Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Eurocopter Sees Civilian Slackening as Military Rises

01/22/2010

Eurocopter recently reported its 2009 figures, and offered forecasts for 2010. While Robinson is far and away the leading global helicopter builder by numbers, Eurocopter is generally accepted as the #1 firm when measures include order value, competition across multiple major segments, etc. This makes their fate and forecasts an interesting bellwether for the sector.

Fighter, Helicopter Plans to Start in 2011

01/22/2010

Plans to locally develop a fighter aircraft and an attack helicopter will start next year. The plan is part of comprehensive projects to develop the nation’s aerospace industry over the next decade, the Ministry of National Defense said Thursday.

Vietnam Top Buyer of Russian Arms

01/22/2010

Vietnam became Russia's biggest arms client in 2009, having ordered six diesel-electric submarines and 12 Su-30 fighter jets, according to the calculations of the Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies (CAST), a think tank here that tracks Russia's arms exports.

Bahrain opens its first air show

01/22/2010

Bahrain’s first-ever international air show, which began yesterday at the country’s Sakhir Airbase, showcased 74 aircraft from suppliers representing 15 nations.

Hellenic Aerospace to maintain Saudi C-130 engines

01/22/2010

Hellenic Aerospace Industries has won a three-year, $43 million contract with the Saudi Arabian defence ministry to maintain and repair the Rolls-Royce Allison T56 engines that power its air force fleet of Lockheed Martin C-130 tactical transports.

USAF Chief Downplays JSF Testing Delay

01/22/2010

A testing delay for the F-35 program will prompt an increase in the per-unit cost of the stealthy single-engine fighter “for a period,” says the U.S. Air Force chief of staff, Gen. Norton Schwartz.

Washington Prepares Arms Sales for Taiwan, Risking China’s Ire

01/22/2010

A package of arms sales being prepared by Washington for Taiwan may portend a downturn in U.S.-China relations only a year after the Obama administration entered office championing closer ties with Beijing. The ever-sensitive topic of U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, considered by Beijing to be an integral part of the People’s Republic of China, will undoubtedly result in protestations by the Chinese, who have long maintained a vow to recover the island by force if necessary.

Indian Navy boosts its air fleet in $1.5 billion deal

01/22/2010

India's Navy has started a $1.5 billion overhaul of its ageing Soviet-era fleet of aircraft, seeking to boost its air power in an Indian Ocean region where a growing China is threatening its traditional dominance.

EADS Should Cover Biggest Piece of A400M Overrun: Morin

01/21/2010

EADS should fund a large share of the A400M's cost overrun, French Defense Minister Hervé Morin said, speaking on the eve of a meeting of procurement ministers and the prime contractor to negotiate financial terms for the troubled airlifter program.

Russia to show the best aircraft models at Bahrain International Airshow 2010

01/21/2010

Rosoboronexport will be taking active part in the first Bahrain International Airshow, BIAS 2010. This exhibition of military, civilian and business aircraft will take place from 21 to 23 January at the Sahir Airbase in Manama.

IAF offers Dhaka facilities

01/21/2010

The Indian Air Force is offering the Bangladesh Biman Bahini (Bangladesh air force) the use of its facilities to modernise and maintain fighter aircraft and helicopters, a senior defence source told The Telegraph here.

U.S. slows Lockheed's F-35 fighter program

01/21/2010

The U.S. Defense Department is slowing Lockheed Martin Corp's $300 billion F-35 fighter jet program, a multinational effort, to stabilize its schedule and costs, according to draft budget documents obtained by Reuters.

Boeing Looks To First Silent Eagle Flight

01/21/2010

With radar-cross-section (RCS) trials for Boeing’s Silent Eagle semi-stealthy F-15 prototype complete, company officials are now focusing on South Korea as a possible first customer.

Logic Versus Experience

01/21/2010

January 20, 2010: Two years ago, the U.S. Army thought it had a deal with the Air Force, to settle a dispute over who should control army UAVs.

Bahrain Air Show to Display BAE Systems' Latest Technologies

01/21/2010

BAE Systems, a global defence, security and aerospace company, will display its innovative technology -- MANTIS and HERTI, its unmanned air systems, and a full size replica of the Eurofighter Typhoon, at the inaugural Bahrain International Air Show today, a company official said.

Russian bombers complete Arctic patrol mission

01/21/2010

Two Russian Tu-95MS Bear strategic bombers have successfully carried out a routine patrol flight over the Arctic Ocean, the Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.

USAF Sees New C-130 AMP Competition

01/20/2010

In the latest chapter of the on-again, off-again U.S. Air Force program to upgrade avionics on the C-130 airlifter fleet, service officials say the once-dead project is now funded and will move forward.

Malaysian PM Najib arrives on five-day state visit to India

01/20/2010

Malaysian Prime Minister Mohammed Najib Tun Abdul Razak arrived here this evening on a five-day State Visit to India during which the two countries will sign several agreements aimed at forging closer bilateral cooperation between them, including possibly an extradition pact.

Iran denies Russian fighter airspace access

01/20/2010

Iran denied passage to a Russian Su-27 fighter even though its flight plan had been cleared in advance, Russia's Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.

'Pentagon refusing Israeli F-35 demands'

01/20/2010

The Defense Ministry has told the Pentagon that it will purchase the stealth-enabled Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) if it is allowed to replace 50 percent of the systems with Israeli-made technology, defense officials said Tuesday.

Soldiers in Iraq employ new MQ-1C Sky Warrior unmanned aircraft systems

01/20/2010

Placing a new aircraft in a combat situation is a true test of its capabilities and future role within the Army.

Boeing, Oto Melara Sign Contract for SDB Co-production in Italy

01/20/2010

The Boeing Company has signed a $34 million contract with Italian defense company Oto Melara to co-produce the Small Diameter Bomb Increment I (SDB I) weapon system for the Italian Air Force.

Boeing Awarded Long-Term Support Contract for Australia's Wedgetail 737 AEW&C Program

01/20/2010

The Boeing Company today announced that it has been awarded a five-year In-Service Support contract for Project Wedgetail, Australia's 737 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) program. The contract from Australia's Defence Materiel Organisation is worth approximately US$600 million.

Northrop Grumman E-8C Joint STARS Battle Management Role Recognized

01/19/2010

Recent events for Northrop Grumman Corporation’s E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (Joint STARS) aircraft program reinforce its contribution as the top airborne battle management platform. Joint STARS is the only platform in the U.S. defense arsenal that can provide wide area surveillance covering more than 50,000 square kilometers and detect objects moving at a wide variety of speeds.

Boeing Begins A-10 Thunderbolt Wing Assembly for US Air Force

01/19/2010

The Boeing Company today announced that it has begun assembling the first A-10 Thunderbolt replacement-wing set at its Macon facility. The U.S. Air Force awarded Boeing the contract, worth up to $2 billion, in June 2007 to provide as many as 242 A-10 replacement-wing sets through 2018.