Saturday, December 11, 2004
Three years since RNZAF planes cannedThree years after the RNZAF decommissioned its Skyhawks and Aermacchi aircraft, they still have not been sold.
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Pakistan seeks French avionics, equipment for fighterPakistan President Pervez Musharraf said he discussed the feasibility of acquiring French avionics and warfare equipment for the JF-17 fighter aircraft being developed jointly by Pakistan and China.
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Denel supports German missile testsThe German Air Force tested their new Taurus KEPD 350 precision standoff guided missile system at Denel's test range near Bredasdorp in the Western Cape, South Africa.
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First Patriot `top guns’ graduate 5-week courseThe first Patriot Top Gun class graduated Nov. 24 at Fort Bliss, Texas, completing the five-week and four-day course.
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Navy says piece of metal that struck building was from Hornet aircraftA tiny aircraft piece that tore a hole in the roof of a Japanese industrial building last weekend near Atsugi, Japan, belonged to an F/A-18C Hornet assigned to the USS Kitty Hawk’s Carrier Air Wing 5, Navy officials confirmed Thursday evening.
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Holloman To Reenact Historic Rocket Sled RideHolloman Air Force Base plans a reenactment of the world's first rocket sled ride, conducted at the base a half-century ago.
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Snowbird pilot dies in Saskatchewan crashTwo Canadian Forces Snowbirds crashed in mid-air Friday morning while on a routine practice flight over southern Saskatchewan, killing one pilot and injuring a second.
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Northrop Grumman/Air Force Team Wins Defense Department's David Packard Award for Support of B-2 Stealth BomberThe U.S. Department of Defense has presented a David Packard Excellence in Acquisition Award to a U.S. Air Force/Northrop Grumman Corporation team for improving the B-2 stealth bomber's combat readiness while reducing program costs. Northrop Grumman is the Air Force's B-2 prime contractor.
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Helicopter collision kills two in MosulA UH-60 Blackhawk collided with an AH-64 Apache on the ground in Mosul, Iraq.
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The RADA Advanced Israel Air Force A-4 "Skyhawk" Aircraft Successfully Performs its Inaugural FlightRADA Electronic Industries Ltd. announced Dec. 8 that the first upgraded Israel Air Force (IAF) A-4 "Skyhawk" has successfully completed its inaugural flight.
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Friday, December 10, 2004
Pentagon Seeks Check on RAND Air Tanker(Registration Required)The Pentagon, is seeking a second opinion on a RAND Corp. report on ways to replace the U.S. Air Force's aging KC-135 mid-air refueling tankers, Michael Wynne, acting under secretary of defense for acquisition said Wednesday.
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Global Hawk Grappling With Design Challenges, GAO SaysThe U.S. Air Force's Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle program is grappling with a series of design challenges, according to the Government Accountability Office.
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Raytheon Awarded $12.5 Million to Provide Spares for U.S. Navy WarfightersRaytheon Company has been awarded a $12.5 million contract by the U.S. Navy to provide spares for the F/A-18 Shared Reconnaissance Pod (SHARP).
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Blue Angels Announce 2005 Show ScheduleThe U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, announced their schedule for the 2005 show season Dec. 9.
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Kadena Airmen deploy to PhilippinesThree HH-60s, two MC-130 Combat Shadows and a KC-135 Stratotanker deployed to Philippines to provide humanitarian assistance to nearly 170,000 people displaced by Typhoon Nanmadol.
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Hornets swarm OsanU.S. Navy Fighter Attack Squadron 195, Fighter Attack Squadron 97 and Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 142 are visiting Osan, South Korea for a joint training exercise with local USAF F-16 Fighting Falcon and A-10 Thunderbolt II units.
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Six CVW-17 Squadrons Returning to Norfolk, OceanaSix aircraft squadrons assigned to Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17 will return to their home bases at Naval Station Norfolk and Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana, Va., Dec. 12, following a six-month deployment aboard the Mayport, Fla.-based aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67).
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Ugandans get air power lessonThe U.S. Air Forces in Europe commander addressed the first class of Ugandan Senior Command and Staff College attendees at Jinja, Uganda Dec. 2 during the course’s air power week.
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Thursday, December 09, 2004
Lockheed Martin Receives $112.2 Million Production Contract for Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff MissileLockheed Martin received a U.S. Air Force contract totaling more than $112 million for continued production of the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM), the world's first stealthy cruise missile.
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Mi-28N: The ‘Streetfighter’ Of The Future Awaits Its DebutMil Helicopter is eager to introduce its Mi-28N to the market.
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Japan to lift arms-export ban for U.S. missile shield projectThe Japanese government's new basic defense policy will limit arms exports to missile defense-related products developed with the United States, and America would be the only recipient.
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Top Air Force JAG may be pulled from dutyThe U.S. Air Force's top lawyer could faced demotion due to improper conduct.
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New Fighter Bomber TestedThe Su-34 fighter-bomber, which was previously known as the Su-27-IB, is doing very well during tests, General Vladimir Mikhailov said.
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Bell Helicopter will add jobs at its plant in Amarillo(Registration Required)Bell Helicopter plans to add about 200 jobs at its Amarillo, Texas assembly plant in 2005 as it gears up to meet expected demand for the V-22 Osprey.
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Marines flock to MCAS Yuma for Exercise Desert TalonThe 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing will deploy to Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., for Exercise Desert Talon 01-05, a three week training exercise for units preparing to deploy in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
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New Test For 'Star Wars' SystemThe U.S. Missile Defense Agency planned to conduct the first full flight test of its missile defense system in nearly two years, with the test coming possibly as early as later Wednesday.
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Navy helicopter crashes into seaA Royal Navy Lynx helicopter carrying four people has crashed 30 miles off the Cornish coast.
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Wednesday, December 08, 2004
GPSI almost forgot to mention Greg Goebel's updated article on Navigation Satellites and Global Positioning System. I also happen to put in an order for a Magellan Explorist 100 GPS set recently with
Amazon. Its priced at about US $94 and includes free shipping. With a 160 x 120 display resolution and waterproof casing, this is IMHO the best <$100 GPS set out there in the market now. Once I receive the unit next month, I'll write a short review of it.
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OMB sides with Senate on Air Force tankers dealThe U.S. Office of Management and Budget sided with the U.S. Senate's interpretation that the USAF is to openly compete for any new acquisition of aerial refueling tankers.
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French Official Deals With EADS DisputeFrance's Finance Minister Herve Gaymard sought to defuse tensions between European Aeronautic Defense and Space Co. co-chief executive Philippe Camus and Airbus CEO Noel Forgeard - who wants the top job at the parent company.
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Perfect for a nuclear family: Home on the missile rangeA former Titan I missile complex built in Arapahoe County during the Cold War to withstand a direct nuclear blast is up for sale at $1.5 million.
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France splurges EUR 3bn on Dassault fighter jetsFrance on Tuesday ordered 59 nuclear-capable Rafale fighter jets from the French aeronautic group Dassault Aviation. 47 will be for the air force and 12 for the navy, with deliveries from 2008-2012.
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India to get six Su-30s on December 20The last six remaining Su-30MKI fighters will be delivered to the Indian Air Force on Dec. 20.
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Officials announce F-16 accident investigation findingsU.S. Air Force officials announced investigation findings of a May 19 F-16 Fighting Falcon crash on the Tohono O’odham Nation in Arizona.
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Global Hawk plan hitThe U.S. Government Accountability Office wants the Defense Department to delay Global Hawk production due to increasing costs. But Pentagon officials have rejected the GAO's recommendation.
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Saab Aerosystems Selects SGI Visualization Systems for Gripen Flight SimulatorsNew Saab PETRA Simulators, powered by SGI's Onyx visualization systems, will be sold to Sweden, Czech Republic and Hungary for Gripen pilot training.
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BAE begins to pull apart Saab linksBAE Systems began announced plans to cut its stake in Saab to 20 per cent and relinquish control of the joint venture that markets the Gripen jet fighter for export. BAE also denied suggestions on Tuesday that there was a conflict of interest with Saab over the marketing of Gripen because BAE is one of the three companies building the Eurofighter Typhoon.
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Pratt & Whitney Celebrates the 30th Anniversary of Delivery of the First Production F100 Engine at Edwards Air Force BaseIn a brief ceremony Dec.7 at Edwards Air Force Base in California, Pratt & Whitney celebrated the 30th anniversary of the delivery of the first production F100 engine.
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N. Korea criticizes Patriot deployments in SouthNorth Korea on Tuesday criticized the United States for deploying Patriot PAC-3 missile systems batteries on the divided Korean Peninsula, and vowed to increase its “war deterrent force.”
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Get a fighter jet free and put on an air showThe Indian Air Force (IAF) is offering its vintage fighter jets like, Hunters, Canberras, Gnats and Vampires, free to anyone who can preserve and display them at prominent places in their cities.
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'Only 12 Rooivalks sold to SA Air Force'Only 12 of South Africa's Rooivalk attack helicopters developed by Denel Aviation have been sold to the South African Air Force (SAAF) and there were also three prototypes in the SAAF inventory.
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RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTER TO DISCUSS MILITARY COOPERATION WITH TURKEYRussian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov will discuss with his Turkish counterpart Vecdi Gonul on the production for a direct support attack helicopter for Turkey.
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C-130 AMP Program Close To Expanding Beyond USAFThe U.S. Air Force-launched C-130 avionics modernization program (AMP) is close to attracting the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps as participants, according to program officials.
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Tuesday, December 07, 2004
EADS Predicts $10 Billion In U.S. Defense SalesThe European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. (EADS) predicts it will bring in $10 billion from U.S. defense sales within the next five years, out of about $40 billion in contracts for which it is competing.
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General Dynamics Awarded $6 Million Contract for 30mm BarrelsGeneral Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, was awarded a $6 million contract for production of 1,393 30mm gun barrels. The barrels will equip the A-10 fighter aircraft.
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Raytheon Awarded $158 Million for AIM-9X Full Rate ProductionRaytheon Company has received a $158 million contract for continued production of AIM-9X Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missiles and support materials. The contract includes 443 all-up-round AIM-9X tactical missiles, 153 AIM-9X training missiles and support equipment.
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Roche defends tanker dealOutgoing U.S. Air Force Secretary James Roche believes that the service did not make any big mistakes while trying to carry out the Boeing tanker lease deal.
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JFK Carrier Strike Group To Return From DeploymentShips and squadrons of the USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) Carrier Strike Group (JFK CSG) will return to their respective homeports of Mayport, Fla., and Norfolk, Va., throughout early- and mid-December.
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Hawai'i part of 'strategic triangle'Gen. Paul V. Hester, chief of the U.S. Pacific Air Forces said that Guam, Hawai'i and Alaska form a very strategic triangle for U.S. forces.
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Cheetahs to fly until 2010South African Air Force will continue to use its Cheetah fighters till 2010 to allow for full operational integration of the new Gripen fighter.
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Russia reveals new missileThe Russian government's Rossiyskaya Gazeta daily announced it was fitting its strategic bombers with long-range conventional cruise missiles.
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Britain, BAE Systems reach deal on EurofighterBritish aerospace and defence giant BAE Systems said that it had reached an agreement in principle with the British government on the terms of second tranche of 236 Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft.
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Monday, December 06, 2004
Putin watches air display at HALRussian President Vladimir Putin witnessed an exciting flight display of indigenously-built Indian aircraft by the Tejas, the Intermediate Jet Trainer HJ 36 and Dhruv-Advanced Light Helicopter.
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Thai air force launches ‘peace bird’ operationThe Royal Thai Air Force has launched an operation to drop paper birds over the country’s troubled Muslim-majority southern provinces by releasing a smoke trail in the sky in the colors of Thai national flag.
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First missile interceptor to be installed at VAFBOn a remote section of northern Vandenberg early Tuesday morning, crews are expected to begin lowering the first missile defense interceptor into its underground home.
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IDF places missile battery near HaifaThe Israel Air Force on Sunday positioned a battery of Patriot anti-aircraft missiles in the Haifa Bay area, in order to intercept any Hezbollah-operated drones launched from Lebanon.
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VFA-82 to DisestablishU.S. Navy Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 82 received official word in November that they will disestablish at the end of Fiscal Year 2005.
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New Tanker Program May Offer New Industrial OptionsEstablishing a KC-135 replacement plan in the wake of the defunct KC-767 lease proposal is going to take longer than first thought and could engulf Boeing, EADS, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman.
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Truman Takes the Reins in Persian GulfThe USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) Carrier Strike Group relieved the USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) Carrier Strike Group Nov. 20 in the Persian Gulf, following a vertical ammunition replenishment and official turnover.
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Boeing Airborne Laser Team Achieves First FlightThe Boeing Airborne Laser (ABL) team flew an aircraft equipped with the integrated battle management and Beam Control/Fire Control (BC/FC) systems for the first time at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., on Dec. 3.
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Sunday, December 05, 2004
Hancock's legacy: Success of the F-16, birth of the JSF(Registration Required)Under Dain Hancock, who announced his retirement Friday as president of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., the production of Fort Worth's F-16 was extended by almost a decade from original projections by aggressively selling the inexpensive fighter jet overseas.
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Fighter pilot film about teamwork, thrill of flightThe IMAX film "Fighter Pilot: Operation Red Flag," premiered Dec. 2 at the National Air and Space Museum. The story is about a young pilot who had never before been to a Red Flag exercise.
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Potential Arms Sale Stirs Concern in South AsiaThe Bush administration might be hoping to use the sale of Patriot missile system to persuade India to sign the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty and accept limits on the size of its nuclear arsenal.
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Fort Smith : Air Guard’s 188 th to keep its F-16 fleet, Boozman saysThe U.S. National Guard plan that called for stripping the Fort Smith Air National Guard base of its F-16 fighters has been shelved.
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Musharraf discusses F-16 issue with BushPakistan President Pervez Musharraf told reporters outside the White House on Saturday that he discussed with US President George W. Bush a potential purchase of US F-16 fighter jets.
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Fort Hood helicopter, ground units start training across areaLarge numbers of helicopter and ground units from the 21st Cavalry Brigade from Fort Hood will be training in Brown and surrounding counties during three one-week periods over the next two months.
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Russia begins delivery of last batch of Sukhoi fighterRussia on Saturday began the deliveries of the last batch of 10 multi-role Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighters for the Indian Air Force using An-124 cargo plane in 5 trips.
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United States to sell Jordan 50 air-to-air missilesThe Bush administration has authorized the sale of 50 AIM-120C Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) and associated parts and systems to Jordan, according to the U.S. military. Israel, Jordan's neighbor, had previously protested the proposed sale.
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New satellite terminal provides real-time intelligenceA new satellite communications system,Transportable Medium Earth Terminal II, is now operational that will help provide warfighters timely intelligence from U-2 Dragon Lady reconnaissance flights.
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