February 16, 2012 Military Aviation News
02/16/2012
Lockheed Martin unveiled a new version of the F-16 today at the Singapore Airshow. The F-16V will feature enhancements including an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, an upgraded mission computer and architecture, and improvements to the cockpit – all capabilities identified by the U.S. Air Force and several international customers for future improvements.
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02/16/2012
Russian Helicopters is here at the Singapore Airshow (Booth No. U87) promoting its Mi-34C1 light helicopter, along with other models in its stable. Flight testing is under way and production is scheduled to start this year. The company expects to see strong interest in the type for missions such as pilot training, police and power line surveillance work.
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02/16/2012
Associate Defence Minister Julian Fantino on Wednesday dismissed as "speculation" reports the government is planning to purchase armed drones as the F-35 program continues to encounter delays and cost overruns. But with U.S. and industry officials admitting this week the stealth fighters will cost more than expected and the Conservative government indicating its plan to buy the jets is coming off the rails, a debate is bubbling over whether Canada should hold out for drones.
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02/16/2012
Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) today announced that it is exploring ways to mitigate delays in meeting the April 2013 delivery schedule for the first aircraft called for under United States Air Force Light Air Support (LAS) contract. SNC was awarded that contract in late December, but due to a lawsuit filed by the disqualified competitor for the contract, has been prevented from initiating work.
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02/16/2012
French ministers and arms industry executives are still struggling to contain their delight over Dassault’s surprise victory in the $15bn-$20bn Indian fighter jet contest. A final contract for 126 new combat aircraft is not yet signed, explaining the reluctance to crow too loudly. But the choice of Dassault’s Rafale, over the rival Eurofighter, as the preferred bid by India’s air force has done wonders for France’s flagging industrial morale.
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02/16/2012
Four of eight Sokol combat utility helicopters from Swidnik of Poland have arrived, an official said Wednesday. “The brand-new choppers arrived last night in Clark Air Base in Pampanga,” said Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans Maj. Gen. Roy Deveraturda. “A group of technicians and pilots from the Air Force are conducting inspection and assessment and, if satisfied, they will immediately assemble them.”
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02/16/2012
The U.S. Army precisely engaged targets using the Raytheon (NYSE: RTN) Griffin B missile as part of a test to protect forward operating bases (FOBs) and small combat outposts.
"Griffin enables ground forces to protect their locations by precisely engaging targets in a 360-degree radius," said Harry Schulte, vice president of Raytheon Missile Systems' Air Warfare Systems product line. "Griffin gives warfighters a combat-proven capability that is ready today, fully developed and in production."
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02/16/2012
All three services of the Malaysian armed forces have received significant cuts to their procurement budget requests for 2012. The political context for this is the build up to a general election, which must be held by 2013. With defense spending being a contentious issue in Malaysia and the need to reduce state spending, the current government has opted for sizable cutbacks.
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02/16/2012
The military says the nearly 7,500 robotic aircraft it has accrued for use overseas need to come home at some point. But the FAA doesn't allow drones in U.S. airspace without a special certificate.
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