November, 2010 Military Aviation News

Final AW159 Lynx Wildcat Test Aircraft Makes Its Maiden Flight

11/30/2010

AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that the third and final AW159 test aircraft successfully completed its maiden flight on November 19th at AgustaWestland’s Yeovil facility in the UK. During its maiden flight a range of general handling checks were completed and it performed as expected.

Saudi Arabia National Guard to launch air wing with $25bn helicopter purchase

11/30/2010

Saudi Arabia's National Guard (SANG) is to be a key beneficiary of the mega arms deal with the USA and will directly lead to the creation of a new air arm.

UK Government underlines strong support for the Eurofighter Typhoon Campaign in India

11/30/2010

UK's Secretary of State for Defence Dr. Liam Fox visited the Eurofighter Typhoon Office in New Delhi today and met high-level company officials. Bernhard Gerwert, CEO of Cassidian Air Systems and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Eurofighter GmbH, briefed Dr. Liam Fox on the current status of the Eurofighter Typhoon campaign to win India’s tender for 126 Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA).

S. Korea, U.S. to hold maritime interdiction, aerial interception drills

11/30/2010

South Korea and the United States plan to stage maritime interdiction and aerial interception drills Tuesday on the third day of major naval exercises in the Yellow Sea aimed at warning North Korea against any future provocations, military officials here said.

Dogfight Erupts Over Costly Jet Engine .

11/30/2010

At stake is a program to develop an alternate engine for the Joint Strike Fighter, a stealthy, supersonic jet supposed to be the backbone of the U.S. fighter fleet for the next three decades. For the past four years, Congress has funded the development of the second engine against the wishes of the Pentagon, which maintains that only a Pratt & Whitney engine should be funded.

Army unit flies new unmanned aircraft in Iraq

11/29/2010

An Army unit deployed to Camp Taji, Iraq, is shaping the future of the Army’s unmanned aircraft systems program with a handful of its newest aircraft, the MQ-1C Gray Eagle.

Maintenance, security needs will cause fighter jet costs to soar

11/29/2010

Canada's new stealth fighter aircraft will require extensive maintenance, as well as very expensive changes to improve security at the military bases they operate from, according to Defence Department documents obtained by the Ottawa Citizen.

Fightercraft makers battle for lucrative Turkish market

11/29/2010

The playing field, however, is unequal as Turkey has already selected the JSF as its next fighter aircraft type and plans to buy about 100 F-35 aircraft worth nearly $15 billion. Many Turkish companies are members of the nine-nation JSF consortium and are producing parts for the aircraft.

S. Korea, U.S. start naval drills near N. Korean border

11/29/2010

South Korea and the United States began on Sunday large-scale joint naval exercises in the Yellow Sea just days after North Korea's artillery attack on a South Korean island that killed four people, the Yonhap news agency said.

US and S.Korea plan naval show of force off tense peninsula

11/28/2010

US and South Korean naval forces plan to stage four days of war games from Sunday off the tense Korean peninsula, days after the North launched a deadly artillery strike against the South.

Schwartz: AF ready to respond to Korea attack

11/28/2010

The Air Force stands ready to respond if hostilities between North Korea and South Korea escalate, the service’s top uniformed officer said, but American fighter jets remained at their normal alert status a day after a North Korean artillery attack.

Tanker, F-35 and Korea Transfix USAF

11/28/2010

Could bad luck be coming in threes for the U.S. Air Force? This month, officials were sacked from the tanker-replacement program, concern grew about another slip in the F-35’s initial operating date, and South Korea is enduring the worst attack by North Korea in more than 50 years.

Russian-made cargo plane crashes in Pakistan, 8 crew dead

11/28/2010

A Russian-made Il-76 cargo plane crashed early Sunday in a Karachi residential neighborhood, killing all eight crewmembers and destroying several buildings under construction, CNN reported.

US delivers six F-16 aircraft to Pakistan

11/27/2010

Pakistan on Saturday received six new F-16 C/D Block 52 high tech aircraft from the United States.

Russia denies US reports of slip in Iraq helicopter deal

11/27/2010

Russian helicopter deliveries to Iraq are proceeding as planned, a source in the Russian aircraft industry said on Thursday, in response to American claims that deliveries are over-budget and late.

Russia wants NATO to resolve Afghan helicopter deal

11/27/2010

Russia hopes that NATO will resolve the problems in financing a deal on the delivery of Mi-17 multipurpose helicopters to Afghanistan, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday.

India made electronic warfare systems for IAF Mig-29s and LCA

11/25/2010

Indian Air Force(IAF)’s Mig-29 and the home-made ’Tejus’ Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) will have electronic warfare(EW) systems developed by India’s DRDO from next year onwards. The older Mig-27 fighters are being equipped this year and operational trials are scheduled next year.

LCA Tejas Falls Short of Earlier Expectations

11/25/2010

As India’s homegrown Light Combat Aircraft (LCA Tejas) nears critical initial operational clearance next month, Indian air force officials say the aircraft will fail to meet performance requirements laid down by the service for the limited-profile Mk.1 platform.

Dive, dive, dive! How amateur pilot in a Cessna caused chaos to 29-plane RAF formation marking the Queen's Birthday

11/25/2010

An amateur pilot in a Cessna caused chaos to an RAF fly-past marking the Queen's Birthday when he strayed into its flight path.

Sweden to Sell More Gripen Fighters to Thailand

11/24/2010

Sweden Tuesday reached an agreement with Thailand on selling another six JAS 39 Gripen fighters with peripheral equipment, according to a statement from Swedish Ministry of Defense.

North Korea bombs South Korea's Yeonpyeong island; Seoul scrambles F-16 jets

11/23/2010

South Korea has launched F-16 fighter jets and returned fire after North Korea shot around 200 artillery shells on to a populated South Korean island near the countries' western border.

Poland to host U.S. jets and C-130s

11/23/2010

A senior military official in Poland says the U.S. Air Force will deploy F-16 jet fighters and C-130 Hercules transport planes in the country by 2013.

Pilot dies as UAE military plane crashes in RAK

11/23/2010

A UAE military aircraft crashed in Wadi Al Bih in Ras Al Khaimah on Monday morning, killing its pilot who was the only person on board.

Second prototype fifth-generation fighter to fly before yearend

11/23/2010

Flight trials of the second prototype of Sukhoi's fifth-generation T-50 fighter aircraft are due before the end of the year, Sukhoi holding CEO Mikhail Pogosyan said on Monday.

Lockheed Martin Receives $15.6 Million to Produce Paveway II Enhanced Laser Guided Trainings Rounds for the U.S. Navy

11/23/2010

Lockheed Martin received a $15.6 million contract to produce paveway II Enhanced Laser Guided Training Rounds (ELGTR) for the U.S. Navy. This award is for the first year of a planned three-year procurement that will maintain continuous production on the ELGTR, with work under this contract beginning in the third quarter of 2011 at Lockheed Martin’s Archbald, PA, operation.

Lockheed Martin’s JAGM Hits Target From 6 Kilometers

11/23/2010

Lockheed Martin scored a hit on a main battle tank at six kilometers in a company-funded, multiple-mission firing of its Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM). The complex flight test, at White Sands Missile Range, NM, demonstrated the ability of the imaging infrared (I2R) sensor in the missile’s cooled tri-mode seeker to lock on before launch at extended range.

Chengdu J-10 Next Variant Developing

11/22/2010

The J-10’s evolution mirrors that of another famous single-engine fighter aircraft, the Lockheed Martin F-16 in more than one respect.

US to deliver six F-16 Pak

11/22/2010

Pakistan, increasing its fleet of warplanes, is all set receive six more new F-16 from the US on Saturday, the defence sources said.

Tejas' debut flight in operational configuration

11/22/2010

India's light combat aircraft Tejas, in its march towards operational status, achieved an important milestone today when it made its first flight.

U.S. Air Force Should Buy New C-17s, Not Fixed-Up C-5s

11/22/2010

When does a promise to cut government spending result in $8 billion of new government waste? When Defense Department procurement is involved.

Chinese Combat Aircraft Exports Hit 2010 Milestones

11/22/2010

This year has seen several notable achievements in China’s progression as a manufacturer and supplier of front-line military aircraft to export customers. Much positive publicity was earned by the public debut of Pakistan’s JF-17 fighters at the Farnborough Airshow—with JF-17s again featuring here at Airshow China.

China emerging as player in global arms trade

11/21/2010

China is emerging as a competitor in the international arms market, offering increasingly sophisticated fighter jets, missiles and equipment that are beginning to rival Russia and other longtime exporters.

Russian MiG-31 fighter crashes in Urals, pilots eject

11/21/2010

A Russian MiG-31 Foxhound interceptor/fighter crashed on Friday in the Perm region of the Urals, but the pilots ejected safely.

Iran test-fires new air-defense missile

11/21/2010

Iran has successfully test-fired a domestically designed air-defense system that has the same capabilities as the Russian-made S-300, a top Iranian military official said on Saturday.

$3.5 Billion Full-Funding Contract Awarded For Fourth Lot Of Lockheed Martin F-35s

11/21/2010

Lockheed Martin has received a $3.5 billion contract modification from the U.S. Department of Defense to manufacture 31 F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters in the fourth lot of low-rate initial production (LRIP). The contract also funds manufacturing-support equipment, flight test instrumentation and ancillary mission equipment. Including the long-lead funding previously received, the total contract value for LRIP 4 is $3.9 billion.

Boeing Delivers US Navy's 10th C-40A Derivative Aircraft

11/21/2010

Boeing today delivered the 10th C-40A transport/cargo aircraft to the U.S. Navy. The Boeing 737-700 commercial derivative was modified at the company’s Wichita facility for its Navy mission.

Rescue Efforts Conclude for Elmendorf F-22 Pilot

11/19/2010

In the wake of conclusive evidence that the pilot of a crashed F-22 did not eject from his aircraft, search and rescue operations have ceased.

Missing F-22 pilot identified

11/19/2010

The pilot of the F-22 aircraft that crashed Tuesday night has been identified as Capt. Jeffrey Haney, assigned to the 525th Fighter Squadron. Capt. Haney’s current status is missing.

Navy buys 19 AESA radar systems from Raytheon to retrofit F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighter-bombers

11/19/2010

The U.S. Navy is buying 19 AN/APG-79 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar systems from the Raytheon Co. Space and Airborne Systems segment in El Segundo, Calif., to retrofit F/A-18E/F Super Hornet carrier-based jet fighter-bombers.

Ukraine halts funding of An-70 transport aircraft program

11/19/2010

The Ukrainian Defense Ministry will not fund the joint Russia-Ukraine Antonov An-70 transport aircraft project, the Nezavisimaya Gazeta daily said on Thursday.

Pakistan buys Chinese missiles, eager to purchase more

11/19/2010

Pakistan has bought Chinese missiles and avionics for its 250 JF- 17 Thunder jet fighters, Air Force chief Rao Qamar Suleman said on Thursday.

Russia, India 'likely' to sign 5G fighter contract in December

11/19/2010

Russia and India are highly likely to sign a fifth-generation fighter design contract in December, Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov said on Thursday.

Boeing, Royal Australian Air Force Complete 1st Year of In-country C-17 Pilot Training

11/19/2010

Boeing and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) today announced they have successfully completed the first year of in-country Pilot Initial Qualification (PIQ) training for the C-17 Globemaster III airlifter.

Bidders Await Japanese F-X RFP

11/18/2010

Japan is expected to soon issue a long-awaited request for proposals for its F-X fighter competition, despite a media report that the country has settled on the Lockheed Martin F-35 as a future combat aircraft.

US military deploys upgraded A-10 attack aircraft in S Korea

11/18/2010

The US military has deployed an upgraded A-10 Thunderbolt II ground attack aircraft to its base in South Korea.

Iraq vulnerable to air attack in 2012

11/18/2010

Iraq, which has no combat aircraft, will be vulnerable to an air attack for at least a year after American troops leave at the end of 2011, the spokesman for US forces in the country said on Wednesday.

Britain's move on F-35 will not affect US Marines

11/18/2010

Britain's decision to buy a different version of the F-35 fighter jet will not dramatically raise the cost of the aircraft for the US Marine Corps, a military official said Tuesday.

Military says jet wreckage found near Denali National Park; rescuers search for pilot

11/18/2010

Search and rescue aircraft discovered what military officials believed to be the wreckage of a missing Air Force F-22 jet on Wednesday south of Denali National Park in Alaska.

Elmendorf-Richardson F-22 Reported Missing

11/17/2010

According to a news release sent by Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, the status of the overdue F-22 has been changed to Missing.

Elmendorf-Richardson F-22 Overdue - Search Underway

11/17/2010

A Lockheed-Martin F-22, assigned to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, lost contact with air traffic controllers while on a training mission.

Security Pact Remains U.S.-India Hurdle

11/17/2010

The Indian air force is exploring upgrade options for U.S. military aircraft that will be handed over without key capabilities in the absence of an agreement governing those systems.

“PLA Air Force” becomes highlight at Zhuhai Air Show

11/17/2010

11 types of military aircraft of the PLA Air Force participate in this air show. They are not only fighters in service such as the world renowned J-10 fighter and “Flying Leopard ” fighter-bomber, but the “KJ-200” early warning aircraft praised as “Balance Beam” by military lovers.

Russia, China to address illegal arms production issue

11/17/2010

Russia and China have agreed to resolve the issue of the illegal production of Russian arms in China, a deputy head of Russian arms exporter Rosoboronexport said on Tuesday.

Russia ready to sell Su-35 fighter jets to China

11/17/2010

Russia's state-run arms exporter Rosoboronexport said on Tuesday it was ready to hold talks with China on the delivery of advanced Su-35 fighter aircraft to the Chinese air force.

Russia ready to deliver Mi-171 helicopters to Afghanistan

11/17/2010

Russia's state-run arms exporter Rosoboronexport will compete in a helicopter tender for the U.S. anti-terrorism campaign in Afghanistan.

Russia to sell additional RD-93 jet engines to China

11/17/2010

Russia's state-run arms exporter Rosoboronexport is preparing a contract for the delivery of additional RD-93 jet engines to China, a senior official from the company said on Tuesday.

Boeing Delivers UK Royal Air Force's 7th C-17 Globemaster III

11/17/2010

The Boeing Company delivered the United Kingdom’s seventh C-17 Globemaster III to the Royal Air Force (RAF) today during a ceremony at Boeing’s final assembly facility in Long Beach.

Sukhoi flight testing Su-34 fighter bombers

11/16/2010

Russian aircraft manufacturer Sukhoi has begun flight testing of a new batch of Su-34 fighter bombers ahead of their delivery to the Russian Air Force by this year-end.

Military eyes resurrecting airships for cargo transport

11/16/2010

The Army and the U.S. Transportation Command are looking into using updated versions of the ill-fated German Hindenburg airship and the Navy's USS Macon dirigible to transport cargo in support of combat and humanitarian operations.

Emirates boost U.S. arms purchases

11/16/2010

The U.S. Department of Defense plans to sell the United Arab Emirates 60 Boeing AH-64D Apache strike helicopters worth $5 billion - even as Washington turns up the heat on the Persian Gulf state to curb trade with Iran.

USA approves export of Czech-made combat planes

11/16/2010

The United States has approved the exports of five Czech L-159 ALCA combat aircraft, including parts made by U.S. firms, that are to be swapped for one Spanish CASA transport plane, the Czech Defence Ministry confirmed to Friday's daily Hospodarske noviny (HN).

Lockheed Martin F-35 Begins Flying Block 1 Software

11/16/2010

The fundamental building block for all future avionics software on the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter has entered flight testing on an F-35 test jet.

Time to Upgrade Outmoded Military Aircraft

11/15/2010

The RF-4C was produced in the U.S. in 1966, and the Air Force bought and recycled them in 1990s after the U.S. Forces Korea retired them in 1989. Spain bought the same reconnaissance aircraft at around the same time and retired them in 2002, but the Korean Air Force still operates 20 to monitor North Korea.

China to host global aircraft expo Nov 16

11/15/2010

Beijing, Nov 9 (IANS) About 70 aircraft models from across the globe will be showcased at the upcoming international aviation expo Nov 16 in China, a media report said Tuesday.

Five Females Seeking to Fly for Afghan Air Force

11/15/2010

Masooma Hussaini's path to becoming one of the Aghan air force's first female military pilot candidates began with a TV advertisement encouraging young women to join.

US Offer of Used Fighter Jets Fails to Fly With Lawmakers

11/15/2010

Lawmakers are not particularly impressed with the United States offer of 24 secondhand F-16 fighters, which would more than double the current Air Force fleet of 10 F-16s.

U.K. Outlines Defense Review Follow-up Plan

11/14/2010

The U.K. Defense Ministry has revealed its first detailed road map of how to implement many of the changes spelled out in the Strategic Defense and Security Review (SDSR).

Nordic defence cooperation could save RAF base

11/14/2010

SNP Westminster Leader and MP for Moray, Angus Robertson has been to Norway to explore the possibility of defence cooperation with the Nordic country as a way to secure the future of the threatened airbase at RAF Lossiemouth.

Military spending and arms procurement in the Gulf states

11/14/2010

Recent increases in military spending and arms procurement by the eight states bordering the Gulf – Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) – have revived widespread discussion about the possible impacts of military build-ups in the region.

Pratt gets deal worth $1 billion

11/14/2010

Pratt & Whitney will get more than $1 billion in jet-engine orders through a contract announced during President Barack Obama's trade trip to India and Asia.

Greater Appetite for Unpiloted Aircraft in Combat Zones Fuels Demand for Simulators

11/13/2010

The growing demand for unmanned spy aircraft in combat zones has increased the burden on training organizations that are being asked to produce more operators, and faster.

In major shift, DRDO looks at building arms with America

11/13/2010

India is co-developing and building missiles and military aircraft with Russia; it is co-developing missiles with Israel. But targeted American sanctions, and a Washington licence raj that stifles the outflow of military technology, has ensured that India's Defence R&D Organisation (DRDO) has never co-developed weaponry with the world's most evolved and high-tech defence industry - that of the United States.

First deliveries of F-35s appear delayed

11/13/2010

The first delivery of F-35s was expected this month at Eglin Air Force Base, where pilot and support training squadrons were formed for Air Force, Navy and Marines in April 2010. But the first two aircraft are now destined for Edwards Air Force Base in April 2011.

The arms race goes through India, Emirates and Israel: the military aircraft are the most sold

11/13/2010

SIPRI, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, published on Wednesday a report about the transfer of armaments at a global level. It was found that over the past five years, the military fighter aircraft are a third of the world exports of major armaments. United States come out to be the main sellers, while the most important buyers for number of orders are India, Emirates, and Israel.

Boeing Completes 1st Wedgetail AEW&C Mission Crew Training Course for Royal Australian Air Force

11/13/2010

Boeing and Number 2 Squadron personnel from the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) have delivered the first Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) mission crew training course at RAAF Base Williamtown, New South Wales.

Russia tests engine for Indian fighter jet

11/12/2010

Russia has started in-flight tests of an Indian domestically-designed gas turbine engine for an indigenous light fighter, state-run arms exporter Rosoboronexport said.

Boeing Opens New P-8 Production Facility in Seattle

11/12/2010

Boeing today celebrated the opening of a new P-8 aircraft production facility near Boeing Field in Seattle. The refurbished factory gives Boeing and its P-8 teammates the space they need to install mission systems and conduct tests on aircraft for current and future customers.

Aviation Nation show set for Nellis

11/11/2010

Parking lots at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway open at 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday for the public to take buses to the annual Aviation Nation air show at Nellis Air Force Base.

DSA delivers first production A400 top shells to Airbus

11/11/2010

South Africa’s contribution to the Airbus Military A400M programme has taken another step forward with the delivery of the first set of production top shells for the aircraft’s fuselage to the planemaker this week. Six pre-production sets have previously been delivered.

Upgraded Boeing F-15Cs Arrive at US Air Force’s Kadena Air Base

11/11/2010

Boeing and U.S. Air Force officials at Kadena Air Base celebrated the arrival of four F-15Cs upgraded with the APG-63(V)3 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar on Oct. 21. The newly arrived F-15Cs will join the APG-63(V)1 and (V)2 aircraft already in the 44th and 67th Fighter Squadrons to provide unmatched combat power for the defense of Japan.

One million combat flight hours flown by US Army unmanned aircraft

11/11/2010

The US Army's unmanned aircraft fleet surpassed the 1 million combat flight hours mark on 27 October 2010. Earlier in 2010, the Army's unmanned aircraft fleet achieved a historic milestone of 1 million flight hours, of which roughly 89 percent of those hours flown were "combat flight hours" or approximately 884,000 hours.

California's Mystery Contrail Likely an Aircraft, Pentagon Says

11/11/2010

The Pentagon concluded that a contrail videotaped off the Southern California coast this week probably was caused by a non-military aircraft, a spokesman said.

Russia signs $54-mln arms contract with Indonesia

11/11/2010

Russia started the first day at an arms show in Jakarta with a contract on the delivery of munitions for Sukhoi-family fighters to Indonesia, worth $54 million, a senior defense official said on Wednesday.

Pilot ejects as Indian MiG-27 crashes

11/11/2010

An Indian air force MiG-27 ground attack aircraft crashed in Rajasthan, western India, on Wednesday according to the IANS news agency. The pilot ejected safely.

Combat aircraft top international arms sales: think tank

11/10/2010

Combat planes account for one third of all global arms transfers, with the United States topping the list of sellers and India, the United Arab Emirates and Israel the biggest buyers, according to the SIPRI think tank.

India may have to pay more for C-17 airlifters: Boeing

11/10/2010

The 10 Boeing C-17 heavy airlifters the Indian Air Force (IAF) wants to buy could cost much more than the $4.1 billion initially tagged, Boeing says, a sure sign that hard bargaining is on the cards.

Kazakhstan teams up with Sagem Defense to build UAVs

11/10/2010

Kazakhstan Engineering and Sagem Defense Security have signed a deal to set up a joint venture to manufacture tactical unmanned aerial vehicles, the Kazakh company said on Tuesday.

First Navy F-35 Arrives At Pax River

11/10/2010

The first F-35C Lightning II carrier variant, the U.S. Navy’s first stealth fighter, arrived at Naval Air Station (NAS) Patuxent River, Md., on Saturday, Nov. 6 at 2:37 p.m.

Boeing Receives $106 Million Small Diameter Bomb Contract Extension

11/10/2010

Boeing today announced it has received a $106 million contract extension from the U.S. Air Force for nearly 2,700 Small Diameter Bomb Increment I (SDB I) munitions and approximately 380 BRU-61 carriages.

IAI delivers converted tanker

11/09/2010

Israel Aerospace Industries has delivered a converted B767-200ER Multi-Mission Tanker Transport to the Colombian air force.

Qatar Targets 2012 Fighter Decision

11/09/2010

Evaluation of program candidates has begun, the service’s commander, Brig. Gen. Mubarak Bin Mohammed Al-Khayarin, tells the Shephard Air Power Middle East conference here. The goal is to make a type selection before the end of 2012.

F-35 Delays Speed Up UAV Development

11/09/2010

Unable to buy new aircraft designs (because they are too expensive, or simply take too long to get into service), and facing the prospect of unmanned aircraft (UAVs) displacing more and more manned ones, the American military is spending a growing chunk of its budgets on upgrading and refurbishing the combat aircraft they already have.

Fighter delivers a costly lesson

11/08/2010

Not for the first time, the Joint Strike Fighter is making headlines for all of the wrong reasons - cost and schedule overruns and cancelled orders. This is not good news when the aircraft is the planned future of Australia's air combat force.

UK closes in on $11bn fighter deal

11/07/2010

The multi-role combat aircraft, manufactured by a joint venture between Britain's BAE Systems, Italy's Alenia Aeronautica and the German-Spanish giant EADS, has come top in the Indian Air Force's technical assessment of rival bids, beating the American F16 and F18s, the Russian MiG 35 and its closest rival, the French Dassault Rafale.

India-U.S. business deals

11/07/2010

The Obama administration said Saturday that U.S.-India trade deals support 53,670 U.S. jobs and have a total value of $9.5 billion in U.S. export content.

Final deal to build Europe's A400M military plane

11/07/2010

European governments have agreed a final funding deal for the 20bn euro (£17.3bn) programme to build a new military transport aircraft.

Refurbished F-16s On Their Way to Chile

11/06/2010

The first F-16s that the Netherlands have sold to Chile took off from Leeuwarden Air Base this morning on their way to their new home in Antofagasta.

Arab Gulf States on a Puzzling Arms-Buying Spree

11/06/2010

Mystery shrouds high levels of military spending and arms procurement in the Gulf states among which Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates stand out, says a new document by the eminent Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

New fighter faces new delay, cost hike

11/06/2010

Details of an upcoming report on JSF technical progress, leaked in the United States, point to higher costs and further delays in the program which is already running around four years late.

New life support system for combat aircraft

11/06/2010

The ILSS technology, which was hitherto developed by only a few advanced countries, enables a fighter pilot to venture to the limits of the aircraft capability in terms of flight altitudes and G(gravitational)-forces.

US prods industry for F-22 fighter successor ideas

11/06/2010

The U.S. Air Force has begun peering into the far blue yonder for a futuristic aircraft to replace Lockheed Martin Corp's (LMT.N) F-22 fighter, a move that has cheered the aerospace industry.

Brazil near selection of fighter jets

11/05/2010

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has said that one of his priorities in the coming weeks will be to decide on a multibillion-dollar fighter jet tender with his successor, Dilma Rousseff.

Lockheed reassures India over F-16 fighter

11/05/2010

Lockheed Martin said it improved its version of the F16IN Super Viper on offer to India under the country's largest ever combat aircraft tender.

General visits Maine's 101st Air Refueling Wing

11/05/2010

The U.S. Air Force is giving assurances that a program that provides aerial refueling of military aircraft going to and from Europe and the Middle East won't be dismantled altogether -- but it will be scaled back, Sen. Susan Collins said Thursday.

Sukhoi training jet crashes during test flight

11/05/2010

A Su-27UB fighter jet has crashed in Russia’s Far East while it was being tested after having just been repaired. Both pilots ejected in time and were not harmed in the incident.

Upgraded Boeing F-15Cs Arrive at US Air Force’s Kadena Air Base

11/05/2010

Boeing and U.S. Air Force officials at Kadena Air Base celebrated the arrival of four F-15Cs upgraded with the APG-63(V)3 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar on Oct. 21. The newly arrived F-15Cs will join the APG-63(V)1 and (V)2 aircraft already in the 44th and 67th Fighter Squadrons to provide unmatched combat power for the defense of Japan. The upgrades were installed and tested at Langley Air Force Base, Va.

Eurofighter keen to open alliance to India

11/04/2010

The Eurofighter consortium – the UK, Germany, Spain and Italy – is considering inviting India as the fifth partner in its defence alliance should it opt for the Typhoon multirole combat aircraft as part of the modernisation of its air force.

Colombian Air Force Rolls Out First Domestic-Built Trainer

11/04/2010

The Colombian air force on Wednesday unveiled the first military training aircraft built in the Andean nation, the T-90 Calima, and said it expects to assemble 25 units before the end of 2011.

Russia's arms exports: Farewell to arms, hello to profits

11/04/2010

Russia's state-run arms exporter Rosoboronexport accounts for 85% of the country's arms sales worldwide, with the remainder coming from several companies authorized to deal in arms on the global market.

Russia sends 3rd AWACS plane to India

11/04/2010

Russia has completed its part of a contract on the delivery of A-50 Mainstay AWACS aircraft to India, a Russian aircraft industry official said.

Boeing, Korea Aerospace Industries Sign Agreement for Production of F-15 Silent Eagle Conformal Weapons Bay

11/04/2010

Boeing today announced that the company has entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. (KAI) for KAI to design, develop and manufacture the Conformal Weapons Bay (CWB) for the F-15 Silent Eagle.

IAF to upgrade operational capabilities in northeast

11/03/2010

The Indian Air Force (IAF) was going for a “composite upgradation” of its capabilities in the northeast, following which similar steps would be taken in the north, Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik said here on Tuesday.

Egypt orders three Airbus Military C295 aircraft

11/03/2010

The Egyptian Air Force (EAF) will next year take delivery of the first of three Airbus Military C295 military transports. The north African state signed a contract with Airbus Military for the purchase of the three aircraft on Friday.

BAE Systems Says It Has Entered Talks With Dassault On Drones

11/03/2010

U.K. defense giant BAE Systems PLC (BA.LN) Tuesday welcomed U.K.-French defense and security cooperation and said it already had entered negotiations with French jet manufacturer Dassault Aviation SA (AM.FR) on development of a military unmanned aircraft, or drone.

UK, France sign military cooperation deal

11/03/2010

The leaders of Britain and France signed a groundbreaking treaty on defense cooperation Tuesday that would combine many elements of their militaries, British Prime Minister David Cameron announced.

Argentina, Brazil to build cargo plane

11/03/2010

Argentina and Brazil are pooling industrial resources to develop a twin-engine military aircraft that is likely to compete on the international market with manufacturers from the United States and Europe.

Drones to Influence U.K. F-35C Buy

11/02/2010

The development of next generation combat UAVs along with the health of the Royal Air Force’s current fighter fleet will be key factors in determining how many F-35C Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters the United Kingdom buys in the coming years, a senior British defense official said today.

U.K. Devising Post-Nimrod MRA4 Plan

11/02/2010

With the U.K. government’s decision not to field the Nimrod MRA4 maritime patrol aircraft, military planners are now trying to decide how to cover the capability gap.

Two die in Romanian military plane crash: official

11/02/2010

The MiG-21 LanceR plane belonging to the military base of Campia Turzii, central Romania, crashed near the airfield while preparing to land, the ministry said in the statement. The plane was on a weather research mission, preparing instruction flights. An investigation will be launched.

Global Government Spending on Military Aircraft Avionics Systems to Reach $12.9 Billion

11/02/2010

Based on the research, global government spending in 2010 on military aircraft avionics systems, across all platforms, will total $12.9 billion.

Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor Performs Air Demo For First Time Over Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex

11/02/2010

The Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor performed its precision aerobatics at the Fort Worth Alliance Air Show Oct. 30-31, marking the first time the aircraft has demonstrated its aerial capabilities in the skies over the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Russia's defense ministry confirms plans to buy 2 foreign helicopter carriers

11/02/2010

Russia's Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov on Sunday confirmed the ministry's plans to buy two foreign helicopter carriers for the Russian Navy and eventually produce vessels of this class on Russian soil.

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