Pocket Gunship: From AC-XX to the MC-27J Praetorian

by Joe Katzman | Jul 20, 2014 | Americas - Other, ATK, Budgets, Contracts - Intent, Finmeccanica, Forces - Special Ops, New Systems Tech, Specialty Aircraft, Transformation, Transport & Utility, USA, Warfare - Trends

C-27J 3-view(click to view full) In mid-2008 Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) made a $32 million budget reprogramming request in order to buy a C-27J light tactical transport plane and convert it into a small prototype AC-XX gunship, using...

Egyptian Order Rises to 20 C-295M Air Transports

by Joe Katzman | Jul 17, 2014 | Africa - Other, Airbus, Contracts - Awards, Europe - Other, Middle East - Other, Transport & Utility

EAF C-295M concept(click to view full) In addition to its larger AN-74 and C-130 military transports, Egypt also operates a small fleet of very old DHC-5 Buffalo aircraft, which need replacing. Canada’s Viking Air has a notional design for an modern DHC-5NG...

Meltem-III: Turkey’s New ATR-72 Maritime Patrol Planes

by Joe Katzman | Jul 17, 2014 | Airbus, Contracts - Awards, Finmeccanica, Specialty Aircraft, Turkey

ATR-72 ASW(click to view full) In July 2005, Turkey’s SSM defence procurement authority signed a contract to meet its Meltem III requirement for 10 maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft. It ordered a dedicated version of the ATR 72-500...

M1 Abrams Tanks for Iraq

by Joe Katzman | Jul 16, 2014 | BAE, Contracts - Intent, Force Structure, General Dynamics, Iraq, Middle East - Other, Other Corporation, Signals Radio & Wireless, Tanks & Mechanized, Trucks & Transport, USA

Iraqi M1A1(click to view full) Tanks often decide battles, unless aircraft are around. Iraq had a lot of unfriendly visits by the USAF from 1991-2003, which left the largest armored force in the region looking to rebuild their armored corps from zero. Early donations...

Patrol for Pennies: Vietnam’s DHC-6 Twin-Otter 400s

by Joe Katzman | Jul 15, 2014 | Asia - Other, Canada, Coastal & Littoral, Contracts - Awards, IAI, New Systems Tech, Other Corporation, Radars, Sensors & Guidance, Specialty Aircraft, Transport & Utility, USA

VPN DHC-6(click to view full) Canadian firm Viking Air of Sidney, BC achieved a double-breakthrough with its recent sale to Vietnam. Its modern DHC-6 Twin Otter Series 400 variant of the legendary global bush plane will become the Vietnamese military’s first...