A US Air Force Boeing C-17 transport made an emergency landing at Baghdad airport after an engine exploded before dawn on 9 December. The aircraft is believed to have been hit by a surface-to-air missile shortly after take-off from Baghdad. While part of the USAF C-17 fleet is equipped with the Northrop Grumman LAIRCM laser infrared countermeasures system, the damaged aircraft came from McChord AFB, Washington and is believed to have been unequipped.
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.
