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  A prototype of the Russian short-haul airliner SJ-100 fitted with only country-made parts has finished test runs with the front landing gear off the runway. The next stage of factory testing will be the first flight of the aircraft. The front strut liftoff run is one of the key moments in preparation for flight testing. It allows the crew to simultaneously work out the take-off procedure and the process of its emergency and safe abort.  Previously, the SJ-100 successfully completed a shimmy test, a phenomenon that occurs when lateral forces from the ground act on a rolling wheel tire. An increase in the amplitude of such oscillations can lead to a loss of control due to increased yaw or even to the destruction of the rack. Aircraft undercarriages are equipped with special dampers to combat this hazard, and field tests are conducted to ensure that the strut can cope with the resulting shimmy effect.  SJ-100 is a short-haul narrow-body aircraft, which is be...

Su-30SME fighter Russia has officially confirmed the transfer of two Su-30SME fighters to Myanmar, months after local media reported their use against armed opposition groups. Myanmar is the first nation to acquire the Su-30SME aircraft, which is the export version of the Su-30SM fighter. "Two aircraft have already been delivered,"  Charlie Than, Myanmar's trade minister, told the Russian RIA state news agency on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum, on Sunday. Myanmar's top leader, General Min Aung Hlaing, made two visits to Russia in 2022. During his September visit, he met with President Vladimir Putin and toured a fighter jet manufacturing plant. In September of the same year, Myanmar's State Administrative Council spokesperson, Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun, announced Myanmar's impending acquisition of six Russian Su-30SME fighter jets. This purchase stems from a 2018 contract for a total of six aircraft of this model. Unofficial Russian sources estimate t...

  Estonia and Latvia signed a framework agreement with Diehl Defence for the acquisition of IRIS-T SLM medium-range ground-based air defense systems. Magnus-Valdemar Saar, the Director General of the Estonian Centre for Defence Investments (ECDI), stated that the first IRIS-T SLM systems will be operational by 2025. Diehl Defence reported that the IRIS system achieved a close to 100% hit rate even during waves of attacks involving more than 12 targets. The IRIS-T SLM is designed to counter threats posed by enemy aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, and drones within a range of up to 40 km and an altitude of up to 20 km. A complete IRIS-T SLM fire unit includes components such as a missile launcher, radar, and tactical operations center, complemented by support elements like workshop, spare parts, and reloading vehicles. The system is characterized by its high tactical mobility, deployability of the missile launchers, and the capability to engage multiple targets with low personn...

  The UK, Japan, and Italy have teamed up to work together on creating a new advanced sixth-generation combat aircraft as part of the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP). The partners plan to determine the sensor hardware for their new advanced combat aircraft by mid-2025 and create a joint venture for work allocation. An agreement involving BAE Systems (UK), Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (Japan), and Leonardo SpA (Italy) signed today, promotes integration and collaboration for the next GCAP phase. The GCAP combat aircraft, set for deployment in 2035, considers radar and sensors a crucial component, worth up to 30% of the total value, reports  Defense News .  Sensor technology teams from Leonardo UK, Leonardo Italy, Italy's ELT Group, and Japan's Mitsubishi Electric aim to reach key milestones by 2025, aligning with airframe and propulsion teams. The GCAP's sensor package combinesradar, electronic warfare, and electro-optics through a Multi-Function Processor (MFP). Unlike p...

  The U.S. Navy awarded Raytheon $80.3 million to increase the production of AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles, as Washington tries to keep its promise of transferring missiles of this type to Ukraine. Confirming the contract, the Pentagon said in a  statement  today that this  “modification adds scope to provide non-recurring tooling, equipment, and associated support required to increase the annual AIM-9X missile production capacity for the Navy.” Work is expected to be completed in June 2026. Ukraine's ongoing conflict with Russia is depleting its Soviet-era R-73 heat-seeking missiles, prompting the need for Sidewinders. On August 29, the U.S. allocated $250 million in aid to Ukraine, including Sidewinder heat-seeking air-to-air missiles. Canada had previously pledged AIM-9s in May from their own inventory. These missiles can be launched from F-16s, which several countries, including Denmark, The Netherlands, and Norway, have promised to Ukraine. Ukraine could integrate ...

  The UK has sent Malloy heavy-lift drones to Ukraine, capable of transporting supplies and weaponry to the front lines. The country's defense ministry  has stated   that these drones can lift up to 180kg and have a range of approximately 70km. While the specific model of the drone was not mentioned, one that perfectly matches this description is the  T400  produced by the UK-based company Malloy Aeronautics. The T400 boasts a maximum payload capacity of 180kg, a range exceeding 70km, and a cruise speed of over 35 meters per second. Thanks to removable batteries that can be easily replaced by personnel, there is no need to wait for hours for recharging, which increases cargo delivery frequency and offers better value for money.  https://www.defensemirror.com/news/34965/UK_Donates_Heavy_lift_Drones_to_Ukraine