Military Aviation News Archive

Vietnam could become key importer of Russian weaponry

12/08/2009

Vietnam could become a key importer of Russian weaponry if several contracts on the purchase of diesel submarines and aircraft are signed in the near future, a Russian newspaper said.

Boeing AH-64D Apache Block III Structures Test Aircraft Makes 1st Flight

12/07/2009

The Boeing AH-64D Apache Block III program has completed the first flight of its structures test aircraft. The test, conducted Nov. 23 in Mesa, demonstrated flight characteristics and handling maneuvers. Tests to continue to expand the helicopter's flight envelope are expected to continue for the next several weeks.

Indian air force grounds fighter jets after crash

12/03/2009

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has grounded its entire fleet of Sukhoi fighter jets after one crashed during a routine training exercise in Rajasthan state.

Boeing Team Installs Radar Antenna on P-8A Poseidon

12/02/2009

A Boeing and a Raytheon employee complete installation of an APY-10 radar antenna on P-8A Poseidon test aircraft T2 last month at the Boeing Developmental Center in Seattle. T2 is the P-8A program's primary mission system test article.

Lockheed Martin Delivers First Production F-35 Electro-Optical Targeting System

12/01/2009

Lockheed Martin has marked successful entry into low rate initial production on the F-35 Lightning II Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS). The first production units have been delivered to Lockheed Martin Aeronautics in Fort Worth, TX, for integration onto the aircraft.

Boeing EA-18G Growler to Advance to Full Rate Production

12/01/2009

The Boeing EA-18G Growler was approved to advance into Full Rate Production (FRP) by the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) on Nov. 23. The St. Louis-based EA-18G program now can proceed from Low Rate Initial Production to FRP quantities of approximately 20 aircraft per year.

Su-30MKI fighter jet crashes in western India, pilots survive

11/30/2009

An Indian Su-30MKI fighter jet crashed on Monday near Jaisalmer in the northwestern state of Rajasthan, but both pilots survived, an Air Force spokesman said.

Boeing Receives Follow-on Contract for B-1 Targeting Pod Software Upgrades

11/30/2009

Boeing today announced it has received a $23 million contract from the U.S. Air Force for Phase 2 of the B-1 Laptop Controlled Targeting Pod software upgrade. The upgrade will add additional capability to the B-1 bomber aircraft's targeting system by allowing it to more accurately identify both stationary and moving targets.

Boeing Delivers 2 Wedgetail AEW&C Aircraft to Royal Australian Air Force

11/28/2009

The Boeing Company today delivered the first two Project Wedgetail 737 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).

Finmeccanica signs EUR 220 million contract with ARMAEREO for six M-346 Masters for the Italian Air Force

11/25/2009

Alenia Aermacchi (a subsidiary of Alenia Aeronautica) – and ARMAEREO (Direzione Generale per gli Armamenti Aeronautici) signed a contract worth EUR 220 million to provide the Italian Air Force with six M-346 Master advanced trainer aircraft (T-346A) and related flight simulators, which together comprise an Integrated Training System (ITS). This contract forms part of a broader agreement to supply a total of 15 M-346 Masters and related support.

Northrop Grumman Completes First Production Deliveries of the MQ-8B Fire Scout to the U.S. Navy

11/25/2009

Northrop Grumman Corporation completed the first three MQ-8B Fire Scout production deliveries to the U.S. Navy, which completes the first year of Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) for the Vertical Takeoff and Landing Tactical Unmanned Air Vehicle (VTUAV) program.

Russia completes Algerian Sukhoi deliveries

11/25/2009

Russia has completed the delivery of 28 Su-30MKA Flanker-C multi-role fighters to Algeria.

Boeing Delivers 2nd and 3rd C-130 AMP Trainers to US Air Force

11/25/2009

Boeing has completed delivery of two more trainers for the U.S. Air Force's C-130 Avionics Modernization Program (AMP) to Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. The Avionics Part Task Trainer and Cockpit Familiarization Trainer were declared "Ready for Use" on Sept. 25 and Oct. 22, respectively.

Pakistan signs deal for Chinese J-10 fighters

11/24/2009

Pakistan has reportedly reached a deal with China to buy 36 Chengdu J-10B fighters in a deal worth around $1.4 billion.

Russian strategic bombers perform Arctic patrol mission

11/21/2009

Two Russian Tu-95 MS Bear strategic bombers have accomplished a routine patrol mission over neutral waters of the Arctic and Pacific oceans and the Aleutian Islands, an Air Force spokesman said on Friday.

Lockheed Martin Super Hercules Deliveries Strengthen USAF and USMC Fleets

11/21/2009

Demonstrating the increase in the C-130J build and delivery rate, Lockheed Martin simultaneously delivered two C-130Js on Nov. 19 to two different customers – a C-130J to the U.S. Air Forces in Europe and a KC-130J to the U.S. Marine Corps.

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.