Military Aviation News Archive

Lockheed Martin Receives $17.8 Million Contract Award for A-10 Software Upgrade

11/21/2009

Lockheed Martin has received a $17.8 million contract from the U.S. Air Force for a software upgrade that integrates critical communications and situational awareness capabilities into the A-10C close air support fighter.

Lockheed Martin Delivers First Set Of U.S. Customs & Border Protection P-3 Orion New Production Wings

11/20/2009

Lockheed Martin and U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) officials marked the delivery of the first CBP set of new production P-3 Orion wings from the company's Marietta, Ga., production facility today.

Boeing, Royal Australian Air Force Commission C-17 Aircrew Training System

11/20/2009

Boeing and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) on Nov. 18 commissioned a C-17 Globemaster III Aircrew Training System (ATS) at RAAF Base Amberley.

Boeing Laser Systems Destroy Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in Tests

11/19/2009

The Boeing Company in May demonstrated the ability of mobile laser weapon systems to perform a unique mission: track and destroy small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

First flight for Thai Saab 340 AEW

11/18/2009

The Saab 340 Erieye AEW flight took two hours and 14 minutes and was executed by Magnus Fredriksson and Åke Wargh from Saab.

Russia to make new arms offers to Arab states at Dubai Air Show

11/17/2009

Russia will offer a new package of proposals on military-technical cooperation to countries in the Middle East at a major air show in the region, Russia's state arms exporter Rosoboronexport said.

Lockheed Martin F-35B Flies To Maryland Test Site, Prepares For Vertical Landings

11/17/2009

The first Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) stealth fighter arrived Sunday at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., where it will conduct its first hovers and vertical landings. The ferry flight initiates a sequence of F-35 arrivals at Patuxent River this year and next.

Lockheed Martin Flies Optimized Conventional F-35

11/17/2009

Lockheed Martin's first optimized conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) F-35 Lightning II fighter made its inaugural flight on Saturday, Nov. 14, the fourth F-35 to begin flight operations.

Israel wants production role in F-35

11/13/2009

While Israel is interested in purchasing the fifth-generation stealth Joint Strike Fighter from Lockheed Martin, it will likely hinge its order on US acceptance of its demand that Israeli defense industries be allowed to participate in the aircraft's production, senior defense officials said Thursday.

Raytheon Eyes International Contract Award for its F-16 AESA Radar

11/13/2009

Raytheon Company moves closer to its first international sale of RACR (Raytheon Advanced Combat Radar) following approval for the company to move forward with technical discussions with at least two potential customers.

Boeing Receives Contract to Develop Miniature Weapon Technology

11/13/2009

The Boeing Company received a $500,000 U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory contract on Sept. 30 for the first phase of a program to demonstrate miniature weapon technology for use on unmanned airborne vehicles (UAV).

Saudi Jets Attack Rebel Targets In Yemen

11/12/2009

Saudi Arabia has carried out airstrikes against rebel positions in northern Yemen, hitting dozens of targets, and has moved thousands of troops to the border.

Boeing to Showcase a Tailored Portfolio of Products and Services at Dubai 2009

11/12/2009

The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] at this year’s Dubai Air Show will showcase a range of advanced commercial and defense products and services designed to meet the needs of customers in the Middle East. The show runs Nov. 15-19.

Engine failure could be responsible for Tu-142 crash

11/12/2009

Engine failure could have caused Friday's crash of a Russian military Tu-142 plane in the Tatar Strait, the chief of the Russian General Staff said on Wednesday.

Boeing Receives Study Contract for Submarine-Tracking Unmanned Aerial System

11/12/2009

The Boeing Company on Sept. 28 received a $275,000 contract from the U.S. Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) for a study of the magnetic noise associated with the heavy-fuel propulsion system on Boeing's MagEagle Compressed Carriage (MECC) Unmanned Aerial System (UAS). The MECC, designed and built to be magnetically quiet, is a special-mission variant of the company's ScanEagle Compressed Carriage UAS.

Lockheed Martin Announces Briefing Schedule For The Dubai Airshow

11/11/2009

Lockheed Martin will present a variety of program briefings for members of the media at the "Dubai Airshow." The show takes place Monday, Nov. 16, through Thursday, Nov. 19.

Veterans Day recollections of fighter shootouts over Vietnam

11/10/2009

Capt. Steve Ritchie, left, piloted an F-4 Phantom in Vietnam with Capt. Charles DeBellevue as his weapons systems officer. The two shot down five MiGs together during the war. (Courtesy photo) “There are two saddest days in a pilot’s life,” says Chuck DeBellevue. “The day he walks out to an airplane knowing it’s his last flight and the day he walks out to an airplane not knowing it’s his last flight.”

Software prevents fatal crashes, scientists say

11/10/2009

An F-16 pilot takes aim at a ground target, losing track of just how steep and low his jet is. Too confused to eject, he crashes.

Northrop Grumman Highlights Global Security Capabilities at the Dubai Airshow 2009

11/10/2009

Northrop Grumman Corporation is participating in the Dubai Airshow 2009 where it will highlight its global security capabilities and programmes, including its world leading expertise in airborne early warning and control systems, fire control radars and infrared countermeasures.

Russia's Pacific Fleet suspends flights of its naval planes

11/10/2009

The Russian Pacific Fleet suspended on Saturday all flights of its naval aviation following the crash of a Tu-142 maritime reconnaissance plane in Russia's Far East, the fleet spokesman said.

USAF Europe And Africa Command Add Another Proven C-130J Super Hercules To Their Airlift Fleet

11/10/2009

Maj. Gen. Michael Snodgrass, chief of staff, U.S. Africa Command, Stuttgart, Germany, today accepted the seventh of 14 Lockheed Martin C-130Js to be based at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. The USAF Europe C-130Js based at Ramstein also support the airlift needs of Africa Command.

Boeing Awarded $72 Million JDAM Production Contract

11/10/2009

The Boeing Company has been awarded a $72 million U.S. Air Force contract for more than 2,900 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) tail kits.

Boeing Completes Key Tests of Self-Protection System Aboard Australian Wedgetail AEW&C Aircraft

11/09/2009

The Boeing Company announced today that it has successfully completed tests of the Counter Measures Dispenser System (CMDS) for Project Wedgetail, Australia's Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) system. The tests were conducted in September and October off the Washington coast and over Puget Sound, Wash.

Crew of crashed Russian Tu-142 did not use life raft

11/08/2009

There is no indication that the crew of a Russian military Tu-142 plane that crashed late on Friday made use of emergency equipment, a highly-placed Air Force source told RIA Novosti on Saturday.

Eleven people missing in Russian military plane crash

11/07/2009

There were 11 people on board the Pacific Fleet's Tu-142 plane that has crashed off Russia's Pacific coast, an Air Force source in the Far Eastern Military District said on Saturday.