Military Aviation News Archive

Dr M wants Najib to keep MiG-29s

12/29/2009

Dr Mahathir said that with the country’s current economic conditions, he wondered whether the government could afford new acquisitions. He argued that the MiG-29Ns should actually be refurbished as that would be more cost-effective.

MC-12 arrives, heralds activation of 4th ERS

12/28/2009

The newest aircraft to the Air Force's inventory arrived Dec. 27, 2009, to Bagram Airfield. The MC-12 aircraft, tail number 090623, was the first of an undisclosed number of aircraft for the new 4th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron here.

'India can manufacture only 8 Light Combat Aircraft a year'

12/28/2009

Despite a pending order from the Indian Air Force (IAF) for 20 light combat aircraft (LCA), India can manufacture only eight such aircraft annually, a senior Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) official has said.

Yak-130 Combat-Trainer Aircraft Successfully Completes Russian State Joint Tests

12/28/2009

The commander-in-chief of the Air Force of Russia Colonel General Alexander Zelin has signed the «Certificate about ending of the state joint tests of a combat-trainer aircraft Yak-130». This document allows operation of Yak-130 aircraft in units of the Air Force of the Russian Federation for training and combat purposes.

Deck not ready yet, navy scouts for aircraft

12/28/2009

The Indian Navy has invited five global makers of combat planes, including the US-led F-35C Joint Strike Fighter, to participate in a competition for deck-based aircraft that it wants to buy.

MMRCA trials to end by April: IAF Chief

12/28/2009

The trials all the six aircraft competing for the medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) deal will be completed before April end next year, Air Chief Marshal Pradeep Naik said, according to a media report.

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.