May 15, 2013 Military Aviation News

Pilot Of Crashed Turkish F-16 Found Dead

05/15/2013

The pilot of a Turkish F-16 fighter jet has been found dead after the aircraft crashed near the Syrian border, the military said late Monday, without providing details of the plane’s mission, VoR Reported. “The debris of the jet and the pilot’s body have been recovered,” according to a military statement published online.

Hagel Presents New Defense Furlough Plan; More Tweaks Possible

05/15/2013

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel on Tuesday confirmed a Pentagon plan to reduce the number of civilian furlough days this year from 14 to 11. Sharp budget cuts are forcing the department to require most civilians to take unpaid leave one day a week for 11 weeks, beginning July 8, Hagel said during a town hall meeting at the Mark Center in Alexandria, Va. As he came to his decision, Hagel said, he kept in mind the department’s core missions to ensure military readiness and protect the country.

U.S. Air Force orders Beechcraft T-6 aircraft

05/15/2013

Beechcraft Defense Co. has received a $210 million contract from the U.S. Air Force to produce 35 T-6 training aircraft. Although the contract was issued by the Air Force, 33 of the planes are for the U.S. Navy and two for the U.S. Army. Production begins this month and final delivery of aircraft is expected in early 2015. Beechcraft said the deal, under the Joint Primary Aircraft Training System procurement program, includes an option for two additional aircraft.

Czech Republic offers L-159 aircraft to Poland

05/15/2013

The Czech Republic participates in a Polish tender for training planes with the aim to deliver the L-159 aircraft to Poland, Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas told CTK in Warsaw Monday. Necas Monday met his Polish counterpart Donald Tusk and they discussed the extension of both countries' cooperation in the economy, energy industry and defence.

First Pilotless Flight Over UK

05/15/2013

The first pilotless flight over British airspace has been successfully completed. Aerospace company BAE Systems flew a Jetstream 31 - dubbed the "flying test bed" - from Warton near Preston in Lancashire to Inverness in Scotland. Strictly speaking, the flight was not unmanned -- two pilots were in the cockpit as a precaution.

Should India Provide Direct Military Aid To Afghanistan?

05/15/2013

Over the past decade, India has invested heavily in Afghanistan’s reconstruction. Recognizing India’s significant economic and development contributions, the United States has called on New Delhi to play an important role in the new Silk Road initiative aimed at transforming Afghanistan into a regional trade hub.

U.S. Navy Launches X-47B Unmanned Combat Aircraft From Aircraft Carrier In What It Is Calling A ‘Watershed Event’

05/15/2013

he X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System demonstrator (UCAS-D) completed its first ever carrier-based catapult launch from USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) off the coast of Virginia today. “Today we saw a small, but significant pixel in the future picture of our Navy as we begin integration of unmanned systems into arguably the most complex warfighting environment that exists today: the flight deck of a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.

C-130J Super Hercules Worldwide Fleet Soars Past 1 Million Flight Hours

05/15/2013

The worldwide community of Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] C-130J Super Hercules operators recently surpassed a landmark 1 million flight hours milestone, logging this time through numerous combat, special operations and humanitarian missions.

5 Questions on Russian S-300 Missile System Sales to Syria

05/15/2013

If fresh media reports are true, Russia, Syria’s longtime supplier of military equipment, may soon provide Damascus – or already has – with advanced S-300 air defense systems, tipping the balance in the devastating 26-month conflict in the Middle Eastern country. But the “if” is a big one.

Egypt to order ten Anka UAVs from Turkey

05/15/2013

Egypt is likely to become the first export customer for Turkey's Anka UAV - with more orders from the Middle East to follow, manufacturer TAI said. Anka - A medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) design received its certification from the Turkish authorities at the International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF) in Istanbul. The name means Phoenix in English.

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