Friday, April 30, 2004
Carrier Air Wing 7 Continues Air Support of Combat in Iraq
USS George Washington�s (GW) (CVN 73) aircraft exerted pressure on anti-Iraqi forces in the Iraqi city of Fallujah April 28, with repeated bombardments from Strike Fighter Squadrons (VFA) 136 and VFA-131, and Fighter Squadrons (VF) 11 and VF-143.
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Lockheed Martin F-16's Capacity for Smart Weapons Is Doubled With New Weapon Rack
The "smart weapon" capacity of the Lockheed Martin F-16 has been doubled with the certification of the new BRU-57 multiple weapon rack. The F-16 now will be able to carry four, instead of two, 1,000-pound class smart weapons.
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Lockheed Martin KC-130J Given Approval After Intensive Testing By Marine Corps
The U.S. Marine Corps announced today that the commander of Operational Testing and Evaluation (OT&E) has "recommended full fleet introduction of the Lockheed Martin KC-130J for operational use."
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FAA, state oppose use of Kalaeloa for C-17 training
The Federal Aviation Administration and the state Department of Transportation are recommending against using the former Barbers Point Naval Air Station as a training base for Air Force C-17 jet transports.
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StarShipOne pilot keynotes awards lunch
Four awards, the outstanding test pilot of the year, outstanding Naval flight officer of the year, outstanding test engineer of the year, and Test Pilot School instructor pilot of the year were the highlights of the Naval Test Wing Atlantic luncheon.
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ZAF Pilots Perish in Chopper Crash
TWO Zambia Air Force (ZAF) pilots on a training exercise died yesterday morning when the helicopter they were flying crashed in Lusaka's Makeni area.
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Lockheed Martin Awarded $32 Million Contract for Sniper XR Advanced Targeting Pods
Lockheed Martin received a $32 million order from the U.S. Air Force for Sniper XR(TM) (eXtended Range) advanced targeting pods.
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Brig. Gen Raaberg passes on WAFB torch
Col. Christopher D. Miller took over the command of the 509th Bomb Wing from Brig. Gen. Douglas Raaberg.
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Defense unit's best quarter buoys Boeing
Boeing Co.'s St. Louis-based military business had its best quarter yet, more than offsetting a continuing sag in Boeing's commercial unit and allowing the company to exceed forecasts for the first three months of the year.
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Chief test pilot takes command of Rotary Wing
Capt. John Hardison was relieved by Marine Lt. Col. Keith Danel, chief test pilot for HX-21 as commanding officer of Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 21.
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Turkey, Pakistan discuss joint defence ventures
Pakistan and Turkey on Wednesday discussed setting up defence joint ventures, including a project to produce unmanned aerial drones.
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New Mexico senators want stealths to stay
New Mexico�s two U.S. senators want the Pentagon to delay its planned retirement of ten stealth fighters at Holloman Air Force Base.
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TPS, SETP symposia papers highlight T-45, Wright Flyer, V-22
The Society of Experimental Test Pilots' 20th annual East Coast symposium and the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School's 56th annual reunion and symposium was held recently.
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Thursday, April 29, 2004
Navy fighter pilots train hard for war
The Navy SEAL had a big problem, and Lt. Cmdr. Mike Kraus had the solution hanging on the wings of his F/A-18 Hornet.
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Casual worker killed as MiG 27 skids off runway
One casual worker was killed when a MiG 27 fighter aircraft made an emergency landing at the Jodhpur Air Base, India Wednesday morning.
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India, Britain set up group to oversee Hawk jet sale
Indian and Britain Wednesday announced the setting up of a special group to monitor the 795 million pound deal to sell 66 Hawk jet trainers to the Indian Air Force (IAF).
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Three crewmen die in South Carolina Black Hawk crash
An Army helicopter and its crew of three soldiers were found Tuesday night, nearly 22 hours after they seemed to vanish into a swamp.
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MILITARY CRASHES
More than a dozen South Carolina-based military aircraft have been involved in accidents over the last decade, resulting in 11 deaths. Few of the accidents occurred in South Carolina.
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Airborne surveillance system gets go-ahead from NATO
The NATO alliance this month approved long-held plans to purchase an airborne surveillance system to give it the sort of eagle eyes the United States initially peered through during the Persian Gulf War.
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PM defends new fighter jet project
Australian Prime Minister John Howard defended plans to spend up to $16 billion to buy new F-35 fighter jets from the United States despite reports of delays and cost blowouts in the project.
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Norway may snub Lockheed, buy Gripen fighters
Norway is looking at the Anglo-Swedish Gripen combat jet to replace its U.S.-built F-16s because of disappointment over a lack of sub-contracts in developing a new U.S. fighter, a senior parliamentarian said on Wednesday.
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Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules Showcases Award-Winning Performance
Lockheed Martin's C-130J Super Hercules demonstrated impressive performance, mission-effectiveness and reliability in Exercise Combined Strength, the first-ever airlift competition featuring only C-130Js.
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Kitty Hawk Says "G'Day" to Successful Australia Visit
More than 5,000 Sailors assigned to the USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) Strike Group departed the port of Fremantle, Australia, April 27, after a five-day visit.
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Wednesday, April 28, 2004
China's Weapons Buildup Seen Posing Growing Challenge To U.S.
China's aggressive pursuit of new weapon systems over the past decade is starting to yield a modern force, posing growing challenges for U.S. military planners.
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Lockheed Profit Up 16 Pct; Raises Outlook
No. 1 U.S. defense contractor Lockheed Martin Corp. on Tuesday posted a 16-percent rise in first-quarter profit.
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Brothers by blood, siblings by stealth
Capts. Brad and Brian Cochran are the first brothers in the Air Force to become certified as B-2 Spirit pilots. Brad is assigned to the 325th Bomb Squadron and Brian is assigned to the 393rd BS.
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Probe Blames Flight Crew, Officer For Jet Falling Off Connie
Navy officials said Monday that a San Diego-based squadron commander and a flight crew were to blame for causing a jet to tumble off the deck of an aircraft carrier last April.
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Tuesday, April 27, 2004
Guam bids for carrier strike group
The Pacific Island of Guam is fighting hard to get the U.S. Navy to base an aircraft carrier there.
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Make-or-break time for Raptor
Beginning later this week, the F/A-22 will begin roughly four months of operational tests that will determine whether it is ready for battle and whether the $72 billion program can go into full-scale production.
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Northrop Grumman Leads F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Team in Weapons Loading Demonstration for United Kingdom Users
Northrop Grumman Corporation and its partners on Lockheed Martin's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter team continued laying critical groundwork for the aircraft's operational effectiveness by conducting a weapons-loading demonstration with military ordnance crews from the United Kingdom.
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Raytheon Awarded $36 Million Contract Modification for Tactical Control System Software
Raytheon will provide modifications to its Tactical Control System (TCS) software and product support for the Navy Fire Scout helicopter.
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Queen Flies in for Invincible Visit
The Queen of United Kingdom visited HMS Invincible in the English Channel, off Portland Bill, Dorset.
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Monday, April 26, 2004
Military Trainer Market Will Increase, Report Says
Military fixed-wing trainer deliveries will rise steadily in the next 10 years, according to a new global market overview from Forecast International (FI).
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THE DAWNING OF A NEW MILITARY ERA...
The Typhoon Eurofighters will soon be flying from RAF Coningsby.
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Blue Angels release pilot for undisclosed medical reasons
The Blue Angels have released one of six air show pilots for undisclosed medical reasons, the Navy's precision flying team disclosed Friday.
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Marine who died in California crash was AA pilot
The pilot of the F/A-18 Hornet that crashed recently at Miramar Marine Corps Air Station in San Diego has been identified.
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Engine Arrives at AEDC
The first F-35 Joint Strike Fighter engine has arrived at Arnold Air Force Base for the beginning of an eight-year, $200 million test series.
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Saturday, April 24, 2004
Spangdahlem units troubleshooting new F-16 upgrades
Two F-16CJ squadrons based in SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany are the first overseas units to get the Common Configuration Implementation Program, or CCIP upgrade.
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FAA certifies new GE engine
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has certified new models of General Electric Aircraft Engines' CT7-8 turboshaft engine which power variations of the Sikorsky S-92, AgustaWestland EH101 and US 101, NH Industries' NH90 helicopters, and the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk.
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Singapore armed forces to train in India
In October, five jets from the Singapore Air Force will exercise in Gwalior and may also carry out live firing at the Pokhran range, where the Indian Air Force also conducts its exercises.
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B-1 bomber gets final prep for trip to WR aviation museum
A proud B-1B bomber, tail number 069 will be added to the Museum of Aviation's collection some time next year at Robins Air Force base.
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Airbase set to close when Jaguar retires
RAF Coltishall, the last operational Battle of Britain station will be closed in five years time when the Jaguar is retired.
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Navy will cut sailors and ships, official says
In a move to size and shape of its forces, the U.S. Navy will build a fleet of 12 aircraft-carrier-sized cargo ships with flat decks that could launch large cargo planes to deliver equipment to forces ashore.
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Friday, April 23, 2004
Aviacom Miscellany
Aviacom photographer, Jamie Hunter, has recently been airborne with Hercules C5s from RAF Lyneham and the recently disbanded 800 Naval Air Squadron from Yeovilton. Here is a selection of images from these sorties. Images by Jamie Hunter,
Aviacom Copyright
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Blonde's top RAF con
A BLONDE conned her way into RAF Valley and lived there for over FIVE months. Attractive Kelsey McMillan, 35, posed as an Army captain.
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Boeing Awarded Navy/ Marine Corps C-130 Avionics Modernization Program Contract
The U.S. Navy awarded The Boeing Company a $3.4 million contract to begin the process of modernizing its fleet of 48 U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Reserve C-130T and KC-130T aircraft.
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New Blue Angels� Commanding Officer Selected
Chief of Naval Air Training Rear Adm. George E. Mayer announced the selection of Cmdr. Stephen R. Foley to lead the Navy�s Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, for the 2005-2006 show seasons.
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XC-99 begins piece-by-piece trip to Air Force Museum
Several parts of a historic XC-99 aircraft located at the Kelly Annex to Lackland were hauled to the Air Force Museum near Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, recently.
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Taking a flight back in time: Paul Allen launches warplane collection
Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen will open his Flying Heritage Collection at Arlington Airport to the public soon.
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Keesler air show soars Saturday
After a four-year hiatus, the Keesler Air Force Base air show resumes on Saturday with flight demonstrations, static displays and vintage aircraft.
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F-16 fitted with Navy jet's fuselage
The front-end fuselage of a Navy F-16C was fitted on to an Air Force F-16C.
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Air Force pilot killed as chopper crashes in Uri
An IAF pilot was killed and another injured when a Cheetah helicopter crashed in Uri near Srinagar, India. The chopper was on a training flight when it spun out of control and crashed into a hill.
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Lockheed Martin Completes Integrated Testing of Major ABL Sub-System
Lockheed Martin today announced it has completed factory testing of the optical benches for the Airborne Laser's Beam Control/Fire Control (BC/FC) system.
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Crews locate wreckage of Marine jet in Imperial Valley desert
Search crews on Thursday located the wreckage of a F/A-18 Hornet that went missing in San Diego on Wednesday night.
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Thursday, April 22, 2004
SAUDI OPENS F-15 MAINTENANCE CENTER
Saudi Arabia has opened a maintenance center of its F-15 fighter-jet fleet.
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TURKEY CAN'T DECIDE ON COPTER PROJECT
Turkey cannot decide on an award for a $2 billion attack helicopter coproduction project. The competition for the Turkish project has pitted Bell Textron and its AH-1Z King Cobra against an Israeli-Russian consortium, which has offered the Ka-50-2.
Labels: Turkey Attack Helicopter
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Lockheed Martin BMC2 Team Demonstrates Advanced Cruise Missile Defense, Time-Critical Targeting Capabilities
The Lockheed Martin led team competing for the E-10A Battle Management Command and Control (BMC2) system this week demonstrated advanced capabilities for cruise missile defense and time-critical targeting (TCT).
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Raytheon inks deals with Britain, Switzerland
Raytheon Co. has landed a contract with Britain's Ministry of Defense worth $124 million to supply 64 Tomahawk land missiles.
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Switzerland to Purchase Raytheon AIM-9X Sidewinder Air-to-Air Missiles
The government of Switzerland and the U.S. Navy have executed a Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) paving the way for the manufacture and delivery of Raytheon Company's AIM-9X Sidewinder air-to-air missile system to the Swiss air force.
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Civilian court shelves case against Peruvian air force pilots who downed U.S. missionary plane
A Peru civilian court judge said Wednesday he had shelved criminal charges against two air force pilots who mistakenly shot down a small plane in 2001.
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C-130J Super Hercules Demonstrates Capabilities at International Exercise and Competition
The first-ever airlift competition involving only Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules airlifters began April 19 at this Royal Air Force base in England.
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German combat jets collide over seaside resort
Two German Tornado combat jets have collided over a North Sea tourist resort, killing two crew members.
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India says not yet to Indonesia plea
Indonesia will have to wait a while before India lends a helping hand in training in Sukhoi 30 multi-role fighter jets.
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KUWAIT SEEKS F/A-18 UPGRADE
Kuwait has been discussing the prospect of an upgrade for its F/A-18.
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The Air Force at 40
The Nigerian Air Force turns 40 this year.
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Wednesday, April 21, 2004
Eglin OKs high-rate production on new cruise missile
The U.S. Air Force will buy 4,900 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles, more than twice the number previously planned.
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AWACS, F-16s to take on IAF in joint exercises
US Air Force F-16s and AWACS are set to take on the IAF during joint combat aircraft exercises to be held in Gwalior, India early next year from February 16 to 26.
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Search Underway for Men and Women Who Built the Corsair
A search is on for the surviving men and women who built 4,000 Corsair fighter planes at Goodyear Aircraft during World War II. They will be honored at a special Corsair Homecoming here on June 18th featuring many of the dozen Corsairs still flying.
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Pilots at Luke learn to call the shots as 'quarterbacks'
The 310th Fighter Squadron at Luke Air Force Base is the only U.S. Air Force squadron that trains F-16 pilots to be forward air control airborne pilots.
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Tuesday, April 20, 2004
Helicopter deliveries delayed but contract for F/A-18s could still go ahead next year
Malaysia has postponed taking delivery of 10 Mil Mi-171 military search-and-rescue helicopters as a result of budgetary constraints although special cases may still be made for key projects to acquire airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) and multirole fighter aircraft.
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NATO takes major step forward towards putting Eyes in the Sky
The Transatlantic Industrial Proposed Solution (TIPS) consortium lead by Northrop Grumman won the contract to develop the Alliance Ground Surveillance aircraft.
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Northrop Grumman-Led Team Receives Contract to Develop Next Phase of Space Based Radar
A team led by Northrop Grumman Corporation has received a $220 million, 24-month contract to develop the first phase of the Space Based Radar (SBR) program, which is designed to provide integrated, global, persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), as well as real-time support, to U.S. military and intelligence community operations.
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U.S.: Northrop hid accounting flaws
U.S. defense contractor Northrop Grumman hid major accounting irregularities in the late 1980s in order to remain eligible to work for the Pentagon, according to a published report Monday.
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Northrop Grumman Applies New Coating to Operational B-2
Northrop Grumman Corporation has successfully applied a specially formulated coating developed to help improve the B-2 stealth bomber's combat readiness to an operational aircraft for the first time.
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Lockheed Martin Wins $7.8 Million Contract to Develop Survivability Software For U.S. Army Rotorcraft
Lockheed Martin was awarded a $7.8 million research and development contract from the U.S. Army to develop software to aid the survivability of manned and unmanned rotorcraft in combat situations.
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Monday, April 19, 2004
Boeing Unmanned Combat Aircraft Makes Aviation History
Following its success in releasing a 250-pound inert Small Smart Bomb
on the 24th last month, Boeing's X-45A unmanned combat aircraft made aviation history by releasing an inert Global Positioning System-guided Small Smart Bomb and hitting a ground target at the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division Range, China Lake, Calif.
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Radar array mounted above fuselage believed to be one option for surveillance contract
Northrop Grumman-led Transatlantic Industrial Proposed Solution (TIPS) team competing for NATO's Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) requirement is believed to have offered options for a radical above-fuselage mounting for its radar array on an Airbus A321.
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Japanese Air Self Defence Force in Kuwait completes first rotation
Some 70 Japanese airmen arrived in Kuwait over the weekend completing the first rotation of the Japanese Air Self Defence Force contingent that has been taking part in Tokyo's humanitarian mission in Iraq.
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US Military to Close Down Koon-ni Range
A controversial U.S. Air Force firing range, located about 50 kilometers south of Seoul, will be shut down in August next year after 54 years in operation.
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Helo crews practice for fast-paced situations
Apache attack helicopter crews from a squadron based at Camp Humphreys, South Korea are practicing gunnery qualification at a range in South Korea.
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Air National Guard Base refuels nation's defense
Maj. Gen. Joseph Simeone, deputy adjutant general for the New Hampshire National Guard,believes Pease Air National Guard Base will survive the coming round of base closures.
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Sunday, April 18, 2004
Iraq's once proud air force re-emerging but without aircraft, for now
Iraq's once mighty air force is being rebuilt from scratch but without planes for now and with just 100 men who are currently undergoing training in Jordan.
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Pentagon Faults Boeing NATO AWACS Deal
The Pentagon's chief inspector found improper procedures in negotiating the price of a $1.32 billion contract with Boeing Co. to upgrade some NATO radar aircraft.
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Saturday, April 17, 2004
Edwards test team fires F-16's first AIM-9X Sidewinder
A test team from the Global Power Fighters Combined Test Force fired the newest variant of the AIM-9 Sidewinder, the X variant, for the first time from an F-16 Fighting Falcon. U.S. Air Force photo by Tom Reynolds
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New radar system expected for 2008
The long-range early-warning radar system that Taiwan intends to buy will be deployed in five years time.
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Delay in advance payment could affect Mig deliveries to India
The delay by India in making advance payment to Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG could affect the deliveries of MiG-29K carrier-borne fighters for the "Admiral Gorshkov" aircraft carrier.
Labels: INS Vikramaditya
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First ugraded MiG-27 successfully test-flown
The country's first state-of-the-art prototype of the indigenously upgraded MiG 27 has been successfully test-flown in the first exercise of its kind, said Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd Chairman R Mohanty.
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China air force officers arrested for spying for Taiwan: reports
Nearly a dozen senior officers in China's People's Liberation Army Air Force have been arrested for spying for Taiwan, press reports said on Friday. They are suspected of supplying Taiwan with classified information on the mainland's deployment of fighter jets and air defence systems.
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Four feared dead in South Korean chopper crash
A South Korean navy helicopter has crashed while fighting forest fires, leaving the four servicemen on board feared dead.
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China card played in White House chopper contest
Sikorsky Aircraft's rival in the "Marine One" presidential helicopter competition argues that the S-92 is not totally an All American product.
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Boeing loses Australian tanker deal to EADS
Australia revealed that it had selected Airbus parent EADS to produce a next generation of air-to-air refuelling tankers for its defence forces. The loss for Boeing is its second in a row, having been beaten out by an EADS-led consortium to build refullers for the UK's Royal Air Force just three months ago. Below is the press release
PR :
EADS selected to supply Australian Forces with A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport
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U.S. Air Force Welcomes First Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules
The U.S. Air Force formally accepted its first Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules at LITTLE ROCK AFB, Ark. marking the beginning of a new generation of cargo and personnel transport for the active-duty Air Force.
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Tests Begin for F135 STOVL Propulsion System for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter
The F135 STOVL propulsion system team of Pratt & Whitney (P&W), Rolls-Royce and Hamilton Sundstrand has begun testing of the short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) engine configuration for the F-35B variant of the Joint Strike Fighter. Test engine FX641 was delivered ahead of schedule and follows the continued successes of conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) engines FX631 and FX633.
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Friday, April 16, 2004
USS Abraham Lincoln flight deck repair will cost $1.4 million
It will cost $1.4 million to replace a large section of a non-skid surface on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln.
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Hyper-X Team Proposing Follow-On Hypersonics Program
In a bid to keep hypersonics alive at NASA, the team working on the agency's X-43A "Hyper-X" program is developing a plan for a modest follow-on effort that would begin in 2006.
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EU Proposes End To China Arms Embargo
The European Union is expected to make a huge step in its relationship with China this month by ending a 15-year arms embargo.
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Air Force selects 52 for test-pilot training
U.S. Air Force officials selected 52 officers to join the service's test-pilot program.
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Northrop Grumman to Collaborate with Turkish Firm on Potential F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Work
Northrop Grumman Corporation, through its Northrop Grumman ISS International, Inc. subsidiary, and Turkish firm Tusas Aerospace Industries (TAI) have signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly identify TAI's potential composite and subassembly capabilities that offer long-range benefits for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
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Pax to get two Global Hawks
The Navy and NAVAIR are acquiring a pair of RQ-4A Global Hawk. These aircraft will be based at NAS Patuxent River in the spring of 2005.
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Norway threatens to pull out of U.S. Joint Strike Fighter project
Norwegian lawmakers today threatened to pull out of JSF project unless American companies, including Bethesda-based Lockheed Martin Co., make good on promises of defense contracts for Norway.
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Russia Freezes Fighter Jet Modernization
The modernization program of Russia�s MiG-29 fighter jets, has been frozen due to a lack of funds.
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COPTER PILOT EARNS MEDAL FOR BRAVERY
Squadron Leader Stephen Carr, a Chinook pilot in the Royal Air Force has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) by Prince Charles at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace. He is honoured for his bravery during the recent Iraq War.
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Thursday, April 15, 2004
Naval Aviation Museum Acquires Last Buckeye to Make Carrier Landing
The National Museum of Naval Aviation acquired the last T-2C Buckeye to make a carrier landing, April 9. U.S. Navy photo by Ens. April Gunsallus.
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Boeing Receives Contract for PAC-3 Seeker Production
Boeing has received a contract from Lockheed Martin for additional production of 159 PAC-3 Missile seekers to be manufactured between February 2005 and February 2006.
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UAV Battlelab Experiments With Feature Recognition Software
The U.S. Air Force's Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Battlelab (UAVB) has tested software that can pick desired features out of UAV video long before they become visible to the naked eye.
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Eglin seeking new bombing range in Big Bend area
The largest Air Force base in U.S is looking for a new weapons testing site in Florida's sparsely populated Big Bend area.
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Avitronics warning system for RMAF Sukhois
South African defence electronics company Avitronics has won a contract to supply 18 multi-sensor warning systems for Malaysia�s Sukhoi fighter jets.
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KAI begins Apache fuselage exports
Korea Aerospace Industries Co., KAI, exported the first of 50 Apache attack helicopter fuselages to U.S.-based Boeing Co. yesterday, company officials said.
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Thunder Aircraft To Begin Arriving April 15
U.S. Air Force F-15 "Eagle" and A-10 "Thunderbolt" demo teams, U.S. Navy FA-18 "Hornet" and F-14 Tomcat demo teams, and a U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B "Harrier" demo team will be at the Thunder Over Louisville airshow.
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Northrop Grumman Breaks Ground on Mississippi Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Production Facility
A new Unmanned Systems Center by Northrop Grumman will be build at at Trent Lott International Airport Mississippi to produce the RQ-8B Fire Scout unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) for the U.S. Navy.
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Taiwan fighter jet crash lands, two pilots unharmed
A twin-seat Taiwan airforce F-5F fighter jet crash landed Tuesday after it developed a mechanical problem with its landing gear.
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Wednesday, April 14, 2004
'IAF will not enter into alliances blindly'
While the Indian Air Force continues to join forces with Russia for its aircraft fleet update, it has become more choosy.
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Lockheed Notifies Workers Of Job Cuts
245 workers at the F-16 fighter assembly plant will probably lose their jobs on June 7
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Jaguar crash report in ten days: IAF Chief
Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief Marshal S. Krishnaswamy on Monday said they will come out with a detailed report on the recent crash of two Jaguar fighter jets in the Kashmir within ten days.
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U.S. military helicopter forced down by fire, three injured; Marine killed in fighting
A MH-53 Sikorsky helicopter went down before dawn in Fallujah. One Marine in a rescue squad was killed by insurgents who attacked with mortars, small arms and rocket-propelled grenades.
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Korea training provides Iwakuni, Kunsan crews chance to fly against dissimilar jets
U.S. Marine and Air Force fighter pilots are meeting in mock air combat over South Korea this week as part of an annual exercise to help hone their dogfighting skills.
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Taiwan to finish proposal for $15 bln arms budget
Taiwan's defence ministry plans to finish by June its proposal for a US$15 billion special budget to buy P-3C Orion submarine-hunting aircraft, and Patriot PAC-3 anti-missile systems.
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Saab says in race for Malaysia surveillance deal
Swedish aerospace and defence equipment maker Saab has joined the race to secure Malaysia's maiden order of airborne early warning aircraft
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Tuesday, April 13, 2004
Critical Tanker IG Report Released; Boeing Ready To Resume Talks
Boeing is ready to resume discussions on the KC-767A tanker lease-buy agreement with the U.S. Air Force because the Pentagon's inspector general found "no reason not to proceed with the tanker deal."
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Lockheed transport found to be flawed
50 C-130J transport aircraft delivered to the U.S. Air Force that have deficiencies, according to the Pentagon's inspector general.
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USS George Washington�s Hornets Support Vigilant Resolve
F/A-18 Hornets from Carrier Air Wing Seven (CVW-7), flying from the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) in the Arabian Gulf, participated in Operation Vigilant Resolve last week.
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Congress Should Consider Canceling Lockheed Plane, McCain Says
Senator John McCain said that the U.S. Congress should consider canceling Lockheed Martin Corp.'s F/A-22 fighter airplane to help pay for needed troop increases in Iraq.
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Monday, April 12, 2004
U.S. Tweaks Korean Conflict Plans
The introduction of AH-64D Apache Longbow helicopters, GPS-guided bombs, Shadow-200 unmanned aircraft and Patriot PAC-3 ballistic missile interceptors into South Korea has changed U.S war plans.
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U.S. Apache Shot Down in Iraq, Two Crew Killed
The 2 crew in the U.S. Army Apache that was shot down yesterday were killed.
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American spy plane triggers UK air alert
During the Global Hawk trails in Europe last year, the UAV illegally strayed into UK airspace.
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Securing the skies above the Bay
Out of sight and at high speeds, U.S. jets patrol American airspace, guarding against potential attacks
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Sunday, April 11, 2004
U.S. Apache Shot Down in Baghdad
A 1st Cavalry AH-64 Apache helicopter is shot down in west Baghdad.
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Pakistani pilots test JF-17 jet
Two Pakistan Air Force pilots have completed the first test flight of a JF-17 or FC-1 developed jointly with China.
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Saturday, April 10, 2004
Sale of Skyhawk and Aermacchi fleet finalised soon
The ex RNZAF 17 Skyhawks will go to Advanced Training Systems International and 17 Aermacchi jet training aircraft will go to Malaysia.
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APPEAL FOR FILM FOOTAGE OF MERLIN CRASH
The Royal Navy is asking for anyone who may have been filming near the scene at RNAS Culdrose in Helston to come forward with the footage.
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Fightertown SAR rescues downed pilot
An account of the resuce of a F/A-18 pilot that crash on the west coast of USA recently by a Marine SAR helicopter.
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RAF strips new �34m helicopters for spares
The RAF has been forced to cannibalise two of its fleet of Merlin transport helicopters, each costing �34 million, to keep the only two on operations flying.
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The year to fear for Taiwan: 2006
An Asia Times article on how in 2006, China might use its air power to invade Taiwan.
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Report blasts 767 tanker deal, says Boeing overcharging up to $4.5 billion
The inspector general of the Department of Defense is expected to release a scathing review of an Air Force proposal to obtain 100 Boeing 767 refueling tankers.
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Friday, April 09, 2004
US military spreads its wings in Asia
Besides B-52s, a fighter wing, a tanker squadron, a Global Hawk group is being considered for deployment at Guam.
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Korean War-era MiG-15 visits Test Pilot School
A MiG-15 from Red Star Aviation is at the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School as part of the ground evaluation syllabus.
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Boeing defends UK Chinooks in software debacle
Boeing is defending its Chinook Mk3 after a UK government audit found it would cost 127 million pounds and take three years to fix the eight of its helicopters.
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Northrop Grumman Develops New Capability for Electronic Attack Aircraft
Northrop Grumman Corporation has developed new communication capabilities that could deliver near real-time mission and survivability information from off-board sensors to EA-6B Prowler crews.
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Boeing Receives $18.9 Million Contract for Army Air Defense System
Boeing recently received $6.5 million initial funding for an $18.9 million contract supporting development of the Surface Launched AMRAAM weapon system (SLAMRAAM).
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CIS members hold joint air defense drill
Anti-aircraft troops and some 60 military planes from eight CIS countries -- Russia, Amenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine took part in an air defense exercise.
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Indoneisa to buy more fighter jets from Russia
Indonesia plans to purchase 8 more Sukhois to add to its existing 4.
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BAE to Cut 1,000 Jobs at U.K. Military-Plane Plants
BAE Systems Plc, Europe's biggest defense contractor, plans to cut 1,000 jobs at two military-plane factories between now and 2005.
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B1 makes 'first-time' drop at Hill's UTTR
For the first time, a B-1B Lancer aircrew successfully reprogrammed a Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile's flight path after becoming airborne during tests at the Utah Test and Training Range
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Bell Helicopter Works on Manufacturing Problems with Tilt-Rotor Aircraft
Officials overseeing development of the V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft are working to resolve manufacturing problems at Bell Helicopter as flight tests continue.
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PAF pilot killed in plane crash near Jhang
A Pakistan Air Force�s F-7 Fighter crashed and killed its pilot.
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MH-60R Schedule Slips 10 Months As Team Addresses Problems
The testing schedule for the U.S. Navy's MH-60R helicopter has slipped 10 months. The aircraft's millimeter wave radar (MMW) and Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) systems froze during testing, requiring 20 seconds to reset each time.
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Raytheon Plans Low-Cost Variant Of Joint Standoff Weapon
Raytheon Co. plans to develop a new variant of the Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) that would be designed to destroy many of the same types of targets as JSOW-A but using a unitary warhead, similar to the one on JSOW-C.
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Thursday, April 08, 2004
Demonstrating air power heritage
In a formation known as the "Heritage Fly-by," three generations of military air power were on display at AirFest 2004 here April 3. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Randy Redman)
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Kennedy Strike Group Now Surge-Ready
The USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) Carrier Strike Group just completed its month-long Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX).
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Chinese delegation discussed defence sale matters with Pakistan
A Chinese delegation is in Pakistan to discuss greater cooperation between Pakistan and China in the field of defence production.
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GoldenEye-100 UAV Successfully Completes Initial Flight Test Program
Aurora Flight Sciences Corporation announced today that the company's GoldenEye-100 unmanned aerial vehicle has successfully completed its initial flight test program. GoldenEye-100 is designed to carry a 22-pound payload, has a gross takeoff weight of 150 pounds, and is a vertical takeoff and landing UAV specifically tailored for low-cost, clandestine reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition missions.
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Talk of replacement of USS Kitty Hawk by nuclear carrier spurs outcry
Alarmed by remarks made by the U.S. Pacific commander over the replacement of USS Kitty Hawk, an anti-nuclear citizens� group announced Monday they�re collecting signatures to protest a nuclear-powered vessel.
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RAF chief on visit to NZ
The Chief of Air Staff to the Royal Air Force (RAF), Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup is on a visit in New Zealand.
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NATO watching CIS training exercises
NATO watched the CIS joint air defense system command post training exercises recently.
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Northrop Grumman Electronic Attack System To Begin Operational Evaluation
Northrop Grumman Corporation's EA-6B Improved Capability (ICAP) III Airborne Electronic Attack weapon system has been approved to begin its final and most rigorous testing.
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Nerves rattled by military jets over Capitol
A recent flight of two F-16 and military versions of the 737 jetliner and Gulfstream corporate-style jet over the Capitol made some residents worried.
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F-16 fuel tank is recovered
Recently a F-16 drop its centerline fuel tank due to an in-flight emergency near Vermont. The tank has now been found and recovered.
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Britain Bought Helicopters It Cannot Use
8 new Chinook helicopters bought by RAF could only fly in VFR conditions as radar and software for it to fly in IFR is not ready yet.
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Wednesday, April 07, 2004
THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF REFLECTION ON THE 1994 GENOCIDE IN RWANDA
On December 23, 2003 the UN General Assembly approved a resolution
A/RES/58/234 recognizing the tenth anniversary of the genocide in Rwanda and designating April 7, 2004 as an "International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda."
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General Atomics gets contract for US Navy launcher
General Atomics got a five-year $145.6 million contract to build and demonstrate a full-scale electric launch system aimed at replacing steam catapults on aircraft carriers.
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F-35's price tag balloons again
Lockheed Martin's joint strike fighter program, already the largest weapons program ever, has become $45 billion, or 23 percent, more expensive since June, the Pentagon said.
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Jen Nik Ismail takes over as air force chief
Jen Datuk Nik Ismail Nik Mohamed took over as Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) chief yesterday, succeeding Jen Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad, who is retiring.
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Prince Abdul Rahman New Air Force Commander
Lt. Gen. Prince Abdul Rahman ibn Fahd Al-Faisal has been appointed commander of the Royal Saudi Air Force.
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Industry Study on Advanced European Jet Pilot Training submitted
The Eurotraining Feasibility Study of the Advanced European Jet Pilot Training have been submitted to the twelve AEJPT member Air Forces (Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland)
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Malaysia checking budget for long weapons wish list
Malaysia have not made any decision to purchase 18 F/A-18E/F Super Hornets yet.
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Military Helicopter Flights Banned after Crash
Until investigators determine what caused the recent Merlin accident, Royal Navy and RAF Merlin helicopters will be restricted to life-saving and high priority combat operations.
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Eurofighter Typhoon Gun and IRIS-T Firing
Eurofighter GmbH announced the successful completion of the first in a series of in-flight gun firing trials of the BK27mm Mauser cannon and the first air launch of an IRIS-T short range air-to-air missile (SRAAM) from the outboard and ITSPL station.
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SHEPPARD PREPARES FOR F/A 22 RAPTOR PROGRAM
The front portion of the new F/A 22 Raptor, and other equiptment is being delivered to Sheppard Air Force Base which will have a training facility for the F/A-22.
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Tuesday, April 06, 2004
Lockheed Martin�s Multi-Mission Maritime Aircraft Offers Latest Mission System Technologies For The U.S. Navy
Lockheed Martin today unveiled its offering for the Navy�s Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft (MMA) program, Orion21. Orion21 features a fully digitized all-glass cockpit and a propulsion system that includes the Pratt & Whitney PW150 engine and Hamilton Sundstrand NP2000 propeller.
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V-22 To Begin Flight Tests April 5 To Verify Glitch Fix
The V-22 Osprey is scheduled to begin flight-testing April 5 to verify a potential hardware fix for a glitch that surfaced a few months ago.
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India, France to stage major naval war games
"Varuna 2004" will have the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and the nuclear attack submarine Amethyste in exercises with the Indian Navy.
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British fighter pilots to train over Alberta
The Royal Air Force is considering beyond pilot training at Cold Lake, Alberta, Canada and deploying active squadrons there for training as well.
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Monday, April 05, 2004
X-43 Flight Test Indicates Thrust is Greater Than Drag
Officials said the 12-ft.-long X-43A produced enough net thrust in the Mar. 27 flight that it was accelerating while in a slight climb at Mach 7 and 100,000 ft. altitude.
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VSI awarded $62.6M Joint Helmet-Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) Contract
Vision Systems International (VSI), had won a contract from Boeing to supply more than 400 Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System(JHMCS) systems for combat aircraft.
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F-16 drops tank near Vermont
An F-16 from the 183rd Fighter Wing experienced compressor stalls and the pilot, following a procedural checklist, dropped a 360-pound fuel tank from approximately 12,000 feet.
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Outgoing Air Force Commander slams refuseniks
Outgoing Israeli air force commander, Maj. Gen. Dan Haloutz lambasted air force pilots who refuse to fly missions in the Occupied Territories at the handover ceremony.
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Russia Tests New Combat Helicopter
The Mi-28N combat helicopter �Night Hunter� made its first flight last week.
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Langley busy preparing for arrival of stealthy fighter jets
The 1st Fighter Wing will be the first Air Force unit to convert to the F/A-22 at the end of the year.
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Sunday, April 04, 2004
Air Force To Drop BLU-108 Anti-Armor Submunition From Sentry UAV
The U.S. Air Force's Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Battlelab (UAVB) soon will begin test-dropping the BLU-108 anti-armor submunition from a Sentry HP UAV.
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Jaguar crash: Second pilot's body found
Bodies of both IAF Jaguar fighters have been found.
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2 U.S. F-15 jets make emergency landing at Tokushima
Two U.S. F-15 fighter jets made an emergency landing at Tokushima airport in Tokushima Prefecture, western Japan, on Saturday after one of them ran out of fuel.
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Crashes prompt review of safety, maintenance programs
Under the "leadership intervention" plan, commanding officers, carrier wing commanders and squadron commanders will oversee everything from safety precautions to routine maintenance work to flight procedures to prevent any future crashes the U.S. Navy.
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Safety concerns could affect presidential helicopter selection
Cracks in the tail rotor of EH101 Merlin helicopters could affect the U.S. presidential helicopter selection.
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Military training plane crashes, killing 2 pilots
A USAF T-6A, a single-engine turboprop trainer, crashed after taking off from Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport.
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Saturday, April 03, 2004
RAF to axe 50% of fast-jet student pilots
More than 20 out of the 42 fast-jet student pilots are being offered the chance to transfer to helicopters, or transport aircraft training, "administrative" jobs or to take redundancy packages rather than going on to fly fighter or strike jets due to the budget cuts by MoD.
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HAL notches up profit of Rs.4.45 bn
India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has earned a profit of Rs.4.45 billion during 2003-04, sales included delivery of 13 Dhruv helicopters, eight twin-seat Jaguar jets and 28 upgraded MiG-21 Bis jets to the Indian Air Force.
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Cormorants are developing cracks
Canada's newly purchased Cormorant search-and-rescue helicopters will only be allowed to fly in emergencies following the crash of a similar aircraft this week in Britain.
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Two Jaguar jets go missing near LoC
Two Indian Air Force Jaguar jets went missing Friday while on a routine training flight near the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir. The most recent Jaguar crash occurred in February.
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Marines upgrade helicopters with $100 million in defensive gear
New GAU-21 machineguns have been installed on the rear ramps of CH-53E helicopters heading for Iraq.
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Air Marshal Gujral is new deputy chief of air force
Air Marshal J.S. Gujral succeeded Air Marshal Raghu Rajan as deputy chief of air staff of the Indian Air Force.
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Northrop Grumman Selects Terma A/S of Denmark for F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Program
Northrop Grumman Corporation today announced that it has selected Terma A/S, of Denmark, to design and develop three-dimensional (3-D) audio algorithms and software for the communications system for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program.
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Hundreds face ax at Lockheed
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. could cut as many as 1,000 jobs currently assigned to the F-16 program.
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Friday, April 02, 2004
U.S. likely to deploy nuclear aircraft carrier in Yokosuka
USS Kitty Hawk, a conventionally powered aircraft carrier deployed at the Yokosuka Naval Base in Japan, will be replaced by an advanced nuclear-powered aircraft carrier around 2008.
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Compass Call crew details mission, OIF success stories
Compass Call crewmembers were at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., on March 31 to detail success stories during last year's Iraq War, along with a host of unit capabilities, to Air Force and media representatives.
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Guam still a rival for carrier group
The commander of U.S. Pacific Command told a delegation from Guam that the U.S. territory still is being considered for possible placement of an aircraft carrier strike group.
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Venezuela interested in new models of Russian Mig-29 fighters
The Venezuelan Defence Ministry has resumed talks with the Russian MiG corporation on new models of the MiG-29 fighter.
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Peru Air Force to update Russian aircraft fleet
Peruvian is holding talks with the Rosoboronexport company and the Mil firm on updating 20 An-32 transport planes and around 40 helicopters.
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Five RAF bases to close in �1bn cuts
Five RAF bases, 62 ground-attack Jaguars, 79 ground-attack GR7 Harriers and 39 Puma helicopters are affected by the Ministry of Defence equipment cuts.
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Royal Navy to 'lose two carriers' in cutbacks
Illustrious and Invincible could to be withdrawn from service due to budget cuts.
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Disagreements fly over Lockheed's F-16 offset deal
There are disagreements over the exact value of offset projects to Poland from the sale of F-16s.
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Thursday, April 01, 2004
U.S. to sell Taiwan $1.78 billion in radar gear
The Pentagon said that Taiwan has requested the sale of two Ultra High Frequency long-range early warning radars capable of detecting ballistic and cruise missiles.
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V-22 Starts Air-to-Air Refueling Tests
Over the course of two one-hour sorties, the V-22 Integrated Test Team (ITT) flew the first air-to-air refueling flights since the program�s return to flight in May of 2002.
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Weapons testing enters new era
A GBU-12 laser-guided bomb from an F-15E Strike Eagle struck an offshore floating target recently. The test is the first in a program to build an offshore-scoring system on the Eglin Gulf Test Range, officials said.
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Navy orders review
The Navy has ordered all of its aircraft commanders to conduct a review of their safety and maintenance programs, in the wake of four jet crashes in the previous six days.
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Two MiG-21 Safeguard Bulgaria's Airspace
Bulgaria has two MiG-21 lancers kept permanently on the alert to set off within 15 minutes.
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Moving Electrolux jobs to Hungary could help Sweden land fighter jet deal
Swedish white goods producer Electrolux could move a vacuum cleaner factory from Sweden to Hungary, this in turn could help Sweden land a massive fighter jet contract.
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Aerojet Hosts F/A-22 Flight Simulator
Aerojet employees and suppliers were given "flights" on the F/A-22 Flight Simulator as part of employee and supplier education.
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Op-Ed: The Raptor Review; Editorial from April 2004 Issue of Air Force Magazine
The following is an opinion-editorial from the April 2004 issue of Air Force Magazine by Editor in Chief Robert S. Dudney.
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