Wednesday, November 30, 2005
'Dhruv - a fail-safe chopper'
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited claims that its Dhruv is a 'fail-safe' chopper.
It justified the claim with the fact that despite a tail rotor failure at 5,000 feet, a Dhruv managed to land safely recently.
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Topol missile life could be extended
The service life of Russia's Topol intercontinental ballistic missile could be extended to 23 years.
The Topol currently has a service life of 20 years.
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Raytheon Delivers 2,000th Joint Standoff Weapon
Raytheon Company has delivered the 2,000th Joint Standoff Weapon. Raytheon is under contract to provide JSOW to the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force.
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'Perfect storm' could reshape Air Force for years to come
Bob Largent, president of the Air Force Association, believes the U.S. Air Force is in the middle of what he calls a 'perfect storm.'
He insists the situation is not hopeless. There is hope, even optimism.
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Lockheed delivers helicopter plans
Lockheed Martin has delivered 2,500 pages of specifications and supporting documentation to the USAF for its combat search-and-rescue helicopter competition.
The contract is expected to be awarded in May.
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Korea-Israel defense talks open amid bids for AWACS contract
Rumours of South Korea choosing the IAI G550 as its airborne early warning system prompted the U.S. Ambassador to Korea a last-ditch plea on behalf of Boeing.
South Korea is expected to announce the winning bidder by as early as Dec. 10.
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Indonesia to Retract Jetfighters Components Held by U.S. Embargo
Indonesia wants to retrieve back some of its military jet components after United States lifted its military embargo.
The parts are in New Zealand, South Korea and United States.
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Air Force pilot praised for helping guide imperiled plane to safety
A USAF A-10 came to the rescue of a Piper Chieftain after the latter lost electrical power and became disoriented over the skies of Europe.
Maj. Peter Olson, an A-10 weapons tactics officer with the 52nd Fighter Wing, was on a routine training mission when air traffic controllers asked for help.
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European consortium pushes Typhoon for IAF contract
EADS made a last attempt to enter the Eurofighter into India's multirole fighter competition before the RFPs are issued.
Both the Eurofighter and Rafale was rejected last year as they were longer range and more expensive than what India wanted.
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Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Invasion England
Flight International was granted exclusive access to see the RAF carry out a large scale helicopter exercise using simulators.
These exercises take place every two to three weeks at RAF Benson.
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Missile system ignites cancer detection
An Australian university lecturer is using fuzzy logic used in missile guidance to create a device capable of cancer detection.
The device will differentiate between benign and malignant human tissue in magnetic resonance images.
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RAF pilot 'victim of base crash'
An RAF Seaking pilot who was blamed for causing the crash of a Cessna plane is a forgotten victim, his wife said.
He has been confined to a desk job while cleared for flying last December. While an RAF board of inquiry and an Air Accident Investigation Branch investigation found no fault with the Seaking flight path. The government choose to give a £5m payout to settle out of court.
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RAAF launches light plane crash investigation
The RAAF is investigating into why a Beechcraft Bonaza crash-landed at its Edinburgh base, north of Adelaide on Monday.
The landing gear collapsed shortly after touching down.
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First Naval UAV squadron to be commissioned next year
The Indian Navy's first UAV squadron will be commissioned in Jan. 6 next year.
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Tanker duel moves to Middle East
Boeing and EADS are eyeing a competition to supply aerial tankers to the United Arab Emirates.
UAE wants to field a tanker in the next three to five years to support its F-16s and Mirages.
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Canada seeks new transport fleet
Canada's decision to seek 16 new tactical transport aircraft which are to be certificated before the contract is awarded effectively rules out the A400M.
The C-17 will be ruled out because of its price also.
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Malaysia - the big push
Malaysia plans to introduce a medium-range air defense system over the next five years.
China's KS-1/KS-1A is the current favourite. It may be supplemented by China's FN-6 or either the Igla or new Igla-S.
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UAE studies new roles for F-16E/Fs
UAE wants to add stand-off strike capability to the F-16E/Fs. This role is currently being carried out by its Mirage 2000-9s.
UAE air defence command assistant commander Brig Gen Ali Khadem Al Mansouri said the F-16s are intended primarily for air defence over their 30-year life.
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Indian Air Force, in war games, gives US a run
Observers are saying that during the recent
encounters between USAF F-16s and IAF Su-30MKIs, the Indians were the winners.
Capt. Martin Mentch, the first USAF F-16 pilot to meet the Su-30MKI, told a U.S. Air Force publication, AFPN that the MKI "is an amazing jet that has a lot of manoeuvrability."
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UAE scraps AEW plan
UAE has scrapped plans to acquire a fleet of AEW aircraft and is instead exploring options for an airborne intelligence and battlefield control capability.
The decision is a disappointment for Northrop Grumman who has been pushing to sell its E-2C in that market.
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£3.6bn carriers deal faces delay
Royal Navy's new aircraft carrier could be delayed by an extra-four years according to a new study.
The first ship may not be completed until 2014.
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US firms lobby India
U.S. firms are have been lobbying India individually and collectively under the US-India Business Council not to implement an offset policy.
India wants to have a policy with direct offsets worth 30% and technology transfers worth 90% for all future imports, in addition to co-production.
This could jeopardise plans to offer American fighters for India's 126 new fighters tender.
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Travelling manager (Free Registration)
The executive vice president of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. and general manager of the F-35 joint strike fighter program has an office that he seldom use.
Tom Burbage spends many of his days, nights and weeks travelling to meet with officials of U.S. and foreign governments and military services.
So far this year, he has been away on travel for 150 days. About 90 days of that was outside the United States.
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Calif. Congressman Admits Taking Bribes
America's first ace during the Vietnam War has pleaded guilty to taking $2.4 million in bribes.
He could get up to 10 years in prison at sentencing Feb. 27 on federal charges of conspiracy to commit bribery and fraud, and tax evasion.
The bribes are mostly from defense contractors for Cunningham to help steer defense contracts.
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Two F-16s to land this week in Islamabad, says report
Two F-16 fighter jets will be delivered to Pakistan this week while a P-3C has already been handed over.
Washington has agreed in July to deliver two refurbished F-16s to Pakistan.
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Lawmaker says ex-president masterminded Mirage procurement
Opposition lawmakers in Taiwan claims that ex President Lee Teng-hui masterminded the purchase of Mirage 2000s that included kickbacks.
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On the train
For the first time in a fighter development program, a single training program is being designed for all customers, regardless of service or nationality.
Lockheed Martin has to come up with a training system for three F-35 variants, three U.S. services and nine countries.
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Venezuela signs Spain arms deal
Spain has agreed to sell 10 C-295 transport planes and two CN-235 maritime patrol planes to Venezuela.
Washington had tried to block the deal last week.
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Protesters at Yokosuka rally against U.S. plans
Some 2,000 protesters marched from Yokosuka’s Daiei Mall to Yokosuka Chuo station to protest recently announced U.S. military plans.
But the major concern is the deployment of a nuclear carrier to replace USS Kitty Hawk in 2008.
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Hickam readies for C-17 arrival
Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii is getting ready to start operations with the C-17 on Feb. 8.
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Snowbirds announce newest team members
Three pilots have officially became the newest members of the Canadian Forces Snowbirds.
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DOD Nears Decision On Fate Of SBIRS-High
Pentagon is expected to decide next month whether the Space Based Infrared System-High (SBIRS-High) program will be restructured or canceled due to cost overruns.
Program costs have risen more than 25 percent.
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Maritime Decision
Malaysia plans to select the Fokker 50 or Raytheon Beech King Air 350ER for its maritime requirement.
It also plans to lease two aircraft by year-end for joint patrol obligations.
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F-16s to be modified for Chile sale
18 ex-Royal Netherlands Air Force F-16A/Bs will be heading for Chile after modernisation by Lockheed Martin.
Lockheed will have to remove strike and HARM capability to meet Washington's rules.
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Monday, November 28, 2005
Valions Roar from Al Asad, Return to Roosevelt
VFA-15 chose to continue combat operations at Al Asad, Iraq when its carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt made a port call in Dubai.
They were hosted by the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing while there.
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McConnell completes first refurbishment project
McConnell Air Force Base recently completed its first complete KC-135 Stratotanker refurbishment.
It takes approximately 30 days to refurbish an aircraft.
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Italian Army Aviation Gets NH-90 TTH by End Q2, 2006
NH-90 tactical transport helicopters will be delivered to the Italian Army at the end of Q2, 2006.
NH-90 TTL will replace some of the AB-205, 212 and 412s.
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IAF contract: Top officials of US firms to receive key document
Boeing and Lockheed Martin officials will be in India to receive the RFP documents for 126 fighters when they are issued in early December.
Boeing's Chris Chadwick, vice-president of the F/A-18 Super Hornet programme and managing director of Lockheed Martin, Royce L. Caplinger will collect the documents.
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Repaired chopper being returned to Nepal
One year after it made a 'hard landing', a Nepalese Dhruv is being return back after repairs.
The tail rotor pitch control had failed.
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Sunday, November 27, 2005
JSF Air Force version's cancellation would hurt Turkish fighter program
Turkish plan to modernize its Air Force with the F-35 will be jeopardize if the Air Force version is cancelled.
Turkey had hoped that competition between the F-35 and the Eurofighter could reap benefits in terms of price and local industry participation.
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Russian pilot responsible for fighter crash in Lithuania
A Russian Air Force commission found that Major Valery Troyanov was at fault for the Su-27 crash in Lithuania.
He had become disoriented during the flight, which led fuel starvation and engine failure. He was poorly prepared for the flight, lost orientation and showed negligence in an emergency.
His pilot ranking has been downgraded from first-class to second-class.
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RSAF's Apache helicopters expected home early next year
RSAF's AH-64D Apache attack helicopters is expected to be back in Singapore early next year.
Twelve more Apaches are expected to be delivered next year bring the total number to twenty.
Most probably they should be back just in time for display at Asian Aerospace.
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T-50 Trainer Debuts at Dubai Air Show
UAE plans to take a closer look at the T-50 after it finishes it appearance at the Dubai Air Show.
The T-50 will shift to an air force base and its flying capabilities will be assessed for two weeks.
It is said that UAE is willing to purchase 60 T-50s for pilot training.
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Russian Defense Minister Denies Plans to Deploy Military Base in Uzbekistan
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov has officially denied that Russia will occupy an air base in Uzbekistan that was recently vacated by United States.
Interfax news agency earlier said that a Russian air force unit could be deployed at the Khanabad airfield.
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Russia, India to sign military cargo plane deal
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will sign an agreement on developing the IL-214/MTA multipurpose military transport plane while visiting Russia next month.
100 MTA planes are to be built for the Russian Air Force and 45 for India.
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Iran offered N. Korea oil for weapons help - magazine
Iran has offered North Korea oil and natural gas as payment for help in developing nuclear missiles.
Iran's Shahab-3 missiles are based on North Korea's Nodong rockets.
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Sondhi alleges C-130 cover-up
Sondhi Limthongkul, Thai Prime Minister's greatest critic, provided evidence that officials lied to cover up the misuse of a C-130 by the Prime Minister's sister.
He produced evidence to show that the flight was not a mail delivery one as claimed by the government.
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Showpiece copter crashes
India’s Dhruv helicopter suffered its first crash on Nov. 25 when one crashed near Karimnagar in Andhra Pradesh.
The helicopter was flying from Bangalore to Ranchi.
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Saturday, November 26, 2005
MoD cuts equipment orders to save £700m
The U.K. government saved £700 million in the past year by cutting back on aircraft and missiles.
The number of new Nimrod MRA4 was cut to 12 from 18 and extra weapons' capabilities for the F-35 was removed.
The orders for Meteor air-to-air missiles were cut too.
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Sarang aerobatic team to participate in Langkawi Aerospace Expo
India's Sarang aerobatic team will be performing at the Langkawi Air Show next month.
It will also conduct a display in Indonesia.
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Hawk order from UK expected in early 2006
BAE Systems expects to receive a contract next year for 30 Hawk 128 to replace the RAF’s current Hawk T1/1As.
The order will cover airframe production but not through-life support.
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IAF to hold joint exercises with Singapore Air Force
The Indian Air Force will hold another exercise with the Republic of Singapore Air Force again.
The RSAF's F-16s was in India this year for exercises with the IAF.
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Friday, November 25, 2005
Gripen ready to offer flexible offset financing packages - UAE
Gripen International is ready to offer attractive and flexible offset financing package to its Middle East, Asia and Africa customers.
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Bulgarian court decision enables Elbit helicopter upgrade
Bulgaria's Supreme Administrative Court overturned a decision made by the Bulgarian Ministry of Defense to stop negotiations between the Bulgarian Air Force and Elbit Systems.
In December 2004, a team led by Elbit and Lockheed Martin were selected as the preferred bidder for a Bulgarian Air Force program to upgrade 18 Mi-17 and Mi-24 helicopters.
In March, Bulgarian Ministry of Defense informed Elbit that its offer "did not meet the previously announced requirements."
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Cruising for trouble
The United States currently does not have any way of defending itself against a missile launched from a cargo ship off its coast.
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PAF admits no fighter jets to combat insurgents until 2011
The Philippine Air Force does not have any fighter planes until 2011 for air defense.
It currently has to make do with only five operational S-211.
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Four UAVs crash within two years of induction
India is unhappy that four of the 50 IAI Searcher and Heron UAVs it bought has crashed over the span of two years.
In one incident, an Indian Air Force handler was killed.
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Russia, India have no plans to sign deal on 5G fighter
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov clarified that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will not sign any deal on the development of a fifth-generation fighter during Singh's visit to Russia in December.
The two countries were planning to sign a bilateral agreement on the development of a military transport plane instead.
Labels: Russian 5th-generation fighter
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Eurofighters join the race for combat aircraft
The Eurofighter has emerged as a potential bidder for India's new fighter competition.
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Defense Agency missile sensor test a success
Japan tested its Advanced Infrared Ballistic Missile Optical Sensor System mounted on a UP3C during the recent Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense intercept flight test in Hawaii.
Nicknamed AIRBOSS, the new system is designed to detect missiles or aircraft at a distance of up to several hundred kilometers with an 80-centimeter-tall and 60-centimeter-diameter cylindrical sensor.
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Defying US, Chavez pushes for Spanish military deal
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said his government will go ahead with the purchase of 10 C-295 transport planes and two maritime surveillance planes.
Washington has been pressuri 
