Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Boeing Awards AH-64D Apache Block III Work to Science Engineering Services in Huntsville

01/14/2010

The Boeing Company has selected Science Engineering Services Inc. (SES) to perform disassembly, inspection and repair on AH-64D Apache helicopters in preparation for their upgrade to the Block III configuration. The program will create approximately 70 new positions for aviation and avionics mechanics, structural installers, and aviation quality inspectors within SES.

Boeing Receives $22M B-52 Engineering Sustainment Option From US Air Force

01/14/2010

Boeing today announced that it has received a $22 million option to continue supporting the B-52 bomber under the Engineering Sustainment Program (ESP) contract the company received from the U.S. Air Force in June 2009. Under the $750 million, 10-year ESP contract, Boeing will continue to perform engineering assignments that maintain the B-52 as a ready, reliable and viable asset to the Air Force.

Dassault under pressure to cut Rafale fighter price

01/13/2010

Dassault Aviation's Rafale fighter plane stands a good chance of winning its first-ever export contract with Brazil but it may have to make more price sacrifices, analysts said on Tuesday.

Boeing Delivers 4th KC-767 Tanker to Japan Ministry of Defense

01/13/2010

The Boeing Company on Jan. 8 delivered the last of four KC-767 aerial refueling tankers to the Japan Ministry of Defense, completing one of the International Tanker team's most significant milestones.

Brazil to choose France's Rafale jet-govt source

01/12/2010

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will choose the French-made Rafale jet as Brazil's next-generation fighter plane but wants to negotiate a lower price, a cabinet member told Reuters on Monday.

China buys Russian engines for its fighter plane

01/12/2010

China, which has not found a Western supplier, has decided to buy Russian engines for its FC-1 Xiaolong multirole fighter plane, a rival of Russia's MiG-29 in developing countries.

Northrop Grumman's MQ-8B Fire Scout Demonstrates Interoperability With the Army's One System(TM) Remote Video Terminal

01/12/2010

A Northrop Grumman Corporation land-based MQ-8B Fire Scout Vertical Unmanned Aircraft System, designated P7, successfully demonstrated interoperability with the Army's One System(R) Remote Video Terminal (OSRVT) at Yuma Proving Ground, Ariz., the week of November 23.

Lockheed Martin Receives $344 Million In Ongoing Funding For C-5 Modernization Program

01/12/2010

Lockheed Martin has received ongoing funding through a recently issued Acquisition Decision Memorandum (ADM) that authorizes Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) associated with the C-5 Super Galaxy Reliability Enhancement and Re-Engining Program (RERP).

India says tests of two air-to-air missiles successful

01/11/2010

India on Monday successfully test-fired two short-range, air-to-air Astra missiles from the eastern state of Orissa, a news report said. The tests of the Astra, which means weapon in Sanskrit, were carried out from the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, 230 kilometres north-east of state capital, Bhubaneshwar, the PTI news agency reported.

Boeing Team Delivers 2 Osprey Trainers to Marines

01/11/2010

Boeing and partner Bell Helicopter delivered two MV-22 Osprey Containerized Flight Training Devices (CFTD) to the U.S. Marines at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar in California in the last quarter of 2009.

C-5A swap for new C-17s has hitch

01/11/2010

Air Force leaders have said they want to retire one C-5A Galaxy for each of the 10 new C-17s, which were approved by Congress and the president in December as part of the 2010 budget.

Gates Returns Boeing, Lockheed, Northrop Programs to Spend Plan

01/11/2010

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates directed the Air Force to return to its proposed budget three major programs the service offered to cancel, including one by Boeing Co. to build and install upgraded software in the cockpits of C-130 transports, according to a budget document.

Indian Air Force May Acquire More Su-30MKIs

01/10/2010

A total of 230 Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter aircraft have been ordered for the Indian Air Force (IAF), including 140 that are being assembled under license in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL). Recently, the commander of the IAF indicated that his service was interested in acquiring 50 additional Su-30MKIs, which would thus bring the total IAF acquisition to 280 Su-30MKIs.

Japanese Review Bolsters Non-F-35 Order

01/09/2010

Japan is risking a rapid loss of fighter engineering skills, an official review of the industry warns, while urging the government to avoid fully importing combat aircraft.

India Submits Letter of Request for Potential Boeing C-17 Order

01/09/2010

The Boeing Company announced today that the U.S. government has received a Letter of Request from India's Ministry of Defence (MOD) and the Indian Air Force regarding the potential acquisition of 10 C-17 Globemaster III advanced airlifters.

India Expresses Interest In Purchasing Boeing C-17 Aircraft

01/08/2010

On the heels of yesterday’s announcement that the United Arab Emirates recently finalized the purchase of six Boeing C-17 aircraft, Boeing released a statement today revealing that the nation of India has expressed interest in possibly purchasing ten additional aircraft.

Pentagon May Cut Production For Lockheed's F-35 -Reports

01/08/2010

The Pentagon is proposing delays and production cuts for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter through 2015, in a setback for Lockheed Martin Corp. (LMT), on concerns that the military contractor has fallen behind schedule on development and testing, according to media reports Thursday.

Ageing IAF fleet a major concern, says EAC chief

01/08/2010

The IAF today indicated that the ageing fleet of its fighter planes was a matter of concern and hoped that the massive deal for purchase of 126 multi-role combat aircraft would come through.

Lockheed Martin F-35B Begins In-Flight STOVL Operations

01/08/2010

The Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) stealth fighter engaged its STOVL propulsion system in flight for the first time today. The successful test is the first in a series of planned STOVL-mode flights that will include short takeoffs, hovers and vertical landings.

Lockheed Martin Awarded $118 Million Contract To Provide Sniper® Advanced Targeting Pods and LANTIRN ER Navigation Pods To Turkish Air Force

01/08/2010

Lockheed Martin has signed a foreign military sales contract to deliver Sniper® Advanced Targeting Pods (ATPs) and LANTIRN™ Enhanced Resolution (ER) navigation pods to the Turkish Air Force. Valued at $118 million, the contract will provide Sniper ATP and LANTIRN ER navigation pods to equip Turkish Air Force F-16 Block 40 and Block 50 Peace Onyx aircraft.

Boeing, United Arab Emirates Announce Order for 6 C-17s

01/08/2010

Boeing and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Air Force and Air Defence today announced that the UAE has signed a contract for the acquisition of six Boeing C-17 Globemaster III advanced airlifters. The UAE, which announced in 2009 that it would modernize its airlift capabilities with the C-17, is the second Middle East nation to order the airlifter.

Korea Sets Goal of $1.5 Bil. of Arms Sales This Year

01/06/2010

The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has set a goal of achieving $1.5 billion in defense exports this year, up 28 percent from last year's 1.17 billion, the largest amount ever.

Brazil Air Force prefers Swedish jets-report

01/06/2010

The Brazilian Air Force would prefer to buy its next-generation fighter jets from Sweden, putting it at odds with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's preference for French planes, a newspaper reported on Tuesday.

India to develop 25% of fifth generation fighter

01/06/2010

Scrutinising the Sukhoi Corporation’s work on the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) — a project that India will soon sign up to co-develop — gives one an idea of Russia’s size, and its aerospace expertise. During daytime, in Moscow, the Sukhoi Design Bureau conceptualises FGFA components; by 10 pm the drawings are electronically transmitted over 5,000 kilometres to a manufacturing unit in Siberia. Here, at KnAAPO (Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Production Organisation) — seven time zones awa

India Summons French Reinforcements

01/06/2010

The Indian government has overruled its air force and approved French assistance in bailing out an Indian attempt to develop an engine for the Indian designed LCA (Light Combat Aircraft, or "Tejas"). The French engine manufacturer Snecma will provide technical assistance that will cost the Indians over $200 million. Earlier last year, the Indian air force had asserted that Snecma assistance would not bail out the ill-fated Kaveri engine program. But the government apparently believes that it is