Sunday, April 30, 2006
USS Abraham Lincoln at Changi Naval Base, Singapore
CVN 72 is currently in Singapore and I had a chance to go on board the ship yesterday. This is a write up by David Boey who kindly arranged the trip. Pictures in the gallery as well.
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Sonic boom could land pilots in hot water
A U.S. Marine Corp F-5E Tiger II jet and an F/A-18 Hornet inadvertently broke the sound barrier on Wednesday afternoon causing a panic among residents of Yuma, Arizona.
The pilots were told not to go supersonic within 30,000 feet [altitude] or 30 miles from a residential area and investigations found that they were at 14,500- to 18,000-feet when they hit Mach 1.
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Fighter jet takes off to new heights
The Xiaolong/FC-4 ("Fierce Dragon) fighter jet made its first flight Friday in Chengdu, Sichuan province, China.
It flew for 16 minutes.
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Pakistan to Cut Lockheed F-16 Purchase to Fund Earthquake Costs
Pakistan's Foreign Secretary Riaz Khan told reporters at the State Department in Washington that his country scale back its planned purchase of F-16 fighters to help pay for the relief costs of last year's devastating earthquake.
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RMAF to use Indian helmets
The Royal Malaysian Air Force has chosen the French MSA Gallet LA100 flight helmet and Ulmer ECT-76VD oxygen mask as the standard equipment for its 18 SU-30MKMs.
The French combination was earlier picked to replace the Russian Zsh-7AP/KM34DII sets used by the RMAF’s MiG-29N fleet.
Related Article
Top guns to get French helmets?
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Missile explosion kills 2 people at air base near Moscow - 1
A Russian Air Force officer and a serviceman was killed instantly when an air-to-air missile exploded on Friday at an air base outside Moscow.
They were disposing some missiles by explosion and one exploded prematurely.
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Civilian Leaders Wowed by USS Ronald Reagan's Capabilities
Civilian opinion leaders participating in the Joint Civilian Orientation Conference was on the USS Ronald Reagan's flight deck and watch F-18 Hornets take off for missions supporting ground troops in Iraq.
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Sword of command handed over at Ohakea
Chief of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) Air Vice Marshal John Hamilton retired on Saturday after 35 years of service.
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EDO and Terma to Develop F-16 (PDF)
EDO Corporation and Terma A/S have entered into a teaming agreement to jointly develop an Enhanced Smart Triple Ejector Rack (ESTER) to be used on the F-16.
ESTER will improve the capability to carry "smart" precision-guided weapons and
individually target and release each one. These include the 500 pound-class JDAM
(Joint Direct Attack Munition) and EGBU-12 (Paveway) weapons, and similar stores that
operate on the military standard 1760 interface.
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N. Korea alleges 160 U.S. spy flights in April
North Korea claimed that the United States conducted about 160 spy flights against the country this month.
The flights reached its peak between April 21-24 when the two Koreas held high-level talks in Pyongyang.
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Pakistan stages new missile test
Pakistan on Saturday test-fired its longest-range nuclear-capable ballistic missile with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz watching the event.
The test was conducted to validate additional technical parameters beyond those that were verified in the last test fire in March 2005.
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Saturday, April 29, 2006
House Panel Boosts F-22A Spending
The U.S. House Armed Services tactical air and land forces subcommittee authorized an additional $1.4. billion for the Air Force to procure 20 F-22A Raptors in fiscal year 2007.
The USAF had wanted to buy those planes in fiscal year 2008 in a move to stretch the production of the F-22A to 2010 when the first F-35 enters production.
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Tyndall receives F-22 maintenance trainer
A F-22A came to the end of its service life as a test aircraft when it was turned over to the 43rd Aircraft Maintenance Unit new ground instructional trainer.
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Pratt & Whitney Awarded First Production Contract For Joint Strike Fighter Engines
Pratt & Whitney has been awarded the first production contract for F135 engines to power the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft.
The contract is for long lead-time hardware for six engines supporting the first five production F-35 aircraft covering Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP).
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Country Briefing: Russia - austere deterrence
Russian President Vladimir Putin approved the upgrade and slow production of the Tupolev Tu-160 bombers armed with Raduga Kh-555 and Kh-101 extended-range cruise missiles in January.
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Senate considers allowing Navy to retire aircraft carrier
U.S. lawmakers are on the verge of passing an amendment to the fiscal 2006 supplemental appropriations bill that would allow the Navy to retire the USS John F. Kennedy.
Armed Services Chairman John Warner is pushing the amendment due to budget concerns. He had earlier supported the move to block the retirement.
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UGV/UAVs: Combined Attack Demo Planned By US Arrmy
The U.S. Army plans to bring UAVs and UGVs (umanned ground vehicles) together for a combined demonstration at Ft Benning in 2007.
The tests will use Yamaha R-Max UAVs as the UAV elements, together with DARPA supplied vehicles, type as yet undetermined.
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Turkey – AGM-84K Joint Standoff Land Attack Missiles-Expanded Response (PDF)
The Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency has notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Turkey of 50 AGM-84K Joint Standoff Land Attack Missiles-Expanded Response (SLAM-ER).
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Friday, April 28, 2006
Air Force test team launches 'overhauled' Iraqi aircraft
Airmen from several U.S. Air Force bases spent two months preparing, disassembling, rebuilding and testing an Iraqi Air Force Comp Air 7SLX
The Iraqi government had requested for assistance in flight-testing this aircraft after one suffered a crash in May last year.
Related Articles
Iraqi pilot buried at Arlington cemetery
Iraqi Aircraft Crashes; Americans on Board
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Israel: Iran Missiles Can Carry Nukes, Hit Europe
Israel's military intelligence chief, Maj. Gen. Amos Yadlin, was quoted on Thursday that Iran has received a first batch of BM-25 surface-to-surface missiles, putting Europe in range.
The North Korean missiles have a range of 2,500 kilometres and are capable of carrying nuclear warheads.
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Missile defense radar returns to Pearl Harbor for repairs
The Sea-Based X-Band Radar was forced to return to Hawaii for repairs four days after it depart for its home port of Alaska on Mar. 31.
It suffered damage when water leaked through its ballast piping, a few communication antennas also suffered minor damage during transport.
Repairs won’t be completed until at least next week.
Related Article
Giant missile defense radar leaves Pearl Harbor for Alaska
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Efforts to recover F-16 wreckage end
Investigators have ended efforts to recover wreckage of an F-16 from Shaw Air Force Base that slammed into the Atlantic Ocean earlier this month.
Naval divers recovered the ejection seat equipped with a second flight recorder and classified gear aboard the fighter.
Related Articles
Air Force reviews video of F-16 ocean crash site
Flight data recorder found in F-16 crash
Shaw to begin search for downed F-16
Fighter pilot broke legs, wrist after ejecting
F-16 crashed in Atlantic Ocean off South Carolina coast
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France's Thales keen to upgrade Mirage 2000 fleet
Thales is keen to upgrade India's fleet of Mirage 2000 fighters. The company will make a formal proposal to the Indian government next month for a mid-life upgrade to the Mirage fleet.
UAE, Greece and France have opted for upgrades from Thales.
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Seized MiG-29 to remain in Hong Kong custody indefinitely
The Ukrainian MiG-29 seized in Hong Kong earlier this month would remain in the country until an investigation is completed.
Related Articles
MiG-29 detained in Xianggang was sold to USA as museum piece
Stripped fighter jet seized
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2 die in Chad chopper crash
A Chad Mi-17 helicopter crashed in the east of the country on Thursday. The helicopter came down shortly after take-off on a non-combat flight in the Tissi region near the border with Sudan and the Central African Republic.
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China may collaborate with Russia in developing fighters
Russian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Sergey B. Ivanov told reporters in Beijing that he does not rule out China purchasing the Su-34 bomber.
He added that China can join Russia in the development of a 5th generation fighter.
Labels: Russian 5th-generation fighter
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Estonia blocks illegal transport of fighter plane parts
Five men were arrested on Apr. 19 for attempting to export parts of Sukhoi Su-27 and Su-30 Flanker fighter planes from Estonia.
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House panel boosts sub production
The U.S. House Armed Services Projection Forces Subcommittee on Thursday approved $300 million to procure three additional C-17 Globemaster III cargo planes.
The subcommittee also agreed to prohibit the retirement of any B-52 bombers, except for the one flown by NASA.
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Snowbirds Commemorative Stamps Take Flight
On March 27, more than 35,000 Snowbirds souvenir stamp sheets took flight in two CT-114 Tutor jets.
During the 1-hour training mission, the stamps withstood up to 5 "G" and 120 degrees of bank.
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EADS achieves key milestones in Advanced Military Tanker aircraft development
The first A330 aircraft for the Royal Australian Air Force’s Multi-role Tanker Transport (MRTT) program has rolled off the production line and completed initial evaluations.
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Thursday, April 27, 2006
Rumsfeld's Travels: Taking the 'Silver Bullet' to Iraq
During his trip to Iraq yesterday, U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld travels on a C-17 transport plane equipped with a "silver bullet" in the middle of the aircraft.
The silver bullet is a metallic box reminiscent of a 1950s Airstream trailer, where VIPs can have some privacy during the flight.
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Saudi Arabia: The Next Nuclear Domino?
This article tries to establish a link between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan's nuclear program.
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House panel restricts missile defense
The U.S. House Armed Services Strategic Forces Subcommittee has eliminated funding for a third Missile Defense site in Europe.
The cut is part of an effort to slow spending on longer-term missile defense programs in favor of missile defense programs that promise a near-term capability.
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Aerial tanker search begins
The U.S. Air Force RFI for tanker aircraft requires the bidding company to disclose whether it receives government subsidies.
Analysts say the request will put Airbus in a difficult position.
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Armed Forces To Replace Steyr With Colt M4 Carbine
Royal Malaysian Air Force's (RMAF) would replaced its Pilatus PC-7 MKI turbo trainer aircraft with the PC-7 MKII aircraft.
Pilatus will deliver the first aircraft in 16 months.
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Lockheed misses out on missile contract
The U.S. Army has declared BAE Systems as winner of the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II contest.
The new air-to-ground, laser-guided missile system, is dubbed Hellfire Junior.
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Blue Angles select new flight leader
Cmdr. Kevin Mannix is the next leader of the Blue Angels. He will be Blue 1 during the 2007 and 2008 season.
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Exercise lets Airmen prepare for real thing
At Red Flag-Alaska 06-2, aircrews are constantly tested by simulated surface-to-air threats.
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Bush taps ex-Lockheed Martin official for Air Force post
Sue Payton, a Pentagon official and former Lockheed Martin employee, is to be named the U.S. Air Force's top weapons buyer.
The post has been vacant since Darleen Druyun was found guilty in the Boeing tanker scandal.
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Boeing Employee First to Receive U.S. Marine Corps Defense of Freedom Medal
Todd Alexander, a Boeing employee, was awarded the U.S. Marine Corps Defense of Freedom Medal for injuries suffered during Operation Iraqi Freedom II.
Alexander was wounded Sept. 4, 2004 while working as a civilian contractor with The Insitu Group testing the ScanEagle vehicle in Fallujah , Iraq.
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Switzerland orders 20 EC635/EC135 for its Armed Forces
Switzerland has ordered 18 EC635 for utility and advanced training missions and two EC135 for VIP/parliamentarian transport missions.
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GPS-Guided Sherpas Provide Safer Supply Drops
Sherpas 1200 GPS-guided parachutes are helping the U.S. Marines deliver cargo in Iraq with pinpoint accuracy.
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Fighter pilots escape crash
A Greek RF-4 Phantom crashed while on a training flight in Larissa, central Greece on Tuesday.
Both pilots ejected safely.
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Boeing-produced U.S. Army Apache Helicopter Fleet Passes Two Million Flight Hour Mark
The U.S. Army AH-64 Apache combat helicopter fleet has logged more than two million flight hours.
Nearly one-third of all flight hours have occurred in the past four years.
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A day in the life of Canada’s Air Force
Military photographers from the Canadian Air Force celebrate the 82nd birthday with pictures from the various units.
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Experiment will help special forces, ports
At Joint Expeditionary Force Experiment 2006, the USAF will experiment with a helium or hydrogen balloon that can climb to an altitude of above 90,000 feet to act as a communications relay post for special forces.
This will give Special Forces teams scattered in mountainous regions like Afghanistan the ability to use radios.
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Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Israeli spy satellite launched to watch Iran
A Russian Start-1 rocket launched IAI's
Eros B satellite into orbit on Tuesday from a mobile pad at the Svobodny Cosmodrome in the Far East. The satellite is expected to be used to monitor Iran's nuclear program.
The Eros-B satellite will be deployed into a solar synchronous orbit at an altitude of 600 kilometers.
The satellite has a Charge Coupled Device/Time Delay Integration (CCD/TDI) camera with a resolution of 0.82 m for pan chromatic and 3.28 meters for multi-spectral (color) images.
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A new approach to 39th Maple Flag
The 39th Maple Flag exercise at Cold Lake will depart from a very fighter orientated exercise to include joint operations with other Canadian Forces.
For the first time, CP-140 Aurora Maritime patrol aircraft, and a squadron of CH-146 Griffon will be involved.
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USAF tests internet capability over Link 16
The U.S. Air Force, with BAE Systems and SRA International has found a way to transform a Link 16 terminal to become a node in an IP-based network.
This will make it easier to network existing combat aircraft.
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Sukhoi's Spare Parts To Arrive Before Planes
Spare parts for Malaysia's Sukhoi Su-30MKM jet fighters will be delivered before the jets arrived in the country.
The maintenance crew will be trained by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd as the Indian Su-30 is the same except for Israeli avionics.
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South African Super Lynx 300 First Flight
South Africa's first of four Super Lynx 300 helicopters took to the air for the first time on Apr. 24 at AgustaWestland’s Yeovil factory.
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Harrier jets stay in Afghanistan
Six RAF Harrier GR7 jets that is suppose to end their deployment in Afghanistan in June will extend their stay till the end of March next year.
The planes are from No 1 Squadron based at RAF Cottesmore.
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‘Black Sunday’
On Apr 16, 1944 the U.S. Army Air Force greatest non-combat aviation loss during the war to a tropical storm over Papua New Guinea.
54 men were lost and the storm destroyed 37 planes.
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Scots Tornado pilots set to star in new TV series about their lives
"Meet The JetSet" is a Scottish TV series that follows a team of eager young RAF men training to fly the Tornado GR4.
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Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Pictures: Pilot trapped for 5h in cockpit of USAF's new $135m F-22A Raptor after canopy jams
A F-22A Raptor, 03-041, suffered a canopy failure with a pilot inside on Apr. 10. Firefighters had to cut open the canopy with a chainsaw to free him after 5 hours.
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UK to boost Hercules safety ‘within months’
British C-130s will have better self-protection capabilities after the loss of an aircraft in Iraq last year.
Wing-fire inerting systems will be installed on the Royal Air Force’s C-130J/Ks and potentially to additional transport types.
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