Middle East
Bell starts production of Bahraini AH-1Zs
Bell has commenced production of the 12 AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters, which have been ordered by the Kingdom of Bahrain
IATA calls for Middle Eastern governments to pave the way to recovery
Administrations are being urged to lay out plans for a successful operational restart, looking into methods to restore passenger confidence
Sand 'Phrogs': An interview with a former USMC CH-46 pilot
The revered CH-46 helicopter proved to be an invaluable asset during the Iraq War. Former US Marine Corps pilot, Major Kurt ‘Buzzard’ Miller, speaks with Key.Aero about his experience of the venerable ‘Phrog’ and the challenges of desert flying
Saudi Arabian National Guard orders additional UH-60Ms
Sikorsky has been awarded a US$99.89m contract modification to produce and deliver 25 additional modified UH-60M Black Hawk utility helicopters to the Saudi Arabian National Guard
Israel set to move two F-16 units to Ramat David
Two Israeli Air Force F-16 squadrons are to relocate from Hatzor Air Base to Ramat David Air Base. The planned move, which was announced by the IAF on March 10, involves 101 ‘First Fighter’ and 105 ‘Scorpion’ Squadrons
First Lebanese crews complete MD 530F helicopter training
An initial group of Lebanese Air Force personnel has completed training on the MD 530F helicopter as the air arm prepares to induct six examples of the platform into operational service
Lebanon receives a trio of Huey IIs
A further three Bell UH-1H-II Huey IIs, valued at more than US$32m, have been donated to the Lebanese Air Force (LAF) by the US government
Saab delivers third GlobalEye to the UAE
Saab handed over the third of five GlobalEye multi-domain airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft to the United Arab Emirates on February 20
EC-27J JEDI marks 5,000 flight hours during Middle East ops
The Italian Air Force has revealed that its Leonardo EC-27J JEDI (Jamming and Electronic Defence Instrumentation) fleet had flown 5,000 flight hours in support of Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq
Jordanian F-16 air combat training centre gains US approval
The US State Department has approved Jordan’s request to establish an in-country F-16 Air Combat Training Center, along with the possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) of related equipment for an estimated cost of US$60m