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  1. Blog Before Flight

    News Philippines is getting closer to Gripen deal

    In recent decades, the Philippines has been targeted by the world's major aerospace industries as Manila is very focused on purchasing new combat aircraft. The growing internal and external challenges that the country has been facing have led the Philippine government to initiate a gradual...
  2. Blog Before Flight

    News Dutch F-16 fighters diverge in Eindhoven

    Dutch photojournalists Joris van Boven and Alex van Noye provided Blog Before Flight with some interesting shots of Dutch Vipers taken yesterday in Eindhoven, Southern Netherlands. They told us that on the afternoon of March 17, 2021, eight Royal Netherlands Air Force F-16 fighters were...
  3. Blog Before Flight

    News Russia denies Algeria's order for Su-34 strike fighters

    In recent days, many media have published about Algeria's purchase of Sukhoi Su-34 fighter bombers. The news came from Menadefense who, quoting the Russian press, confirmed the procurement by Algiers of a first batch of 14 Su-34E jets. According to the African media, Russia has already started...
  4. Blog Before Flight

    Air-Force Typhoon fires Storm Shadow missile operationally for first time

    Over the past few days, the Royal Air Force Typhoons operating as part of the coalition against Daesh have conducted a series of air strikes in support of the Iraqi ground forces. The strikes began on 10 March and continued until 12 March, followed by a third strike on 14 March. The targets...
  5. Blog Before Flight

    Analysis Did Nigeria actually order 24 M-346FA jets?

    In recent days, some Nigerian media have published about the purchase of 24 Leonardo M-346FA light fighter aircraft by Nigeria. The deal has already been signed and 'At least six aircraft will be delivered before Q3/2021,' they say. The modern Italian platform would be intended to replace the...
  6. Blog Before Flight

    News Poland appears to be attracted to C-27J Next Generation

    Rumors say Poland is looking at the C-27J Next Generation tactical transport aircraft to replace its old fleet of five C-130E Hercules. Although the nation received the Hercules just 12 years ago, they were bought second-hand from the United States with thousands of flight hours already...
  7. Blog Before Flight

    Navy First female Italian Navy strike fighter pilot earns wings of gold

    The Italian navy’s first female strike fighter pilot received her Wings of Gold after completing undergraduate flight training with the “Tigers” of Training Squadron (VT) 9 at Naval Air Station (NAS) Meridian, Mississippi, March 11. Italian navy Ensign Erika Raballo was designated a naval...
  8. Blog Before Flight

    News Georgia's first restored Su-25 takes flight

    On March 6, 2021, Georgia's first restored Su-25 (or Je-31 Bora) ground attack aircraft performed its maiden flight, according to the Georgian Military Department. The restoration and modernization of the aircraft was carried out by the local firm Tbilisi Aircraft Manufacturing (TAM). The...
  9. Blog Before Flight

    Air-Force Thailand to upgrade its Gripen C/D fighters to latest MS20 standard

    In early 2021, the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) Directorate of Aeronautical Engineering (DAE) announced it had awarded the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) a THB631.725 million (USD20.84 million) contract to upgrade the service's Saab JAS-39 Gripen C/D multirole combat aircraft to...
  10. Blog Before Flight

    Air-Force From fighter to bomber, this is how Italian Air Force Typhoon has evolved

    In February, the Aeronautica Militare (Italian Air Force) posted some rare photos showing its Eurofighter Typhoons in Swing Role configuration, i.e. equipped with a mix of air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons. In detail, they carry IRIS-T short-range missiles, AIM-120 AMRAAM medium-range...
  11. Blog Before Flight

    Air-Force Gripen starts supersonic flight tests in Brazil

    The new fighter for the Brazilian Air Force (FAB), the F-39 Gripen E, has begun performing supersonic flight tests in Brazil. The aircraft, based at the Gripen Test Flight Centre (GFTC) at Embraer's facilities in Gavião Peixoto (SP), has been carrying out the flights over the designated test...
  12. Blog Before Flight

    Air-Force Egypt moves ahead with purchase of Russian Su-35 fighters despite US warnings

    The press release published on February 23, 2021 by the US Department of State is somewhat perplexing. According to the note, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry to emphasize the importance of the strong strategic partnership between the two...
  13. Blog Before Flight

    Navy F-35B jets begin sea trials aboard Italian Navy aircraft carrier

    Two F-35B Lighting II jets landed aboard Italian aircraft carrier ITS Cavour (CVH 550) in the afternoon on 1 March 2021. Test pilots flew the specially instrumented U.S. F-35Bs from Naval Air Station Patuxent River (NAS Pax River), Maryland, to the Italian Navy flagship, which got underway...
  14. Blog Before Flight

    News Hungary eyes Embraer Super Tucano

    Local sources told Blog Before Flight that Hungary is considering purchasing a number of Embraer Super Tucano trainer/light attack aircraft to train Hungarian Air Force fighter pilots. The news comes a few months after the agreement signed between Budapest and the Brazilian manufacturer Embraer...
  15. Blog Before Flight

    News Japan receives first evolved King Air 350 special mission aircraft

    Feb. 25, 2021 – Textron Aviation announced today it recently delivered a Beechcraft King Air 350i aircraft equipped with multiple special mission modifications to Japcon Incorporated. The modifications include a removable, belly-mounted Forward-Looking Infrared (FLIR) installation, forward...
  16. Blog Before Flight

    Air-Force USAF A-10 Demo Team unveils new special livery

    On February 26, the US Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II Demo Team, belonging to the 355th Fighter Wing at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, unveiled a brand new special color demo aircraft. An A-10C received the Southeast Asian pattern that adorned thousands of fighters during the Vietnam War. The plane...
  17. Blog Before Flight

    Air-Force Chief of Staff of Italian Air Force flies aboard E-550 CAEW 'Extraordinary multi-sensor system'

    The Chief of Staff of the Italian Air Force, Lt. Gen. Alberto Rosso, recently took part in a mission aboard the E-550 CAEW (Conformal Airborne Early Warning) aircraft to have direct feedback on the multiple capabilities of the system. Gen. Rosso was able to admire the platform's unique Battle...
  18. Blog Before Flight

    Army Italian army unveils new details on its future AH-249 combat helicopter

    The new AH-249 scout and escort helicopter (Nuovo Elicottero da Esplorazione e Scorta - NEES) is the platform intended to replace the 'thirty-year-old' AH-129D Mangusta helicopter in the Italian Army (Esercito Italiano) fleet. NEES is a state-of-the-art system that will provide the armed force...
  19. Blog Before Flight

    News Boeing begins production of T-7A Red Hawk

    On February 19, Boeing announced that they have begun production of the new T-7A Red Hawk trainer aircraft (official video here). The company sees this step as the beginning of a new era in aircraft design and assembly thanks to the advanced process they have adopted to develop and manufacture...
  20. Blog Before Flight

    News Lockheed Martin clarifies Croatia's interest in the F-35

    Many were puzzled by what Reuters posted last week about Croatia's interest in the F-35 stealth aircraft. According to the media outlet, the news comes from a very reliable source: Greg Ulmer, executive vice president of the Aeronautics business for Lockheed Martin. The fifth generation...

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