Tuesday, November 30, 2004
RADM(NS) TEO CHEE HEAN OPENS CHANGI AIR BASE (EAST)
Singapore Minister for Defence, Rear-Admiral (NS) Teo Chee Hean, officially opened Changi Air Base (East) yesterday. It will house 145 Squadron, which operates the F-16D Block 52+ Fighting Falcons.
Factsheet - Changi Air Base (East)
Factsheet - RSAF Units to be Housed at CAB (East)
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Trials of anti-submarine version of ALH in progress
Trials for the anti-submarine version of the Indian built Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) are in progress here, Flag officer commanding-in-chief, Indian Southern Naval Command, Vice Admiral S C S Bangara, said.
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Boeing hopeful Malaysia will buy planes
Boeing Co. was hopefull Sunday of securing a deal to supply Malaysia with a squadron of F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jets, Business Times reported Monday.
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Seven Soldiers Killed in Black Hawk Helicopter Crash in Texas
Seven U.S. soldiers were killed when their Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crashed in central Texas this morning, possibly after hitting wires from a television transmission tower, a military spokesman said.
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Army aviation legend McLean decides to hang up his wings
U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 5 Robert McNeal took his final flight recently, which also was his first in an AH-64D Apache Longbow.
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Air Force general faces court martial
A Philippine Air Force general accused of swindling a civilian supplier of P2.2 million will face court martial on recommendation of the Air Force Inspector General.
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B-52 Upgrade Becomes Latest Boeing Program to Meet Net-Readiness Criteria
A Boeing program to modernize the U.S. Air Force B-52 bomber is the latest Integrated Defense Systems program to meet the Company's key requirements for networked combat readiness.
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Rumsfeld to visit India for a day
The U.S. has reportedly formally offered to sell the Patriot missile system to New Delhi to beef up its security against possible missile attacks.
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British approval to bolster Eurofighter programme
The Eurofighter Typhoon programme is expected to get a boost this week when the U.K. Treasury signs off on the British portion of the contract for the second batch of 236 combat jets.
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Monday, November 29, 2004
USAF Weighs Four Skunk Works Designs for Interim Strike
Lockheed Martin designers are taking the wraps off four concepts they're offering to the U.S. Air Force to meet its requirements for an interim long-range strike platform to fit in between the B-2 and whatever will replace the 21 stealth bombers in the 2035 period.
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Dawn of a New Flight Testing Era Challenges Pros
The advent of highly integrated aircraft and weapon systems has flight test professionals scrambling to devise new evaluation techniques in the midst of complex development programs.
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RAF man who flew in from the cold
Roy MacIntyre spent half his career chasing Soviets across the sky. Now he�s protecting the old foe in Lithuania.
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Sukhoi handed over, takes off on first flight
India's first home-made Su-30 MKI multirole fighter rolled out of the shop floors of HAL�s Nashik aircraft facility and had its inaugural flight Nov 28.
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Air Force spy jet needs special breed of pilots
Every year, up to 30 experienced pilots from all branches of services apply for the chance to become a U-2 pilot. Only about two-thirds are accepted.
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US military contractor's tentacles reaching farther than ever
Lockheed Martin, the top recipient of Pentagon contracts, has branched out far beyond making state-of-the-art fighter jets.
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Next generation rotor technology to be showcased at the maiden Dubai Helishow 2004
More than 80 leading regional and global helicopter manufacturers are taking part in Dubai Helishow 2004.
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World's biggest missile maker shapes the future
Scientists and engineers at Raytheon Missile Systems -- the world's biggest missile-making operation -- are shaping the future of warfare.
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Sunday, November 28, 2004
VFA-103 Jolly Rogers F/A-18 Super Hornet (F) Lot 27 Aircraft
Gerry Clarke has posted some great photos of the new Jolly Rogers colors on the F/A-18F Super Hornet. Please do not reproduce any of these images on a website or any newsletter/magazine without prior permissiom from Gerry. Thanks alot Gerry!
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Wanted: Aviation memories
The Celebrate Freedom Foundation which is renovating the Curtiss-Wright Hangar at Columbia�s Owens Field, South Carolina is seeking more information about the hangar�s and Columbia�s places in the history of flight.
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Nicaragua destroys 334 portable surface-to-air missiles
The Nicaraguan armed forces announced Wednesday they destroyed 334 SAM-7 missiles. So far this year, the Nicaraguan armed forces have destroyed about 1,000 of the 2,174 portable missiles it had in its arsenal.
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Army sells off jets to public
Private buyers have snapped up 13 old Mirage supersonic military jets - minus their weapons or engines - which were auctioned off by the Swiss army for a total of 521,000 Swiss francs ($577,000).
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Whidbey Island air squadron on its way home
VAQ-132 Prowler squadron is on its way back from duty in Iraq.
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IAF compensates family of Mig-21 crash victim
The Indian Air Force has paid a compensation of Rs 12.36 lakh to a woman whose husband was killed and two children injured when a Mig-21 aircraft crashed on their house at Lalgaon village in Budgam district of Central Kashmir two years back.
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Accidental Strafing Divides N.J. Region
The strafing of a school by a National Guard F-16 fighter jet has divided residents of the fast-growing region around the Warren Grove Gunnery Range. Some fear for their safety, while others consider it profoundly unpatriotic to question the military during a time of war.
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OMAN TO RECEIVE EW SYSTEMS FOR F-16
The United States has approved a proposal to provide Oman with electronic warfare systems for the sultanate's F-16 fleet.
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Saturday, November 27, 2004
EADS Receives Russian Government�s Approval to Take 10% Stake in Irkut
European Aeronautic Defense and Space Co. has received approval from the Russian government to take a 10 percent stake in fighter jet manufacturer Irkut, Russia�s Prime-Tass news agency quoted an Irkut spokeswoman as saying.
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Eurofighter partners agree on second tranche: report
Britain, Germany, Italy and Spain have agreed to commit to the production of a second batch of Eurofighter aircraft, the Financial Times Deutschland reported.
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Surface-to-air missile Akash test fired
India on Friday successfully test-fired the Akash surface-to-air missile from a range in Orissa, a defence source said.
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No Tomahawks - yet - for Dutch defence minister
Dutch Defence Minister Henk Kamp wants the country to beef up its military capability by buying Tomahawk cruise missiles. However the plans were blocked by the Dutch parliament.
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Experts' panel to look into IAF crashes
Indian Defence minister Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday told a parliamentary consultative committee on defence that an "expert group" will investigate the unusually high number of IAF aircraft crashes.
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Dhruv helicopter heads for Israel
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), has signed a contract with Israel Aircraft Industries for supply of a civil variant 'Dhruv' helicopter to Israel for transportation purposes.
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HAL team to investigate Dhruv landing in Nepal
The uncontrolled "hard landing" of an Indian-made ALH Dhruv helicopter in Nepal recently has compelled manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) to put its technical team on a probe in Kathmandu.
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New Army helicopters undergo testing
Australia's new Tiger helicopters have begun flight testing in Brisbane. The first two Tiger helicopters will be delivered to Oakey Air Base in south-east Queensland next month.
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MiG deal to figure in Ivanov�s talks with Pranab
India's purchase of 16 MiG-29K fighters from Russia as part of the Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier deal has run into rough weather.
Labels: INS Vikramaditya
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Friday, November 26, 2004
F-16s for Pakistan by mid 2005
Pakistan is reportedly looking to finalize purchase of 18 to 25 F-16 multi-role fighter aircraft from the United States in the first half of next year.
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Continuing confusion over Singapore Air Force training plans
The commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Air Force,Air Chief Marshal Kongsak Vantana, has denied that
Singapore plans to rent a military airbase in the country's north-eastern province of Udon Thani, but admitted yesterday that Singaporean troops could use the airfield for training exercises.
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Boeing Converts 737 Into Bomber
Boeing is gearing up to modify its ubiquitous twin-jet, single-aisle airliner into a Navy patrol bomber called the Multi-Mission Maritime Aircraft, or MMA.
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US to sell 50 medium-range missiles to Jordan
The Pentagon is to sell 50 AIM-120C Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles to Jordan, along with supporting equipment, in a deal worth about 39 million dollars, despite objections from Israel.
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Resultant Fury tests were successful, service says
"Resultant Fury is a demonstration to allies and adversaries in the Pacific that the U.S. Air Force has the ability to rapidly respond and sink multiple moving sea targets in any weather environment, day or night," Gen. David Deptula, director of Pacific Air Forces Air and Space Operations said. "The United States is the only nation with this capability."
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RUSSIAN FIGHTERS FOR INDONESIAN PALM OIL
Russia could sell eight Su-30 fighters to Indonesia before the end of the year. The $250 million contract will be paid for mostly in commodities like palm oil.
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Saab Bofors Dynamics -- Another NATO country buys RBS 70
Saab Bofors Dynamics has signed a contract with Latvia regarding the RBS 70 Air Defence Missile System. The order is worth MSEK 185 for Saab. The Latvian Air Force is the end customer and user of the system.
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Thursday, November 25, 2004
So long Sword
USAF F-15 Eagles prepare for an exercise Keen Sword 2005 mission at Hyakuri Air Base, Japan. U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Val Gempis.
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Congressman calls for investigation of Navy field site
The congressman who represents the eastern North Carolina area where a jet landing strip is proposed says he will ask for a Government Accounting Office investigation of the Navy's site selection.
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Malaysian air chief calls on Bangladesh President
The Royal Malaysian Air Force Chief General Datuk Nik Ismail Mohammed paid a courtesy call on Bangladesh President and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed at Bangabhaban.
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V-22 made emergency landing in Canada
A V-22 Ospreyt being tested in Nova Scotia recently made an emergency landing at the Canadian air force�s Shearwater air base after losing a chunk of rotor blade.
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Thailand in favour of Sweden's Gripen
"It seems positive," said Swedish Defence Minister Leni Bj�rklund following talks with Thai officers and political leaders over Thailand�s possible procurement of the Jas 39 Gripen fighter aircraft.
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Oregon Air Guard unit flies high in competition
The Oregon Air National Guard's Fightin' Redhawks from Portland's 142nd Fighter Wing returned this past weekend from Tyndall AFB, Fla., after placing second overall in the U.S. Air Force's William Tell Air-to-Air Weapons Competition.
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F-16 simulator training saves lives of pilots
The task of providing pilots with simulator training in the 388th Fighter Wing belongs to three simulator instructors and a project officer at the Aircrew Training Device facility.
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Indonesia Wants to Buy More Russian Fighter Jets � Official
Indonesia plans to buy more fighter jets from Russia and is looking to East European nations for alternative weapons procurement, a senior Indonesian official, quoted by Reuters agency, said on Wednesday, Nov. 24. Indonesia hopes to have one squadron of 12 to 16 Su-30.
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U.S. tanker delay could kill Boeing 767 line
The Pentagon's pledge to require competitive bids to replace its aging refueling aircraft could delay a contract long enough to force Boeing Co. to close its 767 production line in Everett, Washington, analysts and industry officials said.
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Taiwan air force red faced after shooting rare bird
Taiwan's air force has incurred the wrath of local bird lovers after troops guarding an airbase shot and wounded a rare species of migratory bird making its first visit to the island for over 70 years.
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French Eurocopter to Deliver Helicopters for Bulgarian Army
French aircraft maker Eurocopter has been picked to supply a squadron of Cougar transport helicopters for Bulgarian Air Forces, Defence Minister Nikolay Svinarov said.
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MQ-1 Predator crashes in Southwest Asia
An Air Force MQ-1 Predator Unmanned Aerial Vehicle crashed at 10:20 a.m. Greenwich Mean Time on Nov. 24 at an undisclosed military installation in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.
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New IMAX film a first for the Air Force
The IMAX film "Fighter Pilot: Operation Red Flag" premiers Dec. 2 at the Smithsonian Museum, Udvar-Hazy Center. The movie is the first large format film to showcase the U.S. Air Force.
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Competition To Modernize USAF Tankers Could Take Years, Sambur Says
A competition to upgrade or replace the U.S. Air Force's aging KC-135 tankers could take as little as six months or as long as several years, depending on the option chosen, a service official said Nov. 23.
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Wednesday, November 24, 2004
Vikings
Two S-3B Vikings assigned to the Checkmates of Sea Control Squadron Two Two (VS-22) launch from two of four steam powered catapults on the flight deck aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman Ryan O'Connor.
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EADS 'ready' for US air force bid
European defence giant EADS has said it is ready to put in a tender to supply refuelling planes to the US air force.
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Japan to make Patriot 3 missiles for domestic deployment
Japan and the United States have agreed in principle on the licensed producing of Patriot Advanced Capability 3 surface-to-air missiles in Japan, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported Tuesday.
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Bombers hit targets off Kaua'i
Far off the coast of Kaua'i, two B-52 bombers made history yesterday, striking and sinking several targets with 2,000-pound satellite-guided bombs.
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Brazil VP Says $700M Fighter Jet Purchase Delayed-Reports
Brazil's Vice President and Defense Minister Jose Alencar said a decision to award a $700 million contract to buy 12 new fighter jets for the Brazilian Air Force will be delayed until 2005 or later, local press reported Tuesday.
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Sikorsky Signs Contracts to Replace Canada's Sea King
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. Nov. 23 announced it has signed contracts worth C$5-billion with the Government of Canada to provide and maintain 28 Sikorsky H-92 maritime helicopters. The new H-92s will replace Sea King aircraft currently in service with the Canadian Forces and deliveries are scheduled to begin in late 2008.
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FCS Team to Evaluate Options For Class II and III Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Systems
Boeing and partner Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), acting as Lead Systems Integrator (LSI) for the U.S. Army's Future Combat Systems (FCS) program, are seeking bid proposals to develop Class II and Class III Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) systems.
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Boeing Installs MESA Antenna on Second Wedgetail Aircraft
Boeing has installed a Multi-role Electronically Scanned Array antenna on a second 737-700 for Australia 's Project Wedgetail.
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Crash diminishes Swaziland's air force
A Swazi military aircraft overshot a runway and crashed into a sugar cane field - causing no serious injuries except to the kingdom's tiny air force, which is now left with just three planes.
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Greece set to scrap Eurofighter deal
Greece is preparing to scrap a planned �5bn deal to buy 60 Eurofighter Typhoon combat jets for the Greek air force under a cost-cutting drive by the centre-right government which took office last March.
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�Resultant Fury� pits aircrews against challenging targets
B-2 Spirit bombers flew a 23-hour roundtrip mission from Whiteman Air Force base Nov. 22 supporting exercise �Resultant Fury� in the Pacific.
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McCain Questions AF Commitment To Tanker Competition
U.S. Sen. John McCain, the chief congressional critic of a U.S. Air Force attempt to acquire Boeing 767 tankers, launched a new attack on the proposal Nov. 19, saying newly released documents undermine the Air Force's claims that it has been willing to consider other aircraft.
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Tuesday, November 23, 2004
Truman Relieves Kennedy in Arabian Gulf
A changing of the guard occurred Nov. 20, when the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) Carrier Strike Group relieved the USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) Carrier Strike Group on station in the North Arabian Gulf Nov. 21. In the picture, the conventional aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67), is relieved by the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) shown making her turn away from Kennedy, and assuming duties under U.S. Navy Commander Fifth Fleet. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman Ryan O'Connor
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Turkey: F-16 Dropped Flares To Defend Against Greek Plane
The Turkish military on Monday accused Greece of increasingly harassing Turkish jets over the Aegean Sea, saying a Turkish F-16 warplane had to drop three flares in self defense during an encounter with a Greek warplane last week.
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Squadron begins retirement
The 20th Fighter Squadron began to show the first signs of its December inactivation Wednesday as the first of 15 F-4F Phantom II intercept aircraft flew into retirement.
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Pickering: 1st delivery of new model Apaches in Q1 2005
The first delivery of new model AH-64D Apache attack helicopters ordered by the Israel Defense Force (IDF) will be delivered in the first quarter of 2004, Boeing VP international relations and former US ambassador to Israel Thomas D. Pickering revealed at a media conference in Tel Aviv.
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Pentagon to Reopen Air Force Tanker Contract to New Bidders
The pentagon will open to new bidders a contract to provide aerial-refueling tankers to the U.S. Air Force after Congress withdrew an earlier proposal worth $23 billion to Boeing Co., Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz said.
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Govt clears all hurdles in ship-building project
India�s most ambitious ship-building project, a 37,500-metric tonne aircraft carrier for the Navy, will finally get underway early next year. All teething problems of this long-delayed project, including supply of the right kind of steel, are now over.
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Hawai'i copters play pivotal role in 2 wars
Helicopters from Hawaii are playing a major role in Iraq and Afghanistan.
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PACAF earns �Top� honors at William Tell
Award winners of the 2004 William Tell air-to-air weapons meet are:
- Top Gun: Capt. Pete Fesler, of the PACAF team.
- Top Scope: Capt. Daniel Wrazien, an Air Combat Command weapons director.
- Top Aircrew Team: ACC with 15,304.
- Top Element: PACAF 1 team, comprising Captain Fesler and Captain Travis Hazeltine.
- Top Weapons Director Team: ACC, comprising Captain Wrazien and Senior Airman Randy Stinnett.
- Top Load Team: PACAF with 3,593.5 points.
- Top Maintenance Team: ANG with 11,390 points.
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Airmen, bombers fueling the �Fury�
Resultant Fury, taking place in the Pacific Nov. 22, is a two-phase demonstration involving U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marines aircraft. Phase 1 consists of a maritime interdiction mission with B-52s leaving Andersen AFB and a B-1 Lancer flying from Dyess AFB, Texas, a unit of F-18 Hornets, from Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif., will also participate in the demonstration. Phase 2 consists of a large-scale exercise involving B-2 Spirits, F-15Es, E-8s, E-3s, CH-53 helicopters, special operations forces, P-3 Orions, F/A-18s, and mobile ground vehicles.
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CVW-17 Supports Coalition Ground Forces in Fallujah
Aircraft from Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17 embarked aboard USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) played a key role in supporting coalition ground forces during the operations in Fallujah, Iraq, that began Nov. 7.
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Putin May End Brazil Beef Ban to Press for Fighter Sale
Russian President Vladimir Putin may offer to end a ban on Brazilian beef imports in exchange for the sale of Sukhoi fighters to the South American country.
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ROSOBORONEXPORT TO EMERGE AT INDONESIA ARMS EXHIBITION
At the INDO DEFENCE-2004 EXPO&FORUM exhibition, due in Jakarta in Indonesia on November 24 through 27, the FGUP Rosoboronexport will showcase the Su-27SK and Su-30MK fighters.
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Spain acquires Taurus KEPD 350
The Spanish Air Force is to equip its F/A-18 and Eurofighter aircraft with the Taurus KEPD 350 precision stand-off guided missile system. Spain confirmed this procurement intention during the German-Spanish summit talks held by federal chancellor Gerhard Schr�der and prime minister Jos� Luis Rodriguez Zapatero on 8 November.
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Boeing Delivers Seventh C-40A Clipper to U.S. Naval Reserve
Boeing on Saturday delivered the seventh C-40A Clipper � a modified 737-700 "combi" airplane � to the U.S. Naval Reserve.
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Monday, November 22, 2004
Tail view
F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 64th Aggressors Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., are lined up ready for action during William Tell 2004. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Kevin Gruenwald.
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B-52B test plane flies final mission
The record-setting speed by the X-43A experimental scramjet engine on Tuesday marked the final operational mission for NASA's B-52B test aircraft.
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Sunday, November 21, 2004
Canada Helicopters To Fly Despite Tail Rotor Cracks
The Canadian military has relaxed restrictions on its fleet of new CH-149 Cormorants search and rescue helicopters, even though officials still haven't discovered the cause of worrisome tail rotor cracks.
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Travis Air Force refuelers honored for heroism
Four crew members from the 6th Air Refueling Squadron, USAF were recently awarded Distinguished Flying Crosses for their bravery. The crew help save two British Tornadoes that were within two minutes of running out of fuel.
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Enterprise Prepares For New Landing Gear
USS Enterprise (CVN 65) (Big E) is getting an upgrade to its landing gear. The state-of-the-art cross check system is being installed during the ship's ongoing Extended Selected Restricted Availability at Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyard to help improve the ship's ability to catch aircraft.
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UK fights plan for European defence giant
The British government has intervened to prevent the creation of a European 'super-major' defence contractor through the merger of Franco-German Eads with French group Thales.
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PAC-3 Missile Program Advances On Separate Fronts, Officials Say
The U.S. Army's Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missile program has achieved significant progress on two key fronts, Army officials said Nov. 18.
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Three bids accepted for construction of helicopter manufacturing facility
Jackson County port commissioners have received three bids for the construction of the Fire Scout unmanned helicopter manufacturing facility at Trent Lott International Airport.
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Airfield to be key spoke in Tikrit hub
By the end of November, the 10,260-foot bomb damaged runway at Tikrit, Iraq will be sturdy enough to handle big Air Force jets such as C-5s, C-17s, and C-141s.
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McCain blasts Air Force leader over Boeing case
U.S. Sen. John McCain suggested yesterday that the Air Force's most senior leadership systematically misled Congress and punished critics who raised questions about a $23 billion deal to buy and lease aerial refueling tankers from The Boeing Co.
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Pantex completes warhead program
BWXT Pantex and the National Nuclear Administration announced Friday that Pantex has completed the Life Extension Program for the W87 warhead, a weapon carried on the Peacekeeper Intercontinental Ballistic Missile.
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Saturday, November 20, 2004
RAF jets escort Pakistan airliner
Two RAF fighter planes were scrambled to escort a passenger jet towards a British airport after the jumbo's crew repeatedly failed to contact air traffic controllers.
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IRAQI AIR FORCE GETS NEW AIRCRAFT
The United Arab Emirates delivered four Comp Air 7SL aircraft to Basrah Air Base Nov. 13 to be used by the Iraqi Air Force. The aircraft were a gift to help Iraq�s air force continue to build its operational capability. Three more Comp Air aircraft will be delivered within the next two weeks.
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Speckled Trout takes detour to aid deployed Airman
A C-135C Speckled Trout help rush a Tennessee Air National Guardsman from Incirlik Air Base, Turkey to a hospital at Knoxville, Tennessee.
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INS Viraat to set sail after sick leave
The Indian Navy's ageing aircraft carrier, INS Viraat is set to return to operational service after a year-long sick leave.
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French honor U.S. Air Force senior leaders
Gen. John P. Jumper, Air Force chief of staff, and Gen. John W. Handy, commander of U.S. Transportation Command and Air Mobility Command, were presented the French Legion d'Honneur during a ceremony recently in Washington.
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Jumper: AEF has been successful
U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper told House Armed Services Committee members that while reconstitution of air expeditionary forces is not moving as quickly as expected, the concept is battle-proven.
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Friday, November 19, 2004
Aggressors add realism to William Tell
Pilots of the 64th Aggressor Squadron out of Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., are flying profiles against the five competing teams at William Tell 2004 simulating enemy air-to-air tactics for the competition. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Dennis J. Henry Jr.
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Air Force Acquisition Chief Quits, Defends Tanker Plan
Marvin Sambur, the U.S. Air Force's top weapons buyer, submitted his resignation Wednesday while defending his efforts to overhaul Air Force acquisition policy and replace the Pentagon's aging fleet of tanker planes.
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Security sources deny Israeli UAV's in Ivory Coast
Israeli security sources on Wednesday denied a report by France's TF1 television station that accused Israeli mercenaries of operating spy drones in the war-torn Ivory Coast, but confirmed that a private Israeli company had supplied unmanned aerial vehicles to Ivorian forces.
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Duck hunting William Tell style
During William Tell, F-15 Eagle pilots compete in five different profiles. Profile IV is the �banner gun� mission where they basically shoot their 20 mm guns at the moving target.
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Orbital Successfully Launches Target Rocket For Patriot Missile Defense System Test
Orbital Sciences Corporation announced that it recently carried out another successful launch of a missile defense-related target rocket for the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA). The latest success for an Orbital-built missile occurred on Thursday, November 18 at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. Orbital launched this suborbital target vehicle for the Missile Defense Agency's Maneuvering Tactical Target Vehicle (MTTV) program. The MTTV rocket, which performed its mission as planned, was used as a target to test the Patriot missile defense system.
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AIDC finishes 1st tail fixture for U.S.'s Bell Helicopter
The Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation finished the first tailboom fixture for the U.S.'s Bell Helicopter yesterday. The tailboom fixture is the first of an order of 280 pieces from the U.S. Marine Corps for its AH-1Z attack helicopters and UH-1Y utility helicopters.
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Lockheed Martin's PAC-3 Missiles Successfully Intercept Two Targets During Flight Test at White Sands Missile Range
Lockheed Martin�s Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile successfully intercepted two missile targets 18 Nov. during Developmental Test/Operational Test-12 (DT/OT-12), the most complex flight test scenario to date for PAC-3. During the initial phase of the test, conducted at White Sands Missile Range, NM, six missiles were in the air simultaneously.
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New safety steps planned for range near F-16 incident
The New Jersey Air National Guard is implementing new safety steps at a south Jersey target range where a fighter jet fired bullets that struck an elementary school.
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Three countries eye PTDI aircraft
United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bangladesh and Malaysia have voiced interest in buying three CN-235 aircraft each.
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Eisenhower Crew Certified Ready For Sea
After spending 44 months in Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyard for a major mid-life Refueling and Complex Overhaul (RCOH), USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) (Ike) successfully completed Crew Certification Phase II Nov. 16 and is now certified ready for sea.
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Air Guard Outlines Strafing Inquiry(Registration Required)
Military investigators are focusing on whether a malfunction or inadvertent pilot error caused a D.C. Air National Guard F-16 fighter jet to fire 27 rounds at a New Jersey middle school during nighttime target practice this month, the pilot's commanding general said yesterday.
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U.S. Military Aircraft Face Many Challenges In Iraq, Chiefs Say
U.S. military aviation forces are facing many equipment challenges in Iraq, as they remain in high demand more than a year and a half after the end of the major combat phase, the four service chiefs testified in Congress Nov. 17
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EADS quells Thales merger rumour
Defence giant EADS, the parent company of Airbus, has quashed speculation it was poised to take over the French defence electronics firm Thales.
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Boeing Receives First Engines for X-45C Unmanned Combat Aircraft
The Boeing Company accepted the first two engines for the Joint Unmanned Combat Air Systems (J-UCAS) X-45C aircraft program Nov. 10 in a ceremony held at a General Electric plant in Lynn, Mass.
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Thursday, November 18, 2004
Weapons troops are not cowboys during Loadeo
Loadeo is the weapons-loading competition taking place here during the 2004 William Tell air-to-air weapons meet. (From left) Senior Airman Mike Raimondo, Staff Sgt. Jacob Watson and Airman 1st Class Joseph Ragadio carry an AIM-9M missile to an F-15 Eagle during the static weapons load competition here Nov. 9. They are weapons loaders assigned to the 71st Fighter Squadron at Langley Air Force Base, U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Ben Bloker.
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Orsi: Confident Of 'Capability Over Politics' As VXX Comes Down To Wire
Giuseppe Orsi, named last week to the top job at Agusta Westland (AW) says he�s satisfied his team has been fairly treated in the evaluation process for the US VXX presidential helicopter competition and says the choice has come down to a situation he regards as �capabilities versus politics.�
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Pentagon Proposes Pakistan Arms Sale Worth More Than $1 Billion
The Pentagon proposed selling Pakistan an armaments package including eight Lockheed Martin P-3C Orion surveillance aircraft.
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President Promises Better Nukes
Russia's defense industry is developing a new nuclear missile system that will be second to none in the world, and the armed forces will have it in their arsenal in the near future, President Vladimir Putin told a meeting of the military top brass Wednesday.
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Raging Bulls
An F/A-18C Hornet assigned to the "Raging Bulls" of Strike Fighter Squadron Three Seven (VFA-37), accelerates down the catapult as it launches from the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman Kristopher Wilson.
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"Shooter"
A �Shooter� gives the signal to launch an F/A-18F Super Hornet aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Tyler J. Clements.
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US Navy: Marine One Delay Allows For More Industry Talks
The U.S. Navy said Wednesday it has delayed its Marine One decision in order to allow more time to talk with the two firms competing to build the next presidential helicopter. The U.S. Navy announced officially that the decision would come out by the end of January.
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Airmen keep Litening pods striking
As A-10 Thunderbolt IIs patrol over Afghanistan, the Litening pod is extremely important to them for providing unparalleled close-air support to ground forces.
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Lockheed Martin Canada Awarded Second Phase of CP-140 Aurora Electro-Optical Infrared Program
Lockheed Martin announced that it has been awarded a contract for the integration and support of a new electro-optical infrared (EOIR) surveillance capability for Canada�s fleet of CP-140 Aurora maritime patrol aircraft.
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Coalition Leader Flies Combat Support Mission with Viking Squadron
The deputy commander of coalition maritime forces operating in U.S. Central Command�s area of responsibility (AOR) catapulted from the flight deck of USS John F. Kennedy (JFK) (CV 67) Nov. 15 to participate in an S-3B Viking sortie in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
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Boeing Propulsion System Nails Critical Defense System Tests
A new propulsion system built by The Rocketdyne Propulsion & Power business unit of the Integrated Defense Systems of The Boeing Company has demonstrated its unique capabilities. Called a DACS -- for divert and attitude and control system - this propulsion system will provide maneuvering capabilities for the Missile Defense Agency's Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) ballistic missile defense system.
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Boeing C-17 Program Receives Aviation Week Quality Award
Boeing announced today that Aviation Week & Space Technology selected the C-17 Globemaster III Program as the magazine's first-ever recipient of its 2004 Quality Center Program Excellence Award.
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Weapons directors provide situational awareness
At William Tell 2004, each major command team has two weapons directors that monitor radar to tell pilots where the enemy is so the right aircraft may be targeted during a mission.
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U.S., Japanese forces conduct weapons familiarization
U.S. Air Force weapons crews and Japan�s air self-defense forces conducted a turn-around familiarization exercise inside an aircraft hangar here Nov. 15. during Keen Sword 2005.
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EADS 'may bid for parts of BAE'
European aerospace firm EADS is interested in buying parts of the UK's BAE Systems, according to The Financial Times Deutschland. EADS is also reported to be interested in BAE's stake in the four-nation Eurofighter combat jet consortium, and its guided missile and military electronics operations.
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IAF expansion plan will have F-16 bid
The United States' F-16 aircraft will be in the race for India's plan to acquire 125 supersonic fighters, an Indian Air Force official said on Wednesday.
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Defense Ministry to obtain four strategic missiles next year - Ivanov
The Russian Air Force will get one new and one repaired Tu-160 strategic bomber, seven modernized Su-27SM fighter planes, and new high voltage rockets.
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Bell Helicopter Leadership Club Hosting Metroplex Premier of Action Film Featuring V-22 Special Effects
The Bell Helicopter Leadership Club will host the DFW Metroplex premiere of a new motion picture entitled "Coronado" this Saturday, Nov. 20, beginning at 11:00 am at the Movie Tavern 8 at Central Park (2404 Airport Freeway, Bedford, Texas) The film contains Special Effects action video of the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey.
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Wednesday, November 17, 2004
Goshawk
Air Department personnel direct a T-45C Goshawk assigned to Training Wing One (TW-1), onto one of four catapults prior to launch aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73). U.S. Navy photo by Photographer�s Mate Airman Andrew Morrow.
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NASA's X-43A Scramjet Breaks Speed Record
NASA's X-43A research vehicle screamed into the record books Nov. 16, demonstrating an air-breathing engine can fly at nearly 10 times the speed of sound. Preliminary data from the scramjet-powered research vehicle show its revolutionary engine worked successfully at approximately Mach 10, nearly 7000 mph, as it flew at an altitude of approximately 110,000 feet.
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Norway orders additional Lockheed Martin Pantera advanced targeting pods
The Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF) has exercised its option to purchase additional Lockheed Martin PANTERATM advanced targeting pods (ATPs) with accompanying spares and support. Terms and quantities of the option were not disclosed.
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Investigation Into F-18 Crash Near Nellis Air Force Base
U.S naval investigators are hoping someone in the Las Vegas area has home video of an F-18 crash in the Nevada desert Nov, 9.
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Northrop Grumman Opens New Systems Integration Laboratory to Reduce Development Risks for X-47B Combat UAV
Northrop Grumman Corporation has opened a new system integration laboratory (SIL) to help identify any potential hardware, software or system cost issues related to the development of its X-47B combat unmanned air vehicle long before the first air vehicle flies.
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Germany, France Eye Balance in Possible EADS-Thales Combination
Germany and France have agreed that a future combination of European Aeronautic, Defense and Space Co. and Thales SA must benefit both countries' interests, German Economics and Labor Minister Wolfgang Clement said.
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Deployed Hornet Squadron Safely Flies 9,000 Hours
Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 34, currently deployed with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17 aboard USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) (JFK) as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom, celebrated more than 9,000 hours of mishap-free flying Nov. 4.
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U.S. spy plane flies near Russian Black Sea coast - official
A U.S. Orion reconnaissance aircraft on Monday carried out an intelligence gathering operation on the Russian Black Sea coast, chief of the Air Force press service Col. Alexander Drobyshevsky told Interfax on Tuesday.
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Defence hole appears as new fighter lags behind
Australian defence planners have begun exploring options for leasing fighter jets to cover a looming gap in Australia's air defences, as the makers of the new joint strike fighter revealed they were 18 months behind. The F/A-18 Super Hornet is emerging as the favourite for such a role of an interim fighter jet.
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`Top Gun' of the Year Awarded
Major Huh Geun-ho from the 155th squadron, 19th fighter wing division, ROKAF, which uses KF-16 fighter jets, won the presidential award as ``Top Gun�� of the year. The 37-year-old scored 1,800 points out of a possible 2,000.
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Northrop Grumman Awards Contracts to International Suppliers for F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Radar Components
Northrop Grumman Corporation has awarded contracts to Canadian and Australian firms for components that will go into the next-generation radar that the company has developed for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
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Air Force general retires on a high note
On his final day at the helm of Air Combat Command, Gen. Hal M. Hornburg got back behind the controls of an F-15 fighter and flew his last mission off the wing of his son, an Air Force captain.
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Ex-Boeing CFO pleads guilty in Air Force procurement scandal
The former chief financial officer for Boeing, Michael Sears, pleaded guilty in federal court Monday to illegally helping Darleen Druyun, the Air Force's former No. 2 procurement official, land a lucrative job with the company.
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Riddle of Hizballah Drone�s Non-Interception Brought Foreign Submarine to Israeli Waters
For unknown reasons, the Patriot anti-missile missile battery normally posted in western Galilee to monitor Israel-Lebanese border airspace had been removed on the day the Hizballah drone flew over the northern Israeli town of Nahariya.
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Ivorian govt not discussed new warplanes-minister
The government of Ivory Coast has not discussed buying new warplanes or helicopters to replace those destroyed by former colonial power France, Internal Security Minister Martin Bleou told Reuters on Tuesday.
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Raytheon Presents U.S. Navy First Production JSOW-C
Raytheon Company today officially presented U.S. Navy officials with the nitary/penetration variant of the Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW-C), the newest version of the successful unpowered air-to-ground weapon system.
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Roche submits resignation
U.S. Secretary of the Air Force Dr. James G. Roche announced his resignation Nov. 16.
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French aircraft caused sonic boom
A French military fighter aircraft caused last week's sonic boom across north-east Norfolk, United Kingdom. The boom shook windows and startled people from Sheringham to Halvergate, sparking fears of an explosion or an incident at Bacton.
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Tuesday, November 16, 2004
US101 Flies With Smiths' New Large Area Cockpit Display Suite
Team US101 successfully completed the first flight of the US101 medium-lift helicopter equipped with the new Smiths Aerospace SDS-5000 large area cockpit display system.
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Ground troubles for IAF men and machines
The recent setbacks suffered by the Indian Air Force marks a new low in the recent decline in the IAF's standards, and have raised serious concerns among officers and other observers.
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DOD's Directed Energy Roadmap May Be Nearing Completion
The U.S. Defense Department may be nearing completion of a roadmap on directed energy (DE) programs.
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Something in the Air
French Foreign Minister Michele Alliot-Marie charged on 9 November that the fatal attack on French peacekeepers at a French military camp in Bouake was carried out by Belarusian pilots.
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Frog Foot aircraft is being 'Outlawed'
The Frog Foot is a model aircraft the U.S. Army uses to test Air Defense Artillery systems in South Korea. But the company that builds and operates the Frog Foot, Griffon Aerospace, plans to replace it with its new unmanned aerial vehicle, the Outlaw.
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William Tell still anybody�s game
USAF Air Education and Training Command team is proving to be formidable in the 2004 William Tell air-to-air weapons meet. As of Friday, they were leading in many categories of the competition.
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Plane plans with Russia role take off
HAL and Irkutsk Aviation Corporation plan to roll out 100-odd aircraft of a multi-role transport aircraft for the Indian Air Force and the Russian Air Force
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Monday, November 15, 2004
China Now Test-Flying Homemade AWACS(Registration Required)
The Chinese military, has developed its own AWACS aircraft and is test-flying the first models for early deployment in the Taiwan Strait, according to military specialists.
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Pilot made sure MiG-29 crashed �safely�
MiG-29 pilot Mejar (U) Fajim Jusfar Mohd Mustafa Kamal make sure that his MiG-29 would go down in areas away from residential areas to avoid casualties before ejecting.
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Chief changes at C-17 program
Retired Air Force Gen. Ron Marcotte, currently vice president and deputy general manager of Boeing Air Force Systems in St. Louis, will replace Howard Chambers as C-17 chief in Long Beach.
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Ellsworth B-1 named after former senator�s WWII bomber
B-1B Lancer at Ellsworth Air Force Base has taken the name Dakota Queen Sixty years after Lt. George McGovern, a former U.S. Senator, gave it to a B-24 Liberator he flew in the Army Air Corps during World War II.
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BrahMos, Akash, Trishul to be test fired soon
Indian defence scientists will conduct advanced flight tests of at least three missiles � BrahMos, Akash and Trishul � by the end of 2004, in their intensified efforts to convince the users to go in for induction of these indigenously developed missiles.
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Aussie tells of heroic act in Iraq
Group Captain Scott Watkins, 33, was praised by his commanders for taking control of the Lynx chopper under heavy fire from rifles and rocket-propelled grenades on Wednesday, after his British comrade was shot outside Bagdhad.
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Four U.S. helicopters hit by insurgent gunfire; crews return safely
Four U.S. helicopters were hit by ground fire in two separate attacks near Fallujah, but their crews were able to return to base, the U.S. military said Saturday.
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Copter incident report cites confusion, fatigue on Futenma flight line
A U.S. Marine helicopter maintenance crew�s lack of sleep may have contributed to the failure to reinstall a cotter pin that led to the destruction of the CH-53D Sea Stallion on the grounds of Okinawa International University.
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Tiny plane guides troops in battle
As Marines fight their way through the streets of Fallujah, the ScanEagle unmanned aerial vehicle, or UAV, helps to reconnoiter the streets ahead.
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B-52s to bomb ship in test off Kauai
Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bombers from Guam will use "smart bombs" this month in Hawaiian waters to sink a decommissioned troop transport, as part of training to engage moving sea targets.
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Saudi threat to end British arms deals
The Saudi authorities have warned the government that British companies will receive no further contracts from the Gulf state if any member of the royal family is embarrassed by the investigation into alleged accounting irregularities in contracts between BAE Systems, Britain�s largest defence contractor, and two travel agency firms.
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Saturday, November 13, 2004
Singapore, Thailand sign air force training agreement
Singapore and Thailand have entered into a long-term agreement which will allow their air forces to conduct training in each other's countries.
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Spare jet scores for PACAF team during William Tell event
The U.A. Pacific Air Forces team put big points on the William Tell scoreboard after a touch-and-go start in their first event Nov. 9 at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla.
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Airman takes co-pilot's stick during in-flight emergency
The deputy commander for the 412th Operations Group at Edwards Air Force Base helped the pilot of a commercial aircraft to run checklists and land the plane after the co-pilot had a seizure.
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French Gov't Wants to Merge EADS, Thales
The French government wants to merge Airbus parent EADS with defense company Thales to create a new European giant to rival Boeing, a leading financial daily reported Friday.
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FULL-SCALE F-35 POLE MODEL BEGINS MISSION SYSTEMS TESTING
Multi-phase Mission Systems aperture testing is under way on a full-scale model of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter at the Air Force Research Laboratories� Newport, N.Y., test facility. The model, is being used to measure installed antenna pattern, gain and phase measurements for the F-35's Communication, Navigation & Identification (CNI) and Electronic Warfare (EW) systems.
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Boeing Airborne Laser Lights Up Test Facility
The Boeing Airborne Laser (ABL) team fired a laser beam for the first time using the flight laser modules in the ABL System Integration Lab at Edwards Air Force Base, California.
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Friday, November 12, 2004
Bombcat
An F-14B Tomcat launches from the flight deck of the conventionally powered aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67). U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Joshua Karsten.
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MND DENIES MAINLAND CHINA INTERFERED WITH PRESIDENTIAL FLIGHT
The Taiwan Ministry of National Defense (MND) denied a newspaper report Thursday that mainland Chinese jet fighters locked their radar on a plane carrying President Chen Shui-bian during a flight over the Taiwan Strait in late September. "The report is not factual, " the Office of Military Spokesman said in a press statement.
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Unmanned aircraft gain starring role in terror war
Unmanned aerial vehicles are earning star status in the war on terrorism. They are becoming the most-requested capability among combatant commanders in Southwest Asia and use has increased fourfold in that theater during the last year alone, said the deputy director of the Pentagon's UAV planning task force.
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USS Ronald Reagan Moves one Step Closer to Fleet Readiness
USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) got under way Nov. 6, the first time since arriving at its new homeport of San Diego in July.
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Top Air Force officials expected to resign later this year
U.S. Air Force Secretary James Roche and his chief acquisition officer, Marvin Sambur, are expected to resign before the end of the year, according to government and defense industry sources.
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Helicopter pilot injured in Iraq
An Army Air Corps Lynx helicopter pilot has been seriously wounded in an attack in Iraq, the U.K. Ministry of Defence has confirmed.
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Official: Future Cargo Aircraft RFP Set For '06, With Award In '07
The U.S. Army's requirements for the Future Cargo Aircraft (FCA) will be completed within the next few months by the Joint Requirements Oversight Council and a request for proposals (RFP) is expected in 2006, with an award in 2007.
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Libya interested in buying CN-235 aircraft from PTDI
The Libyan government has expressed interest in purchasing CN-235 aircraft from PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) to replace old Russian aircraft currently used by its army.
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RAAF project sets records
The world's first Boeing 737-based AEW&C aircraft has broken records at the US aerospace giant for flight testing since it took to the air in May with about double the per day sortie rate of similar programs.
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US Waging Complex Air War In Skies Over Fallujah
No fewer than 20 types of aircraft have been thrown into the fight in the skies over Fallujah, including 10 fixed-wing planes, three types of helicopters and seven kinds of unmanned drones
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US Air Force weapons buyer cleared in Boeing probe
The U.S. Air Force's chief acquisition official said on Thursday he had been cleared of any wrongdoing after an investigation of his e-mails tied to a stalled $23.5 billion plan to acquire Boeing Co. KC-767 tanker aircraft.
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Princess Royal in air near-miss
A Royal Air Force plane carrying the Princess Royal to engagements in Scotland has been involved in a near-miss with a RAF Eurofighter Typhoon.
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Turkey�s First Peace Eagle Aircraft Rolls Off Boeing Production Line
The first 737-700 aircraft for Turkey�s Peace Eagle airborne early warning and control program rolled off the Boeing production line in Renton, Wash. this week.
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Boeing ScanEagle UAV Surpasses 1000 Flight Hours in Iraq
ScanEagle, a long-endurance fully autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle developed by Boeing and The Insitu group, this week surpassed 1,000 flight hours during operations in Iraq .
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British fighter aircraft defend Baltic skies
Alternating in 12-hour shifts, the four RAF Tornado F3 crews provide a two-plane presence at 15 minutes notice, 24 hours a day, every day to defend the whole of Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia.
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Thursday, November 11, 2004
State retires Hueys
The Minnesota National Guard retire the guard's fleet of 27 Hueys on Wednesday.
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Elbit Systems in Cooperation With Avioane Craiova Will Supply Eight IAR-99 Lead-In Trainer Aircraft to the Romanian Air Force
Elbit Systems, in cooperation with the Romanian aircraft manufacturer Avioane Craiova, was recently awarded a US$43 million contract from the Romanian Defense Ministry to supply eight IAR-99 lead-in trainer aircraft.
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An All-Out Drive For Defense Deals
European Aeronautics Defense & Space Co. is setting its sights as a major player in the U.S. market.
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Local jets are flying over Iraq at same pace as start of war
Planes from the carrier John F. Kennedy are flying combat missions over Iraq at the same pace as they did during the start of the war a year and a half ago, according to Navy officials. The 14- to 18-hour-a-day flight operations from the deck of the Kennedy are in support of U.S. and Iraqi ground forces as they continue their push into Fallujah.
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Bragg Kiowa unit headed to Iraq
Approximately 300 soldiers in a OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopter unit of the 82nd Airborne Division will leave Thursday for a year�s duty in Iraq, the division announced.
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Iran Supplied Eight UAVs to Hezbollah
Iran has not only supplied Hezbollah with these UAVs but has also trained 30 of the group�s members to operate them, the official (a senior commander in the Iranian Revolutionary Guards) told the London-based Arab daily �al-Sharq al-Awsat�.
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Mirage crash: IAF unfazed
Indian Air Force (IAF) Vice-Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal S. K. Malik announced that the IAF has plans for acquisition of 10 Mirage fighters from Qatar, in addition to another 10 from manufacturer Dassault Aviation of France.
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Lockheed Martin wraps up $1.4 billion offset deals(Registration Required)
Lockheed Martin has wrapped up nearly one-and-a-half billion dollars worth of offset contracts with Israeli defense industries as part of the US government's Peace Marble V program to supply Israel with 102 advanced F-16I fighter jets built by LM.
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Wednesday, November 10, 2004
Five Injured as Crane Topples on Warship Invincible
A 210ft crane toppled on to aircraft carrier HMS Invincible, injuring five people including the driver who was trapped in his cab.
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PACAF�s team uses advantage during William Tell
At William Tell 2004, the Pacific Air Forces F-15 Eagle team is flying and competing with three technologies that enable pilots to detect enemies from further away, target nearby enemy aircraft with a glance and shoot missiles in a wider range of directions.
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IAF jobs: Government to appeal against court order
The Indian Government will move the Supreme Court against Monday's Delhi High Court
order cancelling four top-level appointments in the Indian Air Force, the Defence Minister, Pranab Mukherjee, said.
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A-10 Aircraft From Whiteman Accidentally Releases Munition
Whiteman Air Force Base announced that an A-10 aircraft from the 442nd Fighter Wing accidentally released a small training munition Monday afternoon.
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Jordan warplane crashes, pilot killed
A Jordanian F-5 crashed shortly after take off and its pilot was killed.
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New USAF Office Seeks Voice In Air-To-Ground Weapons Decisions
Col. Michael Longoria, director of the Air Force's new Joint Air-Ground Operations (JAGO) office, said on Nov. 8 that he hopes to have influence in deciding the number of Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighters that the Air Force buys in the short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) configuration.
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Oceana Hornet Crashes Near Las Vegas; Pilot Recovered
An F/A-18 Hornet assigned to the Wildcats of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 131 crashed Nov. 9 after taking off from Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas.
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50th anniversary of William Tell kicks off at Tyndall
Five major commands are represented by the following units flying the F-15 Eagle are at Tyndall Air Force Base for the William Tell Competition. 71st Fighter Squadron representing Air Combat Command. 19th FS, representing Pacific Air Forces. 95th FS, representing Air Education and Training Command. 493rd FS , representing USAFE. Oregon Air National Guard�s 123rd FS representing the ANG.
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Team deploys to recover damaged C-130 Hercules
A maintenance recovery team comprised of four security forces and 13 maintainers deployed to a forward-deployed location to fix a C-130 Hercules that was hit by enemy fire recently.
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U.S. AIR FORCE SELECTS LOCKHEED MARTIN TO MODIFY C-130J SUPER HERCULES
The U.S. Air Force has selected Lockheed Martin to modify one C-130J into a Super J� aircraft for the Pennsylvania Air National Guard. The contract also contains options for two additional aircraft and has a total value of approximately $29 million.
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Mirage jet fighter crashes near Gwalior
A Mirage 2000 jet fighter of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed near Gwalior late on Tuesday night, officials said in Gwalior.
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U.S. APPROVES TURKISH F-16 UPGRADE
The Bush administration has approved a Turkish request for an upgrade of its F-16 multi-role fighter fleet in a $4 billion deal.
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Northrop Grumman Validates Design of X-47B Combat UAV with Low-Speed Wind Tunnel Tests
Northrop Grumman Corporation has used a series of low-speed wind tunnel tests to successfully validate the aerodynamic design of the X-47B unmanned combat aerial vehicle it is developing for the Joint Unmanned Combat Air Systems (J-UCAS) Concept Demonstration Program.
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Lockheed Martin Awarded $28.8 Million Contract for C-130 Aircrew Training System
Lockheed Martin Corporation was awarded a $28.8 million contract modification extension to provide continued operations and maintenance for the C-130 Aircrew Training System (ATS).
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U.S. Air Force-Boeing Deals Probe Widens
The Pentagon said Tuesday it has asked the Government Accountability Office to investigate a wide range of Air Force contracts that involved Darleen Druyun, a former senior official who has admitted giving special treatment to Boeing Co.
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MiG-29 Fighter Jet Crashes, Pilot Ejects Safely
A Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) MiG-29 fighter jet crashed about 16 nautical miles north-west of the Kuantan air base at 10.22 am Tuesday.
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Tuesday, November 09, 2004
Elbit Systems Awarded 300 Million Dollar Contract to Supply Airborne and Command and Control Systems
Elbit Systems Ltd., announced that it was awarded a contract in an amount of approximately US$300 million by the Israeli Ministry of Defense to supply airborne systems, command and control systems, logistic support and training.
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Marines Do Heavy Lifting for Coalition in Afghanistan
Marines of Heavy Marine Helicopter Squadron 769 used their CH-53 Sea Stallion helicopters to transport everything from supplies and personnel to mail and vehicles for the last seven months in Afghanistan.
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Near-Space Free-Floating Balloons A Candidate For Quick
Deployment
If upcoming U.S. Air Force experiments are successful, free-floating "near space" surveillance balloons could be deployed to the field by late next year, according to Maj. Robert Blackington of the Air Force Space Battlelab.
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GW Catches Her First Super Hornet
USS George Washington (CVN 73) (GW) welcomed Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 122 �Flying Eagles,� the Fleet Replacement Squadron for the Navy�s newest fighter, the F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet, Nov. 3. It was the first time the fighters had been launched and recovered on the carrier.
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Northrop snags Air Force deal
Northrop Grumman Corp. officials will demonstrate that hardware running Microsoft Corp. Windows, Sun Microsystems Inc. Solaris and Linux operating systems, and Oracle Corp. software can securely receive, process and transmit information to warfighters for the U.S. Air Force's Battle Management Command and Control (BMC2) system.
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Keating Becomes NORAD, NORTHCOM Commander
U.S. Navy Adm. Timothy J. Keating assumed command of North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) from Air Force Gen. Ed Eberhart on Nov. 5.
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Emergency landing at Hancock
For the third time in less than two weeks, an F-16 Fighter Jet was forced to make an emergency landing at Hancock International Airport.
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Navy Drops First 500-Pound JDAM in Combat
Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 34 of Carrier Air Wing 17, currently embarked aboard USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67), dropped the Navy�s first two 500-pound Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) during combat operations in Iraq Oct. 29.
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Court quashes IAF promotions, says process arbitrary
Casting doubt over the promotion process in the Indian Air Force, the Delhi High Court quashed the promotions of four Air Marshals and ordered setting up of a fresh promotion board within four weeks to reconsider their cases along with those of two Air Vice-Marshals wrongly denied promotions.
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Eglin studying massive 30,000 pound bomb, 40 percent bigger than MOAB
During the next 16 months the U.S.A.F Munitions Directorate at Eglin Air Force base will do a study on the proposed Massive Ordnance Penetrator.
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Monday, November 08, 2004
BugMeNot
A few of the news posted requires compulsory registration in order to read the article. You may want to look at
BugMeNot.com to solve your problems. There are plugins for FireFox and IE to automate the process.
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Navy's first air station celebrates 90th anniversary
Pensacola Naval Air Station is making plans to celebrate its 90th anniversary.
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Indian, French aerobatic teams create magic
Suryakiran and Patrouille de France carried out a joint display of aerobatics over the skies of Hindon Air Force Station near Delhi.
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Missing Antiaircraft Missiles Alarm Aides(Registration Required)
Some U.S. analysts figure that as many as 4,000 surface-to-air missiles are missing in Iraq, and their disappearance has prompted U.S. military and intelligence analysts to increase sharply their estimate of the number of such weapons that may be at large, administration officials said yesterday.
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Electronic Attack Targets Elusive Foes
Aerospace researchers are unveiling unmanned helicopters, microwave weapons and tactics that U.S. Army aircraft must use to survive as they are pushed down to low altitudes in daylight to attack a new lineup of hard-to-find targets.
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US Trained for Strikes on NK
According to declassified documents from the Central Intelligence Agency and other U.S. government departments, United States had active contingency plans as recently as 1998 to drop up to 30 nuclear warheads on North Korea in case of an attack on Seoul.
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Hezbollah flies unmanned plane over Israel
Hezbollah sent an unmanned reconnaissance plane over Israeli airspace Sunday, the Lebanon-based group and the Israeli military said.
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U.S. Navy Eyes Three Nations For Possible Role In MMA
Australia, Canada and Italy have emerged as the most likely international candidates to join the development effort for the U.S. Navy's Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft (MMA) program, officials said Nov. 4.
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Sunday, November 07, 2004
Nine French soldiers killed in Ivory Coast, Chirac orders retaliation
Two Su-25 killed nine French soldiers in a bombing raid on the rebel stronghold of Bouake on Saturday. They were later destroyed by French infantry along with five Mi-24 helicopters.
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Hercules crew, passengers survive enemy fire
An U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules was hit by ground fire after it took off from an airfield in northern Iraq bound for a forward-deployed location.
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Anti-Submarine Warfare Taken To New Level
During a recent exercise called Maritime Integrated Team Training Program, Nimitz Strike Group called upon all of the assets in Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11�s inventory and made use of E-2C Hawkeyes, F/A-18 Hornets and EA-6B Prowlers to fill in the role left by the deactivation of the S-3 Viking.
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Saturday, November 06, 2004
ADF downplays talk of US bomb tests(Registration Required)
The Australian Defence Force is playing down
speculation that new smart bombs could be dropped over northern Australia in exercises with the United States.
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Retired B-1 bombers return to service
The U.S. Air Force is bringing back seven B�1s that were retired three years ago. Six of the seven jets are already in service as back�ups while the rest of the fleet gets new equipment and repairs.
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New chiefs of navy, air force appointed
Major-General Carlo Gagiano will replace retiring air force chief lieutenant-general Roelf Beukes of the South African Air Force.
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Orion replacement talks start with US
Australia is talking to the United States about a replacement for the RAAF's ageing Lockheed AP-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft, the defence minister says.
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Thales-led consortium wins British defence maritime drone contract
Thales said it had won a contract from the British defence ministry for the maritime unmanned air vehicle (UAV), or drone, portion of the ministry's joint UAV experimentation programme. ScanEagle will be offered.
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T700-GE-701D Engine Awarded US Army Qualification
GE's T700-GE-701D turboshaft engine, the latest generation of T700s powering U.S. Army Black Hawk and Apache helicopters, was recently awarded U.S. Army qualification and is now in production.
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Senator Seeks Halt of N.J. Guard Flights
U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg called on the Air National Guard to halt all training flights over New Jersey until an investigation is complete over the accidental strafing of a school.
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Stratotanker crew comes to aid of F-16 pilot
A KC-135 Stratotanker came to the aid of an F-16 who had fuel problems.
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Friday, November 05, 2004
CVW-14 Fly-by
Aircraft assigned to Carrier Air Wing Fourteen (CVW-14) fly in formation above the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74).
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PACAF mulls boosting theater assets
U.S. Pacific Air Forces could boost significantly the speed and accuracy of its response to regional �hot spots� by permanently basing intelligence, surveillance-reconnaissance, strike and refueling assets in the Pacific as part of an �ISR strike task force.�
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Pentagon Clears Lockheed F-35's 'Path Forward
Michael Wynne, the acting undersecretary of defense for acquisition has cleared Lockheed Martin Corp.'s continued development of its F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the Defense Department said on Thursday.
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Balad F-16s to get new JDAMs
Testers are making the final checks to certify the 500-pound GBU-38 JDAM for use on the Block 40 F-16s based at Balad Air Base, Iraq.
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Merlin Mk3 Helicopter Completes First Transcontinental Self-Deployment
Britain's Royal Air Force has successfully self-deployed an EH101 Merlin Mk3 helicopter across the southern tier of the United States -- from San Diego, CA, to Jacksonville, FL, demonstrating the helicopter's superior capabilities and reliability. This event marks the first time an EH101 helicopter has visited the West coast, and the first time an EH101 helicopter has flown across America.
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Boeing selects Stork Aerospace for the wiring systems of the 737 AEW&C programme
Stork Aerospace has reached agreement with The Boeing Company about the supply of design assistance and wiring systems for the Boeing 737 Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) programme.
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EADS won 130 mln eur Algeria deal for 6 C295 military transport craft in Q3
European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co said it won an order worth 130 mln eur from the Algerian government during the third quarter for six C295 military transport craft.
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Indian Navy to be a leaner force: Chief of Naval Staff
Indian Navy Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Prakash said work on refurbishing the Admiral Gorshkov, the 44,500-tonne Kiev-class Russian aircraft carrier India acquired, at Russia's Sevmash shipyard was "encouraging". Admiral Prakash said the Indian Navy also planned to buy between 15 and 20 MIG-29Ks for the 35,000-37,000 tonne Air Defence Ship being built locally.
Labels: INS Vikramaditya
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DHS To Use Hunter UAV For Border Control Flights
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) plans to fly Northrop Grumman's Hunter unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to perform surveillance over Arizona's border with Mexico, following a successful series of flights using the Israeli-built Hermes UAV that took place over the summer.
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US, UK Events Dent EADS Efforts Toward US Tanker Toehold
New developments on both sides of the Atlantic show new obstacles to the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co.'s bid to dominate the global air tanker market, although the company remains optimistic about its Airbus-based product.
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BOEING CO.: 767 production tied to tanker contract (Registration Required)
The head of Boeing Co.'s defense business indicated to analysts Wednesday that the company can wait only about seven months to land a new contract supplying the Air Force with air refueling tankers based on the 767, before deciding whether to end production of the slow-selling commercial jet.
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Lockheed eager for US-101 deal (Registration Required)
With a Dec. 17 decision date approaching on the next U.S. presidential helicopter, Lockheed Martin Chief Executive Robert Stevens downplayed concerns that safety and reliability issues could affect the decision.
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IAF jet drops live bomb
An IAF training aircraft accidentally dropped a live bomb on a field near a village in Jamnagar Nov 4. No casualties were reported.
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US to test bombs in Australia
The United States is preparing to test new-generation weapons, including smart bombs, on Australian territory under an agreement currently under negotiation.
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Officials investigate training incident
A U.S Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon expended an undetermined number of 20 mm ammunition rounds during a nighttime training mission in the Warren Grove Range airspace in New Jersey on Nov. 3.
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Military spending could slow, Boeing's defense chief warns
Jim Albaugh, chief executive of Boeing's Integrated Defense Systems cautioned Wednesday that military spending could slow as the ballooning federal deficit and the war in Iraq compete with billions of dollars of funding to develop a futuristic network to link all weapons systems.
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Nuclear bomber for sale on eBay
An Ex-RAF Vulcan bomber is available for sale on
eBay.
"VULCAN BOMBER XL391 (Complete with Engines) AS IS, Where IS ! Buyer Collects!!! Sold Subject to Removal within Two Months."
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Thursday, November 04, 2004
Typhoon Patrol
Typhoons from Nos 17 and 29 (Reserve) Squadrons over Northern England. Images courtesy of Geoffrey H Lee, Eurofighter.
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Scottish squadron axed in cutbacks
RAF Kinloss in Moray will lose one of its three Nimrod squadrons in April next year.
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FCS UAV Technology Will Be Ready When Funding Is, Official Says
Boeing will have the technology read by 2014 for the U.S. Army's Future Combat Systems (FCS) program for various classes of UAV.
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Naval version of BrahMos test-fired
BrahMos, the supersonic cruise missile jointly developed by India and Russia, was test-fired from the Indian navy's destroyer 'INS Rajput' at around 1118 IST on Wednesday off the Orissa coast, defence sources said.
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Pentagon Shelves Status Review For F/A-22 Raptor Program
The U.S. Department of Defense has opted to shelve a status review for its $72 billion F/A-22 Raptor fighter program that had been scheduled for Nov. 1.
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BAE investigated over Saudi fraud allegations, two arrested
Britain's largest defence contractor, BAE Systems, is being investigated over allegations of false accounting in relation to defence contracts held with Saudi Arabia's government, prosecutors said.
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China�s advanced missiles take center stage at air show
Chinese military missiles took center stage at the Zhuhai air show Tuesday with the debut showing of some 100 weapons and aerospace products, showcasing the country�s economic and military might.
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The 5th China Airshow
Photographs from the Zhuhai airshow in China.
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F16 issue is alive: Nancy
Outgoing US Ambassador to Pakistan Nancy Powell on Tuesday said the F-16 fighter aircraft issue with Pakistan was still alive and a matter for debate in the US administration.
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Major progress on EADS-British air tanker deal: sources
Discussions on Britain's 13-billion-pound air tanker deal with a consortium led by the European Aeronautic Defence and Space company (EADS) has seen "substantial elements" agreed since September, a source familiar with the matter said.
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Lockheed Would Study Teaming with EADS
Lockheed Martin Corp. would consider teaming up with Europe's Airbus to supply refueling aircraft if the U.S. Air Force called for new bids to replace a Boeing Co. plan that was scrapped last month, Lockheed chief executive Robert Stevens said Wednesday.
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Boeing Tapped To Develop Massive Penetrator Bomb
The U.S. Defense Department announced late Nov. 1 that the Air Force Research Laboratory has awarded a $20 million, multi-year contract to Boeing to design and test the Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), a large bomb designed to penetrate and destroy hardened and deeply buried targets.
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MIT team guides airplane remotely using spoken English
Aeronautics researchers at MIT have developed a manned-to-unmanned aircraft guidance system that allows a pilot in one plane to guide another unmanned airplane by speaking commands in English.
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LOCKHEED MARTIN FLIGHT TESTS SNIPER XR DOWNLINK CAPABILITY
Lockheed Martin�s Sniper� XR�/PANTERA� advanced targeting pod (ATP) data downlink capability was successfully flight tested on a Norwegian mid-life upgrade F-16 aircraft at Bodo Air Force Base in Bodo, Norway. This event marked the first flight for the Sniper XR-based downlink capability.
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LOCKHEED MARTIN UK EQUIPS MERLIN HELICOPTERS WITH SOPHISTICATED SENSOR TECHNOLOGY
As prime contractor and systems integrator for the RN�s EH101 Merlin Mk1 helicopter fleet, Lockheed Martin UK is providing a sophisticated Electro-Optics and InfraRed (EO/IR) surveillance sensor to give accurate, real-time information and positive identification against small, difficult to detect targets.
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LOCKHEED MARTIN DELIVERS AIRBORNE LASER FLIGHT TURRET ASSEMBLY
Lockheed Martin today announced it has delivered the Airborne Laser (ABL) Flight Turret Assembly (FTA) to Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. for integration into the aircraft. This event follows Lockheed Martin�s delivery of its ABL Beam Transfer Assembly and Multi-Beam Illuminator earlier in the year.
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Agusta And Jiangxi Changhe Aviation Industries Sign A Joint Venture Agreement
Agusta, an AgustaWestland company, and Jiangxi Changhe Aviation Industies Company, an AviChina company, have signed a joint venture agreement for sale, production, marketing and local support of the A109 Power helicopter.
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Wednesday, November 03, 2004
Tomcats End WestPac Era
Fighter Squadron (VF) 31 returned home to Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana on Halloween from a five-month Western Pacific deployment with the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). As part of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 14, the squadron became the last to fly F-14 Tomcats over the skies of the Pacific Fleet. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Mark J. Rebilas
I'm doing a project on the F-14 retirement in 2006. Anybody with information or knows anyone who is in the Tomcat community. Please drop me an email. Thanks.
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U.K. military tanker deal reportedly under threat
Britain may scrap a planned 13 billion pound military air tanker deal with a consortium led by Airbus parent company EADS, the Financial Times reports.
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IAF copter lands a world record
A Cheetal helicopter of the IAF made the world's highest landing at a density altitude of 25,150 feet on the Sasserkangri Massif, in Eastern Ladakh, on Tuesday morning.
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ATK Receives $8.8 Million Contract to Supply MK44 Automatic Cannons to USAF Special Operations Command
ATK has received an $8.8 million contract for Research, Development, Testing and Evaluation (RDT&E) of a modified MK44 30mm Automatic Cannon for use by the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command on its AC-130U gunships. The AC-130U incorporates side-firing cannons to provide surgical firepower or area saturation against hard targets such as armored vehicles.
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Northrop Grumman Uses Test Flights to Demonstrate Key Technologies for U.S. Army Unmanned Armed Rotorcraft Program
Northrop Grumman Corporation recently used two company-funded test flights of an unmanned helicopter surrogate to demonstrate key technologies for its proposed concept for a new U.S. Army unmanned armed rotorcraft program.
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F/A-22 lauded in test phase(Registration Required)
Lockheed Martin's F/A-22 fighter jet has shown "dramatic" improvement in combat testing, bringing it closer to approval for full production, according to the Pentagon's top testing official
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Danish Multi-Role EH101 Named � Merlin Joint Supporter�
The Danish Multi-Role AgustaWestland EH101 helicopter was officially named �Merlin Joint Supporter� by Major General Klaus Axelsen of Air Materiel Command, Denmark, at a ceremony held last week at AgustaWestland�s Yeovil factory.
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IAF gets new flight safety chief
Call it a coincidence, the IAF got a new flight safety chief hours after a MiG-21 crashed.
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IAI to sell UAVs to India in new $230m deal
Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) is expected to sign a major unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) contract with the Indian Army in a few days. IAI sources confirmed the deal, following reports in the Indian press. IAI will sell Heron UAVs to the Indian Army for an estimated $210-230 million.
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Lockheed Martin Delivers First Super Hercules Built Under Multi-Year Acquisition Contract
Lockheed Martin has delivered the first KC-130J Super Hercules aircraft ordered under a joint United States Air Force/U.S. Marine Corps multi-year acquisition program. The KC-130J for the Marine Corps was formally accepted by Lt. Gen. Michael A. Hough, Deputy Commandant for Aviation, Headquarters Marine Corps. The aircraft will be delivered to Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252 (VMGR-252) at the Cherry Point, North Carolina, Marine Corps Air Station.
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Rosoboroneksport ready to cooperate with foreign companies
Russia�s company Rosoboroneksport has announced readiness to increase the number of its partners in the development of new aircraft, in particular fighter jets, military transport, short and medium-haul planes.
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First International Display of Su-27SKM
The first demonstration flights of the upgraded Russian fighter aircraft, Su-27SKM, have been staged at an air show in China. Deputy director-general of the Sukhoi company Vadim Razumovskiy, has told Mayak that it was the first international display of Russia's best fighter.
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Pilot trainer jet sales to take off
Mountain Eagle, China's most advanced fighter-pilot trainer, is set to fly Chinese and foreign skies in 2006, its manufacturer Guizhou Aviation Industry Group announced Tuesday.
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China Stops Production of Fighter Jets Under Russian License
China has suspended the production of Su-27SK fighter jets under their Russian license, Russia�s Vremya Novostej newspaper reported on Tuesday, Nov. 2. According to Chinese military officials, these planes no longer satisfy the requirements of the Chinese Air Force.
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MiG 21 crashes near Bikaner
A MiG 21 fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force crashed near Nal airbase in Bikaner on Monday night but the pilot ejected safely, official sources said.
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Tuesday, November 02, 2004
SpaceShipOne Lessons Feeding Into RASCAL Aircraft
Lessons and technology from Scaled Composites' SpaceShipOne are being applied to the supersonic manned aircraft the company is developing for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's (DARPA) RASCAL program.
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North Korea says US conducted 190 spy flights in October
North Korea accused the United States of conducting 190 spy flights against the communist country in October, according to North Korea's Radio Pyongyang.
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U.S. prepares to activate missile defense system
The Pentagon is set to declare operational soon a multibillion dollar system intended to defend America from attack by ballistic missiles.
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Air force records showing who made Sea King tuning error are missing: report
Military investigators confirmed Monday that a tuning error probably caused a Canadian Sea King helicopter to crash on the deck of a Canadian destroyer last year, but the records that show who worked on the aircraft are missing.
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Report: Army resumes unarmed military vehicle flights near Korea DMZ
The U.S. military in South Korea has resumed flying unmanned aerial vehicles near the Demilitarized Zone, a U.S. Forces Korea newspaper reported Friday.
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Top Russian Air Force General Gunned Down on Highway
Major-General Konstantin Dementyev,deputy commander of Russia�s strategic long-range air forces, was shot dead in his car Sunday near the west Russian city of Smolensk.
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THE GREEK MINISTER OF DEFENSE MET WITH HIS GERMAN COUNTERPART IN BERLIN
Greek Minister of Defense, Spilios Spiliotopoulos, flew a Eurofighter simulator while in Berlin.
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Long-Range Strike in a Hurry
The U.S. Air Force has decided to speed up its bomber replacement with a �system of systems� approach.
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F-16 pilot makes emergency landing at Syracuse
An Air National Guard F-16 made an emergency landing at Syracuse Hancock International Airport Monday, aviation officials said. No one was hurt.
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Using Vietnam-era tactics, Army maxing helicopters in counterinsurgency war
The U.S. military is increasingly turning to attack helicopters to battle guerrillas in Iraq, using tactics closer to those from Vietnam or Israel than the Gulf war formations that blasted Iraqi tanks.
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Monday, November 01, 2004
Tornado-Damaged Aircraft Inspected
Expert military and civilian contractor teams have inspected the seven C-130 aircraft that were at the New Castle County Airport when a tornado hit there on September 28th. They have determined that three of the four damaged aircraft used by the Delaware Air National Guard can be repaired.
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Air Marshal Tyagi to be IAF chief
Air Marshal S.P. Tyagi, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Air Command, will be the next chief of the Indian Air Force.
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