February 23, 2013 Military Aviation News
02/23/2013
Sweden has placed its first contract with Saab linked to the introduction of 60 new-generation Gripen E fighters from 2018. Announced in mid-February, the development forms part of a potentially SKr47.2 billion ($7.4 billion) deal to field the single-seat combat aircraft, which has design features including extended-range performance, an active electronically scanned array radar and internally carried weapons.
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02/23/2013
Earlier this month, the Swiss government revealed – perhaps earlier than it would have liked – that its national aerobatic team, the Patrouille Suisse, would be facing disbandment in 2016. With the retirement of its F-5 Tigers, and the planned introduction of its replacement, the Saab Gripen, the Swiss Air Force can no longer really justify retaining a unit as an aerobatic team.
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02/23/2013
The skies of Pokhran came alive on Friday with the Indian Air Force’s first ever day-night full combat and fire demonstration, named “Iron Fist.” President Pranab Mukherjee, the supreme commander of the armed forces, was the chief guest at the event at Chandan Range near Jaisalmer. He was accompanied by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Defence Minister A.K. Anthony, Air Chief N.A.K. Browne, Naval Chief Devendra Joshi, Rajasthan Governor Margaret Alva and Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.
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02/23/2013
Boeing and Elbit Systems signed a memorandum of understanding to offer Elbit’s directed infrared counter measure (DIRCM) system for international customers of Boeing fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft.
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02/23/2013
President Barack Obama has deployed American military personnel and drone aircraft to the African country of Niger, where they could be used to support a French counterterrorism mission in neighboring Mali. Defense Department officials told NBC News that a first wave will include two Raptor surveillance drones and 250 to 300 military personnel, including remote pilots and security and maintenance crews. They are expected to arrive soon.
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02/23/2013
American aircraft manufacturer Lockheed Martin has told the Financieele Dagblad it is fully confident the Netherlands will buy 85 of the controversial JSF fighter jets, despite doubts in the Dutch parliament. 'We have an agreement with the Netherlands to deliver 85 aircraft,' director Stephen O'Bryan told the paper. 'Our information is that this will go ahead.'
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02/23/2013
The cash-strapped Harper government is going to revise its military procurement plan – known as the Canada First Defence Strategy – following the 2013 budget, Defence Minister Peter MacKay said Thursday. This would be the first restatement of the strategy since it was unveiled in 2008 and since the federal government began running big deficits to cope with a recession and slow recovery that followed.
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02/23/2013
The Pentagon said on Friday that it had grounded all of its stealthy new F-35 fighter jets after an inspection found a crack in a turbine blade in the engine of one of the planes. The suspension of flights comes at an awkward time for the military, which is facing automatic budget cuts that could slow its purchases of the planes. The Pentagon grounded all three versions of the jets — for the Air Force, the Navy and the Marines — on Thursday while it investigated the problem.
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02/23/2013
Airmen from units deployed in support of Cope North 13 transported an R-11 refueling truck on a C-130 Hercules aircraft from here to Rota Island Feb. 13, to recover a Navy F/A-18 Hornet that diverted there due to weather a day prior.
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02/23/2013
The X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle 3, the U.S. Air Force's secretive robotic space plane, has been on its latest mission for over 10 weeks now, zipping around in low-Earth orbit since it made its third launch into space back on December 11th. However, given what the pint-sized robot space shuttle is capable of, or should I say incapable of, it begs the question 'What is the military using it for?'
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