Tuesday, February 28, 2006
VFA-213
Gerry has update the VFA-213 folder with the jet in a new paint scheme.
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Pictures: Heaviest ever Eurofighter Typhoon test configuration flying (Update)
More pictures of Eurofighter IPA3 with four Paveway II, four AIM-120s, two BGT IRIS-Ts and three external fuel tanks.
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Sea King replacement plan behind schedule
Canada's plan to replace its SeaKing fleet with the S-92 is six months behind its original schedule.
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Lockheed-Martin offers refurbished P3C Orions to Navy
Lockheed Martin will offer P-3C Orions with new wing-spans and tails for the Indian Navy's tender for eight Maritime Reconnaissance aircraft.
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Marines to Deploy Troubled Osprey Aircraft
The V-22 Osprey will see combat deployment within a year as the USMC activates Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263 this Friday.
When they will deploy to troublespots is still kept secret.
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Sofia Set to Sign MiG-29 Fleet Upgrade
Bulgarian MiG-29s will be upgraded soon by RSK-MIG.
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WW II fighter ace Scott dies at 97
Retired Brig. Gen. Robert L. Scott with 22 World War II kills passed away on Monday. He was famous for writing the book, "God is My Co-Pilot."
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Air Marshal Tanvir Mahmood Ahmed designated as next Chief of Air Staff
Vice Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Tanvir Mehmood Ahmed will replace Air Chief Marshal Kaleem Saadat as next Chief of Air Staff of Pakistan Air Force.
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Milestones with missiles:1st FW breaks records, pioneers skills
An F-15 Eagle from the 71st Fighter Squadron fired the longest kill ever recorded for the AIM-9X Sidewinder recently.
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Air Force realigns combat search and rescue ops
USAF active duty combat search and rescue assets is transferring from Air Force Special Operations Command to Air Combat Command.
However PACAF, Guard and Reserve units will remain under administrative control to their respective units until they have been mobilized.
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Navy's No. 2 Leader Says Service Committed To 10 Aircraft Carrier Air Wings
Adm. Robert Willard, vice chief of U.S. naval operations, said the navy is committed to maintaining 10 aircraft carrier wings.
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Norway Faces Apr. 1 JSF Commitment Deadline
Norway could announce its decision to pull out of the F-35 program on Apr. 1. The country needs to give 3 months notice so that it does not have to commit 142 million kroner in development money.
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Monday, February 27, 2006
US may offer 55 new, 25 used F-16s, says report
The Congressional Research Service said the Bush administration may offer up to 55 new and 25 used F-16s to Pakistan in 2006.
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Falkland fear as Argentina steps up show of strength
The Falkland Islands could become a potential flashpoint again as RAF radar defences in the Falklands are being probe by Argentina to assess the time taken by Quick Reaction Alert Tornadoes to scramble.
The Argentinian Air Force has also doubled in size, and is now the largest in South America.
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Bell’s 407 ARH Prepares for First Flight of Production Units
The U.S. Army's Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter's first flight is scheduled for this quarter with limited user testing beginning in August.
The first operational unit will be ready fourth quarter 2008.
Labels: ARH
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Indian, Singapore Navies to Conduct SIMBEX 2006 Exercise
A Singapore Fokker 50 maritime patrol aircraft is taking part in an eleven-day-long maritime bilateral exercise in the Bay of Bengal with the Indian Navy.
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India to buy more fighter jets for forces
India's MRCA competition may increase its requirement of 126 jets at present to 180-190.
The additional jets would likely go to the Navy.
Labels: MRCA
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Anglo-US defence deals in jeopardy
The Royal Navy may switch from the F-35 to the Rafale M for its two new aircraft carriers.
British Defence Secretary John Reid made the offer to buy the Rafale when he meet French counterpart Michele Alliot-Marie in London on Jan. 24.
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F-22, fighter of the future, set to scream into Tucson
The F-22A will be at the annual Heritage Flight Conference at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base to practice formation flying with vintage warplanes next weekend.
While the event is not open to the public. A prime viewing spot can be found at the parking lot of the air museum, 6000 E. Valencia Road, between South Wilmot Road and Interstate 10.
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Sunday, February 26, 2006
RAF planes 'at risk' as MoD cancels anti-missile system
RAF C-130Js deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan are using an inferior countermeasures system than the one originally planned.
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Saturday, February 25, 2006
Pictures: Heaviest ever Eurofighter Typhoon test configuration flying
Eurofighter IPA3 shown flying at its heaviest configuration to date with four Paveway II, four AIM-120s, two BGT IRIS-Ts and three external fuel tanks.
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US Air Force may halt Boeing C130 upgrades: analyst
The U.S. Air Force is considering to halt the Boeing C-130 Avionics Modernization Program.
The USAF wants to channel the money from AMP to buying new C-130Js which are cheaper.
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Raytheon's JSOW Program Receives Top Department of Defense Acquisition Award
Raytheon Company's Joint Standoff Weapon program has been awarded the David Packard Excellence in Acquisition Award.
The Packard award is given to civilian and military organizations that have made highly significant contributions or demonstrated exemplary innovations and best practices in the defense acquisition process.
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Singapore govt reviewing bids for new pilot trainer aircraft
Singapore's Ministry of Defence officially announced that it is reviewing bids for a new trainer to replace the S211.
Among the contenders are M311, T-6B, Super Tucano and PC-21.
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Commander says JFK should be retired ASAP
Adm. John B. Nathman said that the USS John F. Kennedy should be retired as rapidly as possible to free the 2,200 sailors aboard for reassignment.
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U.S. won't ask Canada to join missile defence: ambassador
U.S. ambassador to Canada David Wilkins said United States is not currently planning to ask Canada to join the missile defence program.
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Musharraf visits Chengdu compnay manufacturing JF-17 fighter Craft
Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf said the joint development of the JF-17 is a major leap forward in bilateral cooperation between China and Pakistan.
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RAF pilot to challenge conviction
A RAF Jaguar pilot who was fined last year for flying his aircraft so low during a stunt that his wing clipped a floodlight tower, has been allowed to challenge his conviction.
Related Article
RAF Coltishall pilot fined over stunt
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Australia ready for next phase of JSF
Lockheed Martin JSF general manager Tom Burbage said negotiations were now underway between F-35 partners to identify the number of planes required to aid production planning.
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Reagan Carrier Strike Group Launches First Air Missions in Support of OIF
F/A-18E Super Hornets from VFA-115 became the first aircraft launched from the flight deck of USS Ronald Reagan to drop ordnance on enemy targets Feb. 22.
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Phew, that was close!
The New Paper interviews test pilot Gordon James McClymont, currently conducting VIP familiarisation flight on the Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer at Asian Aerospace 2006.
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The Navy’s Swimming Spy Plane
Popular Science is running a story about Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works' Cormorant UAV. Pictures included.
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Friday, February 24, 2006
MND to resubmit bid to buy anti-missile batteries in 2007
Taiwan's military will resubmit its proposal to buy PAC III anti-missile system to the Legislative Yuan next March.
The purchase of P-3Cs is still proposed in this year's budget.
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Congress expected to approve Skyhawk sale - Goff
New Zealand Defence Minister Phil Goff told Parliament yesterday that the U.S. Congress is expected to approve the sale of Skyhawk and Aermacchi fleet next month.
Related Article
Surplus aircraft sold
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Battle looms over Pentagon plan to cut B-52 bomber force
Officials from Louisiana and North Dakota are preparing to battle Pentagon from slashing the B-52 fleet.
The Quadrennial Defense Review recommends reducing the fleet from 94 B-52 H-model planes to 56.
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Raptor Capabilities Present New Challenges
Approximately 18 F-22As will see depot maintenance at Hill Air Force Base this year.
The lighting system for night, air-to-air refueling system will be upgraded.
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General Atomics joins Canada drone chase
General Atomics' Aeronautical Systems unit will team with General Dynamics Canada to pitch the Predator B UAV to the Canadian military.
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AA 2006: Raytheon confirms AESA package for Singapore F-15SGs
Raytheon has confirmed that the APG-63(V)3 AESA radar will be ordered for the F-15SG.
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Cruise missile unit deactivated at Fairchild
The USAF 2nd Support Squadron has been deactivated. It was the last unit assigned to support B-52 bombers at Fairchild Air Force Base.
The unit has stored and maintained cruise missiles at the base for use by B-52 bombers for the past 12 years.
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Boeing tries to keep C-17 alive
Australia, Sweden and Norway could help extend the C-17 production line if the sales goes through.
John Sams, Boeing vice president for mobility programs, told Reuters that Australia was interested in four, Norway four and Sweden two.
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Boeing Completes P-8A Weapons Separation Wind Tunnel Tests
Boeing has successfully completed P-8A Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft (MMA) weapons separation wind tunnel tests.
The tests validated that torpedoes, missiles and naval mines, will safely separate from the aircraft when launched during flight.
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Bangladesh to buy 16 fighter planes from China
Bangladesh will purchase 16 fighter aircraft from China for $94 million, Water Resources Minister Hafizuddin Ahmed said.
The minister didn't give details of the type of planes that were being bought.
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Boeing GMD Team Launches Target, Tests Upgraded Radar
A Boeing-led industry team and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) have successfully tested a newly upgraded radar at Beale Air Force Base.
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Operational Raptors fire first missiles in evaluation program
Two F-22A Raptor pilots from 27th Fighter Squadron fired air-to-air missiles Feb. 14. It was the jet's first official air-to-air weapons system evaluation since becoming operational two months ago.
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Thursday, February 23, 2006
Russian Knights aerobatic team to fly through Tianmen Cave
The Russian Knights will fly their Flankers through the Tianmen Cave, a natural mountain-penetrating karst cave hanging on the cliff of Mt. Tianmen in Zhangjiajie, China in mid March.
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Recorder call follows fatal crash
A British Army board of inquiry recommends the installation of voice recorders in all Army aircraft following the investigation into a fatal helicopter crash three years ago.
The board said it could not establish the cause of the accident due to the lack of a voice recorder.
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Musharraf to inspect Sino-Pak fighter jet
Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf will inspect the JF-17 when he visits Chengdu, China today.
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Afghanistan opposes missile names
Afghanistan has asked the Pakistani to stop naming its nuclear missiles after the heroes of Afghan history.
Ghaznawi, Abdali and Ghauri are Muslim conquerors who defeated Hindu rulers and governed parts of what is now Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.
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Hornet pilot recovered after crash
An F/A-18 Hornet from VMFA-122 crashed into coastal waters near Key West, Florida, around 5 p.m. Tuesday.
The pilot was safely recovered.
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First three Russian choppers arrived in Venezuela
The first three of 10 Russian Mi-17V5 helicopters has arrived in Venezuela on board an Antonov An-124 Tuesday.
Another three are expected to arrive in Venezuela in May-June.
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U.S. Air Force awards Lockheed Martin $68 million contract to provide C-130J Weapons Systems Trainers
The U.S. Air Force has awarded Lockheed Martin a $68 million contract to provide Weapons Systems Trainers (WST) to support the service’s C-130J and the U.S. Marine Corps KC-130J aircraft.
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Indo-US naval exercise off Sri Lanka coast
INS Viraat and USS Ronald Reagan carried out a full-fledged, joint-maritime war game instead of a simple passage exercise off Sri Lanka on Sunday.
F/A-18 Super Hornets carried out dissimilar air combat manoeuvres with Sea Harriers and cross-deck helicopter missions were done with Sea Hawks and Sea Kings.
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Warner flips on aircraft carrier policy
U.S. Sen. John Warner, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, has reversed his position and support the retirement of USS John F. Kennedy.
Warner had earlier rejected moves to retire the carrier but he explains that his recent change of position was that the money used to maintain Kennedy could be better used to growing the size of the overall Navy fleet from 281 to 313 ships.
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New Mexico Air Force base at crossroads
Nex Mexico officials hope that the F-22A will fill the void left by the F-117A in two years time at Holloman Air Force Base.
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Second C-17 arrives at Hickam
Hawaii's second C-17 arrived at Hickam Air Base Feb. 21 carrying 30 civic leaders and two Hawaii Medal of Honor recipients.
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Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Korea high: T-50 flight test
Peter Collins became the first non-South Korean to flight test the KAI T-50 Golden Eagle. This is his flight test report.
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From Hawaii, C-17’s fly first contingency response mission
Hickam's brand new C-17 suffered a technical glitch while its was being prepared to ferry relief supplies to Philippines.
Another C-17 from Charleston Air Force Base training in Hawaii was quickly substituted for the flight and a split crew of active-duty Airmen from the 535th Airlift Squadron and Guardsmen from the Hawaii ANG’s 204th Airlift Squadron departed Feb. 20.
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Missile-shield nose cone ready for testing
Japan and the United States will jointly test a new Japanese nose cone on a SM-3 missile next month.
The joint test, to be held off Hawaii sometime around March 9, will see the missile being fired from USS Lake Erie.
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Norad to be expanded to include maritime surveillance
Canada will sign a new NORAD treaty within months that expands the air-defence agreement with the United States to include maritime surveillance.
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中国、日本の防空識別圏へ侵入急増 偵察活動を既成化
Sankei Shimbun reported Tuesday that China has increased its aerial surveillance within Japan`s air-defense zones this year.
The Chinese reconnaissance aircraft, mainly flying over gas fields in the East China Sea, are carrying out electronic surveillance of Japanese airborne and ground radars.
The JASDF has carried out 30 scrambles in recent months over the intrusions.
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Germany sends in military to fight bird flu outbreak
Germany deployed its Tornado jets to combat the spread of bird flu in the north-east of the country.
The planes would collect data on places where large numbers of dead birds were located in order to aid collection.
