Fort

Worth, Texas facility at

0635hrs Norwegian time

the same day. The first jet,

escorted by two RNoAF

F-16s, touched down in

Norway at 1557hrs.

An official ceremony

celebrating the arrival of

the fighters – serials 5148

(AM-08, 15-5148), 5149

(AM-09, 15-5149) and 5150

(AM-10, 15-5150) – took

place on November 10.

“We mark the start of a

new era for the Norwegian

Armed Forces,” said

Norway’s Minister of

Defence Frank Bakke-

Jensen. “The new combat

aircraft will be a key factor

in deterring any attack on

Norway, as well as ensuring

that we meet our obligations

to the NATO alliance.”

Norway has taken delivery

of 10 F-35s to date, three

of which are now at Ørland

and seven stationed at Luke

Air Force Base, Arizona,

where Norwegian pilots are

conducting training. Norway

plans to purchase up to

52 F-35 aircraft of which

four will be permanently

based at Luke. From 2018,

Norway will receive six

aircraft annually up until,

and including, 2024.

Poland seeks

new fi ghters

POLAND BEGAN the
process of buying a new
fighter on November 23,

2017. The early stages
      involve an analysis
      of potential options.
      Companies willing to
      take part in the future
      competition have been
      encouraged to send
      information about their
      aircraft. A request for
      information (RFI) will be
      issued later, based on
      the preliminary study and
      an internal analysis by
      the military. Companies
      had until December 18
      to send their data.
      A paper published by the
      Armament Inspectorate
      requests a multi-role

aircraft capable of

supporting the land forces,

navy and special forces.

Additionally, companies

can send information about

their solutions for airborne

electronic jamming

as part of a separate

programme. It is expected

that Poland will eventually

buy around 48 new

aircraft and the probable

candidates are the F-16V,

Gripen E and Typhoon.

Krzysztof Kuska

Right: Although well-

maintained and upgraded,

the Soviet-era MiG-29 and

Su-22 require replacement.

Poland employs 48 F-16s

that are the backbone of the

air force. Piotr Łysakowski

Hungarian Hinds head for overhaul

Magyar Légier ̋o Mi-24P ‘Hind-F’ serial 366 (340336) is prepared for loading in Volga-Dnepr

An-124 RA-82047 for the transfer to Russia. Benedek Levente