Theoretically the Mig35 with its new wing that has variable LE TE flaps should supercruise (patent). Then I don’t know how much of that potential they effectively reached

Swap Afghan’s 46 Mi17s with 53 BlackHawks ?

The Defense Department has requested roughly $815 million dollars to bolster the Afghan air force’s offensive and lethal capabilities. Those funds include the purchase and modification of 53 UH-60 Blackhawks and 30 additional armed MD-530 attack helicopters, six more A-29 fixed wing turboprop attack aircraft, five AC-208 fixed wing aircraft, an armed variant of the C-208s currently in use by the Afghan Air Force, according to a DoD spokesperson.

Source:
MilitaryTimes.com

Elbit to upgrade Mi-17 helos of ‘Asia-Pacific’ country

The project is valued at USD110 million, including post-upgrade maintenance, and will see the avionics of “dozens of helicopters” modernised with new systems, Elbit said in a statement. While the specifics of the upgrade were not disclosed, it is understood to be centred on the company’s Aviator Night-Vision Imaging System/Head-Up Display (ANVIS/HUD) 24T system for helicopters.

Source:
Janes.com

RAF forced to intercept as Russian bomber planes enter Irish controlled airspace

An RAF spokesman said: “We can confirm that quick reaction alert Typhoon aircraft from RAF Lossiemouth and RAF Coningsby scrambled to monitor two Blackjack bombers while they were in the UK area of interest.

“At no point did the Russian aircraft enter UK territorial airspace.”

First sighted by the Norvegian AF Those were latter intercepted by a pair of Mirage 2K 100km north of Brittany around 12:30pm before a single Rafale escorted both tu160 southward until they were taken in charge by a pair of Spanish Hornets. Both Tu160 then turned back and flew back to Russia

Source:
Irish Central.com
http://www.leparisien.fr/faits-divers/deux-bombardiers-russes-encore-interceptes-au-large-des-cotes-francaises-09-02-2017-6668712.php

that would imply the JTAC to be more or less a pilot.

Drone are built today to be controlled by grunts on a i-pad via a standardized interface. Hardly a need for a qualified pilot. This is the way to go and inherently, what will change is the definition of what is a Pilot.

Saudi Arabia to get more radars for F-15 fleet

Boeing received an $18 million contract from the U.S. Air Force to provide AN/APG-63(V) radars for Saudi Arabia’s F-15SA aircraft.
The contract covers three of the radars

Source:
saudidailyrecord.net

What surprise me the most is the apparent sudden decision taken by Leonardo with its split from Raytheon. AviationWeek magazine still had a full page of adds for the Raytheon T-100 trainer. Idem for the website. Why would someone put adds for a product that your company doesn’t sell if this was not something that has taken everyone by surprise?

This apparent state of “improvisation” is concerning. It doesn’t speak well for the needs to reach agreement and drive on the long run a long term program smoothly. Although Leonardo has still a great chance to outrun TAI on the low end offer and hence play a serious card with the long term sustainment costs, a multi-decade program like that will look certainly at the planning capabilities of the chosen contractor.