March, 2011 Military Aviation News
03/31/2011
As Libyan rebels fled in headlong retreat from the superior arms and tactics of Muammar Gaddafi's troops on Wednesday, U.S. officials said President Barack Obama had signed a secret order authorizing covert support for the rebels.
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03/31/2011
Advancements in Chinese military capabilities mean Guam has lost its status as a safe haven for American forces in the Western Pacific, a top war strategist says.
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03/31/2011
Many commentators believe the Libya air strikes are a pre-election advert for President Nicolas Sarkozy. Some believe they are also an advert for France's badly-selling Rafale jet fighter.
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03/31/2011
Two years after entering squadron service, the U.S. Navy's EA-18G "Growler" electronic warfare aircraft has seen combat for the first time in Libya. The EA-18G is equipped with the ALQ-99 radar jamming pod and a a APG-79 phased array (AESA) radar, which also has some jamming capability (with the right software) as well as the ability to fry electronics.
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03/31/2011
The Dutch government decided yesterday evening that the Netherlands will participate in the NATO enforcement of the UN arms embargo against Libya. Its contribution will consist of a minehunter, a KDC-10 tanker aircraft and six F-16 fighter aircraft. The total contribution of the mission will involve approximately 200 Dutch military personnel.
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03/31/2011
When the U.S. military wanted to survey the damage above Japan's stricken Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant earlier this month, it sent a Global Hawk pilotless aircraft. Just days later, commanders sent a Global Hawk to assess how effective U.S. strikes in Libya had been. In a Pentagon briefing Friday, Vice Adm. William Gortney confirmed that the Global Hawk, known formally as the RQ-4, was providing "persistent surveillance" of Libyan territory.
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03/31/2011
Libyan Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa arrived in London late on Wednesday and told British authorities he was going to resign from his post, the British Foreign Office said.
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03/30/2011
The US Navy has indicated that it would like to have unmanned, robotic spyplane/bombers operating from its aircraft carriers "in the 2018 timeframe", which suggests that flying kill-robots will soon be in the same league as the most powerful manned combat aircraft.
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03/30/2011
While civil aviation traffic has gone down slightly, military traffic in the flight information region handled by Malta Aviation Traffic Services (MATS) has gone up “exponentially”, according to chief operations officer Robert Sant.
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03/30/2011
Enforcing a no-fly zone over Libya required four sorties by NATO aircraft in the past 24 hours, the Pentagon said Tuesday.
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03/30/2011
A lot of self-proclaimed “patriots” seem to love oil as much as they love America. Maybe the military’s use of biofuels can change some minds, as a F-22 Raptor was able to go Mach 1.5 times on 50% camelina oil blend.
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03/30/2011
The only remaining flying Vulcan – the last all-British designed and built military aircraft – flew out of RAF Lyneham for the last time today.
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03/30/2011
Here's an insider's explanation of why the Air Force's hot new F-22 fighter jet is exactly the wrong aircraft for shooting at Qaddafi's forces on the ground in Libya.
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03/30/2011
Lockheed Martin rolled out the first aircraft in a new fleet of MC-130J Combat Shadow IIs for the U.S. Air Force’s Special Operations Command (AFSOC) during a ceremony here today.
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03/30/2011
Boeing today announced that it has been awarded a $31 million follow-on contract from the U.S. Air Force for two more C-130 Avionics Modernization Program (AMP) kits. The agreement, part of a low-rate initial production (LRIP) contract awarded in 2010, also includes support for logistics, engineering and installation, as well as spares support equipment.
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03/29/2011
It's even tougher if you do it Bob Haymond's way - on your stomach in the rear of an Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker flying at 21,000 feet and 300 miles per hour, while you work the controls of a 40-foot fuel hose as it plunges toward a second military plane flying so close you could spit on it.
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03/29/2011
Romania's Supreme Defense Council (CSAT) on Monday authorized the use of Romanian aerodromes by United States military aircraft, for aerial refueling, as part of the operation to enforce UN Security Council Resolution 1973.
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03/29/2011
The United States used low-flying combat aircraft against Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi's ground troops, the Pentagon said Monday, but denied it was directly supporting the rebels. "We have employed A-10s and AC-130s over the weekend," US Vice Admiral Bill Gortney, director of the US military's Joint Staff, told reporters, without giving specifics about targets.
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03/29/2011
Twelve fighter aircraft of the United Arab Emirates arrived last night in the base of Decimomannu in Sardinia, preceded by an UN A-330/200 aircraft, landed at the "Mario Mameli" of Cagliari, which carried the material logistics to support the jet.
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03/29/2011
“We’re not done. We’re going to build 179 of these, and then we’ll build another 179 for the U.S. Air Force,” he said after a celebration of the company’s tanker win with U.S. Reps. Norm Dicks and Rick Larsen, both D-Wash. “My guess is there are a hundred (orders) out there internationally.”
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03/29/2011
Faulty maintenance procedures were found to have caused the March 9 in-flight failure of the engine generators aboard an F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft, the program office said last week. Those procedures have now been revised, and the entire fleet of F-35s has been cleared to resume flight operations.
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03/29/2011
U.S. and coalition forces have accomplished the no-fly zone aspect of the United Nations mission in Libya, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said during a television interview aired March 28.
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03/29/2011
The U.S. Army’s Joint Attack Munition Systems (JAMS) Project Office and Lockheed Martin successfully fired a multipurpose AGM 114R HELLFIRE II “Romeo” missile with a live warhead and penetrated a brick-over-block target in its sixth proof-of-principle (POP) test.
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03/29/2011
The Air National Guard is contributing to Operation Odyssey Dawn with Airmen from 11 air refueling wings supporting the international coalition enforcement of a United Nations authorized no-fly zone, National Guard officials said March 22 here.
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03/28/2011
No foreign troops will be deployed and there will be no NATO presence on the ground in Libya, NATO Spokesperson Oana Lungescu said Monday.
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03/28/2011
The 28 ambassadors of Nato's policy-making North Atlantic council met in Brussels to agree the rules of engagement for the air campaign aimed at protecting civilians against Gaddafi's onslaught, with Turkey and Germany keen to narrow the scope of the operations and France bristling at any constraints on its more gung-ho approach.
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03/28/2011
Qatar became the first Arab country to fly fighter planes over Libya in support of the coalition-imposed no-fly zone on Friday. The importance of the Qatari contribution, which is set to be followed by the UAE, was recognised by Libya's opposition movement, based in Benghazi.
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03/28/2011
The air force is in the final stages of choosing between two training aircraft, the supersonic T-50 Golden Eagle built by South Korea's Korean Aerospace Industries and Lockheed Martin Corp. of the United States, and the transonic M-346 produced by Alenia Aermacchi of Italy.
The initial order of 20-30 training jets will mark the first time in 40 years that the Israeli air force will buy jet aircraft not manufactured in the United States.
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03/27/2011
The U.S. Air Force is investigating whether the On-Board Oxygen Generating System (OBOGS) found on several U.S. Air Force warplanes, including the F-22 Raptor, might be defective.
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03/27/2011
rench fighter planes in Misrata (200 km east of Tripoli) have destroyed "at least" five Galeb fighter planes and two combat helicopters MI-35 of forces loyal to Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, said on Saturday the staff of the French armies.
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03/27/2011
All the missions are run at night and "we have to wear night vision goggles for the duration of the sorties," Thulin said. "It's very dark in Libya, you can see the desert, you can see the towns, but that's about it. It's much darker than I expected to be. It's much darker than our training in northern Italy."
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03/27/2011
Coalition warplanes attacked Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's home town of Sirte in northern Libya early on Sunday, the country's state television reported.
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03/26/2011
A French warplane destroyed one of Moammar Khadafy's military jets in a dramatic display of air power yesterday - the first shoot-down since the US-led coalition imposed a "no-fly" zone over Libya. The Rafale fighter jet spotted the Libyan aircraft breaching the zone as it was approaching an airfield near the embattled town of Misrata - the site of a seesaw battle between pro-Khadafy and rebel forces - and blasted it with an air-to-ground missile as it landed.
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03/26/2011
As British officials this week claimed the defeat of Libyan air defenses, the aircraft prided to have contributed most to that success include the Rafale, Mirage 200, Tornado and F-16. Other aircraft noted to have contributed to successful air runs against the military assets of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi include the F-15, F-18, B-2 and Harrier jump jets.
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03/26/2011
A Qatar fighter pilot, in a strong and symbolic show of military support, became the first from any Arab nation to fly a combat mission over Libya Friday.
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03/26/2011
The international coalition force is planning a ground operation in Libya that could start in late April, a high-ranking Russian intelligence service source said on Friday.
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03/25/2011
A female pilot in Britain's Royal Air Force (RAF) has become the first woman to fly a Typhoon fighter aircraft on a combat mission during the current enforcement of a no-fly zone over Libya, British media reports said Thursday.
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03/25/2011
Coalition forces continue to enforce the no-fly zone over Libya, striking air defense capabilities and regime forces that threaten Libyan civilians, Navy Vice Adm. William E. Gortney said here March 24.
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03/25/2011
Britain pushed ahead Friday with preparations to take a key role in an international military operation to enforce the UN Security Council's resolution on Libya, regardless of the ceasefire announced by the regime of Moamer al-Gaddafi, dpa reported.
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03/25/2011
The drive to enlist foreign staff, in part focusing on experienced workers, is another manifestation of Chinese industry’s ability to wield national resources and the lure of market access in its quest for the knowledge it needs to rapidly catch up with Western aerospace leaders.
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03/25/2011
Turkey has postponed the purchase of 100 US-made F-35 warplanes in objection to the American's refusal to share the aircraft's technology.
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03/25/2011
Coalition forces have intensified their attacks in Libya but have been unable to prevent Col Muammar Gaddafi's tanks entering the key town of Misurata, it was reported on Thursday evening.
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03/25/2011
French officials said that a Rafale fighter jet had fired on the Libyan aircraft after a coalition AWACS surveillance plane detected that it was violating the no-fly zone by flying above the city of Misrata, the scene of fierce fighting for more than a week. The missile hit the warplane shortly after it had landed at the city's airport.
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03/25/2011
NATO will take over control of military operations to ensure a no-fly zone in Libya early next week, diplomatic sources in Brussels said on Thursday.
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03/24/2011
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that the Qatar Armed Forces have signed a contract for three AW139 medium twin helicopters plus a comprehensive logistics support package. These aircraft will be operated by the Qatar Emiri Air Force to perform emergency medical service missions.
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03/24/2011
Aero Vodochody received business worth several million Euros from Swedish company SAAB Aeronautics for production of pylons for Swedish and Thai air forces.
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03/24/2011
Last night the joint task force ‘Odyssey Dawn’, comprising U.S. Navy and Royal Navy surface ships and submarines launched a massive attack on Libya, firing 112 Tomahawk sea-launched cruise missiles. The missiles were fired from U.S. and British attack submarines and U.S. Navy surface ships. An airstrike with Storm Shadow cruise missiles was also launched by RAF Tornado GR4, flying straight from Marham airbase in the U.K., a 3,000 mile return flight. The attack targeted about 20 radar and anti-ai
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03/24/2011
U.S. forces safely recovered the two-man crew of an American fighter jet after it crashed during a mission against a missile site in eastern Libya, Pentagon officials said Tuesday.
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03/24/2011
Miami’s U.S. Attorney announced that four family members were charged in a five-count indictment alleging they illegally attempted to export 22 F-5 jet fighter engines to Iran, violating sanctions.
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03/24/2011
A flotilla of warships has begun patrolling the Mediterranean under Nato command to block attempts by Colonel Muammar Gaddafi to replenish his combat forces with arms and mercenaries. But the attempt at a Nato show of unity in policing a UN arms embargo was undermined by a third day of squabbling at alliance headquarters in Brussels over who should be in charge of the air campaign.
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03/23/2011
Naval strike aircraft will be reassigned to the Russian Air Force by the end of 2011, a high-ranking Navy source told RIA Novosti on Wednesday. Naval strike aircraft include Tu-22M3 Backfire long-range bombers, MiG-31 Foxhound interceptors, Su-27 Flanker fighter jets, and Su-24 Fencer attack aircraft.
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03/23/2011
The F-15E Strike Eagle fighter was flying just before midnight Tuesday at 22,000 feet over northeastern Libya when its engines pitched out. In the frantic seconds that followed, the plane's pilot and weapon systems officer decided they had no choice but to eject.
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03/23/2011
Canadian jet fighters have flown their first mission in the skies over Libya as part of a coalition effort to rein in Moammar Gadhafi’s crackdown on pro-democracy rebels.
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03/23/2011
Coalition forces enforcing a no-fly zone in Libya to halt the slaughter of citizens by Moammar Gadhafi "have gone to great lengths to avoid civilian casualties," Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said here March 22.
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03/23/2011
NATO should assume overall command of the international operation in Libya, the EU top diplomat said.
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03/23/2011
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Tuesday the significant military fighting going on in Libya now "should recede in the next few days."
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03/23/2011
The new HC-130J personnel recovery aircraft, developed for the United States Air Force Air Combat Command, has completed developmental testing. The final test point was air-to-air refueling and was achieved on March 14. This was the first refueling of an HC-130J, and the first ever boom refueling of a C-130 where the aircraft’s refueling receiver was installed during aircraft production.
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03/22/2011
Two crew members ejected from their U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle when the aircraft experienced equipment malfunction over northeast, Libya, March 21, at approximately 5:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.
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03/22/2011
A pair of British F2 Typhoon aircraft took off from southern Italy on their first patrols to enforce the UN-imposed no-fly zone over Libya.
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03/22/2011
The CF-18 Hornet was commissioned in 1980 by the Canadian military, which in 1977 issued a call for tender for the manufacture of 130 to 150 new fighter jets in order to replace its aging fleet.
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03/22/2011
For the aviators flying over Libya and deciding whether to press the button, the three-day-old U.S. military-led mission over Libya can be hard to define.
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03/22/2011
European and U.S. forces have unleashed warplanes and cruise missiles against Libyan targets under a U.N. Security Council resolution authorising military action to protect civilians from leader Muammar Gaddafi's forces. (Adds Qatar, updates Italy, Spain, Denmark, France, Britain)
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03/22/2011
While the attacks on Libya's integrated air and missile defense system have been successful, thousands of anti-aircraft artillery emplacements and portable missile launchers still pose threats to coalition air crews, the director of the Joint Staff said March 21.
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03/21/2011
U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirits, F-15E Strike Eagles and F-16CJ Fighting Falcons launched during the early hours of March 20 in support of Operation Odyssey Dawn to enforce U.N. Security Council Resolution 1973, which is centered on protecting Libyan citizens from any further harm from Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's regime.
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03/21/2011
The Swedish government can count on the broad support in parliament to send Jas Gripen aircraft to assist the UN-backed Libyan operation, with only the Sweden Democrats expressing a dissenting opinion.
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03/21/2011
Greece expects four fighter aircraft from Qatar to land at a military base on the island of Crete on Monday or Tuesday, a Defence Ministry official told Reuters.
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03/21/2011
Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said earlier in the day Spain would contribute four F-18 fighter jets to carry out air patrol missions and also send an F-100 frigate and a submarine for maritime surveillance to help impose an international arms embargo on the Muammar Gaddafi regime.
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03/21/2011
Russia will not participate in any operations in regard to the no-fly zone in Libya, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Monday.
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03/21/2011
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Opposition Leader Joseph Muscat took a common stand yesterday on the need for prudence in the ongoing Libya uprising while keeping national safety as the country’s top priority.
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03/21/2011
Although US aircraft were not used in the initial raid, they joined in early yesterday and included the B-2 stealth bombers from Missouri. At least 20 air-defence sites were hit, all of them surface-to-air missile batteries posing the gravest risk to coalition aircraft that will be involved in combat patrols over Libya.
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03/20/2011
A defiant Moammar Gadhafi vowed a "long war" after the U.S. and European militaries blasted his forces with airstrikes and over 100 cruise missiles, hitting air defenses and at least two major air bases early Sunday, shaking the Libyan capital with explosions and anti-aircraft fire.
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03/20/2011
Iran takes a unique step forward in the world of military aviation with the announcement of the country's first jet fighter squadron comprised of all Iranian aircraft.
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03/20/2011
A plan to train Saudi air force pilots in Idaho is turning former allies into bitter enemies.
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03/20/2011
PLUMMETING to earth in flames, this is the dramatic moment when a rebel Libyan fighter jet was apparently brought down over Benghazi.
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03/20/2011
"While Canada supports quick action, Canadian fighter jets have just reached the region and will require two days to prepare for any mission," a spokesman for Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper told Reuters by email.
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03/19/2011
The French General Staff denied on Sunday media reports that one of its Air Force planes was shot down, saying that all warplanes returned to their bases.
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03/19/2011
President Barack Obama said he’s authorized U.S. armed forces to begin “limited” operations to enforce a no-fly zone over Libya, as U.S. and coalition ships and aircraft hit the North African nation’s air defenses.
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03/19/2011
David Cameron ordered British forces into action against Libya in “Operation Ellamy” after world leaders united to tell the dictator the “time for action” had come.
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03/19/2011
Military action against Libyan forces was under way today as Prime Minister David Cameron declared that "the time for action has come" after dictator Muammar Gaddafi flouted his own ceasefire to mount continued attacks against his own people.
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03/19/2011
Sarkozy said Saturday the international community has a duty to respond to the call of the civilians who are facing a military assault from forces loyal to leader Moammar Gadhafi.
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03/19/2011
NATO said its ambassadors would meet to discuss their
response, while analysts expect an initial strike would target
Libya's military aircraft, air force bases and communication
systems.
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03/19/2011
The first Airbus Military A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport for the Royal Saudi Air Force completed its four hour maiden flight on Wednesday. The aircraft was converted by Iberia as part the partnership between Iberia Maintenance and Airbus Military.
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03/19/2011
The Air Force’s most beloved fighter jet missed out on the last ten years’ worth of warfare. Now that the United Nations has approved a no-fly zone in Libya, the service is indicating the F-22 Raptor will get its first taste of combat.
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03/19/2011
When President Barack Obama travels to Brazil this weekend, one of the many items on his agenda eventually could have an impact on thousands of aerospace workers in St. Louis.
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03/19/2011
Earlier Friday, Cameron told parliament that Royal Air Force (RAF) Tornado and Typhoon fighter aircraft would be moved to air bases in the region 'in the coming hours', from where they could be deployed.
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03/18/2011
BRITISH, FRENCH and US military aircraft are preparing to protect the Libyan rebel stronghold of Benghazi after the UN Security Council last night voted to establish a no-fly zone over Libya and “all necessary measures” to protect its citizens from harm at the hands of Col Muammar Gadafy’s forces.
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03/18/2011
Australia will buy a large amphibious warship from Britain and a C-17 wide-body military transport plane from Boeing to expand its fleet, which is currently on earthquake relief operations in Japan, the defence minister said on Thursday.
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03/18/2011
The Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor is logging a deployment-intensive pace in early 2011 following a busy 2010, and the company continues to provide key support to the fleet as the Raptor projects power globally.
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03/18/2011
The United Nations Security Council on Friday adopted a resolution on Libya. The resolution imposes a no-fly zone over the African state and authorizes possible military action except for ground forces. It also freezes assets of Libyan oil companies and the country's Central Bank.
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03/17/2011
French President Nicolas Sarkozy promised Brazil his government would support Dassault's proposed technology transfer of its new fighter jet as the company seeks an edge in its bid to win a multibillion-dollar Brazilian military contract.
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03/17/2011
MD Helicopters, Inc., a leading manufacturer of ommercial and military helicopters, and The Boeing Company (Boeing) have announced significant progress on a contract to collaborate on the production of the Boeing AH-6i Light Attack/Reconnaissance Helicopter for the worldwide market. Consistent with the Memorandum of Agreement signed in July, 2010, both companies are now finalizing a Long Term Requirements Contract for the Boeing AH-6i.
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03/17/2011
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company, announced on Monday that the U.S. Marine Corps' newest attack helicopter, the AH-1Z Cobra, achieved Initial Operating Capability ahead of schedule in February.
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03/17/2011
Two months after the impressive new Chinese fighter, the J-20, made its first flight, it's been possible to scrutinize the photos, videos and other evidence, and form a better idea of where the Chinese are with their new "stealth fighter."
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03/17/2011
A Yas Air Ilyushin IL-76TD, registration EP-GOL performing a freight flight from Tehran Mehrabad (Iran) to Aleppo (Syria), was intercepted by Turkish F-16 fighter aircraft and diverted to Diyarbakir (Turkey) for a safe landing.
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03/17/2011
Iran unveiled its first home-made multipurpose micro fighter jet in a ceremony attended by Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei.
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03/16/2011
Right now, helicopters are needed most. With roads, airports, and ports washed away or clogged with debris, the only way to reach many of the affected areas is by helicopter. Yet Japan now has barely 100 military helicopters engaged in relief efforts. The United States should start sending all of its heavy-lift helicopters in Japan and South Korea to northern Japan. Similarly, the Air Force should dramatically ramp up the number of C-17s bringing in supplies to Misawa Air Base, so that supplies
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03/16/2011
Senior U.S. military officials believe that Libyan strongman Muammar el-Qaddafi’s Russian-made attack helicopters -- and not his warplanes -- pose the biggest challenge to the creation of a no-fly zone over the war-torn country, a policy option drawing increasing support in both Arab and Western capitals.
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03/16/2011
The V-22 Osprey, an innovative aircraft that combines the best of both helicopter and airplane, was one of the programs under consideration. In combat conditions, the Osprey could move our Marines in and out of battle safer and faster than any of the helicopter options available then or even on the drawing board. It was clear that for the force of the future, an aircraft with game-changing capabilities was the smart choice. The decision to proceed with this forward-looking program was, and remai
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03/16/2011
Africa's share of international major conventional weapons imports increased from 5% in 2001–2005 to 7% in 2006–10. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) adds the Middle East accounted for 17% of imports over the same period, down from 21% in the years 2001–2005.
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03/16/2011
The world's opinion-makers, in both government and media, seem to have settled on the idea that imposing a "no-fly zone" over Libya would be a good idea for all concerned. Not everyone has jumped on this bandwagon yet, but it seems to be the most popular option under discussion by those advocating "doing something" about the situation in Libya.
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03/16/2011
The much maligned F-35 program recently received a vote of confidence from two of its three major constituencies, the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. A revised interservice agreement between the two envisions the procurement of 680 F-35s. The Navy will buy 260 F-35Cs, specifically designed for carrier operations. The Marines will buy a mix: 80 F-35Cs and 340 short-takeoff-and-vertical-landing (STOVL) F-35Bs.
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03/16/2011
Seven test versions of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) have been cleared to resume flight testing, but others remain grounded while investigators work to determine why one aircraft's primary generators failed last week, the program's top official told Congress March 15.
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03/16/2011
India’s defence minister A.K.Antony is reported to be resisting American attempts to use an Indo-U.S. Strategic dialogue as a lobbying point to sell American warplanes in the $10 billion MMRCA deal.
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03/15/2011
The Air Force has received two more F-15K fighter jets from U.S. defense contractor Boeing, bringing the total number of the advanced aircraft in the country to 47, officials said Monday.
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03/15/2011
BAE Systems has signed an agreement with French defence company Dassault to build a self-piloting drone which will be used by both countries' air forces, as part of the Government's plan to cut defence costs by purchasing more kit with other nations.
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03/15/2011
India believes that China now has five airfields in Tibet (Gongar, Pangta, Linchi, Hoping and Gar Gunsa) that are bases for military aircraft. India is also seeing more Chinese warplanes being based full time in Tibet. This was somewhat unexpected, and it's all about thin air.
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03/15/2011
More than half of Americans support U.S. participation in creating a no-fly zone over Libya, but support for unilateral U.S. military action is lower – and a new ABC News/Washington Post poll finds substantial skepticism about the aims and outcome of political unrest across the region.
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03/15/2011
Fly-by-wire technology has long been credited for enabling military fighter jets to maneuver through the air. As the advanced computer controls continue to migrate into the commercial airliner and business jet fleets — and more importantly, come down in cost — the digital-only revolution is finally gaining some momentum in rotary-wing aircraft.
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03/15/2011
India occupies the first place on the list of the world's largest importers of weaponry in the past five years, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) said.
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03/14/2011
Colonel Moammar Gadhafi is curbing the use of ground troops as his commanders fear mass defections, military planners said on Tuesday. Britain's leading military think tank said Col Gaddafi could instead use fighter jets and, in particular, attack helicopters to inflict punishing damage on the rebel forces.
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03/14/2011
The Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) is designed and developed indigenously by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in four years since the project began in 2006, and is likely to be ready for induction by the Army and Air Force before 2014, according to defense news.
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03/14/2011
The royal is off to a secret US experimental combat weapons base where he will learn how to hunt the Taliban in his attack helicopter.
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03/14/2011
In the last five years Middle Eastern states accounted for 17 per cent of international arms transfers, say researchers at Sweden's SIPRI.
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03/14/2011
India is planning to deploy its 290km range supersonic BrahMos cruise missile on the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) being developed with Russia.
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03/13/2011
When a U.S. stealth bomber was shot down over Serbia, agents from around the world descended to scavenge parts like these - and in China's case, build their own stealth programme. Live reports on the most expensive leak in the history of military technology.
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03/13/2011
French President Nicolas Sarkozy promised Brazil his government would support Dassault's proposed technology transfer of its new fighter jet as the company seeks an edge in its bid to win a multibillion-dollar Brazilian military contract.
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03/13/2011
Arab League foreign ministers voted on Saturday to ask the UN Security Council to impose a no-fly zone over Libya.
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03/12/2011
Lockheed Martin said Friday that aircraft AF-4, one of four F-35A models flying at Edwards Air Force Base in California, "experienced a dual generator failure and oil leak during flight operations on Wednesday. The jet returned safely to base."
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03/12/2011
Argentine judge Marcelo Aguinsky dismissed charges against the U.S. after an American military aircraft was seized in the South American country for allegedly smuggling undeclared items, including weapons and surveillance equipment, local media reported Friday.
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03/12/2011
Speaking on 9 March at parent company EADS's 2010 results presentation, chief executive Louis Gallois confirmed that the controversial aircraft - which has been dogged by delays and political fighting over funding - will finally start rolling off the production line later this year.
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03/11/2011
NATO is considering a range of options, including humanitarian aid and military intervention, but any action should have a clear legal basis, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said on Thursday.
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03/10/2011
Pakistan is trying to purchase used F-16 fighter jets from the United States to enhance its air capabilities, diplomatic sources told.
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03/10/2011
What are they?
As the name suggests, no-fly zones are geographical areas designated as forbidden to air traffic, and are instituted as a way of preventing rogue regimes from bombing their own people. In order to be effective, a no-fly zone must be patrolled by military aircraft that have the authority to shoot down unauthorized planes.
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03/10/2011
Italian defense giant Finmeccanica, a top international group operating in Turkey's defense and aerospace industries, is proposing a partnership to meet Turkey's future military aircraft requirements, a top company official has said.
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03/10/2011
Boeing today began final assembly of the first U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon production aircraft in the company's Renton factory. The P-8A is the first of six low-rate initial production aircraft that Boeing is building as part of a $1.6 billion contract awarded by the Navy in January.
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03/10/2011
Forecast International has suggested that some Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries may be susceptible to “over-buying for a certain kind of threat that is not readily apparent,” referring to Iran in its latest report on Middle East military spending.
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03/09/2011
Japan is looking to join the United States, China and Russia with a stealth fighter that senior Japanese air force officials say can be ready for a prototype test flight in just three years, significantly upping the ante in the intensifying battle for air superiority in the Pacific.
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03/09/2011
Even before Maine Air National Guard’s 101st Air Refueling Wing learned that the Boeing Co. was awarded a contract to build 179 new aerial refueling tankers, the 101st and the state’s congressional delegation already had started petitioning for the new planes to be stationed in Bangor.
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03/09/2011
U.S. officials are looking at several responses to Libya's conflict, including imposing a no-fly zone over the country.
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03/09/2011
Lockheed Martin recently delivered the ninth and final Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) mission system pallet for the U.S. Coast Guard’s Medium Range Surveillance (MRS) aircraft based at Air Station Miami and Aviation Training Center Mobile.
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03/08/2011
Two months after the impressive new Chinese fighter, the J-20, made its first flight, it's been possible to scrutinize the photos, videos and other evidence, and form a better idea of where the Chinese are with their new "stealth fighter."
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03/08/2011
The ministry of defence has cautioned a senior IAS officer for "accidentally dropping a secret file" related to the $10.4 billion medium multi-role combat aircraft deal.
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03/08/2011
American politicians are debating whether to establish a no-fly zone over Libya to prevent Muammar Qaddafi from bombing rebels. The Pentagon and White House advisors warn that such an operation would be complicated and tantamount to war, while several senators say it could be accomplished with relative ease. How do you set up a no-fly zone?
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03/08/2011
Want your personal helicopter armed? Bell Helicopter is developing an armed commercial helicopter based on its 407 model. It is marketed to a wide range of law enforcement and paramilitary missions worldwide.
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03/08/2011
Dozens of Britain's most respected military leaders, politicians, academic experts and forces families groups have signed a letter in The Independent on Sunday, calling on the Prime Minister to reopen the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR), barely five months after it was completed.
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03/08/2011
As part of the United States effort to respond to the evolving humanitarian emergency on the Libya-Tunisia border, the U.S. military has taken action to assist with the return of Egyptian citizens who wish to leave Tunisia and return to their home country.
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03/08/2011
Airbus Military has successfully completed the number of required simulated flight-cycles on a full scale test airframe to achieve civil type certification of the A400M by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
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03/08/2011
AF-7, the second F-35 Lightning II production jet, takes off on its first flight Friday, March 4, from Naval Air Station Fort Worth JointAF-7, the second F-35 Lightning II production jet, takes off on its first flight Friday, March 4, from Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base.
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03/07/2011
Two of the world’s largest aerospace and defense companies based in the United States have begun a fierce battle in Korea over what would be the biggest arms-procurement deal ever in the country.
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03/07/2011
Boeing today announced the successful launch of the second Boeing-built X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV) for the U.S. Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office (RCO). The OTV was launched on an Atlas V rocket into a low-Earth orbit today at 5:46 p.m. Eastern time from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 41.
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03/06/2011
Research and Markets has announced the addition of WinterGreen Research, Inc.'s new report "Unmanned Aircraft Market Shares, Strategies, and Forecasts, Worldwide, 2011 to 2017" to their offering.
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03/06/2011
Two C-130 Hercules aircraft arrived in Djerba, Tunisia, March 4, 2011 - less than one day after President Barack Obama directed U.S. military aircraft support to the international aid effort to assist those who've fled fighting in Libya and are stranded in Tunisia.
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03/05/2011
Chicago-based Boeing won the price shootout, underbidding the European defense contractor by $2 billion, EADS North America Chairman Ralph Crosby said Friday. Now comes the hard part: developing and building the flying gas stations on a fixed-price contract with little leeway for cost overruns, analysts said.
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03/05/2011
While Libya is still struck by increasingly intense fighting between Muammar Gaddafi’s forces and those who protest against his regime, countries which had been trading with Libya before the uprising began are also looking at the developments with a crying eye. Besides those countries that partly rely on oil supplies from Libya or suffer from effects on the global markets, this also includes Russia.
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03/05/2011
Mikhail Simonov, the former chief designer at the Sukhoi aircraft design bureau who was known as the father of the Su-27 family of fighter jets, died on Friday aged 81.
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03/04/2011
The South Korean Air Force’s first airborne early warning and control aircraft, the E-737 Peace Eye, has been unveiled at Boeing’s factory in Seattle.
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03/04/2011
Aerospace experts scrutinizing images of the Chinese J-20 fighter that first began appearing on the internet in late December have developed a more nuanced view of the plane's features than what was available in early reports. Although the J-20 resembles the outline of the stealthy F-22 Raptor when viewed head-on in its forward aspect, the plane clearly lacks many of the features that make Raptor the most capable air-to-air combat system in history.
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03/04/2011
Airbus Military has successfully completed the number of required simulated flight-cycles on a full scale test airframe to achieve civil type certification of the A400M by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The test programme is required to simulate flights at least one year ahead of the actual operations performed by the aircraft.
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03/04/2011
President Barack Obama announced today he has approved the use of U.S. military aircraft to help Egyptians who have fled to the Tunisian border get back home to Egypt.
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03/04/2011
A second prototype of the Russian fifth-generation T-50 fighter successfully conducted its maiden flight on Thursday, the Sukhoi aircraft manufacturer said.
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03/03/2011
China says it needs to upgrade its outmoded forces and that its plans are not a threat to any country, pointing out its defense budget is far lower than the United States.
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03/03/2011
Japan says it scrambled jets after two Chinese military aircraft flew close to disputed islands in the East China Sea.
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03/03/2011
US-based Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. plans to design and manufacture civilian and military helicopters in India for the local and Asia-Pacific market in four years, the first time a foreign aircraft company will use the country’s aerospace know-how to make choppers for the overseas market.
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03/03/2011
The Marine Corps' top leader is vowing to personally oversee the embattled effort to replace its aircraft with the F-35B fighter jet that's being scrutinized by budget-cutting lawmakers.
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03/03/2011
Lockheed Martin and Bristow Helicopters Australia, an affiliated company of Bristow Group Inc. [NYSE: BRS], today announced a partnership to offer a complete training solution to the Australian Defence Force for its Project Air 9000 Phase 7 Helicopter Aircrew Training System (HATS) requirement.
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03/03/2011
The Boeing Company and Bell Helicopter today applauded the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) V-22 Joint Program Office (PMA-275) announcement that the Bell Boeing-built V-22 Osprey fleet has surpassed 100,000 flight hours. The milestone arrived on Feb. 10 during a U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey combat mission in Afghanistan.
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03/02/2011
Augmenting its strike capabilities along the Chinese border in the north-east, Indian Air Force (IAF) today raised a new squadron of its frontline Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter aircraft at the air base here. "102 squadron of Sukhoi-30 multi-role fighter aircraft was raised today at Chabua air base. This is the second Sukhoi squadron to be deployed in the north-eastern region after Tezpur air base," an IAF spokesperson said here.
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03/02/2011
South Korea is accelerating moves to purchase a high-end fleet of stealth fighter jets to counter North Korea’s asymmetrical threats and keep pace with neighboring countries seeking to secure their own radar-evading combat aircraft.
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03/01/2011
India increased annual defence spending by about 11.6 percent on Monday, aiming to overhaul the military to counter the rapidly growing capabilities of giant neighbour China.
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03/01/2011
Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (HBC) today announced it will display a Hawker 4000 business jet, a King Air 350i turboprop, a Beechcraft Bonanza G36 and its T-6C military trainer, next week, March 1-6, at the 2011 Australian International Airshow and Aerospace & Defence Exposition (Avalon) in Geelong, Victoria.
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03/01/2011
British and German military planes swooped into Libya’s desert, rescuing hundreds of oil workers and civilians stranded at remote sites yesterday, as thousands of other foreigners remained stuck in Tripoli by bad weather and red tape.
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03/01/2011
General Atomics and the UAE's International Golden Group are working together to supply the Predator XP unmanned system to meet the surveillance needs of the UAE Government.
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