Aviation Articles

Swedish Gripens set to receive major upgrades

The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) signed a SEK3.5bn (£280m) contract with Saab on December 16 to upgrade Sweden's fleet of JAS 39C/D Gripen multi-role fighters.

Spain set for lengthy capability gap following P-3M Orion retirement

After almost 50 years of operational service, the Spanish Air and Space Force retired its final Lockheed P-3M Orion maritime patrol aircraft on December 17

Germany commits to buying more than 30 F-35A Lightning IIs

The Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces) announced it will procure a total of 35 Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II fifth generation fighter aircraft after its budget committee approved the close to €10bn purchase on December 14

Latvia receives first UH-60M Black Hawks

The Latvian Air Force received its first two Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawk utility helicopters on December 11, when they arrived at Lielvārde Air Base in Rembate Parish, Ogre, via a US Air Force-operated Boeing C-17A Globemaster III

Italian Typhoon lost in fatal crash near Trapani

A Eurofighter F-2000A belonging to the Italian Air Force crashed while returning to Trapani Air Base on December 13, killing the pilot

Royal Navy completes life-extending Merlin HC4/4A upgrade

The upgrade of the Royal Navy Commando Helicopter Force's 25-strong Merlin HC3/3A helicopter fleet to HC4/4A standard has been completed

Poland, France take over NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission in Lithuania

Having concluded its latest NATO Baltic Air Policing rotation to Šiauliai Air Base, the last of the Hungarian Air Force JAS 39C Gripens departed the Lithuanian base after being replaced by a detachment of French Air and Space Force-operated Rafales on December 1

Croatian Air Force MiG-21 Mongol crashes 

A Croatian Air Force MiG-21UMD Mongol fighter crashed during a four-ship formation flight in the early afternoon of December 6

USS Tripoli returns after successful first Indo-Pacific deployment

The US Navy's second America-class amphibious assault ship, USS Tripoli (LHA-7), returned to Naval Base San Diego in California - the vessel's home port - with its complement of Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning IIs on November 29, after completing its first operational deployment to the Indo-Pacific.

XQ-58 Valkyrie arrives at Eglin AFB

In early November, the 40th Flight Test Squadron of the 96th Test Wing at Eglin AFB, Florida, received its newest aircraft - the first of two government-owned Kratos XQ-58A Valkyries, which is scheduled to perform its first test flight from Eglin at the end of February 2023