Saturday, January 15, 2005
New Pilatus plane grounded by federal rulingThe Swiss Federal Office for Civil Aviation has banned the Swiss aircraft manufacturer, Pilatus, from further tests of its prototype PC-21 military training plane. It comes one day after the crash of the company’s only other prototype, in which the chief test pilot and another person was seriously injured.
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Private Sector to Repair and Maintain ROC Military AircraftTaiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) will contract over NT$2 billion (US$62 million at NT$32.2:US$1) worth of military aircraft repair and maintenance work to the private sector this year, the outsourcing will include the advanced Indigenous Defense Fighter (IDF) as well as F-16 and Mirage-2000 jet fighters.
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Navy to Choose Presidential Copter Builder (Registration Required)The Pentagon gave the U.S. Navy the green light Thursday to choose a company to build the next Marine One presidential helicopter fleet. A final selection is expected after stock markets close on Jan. 28.
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Air Force's only B-52 Reserve unit deploys 100 to GuamThe U.S. Air Force’s only B-52 Reserve unit, part of the 93rd Bomb Squadron, deployed to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, earlier this week as part of an ongoing rotation to maintain a continual bomber force in the Pacific region.
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Military and commercial potential for flying saucerGFS Projects, is on the brink of building the world’s first flying saucer capable of unmanned, self-sustaining and fully manoeuvrable flight. QinetiQ, has an interest based on the possible advantages of using the flying saucer as a UAV in a battlefield environment.
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Boeing to Recognize Charges for USAF 767 Tanker Costs and Conclusion of 717 ProductionThe Boeing Company announced it plans to recognize pre-tax charges totaling approximately $615 million, or $0.48 per share, related to the U.S. Air Force 767 Tanker program and expenses incurred to end production of the 717.
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Hercules fleet needs to be replaced and expanded, say criticsCritics in New Zealand are calling for the government to replace the C-130 with newer models rather than upgrade the fleet.
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French helicopters fly aid in to Aceh provinceFour French Puma helicopters on Thursday joined aid operations underway in Indonesia's tsunami-hit province of Aceh, after arriving Monday on board an Antonov cargo plane, the French defence ministry said in Paris. They will be joined by six other helicopters Friday, when the helicopter carrier Jeanne d'Arc and frigate Georges Leygues arrive.
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Friday, January 14, 2005
U.S. military jet crashes off coast of SumatraA U.S. Marine Corps Harrier fighter jet was on a routine training mission approximately 45 miles west of Sumatra when it went down. The pilot sustained minor injuries Thursday when he ejected.
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Carl Vinson heads to new homeThe Carl Vinson sailed out of Bremerton Naval Station on Thursday. The aircraft carrier and its 3,200 sailors leave for a six-month round-the-world deployment in the western Pacific. In November, the carrier heads for Norfolk, Va., for a 3½-year refueling overhaul.
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Army takes TPS commandCmdr. Paul Sohl will pass down command of the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School Jan. 13 marking a milestone in the Navy test pilot training program's illustrious 60 year existence when Lt. Col. Steve Kihara takes command becoming the first Army officer ever to do so.
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Raytheon Awarded $8 Million Contract to Provide Time-Critical Parts for Navy's SHARP SystemsRaytheon Company has been awarded a U.S. Navy contract to acquire time-critical
parts for the F/A-18 Shared Reconnaissance Pod (SHARP) systems.
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Air Force prepares to re-examine West Texas bombing route (Registration Required)The U.S. Air Force announced Wednesday it will hold additional public hearings, possibly in March, as directed by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals over a B-1 bombing route. The bombing route was created to provide low-altitude flight training using high-tech ground stations. The stations simulate battle conditions and monitor whether simulated bombs hit their targets. The plan called for flights as low as 300 feet above the ground.
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Irkutsk aircraft plant to supply Su-30MKM fighters to MalaysiaThe Irkutsk aircraft plant has begun fulfilling a contract to supply 18 multipurpose fighters Su-30MKM to Malaysia. A group of specialists of the Malaysian Air Force has arrived at the plant to specify the procedure of purchasing equipment and materials to assemble the combat planes.
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“It’s nothing like the Phalcon deal”A source familiar with Israel-US defense ties claims that the issue of Israel’s upgrading of UAVs for China is unimportant. Israel was only trying to provide spare parts and not to upgrade the Harpy.
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General says software glitch probably cause crash of high-tech fighterU.S. Air Force Chief of Staff General John Jumper says a software glitch probably caused the crash of an F/A-22 Raptor fighter jet last month at Nellis Air Force Base.
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Russia May Sell Bomber Aircraft to China — Air Force ChiefThe chief of the Russian Air Force, Vladimir Mikhailov, said on Thursday, Jan. 13, that the Russian military could sell a number of Tu-22M3 and Tu-95 bomber aircraft to China.
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T-56 engine rolls out: Prime Minister assures full support to PAFPakistan rolled out its first indigenously overhauled US-origin T-56 engine for C-130 transport military aircraft.
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Black Hawk helicopter crashes in southwest Colombia, killing 20 soldiersA U.S.-donated Black Hawk helicopter crashed Thursday while flying in thick fog during a nighttime counternarcotics mission in southwest Colombia, killing all 20 soldiers aboard, the army said.
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Group of senators defends Lockheed (Registration Required)Twenty-four U.S. senators have urged President Bush not to cancel Lockheed Martin's C-130J transport plane.
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US lawmakers oppose sale of F-16 jetsU.S. Senator Jon Corzine and Representative Frank Pallone is against the proposal by the United States government to sell F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan.
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Air Force To Make Case For Restored F/A-22 BuyThe U.S. Air Force plans to make the case for restoring recent Pentagon cuts to the F/A-22 Raptor program during the upcoming quadrennial defense review (QDR) this summer, according to Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John Jumper.
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Israel asks Russia to halt Syria missile dealIsrael fears that shoulder-held anti-aircraft missiles that Russia is selling to Syria could fall into the hands of Lebanese guerrillas and be aimed at Israeli targets.
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Army adopts NASCAR technology for helicoptersThe U.S. Army will use NASCAR windshield tear-offs on its helicopters as an extra layer of protection from sand, rocks.
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F-16s not to participate in Aero India showLockheed Martin will display the C-130J Hercules and the P-3C Orion at Aero India 2005, the F-16 will not be participating.
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Spain sends five planes with aidSpain has sent five military aircraft -- two Hercules C-130 and three CN 235 -- with several tons of humanitarian aid, and medical and military personnel to Indonesia, the Spanish Embassy said in Jakarta.
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F-15E crew uses new targeting podAn F-15E Strike Eagle aircrew from the 494th Fighter Squadron took part in a flight that marked an evolution in weapons technology when it used a Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod on the aircraft Jan. 7.
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Kitty Hawk Sets to Sea AgainUSS Kitty Hawk (CV 63), with more than 3,000 Sailors aboard, departed the ship’s forward-deployed operating port of Yokosuka, Japan, Jan. 11 to conduct sea trials as the final step of a four-month ship’s restricted availability (SRA) maintenance period.
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General Jumper qualifies in F/A-22 RaptorU.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper ended two weeks of training at Tyndall Air Base Jan. 12, flying his qualification flight in the F/A-22 Raptor, the Air Force’s newest fighter aircraft.
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Big E's Crash and Salvage Advance in TrainingMembers of USS Enterprise's (Big E) (CVN 65) Air Department V-1 Division completed a crash and salvage flight deck firefighting course in December at the Naval Air Technical Training Center in Pensacola, Florida.
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Thursday, January 13, 2005
Japan to work on svelte spy satelliteJapan wants to scale down the size of its spy satellites to enhance their maneuverability and hopes to launch a small fourth-generation satellite by around fiscal 2010, government sources said Monday.
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British defence official in Lithuania to wrap up NATO air patrol missionBritish under secretary of state for defence Ivor Caplin is due in Lithuania to formally hand over responsibility for a NATO air-patrol mission to the Norwegian military, the Lithuanian defence ministry said Tuesday.
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EADS Hires Retired General for Tanker BidEuropean Aeronautic Defense & Space Co. said it hired retired U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Silas Johnson to head its marketing effort for the KC-330 in the United States.
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Saab Appoints New Head for Gripen UnitAerospace and defense company Saab AB named Johan Lehander the new managing director for its Gripen International unit on Wednesday in a move aimed at expanding its marketability beyond Europe.
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Boeing Signs $549 Million Chinook ContractThe Boeing Company and the U.S. Army signed a $549 million contract Dec. 21, 2004, for 17 new-build CH-47F Chinook helicopters.
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FAA Turns Case Over To NavyThe U.S. Navy is investigating a close call that happened at Nashville International Airport Friday. The incident involved a Navy F-18 fighter jet that came close to hitting the International Plaza Building near Briley Parkway while trying to land.
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EADS NORTH AMERICA TO SELECT A U.S. SITE FOR AERIAL REFUELING TANKER PRODUCTIONEADS North America will select a site for a Military Modification and Assembly Line (MMAL) for the production of aerial refueling aircraft in the United States. This site would be the center of industrial activity for the KC-330 advanced tanker aircraft, which the company plans to offer the U.S. Air Force.
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Squadron Brings Relief to Tsunami-Devastated RegionThe USAF 8th Airlift Squadron from McChord Air Force Base, Wash., continued its vital role in the disaster relief effort. Equipment, supplies and personnel were loaded onto one of the squadron's huge C-17 Globemaster III cargo jets for transport from Utapao, Thailand to Banda Aceh, Indonesia.
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Air Force Official Says Service SufferingMarvin Sambur, the assistant secretary of the U.S. Air Force for acquisition, told a group of reporters that the Air Force is suffering from a leadership vacuum, and he predicted a further exodus of senior officials in the fallout from a feud with Congress over a proposed plane leasing deal with Boeing Co.
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UPDATE ON SAF RELIEF OPERATIONS (11 JAN 05)The RSAF’s Super Puma helicopter detachment in Thailand has returned to Singapore Jan. 11.
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US soldiers relish their new role: lifesaversWhile on the ground in Aceh delievering supplies, a C-17 Globemaster III crew helped to assist the crew of a SH-60 that crashed yards away from the airport.
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Aging aircraft star in tsunami aid effortWhen relief operations began in Sumatra on Jan. 1, the U.S. Navy's SH-60 Seahawks, flew 1,125 hours during the first 10 days. Some pilots logged as many as nine hours a day in the air as the choppers darted up and down the devastated coastline from sunrise to sunset.
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Indonesia wants foreig troops out by MarchUSS Abraham Lincoln steamed out of Indonesian waters Wednesday after the Indonesian government declined to let the ship's fighter pilots use its airspace for training missions. Under U.S. Navy rules, pilots of carrier-based warplanes cannot go longer than 14 days without flying or their skills are considered to have degraded too far and they have to undergo extensive retraining.
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Bonhomme Richard, 15th MEU Deliver 50 Tons of Humanitarian Aid Ashore in SumatraBy air and sea, the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (BHR) (LHD 6) and the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit delivered more than 50 tons of humanitarian assistance Jan. 12 to tsunami victims on the Indonesian island of Sumatra.
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Through Arms to Syria, Putin Challenges US Middle East Game RulesRussian president Vladimir Putin’s plan to accede to Syria’s request for SA-10 and SA-18 missiles during president Bashar Assad’s visit to Moscow on January 24.
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Jack Real Recipient of HAI’s Honorary Lifetime Member AwardJack Real, former President of Hughes Helicopters, is the recipient of Helicopter Association International’s (HAI) Honorary Lifetime Member Award.
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GERMANY PLANS TO OFFER GCC NEW UAVRheinmetall Defence Electronics plans to market its new Carola P50 unmanned aerial vehicle to Gulf Cooperation Council members.
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Wednesday, January 12, 2005
Japan mulls joint US research on anti-ballistic laser cannonJapan is considering an unofficial proposal made by the United States that the two countries conduct joint research on the airborne laser system (ABL) to shoot down ballistic missiles, government sources said.
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Missile defense system to guard Japan only, not other countriesJapan's planned missile defense system will be used solely to intercept ballistic missiles targeting Japan, not missiles that pass over Japan and target other countries.
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Voronezh aircraft builders draft 5-year production programA new Il-112V military cargo plane for the Russian Air Force is being developed by the Voronezh Aircraft Building Society.
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Howard Co. sailor safe in Sumatra copter crashPetty Officer 3rd Class Jacob J. Kirk, a photographer's mate airman, was in the helicopter that crashed while landing at Banda Aceh airport in Indonesia.
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Military retakes outpost overrun by MILF rebelsSupported by an MG-520 attack helicopter and OV-10 Broncos, Philippine troops retook an outpost in Maguindanao lost to Muslim guerrillas.
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Raytheon to Build First Production Global Hawk Enhanced Integrated Sensor SuiteRaytheon Company has been awarded a low rate initial production (LRIP) Lot 3 contract to produce three Global Hawk Integrated Sensor Suites (ISS), one an Enhanced Integrated Sensor Suite (EISS) with range capabilities of both the synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and the electro optical sensor improved by 50 percent over the basic ISS.
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BAE SYSTEMS To Provide Mission Computer and Autopilot System for Hawk TrainersBAE Systems Platform Solutions will provide the mission computer and autopilot system for 20 Hawk 128 Advanced Jet Trainer aircraft recently ordered by the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence.
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Russia Min: Near Deal With US On Small Missile Monitoring The U.S. and Russia are close to completing an agreement designed to limit trafficking in portable air-defense missiles, which some security experts fear terrorists could use against commercial airliners, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said Tuesday.
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JSF Management Approach To Be Kept, DOD SaysThe U.S. Defense Department has decided to stick with the current management structure for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter after conducting a congressionally mandated review of how the program is run.
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USS John C. Stennis Arrives at New HomeportUSS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) pulled into its new homeport at Bremerton’s Delta Pier on Naval Base Kitsap (NBK) Jan. 8 at 1 p.m.
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ScanEagle Proves Worth in Fallujah FightThe ScanEagle system, developed by Boeing and the Insitu Group of Bingen, Wash., has saved the lives of many Marines during Operation Al Fajr, the coalition operation to remove insurgents from Fallujah, Iraq.
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Lockheed Martin Awarded $10 Million Program for AC-130U Gunship Sensor SystemLockheed Martin received a $10.7 million contract from Boeing Integrated Defense Systems (IDS) to provide the Gunship Multispectral Sensor System (GMS2) for the U.S. Air Force’s AC-130U aircraft. GMS2 will replaces the All Light Level TV (ALLTV) sensor currently on the AC-130U. GMS2 integrates 3rd generation infrared sensing technology with image intensified low-light TV cameras and a suite of lasers to enable the AC-130U to perform its Gunship missions with far greater effectiveness.
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B-1 fleet airborne againThe U.S. Air Force's B-1B Lancer bombers at Ellsworth Air Base are flying again after being grounded Dec. 30 because of a landing-gear problem on one airplane overseas.
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Afghans ask neighbors to return warplanesThe Afghan Defense Ministry is seeking the return of 26 aircraft - nine helicopters, five bombers, eight fighters, two trainer jets and two transporters from Pakistan and Uzbekistan.
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Tuesday, January 11, 2005
More Raptors have landedThree F/A-22 Raptors taxi on the flightline here Jan. 7 as they arrive at their new home at Tyndall Air Force Base.
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Lockheed's next big idea is far off the radar screenLockheed Martin's FB-22 could take off with extra fuel in "conformal" tanks or saddlebags that, once empty, could be pulled into the airplane during flight. It could also change color to match sky conditions.
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Yokota C-130s continue to fly aid to tsunami victimsC-130 Hercules crews from the 36th Airlift Squadron at Yokota Air Base, Japan, continue to fly vital supplies and equipment to tsunami-stricken areas in Southeast Asia.
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Airstrike hits wrong target in IraqAn investigation is under way after a coalition F-16 aircraft mistakenly conducted an airstrike against the wrong target south of Mosul on Jan. 8, Multinational Force Iraq officials announced.
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Defence analysts slam state's 'rushed' €1.2bn Airbus dealDefence analysts last week blamed the apparently rushed and even "secretive" deal by the South African government late last year to buy into the new Airbus A400M project.
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Blackwill questions US' proposed F-16 sale to PakFormer US Ambassador to India Robert Blackwill on Monday questioned the timing of the proposed US sale of F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan when it had not stopped cross border terrorism.
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Norwegian planes protect Baltic statesOn Wednesday, the Norwegian F-16 pilots will start patrolling the three Baltic countries' air space, allowing four Tornado F-3 fighter jets of the Royal Air Force, on duty since the middle of October last year to return home.
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Apache Block III Helo Will Be FCS CompatibleThe Boeing AH-64D Block III Apache helicopter will be compatible with the U.S. Army's Future Combat Systems (FCS), and have increased power and better sensors.
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Navy Helicopter Crashes in IndonesiaAt 7:20 a.m. local time, an SH-60 Seahawk helicopter from USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) with four air crew members and six U.S. Navy personnel aboard experienced a hard landing at Banda Aceh airfield in Indonesia.
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Monday, January 10, 2005
Home grown Dhruv helicopter deployed for tsunami reliefIndia's home grown Advanced Light Helicopters Dhruv has been deployed by the Indian Army and the Coast Guard in relief operations in tsunami-affected coastal regions.
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More Cuts May Loom for U.S. Modernization ProgramsThere are increasing signs that the Bush administration's year-end proposal to slash military spending is not the final word and that modernization initiatives that have avoided the budget ax could still face dark days.
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TNI Chief Agrees with Delay of Sukhoi Planes’ PurchaseIndonesian Military (TNI) chief General Endriartono Sutarto had said that the purchase of Sukhoi fighter planes and helicopters from Russia could be delayed if the state budget is prioritized for the handling of the recent disasters in Aceh. Sutarto added that the TNI urgently needs the helicopters and hope that the budget can be approved for their purchases.
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Hercules Returns HomeOne of the RNZAF C-130 Hercules, which has been flying relief operations in tsunami-affected areas, will return back to New Zealand.
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Indonesia should not use C-130s against rebels -U.SU.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said on Thursday he hoped Indonesia would use new U.S. C-130 spare parts only for tsunami relief work rather than to "go after" rebel forces in its devastated province of Aceh.
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Korea Develops Advanced Airborne Electronic Warfare SystemThe South Korean air force will put into use from this year a new locally developed electronic countermeasures equipment, the ALQ-X.
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Navy fighter squadron offering reliefWhile the majority of the flight operations on the Abraham Lincoln is carried out by its two helicopter squadrons. Members of Strike Fighter Squadron VFA 82, "The Marauders," are doing their part on the ground.
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Sunday, January 09, 2005
Rumsfeld: Expand tanker probeU.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld ordered an expanded review into the activities of two former Boeing Co. executives who admitted to wrongdoing during negotiations for a $23 billion aerial-refueling tanker proposal for the Air Force.
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Raptor glides homeEscorted by two F-15 Eagles, a F/A-22 Raptor landed at Langley Air Force Base on Friday. It will be used to train maintenance crews.
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