Military Aviation News Archive

U.S. pitches jets to Japan

01/19/2011

Acting on his administration's drive to bolster military cooperation with Japan, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates suggested Tokyo consider buying U.S. combat aircraft.

IAI delivers 12 UAVs to Russia in key deal

01/18/2011

Israeli Aerospace Industries has delivered a dozen unmanned aerial vehicles to Russia under a $400 million contract that will eventually allow Moscow to manufacture advanced drones that will significantly enhance its military capabilities.

Chinese jet fighter highlights need for intelligence, dialogue

01/18/2011

As far as stealth fighters are concerned, the Chinese prototype J-20 is perhaps too eye-attracting. On Dec. 22, 2010, photos of a taxiing test at the Chengdu Aircraft Design Institute of the fifth-generation twin-engine fighter aircraft emerged on the Internet and triggered a firestorm in the international media. On Jan. 11, hours before U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates met with Chinese President Hu Jintao in Beijing, the prototype was taken for a 20-minute test flight.

KC-135 readied for anti-missile system

01/18/2011

Northrop Grumman and the U.S. Air National Guard are modifying a KC-135 air refueling aircraft for testing of an infrared anti-missile system.

Chinese Plane Spurs Interest in U.S. Fighter .

01/18/2011

New evidence of China's military buildup has spurred interest in sales of the U.S.'s next-generation F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, U.S. defense and industry officials said.

India lucrative military aircraft market: analysts

01/18/2011

Aviation companies have set their sight on India to expand their military aircraft businesses in Asia.

Attack of the drones

01/17/2011

There is a second-and-a-half delay between the RAF operator pressing his button and the Hellfire rocket erupting from the aircraft he is controlling, circling in the sky above Afghanistan.

US firm sweetens Turkey helicopter bid

01/17/2011

A helicopter manufacturer from the United States, competing with an Italian rival for a Turkish tender to jointly produce 109 mostly military-utility helicopters worth around $4 billion, sweetened its bid over the weekend.

Shore Up America's Air Superiority

01/17/2011

After the Chinese military tested its new stealthy fighter during U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates' visit to Beijing, most attention focused on whether or not President Hu Jintao had advance knowledge of the test. The fact that Mr. Hu appeared surprised when Mr. Gates brought it up led to speculation on the relative independence of the PLA and its potential role in next year's change in China's leadership. These are obviously important issues but they should not make us lose sight of the test

Chinese stealth fighter makes first test flight

01/17/2011

China's radar–eluding stealth fighter made its first–known test flight Tuesday, marking dramatic progress in the country's efforts to develop cutting–edge military technologies.

Lockheed buys into UAE's AMMROC aircraft repair firm

01/17/2011

The US defence giant Lockheed Martin yesterday bought a stake in the UAE's military aircraft repair and maintenance company.

Stealthy Chinese J-20 Vulnerable

01/16/2011

China’s newest combat aircraft prototype, the J-20, will require an intense development program if it is going to catch up with fast-moving anti-stealth advances.

We never had a single failure in 1,500 flights of Tejas: ADE

01/16/2011

India ensured its place among an elite group of countries making a fighter jet from scratch when the indigenous multi-role Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas got initial operational clearance this week. A key part in this success was placed by the avionics and flight control systems that were designed by DRDO’s Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE).

Military aircraft flying to all-fiber network gear

01/16/2011

Looking to significantly reduce weight, improve on-board communications and make it easier to upgrade avionics, the US military is developing prototype photonic gear for use in all aircraft.

NASA reveals strange, bomberlike planes of 2025

01/16/2011

It seems that in the darker parts of 2010, NASA gave Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and Northrop Brumman money to ponder what improvements might be made to our current aerial cattle carriers.

Russia lifts ban on Tu-95 bomber flights

01/16/2011

The Russian Air Force has lifted a ban on the flights of Tu-95 Bear strategic bombers imposed after an An-22 Cock transport plane was destroyed in a crash last December.

Russian Air Force to receive Ka-52 helicopters

01/04/2011

Russia's Defense Ministry plans to start procuring Ka-52 Alligator helicopters for the national Air Force in 2011, ministry's official spokesman Col. Vladimir Drik said on Sunday.

Russian Air Force to receive up to 100 Sukhoi fighter jets by 2015

01/04/2011

The Russian Air Force will receive up to 100 Sukhoi fighter jets by 2015, the Defense Ministry spokesman said on Sunday.

Chinas J-20 Stealth Fighter In Taxi Tests

01/04/2011

China’s first known stealth aircraft just emerged from a secret development program and was undergoing high-speed taxi tests late last week at Chengdu Aircraft Design Institute’s airfield. Said to be designated J-20, it is larger than most observers expected—pointing to long range and heavy weapon loads.

RussiaRussian Ground Forces' Air Defense Force to become part of united aerospace defense system

12/27/2010

In the course of the creation of a united aerospace defense system, the Russian Ground Forces' Air Defense Force will become one of its most important parts which together with other aerospace defense elements will be responsible for air defense and non-strategic missile defense at infrastructure and military facilities and troop deployment sites, Major General Alexander Leonov told journalists in Moscow on Saturday.

Pakistan to build radar for JF-17 'Thunder' fighter

12/25/2010

Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman said the indigenously produced radar, built with China's assistance at the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC), in Kamra, north of Islamabad, would equip the JF-17 'Thunder' fighter aircraft jointly produced by the two countries.

Russia, India sign design contract for prototype multirole fighter

12/23/2010

Russia and India signed a contract on Tuesday to jointly develop a design for a new fifth-generation multirole fighter.

Russian-Indian second prototype T-50 fighter to fly in 2011

12/22/2010

The Russian-Indian second prototype T-50 fighter aircraft will take to the skies in early 2011, United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) President Alexei Fyodorov said on Monday.

Lockheed Martin Receives Order From U.S. Customs And Border Protection For Additional P-3 Orion MLU Kits

12/22/2010

Lockheed Martin recently received an order for two additional P-3 Orion Mid-Life Upgrade (MLU) kits from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The order brings the total number of CBP P-3s on contract to receive the MLU to 11 with an option for five additional kits in 2011.

Boeing-built C-17 Fleet Surpasses 2 Million Flight Hours

12/22/2010

The worldwide fleet of C-17 Globemaster III airlifters built by The Boeing Company surpassed 2 million flying hours during an airdrop mission over Afghanistan on Dec. 10. Reaching 2 million flight hours equates to 1.13 billion nautical miles – the equivalent of a C-17 flying to the moon and back 2,360 times.