MAJOR MILESTONES IN 2022: MILITARY AVIATION

From hypersonic strike missiles to sixth generation combat aircraft, as some major projects fructified, the year 2022 saw military aviation technology progressing in leaps and bounds

- AIR VICE MARSHAL SANJAY BHATNAGAR (RETD)

THE YEAR HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY EVENTFUL, WE LOOK AT some major milestones achieved in the military aviation domain.

GERMAN AIR FORCE DECIDES ON F-35S

Lockheed Martin's F-35 undoubtedly seems to be the fighter aircraft of the year 2022. Germany in March 2022 put to rest its long raging debate about the best aircraft to replace its ageing Tornado strike fighters. F/A-18E/Fs and EA-18Gs so far was a strong contender, the German government decided to buy 35 Lockheed Martin F-35, at an estimated cost of Euro 7.6 billion, and additional Euro 2.4 billion for weapons and infrastructure at its operating base.

In 2021, Finland and Switzerland selected the F-35, thereafter, the Czech Republic opted for F-35As and Greece submitted a request to purchase the US built fighter.

The F-35 is a $412 billion programme, started in 2019, and is yet to enter full rate production, owing to testing delays and other issues. The US Air Force (USAF) plans to buy 1,763 of these, although it has hinted it may cut that to 1,050; the US Navy wants 273; and the US Marines want 420. Under current plans, the Pentagon will buy one third of its 2,470 aircraft F-35 fleet (including 14 test models) before green lighting full rate production. 2022 was also the year when, delivery of new F-35s was temporarily halted when it was discovered that there were Chinese made materials in the aircraft.

AUTOMATED REFUELING 

In July 2022, Airbus A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) became the first tanker to be certified for automatic air-to-air refueling (A3R) without a boom operator. Spain's National Institute of Aerospace Technology signed off on the A3R capability to refuel the F-16 during daylight following a test campaign in collaboration with the Republic of Singapore Air Force.