October 25, 2011 Military Aviation News

Obama Continues Bush Policy — Refuses Taiwan New F-16s

10/25/2011

The White House announced that once again, the United States would be reevaluating its defense partnership with the Republic of China on Taiwan. The administration decided last month that the arms package it would be selling to Taipei would be sorely reduced; the Pentagon has chosen not to sell Taiwan 66 late-model F-16 aircraft, a deal potentially valued at over $8 billion, after years of debate over whether to supply the free Chinese island with advanced strike aircraft to upgrade its aging ai

Pentagon Says Marine F-35 Model Successful in First Sea Trials

10/25/2011

The first sea trials of the Lockheed Martin Corp. F-35 Joint Strike Fighter model designed for the Marine Corps were successfully completed last week, the program office said today. The F-35B short-take off and vertical landing version finished three weeks of tests on the Marine amphibious assault ship USS Wasp, achieving “all planned flight envelope test points,” Joseph DellaVedova, a spokesman for the Joint Strike Fighter program, said in an e-mail.

Saab-HAL JV to go on stream in 6 months

10/25/2011

Saab AB’s joint venture with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to manufacture airborne electronic warfare systems in Bangalore will commence production in six months from now, the Swedish defence aircraft manufacturer said today. It was in February this year that the Stockholm-headquartered company announced its JV plan. Today, Saab India Technologies managing director Inderjit Sial said the two firms were currently working out the business plan, including financial details.

Purge of East Africa's threats is key to stability

10/25/2011

Witness accounts tell of Kenyan fighter aircraft attacking targets deep inside neighbouring Somalia, of hundreds of heavily armed soldiers backed by armoured vehicles, helicopter gunships and artillery deploying across the border.

Combat aircraft deal: Eurofighter, Dassault Rafale shortlisted

10/25/2011

The Defence Ministry has invited Eurofighter and Dassault Rafale - the two shortlisted vendors in the multi-billion dollar combat aircraft deal - on November 4 to open their commercial bids after which a final decision on giving the contract will be taken. The two shortlisted vendors have received a letter from the Ministry and have been informed that commercial bids for procuring 126 Multi-role Combat Aircraft (M-MRCA) tender will be opened on November 4, industry sources told PTI here.

Lockheed Martin eager to win Korea's FX-race

10/25/2011

One of the most-talked-about news this year was that North Korean leader Kim Jong-il could not come out of his underground bunker for nine days, fearful of the F-22 Raptors in the skies above during a joint military drill between South Korea and the United States late last year.

F-35 program gains some support

10/25/2011

A lobbying effort to keep Joint Strike Fighter aircraft and repair work flying toward Cherry Point continues in earnest, spurred on by warnings that scrapping the F-35 program could compromise the nation’s defense. A Friday column by nonprofit Lexington Institute CEO Loren B. Thompson warns that “very few politicians or pundits seem to grasp the pivotal role that F-35 plays in future military plans.”

After setbacks, U.S. military tries to rebuild ties with Pakistani military

10/25/2011

When Lt. Gen. Curtis M. Scaparrotti was the U.S. military commander in eastern Afghanistan last year, he toured the battlefield with his counterparts from Pakistan along both sides of the porous border. U.S. and Pakistani troops conducted coordinated operations to squeeze Taliban insurgents seeking sanctuary in the rugged mountains along the border.

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