Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Successful Demonstration in Brazil of IAI's Heron UAV

08/05/2009

A successful demonstration of Israel Aerospace Industries' (IAI) Heron Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) System took place last week in Brazil. The demonstration was done at the request of the Brazilian federal police, which is testing UAV use for several purposes, including border security, and smuggling, natural resource theft, and drug trafficking concerns.

Morocco’s Air Force Reloads

08/05/2009

Morocco’s combat air force currently flies 2 squadrons of old F-5s, and 2 squadrons of only slightly newer Mirage F1s; T-37 light jets serve as key transitional trainers. Their neighbor and rival Algeria flies MiG-23s of similar vintage, but the Force Aerienne Algerienne also flies SU-24 Fencer and SU-25 Frogfoot strike aircraft, even more modern and capable MiG-29s, and is set to receive multi-role SU-30MKs as part of a multi-billion dollar weapons deal with Russia.

Russian company develops heavy UAV for military use

08/05/2009

Russia's Kronshtadt defense company has developed a new- generation heavy unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for military purposes, a senior company official said on Tuesday.

Israel’s Skyhawk Scandal Leads to End of an Era

08/05/2009

McDonnell Douglas’ A-4 Skyhawk, aka. “Scooter,” has a long and storied career as a carrier-based attack aircraft with the US Navy. It’s old enough that Sen. John McCain was flying one when he was shot down over North Vietnam. It also has a storied land-based career with the Israeli Air Force, who used this simple, pilot-friendly aircraft from late 1967 onward as a versatile attack aircraft with surprising air-air teeth.

Lockheed Martin Delivers First C-5M Super Galaxy

08/04/2009

Lockheed Martin today delivered the first fully modernized C-5M Super Galaxy to the U.S. Air Force at Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, Robins AFB, Ga.

Dynamic Tests Validate Design and Structural Integrity of X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System for Carrier Operations

08/01/2009

Northrop Grumman Corporation recently completed a series of static and dynamic proof load tests to validate the design and structural integrity of the U.S. Navy's first X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) for aircraft carrier launches, recoveries and at-sea operations under the UCAS Carrier Demonstration (UCAS-D) program.

Northrop Grumman Completes Structural Assembly of the First Euro Hawk(r) Unmanned Aircraft for Germany

08/01/2009

Northrop Grumman Corporation has finished assembling the first Euro Hawk(r) unmanned aircraft system (UAS) for the German Ministry of Defence (MoD). With a wing span larger than a commercial airliner and endurance projected at up to 30 hours, the Euro Hawk(r) will serve as the German Air Force's high-altitude, long-endurance signals intelligence (SIGINT) system.

Russia expects $2.6 bln in military aircraft sales in 2009

07/31/2009

Russia's state arms exporter Rosoboronexport has said military aircraft will continue to dominate the company's foreign sales in 2009, and will total about $2.6 billion.

4 Russian Mi-17 Helicopters to Afghan Army for $43.5M

07/31/2009

The Afghan National Army Air Corps is procuring 4 Mi-17 variant helicopters and related tool kits from Defense Technology Inc. (DTI) in Huntsville, AL for $43.5 million. The Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, MD, manages the firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-09-C-0089).

Boeing Delivers Harpoon Missiles With Updated Guidance Control

07/31/2009

Boeing in June delivered the first four Harpoon Block II missiles equipped with a redesigned Guidance Control Unit (GCU), which provides growth capabilities and resolves obsolescence issues. The missiles were delivered to the U.S. Navy for transfer to two Foreign Military Sales customers.

Boeing Rolls Out US Navy's P-8A Poseidon

07/31/2009

The Boeing Company and the U.S. Navy today formally unveiled the service's newest maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft, the P-8A Poseidon, during a ceremony at the Boeing facility in Renton, Wash.

Raytheon to Supply APG-73 Radar Spares for the F/A-18C/D Hornets

07/30/2009

Raytheon Co. in El Segundo, CA received a maximum $48.7 million firm-fixed-price sole-source contract for spare AN/APG-73 radar systems and parts for the U.S. Navy F/A-18C/D Hornet fighter aircraft. Raytheon will perform the work in California, Massachusettes, Mississippi and Texas. There was originally 1 proposal solicited with 1 response. The date of performance completion is July 2012. Defense Logistics Agency Procurement Operations in Philadelphia, PA manages the contract (N00383-07-G-700H-T

Lockheed Martin Awarded Customs And Border Protection P-3 Orion Fleet Maintenance Contract

07/30/2009

Lockheed Martin has been awarded an $821 million maintenance, repair, and overhaul contract for the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) P-3 Orion fleet. The contract is for a base period of one year, with nine additional one-year options. CBP currently operates 16 P-3s, updated with a suite of modern surveillance sensors oriented towards conducting homeland security missions.

DRDO unit to develop low-cost radar system

07/29/2009

The Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS) at Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is all geared up to develop a low-cost indigenous radar system, which they claim can be similar or more advanced than the Israeli Phalcon Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS). This will reduce India’s dependence on Israel and create more business opportunities for the local industry.

U.S. pact speeds trials for India's $10.4 billion jet buy

07/29/2009

India will begin field trials in August to buy 126 fighter jets, defense officials said on Wednesday, moving forward on the $10.4 billion deal two days after New Delhi agreed a defense pact with the United States.

Italian Air Force Typhoon committed to the air policing task of the Albanian air space

07/29/2009

The Typhoons of the Gioia del Colle Air Base’s 36th Stormo of Italian Air Force have started their air policing task over the Albanian air space as requested by NATO.

Lockheed Martin Unveils First Stealth Fighter For U.S. Navy

07/29/2009

A ceremony today at Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth plant marked the rollout of the U.S. Navy’s first-ever stealth fighter, the F-35C Lightning II. The aircraft will enable the Navy to possess 5th generation fighter capabilities at sea, extending America’s reach and reducing the timeline from threat to response.

Indian Air Force Will Not Decommission MiG-29s

07/28/2009

According to India Defence Online, the Indian Defence Ministry has clearly reiterated that the 67 MiG-29 aircraft with the Indian Air Force (IAF) will not be decommissioned. The Defence Ministry also stated that the Russians have furnished the reason for the crash of the MiG-29 in India in December 2008.

Saudis Increase A330 MRTT Tanker Buy

07/28/2009

In January 2008, EADS North America announced that The Royal Saudi Air Force will acquire 3 of EADS A330 Multi-role Tanker/Transports (MRTTs), equipped with both EADS centerline-mounted ARBS (advanced Air Refueling Boom System) for use with its F-15s et. al., and a pair of underwing hose-and-drogue refueling pods suitable for use with the Saudis’ forthcoming Eurofighter Typhoon Tranche 2s. The configuration is similar to that specified for the Royal Australian Air Force’ KC-30B refueling aircraf

Boeing Observes 45th Anniversary of Sea Knight Helicopter 1st Flight

07/28/2009

The Boeing Company today recognized the service of the CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter, which completed its first flight 45 years ago this month. One hundred sixty-eight of the 624 aircraft originally produced remain in operation with the U.S. Marine Corps and are still maintained by Boeing.

Lockheed Martin Awarded $142 Million Arrowhead Production Contract

07/28/2009

The U.S. Army has awarded Lockheed Martin a $142 million follow-on production contract for the Apache Arrowhead® system, the combat-proven, Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor (M-TADS/PNVS) for the AH-64D Apache attack helicopter.

Multinational Alliance's 1st Boeing C-17 Joins Heavy Airlift Wing in Hungary

07/27/2009

The first Boeing C-17 Globemaster III acquired by the NATO Airlift Management Organization and the Strategic Airlift Capability (SAC) consortium officially joined the Heavy Airlift Wing (HAW) at Pápa Air Base, Hungary, today, as part of a ceremony commemorating the activation of a new airlift capability for 10 NATO and two Partnership for Peace nations.

Boeing Delivers 400th F/A-18E/F Super Hornet to US Navy

07/25/2009

The Boeing Company today announced that it delivered the 400th F/A-18E/F Super Hornet to the U.S. Navy in June.

Northrop Grumman, Air Force Prove New B-2 Radar Meets Mission Requirements

07/24/2009

Northrop Grumman Corporation and the U.S. Air Force have successfully demonstrated that the new radar developed for the B-2 stealth bomber can fulfill the performance requirements for its required missions, both conventional and strategic.

Northrop Grumman Contributes Expertise to Military Exercise Demonstrating Increased Sharing of Reconnaissance Information

07/24/2009

Northrop Grumman Corporation is playing a major role in Empire Challenge 09 (EC 09), a joint military exercise to demonstrate how U.S. and coalition forces can better work together to collect, analyze and share reconnaissance information.