Military Aviation News Archive

U.S. Expands Drone Flights to Take Aim at East Africa

09/22/2011

The U.S. military is deploying a new force of armed drones to eastern Africa in an escalation of its campaign to strike militant targets in the region and expand intelligence on extremists, officials said.

Boeing, US Army Celebrate $130 Million Investment in CH-47 Chinook Production Facility

09/22/2011

The Boeing Company and the U.S. Army celebrated the opening of the newly renovated H-47 Chinook manufacturing facility today. The event coincided with the 50th anniversary of the H-47 Chinook's first flight.

Global Air Force leaders to share strategy at Dubai conference

09/22/2011

A top–level group of Air Force leaders from around the world have confimed attendance at the Dubai International Air Chiefs Conference (DIAC) which takes place on the eve of the Dubai Air Show at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel.

Boeing-led Team Delivers 1st Peace Eye AEW&C Aircraft to Republic of Korea Air Force

09/22/2011

A team led by Boeing today delivered the first Peace Eye 737 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft to the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF). The aircraft was delivered during a ceremony attended by officials from the ROKAF, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), the South Korean and U.S. governments, industry partners and Boeing at ROKAF Base Gimhae, the main operating base for the Peace Eye fleet.

Romanian F-16 deal in doubt

09/21/2011

Romania cannot afford to purchase second-hand F-16 combat aircraft unless granted a long-term financing plan, Romanian President Traian Basescu said yesterday.

Key Tejas weapon trials begin in Jaisalmer

09/21/2011

A crucial round of armament trials of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas has just begun in Jaisalmer. Close on its heels, a second round of trials will take place in Goa next month.

Dassault uses Libya war to boost Rafale

09/21/2011

Dassault Aviation hopes to capitalize on France's participation with the United Arab Emirates in the air campaign against Moammar Gadhafi's crumbling regime in Libya to promote the sale of 60 Rafale multi-role jets to the Persian Gulf state.

AgustaWestland Poised to Support U.S. Air Force

09/21/2011

AgustaWestland North America, Inc. proudly enters the Air Force Association's 2011 Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition firmly committed to the U.S. Air Force with the right helicopters for the mission and the right talent for the job.

Administration Maneuvers Upgrades of F-16s to Taiwan to Appease All Side

09/21/2011

Taiwan, China and Congress won't be cheering the Obama administration's decision to upgrade Taiwan's fleet of F-16 fighter jets but not sell it new planes. But it may be a compromise they can all live with.

Industry Fears Budget Cuts Will Devastate Aerospace Sector

09/21/2011

Looming defense cuts will lead to changes in the way the U.S. Air Force does business with industry, said Chief of Staff Gen. Norton A. Schwartz. In a Sept. 20 keynote address at the Air Force Association's Air and Space Conference and Technology Exposition, Schwartz said there is no room anymore for companies to “over-promise only then to under-deliver.” There will be no blank checks for industry, and the military will not be able to have everything it wants.

General: US aircraft remain 'very committed' to Libya operation

09/21/2011

U.S. military aircraft are still “very committed” to the NATO-led intervention in Libya, especially refueling planes that are “schwacking” targets, a top general said Tuesday. American tanker planes have pumped nearly 150 million gallons of fuel into U.S. and coalition combat aircraft, U.S. Air Mobility Command (AMC) chief Gen. Raymond Johns told reporters during a breakfast meeting in Washington.

Lockheed Martin F-35 Flight Test Progress Report

09/21/2011

Lockheed Martin’s F-35 flight test program moves closer to reaching year-end milestones since the last update issued July 26. Since then, the F-35 Lightning II 5TH Generation multirole fighter conducted 124 test flights, bringing the total number of flights for the year to 642.

2 die in chopper crash at Camp Pendleton

09/20/2011

A military helicopter crashed in a remote area of Camp Pendleton, killing the two Marines on board and sparking a wildfire, base officials said Monday. The crash took place after 1:05 p.m. at a training area near De Luz Road east of Fallbrook, Sgt. Art Carlson said.

Major war games by Russia on modern tactics, cooperative operations

09/20/2011

The Russian army on Monday kicked off a pair of major war games aimed at making the Kremlin's forces more agile and better capable of deploying to allied countries, the Interfax news agency reported. More than 12,000 service personnel from Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan were participating in the Centre-2011 exercise, which will be the region's biggest military training operation of 2011.

For U.S. Air Force, the Cost of Operating Unmanned Aircraft Becoming ‘Unsustainable’

09/20/2011

The fastest-growing occupation in the U.S. Air Force — warzone surveillance — soon may be reaching its peak as the Defense Department looks for ways to cut costs. The deployment of Air Force remotely piloted spy aircraft across Iraq and Afghanistan grew rapidly over the past eight years, at the same time that the Army also expanded its fleet of unmanned surveillance drones.

China criticizes US deal to upgrade Taiwan F-16s

09/20/2011

China expressed its opposition Monday to a reported deal between the United States and Taiwan to upgrade Taiwan's existing fleet of F-16 fighter jets, even though the U.S. apparently rejected the island's bid for a more advanced version of the plane.

US Air Force vows to spare F-35 from budget cuts

09/20/2011

The US Air Force vowed Monday to "protect" costly weapons programs despite budget pressures, saying the country needed the F-35 fighter jet, a long-range bomber and other aircraft. While acknowledging the need for reductions to the defense budget, Air Force Secretary Michael Donley proceeded to list several big ticket programs that were not up for negotiation.

F-35 Program Completes Static Structural Testing

09/20/2011

Lockheed Martin’s F-35 program has successfully completed static structural testing, achieving one of five milestones established by the Joint Program Office for 2011. Static structural testing is used to verify the structural integrity of the airframe and to ensure specifications outlined in technical drawings used to produce the aircraft are accurate. Engineering teams at Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems, Northrop Grumman and the Joint Program Office conducted the tests over the past two years.

Azerbaijan to build 60 pilotless spy planes for its army

09/20/2011

Azerbaijan’s armed forces will take delivery of 60 Orbiter and Aerostar unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) by the end of this year, the Azerbaijan Press Agency (APA) said on Monday quoting military sources.

Qatar said to be considering "substantial" investment into EADS

09/20/2011

Qatar's government is said to be considering purchasing a substantial stake in EADS – the European aerospace and defence conglomerate which owns Airbus, Eurocopter and other major manufacturers.

Dassault close to UAE deal on Rafale jets -paper

09/19/2011

Dassault Aviation is expected to put an offer to sell about 60 Rafale fighterjets to the United Arab Emirates this month, in a sign that negotiations are progressing, Les Echos newspaper reported on Thursday. Last month another French newspaper said an agreement could be reached between September and the end of the year.

Northrop, BAE To Team for USAF T-X Work

09/19/2011

BAE Systems is teaming with Northrop Grumman to propose its Hawk trainer for a forthcoming U.S. Air Force competition to replace the T-38C fast-jet trainer. The team plans to announce their partnership on Sept. 19 at the annual Air Force Association conference, according to industry officials. Competitors are likely to include Lockheed Martin/Korea Aerospace Industries’ T-50 and Alenia Aermacchi’s M346.

Turkey parachutes food, water into Libya

09/19/2011

A Turkish military cargo plane was attacked by anti-aircraft weaponry after parachuting humanitarian aid into Libya on Sunday. Turkish and National Transitional Council, or NTC, executives had decided to parachute the aid into Waddan, south of Sirte and near Libya’s border with Niger, early on Sunday. The two cargo planes took off from Benghazi Military Airport and when they reached Waddan, one of them became the target of anti-aircraft fire.

US to upgrade Taiwan F-16s, not sell new ones

09/19/2011

The Obama administration has decided to upgrade Taiwan's existing fleet of F-16 fighter jets but not sell it the new planes it also wants, congressional staff said. The administration gave a briefing on Capitol Hill on its decision Friday, but has yet to issue a formal notification of the intended deal. An announcement is expected by the end of this month.

Pakistani officials say troops, Taliban militants clashed over downed drone

09/19/2011

Pakistani troops battled Taliban militants Sunday morning to win control of the remnants of a CIA drone that crashed in the nation’s borderlands, according to Pakistani security officials. The cause of the crash of the unmanned Predator aircraft, among the drones the CIA uses to fire missiles at Taliban and al-Qaeda hideouts in the rocky region bordering Afghanistan, remained in dispute hours after it was downed in Zangarha village in South Waziristan.