October 06, 2011 Military Aviation News

Boeing P-8I Aircraft Completes 1st Flight

10/06/2011

Boeing's first P-8I aircraft for the Indian Navy completed its initial flight today, taking off from Renton Field at 12:02 p.m. Pacific time and landing two hours and 31 minutes later at Boeing Field in Seattle. During the flight, Boeing test pilots performed airborne systems checks including engine accelerations and decelerations and autopilot flight modes, and took the P-8I to a maximum altitude of 41,000 feet prior to landing.

Boeing wins C-17 support contract worth up to $11.7 billion

10/06/2011

The Department of Defense awarded a contract worth up to $11.7 billion to Boeing Co. for support and maintenance of its C-17 aircraft to the U.S. military and global allies. The award comes less than a week after the Chicago-based company won a contract modification worth up to half a billion for similar services.

Russia and India – military cooperation on steady track

10/06/2011

Russian defense minister Anatoly Serdyukov was quoted as saying that “solutions have been found to a number of problem issues of India-Russia defense cooperation”. Mr. Serdyukov also expressed hope that “India is regarding military and technical cooperation as one of the key areas of partnership with Russia”. Mr. Antony in his turn noted that “Russia has always been the unique strategic partner that India relies upon”.

F-35B performs first takeoff from amphib

10/06/2011

A Marine Corps F-35B Joint Strike Fighter aircraft performed the first short takeoff from an amphibious assault ship early Tuesday. Piloted by Marine Lt. Col. Fred Shenk, BF-2 lifted from the deck of the amphib Wasp at 8:45 a.m., Joint Strike Fighter Program Office officials confirmed.

High-End Missiles Missing From Libya

10/06/2011

U.S. officials are still confused about why Libya’s stockpile of new, advanced SA-24 Grinch man-portable air defense systems (Manpads) were not fired at NATO aircraft during the battle to oust Moammar Gadhafi. The weapons are perhaps the most sophisticated, light, anti-aircraft missiles made by Russia, and they are certainly the most sought after by insurgents shopping the black market.

NATO divided on future of Libyan air campaign

10/06/2011

Members of the NATO military alliance parted company Wednesday over how quickly to halt the six-month bombing campaign in Libya, and the dangers of doing so if fighters loyal to Moammar Gadhafi, the country's deposed strongman, are still engaged in armed resistance.

Army grounds its CH-47D Chinook fleet

10/06/2011

The army has grounded its fleet of five CH-47D Chinook helicopters, while it sorts out a problem with the aircraft's flight control system. Brigadier Neil Turton, director-general of aviation, said the temporary suspension of flight operations would ensure safety and was consistent with Army Operational Airworthiness procedures. He said the issues had been identified in the CH-47D's Advanced Flight Control System (AFCS).

The Navy and Marine Corps Select Lockheed Martin/Kaman Unmanned K-MAX for Afghanistan Deployment

10/06/2011

The Marine Corps will deploy the Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] and Kaman [NASDAQ-GS: KAMN] unmanned K-MAX® to Afghanistan next month. The decision follows the successful completion of a five-day Quick Reaction Assessment for the U.S. Navy’s Cargo Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) program. A formal report, released last week by Commander Operational Test and Evaluation Force, confirmed that the unmanned K-MAX exceeded the Navy and Marines’ requirement to deliver 6,000 pounds of cargo per day.

Ukraine Air Force to get three An-70 cargo planes

10/06/2011

The Ukrainian Air Force will take delivery of three An-70 military transport aircraft, Defense Minister Mikhaylo Yezhel said on Wednesday. The first plane will be delivered "in the very near future," he said. Asked whether Ukraine would be able to make An-70s without Russia, the minister said: "It's already making them."

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