Aviation News - June 2022

118 Pages·2022·57 MB·English

WIN! Nikon D5600 Digital SLR Camera and lens*
*Closing date
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2022
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How Vermont’s
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15 HI-TECH HELIMED
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ORANGE DELTAS
TROUBLED SKIES
What’s next for France’s
Mirage 2000Cs?
PLUS AIR BASE MOVEMENTS
Can Russia’s airlines AIRPORT MOVEMENTS
survive crippling sanctions? REGISTER REVIEW

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s I sit here writing this message, fares, fuel and materials, and lost assets. some elements are not. Not only are they
I note it has been ten weeks Will Putin take heed? contradicting the myriad regulations
since Russia launched its With Russian airlines and maintenance set by the International Civil Aviation
unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. organisations reeling in the wake of Organization, they are blatantly violating
The images and stories of the Russian crippling sanctions, airspace bans, the safety restrictions.
aggressors’ barbaric actions against collapse of its vital bilateral agreement And while Russian air transport safety
the European nation, together with the with the likes of Bermuda and Ireland, as is better than often is presented, it has
consequences of those actions, continue well as their reliance on western types, evidently been a struggle to get it to
to dominate the world’s news outlets and the nation’s civilian aviation regulator, where it is.
the impact on civilian aviation pales into Rosaviatsia, must surely be fi ghting a As the Federal Air Transport Agency
insignifi cance in comparison with the losing battle – despite what the hostile attempts to meet the demands of the
unfolding humanitarian crisis. country’s propaganda seems to suggest. powers that be in Russia, attempting to
While civilian aviation endeavours to To many in the West this appears to keep track of the hundreds of aeroplanes
promote peace and freedom by bringing be a dubious attempt to assert some being added to its nation’s register, it
people together, the industry – like many form of authority on the worsening appears it is quickly entering a regulatory
during these uncertain times – is spinning situation facing the country’s civil aviation twilight zone in a true test of its integrity…
wildly under the implications of what is industry – a situation Russia’s deputy I hope you enjoy this
being described as a “new Cold War”. prime minister Yuri Borisov described as a issue of Aviation News
The full eff ect on the industry is yet to “serious challenge”. and our coverage of
be revealed (if it ever will be), but almost As you will read in our analysis (which the current industry
every market within the civil sector has starts on page 18), while most of the situation.
been infl uenced in some way – including Russian civilian aviation industry appears Until next time
increased fl ight times, the price of air to be following the imposed rulings, Jamie Ewan, Editor
Cover image: A pilot from the Vermont Air National Guard’s 158th Fighter Wing poses with an F-35A Lightning II. Turn to p34 to see how the wing’s
pilots made history with the fi fth-generation type earlier this year Lockheed Martin-Chris Hanoch
Below: Aerofl ot’s fi rst A350-942 VQ-BFY ‘P Tchaïkovsky’ shortly after being delivered to the Russian fl ag carrier in February 2020. Registered
in Bermuda, the jet is currently sitting in limbo following the collapse of the vital bilateral agreement between Russia and the British Overseas
Territory. See p18 Airbus-P Masclet
WWW.AVIATION-NEWS.CO.UK 3
CCoonntteennttss
Features
18 Troubled skies
Crippling sanctions, the collapse of vital bilateral agreements
and airspace bans. Aviation News investigates the impact of
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on the commercial aviation industry
26 High-tech helimed
Several UK HEMS operators now use the Leonardo AW169, but
why is it such a popular choice? Mark Broadbent fi nds out from
some of those pilots fl ying it
34 Green Mountain Lightnings
This year, Vermont’s 158th Fighter Wing made history as the
fi rst Air National Guard wing to be declared combat-ready with
the F-35A. Tom Kaminski outlines the wing’s history and how it
transitioned to the fi fth-generation jet
46 The last guardians
With the withdrawal of the French Air Force’s Mirage 2000C
fl eet fast approaching, Babak Tagvhee documents the last user
of the jet: EC 2/5 ‘Île-de-France’
76 ‘Big Cat’ hunting
May 2022 marks the 40th anniversary of the RAF Phantom
fl eet’s one and only air-to-air ‘kill’. But as Ian Black reveals, it
was not a celebrated event…
Subscribe and Save
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We are happy to report that, at time of going to press, production and dispatch of our
magazine is not aff ected by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Should this change, we
will continue to update you as best we can. Some postal services may be
delayed. You can keep in touch with our latest updates and see what A VTANG Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II pilot heads for
we are doing to keep distribution as normal as possible by visiting debriefi ng following a sortie over New England from the
www.keypublishing.com/FAQs` Burlington Air National Guard Base USANG-TSgt Ryan Campbell
p18 p26
4 AVIATION NEWS JUNE 2022
Regulars
6 Headline News 54 Did you know?
Airlifters from China’s People's Liberation Army Air Force The truth about the iconic image of a doomed B-17
in Europe, NASA reveals plans to ground its unique fl ying
observatory, Airbus announces a new European eVTOL 58 Airport Movements
partner, Qantas signs a historic order and more
A round-up of notable aircraft spotted at UK airports in recent months
8 Military News
62 Airbase Movements
The monthly review of military matters
A selection of the most interesting aircraft to visit the UK’s air bases
12 Civil News
64 At the fence
The stories behind the headlines of the latest commercial news
Aircraft movements caught worldwide by the AN community
16 Preservation News
68 Register Review
Catch up on the heritage news of the moment
Amendments to the UK, Irish, Isle of Man and Guernsey registers
p46 p76
WWW.AVIATION-NEWS.CO.UK 5
S NASA to end SOFIA project
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I National Aeronautics and Space As part of the request, offi cials noted in the National Academies' Decadal Survey
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D Administration (NASA) announced in its description of NASA's allocations that on Astronomy and Astrophysics 2020
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a statement on April 29 a decision to “SOFIA's annual operations budget is the concluded SOFIA's science productivity did
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H stop fl ight operations as part of its joint second most expensive operating mission not justify its costs.
Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared in Astrophysics, yet the science productivity It was also noted SOFIA’s capabilities did
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A Astronomy (SOFIA) mission with Germany’s of the mission is not commensurate with not signifi cantly overlap with the science
W the Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und other large science missions”. priorities the decadal survey had identifi ed
E Raumfahrt (DLR, German Aerospace Operated by NASA’s Armstrong Flight for the next decade and beyond.

E Center) – at the heart of which is Research Center out of Palmdale in
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M Boeing 747SP-21 N747NA. California, SOFIA reportedly costs US$85m This view of Boeing 747SP-21 N747NA,
A better known as SOFIA, soaring
Modifi ed with a 2.5m refl ecting telescope a year to maintain and operate.
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Y designed to conduct high-atmospheric This led to NASA considering grounding over the snow-covered Sierra
B infrared observations of the cosmos, SOFIA N747NA, which has served three years Nevada mountains during
a test fl ight reveals the
D is to be grounded "no later than September beyond its original mandate, several times
E aircraft’s unique
L 30, 2022" following a zero-funding over the past few years. 2.5m refl ecting
PI allocation in the White House's 2023 In its statement, NASA noted that as telescope NASA-
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federal budget request. part of a review of astronomical research, Jim Ross
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Qantas fi rms
up historic
order
Qantas Group confi rmed on May 2 that it
is to buy 12 Airbus A350-1000s, 20 A220-
300s, and 20 A321XLRs — the largest
aircraft order in its history.
Announced at a ceremony in Sydney
attended by Qantas Group CEO Alan
Joyce and Airbus chief commercial offi cer
Australian fl ag carrier Qantas announced on May 2, 2022, 12 Airbus A350-1000s are included in
Christian Scherer, the airline is continuing its historic order with European giant Airbus Qantas
plans to launch the industry's longest fl ights
(Project Sunrise), and renew its domestic link the cities with non-stop services for the allows a wider portfolio of direct domestic
fl eet (Project Winton). The order includes fi rst time. Joyce also noted “the aircraft will and short-haul international links, such
purchase rights on another 94 options for also be able to operate non-stop fl ights to as destinations in South East Asia and the
delivery until at least 2034. Australia from destinations such as Paris and Pacifi c Islands.
The agreement adds to an existing order Frankfurt…”. Qantas’ A220s and A321XLRs During the ceremony, Joyce commented:
for 109 A320neos (new engine option), will form the backbone of the carrier’s “New types of aircraft make new things
which includes A321XLRs for the airline’s domestic fl eet “for the next 20 years” possible. That’s what makes today’s
low-cost subsidiary, Jetstar. under Project Winton. With fi rm orders announcement so signifi cant for the
Under Project Sunrise, the Australian for 20 A321XLRs and 20 A220s, the fi rst national carrier and for a country like
fl ag carrier will use the A350-1000s to Airbus aircraft should start arriving in the Australia where air travel is crucial.”
launch non-stop services from Sydney and Antipodean nation during late 2023. At the time of writing Qantas confi rmed
Melbourne to New York and London in The A220-300 features a range of more the “total cost of the deal is commercial
2025. Expecting to shave up to four hours than 3,400nm which will enable it to fl y in confi dence”, but that is anyone was
off the journey time in comparison to between any city in Australia. Meanwhile, to assume standard price “a signifi cant
current one-stop fl ight options, this would the A321XLR’s 4,700nm range potentially discount should be assumed”.
6 AVIATION NEWS JUNE 2022
Airbus and ITA partner on eVTOL launch H
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carrier, have signed a Memorandum of N
Understanding to collaborate on urban air E
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mobility (UAM) in Italy.
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The agreement, announced on April 27, W
calls for the fi rms to recruit local partners S
for the operational launch of the CityAirbus C
NextGen electric vertical take-off and O
landing (eVTOL) multicopter. Airbus and ITA M
also agreed to identify pilot schemes aimed P
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at securing public acceptance of UAM by L
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local communities. D
Alfredo Altavilla, chairman of ITA Airways, B
said: “The partnership between ITA Airways Y

and Airbus started with the evolution J
The futuristic-looking CityAirbus NextGen eVTOL can carry four passengers up to 50 miles Airbus A
toward more modern, more comfortable, M
and environmentally friendly commercial The CityAirbus NextGen, a fully electric September 2021 to fl y the fi rst prototype IE
aircraft, equipped with cutting-edge vehicle equipped with fi xed wings, a in 2023 and earn type certifi cation in 2025. E
technologies. With this agreement, our V-shaped tail, and eight electrically powered Building on extensive fl ight trials with W
partnership expands to the segment of propellers, can carry four passengers and the CityAirbus and Vahana technology A
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urban air mobility for a wider, customer- has a range of 50 miles, with a cruising demonstrators, Airbus intends to certify the
centric, innovative, and sustainable off er for speed of about 75mph. The team, led by CityAirbus NextGen under EASA’s Special
our customers.” Airbus Helicopters, announced plans in Conditions-VTOL rules.
China demonstrated its global 11. In all the PLAAF airlifters –
Xi’an Y20s in Europe
reach capability on April 9 serials 20041, 20042, 20045,
when six Chinese People’s 20047, 20049 and 20142 –
Liberation Army Air Force undertook 18 sorties across
(PLAAF) Xi'an Y-20A tactical the three days.
transports touched down at Making one of the type’s
Batajnica Air Base near the fi rst visits to Europe, the jets
Serbian capital Belgrade – are reportedly on strength
reportedly carrying the FK-3 with 13th Transport Division's
surface-to-air missile defence 37th Air Regiment based
systems on delivery to the at Kaifeng Air Base in the
landlocked European nation. extreme east of China.
Returning to China the Of note, the jets’ chaff and
same day, via a refuelling fl are housings were noted
Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Xi'an Y20A 20047 fl ies over the
stop at Belgrade’s Nikola Tesla Serbian capital Belgrade to Nikola Tesla International Airport on March to be exposed, suggesting
International Airport, the aircraft 10, 2022. Note the aircraft’s port countermeasure suite (visible just aft of they were carrying live
repeated the feat on April 10 and the mainwheel) is exposed Salinger Igor countermeasures.
Boeing unveils USAF’s fi rst T-7A Red Hawk
Boeing has unveiled the fi rst T-7A Red Hawk
The fi rst USAF T-7A Red Hawk is rolled out at Boeing’s
advanced trainer jet bound for the United
St. Louis facility on April 28 USAF-TSgt Matthew Fredericks
States Air Force (USAF).
Wearing the markings of the 99 Flight
Training School at Randolph Air Base (AFB),
in Texas, the jet is the fi rst of 351 examples
destined to replace the USAF’s Air Education
and Training command’s (AETC) fl eet of
T-38C Talon trainers as part of a US$9.2bn
contract signed between Boeing and the
US Department of Defense in September
2018. Ted Colbert, CEO of Boeing Defense,
Space & Security, said: “We are excited and
honoured to deliver this digitally advanced,
next-generation trainer to the United States
Air Force. The T-7A will prepare pilots for said the T-7 was designed to emulate a us meet the air force’s mission and prepare
future missions for decades to come.” The fi fth-generation fi ghter and will be crucial aircrew to fi ght future threats. Getting the
jet will undertake a series of ground checks as the service revamps its pilot training T-7A into the hands of our instructors,
and taxi tests before its fi rst fl ights in the programs. He added: “Within a decade, students and maintainers is important to our
coming weeks. Later this year, it will fl y to nearly 60% of the USAF’s combat pilots will initiatives in transforming pilot training to
Edwards AFB, California, to begin fl ight tests. be fl ying fi fth-generation fi ghters. The T-7A ensure the highest calibre of pilots are ready
Lt Gen Brad Webb, commander of AETC, and accompanying ground systems will help for future confl ict.”
WWW.AVIATION-NEWS.CO.UK 7
S Romania
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Romanian Air Force MiG-21 LanceR-C ‘6196’
of Escadrila 711 Aviatie Lupta during a training
sortie out of its homebase of Câmpia Turzii
Romanian Air Force/Bogdan Pantilimon
On April 15, Romania announced it had veteran Soviet-era jet – which entered acquisition of 32 F-16AM/BM (MLU)s from
suspended all fl ight operations with its service with the country in the late 1960s – Norway – with a further two squadrons of
longstanding Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 remained in use with Romania. the type set to be established in the coming
LanceR C/Bs on strength with Escadrila 711 With the LanceRs unlikely to return to the years. It noted: “The draft law approving
Aviatie Lupta at Câmpia Turzii and Escadrila southeastern European nation’s order of this acquisition has gone through the stage
861 Aviatie Lupta at Constanta-Mihail battle, its newly acquired F-16AM/BM (MLU) of legislative transparency and is in the
Kogalniceanu. The fl eet-wide grounding fl eet will continue to execute domestic approval circuit and will be presented to the
came at the order of Chief of the Defense quick reaction alert (QRA) operations, with Romanian parliament as soon as possible.”
Staff General Daniel Petrescu, in light of the support from allied aircraft deployed to The F-16s will remain operational for at
“signifi cant number of accidents with the Romania in support of NATO’s ongoing least a decade, but Romania ultimately
LanceR, resulting in multiple casualties and enhanced air-policing (eAP) mission. wants to transition to a fi fth-generation
damaged or destroyed aircraft”. Reports As a result of the loss of its MiG-21s, combat force, with the aim of acquiring
indicate some 20-25 examples of the Romania is working to speed up its Lockheed F-35 Lightning IIs in the future.
Air Force One headaches add to Boeing’s woes
Boeing reported US$1.3bn in cost overrun the largest charge, totalling US$660m. shoes.” Calhoun added. “It has always been
charges among some of its major defence This stemmed from schedule delays, rising a tougher implication, and for the VC-25B,
programmes, resulting in the fi rm lowering supply costs and higher costs to fi nalise where the clearances are ultra-high, it’s
its defence unit’s sales in what its chief technical requirements. The aircraft, which really tough.”
executive Dave Calhoun called a “messier is slated to replace the VC-25A – itself Calhoum expressed regret over the path
quarter than any of us would have liked”. developed from the 747-200B – was Boeing took on the new Air Force One
The company noted in its quarterly originally due to be delivered in 2024, but during the Trump administration, and
earnings statement for Q1, on April 27, it was recently reported it could be at least reportedly suggested the US aerospace
2022, that its defence, space, and security two years behind schedule. and defence giant should not have
division saw its sales in the fi rst quarter of Calhoun noted COVID-related accepted the terms in 2018, as it engaged
2022 drop to US$5.5bn – down 24% from ineffi ciencies were largely responsible for in hardball negotiations to drive costs
the same period last year. This decline the cost overruns experienced – and were down. Calhoun noted that the contract
was largely due to lower volumes, and particularly acute in the Air Force One represented “a very unique moment, a very
its charges on fi xed-price development programme: “In the defence world, when unique negotiation, a very unique set of
programmes. However, the VC-25B (a a COVID line goes down, or a group of risks that Boeing probably shouldn’t have
highly developed version of the fi rm’s workers steps out, we don’t have a whole taken. But we are where we are, and we’re
747-8I) Air Force One programme saw bunch of cleared people to step into their going to deliver great airplanes.”
8 AVIATION NEWS JUNE 2022
Raider X: Prototype 85% complete M
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American defence giant Sikorsky A
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announced in early April that its Raider X Y
competitive prototype (CP) for the United N
States Army’s Future Attack Reconnaissance E
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Aircraft (FARA) programme is now more
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tchoannd 8u5c%te dc oamt tphlee tfie r.m W’so Drke ivse bloepinmg ent Flight C
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Center in West Palm Beach, Florida.
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Detailing its status on April 4, 2022,
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the fi rm noted it was progressing 50% I
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faster through production and assembly E
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compared to legacy programmes, while
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it has already accomplished nearly half of Y
the procedures required for the System J
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Acceptance Test.
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Production of a second FARA fuselage is
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also now complete. This second fuselage
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will be inducted into the company’s W
The Raider X CP at Sikorsky’s Development Flight Center in Florida Lockheed Martin-Sikorsky
structural test programme and used to A
validate the airframe’s fl ight/ground load to further optimise and accelerate the replacement for the Bell OH-58D Kiowa N
capabilities. This testing will support the platform’s design process. Warrior. A competitive fl y-off is due to
Raider X CP’s fl ight safety programme and Raider X is competing with the Bell 360 begin in November this year and will
provide additional data that can be used Invictus in the FARA programme to fi nd a conclude in late 2023.
USMC declare King Stallion IOC
In brief...
THE JAPAN Air Self-Defense Force scrambled
1,004 times in response to unidentifi ed foreign
aircraft approaching the country's airspace
during fi scal year 2021 (FY21) – an increase of
38% on the previous years fi gures. According to
data released by Japan’s Ministry of Defense,
of the 1,004 scrambles in 2021, 722 were in
response to movements by Chinese aircraft,
in what has been described as “intensifi ed”
activities that refl ect “intelligence gathering”.
The latest fi gures – which come amid regional
tensions between Japan and several of its
neighbouring countries – are second to a
record high of 1,168 scrambles during FY16.
USMC CH-53K 169021/MV-007 of Credit: USAF-MSgt Benjamin Stratton
VMX-1 lifts an external load during
a cargo-loading and transporting
exercise as part of its IOC work up
at the corp’s Air Ground Combat
Center in California
USMC-LCpl Colton Brownlee
On April 25, 2022, the United States Marine Sikorsky president Paul Lemmo said: “This
THE INDIAN Air Force’s Tejas Light Combat
Corps (USMC) declared Lockheed Martin’s declaration is a vote of confi dence from
Aircraft (LCA) Mk.1s are set to undergo main
Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift Marine Corps leadership, and demonstrates
airframe fatigue testing (MAFT), said India’s
helicopter has reached initial operational the critical role of the CH-53K, giving Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The
capability (IOC). The developmental and forces more range and agility to conduct state-owned aerospace and defence giant
operational testing needed for IOC was expeditionary heavy-lift assault transport noted its Aircraft Research and Design Centre
conducted by Air Test and Evaluation of armoured vehicles, equipment, and in Bengaluru will “demonstrate the capability
Squadron Two One and Marine Operational personnel. This capability is critical in the of the airframe to withstand four times the
Test and Evaluation Squadron One (VMX-1). Indo-Pacifi c region, and around the globe, service life”. According to HAL, these tests will
be carried out on the LCA Mk1 airframe over a
The service fl ew more than 3,000 hours in support of the joint force and allies.”
period of eight to nine years. HAL added: “The
over various terrain in both cold and hot The IOC declaration positions the US
successful completion of MAFT will qualify the
environments. According to Lockheed Marine Corps for a full rate production
LCA Mk.1 airframe for its full-service life.”
Martin, testing included day-to-night air- decision next year. The Approved
to-air refuelling, live fi ring, more than 350 Acquisition Objective is for 200 CH-53Ks,
Have you got news for us? Just head to
landings at sea, and fl ying in degraded visual which will replace the service’s ageing CH-
Key.Aero or aviation-news@keypublishing.
environments – as well as the delivery of 53E Super Stallions in the ‘ship-to-shore’
com with your submissions.
the fi rst six aircraft to the service. heavy vertical-lift requirement.
WWW.AVIATION-NEWS.CO.UK 9
S Final modernised AF-1B Skyhawk
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delivered to Brazilian Navy
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Brazilian Navy Douglas AF-1B Skyhawk N-1004 – the fi nal example to be upgraded – prior to
C Brazilian aerospace giant Embraer has
being handed over on April 20 this year Embraer Defense & Security-Sergio Fujiki
completed a contract to modernise the
Douglas AF-1B/C Skyhawks of the Ministry of Defense to modernise and engine overhauls, as well as a new ELTA
Marinha do Brasil (Brazilian Navy), perform limited upgrade work on nine Systems EL/M-2032 multi-mode airborne
following the handover of the fi nal airframe single-seat AF-1s and three two-seat fi re control radar and an AEL Systems-
(AF-1B N1004) during a ceremony at AF-1As, to bring them up to AF-1B and developed glass cockpit with hands-
the company’s Gavião Peixoto facility on AF-1C standard, respectively. This was later on-throttle-and-stick (HOTAS) control,
April 20 this year. The milestone event reduced to fi ve AF-1s and two AF-1As, after among other upgrades. The jets are slated
marked the conclusion of a modernisation it was announced the Brazilian Navy was to remain in service with 1º Esquadrão
programme that has lasted for 13 years. to retire its Clemenceau-class aircraft de Aviões de Interceptação e Ataque (1st
Embraer was awarded a US$106m carrier, São Paulo. Interception and Attack Squadron) for the
contract in April 2009 by the Brazilian Each of the jets received airframe and next decade, at least.
New stand-off EW platform for Japan
In early May, it was reported a new stand- According to the Japanese Ministry of needed to enable the stand-off platform
off electronic warfare (EW) aircraft, based Defense’s (MoD) annual White Paper, to conduct “eff ective jamming”. They
on Kawasaki’s medium C-2 airlifter, is being Defense of Japan 2021, the jamming will added: “The C-2 has been selected after
developed by Japan. Details remain scarce support counter air operations by Japan’s considering such factors as its fl ight
but sources suggest the platform has been Self-Defense Forces. A spokesperson performance, maximum payload, and
in development since early 2021 and is from the MoD’s Acquisition, Technology cost. By choosing it, we make use of its
intended to interfere with an adversarial & Logistics Agency (ATLA) noted that the existing infrastructure – thus eff ectively
power’s electromagnetic spectrum from C-2 was selected as the base platform due and effi ciently operate the new C-2 based
outside the opponent’s threat envelope. to it being able to carry the equipment stand-off EW aircraft.”
Wedgetail wins: Boeing’s E-7
selected as E-3 replacement
It was announced by the Secretary of the within the timeframe needed to replace its With this in mind, the FY23 President’s
Air Force, Frank Kendall, on April 26, 2022, ageing and maintenance-heavy E-3. Budget proposes a partial divestment of
that the United States Air Force (USAF) has With a contract award planned for the current E-3 fl eet by cutting 15 of the
selected Boeing’s E-7 Wedgetail to replace Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23), the President’s 31 airframe currently on strength and
elements of its Boeing E-3 Sentry Airborne Budget request for that period includes redirecting the funding to procure and fi eld
Warning and Control System (AWACS) fl eet. US$227m in research, development, test its replacement.
Although offi cially announced on April 26, and evaluation funds for the requirement, Although the type is already in service in
it had been known for some time that this including the fi rst prototype. These funds Australia, South Korea, and Turkey, while
was the service’s preferred option for the support the acquisition of a rapid prototype also now being built for the UK, it is not
requirement. The USAF stated the E-7 is the aircraft planned for delivery in FY27. The yet clear how much new development
only platform capable of meeting the needs notional schedule plans for a second rapid work will be required to meet US-specifi c
of the US Defense Department’s tactical prototype aircraft funded in FY24, and a requirements. Additionally, no mention
battle management, command and control production decision in FY25 to continue has yet been publicly made of how many
and moving target indication capabilities fi elding aircraft. Wedgetails the USAF will procure.
10 AVIATION NEWS JUNE 2022