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Military Aviation News Archive

France cuts armed forces as budget squeeze hits military

08/04/2013

High quality global journalism requires investment. Please share this article with others using the link below, do not cut & paste the article. See our Ts&Cs and Copyright Policy for more detail. Email [email protected] to buy additional rights. France is to cut more than 30,000 defence posts and reduce or delay orders for jet fighters and other equipment as the socialist government seeks to balance the need for stringent spending cuts with a bid to sustain the country’s role as a big milit

Russian Defense Ministry Signs $380M Helicopter Deal

08/04/2013

The Russian Defense Ministry and Russian Helicopters Holding on Saturday signed a 12.6 billion rubles (about $380 million) contract for 40 Mil Mi-8 AMTSh helicopters, the company said. The contract was signed by Deputy Defense Minister Yury Borisov and Russian Helicopters CEO Dmitry Petrov. Helicopter deliveries are to begin next year, Petrov said.

South Korea resumes bidding in jet fighter deal

08/03/2013

South Korea will resume its procurement process this month for a jet fighter contract expected to be worth more than $7.2 billion, Yonhap news agency reported. outh Korea's Defense Acquisition Procurement Agency suspended bidding for the 60 aircraft in mid July over concerns that manufacturers' bids were higher than the budgeted $7.2 billion. DAPA announced the decision to restart bidding in mid August in a meeting presided over by Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin.

2 F-16C Falcon jets collide in Va. during training

08/03/2013

Officials are trying to figure out how two F-16C Falcon aircraft collided on Thursday night off the coast of Chincoteague, Va. The F-16C jets were assigned to the 113th Wing D.C. Air National Guard and were part of a routine training mission off the coast of Chincoteague, Va. late Thursday night when they crashed, say officials.

This Helmet Gives Eurofighters X-Ray Vision

08/03/2013

In conventional combat aircraft, the target generally needs to be in both the pilot's field of vision and within the sights of the plane itself. That is, the plane needed to be pointed in the general direction of whatever you're shooting at. But in the case of the new Eurofighter Typhoon, pilots can squeeze off a few Sidewinders at bogies incoming from any direction thanks to a super helmet that links their eyes to the plane's electronic brain.

France Plans Dassault Combat Jet Demand Review Amid Export Hopes

08/03/2013

France will review how many Dassault Aviation SA (AM) Rafale combat jets it buys in 2015 as the government looks to exports deals to sustain production. An export order from India is all-but assured and one or two more export buyers will sign on as Brazil, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar show interest, said French defense officials, who asked not to be identified. Dassault was named preferred bidder in India to supply at least 126 jets.

Air Force demo team flying again, but no shows set

08/02/2013

It's 9 a.m. on a recent Tuesday, and there's a buzz outside the Thunderbird hangar at Nellis Air Force Base that hasn't been heard in months. The F-16 Fighting Falcon jets glisten in the sun, as Thunderbird pilots Maj. Blaine Jones and Lt. Col. Greg Moseley speed-walk along a line of maintenance crew members more than 30 people long, grinning as they salute and backhand slap each crew member's hand _ the customary Shake-and-Bake before every flight.

Chuck Hagel warns of deep army and navy cuts unless Congress acts

08/02/2013

The US defense secretary, Chuck Hagel, warned on Wednesday that the Pentagon may have to stop using up to three navy aircraft carriers and order additional sharp reductions in the size of the army and marine corps if Congress doesn't act to avoid massive budget cuts beginning in 2014.

Inside the Lockheed Martin F-35B

08/02/2013

An aviation fantasy from the realms of Star Wars, the F-35 is the most sophisticated, expensive and controversial jet fighter ever produced. From the advanced radar system in the nosecone to the thrust-vectoring nozzle at the rear, expore the futuristic fighter jet in more detail.

Mergers off as BAE profits fall

08/02/2013

The UK defence contractor, which last year failed to pull off a £30bn tie-up with Airbus-owner EADS, warned of job cuts running into the hundreds after a first six months hit by defence spending cuts and ongoing delays in price negotiations for 72 Saudi Typhoon fighter jets. Ian King, chief executive, said that despite the “challenging environment”, there was no need for more merger talks or any radical change in strategy.

Talisman Saber and America’s Pacific Pivot

08/02/2013

In the blue skies above the pristine waters of the Coral Sea, four Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jets slide into formation off the left-hand quarter of the Airbus KC-30A tanker, circling at 26,000 ft (7,924 m) approximately 120 miles (192 km) northwest of the city of Brisbane, capital of the Australian state of Queensland.

Hagel says military facing tough future

08/02/2013

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel warned Wednesday that the Pentagon may have to mothball up to three Navy aircraft carriers and order additional sharp reductions in the size of the Army and Marine Corps if Congress doesn't act to avoid massive budget cuts beginning in 2014.

Moscow Criticized For Meddling In Finland's NATO Debate

08/02/2013

Moscow’s hostility toward Finland’s future intentions on NATO membership has surfaced again in the wake of a visit by US official James Townsend, who accused Russia of meddling and criticized it for laying barriers in the way of any future Finnish application.

Airbus delivers first A400M military transport to France

08/02/2013

European aircraft manufacturer Airbus has delivered the first of its new long-awaited A400M military transport planes to France, the defence ministry said Thursday. The French military "has received the first aircraft of the A400M series of military transport aircraft" said the ministry, adding it would fly to the Orleans-Bricy airbase on Friday to enter service.

Indian Navy to launch indigenous aircraft carrier August 12

08/02/2013

Talking to mediapersons here, the Indian Navy vice chief, Vice Admiral R.K. Dhowan, said that the 40,000 tonne indigenous aircraft carrrier (IAC) was one of its most prestigious warship projects and was unprecedented in terms of size and complexity.

US Navy, Boeing Sign $2 Billion Order for 13 P-8A Poseidon Aircraft

08/02/2013

The U.S. Navy recently awarded Boeing a $1.98 billion contract for 13 additional P-8A Poseidon aircraft, continuing the modernization of U.S. maritime patrol capabilities that will ultimately involve more than 100 P-8As. The contract includes long-lead funding previously approved by the Navy.

Panama discovers MORE fighter jet engines and military vehicles on the seized boat taking obsolete weapons from Cuba to North Korea

08/01/2013

Panamanian investigators unloading the cargo of a seized North Korean ship carrying arms from Cuba under sacks of brown sugar found yet more military hardware on Tuesday. The authorities discovered 12 engines for MiG-21 fighter jets and five military vehicles that officials said resembled missile control centers. Investigators earlier in July had found two MiG-21 fighters and two missile radar systems on board the Chong Chon Gang.

South Africa Loses Use Of Its new Gripens

08/01/2013

Four months after admitting that 12 of its 26 Gripen jet fighters had been placed in storage because they were too expensive to operate and there were not enough qualified pilots to fly them, South African officials admitted that the maintenance contracts for all the Gripens had expired in April. That made long term use of the Gripens dangerous. This contract was with a reliable, and expensive, South African firm (Denel).

T-38 belly lands at Randolph on Monday

08/01/2013

Two Air Force pilots escaped injury this week when their T-38 Talon jet belly landed at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph. Details about the incident were unclear, but the 12th Flying Training Wing said in a brief statement that the twin-engine, supersonic aircraft touched down without its landing gear on the base's east runway.

IAF's indigenous dreams go sour as major hiccups mar development of aircrafts by HAL

08/01/2013

The Indian Air Force's indigenous dream appears to have gone sour as all major projects for home production of key aircraft are showing symptoms of distress. IAF chief NAK Browne in a letter to Defence Minister A.K. Antony had highlighted the delays and high costs in the development of basic trainer aircraft required urgently for rookie pilots, but these are not the only areas of concern.

Upgraded MiG is 'best aircraft in the world'

08/01/2013

The modernised MiG-31BM fighter interceptor has been shown in action in Siberia after deployment at the Kansk Air Base in Krasnoyarsk region. The Kansk air group is the first and only sub-unit in Russia's Central Military District to be fully equipped with upgraded planes, according to a report on Zvezda TV, closely linked to the country's Defence Ministry. Reports say it is the fastest military plane in the world.

Cost of Australia's JSFs falling

08/01/2013

While a final price hasn't been disclosed, an estimated four per cent price reduction means Australia is likely to pay around $US101 million ($A112 million) per fighter. The estimate comes after producers Lockheed Martin and the US Defense Department agreed on the 71 JSFs in the next two production blocks - known as Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) lots six and seven.

C-130J Tops Surges in Pentagon Weapons Estimates

08/01/2013

In 1996, the U.S. Air Force figured it needed to buy 11 C-130J cargo planes for about $840 million. Today, the service's plans call for a total of 168 of the Lockheed Martin Corp.-made aircraft for $15.5 billion -- more than 18 times the original cost estimate. The Air Force's C-130J Super Hercules tops the list of major weapons systems that have had the largest increases in projected costs, according to a Military.com analysis of the Defense Department's latest acquisition data.

Hagel: Budget cuts could cause 3 aircraft carriers to be mothballed

08/01/2013

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel warned Wednesday that the Pentagon may have to mothball up to three Navy aircraft carriers and order additional sharp reductions in the size of the Army and Marine Corps if Congress doesn't act to avoid massive budget cuts beginning in 2014. Speaking to Pentagon reporters, and indirectly to Congress, Hagel said that the full result of the sweeping budget cuts over the next 10 years could leave the nation with an ill-prepared, under-equipped military.

Stealth fighter makes San Diego debut

08/01/2013

An F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jet landed in San Diego for the first time Tuesday, stopping in a city saturated with military and defense industry representatives invested in keeping the Pentagon’s costliest weapons program aloft.