Aviation News
The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) is set to conduct a critical evaluation of the Saab Gripen fighter jet, focusing on its ability to operate from makeshift airstrips on public highways, the Nation reports. This test, scheduled for February, is a pivotal moment in the RTAF’s assessment of the Swedish-built Gripen E fighter as a potential replacement for its ageing fleet of F-16 aircraft.
Alert5, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
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The Hellenic Air Force has officially taken delivery of its 24th Rafale fighter jet, marking the completion of a significant acquisition program with France. The final single-seat aircraft, bearing the serial number 457, touched down at the 114th Combat Wing in Tanagra, after a non-stop flight from Mérignac, near Bordeaux. The aircraft was promptly handed over to the 332nd Squadron, which operates the advanced French-made fighters.
© Dassault Aviation – C. Cosmao
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The U.S. State Department has approved a significant Foreign Military Sale to Japan, involving the acquisition of 1,200 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs). The deal, estimated at a staggering $3.64 billion, includes both the AIM-120D-3 and AIM-120C-8 variants. This potential sale was officially communicated to Congress by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency on Jan. 2.
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In the aftermath of the catastrophic Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 crash at Muan International Airport on Dec. 29, 2024, which claimed the lives of 179 people, the South Korean military has taken swift action to ensure the safety of its own fleet of Boeing 737-based aircraft. The cause of the devastating accident remains under scrutiny, with investigators focusing on a potential issue with the landing gear.
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Israeli forces operating in southern Syria have recovered a key component of an Israeli Air Force (IAF) helicopter that crashed more than half a century ago. The discovery, announced on Dec. 23, brings a sense of closure to a tragic incident from the 1973 Yom Kippur War. The recovered part is the rotor head of an SA 321 Super Frelon helicopter, known in the IAF as the “Wasp”. This particular aircraft, designated number 17 in the IAF’s 114th Squadron, was involved in a deadly crash on Apr. 27, 1974, during a rescue mission.
Photo: Israel Defense Forces
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