Aviation News
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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A new airfield is rapidly taking shape on the Yemeni island of Abd al-Kuri, a strategically positioned landmass near vital shipping lanes at the mouth of the Gulf of Aden, according to analysis of satellite imagery by both the Associated Press (AP) and The Maritime Executive. This development comes amid escalating conflict in the region, with Houthi rebels continuing their attacks on ships in the crucial Mideast waterways. The construction, which has not been publicly claimed by any nation, raises significant questions about its purpose and potential impact on regional power dynamics.
Source: Sentinel-2
Continue reading “Mysterious airfield emerges on Yemeni Island amid regional tensions”
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.
Continue reading “South Korean military inspects Boeing 737s after fatal crash”
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has achieved a major milestone with the delivery of the first two production LAH-1 ‘Mir-on’ light armed helicopters to the Republic of Korea Army. This event marks the culmination of a development program that began in June 2015, and the successful completion of the development phase in November 2022. The initial delivery is part of a broader plan to fully integrate the helicopters into the Army’s forces by 2031, replacing the ageing 500MD and AH-1S Cobra fleets.
Photo: KAI
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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
Continue reading “Israeli troops in Syria recover rotor head of 1974 crash”