NATO advances
NATO announced during last week's alliance summit in Riga, Latvia that the NATO Response Force has achieved full operational capability. The 25,000-strong multinational force will now be made available to support commitments around the world, it says. NATO also used the summit to hint that Albania, Croatia and Macedonia could gain full membership in 2008, and to invite Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia to join its Partnership for Peace framework.
Rotary search
Bristow Helicopters, FB Heliservices and Serco have teamed to offer a search and rescue helicopter package to meet the combined requirements of the UK Ministry of Defence and UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency from 2012.
Irish arrivals
The Irish Air Corps' first two of four AgustaWestland AW139 utility helicopters were delivered to Baldonnel airbase near Dublin last week. The service accepted its first of the type in Italy last August.
Hawk assembly
The Indian air force's first two of 66 Hawk 132 advanced jet trainers have arrived at BAE Systems' Warton site in Lancashire ahead of final assembly and flight test. The first UK-produced aircraft will make its first flight before year-end and is scheduled for delivery to India next September.
Source: Flight International
