Military Aviation News Archive

Pentagon working with FAA to open U.S. airspace to combat drones

02/16/2012

The military says the nearly 7,500 robotic aircraft it has accrued for use overseas need to come home at some point. But the FAA doesn't allow drones in U.S. airspace without a special certificate.

Italy cuts spending on F-35 fighter plane

02/15/2012

Italy will cut investment in Lockheed Martin Corp's F-35 stealth fighter plane as part of an overall reduction in military spending, Defence Minister Giampaolo Di Paola said on Tuesday. "The F-35 was revised like all the other weapons programmes," Di Paola said after a Cabinet meeting that approved the military spending plan.

Swiss defense minister defends Swedish fighter jet deal despite tests favoring other options

02/15/2012

Switzerland’s defense minister and military commanders have defended the government’s decision to buy Swedish fighter jets, even though a secret air force report had recommended two rival offers. Defense Minister Ueli Maurer told reporters in Bern, the Swiss capital, and in a statement that the Swedish-made Gripen is the best long-term financial choice, despite the Swiss Air Force’s recommendation to buy other planes.

Brazil hopes for cheaper FX-2 fighter deal

02/15/2012

Brazil hopes the current economic downturn will give it an edge over competing suppliers and help secure a cheaper deal for its purchase of up to 36 fighter jets. Brazil is looking to replace obsolete fighter aircraft, including French Mirage jets, at the high end of its air force inventory as part of the so-called FX-2 fighter competition.

Royal Australian Air Force Super Hornets to Receive New Air Combat Training System

02/15/2012

Cubic Defense Applications, Inc., a defense systems business of Cubic Corporation CUB -0.12% , has received a new contract valued at more than $11 million. Cubic and its principal subcontractor, DRS Training and Control Systems LLC, a unit of DRS Defense Solutions LLC, will provide the P5 Tactical Combat Training System (P5TCTS) to the Royal Australian Air Force for use in training F/A-18F Super Hornet crews.

Unmanned Vehicles: Liberating or Enslaving?

02/15/2012

Unmanned aircraft have been billed as the ultimate in efficiency, a model for the Pentagon’s vision of substituting technology for labor. But don’t be fooled, Pentagon officials warn. Unmanned aerial vehicles are great for spying over enemy territory, but they are a huge drain on human resources. In fact, a combat air patrol that relies on UAVs demands more operators and support staff than if it were conducted by conventional aircraft with a pilot in the cockpit.

Falklands tension set to rise with visit of defence committee MPs

02/15/2012

MPs from a parliamentary committee that oversees defence matters are to visit the Falklands next month in a move that is likely to heighten tensions between Britain and Argentina over the islands. Members of the defence select committee are expected to visit military installations on the islands, where a garrison of more than 1,000 troops is stationed at Mount Pleasant Complex, 35 miles (56km) from the capital, Stanley.

Russia Grounds Su-24 Bomber Fleet after Urals Crash

02/15/2012

Russia has postponed indefinitely all flights of Su-24 Fencer tactical bombers after one of them crashed in Russia’s Urals, a source in the Defense Ministry said on Tuesday. The Su-24 combat aircraft crashed in the woods of the Kurgan region during a routine flight on Monday. Both pilots ejected safely. “The Air Force commander has cancelled all flights of this type of aircraft until the cause of the crash is established,” the source said but did not specify how long it could take.

P&W renews engine contract for RJAF's F-16s

02/15/2012

Pratt & Whitney used the Singapore Airshow today to announce a $19.2 million material management programme (MMP) contract with three, one-year options from the United States Air Force in support of F100-PW-220E engines powering the Royal Jordanian Air Force fleet of Lockheed Martin F-16 fighters.

AT-6 succesfully employs laser guided rockets

02/15/2012

Hawker Beechcraft Defense Company (HBDC) today announced its AT-6 Light Attack aircraft has successfully employed laser-guided rockets during recent test sorties at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida.

Russia to Increase Number of 5G Fighters in Test Flights

02/14/2012

The number of Russia's Sukhoi T-50 5th generation fighters involved in test flights will be increased to 14 from three by 2015, Russian Air Force Commander Col. Gen. Alexander Zelin told RIA Novosti on Monday. “There are three fighters already in tests, another three are expected to be tested in the nearest future. The entire number of aircraft planned for test flights is 14,” Zelin said.

Raytheon Restarts Production of Laser-guided Maverick for US Air Force, Navy

02/14/2012

After more than two decades, Raytheon Company RTN -0.64% has formally restarted production of the laser-guided Maverick missile, with the first weapon expected to be delivered to the U.S. Air Force in late 2012. Production began following a rigorous U.S. Air Force and Navy Developmental Testing/Operational Testing program that culminated in a production contract in late 2011.

India Hungry to Develop Hi-Tech Aerospace Expertise

02/14/2012

India’s big-ticket military acquisitions are expected to aggressively push schedules for the transfer of production to the country’s ambitious aerospace and defense industry. But the technology that India expects to be transferred through co-development work generated by offset agreements is raising concerns among vendors about possible violations of intellectual property rights.

U.S. Defense Budget Cuts Already Leading To Questionable Acquisition Decisions

02/14/2012

Defense department officials and the chiefs of the military services have been reassuring anyone who will listen that the Pentagon has its act together when it comes to implementing the new defense strategy and creating a “leaner and more flexible” force structure. There will be cuts that are painful, they all say, but they are being implemented in a manner designed to ensure no loss of capability even as the overall size of the military shrinks.

Cameron and Sarkozy to discuss help for Syrian rebels

02/14/2012

David Cameron and the French president Nicolas Sarkozy are to meet in Paris on Friday to discuss a possible increase in help to Syrian rebels, including giving them military advice. The meeting, held in the context of the annual Anglo-French summit, will occur the day after Sarkozy is expected formally to declare his intention to run for a second term as French president.

India plays fighter catch-up

02/14/2012

After over a decade of waiting, India has decided in the "mother" of defense deals, with France's Dassault Rafale fighter jets winning the multi-billion contract for 126 MMRCA (medium multi-role combat aircraft). The value of the contract could be anywhere between US$12 billion and $16 billion, though some estimates have pegged it at much larger $20 billion. It is clear that this is one of the world's largest military aviation deals.

Boeing Says ‘Confident’ of Winning South Korean Fighter Jet Deal

02/14/2012

Boeing Co., maker of the F-18 and F-15 fighter jets, said it’s “very confident” of winning a $7 billion South Korean order for combat planes as it boosts focus on Asia amid shrinking military spending at home. “If you look at the budget situation in Europe and the U.S., we have to make some grounds somewhere,” Joe Song, director, Asia Pacific International Business Development of Boeing defense, said in an interview in Singapore yesterday. “The focus is Asia and the Middle East right now.”

Pentagon’s $525 Billion Budget Takes Most From Lockheed F-35

02/14/2012

The Pentagon’s proposed $525 billion budget for fiscal year 2013 would seek the most savings on weapons by reducing purchases of Lockheed Martin Corp.’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the military’s costliest program. The Defense Department would cut $1.6 billion from the F-35 program by eliminating 13 planned aircraft, part of $18 billion in weapons cuts proposed in the budget that President Barack Obama sent to Congress today for the year beginning Oct. 1.

Soldier's death in Afghanistan sparks debate over installing guns on US Army medevac choppers

02/14/2012

It took a medevac unit 59 minutes to get U.S. Army Spec. Chazray Clark to a hospital in southern Afghanistan after receiving a call that a roadside bombing severed three of his limbs. Clark did not survive. "I need something, please. It hurts," Clark, a 24-year-old combat engineer from Detroit, can be heard saying on a videotape as he waited in the dark for the helicopter.

U.S. Air Force’s New Missile Warning Satellite Providing Vital Infrared Data to Users

02/14/2012

The first Lockheed Martin built Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) geosynchronous (GEO-1) satellite is now delivering critical infrared data to users. The spacecraft is currently undergoing its rigorous operational certification process.

Michigan congressman raises concerns about defense spending

02/13/2012

The budget President Obama delivers to Congress this week will spend about 8 billion dollars less on the Defense Department. That's going to directly affect two Michigan Air National Guard Bases. Battle Creek and Selfridge Air National Guard Base officials learned earlier this month that the president’s proposed defense cuts would effect them. Selfridge would lose specialized fighter aircraft and Battle Creek will not become the home of some cargo planes.

WPAFB likely to avoid cuts from defense plan

02/13/2012

The Pentagon’s increasing demand for unmanned aircraft bodes well for Wright-Patterson Air Force Base as President Barack Obama prepares to make public his funding plans for the smaller, more agile military he envisions for the future. These are white-knuckle days for any military installation, as Obama prepares to authorize a new round of evaluating which U.S. bases can be closed and which missions might be moved for consolidation into other bases.

Sikorsky Aircraft Signs MOU with ASESA of Mexico

02/13/2012

The MOU marks another step in our commitment to support BLACK HAWK aircraft operated by the Mexican military and Federal Police," said Steve Estill, Sikorsky Vice President for Mexico. "This agreement will establish a working relationship with ASESA in preparation for expected growth in Mexico, which could include helicopter assembly, maintenance, repair and overhaul work.

Will Brazil follow India's Rafale bet?

02/13/2012

In a country where defence policy has traditionally not been a key aspect of overall foreign policy, seeing a former powerful Foreign Minister assume the Ministry of Defence is certain to raise some eyebrows. And so it happened when, in August 2011, President Dilma Rousseff chose Celso Amorim, the architect of Brazil's foreign policy under the Lula administration, to replace Nelson Jobim after the latter had openly questioned the capacity of several of his fellow cabinet members.

Anka unmanned plane to take off this summer

02/13/2012

Turkey is planning to launch its unmanned planes by the summer in the hopes of using them against the outlawed Kurdsitan Workers Party (PKK). The plane’s A version is ready, but a B version is still pending.