DefenceTalkPainted grey and carrying national flags and yellow serial numbers on their tails, two Y-20 planes, China’s homegrown large transport aircraft, officially joined the People’s Liberation Army Air Force on Wednesday. With a maximum takeoff weight of around 200 tonnes, the Y-20 is ideal for transporting cargo and people over long distances in diverse weather […]https://www.defencetalk.com/chinese-large-freighter-plane-enters-military-service-67801/

DefenceTalkIndra will equip Spanish A400M aircraft with its InShield infrared countermeasure system (DIRCM or Directional InfraRed Counter Measures), to protect said aircraft from surface-to-air missile attacks. The contract awarded by the Ministry of Defense for the characterization and verification of the first unit is worth 4 million euros and will run until 2018. The Spanish […]https://www.defencetalk.com/indras-inshield-system-to-protect-spanish-a400m-aircraft-from-missile-attacks-67680/

DefenceTalkThe mass production of Y-20 heavy military transport aircraft is set to begin as early as this year. According to Chinese media, the aircraft will also join the military forces around the same time. According to the publications of Chinese military experts, the PLA may require no less than 100 heavy military transport aircraft for […]https://www.defencetalk.com/china-to-produce-home-made-jets-but-continue-to-rely-on-russian-il-76-67676/

DefenceTalkThe Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s Mobility Directorate signed a multiyear contract with Lockheed Martin to procure 78 C-130J Super Hercules with the option to buy up to 83 over the next five years. The agreement is the second multiyear contract for the C-130J and it saves the Defense Department about $680 million and […]https://www.defencetalk.com/new-usaf-c-130j-contract-to-save-dod-millions-67608/

DefenceTalkChina’s large transportation aircraft, Y-20, will finish test flights in 2016 and be delivered in bulk to the PLA before the end of this year, according to CCTV reports. China’s own domestically built military cargo jet, Y-20, will likely be put into service in the army this year, a military expert said in an interview […]https://www.defencetalk.com/chinas-y-20-aircraft-to-finish-test-flights-in-2016-67152/

DefenceTalkBAE Systems has been selected by the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) to develop a new electronic warfare system for the fleet of C-130J aircraft. The contract, worth more than $20 million, is the first phase of a multi-phase program to upgrade aircraft system survivability and the capability to detect, identify, locate, deny, degrade, disrupt, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/bae-systems-to-develop-electronic-warfare-suite-for-u-s-air-force-c-130j-fleet-66259/

DefenceTalkTINKER AIR FORCE BASE: KC-135R Stratotankers operated by the 507th Air Refueling Wing are scheduled to be the first Air Force Reserve Command tankers to be retrofitted with the new KC-135 Block 45 upgrade at the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex here in February 2016. The latest KC-135 upgrade, called Block 45, will completely remodel […]https://www.defencetalk.com/reserve-kc-135s-to-begin-upgrades-in-february-66205/

DefenceTalkFrench Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian confirmed Friday that Paris will buy four Lockheed Martin C-130J tactical transport planes, in a deal that was announced by the United States in November. The purchase, to compensate for a delay in deliveries of the Airbus A400M, was said to be worth $650 million (600 million euros). Le […]https://www.defencetalk.com/france-confirms-buying-four-c-130j-us-transport-planes-66221/

DefenceTalkAntonov Company and Тaqnia Aeronautics of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia signed a Memorandum of Understanding. This document confirms the parties’ intention to deliver 30 multipurpose AN-178 aircraft to Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF). According to Retired Major General Ali Mohammed Al−Ghamdi, President of Тaqnia Aeronautics, the “Signing of this Memorandum is the next significant […]https://www.defencetalk.com/antonov-to-deliver-30-an-178-transport-aircraft-to-saudi-arabia-66142/

DefenceTalkMARIETTA, Ga.: Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) delivered the 2,500th C-130 Hercules from its production line here today. This landmark Hercules is an HC-130J Combat King II personnel recovery aircraft assigned to the U.S. Air Force’s 71st Rescue Squadron, which is part of the 347th Rescue Group. A U.S. Air Force crew ferried the HC-130J to […]https://www.defencetalk.com/lockheed-martin-delivers-2500th-c-130-hercules-66067/