Slovak Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini will sign a contract worth 100 million euros ($112mln) with Russian Aircraft Corporation (RSK MiG) for servicing the country’s MiG-29 fighters for the next four to five years, during a press conference following a meeting with Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev in Moscow. The agreement will be in effect before the delivery of 14 US F-16V Block 70/72 multirole combat aircraft valued at EUR1.6 billion by the end of 2023. The Slovak Air Force currently holds 10 MiG-29A/-29UB combat aircraft. Slovakia’s contract with Russia for the maintenance of 12 MiG-29s is valid until the fall of 2019. Slovakia pays Russia 30 million euros annually for the repair of fighters.

The Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF) received its first batch of Dassault Rafale fighters on 5 June, the Qatar Ministry of Defence (MOD) announced. The first five of 36 aircraft ordered for the Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF) were received by the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, during a ceremony at the newly completed Dukhan Airbase on the western coast of the Middle East peninsula. The first Rafale had been symbolically delivered in February, but the aircraft remained in France for training of Qatar pilots. The country also has the option to buy another 36 fighters.Qatar has invested in expanding its military after the boycott led by Saudi Arabia and followed by its allies United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain in June of 2017. Saudi Arabia accused Qatar of supporting Iran and the Islamist movement, which was denied by the Arab emirate.

The arrival of the first Rafales at Dukhan Airbase marks a key milestone in a major military aviation capitalisation process for Qatar that has recently seen it order a large number of varied fixed- and rotary-winged combat and support aircraft. Dassault fighter Jet is one of several aircraft purchased to strengthen the country’s air force following the embargo of other Arab countries. In addition to the Dassault fighter jets, Qatar ordered 36 Boeing F-15QA (Qatar Advanced)-variant Eagles (with a requirement for 36 more), 24 Eurofighter Typhoons, six BAE Systems Hawks, 48 Boeing AH-64E Apaches, 28 NHIndustries NH90s, four Boeing C-17 Globemaster IIIs, and four Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules. Prior to the embargo, Qatar was one of the least armed countries in the region. The country’s air force had 13 Mirage 2000-5 fighters plus some Alpha Jet and PC-21 trainers – France supplied 15 Mirage F1 before that, but the fighters were sold to Spain.

The Dassault Rafale is a twin-jet fighter aircraft able to operate from both an aircraft carrier and a shore base. The fully versatile Rafale is able to carry out all combat aviation missions: air superiority and air defense, close air support, in-depth strikes, reconnaissance, anti-ship strikes and nuclear deterrence. The Dassault Rafale entered service with the French Navy in 2004 and with the French Air Force in 2006. With more than 30,000 flight hours in operations, it has proven its worth in combat in Afghanistan, Libya, Mali, Iraq and Syria. The Rafale was ordered by Egypt, Qatar and India. With over 10,000 military and civil aircraft delivered in more than 90 countries over the last century, Dassault Aviation has built up expertise recognized worldwide in the design, development, sale and support of all types of aircraft, ranging from the Rafale fighter, to the high-end Falcon family of business jets and military drones.

A technology kit developed by Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company was used for the first time to operate a Black Hawk helicopter with full-authority, fly-by-wire flight controls. The May 29 flight marked the official start to the flight test program for the soon-to-be optionally piloted aircraft. Follow-on flight testing aims to include envelope expansion throughout the summer leading to fully autonomous flight (zero pilots) in 2020. This is the first full authority fly-by-wire retrofit kit developed by Sikorsky that has completely removed mechanical flight controls from the aircraft.

Through DARPA’s Aircrew Labor In-Cockpit Automation System (ALIAS) program, Sikorsky is developing an OPV approach it describes as pilot directed autonomy to give operators the confidence to fly aircraft safely, reliably and affordably in optimally piloted modes enabling flight with two, one or zero crew. The program aims to improve operator decision aiding for manned operations while also enabling both unmanned and reduced crew operations. Sikorsky has been demonstrating its MATRIX™ Technology on a modified S-76B™ called the Sikorsky Autonomy Research Aircraft (SARA). The aircraft, which has been in test since 2013, has more than 300 hours of autonomous flight.

Sikorsky announced in March that its S-92® helicopter fleet update will include the introduction of phase one MATRIX Technology that will bring advanced computing power to the platform. This foundation enables adoption of autonomous landing technology. Sikorsky Autonomy Research Aircraft (SARA) utilizes MATRIX™ Technology which enables users of military and commercial helicopters, and vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft, to safely, reliably and affordably operate as autonomously or optionally piloted aircraft. MATRIX™ technology combines software and hardware components, enabling autonomous, reliable mission execution in obstacle-rich environments. This creates a safer flying experience overall.

Airbus Helicopters and the Hungarian Government have selected the town of Gyula in the Békés County as the site for a new aerospace enterprise in Hungary. Gyula is located in the country’s eastern part. The new installation will be built up from scratch and will be the core of an emerging Hungarian aeronautics cluster. This was announced in Budapest by Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters, and Gáspár Maróth, Government Commissioner for national defence industry and defence development and coordination of armament modernization. End of 2018, Airbus Helicopters and Hungary had signed a Memorandum of Agreement to create an industrial cooperation for long term aviation projects. It will be controlled under a new joint venture being established between the company and Budapest, with Airbus holding the majority of shares and being responsible for the running the site.

The purpose of the plant is to manufacture high precision metallic elementary parts for the dynamic systems of helicopters for the complete Airbus product range. The production is expected to start in 2021. The Hungarian Government plans to establish capabilities for metallic surface treatment and a Hungarian Aerospace Academy to support the new Airbus site by training the future workforce. The new entity will be a joint venture between Airbus and a Hungarian governmental partner. Airbus will hold the majority of the shares and will operate the plant.“Hungary offers us the opportunity to implement our industrial strategy based on the specialization of our sites and to set up a greenfield aerospace complex according to the most modern industry requirements” said Bruno Even. “We also can rely on a skilled and well-educated workforce. I’m looking forward to welcoming Hungary as a new member of the global Airbus Helicopters family”.

Airbus Helicopters and Hungary have signed a Memorandum of Agreement to create an industrial cooperation for long-term aviation projects that will initially focus on the production of certain high precision mechanical parts for helicopter dynamic systems. This project is part of the ‘Zrinyi 2026’ armed forces development program supporting Hungary’s national security goals of developing independent defence capabilities. Hungary has been a long-standing supporter of Airbus’ civil and military products, which found a home in a wide range of defense and civil applications. The Hungarian Ministry of Defence has recently purchased 36 helicopters, among which 20 H145Ms and 16 H225Ms, and it also operates two A319 aircraft. Wizz Air, one of the largest European airlines and an all-Airbus customer, operates a large fleet of more than 100 aircraft, with over 260 in the order book.

Airbus Helicopters SAS (formerly Eurocopter Group) is the helicopter manufacturing division of Airbus. It is the largest in the industry in terms of revenues and turbine helicopter deliveries. Its head office is located at Marseille Provence Airport in Marignane, France, near Marseille.[2] The main facilities of Airbus Helicopters are at its headquarters in Marignane, France and in Donauwörth, Germany, with additional production plants in Brazil (Helibras), Australia, Spain and the United States. The company was renamed Airbus Helicopters on 2 January 2014.[3] In 2018, Airbus delivered 356 helicopters, a 54% share of the civil or parapublic market over five seats, ahead of Leonardo Helicopters (21%), Bell Helicopter (12%) and Russian Helicopters (10%).