June, 2011 Military Aviation News
06/30/2011
The competition for the 126 medium multirole combat aircraft deal has sprung a surprise. The two American aircraft, the F-16 and the F-18, have been eliminated after technical evaluation by the Indian air force, belying the expectations of the government of the United States of America, American companies and most Indian analysts.
(Read More...)
.jpg)
06/30/2011
Australia said Wednesday that it would undertake its biggest disposal of military equipment since World War II to fund a major upgrade, with combat aircraft, helicopters and ships all up for grabs.
(Read More...)
06/30/2011
fter decades of chronic under-funding, they will conclude, it was inevitable that a small country such as Britain could no longer afford the luxury of maintaining independent command structures for its Army, Navy and Air Force. With defence spending slashed from 5 per cent of GDP at the end of the Cold War to just 2 per cent by 2011, the individual Services had already been reduced to such a parlous state that they could barely carry out even the most basic military tasks.
(Read More...)
06/30/2011
In July, the Kingdom of Morocco, a strategic partner for U.S. forces in North Africa, will become the 25th country to own and operate F-16s. The pilots tapped to fly them are scheduled to finish training here in time to bring them home, July 30.
(Read More...)
06/29/2011
The induction of 126 Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) will enhance the capability of the Indian Air Force which will be procuring the 5th generation fighters by 2017 and by 2027. The country will then have 42 to 45 squadrons as compared to present 34 squadrons, said Chief of Air Staff, Indian Air force, Air Chief Marshal Pradeep Vasant Naik. He was speaking to the media here on Tuesday.
(Read More...)
06/29/2011
According to the Eritrean regime, the United States has pressured Pakistan to abort a pending aircraft lease and management deal it was negotiating with Eritrea.Citing an un-named “senior Foreign Ministry official”, the Eritrean state media claimed that “Washington is resorting to such illegal acts as part of its hostile attempts of stiffening anti-Eritrea sanctions.” The senior foreign ministry official is reported to have explained that the United States is arguing that the “planes could be u
(Read More...)
06/29/2011
The Royal Air Force's (RAF) ground attack Tornados currently serving in Afghanistan and Libya have clocked up a staggering one million flying hours over the course of their service.
Number 617 Squadron, 'The Dambusters', took the aircraft through the landmark in Afghanistan last week.
(Read More...)
06/29/2011
There's suddenly a lot of buzz in our industry about laser weapons development. Several different technological advances and upcoming laser weapons tests has me thinking that the first field deployments of laser weapons may be sooner than we think.
(Read More...)
.jpg)
06/29/2011
ell Helicopter has announced its OH-58 Block II demonstrator successfully proved hover out of ground effect performance that exceeds the maximum gross aircraft weight of 5,500 lbs at 6k95 during test flights conducted in Colorado.
(Read More...)
06/29/2011
A two-day commanders' conference of the Eastern Air Command (EAC) will begin at Air Force Station Bagdogra from Wednesday. Air chief marshal PV Naik, IAF chief of air staff, and other officers from Delhi Air headquarters will hold meetings with officers from this part of the country at this conference, which is being hosted by Air marshal KK Nohwar, AOC-in-C, EAC.
(Read More...)
06/28/2011
"Incredible India" is the title of a ubiquitous advertising campaign that promises surprises around every corner, and the motto certainly applies to the country's ongoing fighter jet competition.
(Read More...)
06/28/2011
Czech Defense Ministry partly blames LOM Praha for crash; the state-owned firm says Ukrainian-made engine has structural defect.
(Read More...)
06/28/2011
About P14 billion of the P40 billion allotted by Malacañang to upgrade military capability will go to the Philippine Air Force, PAF chief Lt. Gen. Oscar Rabena said over the weekend.
(Read More...)
06/28/2011
A US-India basic trainer would replace some 450 T-38s currently flying in the US Air Force. Add to that an assured market of at least 200 trainer aircraft in India and there is an excellent business case for partnering India in developing the T-38’s successor.
(Read More...)
06/28/2011
At the expansive exhibition area at the Le Bourget airport where the Paris Air Show has just concluded, Indian visitors could not but cast a long gaze at the gleaming new French fighter aircraft Rafale, one of the final two short listed for India's $11 billion medium multi-role combat aircraft deal.
(Read More...)
06/28/2011
The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is the most expensive weapons program the U.S. Department of Defense is currently funding. The reason it’s so costly is that the Clinton Administration decided in 1993 to replace a slew of cold-war combat aircraft operated by three different military services with a single family of planes. The new planes were supposed to be agile, stealthy and versatile — a single-engine airframe produced in three variants that could be sold by the thousands both at home and abroad
(Read More...)
06/28/2011
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified the US Congress last week of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of the United Arab Emirates of five UH-60M Blackhawk VIP helicopters and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $217 million.
(Read More...)
06/27/2011
"We flew a two-ship formation airdrop of C-130s supporting Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force in southern Afghanistan," said the 774th EAS Commander Lt. Col. Rich Adams from Anchorage, Alaska. "We supported them by carrying food, fuel, ammunition and water to support forward operating bases in southern Afghanistan."
(Read More...)
06/25/2011
Seven individuals and five corporate entities based in the United States, France, the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) and Iran have been indicted in the Middle District of Georgia for their alleged roles with illegally exporting military components for fighter jets and attack helicopters from the United States to Iran.
(Read More...)
06/25/2011
The US Air Force has grounded its entire fleet of F-22 fighters, the most sophisticated combat aircraft in the world, after problems emerged with the plane's oxygen supply, officials said Friday. The radar-evading F-22 Raptors have been barred from flying since May 3 and Air Force officials could not say when the planes would return to the air.
(Read More...)
06/25/2011
The House voted against authorizing President Barack Obama to continue U.S. air support for allied bombardment against forces loyal to Libyan dictator Muammar Qaddafi and moved to try to restrict funds for the operation. After defeating, on a 295-123 vote, the Democratic- sponsored resolution to authorize military support for the bombing operation, the House debated separate legislation to bar U.S. forces from combat in Libya.
(Read More...)
.jpg)
06/25/2011
From its outset Tornado was designed as a world-class combat aircraft and it is a testament to the design and the outstanding military and civilian personnel who operate, maintain and support it that it continues to provide world class capability in the modern combat environment.
(Read More...)
06/25/2011
Lockheed indicated it could still be in the running for an $11 billion fighter jet sale to India despite the government rejecting its F-16 aircraft. Lockheed Martin's stealth F-35 Lightning II, still in the development stage, could be on the table if the foreign sale is approved by the U.S. government, although no firm decision has been made by Lockheed, a spokesman for Lockheed said at the Paris Air Show.
(Read More...)
06/24/2011
The United States and its allies are concerned that al-Qaida and other terrorist groups may have got their hands on scores, if not hundreds, of shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles plundered from Libyan military bases after the civil war erupted there in March.
(Read More...)
06/24/2011
Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 533 pilots and weapon systems operators conducted aerial refueling training with Air Force KC-135 Stratotankers here June 13. Aerial refueling extends the range of fighter aircraft on transits across great distances, increasing the operability of pilots and weapon systems operators to complete missions and training operations.
(Read More...)
06/24/2011
While there are many military aircraft on display from the U.S. and aroudn the world and the Eurofighter entertains the spectators with its aerial acrobatics, the Paris Air Show is all about the commercial jets.
(Read More...)
06/24/2011
With an eye on the future and fed up with the "bureaucratic culture" pervading Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), the country's only aircraft manufacturer, IAF now wants the control of the navratna defence PSU.
(Read More...)
06/24/2011
Seeking to increase its share in the growing Indian defence spending, Finmeccanica, an Italian conglomerate, hopes that Italy could sell military and other equipment to India through the government instead of through the current commercial engagement.
(Read More...)
06/24/2011
Britain has sent its youngest female RAF (Royal Air Force) pilot to Afghanistan, to supervise the initial instruction of four Afghan women selected to train to be helicopter pilots. Afghans are, in general, not enthusiastic about women joining the military, or piloting aircraft.
(Read More...)
06/24/2011
Tomorrow is Armed Forces Day, when we celebrate the accomplishments of our servicemen and women. Yet it is also an appropriate time to reflect on the increasingly parlous state of our military.
(Read More...)
06/24/2011
A long-running US military project aimed at producing a "refrigerator sized" laser raygun capable of being mounted on US combat aircraft has received further funding of just under $40m.
(Read More...)
06/24/2011
Two pilots were killed on Thursday when a Russian Air Force MiG-29 fighter jet crashed in the Astrakhan region on Thursday, law enforcement sources said. “At 4.43 p.m. the aircraft went off the radar screens around 43 km from the town of Akhtubinsk in Astrakhan region,” the source said.
(Read More...)
06/24/2011
Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) has launched a small, armed, unmanned helicopter which it says could prove attractive to Middle Eastern countries as an attractive alternative to the products being produced in Israel.
(Read More...)
06/23/2011
Syria's Soviet-era military systems breaking down under stress of clash with unarmed protesters.
(Read More...)
06/23/2011
The Russian defence market is set to expand considerably over the next decade, with the Russian authorities seeking to modernise and improve the capabilities of the Russian armed forces, and to cement Russia's place as a leading military nation.
(Read More...)
06/23/2011
The Defence Ministry today categorically stated that the process for procurement of the Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) was irreversible and the Government was moving ahead to the next stage of finalising the nearly $ 11 billion dollar, 126 aircraft deal.
(Read More...)
06/23/2011
Tactical Air Defense Services, Inc., an Aerospace/Defense Services contractor that offers tactical aviation services, aerial refueling, aircraft maintenance, and other Aerospace/Defense services to the United States and Foreign militaries and agencies, is pleased to announce that it is has secured a letter of intent from Cornucopia, Ltd. ("Cornucopia") to commit up to $8 million for the purchase of military aircraft and related parts and other aircraft assets.
(Read More...)
06/23/2011
Lockheed Martin and its U.S. military partners are attempting to counter at the Paris Air Show this week negative publicity over cost overruns and technical delays that have plagued the F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter aircraft project. Senior project officials told reporters and analysts at a well-attended briefing here that they have "turned the corner" in the troubled development of the strike aircraft.
(Read More...)
06/23/2011
Alenia Aermacchi received military certification for its M346 jet trainer from launch customer the Italian Air Force on June 20, the firm said Wednesday. The Finmeccanica unit undertook 180 flights over the last five months, for a total of 200 hours’ flying time, to win the certification. The Italian Air Force will now start the acceptance procedure for the first two series aircraft, which it has named the T-346A.
(Read More...)
06/23/2011
If you needed any more evidence as to how important unmanned aircraft have become to the US military operations, the US Air Force today said drones have amassed over one million combat hours flown. While that number is impressive, it took the planes known as Global Hawk, Predator and Reaper, almost 14 years to do it, but it could take only a little over another two years to cross the two million mark according to Air Force officials.
(Read More...)
06/23/2011
As the dust over rejection of two U.S. companies from the Rs. 11,000-crore Indian Air Force tender for fighter aircraft settles, official sources said the United States would also have to reconcile with India's unwillingness to sign three military pacts. The U.S. was extremely upset after Boeing and Lockheed Martin were knocked out of the race for the Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA).
(Read More...)
06/23/2011
The Boeing Company today announced the supplier team that will provide key components for the U.S. Air Force's KC-46 Tanker. The Air Force selected Boeing on Feb. 24 to replace 179 Eisenhower-era KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft.
(Read More...)
06/23/2011
Iraq's Air Force has followed on a contract with Hawker Beechcraft through the American Air Force Security Assistance Training command to support the force's fleet of King Air 250ER aircraft.
(Read More...)
06/22/2011
The US may be out of India's $10.4 billion MMRCA deal, the biggest in recent times, but its firms are making a last-ditch attempt to at least corner a slice of the pie. US defence major Raytheon announced here that it is willing to supply missiles and weapons systems which can be integrated into both Eurofighter Typhoon and Dassault Aviation's Rafale, the two jets which have been shortlisted by India for the project.
(Read More...)
06/22/2011
Pilots from the 60th Guard Air Base are now conducting training flights after sunset in spite of the rules held for the past 15 years. The air base command set the military pilots a task of intercepting a target in the air in complete darkness with zero visibility.
(Read More...)
06/22/2011
Boeing could continue manufacturing variants of its F-15 Eagle — a fighter first flown in 1972 - all the way until the 2020s, the president of its military aircraft division confirmed Tuesday. If Boeing can lock in deals with the air forces of Saudi Arabia and South Korea, it could make new investments “for the long term,” Chris Chadwick told reporters, to make its Eagles or Silent Eagles as cheap and easy to produce as they’ve ever been.
(Read More...)
06/22/2011
Airbus Military and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) will jointly develop a new version of an early warning system for the Airbus Military C295 aircraft. The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding at the Paris Air Show on Tuesday.
(Read More...)
06/22/2011
U.S. military pride, strength and technology are on display at the 49th International Paris Air Show at the Le Bourget Airport here June 20 through 26. Held every two years, the Paris Air Show provides an opportunity for the U.S. to showcase the best the Department of Defense has to offer in people, aircraft, equipment and training on an international stage.
(Read More...)
06/22/2011
NATO responded on Tuesday to a Congressional threat to cut off funding to the U.S. military involvement in Libya by saying the United States was providing unique assets essential for the success of the mission.
(Read More...)
06/22/2011
Boeing began final assembly of the Indian navy's first P-8I long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft this month at the company's Renton factory. The P-8I, based on the Boeing Next-Generation 737 commercial airplane, is a variant of the P-8A Poseidon that Boeing is developing for the U.S. Navy.
(Read More...)
06/22/2011
The Boeing C-130 Avionics Modernization Program (AMP) is making final preparations for five aircraft to enter the U.S. Air Force Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E) program in early 2012.
(Read More...)
06/22/2011
The Norwegian parliament unanimously approved the funding of four Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II training jets to begin fulfilling Norway’s future air-combat capability requirements.
(Read More...)
06/22/2011
In a special ceremony at its headquarters in Wichita today, Hawker Beechcraft celebrated the delivery of the 700th Beechcraft T-6. The milestone aircraft, a T-6C, was accepted by the United States Air Force (USAF) on behalf of the Royal Moroccan Air Force (RMAF). To date, all of the RMAF aircraft have been delivered on or ahead of schedule and all remaining aircraft, ground support equipment and spares are expected to be in-country ahead of schedule.
(Read More...)
06/21/2011
Radar and missiles major Raytheon has enhanced its presence in India with multiple tie-ups with Indian industry, and has announced that its weapons are capable of being integrated on both of the finalists' aircraft in India's medium multi-role combat aircraft competition. The final two shortlisted for MMRCA are Eurofighter Typhoon and Dassault Rafale.
(Read More...)
06/21/2011
French aviation firm optimistic about selling multi-dimensional fighter jet to UAE, India and Brazil.
(Read More...)
06/21/2011
Weaponizing crop dusters . . . yeah I know I wish I'd thought of it too, but engineers at Moog Aerospace and Air Tractor beat us to it when they added weapons to the Air Tractor AT-802U single engine turboprop aircraft. No longer spraying chemicals, this lethal aircraft now has precision strike capability with bombs and guns. It is part of the static display at the Paris Air Show this week.
(Read More...)
06/21/2011
Northrop Grumman international head John Brooks speaks in slow, measured tones. His carefully spoken insights reflect a thoughtful, probing intellect - decades of experience in the defence industry. For nearly 30 years Brooks served in the US Air Force, rising to the rank of major general, with experience flying in the Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules and C-141 Starlifter.
(Read More...)
06/21/2011
Nato has admitted civilians were killed during an air strike in Tripoli in the early hours of Sunday morning in the first acknowledged civilian casualties caused by the alliance during the three-month bombing campaign.
(Read More...)
06/21/2011
The first of four C-130J Super Hercules for the Qatar Emiri Air Force took to the skies over the Lockheed Martin facility in Marietta, Ga., June 8.
(Read More...)
06/21/2011
ockheed Martin announced a new website for the F-35 Lightning II aircraft at the Paris Air Show today. The site, http://www.f35.com, provides the most up-to-date information on the F-35 program, including history, program updates, news, photos and videos.
(Read More...)
06/21/2011
Lockheed Martin announced an update to its media briefing schedule for the 2011 Paris Air Show. These events will underscore Lockheed Martin's commitment to meeting our customers' needs in the new reality of increasing global security challenges and affordability requirements.
(Read More...)
06/21/2011
China's fifth-generation fighter program is more for effect than substance, Russia's leading aircraft maker said on Monday.
(Read More...)
06/21/2011
European manufacturer Airbus' hopes of wooing international customers with displays from its military and civil flagship aircraft were hit by a double blow.
(Read More...)
06/19/2011
Prompted in part by the prospect of squeezed Pentagon budgets, U.S. defense groups have been consolidating operations in pursuit of higher value, higher technology pursuits. At L-3 Communications, as at both Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman previously, this means shifting out of service activities where margins are tighter and there is less scope for differentiation in a tight market, according to the New York-based group’s chairman, president and CEO Michael Strianese.
(Read More...)
06/19/2011
With the $2.4 billion Mirage-2000 upgrade deal with France in its final stages, India's defence ministry and air force top brass seem to be split over the high costs and likely benefits to the country's future air power needs.
(Read More...)
06/19/2011
Le Bourget will as usual provide an ideal platform for France's defence industry and armed forces to showcase the nation's frontline equipment and future military hardware. With its armed forces currently engaged in combat operations in Afghanistan and also over Libya, France's air transport and in-flight refuelling fleets are currently experiencing sustained high demand, with this placing pressure on its current aged types.
(Read More...)
06/19/2011
A group of British observers on board of a Swedish SAAB-340 aircraft will make a series of inspection flights over the Russian territories under the Open Skies Treaty on June 20-24, a spokesman for the Russian Defense Ministry said. "SAAB-340 aircraft and the equipment it carries were earlier approved and certified by international experts and specialists, including from Russia," the spokesman said.
(Read More...)
06/19/2011
AgustaWestland is preparing to unveil its first production AW159 helicopter at the Paris Air Show. tomorrow. Some 62 AW159s have been ordered by launch customer, the UK's Ministry of Defence for the British Army and Royal Navy to fulfil both over land and maritime missions with a common platform.
(Read More...)
06/18/2011
When the Paris Air Show opens next week, officials from the Pentagon and Lockheed Martin will undoubtedly be touting recent progress on the F-35 joint strike fighter program. But there won't be an F-35 there to demonstrate its prowess.
(Read More...)
.jpg)
06/18/2011
The Norwegian parliament has approved the purchase of an initial four F-35 jets in 2016 preparing for main deliveries in 2018.
(Read More...)
06/18/2011
Designed to replace the F-15 as the mainstay air superiority fighter in the U.S. air force inventory, the F-22 has big expectations riding on its wings, the most important of which is to maintain air superiority until the middle of the 21st century, when the next model comes out.
(Read More...)
06/18/2011
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited has plans to set up four manufacturing plants for the production of medium multi-role combat aircraft, light utility helicopter, fifth generation fighter aircraft and multi-role transport aircraft, a senior company official said today.
(Read More...)
06/18/2011
Two months after being shortlisted, French firm Dassault and consortium of European companies Eurofighter have submitted their revised offset bids for the multi-billion dollar 126 combat aircraft deal, the process for which is expected to be completed by the year end.
(Read More...)
06/18/2011
Northern Sudanese military aircraft dropped two bombs within a kilometre of a U.N. compound near the capital of the Southern Kordofan border state on Friday, the U.N. Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) said.
(Read More...)
06/18/2011
President Barack Obama's proposed defense budget calls for retiring six B-1B Lancer bombers from the nation's fleet, including two from Ellsworth Air Force Base. The Air Force recently notified Sen. Tim Johnson's office that four of the jets scheduled for retirement would come from Dyess Air Force Base in Texas and two from Ellsworth.
(Read More...)
06/18/2011
The 49th Paris Air Show is held at the suburbs of Paris, in Le Bourget, in the period from 20th to 26th June 2011. This air show is rightfully considered the oldest and most prestigious venue among other the aerospace exhibitions. The first display of aircraft in the French capital took place as early as in 1908. This year the exhibition in France will be the first to cross a historical centennial landmark.
(Read More...)
06/18/2011
While there are signs of a recovery from the global financial crisis, its effects are still being felt in the aviation sector, notably in defense spending. Cash-strapped nations are only now starting to spend, and many of them may still be looking for bargains at the Paris Air Show this year.
(Read More...)
06/17/2011
China said Friday that its maritime defense forces recently staged three days and nights of exercises in the South China Sea, a disputed, resource-rich region where tensions are rising.The drills involved a total of 14 patrol boats, landing craft and submarine hunting boats, along with two military aircraft, the official People's Daily newspaper said. It said the exercises were aimed at refining anti-submarine, replenishment and island defense capabilities in order to better respond to any futur
(Read More...)
06/17/2011
The second test of an Air Force experimental aircraft developed by Boeing ended prematurely this week just seconds after launching. A video released Thursday showed a B-52 bomber launch the experimental X-51 WaveRider shortly before it crashed into the Pacific Ocean. The 14-foot aircraft — which is designed to hit 4,000 mph — is being developed to give the Pentagon a new way to deliver a military strike anywhere around the globe within minutes.
(Read More...)
06/17/2011
A Navy training jet crashed in a remote South Texas field, but the pilot ejected safely and suffered only minor injuries.
(Read More...)
06/17/2011
he Marine Corps’ MV-22B Osprey is the world’s first production military tiltrotor aircraft. Since the inception of its concept in the early 1980s, the Osprey has seen many trials and tribulations. Unsuccessful prototypes took Marines' lives, while negative press slammed the project for being too expensive. Despite these hurdles, the current iteration of the Osprey is alive and well, operating daily from U.S. Naval vessels and supporting coalition troops in the mountains and deserts of Afghanis
(Read More...)
06/17/2011
Embraer Defense and Security has selected Liebherr-Aerospace for the advanced environmental and cabin pressure control systems of the KC-390 military transport aircraft.
(Read More...)
06/17/2011
U.S. lawmakers on Thursday urged the Obama administration to authorize the sale of advanced F-16 jet fighters to Taiwan in a strong signal of bipartisan support for a step that would rile China.
(Read More...)
06/17/2011
The Boeing Phantom Eye high altitude long endurance (HALE) unmanned airborne system completed 12 days of ground vibration and structural mode interaction tests this month at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. Phantom Eye is being prepared for its first flight, scheduled for later this summer.
(Read More...)
06/17/2011
The U.S. Navy today announced the Commonwealth of Australia has selected the MH-60R SEAHAWK® helicopter to fulfill the Australian Defence Force’s AIR 9000 Phase 8 requirement for a fleet of 24 new-generation, multi-role naval combat aircraft. The Commonwealth will acquire the helicopters with associated training and logistical support via the U.S. Government’s Foreign Military Sales program.
(Read More...)
06/17/2011
On June 15, the third and fourth of six C-130J Super Hercules for the Indian Air Force departed the Lockheed Martin facility in Marietta, Ga. en route to Air Force Station Hindan in India. The remaining two C-130Js on order will be delivered later this summer.
(Read More...)
06/17/2011
A total of 59 Russian firms and agencies, including 27 defense companies, will take part in the upcoming international air show outside Paris, the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC) said.
(Read More...)
06/16/2011
bout 1,000 airmen are visiting Eielson Air Force Base this week for this year’s Northern Edge exercise. Airmen and service members from the Army, Navy and Marines are participating in the biennial exercise to train for potential crises in the Asia-Pacific region. The exercise began Monday and runs through June 24.
(Read More...)
06/16/2011
India is set to decide on possibly the world's biggest combat aircraft deal of this decade as well as those for new combat, utility and heavy-lift helicopters within the next few weeks or months, but all within 2011.
(Read More...)
06/16/2011
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said he'd rather have a smaller "superbly capable" military than a hollow force. Secretary Gates told the Senate Appropriations Committee's defense subcommittee June 15 that even as the department looks for savings, there has to be an admission that reductions will increase risks.
(Read More...)
06/16/2011
Europe’s biggest defense contractor, BAE Systems, has pulled out of the race for a 1.45 billion zloty ($530.5 million) contract to supply Poland with 16 training-combat aircraft, the company said June 14.
(Read More...)
06/16/2011
Strategic considerations played no part whatsoever in India’s down-selection of the EADS Eurofighter and the Dassault Rafale for its lucrative medium multirole combat fighter aircraft (MMRCA) competition. So argues Ashley J. Tellis of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in a fascinating analysis that runs counter to many other assessments of the Indian decision, which beggared American belief for its rejection of the two US entrants in spite of the increasingly close ties between Wash
(Read More...)
06/16/2011
Near the coast of southwest Iceland, miles from the snow-covered volcanoes that made media attention twice since early 2010, is the former Keflavik Naval Air Station - the location used for NATO's Northern Viking 2011 training exercise.
(Read More...)
06/16/2011
Boeing today announced that India’s Ministry of Defence has signed an agreement with the U.S. government to acquire 10 Boeing C-17 Globemaster III airlifters. The Foreign Military Sale -- approved by the U.S. Congress in May 2010 -- establishes India as the C-17's largest international customer. According to the agreement, India will take delivery of its C-17s in 2013 and 2014.
(Read More...)
06/15/2011
The House Appropriations Committee passed a $649 billion defense spending bill Tuesday for fiscal 2012 that trims $9 billion from President Barack Obama's budget while boosting ground combat vehicles and special operations programs.
(Read More...)
06/15/2011
NATO on Tuesday said it had sufficient resources to continue its air campaign in Libya despite fears the alliance could run out of steam as Moammar Gadhafi digs in his heels.
(Read More...)
06/15/2011
After Air Chief, PV Naik, saw the fifth generation fighter aircraft flight in Russia last month, on Tuesday secretary of defence production, RK Singh, was given a flight demonstration of the PAK-FA (Prospective Airborne Complex of Frontline Aviation).
(Read More...)
06/15/2011
A pair of needle-nosed warplanes suddenly appear, needing fuel before they make the last dash across the Libyan coast to their targets. In the next few minutes, the bomb-laden Italian Tornados will stage a delicate, high-speed, close encounter with lumbering Canadian Hercules, and as a matter of practised routine transfer 10 tonnes of fuel in midair.
(Read More...)
06/15/2011
Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, began participating in the U.S. Pacific Command’s Northern Edge 2011 exercise June 13. The exercise runs through June 24 and will focus on strategic capabilities that enable the joint-military world to be adept in detection and tracking in air, land and sea spaces.
(Read More...)
06/15/2011
France's Rafale fighter programme is midway through what could be a pivotal year in the Dassault type's potentially half-century service history. Already involved in NATO-led combat operations over Libya, the aircraft will return to frontline duty in Afghanistan inside the next two months. Its industrial backers are, meanwhile, edging seemingly closer to a long-awaited first export sale.
(Read More...)
06/15/2011
India is preparing to withdraw its four remaining Mi-35 attack helicopters from the United Nations mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo early next month, ending years of Indian air superiority in the war-racked nation and depriving the U.N. of its most vital military asset as the country heads into a landmark presidential election.
(Read More...)
06/15/2011
Overall, the F-35 program remains ahead of the overall goals for test flights and test points year-to-date. Through May 31, the program accomplished 378 flights versus a plan of 297 and accomplished 3,342 test points against a plan of 2,217.
(Read More...)
06/14/2011
The IAF chief, Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik told India Strategic defence magazine (www.indiastrategic.in) in an interview that while the government had accorded approval earlier this month to buy 10 aircraft, the air force was now processing a case for six more of these airlifters. At a later date, "we will add some more," he disclosed but did not specify the number.
(Read More...)
06/14/2011
Fourteen mobility Airmen teamed together to fly a C-5M Super Galaxy on a direct, non-stop mission from Dover Air Force Base, Del., here June 5 and 6, 2011. The flight was the first time a U.S. Air Force plane flew this northern route from the U.S., over Canada and into the Arctic Circle, then back down through Russian and Kazakhstan airspace to Afghanistan.
(Read More...)
06/14/2011
American and Afghan officials are locked in increasingly acrimonious secret talks about a long-term security agreement which is likely to see US troops, spies and air power based in the troubled country for decades.
(Read More...)
06/14/2011
Since winning the $4 billion contract from the U.S. Air Force for development and engineering of the KC-X refuelling tanker last February, Boeing has provided only generalities on the design of its KC-46A. Last week, during a series of media briefings in Philadelphia and St. Louis preceding the Paris Air Show, Dennis Muilenburg, CEO of Boeing Defense & Space CEO, said, “We don’t do airplane design in the public realm.”
(Read More...)
06/14/2011
The House Appropriations Committee cut $8.9 billion from the Pentagon's 2012 budget request, according to the panel's defense appropriations bill, which was released a day before lawmakers meet to mark up the legislation. The panel, which meets Tuesday, is providing $530 billion for the Pentagon's 2012 base budget.
(Read More...)
06/14/2011
The Central Intelligence Agency plans to use armed drones to try to kill al Qaeda militants in Yemen, where months of antigovernment protests, an armed revolt and the attempted assassination of the president have left a power vacuum, U.S. officials say.
(Read More...)
06/14/2011
Canada's combat role in Afghanistan is on track to end in July, and troops are beginning to wind down their military operations and prepare for the journey home. But for a group of specialized military "movers" tasked with staying behind to prepare, pack up, and 'rack and stack' the gear for shipping, months of work is just beginning.
(Read More...)
06/14/2011
The Indian Air Force could lose its combat edge over rivals in the neighbourhood in the next 10 years if it fails to keep pace with its modernisation targets, Air Chief Marshal PV Naik has warned. He said China had embarked on a "modernisation spree" and there had been "considerable development" of infrastructure and "induction of assets across India's northern and eastern borders".
(Read More...)
06/14/2011
NATO allies Poland and the United States signed a deal on Monday for the stationing of U.S. airforce personnel on Polish soil, a symbolically important move for Warsaw as it keeps a nervous eye on neighbouring Russia.
(Read More...)
06/13/2011
Royal Navy fighter pilots are being forced to learn French in order to operate on board France’s flagship aircraft carrier.
(Read More...)
06/13/2011
Russia's Ambassador to India, Alexander M. Kadakin, has said that the Indian Government's decision to reject his country's MiG-35 fighter jets would not affect bilateral ties between the two countries.
(Read More...)
06/13/2011
After more than $77 billion and five years, the F-22 Raptor has never been to war and now can’t even get off the ground. With wars in Iraq and Afghanistan ongoing and bombing raids over Libya, the jet that was once touted as one that “can never be matched” sits, immobile. On Wednesday, Air Command Communications in Langley, Va., had three words regarding the plight of the F-22 Raptor: “Still grounded, sir.”
(Read More...)
06/13/2011
The RNoAF will reduce its F-16 contribution to four jets and will totally withdraw it forces from the NATO-led operation by August 1st, the government said Friday. Defense Minister Grete Faremo said she expects understanding from NATO allies because Norway has a small air force and cannot "maintain a large fighter jet contribution for a long period."
(Read More...)
06/13/2011
In some alarming remarks, U.S. Sen. Dan Inouye was reported as saying in a recent speech that "the U.S. should get ready for continued struggle with China." As relayed by Star-Advertiser columnist Richard Borreca, the context makes clear Sen. Inouye did not just mean political struggle but military struggle, for he said he has concluded over his many years of service "that war is nearly unavoidable" ("Inouye warns against U.S. letting down its guard in Asia,").
(Read More...)
06/11/2011
India’s plans to modernise its ageing air force have triggered a tit-for-tat Pakistani programme that could exacerbate strategic tensions in South Asia, officials and analysts told "The National". Defence analysts said the planned air force expansions were part of an arms race between India and Pakistan that dates back to the 1960s and the height of the Cold War.
(Read More...)
06/11/2011
For the second time in two days, India today successfully test fired indigenously developed air-to-air Astra interceptor missile with an 80 km range from Chandipur in Orissa.
(Read More...)
06/11/2011
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics officials say the company is just days away from delivering its first F-35 Lightning II aircraft to Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.
(Read More...)
06/11/2011
Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, was awarded on June 8 a $107,582,787 modification to a previously awarded fixed-price-incentive-firm contract (N00019-09-C-0010) for the procurement of one Low Rate Initial Production IV conventional take off and landing F-35 aircraft for the government of the Netherlands, including ancillary mission equipment/pilot fighter equipment items.
(Read More...)
06/11/2011
A Senate aide believes there is a feeling among US lawmakers that the Obama administration wants Congress to be responsible for the sale of F-16C/D jets to Taiwan.
(Read More...)
06/11/2011
The Air National Guard has grounded training flights from its Madison base after an F-16 fighter plane crashed this week in central Wisconsin.
(Read More...)
06/11/2011
America’s key strategic alliance throughout the cold war is in far deeper trouble than most members admit. The Atlantic allies face a host of new and old dangers. Without more and wiser European military spending — on equipment, training, surveillance and reconnaissance — NATO faces, as Mr. Gates rightly warned, “a dim if not dismal future” and even “irrelevance.”
(Read More...)
06/11/2011
We’ve written before about the Army’s experiments with how it might use smartphones or tablet computers on the battlefield, but it’s starting to look behind the curve: Consumer-grade mobile devices are already in service elsewhere in the military, including the war zone. Sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson use Apple iPads — a whole crate of ‘em, by the looks of it — to help manage geographical information in the ship’s combat information center.
(Read More...)
06/11/2011
Boeing delivered a second C-17 Globemaster III airlifter to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Air Force and Air Defence today at the C-17 program's final assembly facility in Long Beach. The company is contracted to deliver a total of six C-17s to its UAE customer - four this year and two in 2012.
(Read More...)
06/10/2011
Boeing has revealed its KC-46A tanker is heavier and slightly longer than any previous version of the 767-200 airframe on which it is based, but still refuses to provide essential details about the airframe configuration and refuelling system more than three months after winning the KC-X contract. The company's clamp-down on design details is a departure from its practice on the P-8A, which also involved adapting an airliner, a 737, for a military mission, and in the first round of the KC-X bid
(Read More...)
06/10/2011
Boeing's P-8A Poseidon sub hunter for the U.S. Navy is the base off of which the company could relatively cheaply and easily build other 737-based military aircraft, executives said Wednesday. The Navy plans to purchase 117 of the 737-based P-8As to replace its turboprop Lockheed Electra-based P-3 Orion fleet. The first is set to enter service in 2013.
(Read More...)
06/10/2011
A resolution inspired by Western nations critical of civilian killings in politically-beleaguered Syria is facing threats from two veto-wielding permanent members of the Security Council: Russia and China.
(Read More...)
06/10/2011
The Indian air force (IAF) has long had big ambitions, and the pending arrival of a new leader with a broad agenda indicates there will be no easing up in efforts to strengthen the service’s capabilities. The first major revamp of the IAF’s order of battle—revival of border air bases to counter Chinese air force deployments, along with quick acquisitions of new weapons and systems—will be operational priorities for Air Marshal Norman Browne, who takes over as IAF chief at the end of July when A
(Read More...)
06/10/2011
Photographs of an unknown Chinese fighter jet appeared on Internet forums on Wednesday, sparking speculation that the country has developed the world's second fifth-generation fighter. The U.S. F-22 Raptor is currently the world's only operational fifth generation fighter plane.
(Read More...)
06/09/2011
Airbus, a market leader in commercial and military transport aircraft is showcasing ideas for a sustainable aviation at the Le Bourget Air Show between June 20th– 26th. Visitors will be able to see revolutionary ideas and concepts as well as daily flying displays from the world’s most modern passenger and military transport aircraft.
(Read More...)
06/09/2011
During the state visit, China agreed to provide Pakistan with fifty 'JF-17 Thunder' fighter jets, a single-engine, multi-role combat aircraft, jointly developed by the two countries. Reacting to this deal, Indian defence minister A. K. Anthony stated that “It is a matter of serious concern for us. The main thing is, we have to increase our capability, that is the only answer.”
(Read More...)
06/09/2011
US military operations in Libya are on course to cost hundreds of millions of dollars more than the Pentagon estimated, according to figures obtained by the Financial Times. Robert Gates, the outgoing secretary of defence, said last month that the Pentagon expected to spend “somewhere in the ball park of $750m” in the 2011 fiscal year as part of efforts to protect the Libyan people.
(Read More...)
06/09/2011
Two retired U.S. senior Persian Gulf experts -- one a diplomat, another a Navy admiral -- said at separate events on Tuesday that a military strike against Iran's nuclear sector appears both inadvisable and unlikely, at least for the time being.
(Read More...)
06/09/2011
A top Chinese military official has confirmed that Beijing is building its first aircraft carrier, described as a "symbol of a great nation" which could reportedly set sail within weeks.
(Read More...)
06/09/2011
Lockheed Martin today announced its media briefing schedule for the 2011 Paris Air Show. These events will underscore Lockheed Martin's commitment to meeting our customers' needs in the new reality of increasing global security challenges and affordability requirements.
(Read More...)
06/09/2011
NATO will continue its mission in Libya for as long as it takes, the alliance said on Wednesday, after formally endorsing an extension of its campaign for a further three months from June 27. The allies have intensified their efforts and are determined to continue the operation to protect the Libyan people "for as long as necessary."
(Read More...)
06/09/2011
The first Airbus Military C295 development aircraft fitted with an Airbone Early Warning sand Command (AEW&C) rotodome has successfully completed its first flight he flight - at Airbus Military’s site in Seville, Spain - follows extensive research and development work, including wind tunnel testing, leading to the conversion of a C295 to be fitted with the in-house developed rotodome.
(Read More...)
06/08/2011
The pilot was recovered south of the Town of New Chester in Adams County and is being medically evaluated. The crash scene is located north of Highway 82, just west of Interstate 39. The aircraft was flying from Volk Field and was carrying a chemical called hydrazine, which is used to make rocket fuel. A hazmat team was assessing the area Tuesday night.
(Read More...)
06/08/2011
The Israeli air force is sending a team to the United States this month to evaluate the controversial V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft that it's eyeing for search-and-rescue and covert special operations. The successful March rescue of a downed U.S. Air Force F-15 pilot in Libya by an Osprey crew has doubtless enhanced the prospects of the multi-mission aircraft built by Bell Helicopter and Boeing Rotorcraft Systems.
(Read More...)
06/08/2011
The United States remained the world's top military spender in 2010, laying out six times more money than second-placed China, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) reported Tuesday. Last year, global military expenditures totalled 1.6 trillion dollars, a 1.3-per-cent increase from 2009 SIPRI said.
(Read More...)
06/08/2011
Military and industry officials rave about the V-22 tiltrotor’s performance in Afghanistan but know they need to show the aircraft is worth its high price tag. The Marine Corps are flying V-22 Ospreys in theater and “it’s more effective than we expected,” Maj. Gen. Jon Davis, Second Marine Corps Air Wing commander, told reporters here recently. “We have only scratched the surface with this aircraft. … “We’re doing things with the V-22 we did not plan to do.”
(Read More...)
06/08/2011
The South Korean and U.S. air forces hosted a joint exercise here May recently to sharpen their ability to work together in a simulated wartime environment.
(Read More...)
06/08/2011
The Boeing Company today announced it has been awarded phase one of the Communications Navigation Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) E-4B upgrade contract by the U.S. Air Force. The CNS/ATM upgrade, a Federal Aviation Administration requirement, will allow the E-4B National Airborne Operations Center to operate more efficiently at airports and in crowded airspace.
(Read More...)
06/08/2011
Lockheed Martin’s Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM) tri-mode seeker successfully acquired and tracked multiple moving maritime vessels during recent high-speed, captive flight tests.
(Read More...)
06/08/2011
Russian and NATO fighter aircraft started on Tuesday the operational phase of the joint Vigilant Skies 2011 anti-terrorism drills by intercepting a plane hijacked by terrorists over Poland, Russian National Antiterrorism Committee (NAC) spokesman Dmitry Pavlov said.
(Read More...)
06/07/2011
Tactical Air Defense Services, Inc. (OTCQB:TADF), an Aerospace/Defense Services contractor that offers tactical aviation services, aerial refueling, aircraft maintenance, and other Aerospace/Defense services to the United States and Foreign militaries and agencies, is pleased to announce that it is has executed a letter of intent ("the "LOI") with its pending merger partner, Tactical Air Support, Inc. ("Tac-Air") to acquire certain military aircraft and related aircraft assets (together, the "Ai
(Read More...)
06/07/2011
Israel's High-Tech Industry Association has signed a memorandum of understanding with its Indian counterpart to boost cooperation in advanced technology, a move that will undoubtedly increase the Jewish state's burgeoning defense sales to India. The Jerusalem Post reports that industry executives see the accord with the Confederation of Indian Industry, signed June 1, leading to a convergence of "Israel's innovative prowess with India's huge and talented pool of human resources."
(Read More...)
06/07/2011
Boeing has moved on from its loss in India’s Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft competition and is now focusing on other opportunities in that country, while also preparing to compete for fighter contracts in Japan and South Korea. “Although we’re disappointed with the results of the fighter campaign in India, we’ve moved forward,” Boeing Defense, Space and Security CEO Dennis Muilenburg told journalists during a press briefing at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore June 3.
(Read More...)
06/07/2011
India's government on Monday approved the purchase of 10 military transport planes from Boeing Co. for 4.1 billion dollars - the country's biggest defence deal with a US firm. The order for the C-17 Globemaster III planes will enhance the capability of India's air force to swiftly transport combat equipment and troops over long distances. It was confirmed at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security Affairs (CCS).
(Read More...)
06/07/2011
Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] announced today it submitted a proposal in response to the government’s Request for Proposal (RFP) for the next phases of the Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM) program.
(Read More...)
06/07/2011
Russia's Rosvertol attack helicopter producer said on Monday it is in talks with Algeria over exports of its Mi-28NE for delivery from 2012-2017. "A commercial proposal has already been sent [to Algiers] and discussions will begin this year," Rosvertol General Director Boris Slyusar said. "We hope to sign a contract for delivery in 2012-2017." Rosvertol is the attack helicopter arm of the state-owned Russian Helicopters holding company.
(Read More...)
06/06/2011
General Bond's death opened the possible exposure of five secret programs and facilities, including the MiG program, the F-117 program, Area 51, Area 52, and the nuclear reactor explosions at Jackass Flats. Unlike the deaths of CIA pilots flying out of Area 51, which could be concealed as generic training accidents, the death of a general required detailed explanation.
(Read More...)
06/06/2011
A Dhaka court on Wednesday acquitted all the five, including Air Marshal (Retd) Jamal Uddin Ahmed, who were accused in MiG-29 purchase graft case. The four others are: former Defence Secretary Syed Yusuf Hossain, Air Commodore (Retd) Mirza Akhter Maruf, former joint secretary Hossain Serniabat and Unique Group Managing Director Nur Ali.
(Read More...)
06/06/2011
British jets hit a military barracks in the Libyan capital early Sunday, intensifying NATO pressure on Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi nearly four months into an uprising to end his erratic 42-year rule. The airstrikes on the barracks — repeated targets of NATO strikes — followed the Western alliance's first use of attack helicopters Saturday.
(Read More...)
06/05/2011
Capabilities gained from a decade of combat have transformed military reserve components into a full-spectrum operational force that should be integrated into the active fighting force, a defense official said June 3.
(Read More...)
06/05/2011
he military aircraft that have made emergency landings in Malta were refuelled by Enemalta and the countries which own them are responsible to pay for the fuel purchased, a finance ministry spokesman has told The Malta Independent.
(Read More...)
06/05/2011
He has become known to many Canadians as an outspoken defender of veterans’ rights. But in 2002, Lt.-Col. Pat Stogran was doing very different work. He and 1,000 soldiers from the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry landed at Kandahar Airfield to team up with 2,000 paratroopers from the 101st Airborne Division in the manhunt for Osama bin Laden and his Arab, Afghan and Pakistani allie.
(Read More...)
06/05/2011
Air strikes by British combat helicopters have been carried out for the first time in Libya, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed. Two targets near the Libyan town of Brega were hit by Army Apaches overnight in the latest Nato assault against forces loyal to Colonel Mummar Gaddafi.
(Read More...)
06/05/2011
NATO's actions in Libya are gradually evolving into a land operation, Russia's foreign minister warned on Saturday. The French armed forces website said on Saturday that British and French light aviation helicopters of the ground forces had delivered pinpoint strikes at Libya on Friday night as part of NATO's military operation.
(Read More...)
06/04/2011
Col. Michael T. Thomas has assumed command Saturday of the 127th Wing of the Michigan Air National Guard. Thomas, a KC-135 pilot, took command during a ceremony at Selfridge Air National Guard Base on Saturday. Thomas replaced Brig. Gen. Michael L. Peplinski as the wing commander. Peplinski, who had served as the wing commander since December 2005, retired after more than 32 years of military service.
(Read More...)
06/04/2011
Boeing Corp is counting on growing demand in Asia and the Middle East for military aircraft to help offset possible spending cuts in Europe and the United States, a top company executive said yesterday.
(Read More...)
06/04/2011
Lockheed Martin is willing to outsource some production of its F-35 Joint Strike Fighter to Japanese firms if the country's government decides to buy them as its next mainstay fighter aircraft, an executive at the U.S. company said on Friday.
(Read More...)
06/04/2011
Tactical Air Defense Services, Inc. (OTCQB:TADF), an Aerospace/Defense Services contractor that offers tactical aviation services, aerial refueling, aircraft maintenance, and other Aerospace/Defense services to the United States and Foreign militaries and agencies, is pleased to announce that it is has executed a letter of intent ("the "LOI") with its pending merger partner, Tactical Air Support, Inc. ("Tac-Air") to acquire certain military aircraft and related aircraft assets (together, the "Ai
(Read More...)
06/04/2011
Both US bids for a major Indian Air Force fighter contract lost because of technical faults - not US export control policies or corruption in New Dehli, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace scholar Ashley Tellis said in an interview. The former American diplomat in New Dehli arrived at his conclusions after a three-week trip to India that included meetings with top Indian government, military and industry officials. The IAF selected the Dassault Rafale and the Eurofighter Typhoon as final
(Read More...)
06/04/2011
Here the C-295 is being used as a test bed for the development of a new AEW platform, one that features a rotodome to gain 360 degree coverage. What is most striking about the proposed program is that it would fit into a strategy somewhat similar to SAAB’s whereby the company would offer a variety of combat air capabilities ranging from combat air, to AEW, to UAVs.
(Read More...)
06/04/2011
The Czech military may sell its L-159 aircraft to Iraq at a fraction of its original price, daily Lidove noviny (LN) writes about the deal discussed by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and his Czech counterpart Petr Necas in late May.
(Read More...)
06/04/2011
Boeing today announced that it has received a $61 million U.S. Air Force contract for two more C-130 Avionics Modernization Program (AMP) kits and two Aircrew Training System devices as part of a low-rate initial production (LRIP) contract that was awarded in 2010.
(Read More...)
06/03/2011
A Tucano and two Royal Navy hawk aircraft were coming into land at RAF Linton-on-Ouse when they were involved in a near-miss last October. Investigators concluded that the aircraft would have collided had the pilots not taken avoiding action.
(Read More...)
06/03/2011
When the UK government issued its amazingly “un-strategic” strategic defense review, the main casualties were air and naval power. In probably the most rapid invalidation of a government strategy on record, the Libyan events underscored that everything the Cameron government wished to get rid of, it needed to use in the Libyan campaign, which it sponsored.Literally, key assets headed for the bone yard were pressed into duty to fly the British flag and support European aspirations to “protect” c
(Read More...)
06/03/2011
The United States and Romania are in "very complicated" negotiations about the purchase of second-hand F-16 combat aircraft due to financing issues, the US ambassador to Romania said Thursday. Romania announced in March 2010 it would purchase 24 F-16 aircraft currently used by the US military for 1.3 billion dollars (1.1 billion euros), in order to replace its ageing, Soviet-made MiG Lancer jets.
(Read More...)
06/03/2011
The Boeing Company delivered two F-15K Slam Eagle aircraft -- designated F-15K49 and F-15K50 -- to the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) at Daegu Air Base on May 30. The aircraft departed the Boeing St. Louis facility on May 25 and made stops in Palmdale, Calif., Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, and Anderson Air Force Base, Guam, before arriving in Korea.
(Read More...)
06/03/2011
Russia and the United States will set up a maintenance center for Mil Mi-17 helicopters bought by Washington for the Afghan armed forces, Deputy Director of the Russian Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation Vyacheslav Dzirkaln said on Thursday. The United States signed a contract on the purchase of 21 Mi-17V5 military transport helicopters from Russia for $367.5 million on May 26.
(Read More...)
06/03/2011
Vice president and general manager of BAE Systems Qatar, Michael Bentinck and his team took time out today to celebrate the completion of the 100th Typhoon aircraft which was built at the UK's final assembly facility at Warton in Lancashire.
(Read More...)
06/02/2011
The Marine Corps confirmed Thursday that it plans to replace helicopters based at Futenma air station on Okinawa with the new Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft, a move that could complicate already tense U.S.-Japan relations involving the island. The Ospreys could begin arriving at Futenma in 2013 as part of a worldwide effort to upgrade the Marine Corps’ aging fleet of Vietnam War-era Sea Knight helicopters, according to the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force and Marine Corps Bases Japan public affairs o
(Read More...)
06/02/2011
When France sold the Storm Shadow/SCALP cruise missile to the UAE (under the name Black Shaheen) in the 1990s, the United States strongly objected that the sale violated the voluntary guidelines under the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR). France sold the missile anyway, but the US successfully pushed to tighten up MTCR guidelines in 2002 to prevent further transfers like this.
(Read More...)
06/02/2011
The Czech army has ordered the grounding of its nine jet trainer and combat aircraft, the L-39 Albatros, following an accident investigation into a engine failure that forced the pilot to eject in December 2010. Five of the planes will be immediately removed from service and a further four only used for training young pilots — after thorough overhauls of the engines.
(Read More...)
06/02/2011
An Australian Army Boeing CH-47D Chinook transport helicopter has crashed in Afghanistan, killing one passenger and injuring the five other occupants. The incident occurred during a resupply mission 90km (48nm) east of the central Afghan town of Tarin Kot, said Australia's Department of Defence. Ground fire has been ruled out as the cause of the crash, it added.
(Read More...)
06/02/2011
Can America’s defense budget be cut? Yes. Unfortunately, President Obama is going about it exactly backward. He has asked the Pentagon to identify $400 billion in savings. But coming up with an arbitrary figure and telling our military to find some way to hit it isn’t the smart — or safe — way to make the necessary cuts.
(Read More...)
06/02/2011
Russia and NATO fighter aircraft will take part in the first ever joint exercise during the upcoming Vigilant Skies 2011 anti-terrorism drill to run between June 6-10, Russian National Antiterrorism Committee spokesman Nikolai Sintsov said on Wednesday. This is the first such counterterrorism exercise held between NATO and the Russian Federation, Sintsov said, adding that it will be held as a part of "the NATO-Russia Council Cooperative Airspace Initiative."
(Read More...)
06/02/2011
Russia may start buying Ukrainian-built An-70 propfan military transport aircraft in 2012-2013, deputy commander of the Russian Air Force Maj. Gen. Viktor Bondarev said on Wednesday. "The plane is undergoing factory tests, and next year it will be tested by [Russian] military pilots," Bondarev said. A final decision on the purchase of the An-70 will be maid by a state commission on the basis of the tests results, General Bondarev said.
(Read More...)
06/01/2011
Defense contractor Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) has confirmed that a "significant and tenacious attack" has been carried out against its network. Lockheed employs 126,000 people worldwide and is a major supplier of military equipment, manufacturing some of the most sophisticated U.S. military hardware such as the F-22 Raptor fighter aircraft.
(Read More...)
06/01/2011
Boeing Co has seen increased interest in its Super Hornet fighter jet from potential international customers as Lockheed Martin's (LMT.N) F-35 Joint Strike Fighter has faced development and cost challenges, a Boeing executive said on Tuesday. "We have definitely gotten a lot more interest," Chris Chadwick, president of Boeing Military Aircraft, told reporters.
(Read More...)
06/01/2011
On a 24-hour visit to New Delhi, German Chancellor Angela Merkel today tried to hardsell the Eurofighter Typhoon jets to India as she discussed a whole range of issues with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, including the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan in the wake of the killing of Osama bin Laden.
(Read More...)
06/01/2011
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has long had big ambitions, and the pending arrival of a new service chief with a broad agenda indicates there will be no easing up in efforts to improve the breadth of the service’s capabilities.
(Read More...)
06/01/2011
Not too long ago - October 2007, to be precise - engine maker Pratt & Whitney seemed painted into a strategically perilous corner. New requirements were emerging for next-generation bombers, sixth-generation fighters, tactical airlifters and surveillance aircraft. These demanded a new kind of jet engine, one that could make the next leap in fuel efficiency by reconfiguring and squeezing the air flow at higher levels than ever before.
(Read More...)
06/01/2011
The House Appropriations Committee has crafted a Pentagon spending measure that would swell military spending at a time when both political parties are clamoring for spending cuts. That panel’s Defense subcommittee on Wednesday is expected to approve a Pentagon appropriations bill that includes $530 billion in base military funding. Another subcommittee already has approved a $14 billion military construction measure.
(Read More...)
06/01/2011
Russia and NATO will sign an agreement on setting up a trust fund for maintenance of Mil helicopters in Europe by yearend, a deputy director of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation said on Tuesday. Vyacheslav Dzirkaln said the fund would be worth $7 million.
(Read More...)
All Articles