Monday, February 28, 2005
Tomcat Bone YardIt's sad to see the last U.S. Navy big fighter being phased out of service. Gerry has documented these birds that we are so familiar with waiting to be cut up as scrap metal.
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Air Vectors : The Alenia-Aermacchi-EMBRAER AMXAir Vectors features the Italian-Brazilian joint venture AMX light strike and reconnaissance aircraft for the month of March.
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The CIA's Air Force Is Back in OperationThe U.S. Air Force is not flying its unmanned reconnaissance aircraft over Iran, but the Central Intelligence Agency is, say military and aerospace industry officials.
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Air Force said to waste $1M on equipmentA U.S. Defense Department report says the U.S. Air Force wasted $1 million on unreliable hand-held chemical agent detectors that could have put at risk any airmen who depended on the equipment.
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BAE demands immunity on US sanctionsBAE is pushing the British government to split with Europe and negotiate a special exemption to spare the UK from American sanctions over arms sales to China.
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Senior Navy Adm. Takes Helm in PacificAdm. William J. Fallon has assumed leadership of the U.S. Pacific Command, the nation's largest military command.
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Sunday, February 27, 2005
Burr says funds for C-130J likelyU.S. Sen. Richard Burr said Friday he is optimistic about the prospects in 2006 for funding C-130J to replace Pope Air Force Base's Vietnam-era C-130E airplanes.
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Keeping bombs on target (Registration Required)USAF Luke Air Force Base's sensor shop, which has 23 employees and stays open 24 hours a day, five days a week maintains the LANTIRN targeting pods used by Luke's F-16s for air-to-ground bombing, and it makes sure the laser guidance system is in perfect working order.
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Army Crash Kills Pilot, Hurts AnotherAn Apache helicopter belonging to the 2nd U.S. Infantry Division, went down near Paju, a South Korean town.
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Only 40 Percent of Air Force Planes OperationalIndonesian Air Force Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Djoko Suyanto says that only only 40 percent of the Air Force's planes are working.
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Japan deployment introduces Cannon AFB pilots to whole new kind of flyingNearly 40 fighter pilots from USAF Cannon Air Force Base are currently deployed to Misawa Air Base, Japan.
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Saturday, February 26, 2005
B-1 software, munition tests completedA B-1B Lancer test program that combined testing of software upgrades along with integrating the 500-pound Joint Direct Attack Munition, or GBU-38, wrapped up on Feb. 24.
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Boeing may shut 767 line, revive it if tanker deal fliesIf Boeing decides by midyear to halt production on its 767 assembly line in Everett, the line could be restarted upon winning a Pentagon contract for air-refueling tankers, Chief Executive Harry Stonecipher said. Boeing is also considering creating a dedicated military production line for the 767.
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Hawkeye IMC Up, Running and Flying at Point MuguThe much anticipated Integrated Maintenance Concept (IMC) at Point Mugu, Calif., became a reality last month with the first induction of the E-2 Hawkeye. The concept integrates the fleet and Depot maintainers to support the warfighter by working together on the E-2C.
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Chief of Austrian Air Force and Turkish Air Force Pilots Flew EurofighterEurofighter GmbH announced that Major General Erich Wolf, Chief of Staff Austrian Air Force, has flown Eurofighter at a visit to the Royal Air Force at BAE Systems in Warton on Wednesday 23 February. On Tuesday, 22 February, at the invitation of the Italian Air Force two pilots of the Turkish Air Force had the opportunity to fly Eurofighter Typhoon at Grosseto Base in a three ship formation with pilots of the hosting 4th Squadron.
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Russia�s Anti-Monopoly Service Opposes Creation of Aviation HoldingRussia�s Anti-Monopoly Service opposes President Vladimir Putin�s idea of merging warplane and civil aircraft makers because it would contradict basic market economy principles.
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Reward offered in shootdownRelatives and friends of four fallen Brothers to the Rescue fliers marked the anniversary of their deaths by offering a reward. The four were in 2 planes shot down by MiGs in international airspace near Cuba on Feb. 24, 1996.
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United Arab Emirates Award a Contract for Eight AB139 HelicoptersBell/Agusta Aerospace Company announced that the United Arab Emirates Air Force has awarded the Company a contract for eight AB139 medium-twin helicopters. Six aircraft will be configured for search and rescue operations, while the remaining two will be assigned to VIP transport.
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Friday, February 25, 2005
Boeing Rolls Out First KC-767 Tanker for Italian Air ForceBoeing officials and their Italian Air Force customers revealed the first KC-767A advanced aerial refueling tanker during ceremonies Feb. 24 at the Boeing site in Wichita, Kansas.
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GAO: Air Force Improperly Favored BoeingThe Government Accountability Office sided with Lockheed Martin Corp., BAE Systems and L-3 Communications Inc., that the U.S. Air Force improperly favored The Boeing Co. on a $4 billion contract to upgrade C-130 cargo planes.
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Blue Angels Seeking More Enlisted ApplicationsThe Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron (Blue Angels) is encouraging qualified Sailors and Marines to apply for the 2006 season. The application deadline is April 1, 2005, and selection results will be available June 1.
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BAE Systems protects US Army and Navy helicoptersBAE Systems has received a $7.2 million contract from the U.S. military to provide additional AN/ALQ-144A Countermeasures Sets. The ALQ-144 system protects helicopters from infrared-guided missile threats.
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Canada says no to missile shieldCanada will not sign on to the controversial U.S. missile defence program, Foreign Affairs minister Pierre Pettigrew announced Feb. 24, ending months of political ambiguity.
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Rolls-Royce's �65m MoD contractRolls-Royce plc has announced that it has won a �65m contract from the UK's Ministry of Defence (MoD). The contract extends and expands an existing agreement to support the Spey engines that power the Nimrod MRA2 and R1 reconnaissance aircraft.
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C-130J circumnavigates globeCrossing 33 time zones, and stopping in nine locations and seven countries, a Reserve crew from the 403rd Wing USAF circumnavigated the planet in a C-130J Hercules. This was a first for the new airlifter.
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Indonesian army plans to increase helicopter fleetsThe Indonesian army plans to build four helicopter squadrons as part of rejuvenation program in the army's military equipment, newly-appointed Army Chief of Staff Djoko Santoso said Thursday.
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Frigid chapter closes for C-141Another chapter closed in the storied aviation history of the venerable C-141 Starlifter as a 452nd Air Mobility Wing-based crew flew aircraft number 152 from the South Pole for the last time.
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Brazil's govt cancels tender for 12 new fighter jetsBrazil's government has canceled a tender for the acquisition of 12 new fighter jets worth $700 million, according to an official statement released Thursday by the Brazilian Air Force.
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Alegria keen to train air force pilots in IndiaVisiting Algerian Air Force chief, General Benslimani Mohammad conveyed his interest in training its air force pilots and servicing its fighter aircrafts in India.
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IAF to send Sukhois to France for joint exercisesFor the first time, India would be sending its much acclaimed Russian SU-30K fighters for joint exercises with the French Air Force in France in June this year.
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AEGIS BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE FLIGHT TEST SUCCESSFUL (PDF)MDA announced Feb. 24 it completed a successful flight test of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System.
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Pentagon looks to cut some NighthawksThe high-maintenance F-117A stealth fighter's days are numbered, and the Pentagon once again has proposed cutting 10 fighters to save money.
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Third UAV flight demonstration plannedThe third demonstration of multiple unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems will be held June 27 at the Webster Field Annex of Naval Air Station, Patuxent River.
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Israel planning air force 'umbrella' in evacuated GazaIsrael Air Force jets, helicopters and drones will patrol the skies of Gaza after Israel withdraws in the summer, in order to monitor militant activity, IAF commander Eliezer Shakedi said Thursday.
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Pilot to receive Distinguished Flying CrossCapt. Armando Espinoza, a U.S. Marines CH-46E Sea Knight pilot, will receive the Distinguished Flying Cross Friday at Camp Pendleton, Calif., for combat heroics in Iraq during the spring 2003 invasion.
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Deputy Defence Minister welcomes Australian Air Force ChiefChief of the Royal Australian Air Force Lieut. Gen. Allan Grant Houston and his entourage are in Ha Noi, Vietnam for a visit.
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Ex-Israel air chief's appointment fuels speculation over Iran strikeWith the appointment of Dan Halutz as new chief of staff, Israel has put the ideal man in charge of the military for any potential air strike against Iranian nuclear facilities.
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U.S. urges Nicaragua to destroy missilesU.S. officials pressured Nicaragua's government on Tuesday to destroy aging Soviet-made surface-to-air missiles they fear could be sold to terrorists in the black market.
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Defense seeks cash for two spy satellitesThe Israeli Defense Ministry has asked the treasury for a special budgetary allocation of NIS 400-600 million to build two new spy satellites.
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Lincoln CSG Returns Home from Southeast AsiaThe USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) Carrier Strike Group (ALCSG), including Abraham Lincoln and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2, returns home next week after an extended deployment to the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean.
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IAF for Su-30s to launch BrahMosThe IAF Su-30s will be ready to carry the BrahMos in about two years. Work has also begun on stiffening the Sukhoi�s wings so that they can carry the relatively bulky Brahmos missiles.
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Pilots are blamed in Black Hawk crash (Registration Required)An internal Fort Hood investigation blames last autumn's fatal crash of a Black Hawk helicopter in Central Texas on the two U.S. Army pilots, saying that they ignored regulations by flying visually during poor weather conditions.
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Thursday, February 24, 2005
VFC-12 and VFA-103Gerry has uploaded several new photos for VFC-12 and VFA-103 in the gallery.
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Boeing tanker prospects fadeU.S. Rep. Todd Tiahrt says any delays in a Pentagon decision to seek bids for refueling tankers may make it more difficult for Boeing Co. to compete with Airbus for the contract.
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US Army LUH: Agusta Westland Joins The Party With A-109Agusta Westland will offer its A-109 to bid on the US Army's upcoming Light Utility Helicopter programme.
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Northrop Grumman Pleased With Army Unmanned Aircraft Test Northrop Grumman Corp. said Wednesday its Hunter II unmanned aircraft performed well during a three-week test for the U.S. Army at Fort Huachuca, Arizona.
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RAF Still Adjusting Away From Cold War Stance; Too Many Airfields, Says UK Defence MinisterSpeaking at a meeting of the Air League at the Houses of Parliament, Geoff Hoon, the UK�s Minister for Defence believes that the RAF has had to adjust more that either the Army or the Royal Navy in order to transform from its old Cold War stance to one now focused on expeditionary warfare.
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Lockheed Martin Takes Delivery of Critical New Laser for JSF Electro-Optical Targeting SystemLockheed Martin's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) team received the first laser system for the aircraft's Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS) from BAE Systems Avionics at a special event in Edinburgh, Scotland. BAE Systems Avionics, a subcontractor to Lockheed Martin on the JSF program, presented the high-powered laser on schedule.
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EADS seals $25bn UK air tanker dealEADS has won the battle to secure "preferred bidder" status for a contract to supply a $25bn (�13bn) fleet of air-to-air refuelling tankers to the UK's Royal Air Force.
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'No comment', says EADS on alleged Singapore bribeEuropean Aeronautic Defence and Space Company(EADS) declined Wednesday to comment on a Singapore court hearing looking into an alleged bribe to obtain information on a navy helicopter contract.
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Wednesday, February 23, 2005
USAF Thunderbirds 2004Check out the new album from Larry Grace in the gallery.
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BAE details sale of part of Saab stakeBAE Systems moved ahead on Tuesday with its plan to loosen links with Saab, announcing details of the sale of some 14 per cent of the Swedish defence group.
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Missile defense comments by Canada's new U.S. envoy spark uproarThe newly appointed ambassador to Washington triggered a row on Tuesday when he suggested Canada had signed on to be covered by the U.S. ballistic missile umbrella, a statement that runs contrary to Ottawa's claim that it has yet to join the program.
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Halutz next IDF chief; Ya'alon to leave post in JuneIsraeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz yesterday named IAF Major General Dan Halutz as the next chief of staff.
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New Apache Transmission Technology Offers More Power and CapabilityAn innovative transmission technology developed for rotorcraft applications including the Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow helicopter has successfully completed 60 hours of operational testing.
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Wichita company featured in campaign to save the RaptorLockheed Martin produced an ad featuring employees of Wichita's Brittain Machine to illustrate the impact of a proposal to reduce the number of the new F/A-22 fighters that are ultimately built.
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BrahMos set for final trialsIndia would soon undertake final trials of the 300-km range supersonic cruise missile BrahMos with live warheads.
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GREECE BOLSTERS MILITARY NETWORK IN AEGEANGreece has bolstered its military search-and-rescue assets in the Aegean Sea.
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A 180 DEGREES TURN LED TO THE CHINOOK CRASH LAST SEPTEMBERThe Greek Chinook helicopter that crashed on September 11, 2004 killing all its 17 passengers, among them Patriarch Petros of Alexandria, made a deadly 180 degrees turn.
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Raytheon's ATFLIR -- The Navy's Premier Targeting Pod -- Begins Full Rate ProductionRaytheon Company's AN/ASQ-228 ATFLIR targeting pod has begun full rate production, marking a significant milestone in this already successful Navy program.
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MoF denial for more funds puts aircraft deal on holdIndia's quest for 126 new fighters were put on hold after the finance ministry turned down the defense ministry's request of 40% additional expenditure for defence purchases.
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Future use of Incirlik base depends heavily on IraqAmerican use of Turkish Incirlik Air Base is being negotiated between Ankara and Washington.
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USS Bonhomme Richard Chases Pirates Away from FishermenUSS Bonhomme Richard (BHR) (LHD 6) chased two pirate boats away from a group of fishing dhows in the Persian Gulf.
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16 Reconnaissance Copters Redeployed to USThe U.S. military redeployed 16 OH-58D Kiowa Warrior armed reconnaissance helicopters back home from its bases in South Korea last year.
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Tuesday, February 22, 2005
Military Helicopter Makes Emergency LandingA British Lynx helicopter made an emergency landing just north of Sarajevo at around 1800 GMT. Three crew on board are all safe.
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Turkey pushes button for national UAV programTurkish Aircraft Industries (TUSAS) has been tasked with developing a UAV prototype 'that will have features similar to those of the US-made Predator.'
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US Air Force Selects Bell Huey II ProgramBell Helicopter, announces the sale of 24 Huey II Upgrades to the U.S. Air Force. The decision calls for the Huey II Upgrades to be delivered to the USAF over the next four years.
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Akash test-fired successfullyIndia's surface-to-air missile, Akash, was test-fired from a mobile launcher at the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur-on-sea, near Balasore, Orissa on Monday.
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Boeing Delivers Eighth C-40A Clipper to U.S. Naval ReserveBoeing on Friday delivered the eighth C-40A Clipper � a modified 737-700 "combi" airplane � to the U.S. Naval Reserve.
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Monday, February 21, 2005
1 year old!
Alert 5 is one year old today, I would like to thank all readers for the support. It started off as a blog which I keep articles I read and ballooned into a site with daily readership of about 700 people. If you have any fresh ideas on how to improve the site, you are always welcome to email me. Thank you for your support, especially those who have shop via Amazon and click on the advertisements. I would like to thank Larry Grace and Gerry Clark for their photos and Greg Goebel for his help.
Let's take a look again at the
first posts of this site.
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US team to brief India on Patriot missilesA US four-member team led by Edward Ross of the Defence Security Cooperation Agency will present "a technical brief" to Indian officials on the Patriot missile defence system.
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Military dismantling Cold War radar systems in Maine, Oregon The USAF Over-The-Horizon Backscatter Radar, is being dismantled.
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Sunday, February 20, 2005
Boeing CEO expects new-look US tanker tenderBoeing Co. Chief Executive Harry Stonecipher says he expects the U.S. Air Force to revamp requirements for its shelved $23 billion tanker plane program and that could mean Boeing offers its new 787 model.
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Helos back in skies over Futenma despite local politician's objectionsTwo U.S. Marine CH-53D Sea Stallion helicopters were to return to the air Futenma on Friday, drawing objections from the local mayor, who demanded a halt to all air operations following last August�s helicopter crash on the campus of Okinawa International University.
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Replacements for grounded cargo planes begin arriving at Pope AFBThe U.S. Air Force has started shifting C-130 cargo aircraft planes from National Guard units to Pope Air Force base, which last week grounded nearly half of fleet because of safety concerns.
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Saturday, February 19, 2005
Northrop Grumman Receives $103 Million to Begin Upgrade to Joint STARS Air-Traffic Management SystemsThe U.S. Air Force's fleet of E-8C aircraft will receive updated air-traffic management systems under a $103 million, three-year system design and development contract recently awarded by the Electronic Systems Center at Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., to Northrop Grumman Corporation).
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The future is here (Registration Required)Construction will begin on the new F/A-22 Raptor Technical Training Facility at Sheppard Air Force Base.
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Defence Minister Kicks off Phase II of CF-18 UpgradesThe second phase of the CF-18 Modernization Project kicked off Feb. 18. The fighter jets will be equipped with a secure data and communications link that allows CF-18 crews to stay in constant contact with other jets, ground stations, and airborne warning and control systems.
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India wooing Latin American countries to sell its helicopterIndia is wooing Latin American countries to sell its home-grown Advanced Light Helicopter, Dhruv and has received a positive feedback from Chile and Peru.
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Hercules C130J Makes Short Stop In BruneiThe newest version of the Hercules, the C-130J, made a short stop at the Brunei Sultanate.
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Ex-Boeing CFO gets 4-monthsFormer Boeing Co. Chief Financial Officer Michael Sears was sentenced on Friday to four months in prison and a $250,000 fine for his part in illegally recruiting a top Air Force official to the company.
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RAAF chief to head defenceThe Australian Govt. will soon announce the appointment of Air Marshal Angus Houston as chief of the defence force to replace Peter Cosgrove, who retires in the middle of the year.
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Navy plans to mothball carrier JFK, not scrap itThe U.S. Navy expects to mothball the aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy after retiring it later this year, preserving vital systems so that the ship could return to the fleet if needed, Navy Secretary Gordon R. England said Thursday .
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President swears in three new military chiefs of staffIndonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono swore in on Friday new Air Force Chief of Staff Vice Marshall Djoko Soeyanto.
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Rumsfeld says Pentagon still considering Raptors (Registration Required)U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld told lawmakers Thursday that the Pentagon has not made a final decision on limiting production of the F/A-22 to 179 planes.
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GAO upholds Lockheed protest over Boeing contract to build bombsThe U.S. Government Accountability Office upheld Lockheed Martin Corp.'s protest of an Air Force contract awarded to Boeing to build small diameter bombs.
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Seoul to pick copter bidderSeoul is expected to select a final bidder by September for South Korea's 5-trillion-won arms procurement project to build hundreds of utility helicopters.
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Turkey re-launches troubled helicopter competitionTurkey's defense procurement office on Feb. 10 released a long-delayed request for a proposal for its attack helicopter program. Six foreign contractors have already obtained the tender document.
Labels: Turkey Attack Helicopter
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'Near space' enhances joint warfightingThe USAF is exploring near space, which is located between 65,000 and 325,000 feet above the Earth�s surface, to create effects like close-air support and communication relay systems that are useful for joint forces commanders in the early phases of conflict.
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Friday, February 18, 2005
First Hungarian Gripen in the airThe first NATO-interoperable Hungarian Gripen fighter has made its maiden flight in Sweden Feb. 16.
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Model-making firms object to defense royaltiesModel makers of military aircraft are fighting a battle to pay royalties to defense contractors for the use of their creations.
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Helicopter Crashes at Naval Air Station SigonellaFour crew members were injured when an MH-53E helicopter from Helicopter Combat Support Squadron (HC) 4, based at Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy, crashed on base Feb. 16 at approximately 4:20 p.m. (3:20 GMT).
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Northrop Grumman Successfully Demonstrates Moving Target Engagement Capability for the U.S. Air ForceNorthrop Grumman Corporation recently performed successful high-speed captive flight tests of its multi-mode air-to-ground terminal guidance seeker during moving-target engagement exercises at Eglin Air Force Base.
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Northrop Grumman Explores 'Brilliant Aircraft' Demonstration With Evergreen International AviationNorthrop Grumman and Evergreen are considering conducting a "brilliant aircraft" demonstration later this year. U.S. Air Force tankers, airlift and transport aircraft could be equipped to become an airborne network server. These "brilliant aircraft" could receive critical battlefield information from other battlefield sensors, and then distribute it on demand to tactical war fighters.
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Lockheed Martin Awarded $247 Million Arrowhead Production ContractLockheed Martin was awarded a $247 million Lot 2 follow-on production contract for Arrowhead(TM), the Army's Modernized Target Acquisition and Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor (M-TADS/PNVS) system for the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter.
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First F136 Short Take-Off Vertical Landing Development Engine Begins TestingThe first GE Rolls-Royce F136 Short Take-off Vertical Landing (STOVL) development engine has successfully begun testing at GE's outdoor facility in Peebles, Ohio.
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JOINT CIS AIR-DEFENSE SYSTEM GOING STRONGCIS air-defense system have restored complete radar surveillance outside Russia. There are also plans to set up regional air-defense systems in the near future.
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Daussalt targets foreign markets with Rafale jetFrench aerospace group Dassault Aviation said on Thursday that it would begin to push sales of its Rafale jet overseas as it awaits news of an order from the Singaporean government.
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RAF'S NIMROD BASE IS SAVEDRAF Kinloss, home to the Nimrod reconnaissance fleet and 2500 service personnel, will not be closed after all.
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STRELETS IS NOT A TERRORIST WEAPONMoscow and Tel Aviv are at loggerheads over the planned Russian deliveries of Strelets short-range air defense systems to Syria. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon told journalists that he had asked President Putin not to sell the systems to Syria, but was told that the contract would be honored.
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Ukraine investigates cruise missile salesA preliminary investigation has been conducted and a criminal case has been filed in Ukraine in connection with an illegal sale of 18 cruise missiles via Russia to third countries.
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Saab Fourth-Quarter Sales Rise 27 PercentSaab AB said Thursday that its fourth-quarter sales and revenues rose 27 percent because of increased sales of weapons products including the Gripen fighter plane.
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Boeing, AATD to Study UAV Challenges During Weapons Tests Aboard Unmanned Little BirdWhen Boeing begins testing weapons on its Unmanned Little Bird in the coming weeks, company engineers will be focused well beyond the aircraft�s ability to launch ordnance.
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Thursday, February 17, 2005
Will the 767 still be Boeing's tanker for the Air Force?With its 767 production line in Everett nearing an end, Boeing doesn't have another airplane platform that fits previous U.S. Air Force requirements for a tanker. The 777 is way too big and the new 787 is designed so close to the edge for efficiency that it could not be modified as a tanker.
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Lockheed Martin F-35 Team on Track for Final-Assembly Start in Late SpringThe four major subassemblies for the first F-35 Joint Strike Fighter are taking shape as the program progresses toward final assembly in late spring at Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth.
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'Air Force has less than half of required aircraft'Indonesian Air Force Chief of Staff Vice Marshal Chappy Hakim told the House of Representatives on Wednesday that he only had less than half of the aircraft required to safeguard Indonesian airspace.
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Museum seeks volunteers to restore Hound Dog missileJimmy Doolittle Air and Space Museum is looking for former USAF Strategic Air Command veterans to help put a GAM-77 Hound Dog back into one piece.
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Afghan defense chief outlines critical needs for growing forceAfghan Defense Minister Rahim Wardak told The Associated Press that he has requested Apache helicopter gunships and A-10 ground attack planes for the Afghan Army.
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BAE win $135m Blackhawk contractBAE Systems has been awarded a contract worth $135.5 million to produce electronic self-protection systems for the Australia Army's Black Hawk helicopters.
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Granger argues for warplaneU.S. Rep. Kay Granger made a case for the F/A-22 Raptor during a Pentagon meeting with Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on Tuesday. Granger, was appointed last week to the influential defense appropriations subcommittee.
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�MiG supply as part of Gorshkov deal on schedule�Alexey Fedrov, director-general of RAC MiG said that serial production of the MiG-29K for India has already commenced, the work is moving ahead strictly as per schedule.
Labels: INS Vikramaditya
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Demand for Predators soarsSharply increased military demand for robotic aircraft has spurred General Atomics Aeronautical Systems to significantly expand its ability to make the Predator unmanned plane.
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Wednesday, February 16, 2005
Push BarsSailors assigned to the Air Department aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) use push bars to guide the arresting wire back into position after recovering an F/A-18C Hornet. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer�s Mate Airman Philip V. Morrill.
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PAC2s to fill void until missile defense system operational The Japanese government is contemplating trying to intercept missiles targeting Japan with Patriot Advanced Capability 2 (PAC2) missiles deployed by the Air Self-Defense Force until a missile defense system can be established, sources said Tuesday.
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French Military official Deliveries of missiles to UAE underwayFrance is currently delivering Storm Shadow cruise missiles to the UAE for the use in Mirage 2000-5 jet fighters.
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General Atomics Aeronautical Systems' Warrior� UAV Successfully Controlled by Army's One System� GCSGeneral Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. announced that it has been flying the Warrior Demonstrator unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) from a U.S. Army One System Ground Control Station (GCS).
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Officials release F-16 accident reportA left brake anti-skid malfunction during landing and the pilot's failure to follow an emergency checklist caused an F-16 Fighting Falcon to leave the runway while deployed July 10 2004.
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Boeing says in talks with UAE on 767 tankers saleBoeing Co. said on Monday it was in talks with the United Arab Emirates about the possible sale of Boeing 767 military refuelling planes.
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Pentagon Denies Flying Drones Over IranSenior U.S. Defense Department officials said Monday they have no knowledge of any U.S. drone flights over Iran, and U.S. intelligence officials would not comment on any such flights.
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Tuesday, February 15, 2005
Boeing X-45As Reach 50th Flight with First Simulated Combat MissionTwo Boeing Joint Unmanned Combat Air Systems� (J-UCAS) X-45A unmanned aircraft flew a simulated combat mission during their 50th flight at NASA�s Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards Air Force Base.
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Bell links tech transfer to Army orderBell Textron has said it is willing to transfer technology if it is awarded the Indian Army tender for 197 helicopters.
Labels: Indian Army Light Helicopter
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Missile defense test failsA test of the U.S. national missile defense system failed when an interceptor missile did not launch from its island base in the Pacific Ocean.
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Northrop Grumman Awarded $257 Million Contract for Work on USS George WashingtonNorthrop Grumman Corporation has been awarded a $257 million contract from the U.S. Navy for work on the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73).
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India Chooses Russian PlanesIndian military officials� statements at Aero India 2005 regarding the 126 multifunctional fighters for IAF seems to narrow the choices down to the MiG-29 and Mirage 2000.
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E-X Project to Start AfreshSouth Korea said Monday it will re-launch the so-called E-X project, to acquire four airborne early warning systems, with the specific models to be decided around December this year.
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Pentagon to probe 8 more Air Force dealsThe Pentagon is investigating eight more Air Force contracts handled by Darleen Druyun, the former Air Force official who was convicted last year of giving The Boeing Co. special treatment on a tanker lease deal.
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Boeing and Lockheed target Indian fightersBoeing will offer its F-18 jet to India. Senior Boeing vice president, Thomas Pickering, said in an interview last week at the Bangalore airshow organized by the Indian Defense Ministry. Lockheed Martin will offer its F-16 fighter, according to the company's vice president, Dennys Plessas.
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IAF: We didn't down Syrian MiGs last SeptemberThe Israeli air force on Sunday flatly denied a report that Israeli F-16 warplanes shot down two advanced Syrian MiG-29 fighter jets during a dogfight off the Syrian coast last September.
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THE GOV'T SPOKESMAN ON THE CHINOOK CRASHAn investigation is still underway to determine the causes of the Greek Chinook helicopter crash off the coasts of Mount Athos, northern Greece, last September.
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First Eurofighter single-seater handed over to LuftwaffeEADS Military Aircraft has delivered the first single-seater Eurofighter from German series production to the German Air Force.
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USAF Tackling Issues To Prepare F/A-22 For FieldingThe U.S. Air Force is tackling a host of issues to prepare the F/A-22 Raptor to become operational in less than a year.
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Lockheed Martin Completes Deliveries of C-130J Super Hercules Airlifters to ItalyLockheed Martin delivered the last C-130J Super Hercules airlifter for Italy on February 10, completing a 22-aircraft program for the Italian Air Force.
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T-50 Aircraft Reaches Significant Technical MilestonesThe supersonic T-50 Golden Eagle advanced jet trainer has attained several significant technical milestones, including reaching maximum load factors, maximum operating speed, beginning stores separation testing and completing its second lifetime of structural durability testing.
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Lockheed Martin Delivers First Colombian C-130 From Argentina Maintenance FacilityLockheed Martin has delivered the first of three Colombian Air Force C-130s receiving depot maintenance at its facility in Cordoba, Argentina.
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Fuel leak scare hits RAAF stunt planeAn RAAF Pilatus PC 9 used by the Roulettes made an emergency landing at Melbourne Airport yesterday because of a fuel leak.
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Monday, February 14, 2005
Metal fatigue theory in RAF crashInvestigators are focusing on metal fatigue as a potential cause of the crash of an RAF Hercules transport plane in Iraq that killed all 10 servicemen on board.
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Sinking Of Aircraft Carrier Is PostponedPlans to sink the retired aircraft carrier USS Oriskany as an artificial reef this spring or summer have been put off until after the hurricane season.
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Russia puts off plans for aircraft carriers until 2010: navy officialsRussia will have to put off construction of aircraft carriers until after 2010, the chief commander of Russia's navy said as quoted by the Interfax news agency.
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Anti-missile weapons may be a missU.S. Navy auditors have rebuked the service for installing the MK-53 decoy launching system anti-missile weapons aboard ships before the devices were independently tested in realistic battlefield conditions.
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Iraqi Pilots Fly Prime Minister for First C-130 MissionTwo days after their first training flight on a C-130 cargo plane, a crew from an Iraqi Air Force squadron were back in the cockpit Feb. 12 for their first mission: flying Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi round trip from Baghdad to As Sulaymaniwah West.
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Sunday, February 13, 2005
DOD UAV Budget To Hold Fairly Steady In FY '06, Official SaysThe U.S. Defense Department's total spending on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in fiscal year 2006 is likely to stay at roughly the same level as FY '05, according to Dyke Weatherington, head of the Pentagon's UAV Task Force.
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After Heated Briefing, Lawmakers Vow To Challenge Navy Over VXXAfter a tense Feb. 9 briefing with the U.S. Navy that only raised their tempers, at least four Democratic Connecticut lawmakers - including both U.S. senators - will try to overturn or change the Navy's recent award of the next fleet of presidential helicopters to an international team led by Lockheed Martin Corp.
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VFA-82 Participates in Operation Cope Tiger 2005A detachment of aircraft, pilots and maintainers from Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 82 participated in Operation Cope Tiger Jan. 24-Feb. 4.
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Nelson says Navy chief's testimony may help effort to save JFKAdm. Vernon Clark, the U.S. Navy's chief of staff, say it doesn't make sense to reduce the fleet in a time of war and leave only one carrier port, at Norfolk, Va., on the East Coast.
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Russia, India draft agreement on MiG-29 modernizationRussia and India have drafted a general agreement on cooperation in the modernization of MiG-29 fighter jets for the Indian Air Force.
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Lockheed Says It Has Won India LicensesThe U.S government has granted the export licenses to Lockheed Martin Corp. to sell C-130J military transport planes and P-3C Orion naval surveillance aircraft to India.
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US may sell F-16s to both India, PakistanThe United States may sell F-16 aircraft to both India and Pakistan to avoid creating a strategic imbalance in the subcontinent, reports in Islamabad said.
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THREE MANGUSTA HELICOPTERS GO TO IRAQThree Italian A-129 Mangusta army helicopters are on their way to Iraq for deployment.
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F/A-22 officially unveiledLangley Air Force Base officially unveiled last Friday its F/A-22.
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Yr after request, US firm to clear air on HawkeyeUS defence firm Northrop Grumman, which is looking to sell six E-2C Hawkeye 2000 airborne early warning aircraft to the Indian Navy, has been invited by Indian Naval Headquarters to clear concerns that the system may not be suitable for the Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier that India is in the process of acquiring as the carrier lack a catapult.
Labels: INS Vikramaditya
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Platform for AWACS not yet decidedIndia has not yet decided on the aircraft platform for the revived Rs 1800 crore indigenous Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AWACS) programme, Scientific Advisor to Defence Minister Dr M Natarajan said on Friday.
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Dassault Aviation makes strong pitch for IAF orderDassault Aviation is making a strong bid to land the Indian Air Force's order for 125 multi-role fighters with the Mirage 2005-5 MkII.
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Newest C-130 undergoing low-level testing at RAFBThe USAF Robins Air Force Base flight line became a low-level testing lab Thursday as the latest version of the C-130 tactical airlift aircraft underwent checks necessary for "reduced vertical separation minimum" certification.
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Seymour Johnson Pilots, Planes Return Home from IraqA dozen of USAF F-15E Strike Eagles from the 335th Fighter Squadron returned to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base last Thursday afternoon.
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Reservists shine at Aero IndiaU.S. Pacific Air Force, Air Force Reserve and Naval aircraft and people were well received at the 2005 Aero India International Air Show.
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Akash and Nag trials this yearUser trials of India's indigenously-developed surface-to-air missiles Akash will be taken up this year.
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American soul for Indian TejasThe first 20 Tejas for the Indian Air Force will be powered by F-404 engines imported from General Electric in the US.
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Kaveri to undergo flight bed test this yearIndia's indigenously developed Kaveri engine will be fitted on the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), Tejas, next year, a top Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) official said.
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Army to buy 12 unmanned planes for surveillanceThe Indian Army is buying 12 indigenously developed Nishant unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for reconnaissance and surveillance operations.
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PACAF chief visits with airmen in S. Korea, GuamAir Force Gen. Paul V. Hester, Pacific Air Forces commander, was visiting several air bases in the theater last week, meeting airmen and getting a firsthand look at the units and their day-to-day needs and operations.
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Israeli �mind reader� helmet unveiledRafael of Israel has unveiled a helmet, nicknamed �mind reader�, at the ongoing Aero India exhibition. The helmet, whose commercial name is Eyeball, is equipped with mounted sights. A tiny camera follows the pilot�s pupil and locks on-board weapons onto the pilot�s line of sight.
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UAE to get delivery of first F-16 batch in MayThe UAE will take delivery of a first batch of the latest American-made F-16 fighter jets in May this year, UAE Air Force Commander has disclosed.
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ESG fits modern missile warning system to six helicopters from the German Air ForceESG, an electronics and logistics company, has outfitted six German CH-53GS helicopters with a modern missile warning system.
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Snowbirds regrouping for '05 seasonAs a sign of respect and remembrance to Capt. Miles Selby, all the CT-114 Tutor jets in the Snowbirds squadron will have a small No. 8 emblazoned on their tails this year.
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Sonic booms coming with F/A-22 flightsThe U.S. Air Force's F/A-22 "Raptor" will be conducting supersonic military acceptance test flights in a "corridor" starting from a point east of Hinch Mountain near Rockwood, and stretching southwest toward Fayetteville.
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US strategy aims to outsource nuclear strikes: reportUS nuclear strategy calls for outsourcing nuclear strikes, in case of a major conflict in Europe, to NATO allies that do not have such weapons in what experts see an attempt to skirt international law, according to an authoritative report that has been made public.
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Joint Strike Fighter - weathering the storm as competitors circleThe Joint Strike Fighter programme is reaching a decisive stage as it approaches a critical design review for a lightened, optimised design.
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Saturday, February 12, 2005
Admiral's visit fuels speculation of Su-30 MKI inductionIndian chief of naval staff, admiral Arun Prakash's trip to the Pune air base's 20 squadron fuels speculation of a maritime strike role for the Su-30MKI.
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French Air Force accept their first EC725French �D�l�gation G�n�rale pour l�Armement� (DGA) accepted the first EC 725 on Thursday February 10th 2005. This EC725 is dedicated to C-SAR missions for the French Air force. The EC 725 is the latest member of the Cougar family.
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Boeing to roll out first KC-767 tankerBoeing chief executive Harry Stonecipher will be in Wichita on Feb. 24 to celebrate the rollout of the first KC-767 aerial refueling tanker for the Italian Air Force.
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Marines� New KC-130J Passes Second Op EvalThe U.S. Marines� new KC-130J, has successfully passed its� second operational evaluation.
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Air Force May Restore Lockheed C-130JThe U.S. Air Force is rethinking its plan to end purchases of Lockheed Martin Corp.'s C-130J Hercules cargo aircraft in the coming fiscal year, notably because of the high cost of canceling the contract, the service's chief of staff told senators on Thursday.
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Iraqi pilots receive C-130 trainingA five-man crew from Squadron 23 of the Iraqi Air Force trained for the first time on flying and operating an American C-130 cargo plane outside of Iraq�s air space.
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Officials clear C-130J container delivery systemA stretch C-130J that is 15 feet longer than the normal C-130J underwent testing for its ability to carry about 40,000 pounds of bundled equipment.
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C-130s groundedThirty E-model C-130 Hercules of the USAF were grounded Feb. 10, and 60 other models including some E, H, H1 and HC-130P/N were placed on restricted flight status.
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Russia to double strength of Kant air base in Kyrgyzstan 2005The strength of the Russian air base Kant in Kyrgyzstan will be increased considerably this year, the commander-in-chief of Russia�s Air Force, General of the Army Vladimir Mikhailov has told Tass.
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Raytheon awarded follow up JPATS contractRaytheon Aircraft Co. has been given the go-ahead from the Department of Defense to build six additional T-6A Texan II Joint Primary Air Training System aircraft for the U.S. Air Force in a contract worth $59 million.
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Friday, February 11, 2005
Air Force version of Brahmos missile soonIndia is planning to make an Air Force version of the supersonic Brahmos cruise missile to suit Sukhoi MKI platform.
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Robotic copter on Titan ship falls, killing worker (Registratyion Required)A Fire Scout fell Monday as it was being hoisted from the experimental Sea Fighter warship, killing a shipyard worker and injuring two others.
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KC-130 tanker makes precautionary landingA U.S. Marine Corps refueling plane landed dragging a fuel hose on a runway at Kadena Air Base, Japan, on Thursday
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Sweden's Gripen in talks with Thailand and IndiaBoth Thailand and India are in talks with Gripen International on the procurement of the Jas 39 Gripen fighter plane.
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Tejas to be inducted into IAF by 2008The Indian government has signed an MoU with HAL for 40 of the Tejas jets. They will be inducted into service in 2008.
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Boeing gets good, bad news from military on V-22 OspreyThe U.S. military will spend more on the V-22 Osprey program next year but will order less of the controversial tilt-rotor aircrafts than expected.
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UK training over, first Hawk to be here by 2007The Indian government will begin receiving the first Hawk-132 in 2007.
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Lockheed Martin inks pact with Hindustan AeronauticsLockheed Martin, said it has inked a pact with India's state-run Hindustan Aeronautics to share information on the P-3 Orion maritime surveillance aircraft.
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3 major Boeing programs fare well in latest defense budgetThe Multi-Mission Maritime Aircraft and the F/A-18 Super Hornet are major Boeing programs tha are given major spending increases in the proposed budget.
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RAF rules out Hercules bombThe initial findings of an RAF board of inquiry into the crash a Hercules aircraft north of Baghdad has found no evidence of a bomb on board, defence sources said last night.
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Thursday, February 10, 2005
Study On USAF Tanker Options Delayed, Possibly For Months, DOD Says
The completion of a study on U.S. Air Force tanker modernization options has been delayed, possibly for months, according to the U.S. Defense Department.
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Air show and open house will resume at McGuire
McGuire Air Force Base will host an air show and open house this year for the first time since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
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SUKHOI WILL OFFER FIGHTER AT EXPOSITION
Sukhoi aircraft maker is featuring its Su-30MKI fighter and new SaM146 engine for regional RRJ airliners at Aero India 2005 in Bangalore.
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Russia Said to Sign Weapons Deal With U.S.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will sign a deal to tighten control over portable anti-aircraft missiles during the Feb. 24 summit between Presidents Bush and Vladimir Putin in Bratislava, the Slovak capital.
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French firm offers supply of trainer jets
Snecma, the leading French aerospace firm, has offered to supply engines for the proposed advanced jet trainer (AJT) project of the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL).
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CIS commanders drill joint use of CIS air defence system
CIS commanders-in-chief of the air force and air defence systems attended practical lectures on the joint use of the troops of the CIS air defence system on Wednesday.
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Navy trims pilot training plans
The U.S. Navy will train about 160 fewer pilots this year.
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South Korean Air Force Chief Flies T-50 Trainer
General Lee Han-ho, Chief of Staff of the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF), flew the T-50 Golden Eagle advanced jet trainer recently.
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U.S. Air Force Orders Three Boeing C-40C Aircraft
The U.S. Air Force has announced orders for three Boeing C-40C aircraft to provide worldwide transportation support for government officials.
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Wednesday, February 09, 2005
Pilot Delivers Pizza With Army Helicopter
A British military pilot who used a Lynx army helicopter to deliver a pizza to his girlfriend has been disciplined, the Ministry of Defense said Tuesday.
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Sikorsky won't protest Marine One contract decision
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. said Tuesday it would not protest the Navy's decision last month to award the $1.3 billion contract to replace the Marine One presidential helicopter fleet to Lockheed Martin Corp.
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Political fight over aircraft carrier pains president's brother
U.S. President Bush's defense blueprint calls for eliminating an aircraft carrier, and that's making life difficult for his brother Jeb, governor of Florida where the USS John F. Kennedy is based.
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RAFAEL wins $25m Indian missile tender
RAFAEL Armament Development Authority Ltd. has won a tender to supply 20 Derby missiles and six practice missiles to the Indian Navy. The missiles are designated for the Indian Navy�s Sea Harrier vertical takeoff planes, which are stationed on Viraat aircraft carriers.
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NAVFAC to Build Test Facility for President�s New Helicopters
The U.S. Navy is building a new facility to test and evaluate a new helicopter fleet to support the President of the United States.
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Northrop Grumman Begins Demonstration Flights for Army UAV Program
Northrop Grumman Corporation has begun ground and flight demonstrations of the new Hunter II medium altitude endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) it has proposed as the U.S. Army's next generation UAV system.
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Army budget shift may benefit Boeing
The U.S. Army is seeking $3.9 billion to buy new and refurbished helicopters from United Technologies Corp.'s Sikorsky unit and Boeing Co. in 2006 and 2007, shifting funds that had been intended for the now-canceled Comanche program, according to the Army budget office.
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Raytheon's Patriot GEM-T Missiles Two for Two
Raytheon Company�s low cost Patriot GEM-T missiles destroyed two target drones during a test conducted at White Sands Missile Range, N.M. last week.
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HAL, Snecma finalise joint venture
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and French aerospace group Snecma will form a joint venture to develop and market the Ardiden helicopter engine which powers HAL�s advanced light helicopter (ALH).
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PFI delays force MoD to rethink contracts
U.K.'s �13bn order for new air-to-air refuelling tankers contract is not expected to be signed until the end of this year.
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Embraer Signs MOU with India for Development of a New AEW&C System (PDF)
Embraer announced Feb. 8 that a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) has been signed with the Indian DRDO (Defense, Research and Development Organization) to support the Indian Air Force new Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) system development. The new asset will be based on the EMB 145 Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platform.
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Delegation to meet with Navy over helicopter decision
Connecticut's congressional delegation has told Governor Jodi Rell that they want the Navy Department to explain why they chose a new helicopter for the president that is not made in the USA.
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Holloman Stealths Back on Chopping Block
Ten of the 51 F-117A Nighthawk stealth jets based at Holloman Air Force Base would be mothballed under the latest defense budget proposal.
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Astra missile trials from June
India's air-to-air astra missile, will be ready for trials from June this year.
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Government to Form Single Aircraft Maker
The Russian government plans to form a new company, tentatively called Unified Aircraft Corp., which will bring under one roof Russia's most famous aircraft brands -- Sukhoi, MiG, Tupolev and Ilyushin -- and be run by a management company headed by Valery Bezverkhny, acting CEO of Irkut.
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Tuesday, February 08, 2005
Lockheed withdraws bid for advanced radar system
US defense giant Lockheed Martin has withdrawn its bid to supply Taiwan with an early-warning radar system as the country was reconsidering the controversial arms deal, leading defense journal Jane's Defense Weekly said.
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F-16 on IAF radar for fighter jet purchases
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is actively considering the US F-16 multi-role combat aircraft for purchase as it acquires 125 fighter jets within the next four to five years. Request for Information (RFI) had been sent to four global firms - Lockheed Martin (F-16), MiG RAC of Russia (MiG 29 M2), Dassault Aviation of France (Mirage 2000-5) and Gripen of Sweden.
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Raytheon Awarded JSOW-C Full-Rate Production Contract
Raytheon Company has been awarded a $55.7 million full-rate production contract to provide 189 AGM-154C Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW-C) to the U.S. Navy.
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Nelson asks Navy for second aircraft carrier at Mayport
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, has asked Adm. Vern Clark, chief of naval operations, to do what is necessary to move a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier from Norfolk, Va., to Naval Station Mayport.
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Reserve Airmen test C-130J in Southwest Asia
U.S. Air Force Reserve Command�s 403rd Wing 815th Airlift Squadron deployed to Southwest Asia to become part of a joint airlift mission.
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Desert Hawk UAV patrols Tallil
The USAF 407th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron Tallil Air Base, Iraq are using a miniature UAV called a �Desert Hawk� for security patrols.
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Osprey flights resume after additional aircraft arrives
U.S. Marines resumed flights Monday of the MV-22 tilt-rotor Osprey aircraft, which was grounded last month after officials discovered that the coating of a crucial part is wearing off faster than expected. An MV-22 Osprey was flown from Texas to the Marine Corps Air Station New River recently and that allowed training flights to resume.
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KBR wins role on UK aircraft carriers
Halliburton unit Kellogg Brown Root was chosen by Britain on Monday to coordinate construction of two aircraft carriers worth �2.9bn ($5.4bn) that will be the Royal Navy�s largest ships.
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France looks for deals with Libya's military
When French defense minister, Mich�le Alliot-Marie, went to Tripoli to sign a letter of intent on military cooperation and procurement late saturday. Col. Qaddafi expressed interest to her in getting the Rafale fighter jets and the Tigre combat helicopters, a source close to the talks said, without providing specifics.
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Monday, February 07, 2005
A team effort - Team US101 to have first helicopters ready by 2009
US101s should be ready to transport the U.S. president in 2009 with the entire fleet of 23 aircraft delivered to the Marine One squadron by late 2014.
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NCW Changing Urban Warfare, Official Says
Network centric warfare has dramatically affected urban warfare by reducing fratricide among friendly forces, allowing for more precision attack targeting and exposing the location of enemy forces, according to Col. Fred Stein (USA-Ret.), senior principal engineer for Network Centric Warfare for the MITRE Corp. at Fort Hood, Texas.
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Sikorsky Helped Engineer Its Defeat
Between 1987 and 1991, Sikorsky quietly sent high-level engineers and executives to England to help refine and market the EH101.
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Lockheed Martin leads charge to protect fighter jet from budget cuts (Registration Required)
Defenders of the F/A-22 are responding to the proposed budget cuts with a huge counter-offensive that includes a flyover above the Super Bowl, a flood of letters to the White House and plans for an intense budget fight on Capitol Hill.
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3rd MAW provides security/transport during elections
The 3rd U.S. Marine Aircraft Wing played a vital, yet largely unseen role in support of the recent Iraqi elections. It helped transport elections materials and workers throughout the Al Anbar province.
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Ex-Air Chief wary of US combat equipment
Former IAF Air Chief Marshal A Y Tipnis cautioned the Indian government to "be most circumspect" on defence acquisitions from the US as American combat equipment could be rendered ineffective through denial of crucial spares.
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Arctic exercise shows unreliability of aging Sea King helicopters
Canada's largest-ever joint military exercise in the Arctic, Exercise Narwhal saw its Sea King helicopter breaking down repeatedly.
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HAL to unveil Concept Combat Air Trainer
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)will display the mock up of its all-composite Combat Air Trainer at Aero India 2005.
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IAF's Sarang team hopes to come off with flying colours
Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter display team, Sarang, is looking forward to demonstrate its performance for the first time at Aero India 2005.
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Lankan media says LTTE acquires Swiss-built Turbo aircraft
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam have acquired at least one Swiss-built Pilatus PC -7 or PC-9 Turbo Trainer.
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Government close to BAE aircraft carrier deal
The U.K. Ministry of Defence (MoD) and BAE Systems are close to finalising a deal over management of a four billion pound aircraft carrier project, after BAE had reportedly threatened to withdraw from the project over a decision to grant a Halliburton unit the "physical integrator" role in construction of the new aircraft carriers.
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Sunday, February 06, 2005
EADS Missile Warning Sensor successfully tested on Royal Danish Airforce F-16 Fighter Aircraft
EADS Defence Electronics has successfully conducted first ground tests with its missile launch detection sensor MILDS on a Royal Danish Airforce F-16.
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Black Hawk's emergency landing on Tokyo campus was 'textbook perfect'
A U.S. Amry UH-60 Black Hawk made a precautionary landing at Seijo University in Isehara City, Japan when a chip detector warning light came on.
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The Eagles have landed
Some 30 to 40 T-37 and T-38 student pilots at Vance Air Force Base got a glimpse of their future Friday when four F-15 Eagle fighter jets stopped briefly in Enid on their way to Utah.
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Outgoing USFJ head: U.S.-Japan alliance is key to regional stability
Commander, U.S. Forces Japan and Commander, Fifth Air Force, Yokota Air Base, Japan, Lt. Gen. Thomas C. Waskow will retire soon.
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U.S. Marine Corps Orders Another Lockheed Martin KC-130J Weapons Systems Trainer
The U.S. Marine Corps has exercised an option for a second KC-130J Weapons System Trainer (WST) from Lockheed Martin as part of a $73 million contract signed in 2004.
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Battlelabs help identify problems facing warfighters
Airmen from seven U.S. Air Force battlelabs visited Air Force Special Operations Command headquarters here recently in an effort to identify the top 10 issues on the minds of warfighters.
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Apache copter pilots learning technique of firing during a dive
Apache helicopter pilots in South Korea are learning to fire during a dive, a technique the Army dropped after the Vietnam War but has resurrected for the war on terror.
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Drone returns to Holloman
A Q-2 Firebee drone will return to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force for display.
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Saturday, February 05, 2005
The Ascent of the Robotic Attack Jet
MIT's Tech Review examines DARPA's UCAV programs.
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Key Lawmaker Still Not Sold On Nuclear Penetrator
U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld wrote in a Jan. 10 memo to the Energy Department that he favors reviving the Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator study.
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DOD targets missile project (Registration Required)
The Joint Common Missile will have three seeking modes, allows thru voice command the type of detonation of the warhead.
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Retired Pentagon official gives Osprey mixed review
Thomas Christie, former director of operational test and evaluation, highlighted several concerns on the V-22, including the Osprey's communication system and internal environmental controls.
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B-1 debuts at South Dakota museum
South Dakota Air and Space museum newest exhibit is a B-1 from deactivated 77th Bomb Squadron.
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MacDill History: 1st Female Leader
Col. Margaret Woodward became the first female commander of USAF MacDill Air Force Base and the 6th Air Mobility Wing during a ceremony Feb. 4.
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Mid-air refuelling to steal the show
On the opening day of Aero India 2005, during the flypast programme, two Mirage-2000 fighters will fly over the Yelahanka Air Force Station plugged into the IL-76 tanker.
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India to get MiG-29 for Admiral Gorshkov from 2007
India would start receiving 16 MiG-29k fighters from Russia in 2007 for deployment on aircraft carrier "Admiral Gorshkov" undergoing refit.
Labels: INS Vikramaditya
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Black market anxieties revived on Ukraine arms
14 more Ukrainian Kh-55 cruise missiles were offered in the black market last year.
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Iraqi air force receives helicopters
Iraqi air force officials welcomed the arrival of two refurbished UH-1H Huey helicopters this week to Taji Air Base. A total of sixteen UH-1H aircraft are slated to arrive in Iraq by February 2006.
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Friday, February 04, 2005
Boeing EA-18G Moves Up the Development Ladder
Boeing engineers completed all wind tunnel testing for the EA-18G Airborne Electronic Attack aircraft on Jan. 27 under the EA-18G System Development and Demonstration (SDD) program.
Labels: EA-18G
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Video of Hercules air attack is 'bogus'
A video purportedly showing the moment a British C-130 was shot down by Iraqi insurgents is almost certainly bogus, say defence specialists who studied the footage.
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Boeing Laser JDAM Scores Direct Hit
Boeing successfully conducted a guided flight test of the Boeing laser-guided Joint Direct Attack Munition at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.
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Cope Tiger roars over Thailand
More than 2,100 people are participating in Cope Tiger, including about 620 American servicemembers and 1,500 from Thailand and Singapore.
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MiG to become joint-stock company by early 2006
Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG is to be converted into a joint-stock company in late 2005 or early 2006.
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ANA, SES briefed on new Sidewinder
Members of the Association of Naval Aviation and Society of Engineers and Scientists got an update on the progress of AIM-9X, during a luncheon last week.
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U.S. carrier to leave Indonesia tsunami effort
Indonesia bid farewell to the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln on Thursday as the U.S. military began to scale back its tsunami relief effort.
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NAVAIR honored with safety awards
The U.S. Naval Air Systems Command was named winner of the Chief of Naval Operations Readiness Through Safety Award and the Adm. James S. Russell Naval Aviation Flight Safety Award for 2004.
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US and Pakistan hold F-16 talks
The United States Undersecretary for Defence Douglas Feith says the US is considering a request by Islamabad to buy a number of F-16 fighter aircraft.
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USAF Pacific briefs
Japan Air Self-Defense Force officials are investigating why a JASDF C-130 aircraft ran off the taxi-way at Misawa Air Base on Monday. Thirteen F-15 aircraft returned home to Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, on Wednesday from Okinawa.
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ALC contributes to Air Force's record F-16 availability
As of November 2004, the F-16 Management Directorate was able to increase the number of F-16s available from 939 to 974, an increase of 35 aircraft.
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Radio Contact Faulted in Helicopter Crash
Two U.S. Army helicopters that collided over Iraq's capital, killing two pilots and injuring two others, lost sight of each other for nearly four minutes while maneuvering at night and failed to send radio warnings even after the lead helicopter circled and slowed dramatically, military investigators said.
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Hill fixes damages Egyptian aircraft
A severely damaged Egyptian F-16 will soon fly again after undergoing a complicated four-year overhaul by the Ogden Air Logistics Center�s 649th Combat Logistics Support Squadron.
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Investigators end Iraq Hercules crash site search
British military investigators have ended their search at the crash site of the C-130 Hercules 40 kilometres north-west of Baghdad.
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RAF base to host farewell to savour
Two of RAF Coltishall's four squadrons will cease to exist next month. A third squadron will be disbanded in a little over a year, but the remaining squadron, the longest serving in RAF history, will continue into the future at a base in Lincolnshire.
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Thursday, February 03, 2005
U.S. Army Begins ER/MP System Concept Development
The U.S. Army started its Extended Range/Multi-purpose (ER/MP) unmanned aerial vehicle "fly off" Jan. 31 to test Northrop Grumman's Hunter II and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems' Warrior vehicles.
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Truman, CVW-3 Defend Iraqis� Right to Vote
USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3 helped provide on-call air support for coalition and Iraqi forces during the Iraqi elections, Jan. 30.
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USS Ronald Reagan Sailors Enjoy Hawaii Port Visit
USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) pulled into Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Jan. 22 for a three-day port visit after spending 12 days underway on a mission supporting Operation Unified Assistance.
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One-year delay expected in delivery of NH-90 transport helicopters
Delivery of the NH-90 transport helicopters ordered for the Finnish land forces is behind schedule by over a year.
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Skyhawks again tipped to sell this year
The 17 Skyhawks and 17 Aermacchi jet trainers from RNZAF could be sold this year.
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States want to woo Airbus
Twenty U.S. states have lined up as suitors to build a 1,100-worker plant where it would assemble a refueling tanker for the U.S. Air Force.
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UK lobbying for selling Eurofighter to IAF
The British government is �pushing hard� for India to purchase the Eurofighter for the IAF, an Indian MP currently on a visit to London has revealed.
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US keeps the powder dry
US air strikes on Iran would vastly exceed the scope of the 1981 Israeli attack on the Osirak nuclear center in Iraq, and would more resemble the opening days of the 2003 air campaign against Iraq. Two dozen suspect nuclear sites would be targeted.
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F/A-22 on track to go operational
Lt. Col. Evan Thomas, a Raptor pilot who commands the 411th Flight Test Squadron at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., said testing finished ahead of schedule. The F/A-22 performed well in recently completed operational testing and is on track to go operational in December.
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Iran and China linked to Ukraine missiles
An investigation by the Ukrainian secret police has found that Iran and China bought long-range 12 Kh-55s air-to-ground cruise missiles in 1999-2001.
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Bulgaria's Govt Scraps Boeing Tender
The Bulgarian government suspended the tender for leasing a Boeing 737-500 due to the high price of the sole bid offered.
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Air Force celebrates 85th anniversary in style
The South African Air Force (SAAF) celebrated its 85th anniversary Feb. 1 with a flypast that brought traffic to a standstill outside Pretoria.
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New River squadron heads out
The first of several East Coast-based U.S. Marine squadrons headed into western Iraq left New River Air Station on Tuesday.
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Wednesday, February 02, 2005
Air Vectors : Updates
The following Air Vectors articles were updated recently: The Boeing B-47 (v2.1.2), The Kawanishi H6K "Mavis" & H8K "Emily" (v2.0.1), The Lockheed F-117 Stealth Fighter (v2.1.1) and The Douglas C-47 Dakota (v1.2.1).
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USS Kitty Hawk sailors recount rescue after F/A-18 night landing accident
A F/A-18F Super Hornet crew from Strike Fighter Squadron 102 was attempting a night recovery, or landing, when the No. 3 arresting gear wire parted. This is an account of their rescue.
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HMS Invincible leads Royal Navy strike force on major exercises in Middle East
Aircraft carrier HMS Invincible left Portsmouth on 17 January 2005 to lead a Royal Navy strike force on a series of exercises in the Mediterranean and Middle East spanning three months.
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High-level talks in Ankara lead to new $1.5b arms deals between Turkey, Israel
Israel and Turkey are currently discussing the refurbishment of another 48 of the Turkish air force's F-4 Phantoms. Turkey is also looking into the possibility of purchasing Israeli-made Harpy unmanned aerial vehicles.
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Arroyo promotes eight Air Force officers
Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo recently signed the promotions of eight officers of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) to the next higher ranks, where three generals were elevated to two-stars ranks, while five others were given a one-star promotion.
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Conversions of jetliners in China draw attention
The Bush administration is investigating whether China illegally converted Boeing commercial jetliners into a military surveillance aircraft in violation of U.S. export laws. A Boeing 737 was photographed during a recent air show in Zhuhai, China, with what appeared to be a protruding radar dome, or "radome," on the forward part of its fuselage.
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Boeing Upgrades French AWACS Radar
Boeing recently completed upgrading the first of four French E-3F AWACS aircraft with a Radar System Improvement Program (RSIP) kit, ahead of schedule. The modification is part of a $133 million foreign military sales contract with Hanscom, Air Force Base.
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�Line of Sight� test brings out tactical side of X-45A
Joint-unmanned-combat-air-systems test team officials at Edwards Air Force Base successfully demonstrated a transfer of command and control using line-of-sight capabilities on two unmanned X-45A aircraft Jan. 27.
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F/A-22 passes initial operational test, evaluation
Initial operational test and evaluation report released by the U.S. Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center found the F/A-22 demonstrated �overwhelmingly effective� warfighting capability.
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The F/A-22, in Fire and Flak
Air Force Association magazine takes a look at the F/A-22 developments in 2004.
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AgustaWestland to shed 640 jobs
AgustaWestland has announced 640 job losses just four days after an aircraft it designed was chosen for the US presidential fleet. AgustaWestland, now owned by Finmeccanica of Italy, added it would have needed to cut more jobs if it were not for the presidential fleet order.
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Chetak copter upgraded with new engine
The Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) has begun upgrading and re-engineering the Chetak and Cheetah helicopters with a new engine. The prototype of the upgraded version, christened Chetan, was test flown on Tuesday.
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Unclear Whether Lawmakers Will Try To Alter VXX Award
It is not clear whether any lawmakers on Capitol Hill will move to block or change the Navy contract for a team led by Lockheed Martin Corp. to provide the next fleet of presidential helicopters.
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C-130 crash may be due to mid-air failure
Military investigators have not ruled out mid-air mechanical or structural failure as the cause of the crash of a RAF C-130 Hercules in northern Iraq.
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DRS Technologies Receives $153 Million in New Orders for U.S. Army Helicopter Sighting System Support
DRS Technologies, Inc. announced that it has received $153 million in new contracts to support the infrared sighting systems on the U.S. Army�s OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopters.
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Vinson Strike Group Deploys Following Successful Completion of JTFEX
The USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) Strike Group will depart San Diego Feb. 1 to begin an around-the-world deployment.
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Tuesday, February 01, 2005
Lockheed Martin Receives $532 Million Production Contract Initiating International Sales of Battle-Proven PAC-3 Missile
Lockheed Martin has received a $532 million contract for 156 PAC-3 Missiles for the U.S. Army, the Netherlands and Japan. This represents the first international sales of the battle-proven PAC-3 Missiles.
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Operation Deep Freeze sees end of C-141 Starlifter era
This season marks the end of an era for the C-141s, which have supported Operation Deep Freeze, resupply of McMurdo Station located on Ross Island, Antarctic , since the 1960s.
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Historic air veterans group flies last sortie
The 2nd Bomb Wing Association, formed by veterans who served in the nation's oldest bombardment wing from 1948 to the early 1960s, will be dissolved.
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Vigilante UAV fires rockets while under control of UH-1 command helicopter
Under command from a UH-1 flying alongside, a Vigilante UAV fired Hydra-70 rockets at the U.S. Army?s Yuma Test Center in Yuma Arizona.
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Abraham Lincoln Answers the Call in Banda Aceh
Sailors from USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2 have been answering the call for volunteers to support humanitarian assistance and disaster relief in Aceh Province, Sumatra, Indonesia, since the ship arrived on station in the Indian Ocean Jan. 1 in support of Operation Unified Assistance.
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Pakistan needs F-16 aircrafts: Masood Khan
Pakistan Foreign office spokesman Masood Ahmed Khan has said that F-16 aircrafts are a need for Pakistan and a meeting about this issue would be held between the Pak-US defence advisory group in February.
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Treat Commander of UAE Air Force as a National Guest
Major General Khalid, commander of the UAE Air Force, will visit Korea for four nights and five days starting from January 31. UAE is a potential buyer of the T-50 supersonic trainer.
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Boeing's Little Bird flys high by remote control
The Boeing Co. is developing a modified unmanned MD 530F helicopter with remote operating technology that also could be installed in the Apache Longbow helicopters.
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Boeing Joint Helmet-Mounted Cueing System Begins Aft Seat Testing in F/A-18
Boeing started flight tests at Naval Air Warfare Center China Lake, Calif., as part of the integration of the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) into the aft cockpits of the U.S. Navy�s F/A-18 Hornet. This flight is a first step in a flight test program that will include integration tests for F/A-18D and F/A-18F aircraft.
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Malaysia still talking to buy Airbus A400M
Malaysia was still negotiating Sunday with Airbus Military for the proposed purchase of the A400M aircaft to replace the existing C-130 Hercules planes.
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Israel Aircraft Industries unmanned plane in final stretch of US Army tender
The U.S. army will soon choose between the Hunter 2 or the American Warrior unmanned aerial vehicle.
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Arab TV shows 'shooting down' of British plane
A videotape purportedly showing the shooting down of an RAF C-130 Hercules aircraft in Iraq was broadcast on Monday night by al-Jazeera television channel.
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EADS: 12 Cougars and 6 Panthers for the Bulgarian Ministry of Defense
12 AS 532 AL Cougar helicopters will be delivered to the Bulgarian Air Force. Eight of these aircraft will perform tactical transport missions and the four others will fly Combat SAR missions. Six AS 565 MB Panther helicopters for the Bulgarian Navy which will perform sea surveillance and search and rescue missions; along with anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface operations.
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Nicaragua seeks stash of missiles
The Nicaraguan government is nvestigating whether its military is hiding stashes of SA-7 missiles after Nicaraguan police seized one of the Soviet-made missiles from black marketeers during a U.S.-assisted sting operation in Managua, Nicaragua.
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