Britain’s F-35 Carrier
The first of two new UK Royal Navy aircraft carriers, the HMS Queen Elizabeth, was formally commissioned into service on Dec. 7. Built by the Babcock/BAE Systems/Thales Aircraft Carrier Alliance, the 65,000-ton ship was launched in July 2017. The Lockheed Martin F-35B Joint Strike Fighter is scheduled to embark on the ski-jump-equipped carrier for first-of-class flight trials toward the end of 2018.
A Different MiG
The updated MiG-35 multirole fighter for the Russian Air Force made its public debut in January, with manufacturer MiG unveiling an aircraft that differs in detail from the MiG-35 first shown in 2007. The aircraft is an upgraded MiG-29 with enlarged wing and tail, additional underwing weapon stations and improved radar, infrared sensor and electronic warfare system.
Turkey’s Stealthy TF-X
BAE Systems in January signed an agreement to assist Turkish Aerospace Industries in development of the indigenous TF-X fighter, paving the way for a contract worth more than £123 million ($165 million) to the UK company. The agreement was ratified in May and a TFX prototype is planned to fly by 2023. A choice of powerplant for the twin-engine fighter is planned early in 2018.
Taiwanese Trainer
Taiwan is to develop an advanced trainer, the XT-5, based on the AIDC F-CK-1 indigenous fighter (pictured). A contract was awarded in February to the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology. A prototype is expected to fly in 2020, and 66 aircraft are slated to be procured to replace Taiwan’s AT-3s and F-5s by 2026.
Ukraine-Saudi Transport
Antonov’s modernized An-132D light transport made a 1-hr. 50-min. first flight from Kiev, Ukraine, on March 31, powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada PW150A turboprops. The aircraft is being developed jointly with Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology and Taqnia Aeronautics, which plans to build it locally.
Franco-German Fighter
France and Germany in July announced high-level plans to collaborate on development of a new combat aircraft as part of a strengthened defense agreement between the countries. They also signed a letter of intent to develop a maritime patrol aircraft. Airbus later unveiled a future airpower concept that combines a low-observable manned fighter with small unmanned combat aircraft.
Next-Generation Gripen
Saab’s JAS 39E Gripen E fighter made its first flight on June 15. The prototype, coded 39-8, made a 40-min. flight from the company’s development facility at Linkoping, Sweden. The Gripen E has a more powerful General Electric F414G engine, increased maximum takeoff weight and internal fuel capacity, extra hardpoints, new avionics and a Leonardo Raven ES-05 active, electronically scanned array radar.
Light Attack Experiment
Four aircraft underwent assessment by the U.S. Air Force beginning Aug. 9 under its OA-X light attack experiment: The Sierra Nevada Corp./Embraer A-29 Super Tucano (pictured) and Textron Aviation’s Beechcraft AT-6 Wolverine, as well as the L3 Technologies/Air Tractor AT-802L Longsword and Textron’s twin-jet Scorpion. The follow-on Combat Dragon III operation demonstration will involve the A-29 and AT-6.
Scaled’s Latest
Scaled Composites flew its latest experimental aircraft, the Model 401, on Oct. 11 for an unidentified “proprietary customer,” to demonstrate low-cost manufacturing techniques. Scaled has built two of the Mach 0.6 aircraft, which is powered by a 3,045-lb.-thrust Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D-15D.
Forward-Swept Trainer
The Russian Aerospace Forces in October announced it will replace its Czech-made Aero Vodochody L-39 jet trainers with a new aircraft, the SR-10 from small design bureau KB SAT. The light jet with forward-swept wings will serve as the service’s new initial trainer. First deliveries are planned for 2018.
Advanced AEW&C
Russia’s Beriev A-100 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft made its first flight from Taganrog on Nov. 18. The A-100 is based on an Ilyushin Il-76MD-90A airlifter, with an active, electronically scanned array radar developed by Vega Corp. in the rotodome. The aircraft is to begin replacing the A-50 and A-50U in 2020.
Modernized Tanker
United Aircraft Corp. rolled out the first modernized Ilyushin Il-78M-90A tanker for the Russian Air Force at the Aviastar SP plant in Ulyanovsk at the end of November. Powered by Aviadvigitel PS-90A-76 turbofans, the four-engine tanker is based on the modernized Il-76MD-90A military airlifter.
Production Tanker
Britain’s F-35 Carrier
The first of two new UK Royal Navy aircraft carriers, the HMS Queen Elizabeth, was formally commissioned into service on Dec. 7. Built by the Babcock/BAE Systems/Thales Aircraft Carrier Alliance, the 65,000-ton ship was launched in July 2017. The Lockheed Martin F-35B Joint Strike Fighter is scheduled to embark on the ski-jump-equipped carrier for first-of-class flight trials toward the end of 2018.
A Different MiG
The updated MiG-35 multirole fighter for the Russian Air Force made its public debut in January, with manufacturer MiG unveiling an aircraft that differs in detail from the MiG-35 first shown in 2007. The aircraft is an upgraded MiG-29 with enlarged wing and tail, additional underwing weapon stations and improved radar, infrared sensor and electronic warfare system.
Turkey’s Stealthy TF-X
BAE Systems in January signed an agreement to assist Turkish Aerospace Industries in development of the indigenous TF-X fighter, paving the way for a contract worth more than £123 million ($165 million) to the UK company. The agreement was ratified in May and a TFX prototype is planned to fly by 2023. A choice of powerplant for the twin-engine fighter is planned early in 2018.
Taiwanese Trainer
Taiwan is to develop an advanced trainer, the XT-5, based on the AIDC F-CK-1 indigenous fighter (pictured). A contract was awarded in February to the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology. A prototype is expected to fly in 2020, and 66 aircraft are slated to be procured to replace Taiwan’s AT-3s and F-5s by 2026.
Ukraine-Saudi Transport
Antonov’s modernized An-132D light transport made a 1-hr. 50-min. first flight from Kiev, Ukraine, on March 31, powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada PW150A turboprops. The aircraft is being developed jointly with Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology and Taqnia Aeronautics, which plans to build it locally.
Franco-German Fighter
France and Germany in July announced high-level plans to collaborate on development of a new combat aircraft as part of a strengthened defense agreement between the countries. They also signed a letter of intent to develop a maritime patrol aircraft. Airbus later unveiled a future airpower concept that combines a low-observable manned fighter with small unmanned combat aircraft.
Next-Generation Gripen
Saab’s JAS 39E Gripen E fighter made its first flight on June 15. The prototype, coded 39-8, made a 40-min. flight from the company’s development facility at Linkoping, Sweden. The Gripen E has a more powerful General Electric F414G engine, increased maximum takeoff weight and internal fuel capacity, extra hardpoints, new avionics and a Leonardo Raven ES-05 active, electronically scanned array radar.
Light Attack Experiment
Four aircraft underwent assessment by the U.S. Air Force beginning Aug. 9 under its OA-X light attack experiment: The Sierra Nevada Corp./Embraer A-29 Super Tucano (pictured) and Textron Aviation’s Beechcraft AT-6 Wolverine, as well as the L3 Technologies/Air Tractor AT-802L Longsword and Textron’s twin-jet Scorpion. The follow-on Combat Dragon III operation demonstration will involve the A-29 and AT-6.
Scaled’s Latest
Scaled Composites flew its latest experimental aircraft, the Model 401, on Oct. 11 for an unidentified “proprietary customer,” to demonstrate low-cost manufacturing techniques. Scaled has built two of the Mach 0.6 aircraft, which is powered by a 3,045-lb.-thrust Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D-15D.
Forward-Swept Trainer
The Russian Aerospace Forces in October announced it will replace its Czech-made Aero Vodochody L-39 jet trainers with a new aircraft, the SR-10 from small design bureau KB SAT. The light jet with forward-swept wings will serve as the service’s new initial trainer. First deliveries are planned for 2018.
Advanced AEW&C
Russia’s Beriev A-100 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft made its first flight from Taganrog on Nov. 18. The A-100 is based on an Ilyushin Il-76MD-90A airlifter, with an active, electronically scanned array radar developed by Vega Corp. in the rotodome. The aircraft is to begin replacing the A-50 and A-50U in 2020.
Modernized Tanker
United Aircraft Corp. rolled out the first modernized Ilyushin Il-78M-90A tanker for the Russian Air Force at the Aviastar SP plant in Ulyanovsk at the end of November. Powered by Aviadvigitel PS-90A-76 turbofans, the four-engine tanker is based on the modernized Il-76MD-90A military airlifter.
Production Tanker
Britain’s F-35 Carrier
The first of two new UK Royal Navy aircraft carriers, the HMS Queen Elizabeth, was formally commissioned into service on Dec. 7. Built by the Babcock/BAE Systems/Thales Aircraft Carrier Alliance, the 65,000-ton ship was launched in July 2017. The Lockheed Martin F-35B Joint Strike Fighter is scheduled to embark on the ski-jump-equipped carrier for first-of-class flight trials toward the end of 2018.
An eventful year for military aircraft programs, 2017 saw the launch of Turkish fighter and Taiwanese advanced trainer programs, Franco-German cooperation and the continued modernization of the Russian Air Force. We review the year’s milestones.
