The Italian army has suffered its first major accident involving an Agusta A129 Mangusta attack helicopter since introducing the type in late 1990. Assigned to the 5th Aviation Regiment at Carsarsa della Delizia in north-eastern Italy, the early-model A129 struck power cables during a night exercise, injuring the two-man crew and suffering extensive damage during a crash landing.
Source: Flight International
The January incident at Ellsworth AFB resulted in the destruction of the $450 million bomber and a rare quadruple ejection of the crew, who were attempting to execute an instrument landing during poor weather.
Athens signed a long-sought letter of offer and acceptance with airframer Lockheed Martin covering 20 F-35 stealth fighters, with options for a further 20 jets.
The joint North American Aerospace Defense Command dispatched fighter aircraft from both the USA and Canada on 24 July to intercept a combined flight of bombers from Russia and China operating in international airspace around Alaska.
