tirsdag 28. februar 2023
Dronepakke a la grande til Ukraina fra USA - UAS Vision
Ukraine Gets Huge Boost in Deadly Drone Capabilities from US
The U.S. military has announced a new aid package for Ukraine that is packed with drones and loitering munitions, among other things. This includes AeroVironment Switchblade 600s and Jump 20s, CyberLux K8s, and Area-I ALTIUS-600s.
This appears to be the first time the latter three types have been
included in a tranche of American military assistance for the Ukrainian armed
forces. The ALTIUS-600s, especially, could give Ukrainian forces all-new
long-range precision strike capabilities, among other potential benefits.
The Pentagon formally announced the new aid for Ukraine’s military, which is valued at
approximately $2 billion in total, earlier today. The U.S. government is
providing this particular package as part of the Ukraine Security Assistance
Initiative (USAI). Unlike U.S. military assistance that comes in the form
of so-called ‘drawdowns,’ which involve transferring materiel straight from its own stocks,
USAI provides funds to make direct purchases to support Ukraine.
A full list of the new aid package’s contents as provided by the U.S.
Department of Defense is as follows:
- Additional ammunition for High Mobility
Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS)
- Additional 155mm artillery
rounds
- Munitions for laser-guided rocket systems
- CyberLux K8 UAS
- Switchblade 600 UAS
- Altius-600 UAS
- Jump 20 UAS
- Counter-UAS and electronic warfare detection
equipment
- Mine clearing equipment
- Secure communications
support equipment
- Funding for training, maintenance, and
sustainment
The drones and loitering munitions are clearly the standout items here.
The Pentagon has previously announced plans to acquire Switchblade 600s
for Ukraine under USAI. Jump 20s, ALTIUS-600s, and CyberLux K8s have not been
included in any prior U.S. military aid packages for the Ukrainian armed forces,
at least according to what the Pentagon has disclosed to date.
The Switchblade 600 anti-tank loitering
munitionAeroVironment’s Switchblade is evolved from the company’s smaller Switchblade 300s, examples of which Ukraine has also received straight from U.S.
military stocks. Both Switchblade types are man-portable, tube-launched
loitering munitions, also referred to as kamikaze drones.
In addition, the Switchblade 600 carries the same warhead as the Javelin anti-tank guided
missile, giving it heavy anti-armor capabilities
that its predecessor does not have. The drone’s range and highly automated
targeting capabilities give it significant advantages over the multitude of infantry anti-tank
missiles, including the Javelin, that Ukrainian
forces have access to now. The biggest advantage is that they can fly well
behind the front lines and hunt and kill main battle tanks, even ones that are
hiding behind cover. This is a vastly different capability than anti-tank
guided missiles that need line of sight from the individual firing the weapon
or the platform to work.
In other words, Switchblade 600 leaves Russia’s heaviest armour
vulnerable up to two dozen miles behind enemy lines and virtually anywhere in
Russian-controlled territory when operated by clandestine forces located behind
enemy lines.
The vertical takeoff and landing Jump 20
The Jump 20 is a vertical takeoff and landing capable design primarily
intended for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions.
Contractor-operated examples of the Jump 20 have supported U.S. special
operations forces for years now, and
the type was selected last year by the U.S. Army as part of its replacement plan for the aging RQ-7 Shadow.
It has a maximum range of 185 kilometers (just shy of 115 miles) and
can remain aloft for at least 14 hours.
Jump 20 has a demonstrated capability to drop expandable payloads, too.
This includes the ability to air-launch AeroVironment’s Switchblade 300 loitering munition and employ Northrop Grumman’s Hatchet miniature precision
glide bomb. Last year, the company
said it was working on a concept to allow a Jump 20 to release a Switchblade
600.
Routes in Brief: Rolling Daily Updates: Feb. 28, 2023 - AW&ST
Credit: Rob Finlayson
Feb. 28
Transatlantic carrier Norse Atlantic Airways has unveiled four new routes from London Gatwick (LGW). Flights to Washington Dulles (IAD) will launch on June 1, operating up to six times per week, with a daily route to Los Angeles (LAX) starting on June 30. Service to San Francisco (SFO) will start the following day, operating 3X-weekly, and a 5X-weekly link to Boston (BOS) will be added on Sept. 2. “The Norse team are disruptors,” CEO Bjorn Tore Larsen said. “This marks an important day for the UK aviation industry and for consumers as we celebrate serving more destinations to the U.S. from London Gatwick this summer than any other airline.”
Italy’s ITA Airways is increasing frequencies between Rome Fiumicino (FCO) and New York John F Kennedy (JFK). From June 1, service will rise to 3X-daily using Airbus A330s. The airline said North America is “at the center” of its investments for summer 2023. A new route from Rome to Washington Dulles will start on June 5, operating five times per week that will rise to daily in August, while service to San Francisco starts on July 1 with 3X-weekly frequencies, growing to 5X-weekly in August.
Emerald Airlines, operator of Aer Lingus Regional flights, is launching a new route between Belfast City (BHD) and Isle of Man (IOM). Service will commence on April 24, operating four times per week, increasing to 6X-weekly during the peak summer season. Defunct UK regional carrier Flybe previously operated the route for a short time during October and November 2022. Emerald’s new service to Isle of Man will be the 13th Aer Lingus route from Belfast City.
Feb. 27
Taiwan’s EVA Air is increasing its schedule to North America and Europe. From March 27, service from Taipei Taoyuan (TPE) to Los Angeles (LAX) will increase from 2X-daily to 3X-daily using Boeing 777-300ERs, and from May 1 service to Chicago O’Hare (ORD) rises from 3X-weekly to daily. From May 15, EVA is also expanding San Francisco (SFO) from 2X-daily to 3X-daily and Milan Malpensa (MXP) from 2X-weekly to 4X-weekly. Following the adjustments, the carrier’s service to North America will rise to 84 frequencies per week and European frequencies will rise to 32 per week.
ULCC Frontier Airlines has launched two more routes to Montego Bay (MBJ), Jamaica. After starting flights from St. Louis Lambert International (STL) earlier this month, the U.S.-based airline has now opened routes from Chicago Midway (MDW) and Denver (DEN). Flights from MDW will be once a week, while service from Denver will be 3X-weekly. Frontier now serves a total of 12 destinations from MDW and 67 from DEN.
Air China has outlined its intention to resume service between Beijing Capital (PEK) and New York John F Kennedy (JFK), last served regularly until March 2020. The carrier plans to restarted flights on March 4, subject to securing necessary approvals. Frequencies will be weekly.
Vietnam’s Bamboo Airways is set to begin a new domestic route next month. An agreement has been signed for the launch of flights between Hanoi (HAN) and Ca Mau (CAH). It is expected the route will begin by April 30, operating three times per week using Embraer E190 aircraft.
Canadian startup Lynx Air has operated its inaugural flight to Las Vegas (LAS) from Calgary International (YYC). Four round trips per week will be offered using Boeing 737-8s. The ULCC embarked on its U.S. expansion in late January and has already added Toronto-Orlando, Calgary-Phoenix and Calgary-Los Angeles to its network.
Streikevarsel i Norsk Luftambulanse, helikopter - Parat
Parat: Streik i Norsk Luftambulanse fra søndag
Meklingsdelegasjonene til Parat og NHO Luftfart ble i natt enige om å sende forhandlingsforslaget på uravstemning. Et flertall av medlemmene, blant redningsmenn i Norsk Luftambulanse helikopter, har sagt nei til det fremlagte forslaget, heter det i en pressemelding.
– Svaret redningsmenn i Norsk Luftambulanse har gitt til egen ledelse er tydelig: Tilbudet fra arbeidsgiver er for dårlig, og de må komme tilbake med et bedre forslag til løsning. Kommer arbeidsgiver tilbake med et bedre tilbud kan streik unngås, sier forhandlingsleder Lars Petter Larsen.
Ukraina - Oppdatering - DefenseNews
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Mye å spare dersom det ikke var stridigheter i verden - Aviation24.be
Saken er litt spesiell fordi palestinerne blir hundset av israelerne med ganske ekstremistisk regjering. Derfor er dette rart. Det kan virkes som om "slektskapet" mellom palestinere og arabere generelt ikke er så nært som jeg har trodd. Uansett, lukking av Russland for vestlige fly er voldsomt kostbart. (Red.)
The first Israeli plane to fly over Oman-Saudi corridor will take off tonight for Bangkok, saving several hours of flight
El Al’s first-ever commercial flight to fly over the skies of Oman after Saudi Arabia will take off this Sunday evening from Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport in Israel bound for Bangkok. The duration of the flight will be around eight hours compared to 11 previously, when Israeli planes could not fly over Oman.
A statement released by El Al said that the aircraft had received official permission from the Oman Aviation Authority to fly over the country’s airspace. The approval was received after the sultanate announced on Thursday that it would allow planes from all airlines – including Israeli planes – to fly over its territory.
The flight will be performed by a Boeing 787. Also, flights to India from Israel will now be 5 and a half hours instead of 8. Shortening flight time significantly reduces costs in terms of crew flight hours and fuel expenses.
At this stage, there is still no discount on airfare prices, but in the near future the issue will be considered and travellers may experience real discounts.
Europeiske flygere er misfornøyd - Single European Skiy en papirtiger - Aviation24.be
Pilots from across
Europe call on EU policymakers to reform Europe’s airspace now
By
Europe’s leading airlines are calling on
EU transport ministers to make the benefits of airspace reform a reality as
they meet in Stockholm today. Pilots representing 9 A4E member airlines have
come together in a new video to urge ministers to seize the
opportunity and move the Single European Sky (SES2+) legislation out of the
holding pattern it has been stuck in for many years.
Implementing the updated Single European Sky (SES2+),
as proposed by the European Commission, would be a major step in creating a
seamless European airspace. This would enable pilots to fly the most efficient
routes possible which will reduce the amount of fuel used in-flight, reduce
delays and deliver a reduction of around 7% in CO2 emissions.
The EU has been discussing airspace reform for decades
without any real results to show for it. As airlines face a busy summer and the
prospect of ever more congested European airspace, the need for reform is
clearer than ever.
Commenting on today’s video, Laurent Donceel, acting
Managing Director of Airlines for Europe (A4E) said:
“Member states have the opportunity
to achieve a seamless and digitalised airspace in Europe by supporting the EU
Commission’s proposal to reform the Single European Sky (SES2+) legislation.
Our pilots have a message for ministers today: We’ve been waiting too long for
this important reform and it’s time to take action on airspace now to deliver
for passengers, for Europe and for the environment.”
Brussels, 27 February 2023
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