November 13, 2012 Military Aviation News
11/13/2012
Qatar's long-running quest to find a new fighter to replace its Mirage 2000s – part of a wider air force modernisation programme – seems to be entering the final phase. The Dassault Rafale, Boeing F-15 and Boeing F/A-18E/F have been slugging it out in the Qatar heat during July, August and September with in-country evaluations taking place.
(Read More...)
11/13/2012
Danish military officials will be visiting Washington this week in a major step toward restarting competition for their fighter replacement program. The delegation will meet with representatives from Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program and Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet.
(Read More...)
11/13/2012
On November 2nd the Chinese J-15S naval fighter made its first flight. This is the two-seat version, with the guy in the rear being the weapons system officer (or WSO). Thus the J-15S is similar to the U.S. Air Force F-15E. During the last decade the U.S. Navy has abandoned two-seat fighter aircraft for carrier operations.
(Read More...)
11/13/2012
In the 1950s, the United States built over 9,000 F-86 Sabres, a key fighter aircraft in the US and allied inventories during the early Cold War period. About half as many F-16s were built in the 1970s. Today, the F-35 is touted to be the next front-line fighter for the United States, as well as for America's friends and allies across the world. It is likely that no more than 3,000 will ever be built, a two-thirds reduction in comparison to the F-86.
(Read More...)
11/13/2012
While continuing to search for a new fighter to replace its ageing F/A-18C/D Hornets, Kuwait is pressing ahead with plans to upgrade 39 aircraft. Jon Lake reports. Unlike most Hornet operators, the Kuwait Air Force (Al Quwwat Aj Jawwaiya Al Kuwaitiya) did little to upgrade its aircraft after delivery of 32 F/A-18Cs and eight F/A-18Ds from October 1991.
(Read More...)
11/13/2012
South Korea has sold twenty of their new KT-1 turboprop flight trainers to Peru in a $200 million deal. Actually, ten of these aircraft will be the KA-1 combat version. Four of the twenty aircraft will be built in South Korea and the other 16 assembled in Peru from South Korean made components. The advanced features, and low price, of the KT-1 version make it a very attractive package.
(Read More...)
11/13/2012
Two stalwarts of Italy's century-old aerospace industry were united on 1 January 2012, when the interests of Alenia Aeronautica and Alenia Aermacchi were merged, creating a new entity with almost 12,000 employees. Now operating under the unified name Alenia Aermacchi, the company produces a range of military trainers - including the M-346 Master - and the C-27J Spartan tactical transport.
(Read More...)
11/13/2012
Kyrgyz and US servicemen are rehearsing joint emergency and anti-terror operations in the country’s Batken region, Kyrgyzstan’s Defense Ministry said on Monday. There are several scenarios for action in a hypothetical emergency situation including the provision of first aid and evacuation, the ministry press service said.
(Read More...)
11/13/2012
Russian military inspectors will begin a survey flight this week above Turkey under the international Open Skies Treaty, Russia’s Defense Ministry said on Monday. A group of Russian experts will conduct the survey flight over the Turkish territory in an Anotonov An-30B aircraft during the period from November 12 and November 16, a spokesman said.
(Read More...)
11/13/2012
Lockheed Martin delivered the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s sixth Mid-Life Upgraded P-3 Orion on Friday, Nov. 9, about 40 days ahead of schedule. This upgrade was completed in 11 months. “This airplane will join the CBP fleet that has been instrumental, through third quarter this year, in interdicting more than 82,000 pounds of cocaine from crossing U.S. borders,” said Ray Burick, Lockheed Martin vice president of P-3 Programs and Greenville Operations.
(Read More...)
All Articles