FIGHTERS DEPART
The last batch of six surplus Royal Netherlands Air Force Lockheed Martin F-16s to be acquired by Chile were scheduled to arrive at Cerro Moreno airbase on 7 June after routeing from Twente airbase via the Canary Islands and Brazil. The four single-seat F-16AM fighters and two two-seat BM trainers - along with 12 previously transferred examples - have been downgraded to the M2 software standard at the request of the USA, which is also currently delivering 10 new F-16C/D Vipers to Santiago.
SATCOM ADVANCE
Israel Aerospace Industries subsidiary Elta Systems has developed a small, dorsal-mounted satellite communications antenna for use with fighter aircraft or attack helicopters such as the Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow. The EL/K-1891 system is 25cm (9.8in) long and when used with a helicopter will allow uninterrupted voice and data exchange by neutralising the blocking effect of the aircraft's main rotor.
SEABIRD CORRECTION
Seabird Aviation Jordan has asked us to correct an error in our last World Air Forces directory, which incorrectly stated that the Iraqi air force's SB7L-360 aircraft had been grounded and undergone remanufacturing following a fatal accident (Flight International, 21-27 November 2006). "The Iraqi air force have not advised us of any incidents involving the SB7L-360 Seeker, and both of the aircraft supplied are understood to be fully operational," the company says. The mishap in question actually involved one of the Iraqi air force's Jordan Aerospace Industries Sama CH2000 aircraft.
Source: Flight International
