India's Gas Turbine Research Establishment has postponed planned flight tests of the Tejas light combat aircraft's Kaveri engine with a Tupolev Tu-160 bomber, after the powerplant lost several blades during ground trials at Russia's State Institute of Aerodyanmics Research in Moscow. The engine was returned to India for repairs after last month's setback.
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.
