First flight of overhauled Georgian Air Forces Su-25

 Overhauled Su-25 CAS aircraft of the Georgian Air Forces make its first flight

South Korean Hanwha Defense MPUGV

South Korean Hanwha Defense Multi-Purpose Unmanned Ground Vehicle (MPUGV) at IDEX-2021. This was for the first time when this UGV shown in an overseas exhibition.

This electric-powered vehicle has top speed of 30km/h on paved road and has a payload capacity of 200kg for 14 hours on a single charge. Depending on the mission, operating time can be increased up to 72 hours. An upgraded 6x6 variant of the MPUGV is expected to be unveiled later this year.

Army demonstrates ERCA autoloader at Picatinny Arsenal

In this photo, the Army Vice Chief of Staff, Gen. Joseph M. Martin, observes the second demonstration of the Extended Range Canon Artillery.

The autoloader for the XM-1299 Extended Range Canon Artillery is intended to speed up the rate of fire for greater lethality.

 

Otokar Cobra II MRAP

Turkish company Otokar Otomotiv ve Savunma Sanayi unveiled its new Cobra II MRAP vehicle.

COBRA II - MRAP is a next generation MRAP vehicle which unites high level of survivability and mobility in a modular package. 

COBRA II - MRAP provides superior protection for the crew against ballistic, mine and IED threats while maintaining high cross-country mobility with its independent suspension system. The vehicle is specifically designed to provide high reliability, ease of maintenance and quick removal / installation of power pack.

With its modular design, COBRA II - MRAP provides high payload and spacious internal space for integration of weapon systems and mission equipment. COBRA II - MRAP can be configured with alternative seating layouts for up to 11 personnel with 3 or 5 door configurations as per specific user requirements.

F-35B Landed Aboard Italian Navy Aircraft Carrier ITS Cavour For The First Time

Two F-35B Lighting II jets landed aboard Italian aircraft carrier ITS Cavour (CVH 550) on March 1st, marking a first for the Italian Navy.

Italian Navy press release:

Departed on February 28 from the base of the US Navy’s Second Fleet in Norfolk, the Cavour ship has started the “hot” phase of the “Ready for Operations” campaign. The first landing of a US Marine Corps F-35B aircraft on the deck of the Navy aircraft carrier represents a fundamental step in the long and complex certification process for the use of the new aircraft.

The completion of the “Sea Trials” phase of sea trials, which will last in the Atlantic Ocean for about four weeks, will allow the flagship of the Naval Team to test the flight deck and verify the impacts with the fifth-generation aircraft in key take-off and landing moments in different trim conditions and in relation to various factors such as winds and the state of the sea, to arrive at the final certification of “Ready for Operations”. 

Turkey is negotiating with a foreign supplier for a Altay tank engine

Turkey is in negotiations with a country to procure engines for its domestic main battle tank Altay, which will soon be integrated into the tank, according to Defense Industries Presidency (SSB) Chairperson Ismail Demir.

Demir told Turkish broadcaster NTV Wednesday that the problem regarding the engine of the tank will soon be solved and that the engine production with local means will also continue simultaneously.

The SSB head previously revealed that the prototypes of both the engine that will power the Altay and another type for light armored vehicles will be ready this year, though the tank will initially use a power unit purchased from abroad.

The prototype for the Altay was unveiled at a 2011 defense show in Istanbul. The next-generation battle tank, which is set to become the Turkish Armed Forces’ (TSK) most important frontline vehicle, was named after army Gen. Fahrettin Altay, who commanded the Fifth Cavalry Corps during the Turkish War of Independence.

Previously, Altay's prototype was powered by a 1,500 horsepower diesel engine from Germany's MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH. The German Rheinmetall has also established a joint venture with Turkey’s land vehicles producer BMC aimed to establish joint production of armored vehicles, particularly the main battle tank, Altay; however, the production and supply of the tank engine came to a halt following Berlin’s decision to limit arms exports to Turkey, a long-term NATO ally.

Turkey had hoped to power the Altay with the German MTU engine and RENK transmission, but talks with German manufacturers over the past couple of years failed due to a federal arms embargo on Turkey. Germany is one of a number of European governments that have limited exports to Turkey over its involvement in the Syrian civil war.

According to the last year announcement, this engine will be the South Korean Doosan Infracore DV27K , 4-cycle, 12-cylinder water-cooled diesel engine with 1500 hp.

Maiden Flight of Boeing Loyal Wingman Uncrewed Aircraft

Successful test progresses Royal Australian Air Force’s teaming aircraft program

AUSTRALIA, March 1, 2021 – Boeing [NYSE:BA] Australia and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) have successfully completed the first test flight of the Loyal Wingman uncrewed aircraft.

The flight of the first military aircraft to be designed and manufactured in Australia in more than 50 years flew under the supervision of a Boeing test pilot monitoring the aircraft from a ground control station at the Woomera Range Complex.

“The Loyal Wingman’s first flight is a major step in this long-term, significant project for the Air Force and Boeing Australia, and we’re thrilled to be a part of the successful test,” said Air Vice-Marshal Cath Roberts, RAAF Head of Air Force Capability. “The Loyal Wingman project is a pathfinder for the integration of autonomous systems and artificial intelligence to create smart human-machine teams.

“Through this project we are learning how to integrate these new capabilities to complement and extend air combat and other missions,” she said.

Following a series of taxi tests validating ground handling, navigation and control, and pilot interface, the aircraft completed a successful takeoff under its own power before flying a pre-determined route at different speeds and altitudes to verify flight functionality and demonstrate the performance of the Airpower Teaming System design.

“Boeing and Australia are pioneering fully integrated combat operations by crewed and uncrewed aircraft,” said Boeing Defense, Space & Security President and CEO Leanne Caret. “We’re honored to be opening this part of aviation’s future with the Royal Australian Air Force, and we look forward to showing others how they also could benefit from our loyal wingman capabilities.”

With support from more than 35 Australian industry teams and leveraging Boeing’s innovative processes, including model-based engineering techniques, such as a digital twin to digitally flight-test missions, the team was able to manufacture the aircraft from design to flight in three years.

This first Loyal Wingman aircraft is serving as the foundation for the Boeing Airpower Teaming System being developed for various global defense customers. The aircraft will fly alongside other platforms, using artificial intelligence to team with existing crewed and uncrewed assets to complement mission capabilities.

Additional Loyal Wingman aircraft are currently under development, with plans for teaming flights scheduled for later this year.

Iran defence ministry delivered a series of aircraft to Iran Air Force

Defence ministry of Iran has delivered a series of overhauled aircraft to the armed forces. 

These include:

• B-747
• C-130
• F-27
• Mirage F-1
• F-14
• F-4

Helicopters: 

• Bell-206/212/214
• AH-1
• Mi-17