April 15, 2013 Military Aviation News

Pilots conduct first external lift from USNS Sacagawea

04/15/2013

U.S. Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey pilots conducted the first external lift of a Humvee from the USNS Sacagawea April 11 during exercise Freedom Banner 2013 at Subic Bay, Philippines. U.S. Marines, sailors and civilians aboard the Sacagawea watched as the Osprey lifted the Humvee for the first time off the ship in order to demonstrate its capabilities and plan future lift operations from ship to shore.

Military loss challenges air show

04/15/2013

This year's Lauderdale Air Show is facing headwinds — and possibly diminished crowds — by lack of the popular military acts that in the past set spectators roaring nearly as loud as the jets screaming above them. In its heyday, the air show featured an arsenal of high-powered military aircraft slicing the sky over Fort Lauderdale Beach. There was the Marine Harrier, the U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor, the Air Force B-2 stealth bomber, and Army and Navy pararchute teams.

India to modernise its Russian MiG-29 fleet

04/15/2013

The Indian Air Force will continue operating the MiG-29 fighters it acquired at the end of the 1980s and in the early 1990s until at least the end of the next decade. India has embarked on modernising its Soviet fighters under the MiG-29UPG programme. The main objective of the modernisation is to bring the fighters up to the capability level of the MiG-29K and the MiG-29KUB, which are currently being supplied to the Indian Navy.

Finmeccanica Pulls Trigger On 2,500 Selex ES Cuts

04/15/2013

After streamlining operations at its Alenia Aeronautica unit, Italy’s Finmeccanica is continuing its restructuring mission by preparing to cut more than 2,500 jobs at its Selex ES electronics unit, which employs 17,000.

DoD furloughs: A bad idea at a bad time

04/15/2013

The devastating impact on both America’s military preparedness and its national economy from the proposed furloughs of civilian Defense Department employees could not occur at a more dangerous moment. The move not only places a disproportionate burden on Defense personnel, it also jeopardizes the safety and the economy of the entire nation.

Report: Germany Looking To Buy Weaponized Drones From Israel

04/15/2013

Germany is in talks with Israel to buy weaponized drones for its military that are seen as more technologically advanced than U.S. ones, the weekly Der Spiegel reported. The news magazine’s Monday edition said the German defense ministry had already held two meetings with Israeli military officials, in November 2012 and February 2013, on the proposed purchase.

Sierra Nevada awarded troubleshooting contract for Navy UCAS-D aircraft

04/15/2013

The U.S. Navy has awarded a sole source contract to Sierra Nevada Corp. (SNC) to support troubleshooting, problem resolution, and anomaly investigation associated with the Precision Global Positioning System as part of the existing Unmanned Combat Air System-Demonstration (UCAS-D) program. The Navy made the contract announcement on Friday through the Federal Business Opportunities website.

HAL's trainer pitted as Rs 4,500 cr cheaper than Swiss Pilatus trainer

04/15/2013

A looming test case will soon make clear how serious the defence ministry (MoD) is about its recently expressed intentions to end corruption in arms procurement by indigenising defence production. Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), the Bangalore-based public sector aircraft builder, has challenged the Indian Air Force (IAF)'s plan to purchase more Pilatus trainer aircraft by building a basic trainer aircraft, using its own funding.

Russian Military Inspectors to Fly Over Poland

04/15/2013

Russian military inspectors will make surveillance flights over the territory of Poland under the international Open Skies Treaty within a period starting Monday, the Russian Defense Ministry has reported. Russian experts will conduct the inspection flights on board an Antonov An-30B (Clank) aircraft between April 15 and 19, the ministry said in a statement.

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