April 18, 2012 Military Aviation News

Selfridge museum to restore F-89 Scorpion fighter jet

04/18/2012

A military aircraft museum at the Selfridge Air National Guard Base has started a project to restore an F-89 Scorpion, officials said Tuesday. The Michigan Air National Guard used the jet in the 1950s and '60s. Officials said the project may be the only one of its kind in the country and possibly the world. Once completed, the aircraft will be the only known restored F-89 in the "C" model configuration.

Airbus Military A400M makes first landing in Malaysia

04/18/2012

The Airbus Military A400M new generation airlifter recently arrived in Malaysia at the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) Subang Airbase as part of its Asia tour, where a welcome ceremony took place today in the presence of the Chief of the Royal Malaysian Air Force. The visit, the first time that the A400M will be seen in Asia, will give the Malaysian Government and Air Force a chance to see the A400M at first hand. The Malaysian Government has ordered four of the new aircraft which has as its la

Unmanned aircraft borrowed from Dutch military

04/18/2012

Denmark has borrowed several unmanned aircraft from the Dutch armed forces. Because of spare parts supply problems within the Danish army, Denmark has been given two so-called Raven systems - each consisting of three unmanned aircraft and a ground station - from the Netherlands. The systems will be borrowed for half a year, when the Danish supply problems are expected to be resolved.

Factbox: How Sudan and South Sudan shape up militarily

04/18/2012

Fighting in a disputed border region between Sudan and South Sudan has raised fears the two countries could resume full-blown war. Here is a look at the two countries' military capabilities according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies report, "Military Balance 2012":

Indian air force looks to outsource MRO requirements

04/18/2012

India's air force could outsource some of its MRO requirements to privately-owned companies in the country. This comes as defence procurement begins to lean toward western suppliers, with a large number of contracts in the pipeline, amid frustration with the level of support available for the Russian aircraft that are the mainstay of the air force.

Navy Looks for New Jet, on Top of Its Trillion-Dollar Model

04/18/2012

On Friday, the Navy quietly released a “market survey” asking the big defense contractors for their “candidate[s]” for “strike fighter aircraft” in the decades to come. Which is a little weird, considering the Pentagon is currently spending a trillion dollars on just such an aircraft: the troubled Joint Strike Fighter.

F-35 lifespan claim strains believability

04/18/2012

There's something I'm not buying about the F-35 "stealth" joint-strike fighter. Besides the government's dishonest bloviating and the opposition's peacenik whimpering, I mean. I just can't understand a plane meant to dominate aerial combat for five decades in a world of blinding technological change. I do understand the need for air power. And for "interoperability" with our American ally, the free world's only remaining military hope, even under Barack Obama.

Boeing Receives Additional Laser JDAM Contract from US Navy

04/18/2012

The Boeing Company received a $12.5 million contract from U.S. Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) on March 12 for 1,116 Laser Joint Direct Attack Munition (Laser JDAM) sensors. This is NAVAIR's third Low Rate Initial Production order for its Direct Attack Moving Target Capability (DAMTC). It follows an $8.3 million NAVAIR order for 700 laser sensors on Jan. 31 that allows the U.S. Air Force to maintain its Laser JDAM combat inventory levels.

Russia 3rd Largest Military Spender Worldwide – Analysts

04/18/2012

Russia’s military expenditures in 2011 totaled $71.9 billion, which made the country the world’s third largest military spender, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) think tank said in a report published on Tuesday. Last year, Russia increased its military spending by 9.3 percent, according to figures released by the SIPRI.

Russia-China Su-35 Fighter Talks Frozen

04/18/2012

Negotiations on the sale of Russian advanced Su-35 Flanker-E fighters to China have been put on hold over Beijing’s refusal to buy a large consignment, Russian state-controlled arms exporter Rosoboronexport said on Tuesday. “We have been promoting the Su-35 fighter on the Chinese market,” Rosoboronexport deputy chief Viktor Komardin said.

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