Page 6 - AirForces - Monthly (February 2020)

NEWS Headlines

First flight of Eurofighter

in Kuwaiti configuration

LEONARDO HAS completed The aircraft is the first was signed between the Germany, this is the first
a maiden flight of what to combine the Captor-E Ministry of Defence of flight of the entire package
the aerospace company active electronically scanned the State of Kuwait and that will be delivered to
describes as “the most array (AESA) radar with Leonardo on April 5, 2016, Kuwait. The first KAF
advanced variant of the Phase Enhancement P3Eb through the company’s aircraft are expected to be
Eurofighter ever flown” software, as ordered by aircraft division acting delivered later
– the first Instrumented Kuwait. The jet includes as the Eurofighter prime this year.
Series Production Aircraft compatibility with MBDA’s contractor organisation.
(ISPA 6) equipped with the Storm Shadow and While other aircraft in
Kuwait Air Force (KAF) Brimstone missiles and other different Eurofighter partner
configuration. The Typhoon, air-to-surface weapons. companies are testing
Italian experimental serial The Kuwaiti standard also specific parts of the
CSX55169 (likely IT014), provides for integration P3Eb configuration,
is expected to be the final of the Lockheed Martin including
two-seat TF-2000A for the Sniper Advanced Targeting development of
Aeronautica Militare (Italian Pod (ATP), the DRS-Cubic the Captor-E
Air Force) from a total of 14 ACMI P5 combat training radar in the
ordered. The initial flight pod and an enhanced VHF UK and
took place at the Leonardo omnidirectional range
Aircraft Division’s Flight (VOR) navigation aid.
Test Centre at Turin-Caselle A contract for the
Airport on December 23. supply of 28 Typhoons

Italian Air Force TF-2000A CSX55169 on its maiden flight. Note,
the red panels on the lower side of the fuselage likely identify
the new sensors. Marco Rossi
C295 testing hose-and-drogue refuelling system

A NEW in-flight refuelling be easily transformed into
kit for the C295 transport a tanker, giving the ability
is currently being tested to transfer up to around
by the Ejército del Aire 13,230lb (6,000kg) of fuel to
(EdA, Spanish Air Force) other aircraft or helicopters.
in association with Airbus A variety of manoeuvres
Defence and Space. were undertaken to
The EdA confirmed in a test the stability of the
December 18 announcement refuelling basket and
that the trials were under three initial dry hook-ups
way. The removable kit (ie, without fuel transfer)
has been fitted to new have been completed.
production C295W c/n The crew for the flight
S-171 (still flying painted trials included five pilots:
in primer) and tested with two from the EdA’s test
EdA C295M T.21-13 ‘35-51’ establishment, the Centro
from Ala 35/353 Escuadrón Logístico de Armamento y
at Getafe air base. Experimentación (CLAEX, New production C295W c/n S-171 landing at Seville-San Pablo Airport, Spain, on December 3
The modular system, Armament and Experimental following a flight test with the new hose-and-drogue air-to-air refuelling system mounted at the
including a hose-and- Logistics Centre) at Torrejón top of the rear loading ramp. Antonio Muñiz Zaragüeta
drogue unit fitted to the rear de Ardoz, two from Ala two-and-a-half hours been very satisfactory, conclusions for improving
loading ramp, enables a 35 and one from Airbus of initial flight tests, the and Airbus engineers had and developing the new
standard transport C295 to Defence and Space. After EdA said that results had been able to draw various refuelling kit. Dave Allport

6 // February 2020 #383 www.Key.Aero

06/01/2020 12:38:14
06-07 HeadlineNews AFM Feb2020.indd 6 06/01/2020 12:38:14
06-07 HeadlineNews AFM Feb2020.indd 6