Military Aviation News Archive

Iraqi Air Force College to Train With T-6A

03/16/2010

U.S. Air Force Airmen will teach the first Iraqi Air Force College pilot-training course, beginning in March, with Iraq's new T-6A trainer.

Saudis Mull Another F-15 Purchase

03/16/2010

The Middle East newsline has confirmed that Saudi Arabia has advanced in negotiations to purchase a fighter jet from the United States.

Pakistan Returns Free Helicopters to US

03/16/2010

Less than a year ago, the United States rushed four Russian-built Mi-17 helicopters to Pakistan after an urgent request from the country's senior leadership. Now those helicopters, which were offered at no cost to the government of Pakistan, are being returned to the United States after a serious crash that resulted in at least one fatality.

Near-Term Growth Expected in Medium/Heavy Military Rotorcraft Market

03/16/2010

In a new study, “The Market for Medium/Heavy Military Rotorcraft,” Forecast International projects that 4,319 such rotorcraft will be produced during the 10-year time period between 2010 and 2019. The value of this production is estimated at $92.3 billion in constant 2010 U.S. dollars. In general, Forecast International defines a medium/heavy rotorcraft as one with a gross weight that equals or exceeds 6,804 kilograms (15,000 lb).

Europeans Call Pentagon Aircraft Contract 'Protectionist'

03/16/2010

European resentment over the loss of a military aircraft contract with the Pentagon is likely to play a role in a meeting this month between President Obama and French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Indian army turns to HAL for 20 Cheetals in bid to plug chopper gap

03/16/2010

After years of delays in finalizing a global tender for 197 new helicopters, the Indian Army has recently decided to buy 20 Cheetal helicopters from Bangalore-based military plane maker Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), three people familiar with the matter said.

Boeing A160T Proves Resupply Capability for US Marines

03/16/2010

The Boeing A160T Hummingbird has successfully completed a cargo delivery demonstration under a U.S. Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory contract, proving the unmanned rotorcraft's ability to resupply frontline troops in rough terrain.

Afghanistan air operations declined in Feb.

03/15/2010

In February, Air Force and partner warplanes dropped fewer bombs on Afghanistan targets than they have in 15 months, according to Air Forces Central Command.

Airbus A400M programme plans US sales

03/15/2010

Europe's leading aircraft manufacturer Airbus says it plans to sell around 210 of its A400M military planes to the US.

First U.S. Black Hawk leaves Polish arms plant

03/15/2010

The first U.S. Black Hawk S-70i military helicopter to be made outside of the United States was unveiled in Poland on Monday at a plant that once serviced Nazi aircraft and built planes for the Communist bloc.

Russian arms transfers to North Africa: Fuelling an arms race?

03/15/2010

New SIPRI data on global arms transfers published today reveal that Russia remains the second largest arms exporter in the world. According to SIPRI data, the volume of Russian arms exports for 2005-2009 is of a similar level to that for 2000-2004.

Qatar Emiri Air Force Laud C-17 Fleet's Achievements

03/15/2010

Boeing and the Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF) celebrated Qatar's deployment of C-17 Globemaster III airlifters during an Air Force Day ceremony held March 10 at Doha International Airport.

T-50: Russia's secret fighter jet with 'human intellect'

03/14/2010

We can expect a real breakthrough when the Russian-Indian collaboration on the creation of a fifth-generation prototype aircraft based on the experimental T-50 starts to become a reality.

Venezuela's Chavez Receives Chinese Planes Armed with Missiles, Rockets and Bombs

03/14/2010

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez formally took delivery of the first four K-8W airplanes out of 18 purchased in China for military training purposes, which, however, came armed with machine guns, air-to-ground missiles, bombs and rockets, and said that this armament increases military capability for “defending the sovereignty of this sacred land and of this revolution”

How Drone Pilots Wage War

03/13/2010

Drone pilots sit in air-conditioned rooms far away from the anti-terror wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. They guide their weapons systems with joysticks and monitors. The remote warriors work with a high degree of precision -- and at a fraction of the cost of a fighter jet.

As Its Arms Makers Falter, Russia Buys Abroad

03/13/2010

Ask a Russian what the country makes well, and the answer, more often than not, will be the Kalashnikov rifle.

Russia signs $1.5-bln fighter jet contract with India

03/13/2010

Russia and India have signed a $1.5-billion contract on the supplies of 29 more MiG-29K carrier-based fighter jets to New Delhi, the head of the Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG said on Friday.

Flying fox

03/12/2010

WHILE most kids harboured straightforward ambitions of being a teacher, accountant or lawyer, Patricia Yapp had her head in the clouds.

AgustaWestland has been awarded a contract by the Indian Air Force for twelve AW101 helicopters

03/12/2010

AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, has been awarded a contract with a value of EUR 560 million by the Indian Air Force for the supply of 12 AW101 helicopters for government transport.

EADS still looks to U.S. expansion

03/12/2010

Northrop Grumman Corp's decision not to bid in a multibillion-dollar U.S. aerial tanker competition was a setback for the ambitions of its partner EADS, but the European company still hopes to boost U.S. revenue to $10 billion by 2020.

Joint Strike Fighter soars to $95M

03/12/2010

The cost of a single Joint Strike Fighter has soared to $95 million in the past eight years, a 50 percent increase, Pentagon officials told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday.

Tanker Deal Gives a Lift to Boeing

03/12/2010

Northrop Grumman’s withdrawal this week from a $40 billion contest to build aerial refueling tankers provides Boeing with some welcome certainty about its future as a major builder of military aircraft.

Ground Forces Highlight Singapore Air Show

03/12/2010

On one side of the static display at Singapore’s February air show was a row of almost a dozen front-line combat aircraft. In terms of their basic design, the newest was the F-15, ordered into development just over 40 years ago. With “the local customer”—as the Singapore armed forces are known in the nation—thus far committed to the F-35, the rest of the fighter world stayed away, and news was to be found in the exhibit halls.

Dhaka plans purchase of more combat aircraft, missiles

03/12/2010

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said her government plans to procure fighter aircraft, surface-to-air missiles, helicopters and other armament to strengthen the armed forces.

F-35B STOVL-mode Flight

03/12/2010

The first Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II stealth fighter passes overhead at 40 knots (46 mph) prior to a slow landing at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., on Wednesday, March 10.