DTN News: Colombian Air Force Inducted Air Refueling Tanker From Israel

DTN News: Colombian Air Force Inducted Air Refueling Tanker From Israel

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources

(NSI News Source Info) TEL AVIV, Israel - November 10, 2010: Israel Aerospace Industries has delivered a converted B767-200ER Multi-Mission Tanker Transport to the Colombian air force. The aircraft, which has refueling capabilities, was converted by IAI's Bedek Aviation Group.

"We are proud and honored to deliver the Air Refueling B767 to the Colombian government and its air force," said Itzhak Nissan, Bedek Aviation Group's general manager. "The B767 MMTT configuration was jointly defined by IAI teams and Colombian air force pilots and officers to provide the best capabilities for both air refueling and transport missions.

The MMTT aircraft successfully completed flight tests, including in-flight refueling of Kfir/C10 fighter aircraft, also produced by IAI.

Israel Aerospace Industries' Bedek Aviation Group is a leading supplier of aviation maintenance, repair, overhaul and conversion services on a variety of commercial and military aircraft, engines and components.

IAI said Bedek's passenger-to-freighter conversion product line also includes: B737-300, B737-400, B767-200, and B747-400 aircraft.

*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News, contact: dtnnews@ymail.com

© Copyright (c) DTN News Defense-Technology News

DTN News: Israel Aerospace Industries Completed Series of Successful Flight Tests Of Colombian Air Force's Boeing 767 Air Refueling Aircraft

DTN News: Israel Aerospace Industries Completed Series of Successful Flight Tests Of Colombian Air Force's Boeing 767 Air Refueling Aircraft

* Itzhak Nissan, President and CEO of Israel Aerospace Industries: "We are proud to be working with such a distinguished customer as the Colombian Air Force, and are pleased to have been chosen to take on such critical projects as supplying and upgrading Kfir aircraft and supplying aerial refueling aircraft. These projects reflect IAI's strength and its integrative capabilities."

Source: DTN News / Israel Aerospace Industries; issued September 5, 2010

(NSI News Source Info) Tel Aviv, Israel - September 6, 2010: A series of successful flight tests aimed at opening the flight envelope have been completed for the pre-owned B767-200ER (Extended Range) aircraft, converted by Bedek Aviation Group of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) to a Multi Mission Tanker Transport (MMTT) configuration for the Colombian government and the end user, the Colombian Air Force. The converted aircraft is equipped with two Wing Air Refueling Pods (WARPs) of the ARP3 model, developed and manufactured by IAI. During the first 3.5-hour flight test, the full envelope, including altitude, speed, and Mach number, was opened without any flutter or buffet problems. Additional in-flight refueling tests of a C10 Kfir fighter jet, also produced by IAI, were successfully completed. The MMTT pilot reported an extremely smooth flight with no technical events.The air refueling system functioned very well, and the first hook-ups and fuel transfers were the most exciting moments of the flight. IAI's test pilot team that flew the aircraft reported that the systems performed flawlessly. The pilot of the Kfir (the aircraft being refueled) appreciated the easy, stable hook-up in each of the two WARPs. As previously reported, IAI was awarded a multi-year contract in 2007 worth more than $150 million to upgrade the Colombian Air Force's Kfir aircraft. In June of 2009, the first Kfir aircraft were redelivered to the Colombians, and have been in operational activity ever since. The tanker conversion project, which lasted more than two years, was completed by IAI's technicians, flight test pilots, and engineers, all of whom contributed to the development and integration of the air refueling system into the B767. Their dedication and hard work culminated in the minutes during which the tanker and the Kfir met in the air and performed the hook-up, an "exciting and proud" moment for those involved in the project. IAI's chief test pilot Ronen Shapira, who flew behind the B767-200ER in a G250 business jet aircraft, also confirmed the smooth flight: "The flights were successful, and the aircraft performed extremely well with the air refueling pods. The aircraft performance and overall stability of the aircraft and the drogues all displayed impressive results." Eli Hattem, General Manager of IAI's Bedek Aviation Group, commented: "These successful flight tests are an important milestone in this conversion. We are pleased to report that everything is progressing smoothly and look forward to continuing to strengthen our ties with the Colombian government and its Air Force." In the coming days, the B767-200MMTT will perform additional flights before its redelivery to the Colombian Air Force.

In the photos:

1-Itzhak Nissan, President and CEO of Israel Aerospace Industries

2- The Colombian Air Force's Kfir C10 fighter aircraft being refueled by the B767 air refueling tanker For further details, please contact:

Doron SuslikDeputy Corporate

VP of Communications

Tel: +972-3-935-8509

Fax: +972-3-935-8512

Email: hpaz@iai.co.il

DTN News: IAI Delivers First Batch Of Kfir Fighter Jets To the Colombian Air Force

DTN News: IAI Delivers First Batch Of Kfir Fighter Jets To the Colombian Air Force *Sources: DTN News / Israel Aerospace Industries (NSI News Source Info) TEL AVIV, Israel - June 24, 2009: Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is delivering the first batch of upgraded Kfir fighter jets to the Colombian Air Force in a ceremony held at IAI's facilities in Israel. In attendance at the ceremony was Juan Hurtado Cano, the Colombian Ambassador to Israel, high ranking officers from the Colombian Air Force, and executives from the Israeli Ministry of Defense (IMOD-SIBAT), and IAI. IAI is upgrading all 12 Colombian air force Kfir C-1/-2 fighters under a $150M contract awarded in late 2007.

In late 2007 IAI was awarded a multi-year contract worth over $150 million to upgrade the existing Colombian Air Force Kfir jets, and to supply additional jets.

Mr. Itzhak Nissan, IAI's President and CEO said: "IAI's new technologies were integrated in the new Kfir jets to better their capabilities and allow longer operational service. The short delivery schedule and high quality of the aircraft were feasible thanks to IAI's integration capability, and the knowledge and experience of Lahav and other IAI divisions".

The Kfir fighter jet, manufactured at IAI's Lahav Division of the Military Aircraft Group, is a multi-role, all-weather combat jet with high carrying capabilities of Air-to-Air and Air-to-Ground munitions.

The additional Kfir jets, models C10-C12, have been upgraded and improved to include IAI's latest technologies and products. Currently, Kfir jets play an advanced role in the Air Forces of Sri Lanka, Ecuador and Colombia, and they have been used in the US Navy to act as adversary aircraft in dissimilar air combat training.

Kfir jets are also used by the Airborne Tactical Advantage Company (ATAC), a civilian company that provides fleet tactical aircraft and services to the US military. ATAC provides airborne tactical training, threat simulation, and research & development.

Principal Deputy Director of SIBAT, Mr, Meir Shalit said: "IMOD is proud of IAI and their great achievement and cooperation with the Colombian Air Force. IMOD sees IAI as a genuine partner that promotes Israel's quality defense export".

Colonel Diego Sepulveda Alzate of the Colombian Air Force said: "We feel immense happiness, satisfaction, and pride for this addition to the Colombian Air Force. We are grateful to the workers at LAHAV and at IAI in general for all their hard work."

Israel Aerospace Industries, is one of Israel’s leading technological-industrial companies employing around 16,400 people and is a leading developer of aviation and aerospace technology in the military and civilian markets. IAI’s backlog grew from over $1 billion at the beginning of 2009 to a record high of over $8 billion. IAI is a world leader in a wide range of advanced technologies, including development, production, renovation, upgrading, repair and maintenance of aircraft, missiles, launchers, communications satellites, observation satellites and ground services, electronic systems, avionics systems, advanced radar, precision-guided munitions and unmanned aerial vehicles.