USMC’s first XQ-58A Valkyrie takes flight at Eglin AFB
The first of two XQ-58A Valkyrie UCAVs for the USMC successfully completed its first test flight at Eglin AFB, Florida, on October 2, closely followed by an F-16CM Fighting Falcon (88-0441/ET) from the 40th Flight Test Squadron – a component of the USAF’s 96th Test Wing – that was flying as the ‘chase’ aircraft
Canadian Hornet fleet deemed ‘not credible’ as it suffers instructor shortage
A report by the UK-based RUSI – commissioned by the Canadian Department of National Defence – was leaked to The Globe and Mail newspaper, revealing that its author, Professor Justin Bronk, had assessed that Canada’s CF-188A/B Hornet fighter fleet may be unable to meet its commitments, judging that it was “not credible in a NATO context against many of the higher-end mission sets”
Kadena Air Base welcomes first of several USAF MQ-9As
On October 13, Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, greeted the first of several USAF-operated MQ-9A Reaper unmanned combat air vehicles (UCAVs) that are scheduled to deploy to the base, which is also referred to as the ‘Keystone of the Pacific’
Boeing flies upgraded AH-64E Apache gunship for the first time
Boeing completed the first flight of its enhanced AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopter from its facility in Mesa, Arizona, on October 11
Sikorsky receives MH-60R Seahawk order for Spanish Navy
Lockheed Martin announced on October 12 that its Sikorsky business unit had received a Foreign Military Sales contract – worth $379.58m – from the US Navy to produce eight MH-60R Seahawk multi-mission maritime helicopters for the Spanish Navy
Sweden open to sending Gripens to Ukraine after joining NATO
On October 6, Swedish Defence Minister Pål Jonson announced that a transfer of JAS 39C/D Gripen multi-role fighters to Ukraine could be on the cards, although “domestic security reasons” mean that any such transfer “would be conditional on Sweden first becoming a member of NATO,” and thus covered by NATO’s collective defence commitments
France welcomes last of initial batch of Phénix tankers
The French Air and Space Force’s 31 Strategic Air Refuelling and Transport Wing (EARTS) at Istres-Le Tubé Air Base (BA125) took delivery of its 12th A330-243MRTT Phénix tanker-transport from Airbus Defence and Space on September 20
HMS Prince of Wales embarks on F-35B sea trials in the US
On October 11, a specially instrumented US Navy-operated F-35B Lightning II (168314/‘68’) landed aboard HMS Prince of Wales (R09) – the second of the Royal Navy’s two Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers – thereby kicking off Developmental Test Phase 3 sea trials with the type on the warship
US gifts ex-908th AW C-130H-2 to Romania
The Romanian Air Force has received an ex-USAF C-130H-2 Hercules (91-9142), which was gifted to the nation via the US Excess Defense Articles programme
Saudi Arabia’s Tornado IDS and ADV variants – desert kingdom warriors
Saudi Arabia was the only country outside Europe to buy the Tornado. In 2015, Jon Lake reviewed the service careers of the IDS and ADV variants in the desert kingdom