Military Aviation News Archive

USAF wraps up F-22 tests in Middle East

12/27/2009

The U.S. military wrapped up a war games exercise in the Middle East in the first deployment of the F-22A Raptor, the U.S. Air Force announced.

Egypt Endeavors to Enhance F-16 Engines

12/27/2009

On Dec 18/09, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced [pdf] Egypt’s request to buy parts and services from GE Aircraft Engines, in order to upgrade its most modern F-16s. Egypt wants to upgrade 156 of the F-110-GE-100 engines that power its F-16 C/D Block 40+ fighters through the Service Life Extension Program (SLEP). Egypt will also buy transportation services, spare and repair parts, support equipment, publications and technical documentation, and U.S. Government and contractor te

Russian military to receive Il-476 heavy transport planes in 2012

12/25/2009

The Russian Air Force will start receiving Il-476 heavy transport planes in 2012, the commander of the Russian Air Force's military transport aviation said on Friday.

First Four Lynx Mk9A Helicopters Delivered Just 12 Months After Contract Award

12/24/2009

AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that the first four upgraded Lynx Mk.9A helicopters for the British Army have been delivered, with the fourth aircraft delivered today, just 12 months after contract award.

U.S. Army fires TALON Laser-Guided Rocket Rounds from OH-58D Kiowa Warrior

12/24/2009

The U.S. Army fired two TALON Laser-Guided Rocket guided test vehicle rounds during the Aviation Multi-Platform Munition Demonstration.

Russia could double number of bombers on strategic patrols - general

12/23/2009

The number of strategic bombers performing routine patrols could be doubled if the Russian General Staff makes such a decision, the commander of Russia's strategic aviation said Tuesday.

United Kingdom Announces Approval Of Third F-35B Joint Strike Fighter Purchase

12/23/2009

The Joint Combat Aircraft (JCA) program has announced that the United Kingdom has received financial approval to purchase its third Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II operational test aircraft, reinforcing the U.K.'s continued commitment to the Joint Strike Fighter program's upcoming Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E).

Boeing Acquires Alenia North America's Interest in Global Aeronautica

12/23/2009

Boeing said today it has acquired Alenia North America's half of Global Aeronautica, LLC, a South Carolina fuselage subassembly facility for Boeing's 787 Dreamliner, and is now the sole owner of that entity. Alenia North America is a subsidiary of Italy's Alenia Aeronautica, a Finmeccanica company.

Lockheed Martin’s Sniper ATP Continues Successful B-52 Integration Test Program

12/22/2009

Lockheed Martin recently completed Phase 2 of its Sniper® Advanced Targeting Pod (ATP) B-52 integration program at Barksdale Air Force Base, LA. Sniper pod integration on the B-52 will provide aircrews with critical long-range, positive target identification and video downlink capability to forward-deployed forces for non-traditional intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.

Tyndall F-15 Drawdown Delay

12/19/2009

The final Defense Appropriations bill for 2010 includes a provision to postpone movement of any F-15s from Tyndall until April 1, 2010.

Officers Warned of Flaw in U.S. Drones in 2004

12/19/2009

Senior U.S. military officers working for the Joint Chiefs of Staff discussed the danger of Russia and China intercepting and doctoring video from drone aircraft in 2004, but the Pentagon didn't begin securing the signals until this year, according to people familiar with the matter.

Boeing B-1 With FIDL Avionics Upgrade Completes 1st Phase of Flight Test

12/19/2009

Boeing has successfully completed the first phase of flight test for a B-1 bomber upgraded with new digital avionics. The B-1 Fully Integrated Data Link (FIDL) flight test plan for Phase 1 concluded Oct. 16; it included nine sorties performed by the U.S. Air Force at Edwards Air Force Base.

Boeing Delivers 1st Mk3 Chinook to UK Royal Air Force

12/19/2009

Boeing Defence UK Ltd., a subsidiary of The Boeing Company, today confirmed the Nov. 30 delivery of the first converted Chinook Mk3 helicopter to the Royal Air Force (RAF). Following the early delivery, the RAF declared Initial Operational Capability for Chinook Mk3, enabling the aircraft to begin supporting operational needs in locations such as Afghanistan.

SkyGrabber: the $26 software used by insurgents to hack into US drones

12/18/2009

SkyGrabber is a simple enough concept: grab the signals that spill from a satellite broadcast (or even narrowcast), aimed from a satellite towards a specific location, and turn them into TV feeds you can look at. Or as the website puts it: "You don't have to keep an online internet connection. Just customise your satellite dish to selected satellite provider and start grabbing."

AEW for United Arab Emirates

12/17/2009

Saab has signed a contract for the sale of two airborne surveillance systems to the United Arab Emirates. The contract is worth approximately 1.5 billion SEK.

Royal Air Force to Acquire 7th Boeing C-17 Globemaster III

12/17/2009

The Boeing Company and the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence this week announced an agreement for the acquisition of a seventh C-17 Globemaster III for the Royal Air Force (RAF). Boeing is scheduled to deliver the aircraft in December 2010.

Northrop Grumman's Unmanned Fire Scout Completes Successful Maritime Sensors Demonstration

12/16/2009

Northrop Grumman Corporation has successfully completed maritime sensor demonstrations using a company-owned MQ-8B Fire Scout tactical Vertical Unmanned Aircraft System (VUAS). Fire Scout was equipped with the Telephonics' radar and FLIR Electro Optical Infrared system, and highlighted the versatility of the unmanned helicopter's modular payload architecture and its flexibility in integrating off-the-shelf payloads.

The German Air Force receives its first fighter-bomber Eurofighter Typhoons

12/16/2009

The German Air Force’s Jagdbombergeschwader 31 “Boelcke” has received today its first four Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft. The Eurofighter Typhoons have been handed over in a ceremony at the Wing’s base, Nörvenich, in North Rhine Westphalia and will replace the Tornados today in service with the Wing by the end of June 2010.

Raytheon ATFLIR Marks More Than 500,000 Flight Hours

12/16/2009

Raytheon Company's Advanced Targeting Forward Looking Infrared pod, which provides pinpoint accuracy and real-time target assessment from long standoff ranges, has marked more than 500,000 hours of operational flight on the U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet.

Boeing Team Demonstrates Multimodal Unmanned Systems Operations

12/16/2009

Boeing today announced that it has completed a demonstration for the U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) at Fort Bragg, N.C., that integrated both air and ground unmanned systems to perform psychological operations (PSYOP) wartime missions for combatant commands.

Armed BLACK HAWK Demonstrator Completes Test Program Customer Demo Shows Sikorsky Helicopter’s Weapons in Action

12/15/2009

Sikorsky Military Systems, a business unit of Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., and Elbit Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ:ESLT) have successfully completed the Armed BLACK HAWK (ABH) demonstrator program, proof-of concept for the development BATTLEHAWKTM helicopter. Sikorsky is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp.

Sikorsky Aircraft Delivers UH-60M BLACK HAWK Helicopter to Bahrain Defense Forces

12/15/2009

Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. today celebrated the formal delivery of a UH-60M BLACK HAWK helicopter to the Defense Forces of Bahrain. It is the first of nine aircraft that will ultimately be delivered. Sikorsky is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp.

Raytheon AIM-9X Sidewinder Demonstrates Air-To-Surface Capability

12/15/2009

Raytheon Company demonstrated the capability to employ the AIM-9X Sidewinder advanced infrared-guided air-to-air missile to attack surface targets.

Aggressor pilots: Paid to play the villain

12/15/2009

It’s the perfect job for anybody who likes the Joker better than Batman or cheers for Tom instead of Jerry.

Ramstein Airmen train in Israel

12/14/2009

Airmen from Ramstein Air Base, Germany participated in an exercise Dec. 1 through 10 at Nevatim Air Force Base, Israel to accomplish various training requirements for the C-130J Super Hercules which are not allowed in Germany because of country regulations.