Wednesday, June 30, 2004
US hands over 30 refurbished helicopters to Thai army
The United States on Tuesday handed 30 refurbished helicopters to the Thai army as part of a US$30 million deal signed three years ago, a U.S. Embassy statement said.
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Twenty-four killed in U.N. helicopter crash
Twenty-four United Nations staff and others have been killed after a helicopter crashed into a hillside in thick jungle in Sierra Leone, U.N. officials say.
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RAF TYPHOONS DEPART FOR SINGAPORE
Two RAF Typhoon aircraft departed BAE Systems Warton � the current home of Typhoon in the UK - , bound for Singapore, where the aircraft has been selected for the final phase of the country�s Next Fighter Replacement programme. The Typhoons will spend around two weeks in Singapore, and will return to the UK in July.
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Kitty Hawk in Summer Pulse
The USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) Carrier Strike Group (CSG) will be participating in this summer�s simultaneous deployment of seven aircraft CSGs, demonstrating the ability of the Navy to provide credible combat power across the globe by operating in five theaters with other U.S., allied and coalition military forces.
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Northrop Grumman To Begin Assembly of First U.S. Navy Next-Generation Electronic Attack Aircraft
On July 1, Northrop Grumman Corporation will begin assembling the U.S. Navy's first EA-18G aircraft, the service's next-generation electronic attack aircraft due to begin replacing the venerable EA-6B Prowler aircraft by the end of the decade. The milestone comes just six months after EA-18G prime contractor Boeing began the EA-18G program's system development and demonstration (SDD) phase.
Labels: EA-18G
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Canadian fighter pilot killed in U.S.
Fighter jets at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort have been grounded after two pilots, one of them a Canadian, died in crashes less than 48 hours apart. Capt. Derek R. Nichols, 34, of Tatamagouche, N.S., died in hospital in Savannah, Ga., on Monday evening after his FA-18 crashed earlier in the day while he was landing at the runway next to the air station, U.S. Marine Corps spokesman.
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Boeing Showcases Net-Centric Operations Capabilities at Newest Node
For the first time, Boeing will publicly showcase its net-centric operations (NCO) capabilities during a networked, three-site press conference, to witness Boeing's enterprise-wide network in action. During the 90-minute network tour, Boeing facilities across America will create a network using the F/A-18, F-15, EA-18 Airborne Electronic Attack Variant, the Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS), the Multi-Mission Maritime Aircraft (MMA), Joint Unmanned Contact Air System (J-UCAS), Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM), Apache Helicopter, V-22 Osprey, Chinook CH-47, and Connexion by Boeing platforms.
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US plans huge show of force in Pacific
In an exercise codenamed Operation Summer Pulse 04, it is expected to arrange for an unprecedented seven U.S. aircraft carrier strike groups (CSGs) to rendezvous in waters a safe distance away from the Chinese coastline - but still within striking distance - after mid-July.
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Tuesday, June 29, 2004
F/A-22 goes �On the Record�
Fox News Channel is scheduled to broadcast a special edition of "On the Record with Greta Van Susteren�, the one-hour live broadcast from Nellis' F/A-22 Raptor hangar includes footage from a June 27 chase mission. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Kevin J. Gruenwald)
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Boeing Selects BAE SYSTEMS For Digital Flight Control on U.S. Army CH-47F Helicopters
Boeing Integrated Defense Systems has selected BAE Systems to develop the digital flight control computer for the newest version of the U.S. Army's CH-47 Chinook heavy-lift transport helicopter, the CH-47F. The company will design the system and produce seven development shipsets in support of flight tests scheduled for 2005.
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Indian "super-buffalos"
During "Cope India 04", the USAF were impressed by the IAF MIG-21, specifically their upgraded version "Buffalo".
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Basic fast jet training hit
The RAF has confirmed to the Evening Standard that it is cutting the numbers of officers it puts through basic fast jet training by almost half as it prepares for massive cuts which will see the scrapping of Jaguar and Tornado jets and a dramatic reduction in the number of pilots.
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GW at Tip of Spear in Summer Pulse �04
USS George Washington (GW) (CVN 73) Strike Group found itself at the tip of the spear in the Navy�s largest deployment evolution June 2, when the Navy simultaneously deployed seven aircraft carrier strike groups to five different theatres around the world in �Summer Pulse �04.�
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S'pore, IAF to conduct joint exercises
Come September, the air forces of India and Singapore will join hands to test each other�s preparedness, as the south-east Asian island nation joins the growing band of countries wishing to go in for joint exercise with the Indian Air Force.
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Recovery Operations for Marine Fighter Jet Conclude
Recovery operations for a missing U.S. Marine Corps pilot and F/A-18C Hornet aircraft operating from the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) have concluded. The pilot, Capt. Franklin R. Hooks II, 32, of Pasco, Fla., was killed in the accident.
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Crew slightly hurt in US Afghan chopper crash
A U.S. AH-64 helicopter caught fire and was destroyed after making an emergency landing in the southern Afghan province of Zabul on Monday and the crew suffered minor injuries, the military said.
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British sidelined in deal for jet fighter
British defence industry sources have slammed the way the government negotiated a �10bn contract to buy the American joint strike fighter for the Navy's planned two new aircraft carriers.
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Monday, June 28, 2004
Ministry made secret �7m pay-off to US training firm
U.K. defence chiefs have secretly paid a private firm millions of pounds to settle a long-running row over a botched attempt to give RAF pilots state-of-the-art training, Scotland on Sunday can reveal.
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USS John F. Kennedy, on four-day visit
The American aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy sailed into Grand Harbour, Malta, yesterday for a four-day visit.
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Sunday, June 27, 2004
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Take Joint Training to New Heights
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were tested June 12-21 at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point to see if the different services� vehicles can work together in joint settings.
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Robotic warriors display capabilities
Pentagon officials and guests were treated to a demonstration of the remote detection challenge and response, or REDCAR, initiative June 23. REDCAR uses unmanned robotic platforms to provide perimeter defense of Air Force bases and forward-deployed units.
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General Bradley will command Air Force Reserve
On June 24, the Senate confirmed Maj. Gen. John A. Bradley as chief of Air Force Reserve and commander of Air Force Reserve Command, and appointed him to the rank of lieutenant general.
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End of an era as RAF shuts bunkers
Norfolk's early warning station, RAF Neatishead, closed for good yesterday after its radar operators tracked a symbolic final sortie.
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Saturday, June 26, 2004
Australian Army to Retire Vietnam-Era Huey Gunship
The Army will today officially retire the UH-1H Iroquois helicopter gunship, commonly called the 'Huey', a capability originally developed for the RAAF during the Vietnam War.
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Royal Air Force Of Oman Super Lynx 300 Deliveries Begin
The first three of sixteen AgustaWestland Super Lynx 300 helicopters ordered by the Royal Air Force of Oman arrived in Oman on 24th June 2004. The three aircraft were loaded aboard an Antonov An-124 cargo plane at Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton on the 23rd June, having completed pre-delivery inspections at AgustaWestland's UK plant in Yeovil.
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New UAV innovations could change face of war
Testing of the new Joint Multiplatform Weapons Carriage System took place at Indian Springs Air Force Auxiliary Field, Nev., on June 17. If approved, the carriage system could allow UAVs to carry high-speed anti-radiation missile targeting system pods and a variety of weapons in greater quantities.
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Labor to use $1.3bn to keep F-111s
A LATHAM government would spend up to $1.3billion to keep Australia's ageing F-111 long-range fighter bombers flying until 2015 to plug any gap caused by the late delivery of the $16billion US-built F-35 stealth fighter.
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Top officer turns over command
German Air Force Air Defense School commandant Lt. Col. Manfred Hahn, who is retiring after 37 years of active duty, released his command to Lt. Col. Ulrich Schuster.
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�Blackhorse� gets new CO
The U.S. Army�s 6th Cavalry Brigade in South Korea gets a new commander when Col. Peter W. Foreman takes over.
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Apache Helo Makes Emergency Landing In Maxville Field
An Army Apache helicopter made an emergency landing near the Duval-Clay county border Thursday, but flew back to its Cecil Commercial Center base under its own power after being checked by a mechanic.
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Friday, June 25, 2004
Hi-tech Hornet paving way for Sea Power 21
Rapidly advancing technology prompted the NAVAIR F/A-18 Program Office (PMA-265) to investigate developing a new advanced mission computer for the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. The AMC, an integrated information processing system which provides complete hardware and software solutions to the platform, is part of a new generation of technologies paving the way to network-centric warfare.
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Kadena mechanics' work saves millions of dollars on F-15 engine overhauls
Mechanics with the 18th Maintenance Group at Kadena Air Base recently completed a six-year overhaul of F-15 jet engines, saving the Air Force about $100 million.
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Helicopter pilots died while conducting terrain-training drills
The two pilots killed in Tuesday night's crash of the AH64-D Apache Longbow helicopter at Fort Stewart were conducting terrain-training drills, Army officials said.
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Senate panel boosts administration's Defense procurement requests
The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee quickly approved Tuesday a $416.2 billion fiscal 2005 Defense appropriations bill that includes money for 24 F/A-22 Raptor fighters, 14 C-17 transport planes, 27 UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters and 11 V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft.
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DRS Technologies Awarded $37.5 Million in New Contracts to Provide Infrared Assemblies for U.S. Army Apache Helicopter Arrowhead System
DRS Technologies, Inc. announced today that it has received $37.5 million in new contracts to design, manufacture, assemble and test the pilotage and targeting receiver assemblies for the Apache Arrowhead Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) System for U.S. Army AH-64 Apache attack helicopters. The contracts represent Lot 1 production of the Arrowhead, the Army's Modernized Target Acquisition and Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor (MTADS/PNVS) system.
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EADS braced for crash landing over �13bn tanker contract
EADS executives will approach the U.K. Ministry of Defence with what could be a last-ditch effort to save a �13bn contract to build air-to-air refuelling tankers for the Royal Air Force.
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Russian patrol fighter planes intercept light aeroplane
Russian patrol fighter planes MIG-29 intercepted a light aeroplane which intruded the air space of Russia from the territory of Mongolia, chief of the press service of the Russian Air Force, Colonel Alexander Drobyshevsky told RIA Novosti.
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UAV Battlelab stands up at Indian Springs
Indian Springs Air Force Auxiliary Field is now the home of the U.S. Air Force�s Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Battlelab.
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Thursday, June 24, 2004
Faster than a speeding...
Maj. Bret Anderson flies his F-15 Eagle past IndyCar driver Dan Weldon during a race at Langley Air Force Base, June 22. The F-15 won the half-mile, 17-second race, crossing the finish line yards ahead of the car before heading off on a training mission. The Air Force supports events like this to boost morale and to aid in recruiting. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Travis Aston)
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General: U.S. dominance of skies may wane
The success of the Indian air force against American fighter planes in a recent exercise suggests other countries may soon be able to threaten U.S. military dominance of the skies, a top Air Force general said Wednesday.
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Boeing to get $120M in federal funds for two F-15s
The Boeing Co.'s F-15 production line in St. Louis will remain open through 2008 thanks to $120 million in federal funding to purchase two of the aircraft, said U.S. Sen. Kit Bond (R-Mo.).
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Officials release A-10 accident report
Air Force investigators determined spatial disorientation was the likely cause of an A-10 Thunderbolt II crash 3.5 miles north of Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, on Feb. 25.
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Apache helicopter crashes at Fort Stewart
A U.S. Army Apache helicopter has crashed with two people on board about five miles east of Richmond Hill.
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Aide: Plane nearly targeted
U.S. Gov. Ernie Fletcher's plane was in imminent danger of being shot down as it approached Washington two weeks ago, his top aide said yesterday.
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Four die in crash of two Bolivian air force planes
Two Bolivian air force training aircraft collided in mid-air Tuesday, killing four crew members, according to the military.
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Wednesday, June 23, 2004
U.S. DEFENDS HARPOON SALE TO EGYPT
The Bush administration has defended its sale of the Harpoon ship-based missile to Egypt, saying it does not constitute a cruise missile.
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MND wants to participate in U.S. jet development
Defense Minister Li Chieh yesterday revealed that Taiwan is seeking to play a part in the development of the Joint Strike Fighter.
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Pratt & Whitney Completes Final Integrated High Performance Turbine Engine Technology Demonstrator
Pratt & Whitney (P&W) completed the final large military demonstrator engine for the Integrated High Performance Turbine Engine Technology (IHPTET) program in a "last bolt" ceremony held recently at the company's Middletown, Conn., engine center.
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Mechanics finish six-year F-15 engine upgrades
Jet engine mechanics have turned the final wrenches on a unique F-15 Eagle engine upgrade program here, saving the Air Force more than $100 million, officials said.
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U.S. Navy Evacuates Iraqi Heart Attack Patient
An SH-60B Seahawk helicopter from the guided-missile destroyer USS Bulkeley (DDG 84) evacuated an Iraqi national with heart attack symptoms from the passenger ferry Jebel Ali 3 at 4 p.m. local time, June 21.
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Vinson, Air Wing Team Up, Sink Target
USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 got a chance to step up their training June 17 during a hulk exercise (HULKEX) conducted approximately 200 miles off the coast of Southern California.
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Australia: Missile Defence Agreement to be signed in US next month
Australia and the United States intend to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in missile defence next month, Defence Minister Robert Hill announced today. Senator Hill said the MOU would formalise Australia's long-term commitment to participate in the US missile defence program. "We intend to sign the MOU at the next Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations planned in the US for early July," Senator Hill said.
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China denies reports of fighter jet sales to Zimbabwe
Chinese ambassador to South Africa denied reports of FC-1 fighter jet sales to Zimbabwe in a press briefing held Monday in Pretoria.
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Tuesday, June 22, 2004
SpaceShipOne Makes History: First Private Manned Mission to Space
Under the command of test pilot Mike Melvill, SpaceShipOne reached a record breaking altitude of 328,491 feet (approximately 62 miles or 100 km), making Melvill the first civilian to fly a spaceship out of the atmosphere and the first private pilot to earn astronaut wings.
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Taiwan military jets to practice freeway landings amid tension with China
Taiwan said Monday that its air force will practice emergency landing on a freeway for the first time in 25 years amid renewed tension in relations with China.
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IAF contingent to match skills with counterparts
An Indian Air Force contingent took off from the Ambala Air Force Station on Monday morning for the US to participate in Cooperative Cope Thunder, an exercise in Alaska with their counterparts from other countries.
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$8m cost of air force's unsold jets revealed
The sale of the RNZAF's mothballed squadrons of fast jets has taken three years and cost nearly $8 million, says National Party defence spokesman Simon Power.
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Fighters the `next best'
AUSTRALIA will not get "top of the range" Joint Strike Fighter in the $15 billion deal for the new generation US-built aircraft.
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Boeing Proposes 737 Airborne Early Warning and Control Aircraft for Korea�s EX Program
The Boeing Company today announced it is offering the 737 airborne early warning and control system in response to a proposal from the Republic of Korea for EX, an airborne surveillance and command and control program
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IAI offers 4 'Phalcon' AWACS planes to South Korea for $1.7b
Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI), Gulfstream, and L3 have submitted a joint bid to sell four early warning and surveillance systems to the South Korean Air Force for $1.7 billion. The three companies have set up a joint team to compete in the tender, called the E-X plan.
Labels: CAEW
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Iranian F-14 fighter crashes, two dead
An Iranian Air Force F-14 fighter plane has crashed during a training flight, killing the two crew on board, the official news agency IRNA reported Monday.
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Hoon Seeking 'Right Price' for Fighter
The Eurofighter Typhoon warplane is exceeding expectations but the �right price� has yet to be secured for Phase Two of the project, Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon said.
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Bell Launches "Team Eagle Eye" Core Team to promote Tiltrotor UAV
Bell Helicopter, Lockheed Martin Corporation, AAI Corporation and Textron Systems Corporation have reached an agreement in principle to form the Core Team for TEAM EAGLE EYE to develop, produce and market the Eagle Eye Vertical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (VUAV) System.
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Monday, June 21, 2004
SEA CHANGE
Boeing's win of the U.S. Navy's Multimission Maritime Aircraft is certain to significantly alter maritime patrol operations, but it is also spurring Navy and industry officials to consider complementary technology that could spell leap-ahead capabilities for the new surveillance aircraft.
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Sunday, June 20, 2004
Army Pilots Practice Landing on Navy Ships in Gulf of Alaska
A group of UH-60 Blackhawk pilots from the Army�s 4th Battalion, 123rd Aviation Regiment flew aboard four Navy ships in the Gulf of Alaska June 4-5 to practice their shipboard landing skills.
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Enterprise Carrier Strike Group To Join NATO Exercise
The USS Enterprise (CVN 65) Carrier Strike Group will join a fleet of ships and aircraft from 10 European partner navies June 21 in the North Atlantic near Scotland for a NATO maritime exercise.
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C-130E based at Yokota is still going strong after 30,000 hours of flight
As bumpy and loud as ever, a C-130E from the 36th Airlift Squadron sailed into new territory Thursday by passing 30,000 hours of flight.
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Aviano welcomes new wing command
Brig. Gen. Mike Worden gave up command of the 31st Fighter Wing to Brig. Gen. Philip Breedlove at a change of command ceremony Friday.
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Aging IAF shoots down USAF top guns
Did the Indian Air Force really outperform American pilots and planes during recent India-US air combat exercises or is the USAF using the encounter to pitch for new generation fighter jets?
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Saturday, June 19, 2004
JFK Strike Group Completes CJTFEX, Deploys
The USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) Carrier Strike Group (JFK CSG) successfully completed its portion of Combined Joint Task Force Exercise (CJTFEX) 04-2, designated Operation Blinding Storm, in June and is now certified to deploy.
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Officials release B-1B accident report
Standing water on the runway led to a B-1B Lancer aircraft accident Feb. 27 at a forward-deployed location supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom, according to a report Air Force officials released June 16.
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F-15 crashes in Nevada
An Air Force F-15 Eagle crashed at about 11 a.m. June 18 on the nearby Nevada Test and Training Range during a training mission.
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Tenth U.S. Army AH-64D Apache Longbow Battalion Certified Combat-Ready
The U.S. Army's tenth AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopter battalion has been certified combat-ready after completing extensive training in its Boeing helicopters at Fort Hood, Texas.
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LOCKHEED MARTIN CLARIFIES WIRE SERVICE STORY ON JOINT STRIKE FIGHTER
A
Reuters wire service story on June 17 mischaracterized a previously reported delay in the Lockheed Martin Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program.
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Russia to Cancel Bomber Flight Due to US Conditions
The planned flight of a Russian strategic bomber to the United States will likely be cancelled, Interfax news agency quoted the Air Force Commander-in-Chief, General Vladimir Mikhailov, as saying.
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EADS and Dassault flirt in mid-air
EADS and Dassault are joining forces to develop surveillance drones and a new fighter project for 2020-2025 that could be manned or unmanned. The Swedes, Greeks, the Dutch and the Spaniards have all shown interest in joining in.
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Nighthawks may get new life
U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce (R-N.M.) said funding to keep 10 Nighthawk stealth fighters on the job and in the air is in a bill�s language that went before the House on Wednesday.
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Luke F-16 lands sans landing gear
An Air Force F-16 fighter jet landed safely without landing gear at about 2:16 p.m. Thursday, June 17 at Luke Air Force Base.
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Townsville skies buzzing with war planes
TOWNSVILLE airport received an unusually high number of aircraft yesterday as RAAF fighter aircraft taking part in Exercise Aces North headed back south.
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Friday, June 18, 2004
US air defences completely unprepared for September 11: report
US air defences were completely unprepared for the unprecedented September 11, 2001 attacks with hijacked airliners on the United States, a report prepared by a national commission of inquiry said.
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Revised timetable for F-35 joint strike fighter discussed
A panel of government officials charged with overseeing the development of the F-35 joint strike fighter, will meet Thursday to review budget and schedule revisions.
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Lockheed Martin Details F-35 Fighter Delay
Lockheed Martin Corp. plans to delay the first flight of its F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the biggest U.S. warplane program and a model of international cooperation, to August 2006 from the fall of 2005, the company said on Thursday.
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Republic of China's Patriot Air and Missile Defense System Completes Second Live Fire Demonstration
The Republic of China (ROC) completed the second live firing of its Patriot Air and Missile Defense System at the Chiu Peng Test Range in the Southern region of Taiwan.
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Boeing pitches maritime 737 to replace Orions
BOEING is likely to pitch its 737-based multi-mission maritime aircraft as a replacement for Australia's P-3 Orion fleet after winning a $US3.9 billion ($5.6 billion) contract to supply the planes to the US Navy.
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Bulgaria to Decide on Buying New Warplanes in Couple of Weeks
NATO newcomer Bulgaria will decide what warplanes it needs to modernize its Soviet-armed air force in a couple of weeks, a commander said Thursday.
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Israel-France UAV agreement will not be signed this week
Talks between Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) and French defense industry heads have hit a snag. The two parties were negotiating an agreement for the transfer of know-how to the French defense industries about the manufacture of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
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Indiana National Guard pilot killed in midair collision
Two F-16 fighter jets collided Monday during training, killing one of the pilots, the Indiana Air National Guard said. The other pilot parachuted to safety.
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Officials release F-16 accident report
Pilot error caused two F-16 Fighting Falcons to collide March 9, during a training mission over the Atlantic Ocean about 35 miles southeast of Myrtle Beach, S.C., according to a report Air Force officials released June 15.
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F-16 technology links allied nation's aircraft
A new software for F-16, known as M3.3A+, underwent large-force operational testing at Red Flag 04-2, conducted at Nellis AFB, Nev., March 1-12.
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Thursday, June 17, 2004
Pakistan to acquire 35 old Mirages from Libya
Pakistan Air Force is in the final stages of acquiring 35 old Mirages from Libya.
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Aviation unit deactivated as Army streamlines force
The 229th Aviation Regiment whose pilots flew missions in the Middle East has been disbanded as part of the Army's effort to streamline its force.
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US Army OH-58 crash - both crew survive
A US Army OH-58 helicopter crashed Sunday north of Baghdad, but the two-member crew was reported alive, the US command said.
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Cubic's Advanced Combat Training System Prepares NATO Forces for Combined Operations at Exercise Maple Flag 04
A next-generation air combat training system developed by the defense segment of Cubic Corp. honed the skills of 13 NATO air forces during Exercise Maple Flag 2004 -- one of the world's largest multinational exercises dedicated to combined operations training.
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Navy, Air Force Share Training Equipment
Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 14 from USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) is operating for the first time with Air Combat Maneuver Instrumentation (ACMI) pods. The ACMI pods are being used on Navy F-14 Tomcats, as well as on the Air Force F-15 Eagles during Alaska�s premier joint training exercise, Northern Edge 2004 (NE '04) in June.
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With AJT, Russia wants to fly with India
Eyeing the global market, Russia has offered to jointly develop with India a next generation Advanced Jet Trainer, which could also be used as a Light Combat Aircraft.
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Pakistan interested to purchase JAS-Gripen plans
Pakistan is acquiring state of art high-tech front role most sophisticated JAS-Gripen plans for Pakistan Air Force (PAF) from Sweden.
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Luke AFB changes command
Brig. Gen. Philip Breedlove, commander of the 56th Fighter Wing, bid farewell to Luke Air Force Base June 8 and relinquished his post to his �great friend� Col. Robin Rand.
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Belgium Offers to Bulgaria Second Hand Frigate, F-16 Fighters
Belgium�s chief military commander said Wednesday his country could sell to new NATO member Bulgaria redundant armaments including a warship and several F-16s.
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Wednesday, June 16, 2004
Northrop Grumman Demonstrates System for Controlling Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Missions from Aircraft Carriers
Northrop Grumman Corporation successfully demonstrated a shipboard mission control system that will allow unmanned combat aerial vehicles to participate safely and autonomously in conventional manned, aircraft-carrier flight operations.
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6 IAF Jaguars to take part in 'Cope Thunder 2004'
Six Indian Air Force Jaguar deep-penetration strike aircraft will fly to the United States to take part in multi-national exercises in Alaska later this month.
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Taiwan test-fires two Patriot missiles
Taiwan has test fired two US-made Patriot missiles.
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Two crew killed in Greek air force jet crash
Two Greek air force officers were killed on Tuesday when the jet fighter they were flying crashed into Mount Parnassos, north of Athens, the military said.
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Lawmakers to visit U.S. military bases before finalizing weapons procurement plan
The United States will arrange for a group of Taiwan lawmakers to visit a U.S. P-3C anti-submarine aircraft base and a Patriot PAC-III missile base later this week to seek their support for a huge budget for Taiwan's new arms procurement projects, government sources said Monday.
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Tuesday, June 15, 2004
Boeing Team Wins $3.89 Billion Multi-Mission Maritime Aircraft Program
The U.S. Navy has awarded the Boeing-led industry team a $3.89 billion contract to build the Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft (MMA). The total program estimated value is approximately $15 billion over a 10-year production run.
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MiGs to be phased out by 2012: Krishnaswamy
Air Chief Marshal S Krishnaswamy has said the Indian Air Force will phase out the MiG aircraft by 2012 and replace it with Advanced Jet Trainers.
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France to purchase $200m in UAV know-how from IAI
Senior Israeli Ministry of Defense officials and their French counterparts will this week sign an agreement, valued at $200 million, for the transfer of know-how to the French defense industries about the manufacture of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
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EADS and Dassault Aviation to cooperate on drone programs
The European Air Defence and Space Company and France's Dassault Aviation have signed a cooperation agreement on the development of drones, or pilotless aircraft, French Defence Minister Michele Alliot-Marie announced on Monday.
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EU Foreign Ministers Agree to Set Up New Arms Purchasing Agency
European Union foreign ministers agreed to set up a new arms procurement agency to coordinate the bloc's fragmented defense industry.
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Monday, June 14, 2004
F-35 In-Service Dates Slide
Top Pentagon officials are about to consider a new course for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter that includes delaying the fielding by two years.
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BrahMos test-fire successful despite heavy rains
BrahMos the supersonic cruise missile, which is part of an Indo-Russian joint venture, was successfully test fired on Sunday from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, about 15 km from here, defence sources said.
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Zimbabwe's fighter jets spark fears of arms-race
Military sources in Harare say that Zimbabwe will acquire 12 FC-1s as replacements for the Chengdu F-7s, currently based in Gweru.
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Helicopter Deal Could Bring Jobs to Britain
Helicopter maker AgustaWestland is in talks with Boeing about a joint bid for Sabr, a project worth up to �10 billion to provide the U.K. armed forces with new helicopters.
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Operations 'Unaffected' by Grounding of Helicopters
Britain�s military operations will not be affected by the grounding of its entire fleet of Merlin helicopters as defence officials continue to investigate the cause of a crash in March which injured five servicemen.
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Sunday, June 13, 2004
Canadian drone aircraft crashes in Afghanistan
One of Canada's unmanned spy planes crashed in Afghanistan, damaging the remote-controlled aircraft so badly it will likely have to be returned to its manufacturers in France for repair.
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Saturday, June 12, 2004
Northrop Grumman Begins Flight-Testing New Radar for F/A-22 Raptor
Northrop Grumman Corporation has successfully conducted the first flight test of a new, fourth-generation variant of the AN/APG-77 active electronically scanned array radar for the U.S. Air Force's F/A-22 Raptor air dominance fighter aircraft.
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Boeing Joint Helmet-Mounted Cueing System Wins $86 Million Contract
The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded Boeing an $86 million contract for the first full-rate production lot of Joint Helmet-Mounted Cueing Systems (JHMCS).
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German Auditor Criticizes Eurofighter Plan, Handelsblatt Says
Germany's Federal Auditors Court criticized a plan by Defense Minister Peter Struck to sign for a batch of Eurofighter combat planes without consulting parliament, the Handelsblatt said, citing a report by the budget watchdog.
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Friday, June 11, 2004
22nd MEU (SOC) Harriers join the fight against Taliban insurgents
AV-8B Harrier II attack jets from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) recently conducted ground attack missions against anti-coalition militia in Afghanistan's Oruzgan province in support of the MEU's ground forces.
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S-92 Receives EASA/JAA Type Certification
Sikorsky�s S-92 has become the first helicopter in the world certified by the European Aviation Safety Agency/Joint Aviation Authorities (EASA/JAA) to the latest and most rigorous safety standards.
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Former Pax E-2C pilot to command Carrier Group 8
Rear Adm. William J. McCarthy, a former E-2C Hawkeye pilot and Naval Test Pilot School graduate who made several tours at NAS Patuxent River in the 1980s, is going to command Carrier Group 8 headquartered in Norfolk but currently deployed aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73) in the Persian Gulf.
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Civilian leaders see USAFE capabilities
Civilian leaders participating in the Joint Civilian Orientation Conference got a firsthand, and sometimes hands-on, look here June 8 at how U.S. Air Forces in Europe Airmen support the war on terrorism.
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Russian MIG to resume multi-role tactical fighter program
The Russian MIG aircraft building corporation decided to resume the fifth generation multi-role tactical fighter program (codenamed Project 1.44).
Labels: Russian 5th-generation fighter
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IRAN SEEKS CRUISE MISSILE TO SUPPORT SHIHAB
Iran has been developing a cruise missile capability to support its arsenal of Shihab-3 intermediate-range ballistic missiles.
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US Air Force chief calls for European competition
The US Air Force secretary has called for European defence contractors to get more access to Pentagon contracts to stimulate stiffer competition in the US domestic aerospace industry.
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NATO fighters sent on first real mission
The NATO F-16 fighter jets stationed at the Zokniai airfield in northwestern Lithuania as part of the Baltic air-policing mission got their first taste of action last week when the planes were dispatched to intercept a suspicious aircraft approaching Estonian airspace.
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'Roto' Reuter takes reigns of VX-23
Cmdr. Bill "Roto" Reuter formally took command of Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 23 at NAS Patuxent River from Capt. Stephen "Chewy" Rorke in a June 3 change-of-command ceremony keynoted by NAVAIR Commander Vice Adm. Walter Massenburg at VX-23's Hangar 115.
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Reagan Sailors Visit Rio
USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) crew members arrived for a brief visit to Rio de Janeiro June 9.
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Thursday, June 10, 2004
24th MEU to set sail
The 24th U.S. Marine Expeditionary Unit's first elements are leaving for Iraq this week, marking the start of a month-long flow for forces that will deploy more than a month ahead of schedule.
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No decision yet from Army on helicopter
The Taiwanese Army has not yet decided which attack helicopter to purchase, a high ranking officer said yesterday.
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Lockheed lays off 140, plans more cuts
About 140 employees from the F-16 production line were laid off Monday by Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. in Fort Worth, and 250 more are expected to get pink slips this week or next, company officials say.
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SLAF MiG-27 crashes into Negombo lagoon
A Sri Lanka Air Force MiG-27 swing-wing fighter jet crashed into the Negombo lagoon yesterday shortly after takeoff from the Katunayake Air Force base.
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Eurofighter Typhoon Single-Seat Production Aircraft Takes FlightPS002, the fifth Eurofighter Typhoon Instrumented Production Aircraft (IPA5), successfully carried out its first flight on 7 June 2004, at BAE SYSTEMS Warton, United Kingdom. IPA5 took off from Warton at 1602h, piloted by Typhoon Project Pilot, Mark Bowman, and landed at 1630h. This new Eurofighter Typhoon production test aircraft was assembled by BAE SYSTEMS on behalf of the Eurofighter partners and will now join the four nation flight test programme.
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Czech government approves lease of 14 Gripen fighter jets from Sweden
The Czech government agreed on Wednesday a final contract to lease 14 JAS-39 Gripen fighter planes from Sweden, Defence Minister Miroslav Kostelka said.
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U.S. air bases' future in doubt
THE future of U.K.'s two U.S. air bases was thrown into doubt last night after American defence chiefs revealed fleets of F-15 fighters could be moved to eastern Europe.
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Britain, France see future in aircraft carrier cooperation
Britain and France took a new step Wednesday toward cooperation in building future aircraft carriers, setting a timetable for developing common ground within a year.
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Wednesday, June 09, 2004
Boeing Begins X-45C Unmanned Aircraft Assembly
Boeing started assembling its Joint Unmanned Combat Air Systems (J-UCAS) X-45C aircraft today, loading the aft �carry-through� frame into a holding fixture inside the company�s St. Louis manufacturing facility. The 86-pound aluminum part, which spans the back end of the vehicle, will soon be mated with the two X-45 engine keels.
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Cold War plane found 52 years after crash
The wreck of a Swedish search plane which was shot down by Stalin's air force 52 years ago has been located at the bottom of the Baltic Sea, media reported on Tuesday
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Body of MiG-27 pilot found near wreckage
Twenty days after Flying Officer Ajit Sinha and his MiG-27 went missing after taking off from the Hashimara airbase in West Bengal , his body has finally been found near the wreckage of the ill-fated aircraft.
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Lockheed Martin Awarded $30 Million Contract to Improve B-52H Mission Computer
Lockheed Martin has been awarded a $30 million contract to increase the performance and memory of the mission computer in the U.S. Air Force's B-52H bomber.
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Israel announces first surface-to-surface cruise missile: Jane's
Israel's main arms manufacturer, Israel Military Industries (IMI), has announced the creation of the country's first surface-to-surface missile, Jane's Defence Weekly reported on Tuesday.
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Cooperation on Joint Strike Fighter will continue
Norway's cooperation with the US on the development of the military aircraft Joint Strike Fighter will continue, despite the lack of contracts for Norwegian defence industry so far.
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Tuesday, June 08, 2004
Boeing X-45A Unmanned Aircraft Taxi Together; Ready for Multi-Vehicle Flight
Two Boeing X-45A unmanned aircraft taxied together recently when they moved under their own power in a coordinated ground operation at NASA�s Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.
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Northrop Grumman to Provide New Tactical Cockpit for Advanced Hawkeye Aircraft
Northrop Grumman Corporation has been competitively selected to provide the integrated tactical cockpit for the U.S. Navy's E-2 Advanced Hawkeye aircraft. The new cockpit goes beyond allowing the pilot to fly the aircraft. The mission computer and software of this integrated system has been designed to allow either the pilot or the co-pilot to participate as a fourth mission-system operator.
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Feds look to expand jets' R&D
The Defense Department will spend $4 billion over the next five years to continue the development of unmanned combat jets, including new versions of the X-45 being tested at Edwards Air Force Base and the X-47 built in Mojave.
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Midway's opening draws thousands of visitors
The decommissioned carrier Midway attracted long lines today when it opened to the public along San Diego's Embarcadero as a floating naval history museum, nearly six decades after the warship first went to sea.
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Controversy over cooperation with US on new jet fighter
A controversy has developed over Norway's cooperation with the US on the development of the new military aircraft, Joint Strike Fighter. The Progress Party (FrP) demands that Norway pull out of the agreement, since Norwegian industry has so far not received any of the contracts promised by Lockheed Martin.
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U.S. Air Force C-5 Fleet to Gain Advanced Capabilities as Lockheed Martin Begins Avionics Upgrade Installations
Lockheed Martin began field installation of Avionics Modernization Program (AMP) kits into the U.S. Air Force's fleet of C-5 Galaxy strategic airlifters on June 4. The first aircraft is a C-5B flown by crews from both the 436th Airlift Wing and the Reserve Associate 512th Airlift Wing here. The Air Force plans to modify all 112 aircraft in the C-5 fleet over the next several years.
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Raytheon Awarded $16 Million Contract for LAU-115 and LAU-116 Missile Launcher Production
Raytheon Technical Services Company LLC, a subsidiary of Raytheon Company, has been awarded a $16 million U.S. Navy contract for the production of LAU-115 and LAU-116 missile launchers. Both launchers are required to support the Navy's F/A-18E/F aircraft production deliveries that are scheduled through 2012.
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Iraqi MiG to become new Aussie tourist spot
Tourism operators want to sink a captured Iraqi MiG jet fighter off Australia's east coast in hopes of attracting thousands of tourists to an artificial diving reef, officials said Monday.
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Monday, June 07, 2004
1st MAW Marines fly Alaskan skies
Approximately 600 1st Marine Aircraft Wing Marines from Iwakuni and Okinawa departed June 1 to participate in Exercise Northern Edge �04.
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Govt procures 13 Russian choppers
The Pakistan government has purchased 13 new MI-17 helicopters from Russia, including 12 for the Army, for $50.7 million, informed sources told Dawn. They said Pakistan had done the deal with the Kazan Helicopter Plant through a UK-based firm and the last consignment of four choppers had reached Pakistan three days ago.
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U.S., U.K. Firms Winning Big In JSF Contracting, Report Says
U.S. and British companies have won nearly all of the subcontracts awarded by the prime contractors and their teammates for the development of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, according to a new report by the General Accounting Office.
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Sunday, June 06, 2004
Russia to exchange its MIGs for Islamic $$$
Besides selling 50 MiG-29s to Algeria, another deal is expected to be signed with Yemen. This country intends to purchase 12 helicopters KA-52.
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A-10 pods help track bad guys, protect friendly forces
The Litening navigation pod provides A-10 pilots with more options to search out enemies and protect friendly forces.
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Sikorsky announces 75 layoffs in canceled Comanche program
Sikorsky Aircraft announced 75 layoffs Friday and said it will shut down a large production plant in Bridgeport Conn. due to the cancellation of the $39 billion Comanche helicopter program.
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Officials collect vital evidence of MIG-27
Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel today collected vital evidence of the wreckage of MIG-27 from the Sukna forest and held that the chances of survival of flight lieutenant Ajit Sinha was almost bleak as debris was strewn over an area of one sq km in the Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary.
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Carrier role for ships
AUSTRALIA is expected to get two ships capable of aircraft carrier-style operations.
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Turkish Foreign Minister Gul: Any New Demand For Incirlik Base Is Out Of Question
Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Friday that the United States did not make any new demand to use Incirlik base.
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Spectacular displays as KAF celebrates 40th anniversary
Kenya Air Force yesterday celebrated its 40th birthday with pomp at a ceremony witnessed by President Mwai Kibaki, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
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Friday, June 04, 2004
Boeing SLAM-ER Hits Target and Demonstrates New Capability
The Boeing Standoff Land Attack Missile Expanded Response (SLAM-ER) team successfully demonstrated its new retargeting capability recently at Point Mugu, Calif.
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Lockheed Martin's Sniper XR Advanced Targeting Pod Receives High Praise During In-Flight Operation
U.S. Air Force Gen. William J. Begert, Commander of the Pacific Air Forces, recently lauded Lockheed Martin's Sniper XR Advanced Targeting Pod (ATP) after a 90-minute familiarization flight in Nevada.
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7 jet fighters from Oregon will leave with roar for Iceland
Seven F-15 jet fighters from the Oregon Air National Guard 142nd Fighter Wing were expected to leave the Portland Air Base for a 45-day mission at the U.S. Naval Air Station in Keflavik, Iceland.
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MWSS-271 and HMLA-269 make history for the Carolina MAGTF
On May 19, Marines from Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 teamed up with MCAS New River's Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 269 to perform the groundbreaking "Hot Reload" at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune's LZ Bluebird. This marked the first time in Marine Corps history that such training has been conducted on the East Coast.
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MIG-27 wreckage found in Bhutan, no report on pilot
The wreckage of the Mig-27 fighter aircraft, which went missing in North Bengal on May 19, was found inside Bhutan this morning but there was no report about the fate of its pilot.
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Israel Air Force introduces Rafael UAV-launched missile
The Israel Air Force (IAF) is likely to make the latest member of the Rafael (Israel Armament Development Company) Gill/Spike family of missiles its weapon of choice for precision strikes against moving targets in urban areas.
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Thursday, June 03, 2004
US awards Lockheed $492 mln for F/A-22 fighter
The U.S. Air Force on Tuesday awarded Lockheed Martin Corp. a $492 million contract toward the purchase of 24 F/A-22 fighter jets, the latest batch of the air-to-air and air-to-ground warplanes also known as Raptor.
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1st FSSG convoys look to sky for support
Marine helicopter pilots are using their bird's-eye view to combat concealed obstacles threatening convoys trekking through Iraq to deliver vital supplies to units throughout the country.
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EGYPT EXPECTED TO PROCURE PAC-3 BY 2009
The United States expects Egypt to procure the PAC-3 missile defense system by the end of the decade.
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Wednesday, June 02, 2004
Boeing Begins Final Assembly of First Korean F-15K
Boeing recently started the final assembly of the first F-15K Strike Eagle fighter aircraft for the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF).
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ROYAL AIR FORCE ACCEPTS THIRD LOCKHEED MARTIN DEFENSE RADAR UPGRADE
The United Kingdom's Royal Air Force (RAF) formally accepted the upgrades completed by Lockheed Martin to two of its long-range solid state defense radars, situated at remote sites in Scotland.
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Awacs Be on Guard over Nato Summit
Nato will deploy AWACS early warning aircraft to enforce a no-fly zone over Istanbul during the alliance�s summit in the Turkish city later this month.
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Algeria to buy Russian warplanes
Algerian authorities are ready to buy about 50 Russian MiG-29 jet fighters for $1.5bn. Military officials confirmed this information. They said the deal would be signed shortly, the BBC reported.
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RSAF has done much to boost flight safety
Though military aviation is inherently dangerous, the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) has done much to make air force flights safe. A study of RSAF aircraft and helicopters lost in aerial accidents shows that the air force has achieved fewer crashes and fewer fatalities in recent years compared to the RSAF's formative years.
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BAE SYSTEMS To Provide Integrated EW System for Turkish Fighter Jets
BAE Systems has been selected by the Turkish Ministry of National Defense, Undersecretariat for Defense Industries and the Turkish Air Force as the key subcontractor for an integrated electronic self-protection system to be installed on that nation's F-16 fighters. BAE Systems will be a subcontractor to MiKES, Inc., who in turn is a subcontractor to the prime contractor ASELSAN, Inc. Both ASELSAN and MiKES are Turkish Defense Industry Enterprises located in Ankara, Turkey.
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Pratt & Whitney Receives Production Contract for F119 Engines from U.S. Air Force
Pratt & Whitney received a $431 million supplement to its U.S. Air Force contract to produce F119-PW-100 engines that power the F/A-22 Raptor fighter aircraft. The supplement represents the fourth production lot contract for F119 engines. It covers 42 installed engines for deliveries in 2006, as well as associated spare engines, spare parts and support services. The supplement was added to an existing $168 million long lead production contract issued in 2003, making the overall contract value roughly $600 million.
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Tuesday, June 01, 2004
US Navy to Deploy Aircraft Carrier Strike Group in Gulf of Guinea
The U.S. Navy is expected to deploy an aircraft carrier strike group for exercises in the Gulf of Guinea off West Africa for the first time later this year.
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France pledges to shoot down private pilots in D-Day air space
Private pilots who stray into Normandy air space during the 60th anniversary of D-Day next weekend will be shot down, French officials said Sunday.
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First Eurofighters Join Action
The first three combat-ready Eurofighter jets to roll off the production line have been delivered to Spain and perform extraordinarily well, a Spanish Defence Ministry spokesman said.
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Jaguar engine defective, fleet grounded
Senior IAF officials said that a court of inquiry set up to go into the crash of a Jaguar fighter aircraft on May 7, 12 km north of Ambala, had pointed to a snag in the engine of the aircraft, which had led to the crash. A split-pin in the engine was found missing, which apparently led to the crash.
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IAF check for Jaguar before US exercise
A three-member IAF audit team left for Bangalore today to check the control systems on the Jaguar, in light of the fleet being grounded after parts were found missing, even as South Block decided to fit the aircraft with TACAN navigation aid and auto-pilot system.
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