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David Cenciotti’s weblog

• Nellis Aggressors’ F-15 in new “splinter” color scheme at Red Flag 12-2 February 5, 2012
  The following pictures, taken by The Aviationist’s contributor Tony Lovelock at Nellis AFB, Nevada, during the recent Red Flag 12-2 exercise, show the F-15C 78-0509/WA-09 of the 65th AGRS (Aggressor Squadron) with a new “splinter” camouflage (first reported in October 2011). Also attending the Red Flag in the Red Air, other 57th Wing’s Eagles in […]
• Recognized Maritime Picture, Sensor Fusion and AIS: inside the Italian Navy’s new Maritime Operation Center February 4, 2012
  On Jan. 19, the Marina Militare (Italian Navy) inaugurated its new Maritime Operation Center (MOC) with a ceremony that was attended by the Minister of Defense Giampaolo di Paola, along with the Navy Chief of Staff Adm. Bruno Branciforte and the Commander in Chief of the Fleet, Adm. Luigi Binelli Mantelli. The new center, located […]
• Following on India’s MMRCA win, Rafale on the verge of winning UAE fighter deal? February 4, 2012
  Has Dassault won a 60 jet deal with the UAE? French newspaper La Tribune reported on Feb. 2, 2012, that France could be on the verge of winning a long-awaited $10billion 60 jet deal with the United Arab Emerates which could be signed as soon as April. Citing unidentified sources, the paper said on its […]
• Low-Collateral Damage BONE: new weapon in the B-1′s arsenal February 3, 2012
  This week, the 337th Test and Evaluation Squadron based at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, has completed a compatibility test of the BLU-129 on the B-1 bomber over the Utah Test and Training Range. The BLU-129 is a variant of the 250lb small diameter bomb in which the usual iron body has been replaced by […]
• What a photo of two Soviet Mig-29s intercepted by four U.S. F-15s over the Bering Strait says about fighter tactics February 3, 2012
  Although it has been already published on several websites, this image suggests some interesting analysis. It was taken on Aug. 1, 1989, and shows two Soviet Mig-29 being intercepted by four (one is the camera ship, another one is not visible in this photograph) F-15s of the 21st Composite Fighter Wing, whosee 43rd and 54th […]
• India’s MMRCA fighter jet deal: illusion and disillusion on the losers’ side. February 2, 2012
  All media outlets have been reporting the various reactions to the news that India is “likely” to award the contract for its MMRCA competition to Dassault as it was the lowest cost bid. Aviation week’s Robert Wall wrote that the news is “Not going down well in London”. Although Wall points out that Germany led […]
• North Korean Mig-29s exposed in Kim Jong Un pictures February 2, 2012
  Photos of North Korea Air Force’s Mig-29 are quite rare. The few available are mainly low quality ones or still from videos taken by surveillance planes intercepted by the North Koreans Fulcrums. However, on Jan. 31, a new picture released by KCNA (Korean Central New Agency) and made available by Reuters. It shows Kim Jong […]
• China’s Light Attack Helicopter Z-19: a silent (rather than radar evading) chopper February 1, 2012
  The new Z-19 does not have a cool name, but it does have some very interesting features. The use of the word ‘Stealth’ is probably a little too strong a term for this new helicopter as the stealth used is not in the classical sense. In the case of the Z-19, it’s acoustic stealthiness along […]
• Russian Sukhoi Su-27s + Iranian F-14s + Iranian F-4s = the most exotic formation ever! January 31, 2012
  Although some pictures of this unbelievable formation have been already published on aviation website, the Russian Knights, Russian Air Force aerobatic display team has released some more images of the weird formation of Russian Su-27s (with the supporting Il-76), IRIAF (Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force) F-14 Tomcats and F-4 Phantoms taken during the ferry […]
• Here’s what the Indian MMRCA Rafale might look like January 31, 2012
  You already know by now that the Dassault Rafale has won India’s MMRCA (Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft) in what has been called the “mother of all tenders”, worth $10 billion for 126 planes. Thanks to Al Clark‘s digital mock-up, we also know how it could look like.   Tagged: Dassault, EF-2000, Eurofighter, India, Indian […]