Military Aviation News Archive

Boeing to revise bid for US military tanker deal

02/02/2011

Boeing said Tuesday it would submit a new, "final" bid for a $35 billion contract to supply the US military with 179 aerial refueling tankers, as it tries to beat European rival Airbus.

Contenders for Indian fighter deal to show in force at Aero India 2011

02/02/2011

All six participants of a tender to supply 126 light fighter jets to the Indian air force will showcase full flight displays at Aero India 2011 air show, the organizers said.

Analysis: U.S. military says keeps up with China; Is it enough?

02/01/2011

U.S. military commanders are expressing confidence that they can hold their own in the face of faster-than-expected advances by China's military, but looming cost cuts are adding to doubts about the future of American power in the Pacific.

Aero India 2011: Homegrown birds to steal the show

02/01/2011

Besides the Eurofighter Typhoons and the F16s, two home-grown metal birds— the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) and the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Navy— will be seen at the upcoming Aero India 2011, which will be held at the Air Force Station Yelahanka between February 9 and 13.

Israel 'needs F-35 to stay on top'

02/01/2011

Israel seems determined to acquire a fleet of Lockheed Martin's costly F-35 stealth fighters despite the plethora of problems plaguing the development of the fifth-generation jet.

Czech Republic to support modernization of Azerbaijani military aircraft

02/01/2011

Azerbaijan and the Czech Republic reached an agreement to carry out joint projects for the modernization of military aircrafts.

Boeing Delivers 11th C-40A to US Navy

02/01/2011

The Boeing Company delivered the 11th C-40A transport aircraft to the U.S. Navy on Jan. 28 from the company’s Wichita facility. In this photo, the aircraft taxis at the site just prior to delivery.

Iraq's air force still lacks firepower

01/31/2011

Iraq is reportedly on the verge of signing a $13 billion deal with the Pentagon for advanced weapons systems, including Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter interceptors. But the French are trying to muscle in.

Russia to offer fifth-generation prototype fighter to Brazil?

01/31/2011

The global arms trade runs to billions of dollars, but few such deals attract as much media attention as Brazil's recent tender, for the purchase of 36 combat aircraft which includes an agreement on production of another 84 planes under license.

S. Korea seeks to deploy stealth fighters in 2015

01/31/2011

South Korea is seeking to purchase its first stealth fighter jets at an earlier date to replace aging Air Force fighters and to secure capabilities to counter North Korea's increasing provocations, government sources said Sunday.

US fighter jets scrambled to intercept rogue aircraft

01/29/2011

A PAIR of F-16 fighter jets were scrambled Friday to intercept an unresponsive commercial aircraft over the US capital, but returned to base near Washington after regaining communication, officials said.

Last F-35B STOVL Test Jet Takes Flight

01/29/2011

The last Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II assigned to developmental flight testing departs Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base on its first flight Thursday.

China refutes the J-20 uses F-117 copies

01/28/2011

A Chinese test pilot refuted allegations that the country's new J-20 stealth fighter aircraft used copied parts from a Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk downed in 1999.

Taiwan Requests U.S. Fighter Jets

01/28/2011

Days after Chinese leader Hu Jintao leaves Washington, Taiwan’s President Ma Ying-jeou is again calling on the United States to supply Taiwan with fighter aircraft.

India Clears Tejas Fighter Jet For Operations

01/28/2011

Indian authorities have cleared the Tejas fighter jet for operations in a move that gives the green light to the country's first "indigenous" military aircraft, although analysts say that its effective operational introduction is still a few years off.

Military jet crashes: Two crew rescued

01/28/2011

The aircraft is thought to be a GR4 fighter Tornado jet based at RAF Lossiemouth. It is understood that the aircraft caught fire before it plunged into the sea. Another Tornado is also thought to have been flying nearby - jets often fly in pairs when on training exercises.

Hopes for first ever military export to West

01/28/2011

A possible deal to export helicopters to a US military aircraft purchase program is a sign of China's growing ability to produce aircraft according to international standards, experts said.

Russian answer to U.S. reusable robotic spacecraft in the offing

01/28/2011

Russian researchers are working on an unmanned spacecraft similar to the U.S. Boeing X-37 Orbital Test Vehicle, Space Troops chief Oleg Ostapenko said on Thursday.

Scrapping the RAF's £4bn Nimrod fleet 'risks UK security'

01/27/2011

The scrapping of the RAF’s £4 billion fleet of Nimrod surveillance aircraft will create a “massive security gap”, the country’s leading military figures have warned.

Airbus Military demonstrates final A330 MRTT refuelling system

01/27/2011

The Airbus Military A330 MRTT has successfully passed fuel to receiver aircraft using the Fuselage Refuelling Unit (FRU) for the first time – meaning that all of the aircraft's refuelling systems have now been demonstrated.

German Parliament Committee OKs A400M Continuation

01/27/2011

The budget committee of the German Parliament on Wednesday approved the continuation of the Airbus A400M military transport program, said Juergen Koppelin, the Free Democratic Party's budget expert.

Boeing, Netherlands MOD Mark 1st Flight of Royal Netherlands Air Force CH-47F (NL) Chinook

01/27/2011

Representatives of Boeing, its suppliers and the Netherlands Ministry of Defence marked the first flight of the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) CH-47F (NL) Chinook heavy-lift helicopter in a ceremony Jan. 25 at Summit Aviation in Middletown, Del.

The 'Beast of Kandahar' Stealth Aircraft Quietly Resurfaces in New Pics

01/26/2011

All of a sudden it was there, but then like any good stealth aircraft it vanished. Now the “Beast of Kandahar” has resurfaced in new photos, spurring aviation and defense wonks to once again speculate about the function and purpose of such a stealthy-looking unmanned aerial system.

F-22 Raptor, 'smartest fighter' likely at Aero India

01/26/2011

The world’s most advanced combat aircraft, the F-22 Raptor, is likely to make a rare appearance outside the US during the upcoming Aero India show in Bangalore next month. This will be the first appearance of the stealth fighter, which is also the only operational fifth generation fighter aircraft in the world, in India and its third participation at an international air show.

Republic Day 2011 - A Curtain Raiser

01/26/2011

A strong and resurgent India will be celebrating its 62nd Republic Day tomorrow. This year's parade will highlight the nation's achievements in various fields, the military prowess, scintillating display of air power as also country's rich and diverse cultural heritage.