QUICKROUNDUP

AEROMARINE INTELLIGENT EQUIPMENT COMPANY

A new HK-5000G UAV with folding wings and the potential to be deployed on China’s third aircraft carrier, made its debut at Airshow China 2018 in Zhuhai. It was on display at the booth of the Aeromarine Intelligent Equipment Company, a subsidiary of the China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation.

AIRBUS

The first Airbus A330-800 development aircraft to fly, MSN1888, landed at Toulouse-Blagnac, France after successfully completing its first flight which lasted for four hours and four minutes. The aircraft, the second member of the A330neo Family, is powered by the latest technology Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 turbofans.

AUSTRALIA

Australia’s Minister for Defence, Christopher Pyne and Minister for Defence Industry, Steven Ciobo, have announced the selection of the General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper variant as the system which best meets the capability requirements for Australia’s first armed remotely piloted aircraft system.

BAHRAIN AND BELL HELICOPTER

At the Bahrain International Airshow, Bahrain and Bell Helicopter finalised a contract to acquire a dozen AH-1Z attack helicopters. Manama was first approved for the sale of the helicopters in April 2018, when the US State Department announced it had approved the potential sale of a dozen AH-1Zs to Bahrain at an estimated cost of $911.4 million.

CAAA

The Chinese Academy of Aerospace and Aerodynamics (CAAA) under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp (CASC) has unfurled the CH-10 tilt-rotor UAV. The CH10 is a new unmanned aerial vehicle integrating helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft technology, according to a statement sent exclusively to the Global Times on October 31.

EUROFIGHTER

A Royal Air Force Typhoon has received special markings to mark the global fleet of Eurofighter aircraft passing the 500,000 flying hours mark underscoring the fact that today, the Eurofighter Typhoon is the backbone of NATO’s European air defence.

GE AVIATION

General Electric Aviation, Ohio, has been awarded a $273,509,940 firm-fixed-price requirements type contract for Service Life Extension Programme conversion kits to upgrade Egyptian Air Force F-16, F110-GE-100 engines. Work is expected to be completed by October 30, 2023.

IRAN

Iran’s state television has said that Iran has begun the

mass production of a locally designed fighter jet. Iran unveiled its Kowsar fighter jet in August 2018. Iran already has both US-made jet fighters and Russian-made Sukhoi aircraft in service. Defence Minister Amir Hatami said the production line highlights the capabilities of Iranian experts despite “sanctions by enemies.”