Military Aviation News Archive

Boeing, US Navy Mark Harpoon Missile System's 40th Anniversary

07/22/2011

Boeing and the U.S. Navy recognized the 40th anniversary of the Harpoon Missile System today at a ceremony near the company’s St. Charles facility.

Boeing F/A-18E/F IRST System Advances to Next Development Phase

07/22/2011

The Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Infrared Search and Track (IRST) program received a Milestone B Acquisition Decision Memorandum from the U.S. Navy on July 13. This allows the program to advance to its next development phase - Engineering and Manufacturing Development.

Air Force officer gets suspended sentence over MiG-31 crash

07/22/2011

A court martial in northern Russia’s Arkhangelsk has given a two-year suspended jail sentence to an Air Force officer who supervised flight operations prior to the crash of a MiG-31 interceptor in March, military investigators said on Thursday. The officer, Roman Storozhenko, was found guilty of accepting the base at Kotlas in Arkhangelsk Region as being fit to allow flight operations in March 2010, and authorizing missions for MiG-31s.

Combat aircraft bids opening soon

07/21/2011

The commercial bids for the ‘mother of all defence deals’ - for 126 Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA), valuing over $10 billion, will be opened before July 31. However, the winner of the contract - French Dassault or European Eurofighter - will be known only when the IAF finds out the lowest bidder based on various factors such as life cycle maintenance costs.

Japanese F-15s arrive at Red Flag-Alaska

07/21/2011

Several Japan Air Self-Defense Force Mitsubishi F-15 Eagles joined other RED FLAG-Alaska participants July 12 after having its entire F-15 fighter fleet grounded in response to an incident on July 4 with one of the fighter jets during a routine training exercise back in Japan. The Mitsubishi F-15 Eagle forms part of JASDF fighter-interceptor aircraft inventory used to engage hostile aircraft. The F-15 was brought to RED-FLAG Alaska to help JASDF members improve their tactical flying skills and

Parliament Approves Funds For Military Aircraft

07/21/2011

The loan agreements includes a $105,370,177.09, from the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) for the purchase of one Embraer E 190 jet with a hanger, an €11 million from Fidelity Bank Ghana for two DA42 MPP Guardian Surveillance aircrafts and another €60 million from the Deutsche Bank Sociedad Anónima Espanóla for the purchase of two CASA 295 aircraft.

Boeing official says ‘nothing’s changed’ in Air Force tanker plans

07/21/2011

Boeing officials do not expect to breach the cost estimates that the Air Force endorsed when it handed the company a $35 billion contract for new tanker aircraft. “There are no overruns. … We remain on cost, on schedule,” Boeing executive Chris Chadwick told The Hill on Wednesday. “Our bid has not changed since the Air Force accepted it. Our expectation of cost has not changed since the Air Force selected the Boeing plane.

Boeing casts net wider for Brazil jet deal

07/21/2011

The Boeing Co. cast its net wider in the campaign to secure Brazil's multibillion-dollar order for up to 100 jet fighters, pledging generous technology transfers and training for Brazilians as part of the deal. Boeing is in competition with French Dassault Aviation's Rafale fighter jet and Swedish company Saab's Gripen NG rival.

German, Indian air forces may have joint exercises soon

07/21/2011

The German air force is keen on a joint military exercise with India and will discuss the possibility of this when the Indian Air Force (IAF) chief visits Berlin in September. Luftwaffe chief General Aarne Kreuzinger-Janik said during an interaction on the sidelines of the Royal International Air Tattoo here that Germany was exploring the possibilities of regular joint exercises with the IAF for achieving interoperability.

Obama's Defense Cuts

07/21/2011

The Obama administration is reportedly pushing for yet another $100 billion in Defense cuts, on top of the more than $500 billion in cuts to the ten-year defense spending plan the White House is already planning to enact -- ensuring that there will be few -- if any -- major Obama era defense programs left.

Lockheed Martin Delivers Second F-35 Production Jet In A Week

07/21/2011

It was wheels up Wednesday morning for Lockheed Martin’s second F-35A Lightning II production jet delivery in a week. Maj. Joseph T. “OD” Bachmann (Marine Corps) piloted the aircraft, known as AF-8, to Eglin Air Force Base where it arrived at 11:50 a.m. CDT. AF-8 joins AF-9 which Lockheed Martin delivered to the 33rd Fighter Wing last Thursday.

Eurofighter optimistic of winning India''s MMRCA contract

07/20/2011

From Ramnath Shenoy London, Jul 19 (PTI) As India prepares to open the commercial bids for the USD 10.8 billion tender for 126 medium range multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA), Eurofighter hopes to make the country a partner in its Typhoon fighter jet programme which it says would be a game-changer.

Our defence capabilities in need of a reality check

07/20/2011

The Pentagon's acknowledgment on Friday that an American defence contractor's computer networks had been seriously hacked by a foreign spy agency is the first in a series of security wake-up calls likely to hit Australia in coming months.

Lightning fighter jets get new home at Nellis

07/20/2011

The skies over Las Vegas will fill with Lightning next year, as the military's next-generation fighter jet lands at its new home at Nellis Air Force Base. The Air Force announced plans on Tuesday to establish a test and training center at Nellis for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, also known as the Lightning II.

Clinton pitches for more military sales to India

07/20/2011

With their strategic proximity growing, the US on Tuesday pitched for more military sales to India, a call soon after Washington decided to cut $800 million arms aid to Pakistan. "On the issue of defence technologies, the US expects to continue developing and selling the world's most competitive products," secretary of state Hillary Clinton, on a three-day visit to India, said here.

China defense industry faces homemade engine troubles

07/20/2011

China can send a man into space and a rocket into lunar orbit but, paradoxically, its defense industry cannot build a top-end aircraft engine. Or an engine sophisticated enough to power advanced surface ships and armored vehicles.

The China Challenge: A strategic vision for U.S.-India relations

07/20/2011

Indian policymakers are scrambling to develop effective policies to cope with a rising China by simultaneously pursuing both a robust diplomatic strategy aimed at encouraging peaceful resolution of border disputes and forging strong trade and economic ties and an ambitious military modernisation campaign that will build Indian air, naval, and missile capabilities.

Boeing P-8A Poseidon Production Aircraft Completes 1st Flight

07/20/2011

The first Boeing P-8A Poseidon production aircraft completed its first flight on July 7, taking off from Renton Field and landing three hours later at Boeing Field in Seattle. The P-8A is the first of six low-rate initial production (LRIP) aircraft Boeing is building for the U.S. Navy as part of a $1.6 billion contract awarded in January.

UAV crashes near oil refinery in Pakistan city of Karachi

07/20/2011

A Pakistan Navy Uqab unmanned air vehicle (UAV) crashed on Tuesday in Pakistan’s largest city, Karachi, according to local television, quoting Navy sources.

Turkish pilot wins King Hussein prize at UK's Royal Tattoo

07/20/2011

The top award is the King Hussein Memorial Sword - presented in memory of the late HM King Hussein of Jordan, Patron of the International Air Tattoo (1983-1989) - and is awarded for the best overall flying demonstration. This year it went to Maj Murat Keles, flying the F-16C “Solo Turk” from 141st Sqn, Turkish Air Force.

F-22s Grounded Pending Oxygen System Probe

07/19/2011

The U.S. Air Force’s F-22 fighter remains subject to the longest full-force grounding of any combat aircraft in recent history, with no cause firmly identified. Meanwhile, documents show that the focus of the investigation—the onboard oxygen-generation system (Obogs)—has been a flight safety issue for many years on the F/A-18C/D Hornet, increasing the number of cases where aircrew were affected by hypoxia, or lack of oxygen, in flight.

Hillary may push for fighter aircraft deal with India

07/19/2011

New Delhi seems to be bending backwards to explain why two iconic US Fighter aircraft have been left out of the Multi-Role Combat Aircraft Competition to supply fighter jets to India. However, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is expected to push for the fifth generation F-35 on her visit to India.

Air Guard partners exercise in Ukraine

07/19/2011

A rainbow unit of Air National Guard Airmen comprising members from Alabama, California, Iowa, Washington and Massachusetts flew into a base that until July 16 only had seen use by Mig-29s and Su-27s. Following the advance teams of maintenance and support personnel, seven F-16C Fighting Falcons from Alabama and Iowa cut through the calm, blue Ukrainian sky. The F-16Cs were among the first American fighter jets to touch down in this former Soviet-bloc country.

Libya: NATO Selectively Enforcing No-Fly-Zone

07/19/2011

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) assumed command and control over the western-led intervention in the Libyan civil war four months ago with three stated military missions: enforce an arms embargo, enforce a no-fly-zone, and protect civilians and civilian populated areas.

An agenda for Hillary ahead of today’s Indo-US talks

07/19/2011

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s visit to India for the India-US Strategic Dialogue talks provides an opportunity for the US to take India’s pulse on China and to discuss new diplomatic and security initiatives that will contribute to maintaining a stable balance of power in Asia.