SPRINGFIELD HIGH
The Royal Netherlands Air Force is to transfer 14 Lockheed Martin F-16s assigned to its 306 Sqn Operational Conversion Unit from Volkel airbase to Springfield Air National Guard Base in Ohio next May. The service says the move will cut overall instruction times and increase its ability to practise night-time missions, while also providing closer links with its initial F-16 training activities conducted at Tucson AFB, Arizona. The squadron will remain at Springfield until at least mid-2010.
SIBERIAN SHIFT
Russia's NPK Irkut has decided to concentrate assembly activities for the Yakovlev Yak-130 advanced jet trainer at its main production site in Irkutsk, central Siberia. Irkut had previously planned to assemble export examples at the site, while completing Russian air force aircraft at Sokol's Nizhny Novgorod plant. Sokol will remain a supplier to the programme and will complete assembly of airframes already being built under an initial 14-unit order from the Russian air force. The Algerian air force has also ordered 16, and Malaysia could follow suit during 2007.
TURKISH DELAY
Turkey's Defence Industries Undersecretariat has again suspended a decision on the nation's long-running attack helicopter competition, following a 12 December meeting. The two platforms still in the competition - AgustaWestland's Mangusta and Denel's Rooivalk - are to undergo flight test in Turkey as part of the assessment process.
HAWK SOARS
The first of 24 UK-built Hawk 132 advanced jet trainers (AJT) for the Indian air force has made its first flight from BAE Systems' Warton plant in Lancashire. India's Hindustan Aeronautics will complete a further 42 Hawks at its Bangalore facilities, and has already received its first fuselages from the UK company. AJT deliveries will start in September 2007.
Source: Flight International
