Asia-Pacific Military Aviation News roundup: 10 Sept 2013

Delayed by the grounding following a recent crash, two KAI-T-50 trainers are currently on a delivery flight to Indonesia. The two jets will make stopovers in Taiwan and the Philippines for refueling before landing on Indonesia's Iswahyudi Air Force base on Wednesday. Here's a photo of one of the Indonesian T-50s by South Korea's Yonhap news.

According to this AIP Supplement issued by Airservices Australia, Singapore's F-16s will be taking part in the upcoming Exercise Wallaby 2013 to be held at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area in Queensland, Australia. A Singapore Armed Forces annual combined arms exercise, it will also involve Singapore Air Force Super Puma, Chinook and Apache helicopters.

My latest piece for The Diplomat Magazine is up online. Aircraft Carriers or Not? Flattops in the Pacific surveys the recent proliferation of through-deck helicopters carriers in the region and looks at their potential for operating fixed wing aircraft.

Netherlands to retire Cougars, trims F-16 fleet in defence cuts

The Netherlands is the latest country to announce more defence cuts with the Koninklijke Luchtmacht (KLu or Royal Netherlands Air Force) set to retire all but its SAR Cougar helicopters in May, while its F-16 fleet will be reduced from 87 to 68 aircraft.

Singapore offers Super Pumas to Australia for flood relief

Singapore has made available to Australia its Super Puma helicopters for flood relief operations in central Queensland if required. Heavy rains have caused severe flooding in a number of central Queensland towns, including Emerald and Rockhampton. The RSAF has approximately 12 helicopters assigned to its training detachment in nearby Oakey.

Helibras delivers first EC725s for Brazilian Armed Forces

Eurocopter’s Helicópteros do Brasil (Helibras) subsidiary has delivered the initial three EC725s for Brazil’s armed forces. These first three helicopters were provided in a standard configuration and will undergo final outfitting in Brazil and are part of a program to supply 50 of the multi-role helicopters.

Singapore AF in Australia for Ex Wallaby

Over the past few weeks several Republic of Singapore Air Force aircraft have been flying into Rockhampton, Queensland in support of the annual Exercise Wallaby. On Friday the 15th of October, six F-16D Block 52+ from 145 (Hornet) Sqn arrived at Rockhampton via Darwin, supported by a KC-135 Stratotanker and C-130H Hercules. They were preceded by 2 CH-47SD Chinooks of 127 Sqn in early October which flew into Rockhampton via Darwin, Mount Isa and Longreach and supported by another C-130.

In addition four AH-64D Apaches of 120 Sqn are also in Rockhampton for the exercise, having flown in by a Volga-Dnepr Antonov 124 in early October. They are joined by AS332M Super Pumas from the RSAF detachment in nearby Oakey.

Mexico orders six more EC725s.

Even before taking delivery of its first six examples, Mexico has ordered six more Eurocopter EC725 CSAR configured assault helicopters. The first batch of six aircraft will be delivered in 2011.

Dutch to upgrade Cougar helicopters

The Dutch defence ministry has announced plans to perform a mid-life update for its 17 Eurocopter AS532 Cougar transport helicopters from 2012. Eurocopter will upgrade the first two helicopters starting in 2012, with the Dutch Defence Materiel Organisation to modify the remaining examples by 2017.