Preflight 12/8/2013

Photograph by Ernest Vikne

Elbit Systems to Provide Hardware for Gripens

According to Bloomberg Businessweek, Elbit Systems has disclosed that they will be the primary contractor in providing hardware for Saab AB’s Gripen line of fighter aircraft. The Israeli defense firm has been successful in garnering contracts recently, proven by its receiving of a multi-million dollar deal to furnish advanced instrumentation for an as-of-yet unnamed Asian customer.

Photograph by Ernest Vikne

NORAD Tracks Santa Controversy Continues

Lately, there has been a significant outcry against the North American Aerospace Defense Command’s Santa Tracker website after it was revealed that NORAD would be placing US fighter jets into the animated “live” video of Santa delivering presents around the world. Oddly enough, nobody seems to remember that in previous years, the Santa Tracker already featured fighter jets with Canadian markings. Fox News quoted a NORAD officer Captain Jeff Davis as saying “We wanted to let folks know that, hey, this is a NORAD video, and we’re the military and this is our mission.”

A screenshot of a Santa Tracker video from a previous year. The jet featured is a CF-188 Hornet of the RCAF.