Thursday, August 31, 2006
Russia continues to balk at An-70 aircraft project
Oleksandr Kiva, deputy general designer at Antonov, warns that Russian companies will suffer if Russia pulls out of the An-70 project.
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Italian Task Force Sets Sail for Lebanon (Free Registration)
Giuseppe Garibaldi is leading a five-ship Italian fleet to Lebanon for U.N. peacekeeping duties.
The carrier is only bringing four AV-8B Harriers when the rest is made up of helicopters.
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Each IDF branch demands a piece of the budget pie
Israel Defense Ministry's director general, Major General (ret.) Gabi Ashkenazi, has been ordered to spearhead the effort to find a counter to short-range missiles and rockets.
He will look at both laser and missile based solutions.
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Arirang-2 Starts Transmitting Pictures
South Korea's Arirang-2 multi-purpose (spy) satellite has started transmitting back images from its one-meter resolution camera. This article has several pictures.
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The Lessons of War / Navy was warned
Back in Apr. 21, 2003, the Israeli Navy's office of naval intelligence was warned that China had sold a C-802 missile to Iran by the intelligence branch at the General Staff.
They were also told that it should assume the Hezbollah arsenal contained a C-802 missile.
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Aircraft makers compete for Bulgarian fighter contract
The JAS 39 Gripen C/D, the Rafale C, the Eurofighter Typhoon and the F/A-18 have been presented to the Bulgarian Ministry of Defence.
Lockheed Martin is expected to make its presentation for the F-16 in September.
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Raytheon Receives $20.7 Million Contract Award for Towed-Decoy Production
Raytheon Company has received a $20.7 million contract award for continued production
of its ALE-50 line of towed decoys for the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy.
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Pilot brings back choppers that should have crashed
U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Edwin Steven Coleman has the distinction of having two U.S. Army Aviation Broken Wing Awards.
The award is a rare honor given to pilots who bring an aircraft back safely that should have crashed and killed all aboard.
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Canadian military looks to U.S. for chopper relief
Discussions are underway between Canada and United States to obtain either priority access for transportation of troops on U.S. helicopters in Afghanistan or to lease helicopters from U.S. until Canada receives its own helicopters.
A Boeing delegation also went to Canada to discuss what kind of equipment needs to fit into their CH-47F.
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Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Northrop Grumman Introduces Plans for New Fourth Generation Version of LITENING AT Pod
Northrop Grumman's Defensive Systems Division has unveiled plans for new fourth generation enhancements to its LITENING AT pod.
The fourth generation version of LITENING will feature the most advanced 1024 x 1024 pixels (1k x 1k) forward-looking infrared (FLIR); new two-way data links and other networking capabilities to enable improved communications between ground-based and airborne forces; new sensors for improved target identification (ID); and other advanced target recognition and identification features. Other product improvements already incorporated into LITENING as part of the fourth generation version include a new 1k charge-coupled device sensor.
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Air force jet crashes, crew escapes unscathed
An RoCAF F-5F made a belly landing at Taitung Air Force Base on Monday morning after its landing gear became jammed.
A/C 5384 was preparing to land at 8:50 a.m. when the crew discovered the problem. It then circle for 15 minutes before doing a wheels up landing.
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MiGs stay in hangars at forward base
Indian MiG-21s at Uttarlai Air Base are grounded as the runway there is still partly submerged after the recent flash floods in the region.
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Senior RMAF officer fined for reckless driving that caused death
An RMAF Brigadier General with its MiG-29 squadron was fined RM5,000 for reckless driving that killed a motorist.
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Two Russian sailors treated after fire on aircraft carrier
A fire broke out in the equipment storage room on board Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov on Sunday.
The fire started at around 4 p.m. and two sailors had to be treated for smoke inhalation.
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U.S. may revisit sanctions against Rosoboronexport, Sukhoi - Rumsfeld
U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld said his government may review the sanctions against Rosoboronexport and Sukhoi.
The Department of State will be asked on the facts on the sanctions.
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The Missiles of August--Part II
Part two of an earlier story by MIT's Tech Review on the proliferation of missile technology. This article examines Iran's use of anti-ship missiles against U.S. carrier battle groups.
Related Article
The Missiles of August
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Eurocopter delivers first Cougar to Bulgaria
Eurocopter delivered the first of 12 AS 532 AL Cougar helicopters to Bulgaria on Aug. 24.
Six AS 565 MB Panther helicopters were ordered as well and will be delivered starting 2010.
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Last Tomcat fighter jet to be retired here
The last U.S. Navy F-14 Tomcat will make its final flight to Virginia Aviation Museum on Sept. 28.
It will land at Richmond International Airport where it will be demilitarized.
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Tuesday, August 29, 2006
U.S. Set for Biggest Missile Defense Test in 18 Months
The U.S. missile defense system will undergo its biggest test in 18 months this Thursday and officials are stressing that the goal is not to hit the missile with an interceptor.
The objective is to make sure a redesigned kill vehicle is able to spot the target missile, distinguish between its booster stage and warhead, and communicate with the control centers on the ground.
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Brazil Embraer eyes new crack at US defense market
Embraer expects the United States to resurrect the Common Aerial Sensor program next year and is gearing up to take part in the bidding.
The program was cancelled in January after the Pentagon found that Embraer's jet was too small to fit all the sensors.
Labels: ACS
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Whiteman B-2s complete successful Andersen deployment
The USAF 393rd and 13th Bomb Squadrons are returning back to Whiteman Air Force Base after a successful deployment to Guam.
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Delays for RAAF aircraft soar
The Australian Defence Department confirmed yesterday that the RAAF's new Wedgetail airborne early warning aircraft is now slated for delivery in August 2008.
Defence Minister Brendan Nelson was told earlier by Boeing Defense chief Jim Albaugh in June that the Wedgetail will be delivered in early 2008.
Related Articles
Minister in dark on Wedgetail
Australian defense minister criticizes Boeing over delay in surveillance plane
Another RAAF plane faces delays
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Chick Fighter Pilot Assn
A new fighter pilot association was formed recently and in order for you to join, you must 1) be a chick and 2) you must fly fighters. Girlie guys don't qualify.
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Pyongyang Selling Missiles in Pieces: Report
The Center for Nonproliferation Studies said in a recent report that North Korea is now delivering missiles by air and in the form of components and equipment rather than complete products.
The Center also revealed that the missiles are under the control of the North Korean Air Force rather than the Army.
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Vietnam veteran to receive Silver Star
Retired Sgt. 1st Class Richard L. Smith, a UH-1D crew chief during the Vietnam War, will receive his long over due Silver Star today.
Smith is being awarded the Silver Star for “gallantry in action on Nov. 17, 1965, in the Ia Drang Valley when he voluntarily departed from his position in his helicopter twice to run onto an open field under fire, risking his own life to drag wounded soldiers onboard for evacuation."
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Rumsfeld eyes ICBMs in terror war
Speaking next to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov on Sunday, U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld ask Russia to consider joining the United States in re-tipping nuclear ICBMs with conventional warheads.
Rumsfeld see the conventional missiles as a quick and accurate way to take out terrorist groups.
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Monday, August 28, 2006
Flare incident prompts Kadena safety review
A USAF F-15C accidentally released a flare while on final approach to land at Kadena on Friday.
The incident occurred about 11 a.m. and the flare landed on the ground in the U.S. Army fueling yard.
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Cleansing as a scarred squadron learns to be Sea Kings again
Australian Commander Tim Leonard had the formidable task of rebuilding the confidence of 817 Squadron's personnel after the crash of one of its Sea King.
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Inouye doesn't expect carrier in Isles
U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye is not optimistic that USS Carl Vinson will homeport in Hawaii.
He feels that it will cost the Navy $2 billion to upgrade the facilities in Hawaii in order to forward base a carrier there.
Related Article
Isles could get carrier Vinson
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Boeing plans minority stake in S Korean defense- tech company
Boeing Co. said Sunday it has signed an agreement to make a minority stake in a South Korean company that work with Boeing on the 737 AEW&C program in South Korea.
Huneed Technologies is well-known in the field of battlefield communication radios, Korean data links, Korean cryptographic equipment.
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Iran Test-Fires Sub-to-Surface Missile
Iran test fired a submarine-launched missile on Sunday in the Persian Gulf during large-scale military exercises. There are two conflicting reports on whether its a sub-to-surface or sub-to-air missile.
Some reports called it Sagheb and some called it Thaqeb. A brief video clip shows the missile exiting the water and hitting a target on the water's surface within less than two kilometres.
Sources
Iran test fires long-range missile
Iran test fires a new submarine-to-surface missile in Persian Gulf
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Air Force obligated to keep aging planes
The USAF estimates it will spend close to $1.6 billion over the next five years to maintain aircraft it does not want.
The service would like to retire 1,033 of its 6,100 aircraft in the next five years. But more than a third of those must remain in service because of the protections by Congress.
The lawmakers want to keep the aircraft around as retiring them will make their districts suffer.
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South Korea to Develop Anti-Artillery Drones
South Korea aims to develop a fleet of unmanned bombers in five years to counter North Korea's artillery forces.
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Rumsfeld Unsure of Ability To Intercept Korean Missiles
U.S. Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld told a news conference that he is not fully convinced that the missile defence system can successfully intercept any North Korean missile.
His comments came after his first visit to Fort Greely, Alaska, home of ten missile interceptors.
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Sunday, August 27, 2006
Fighter Wing's transition likely to start in October
The 188th Fighter Wing of the Arkansas Air National Guard will start transferring its F-16s to Fresno in October.
The wing will get 18 A-10s in return.
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'Bomber county' to get memorial
A permanent memorial to commemorate the veterans of RAF's Bomber Command is to be unveiled today.
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Saturday, August 26, 2006
Alcalde Caracas: Venezuela tendrá escudo antimisiles
The Mayor of Caracas said that his city will be defended by a missile defense system from Belarus.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez earlier this month delcared that his nation will acquire a missile-based anti-aircraft defense system to defend itself.
Translation of the article
Related Article
Venezuela to acquire anti-aircraft missile system
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Russia might tear up ISR Missile Treaty-Defense Ministry source
A Russian Defense Ministry official said his country could unilaterally withdraw from the Treaty on Intermediate and Shorter Range Missiles.
The official said that in 20 or 30 years any country could have intermediate range missiles. Moscow considers the treaty as a relic from the Cold War.
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Russia denies Hezbollah arms link
Russian Defence Minister, Sergei Ivanov, said that Israel never provided Russia with evidence that Hizbollah militants used Russian-made anti-tank missiles in Lebanon.
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Romanian airmen train at LRAFB
16 Romanian airmen travelled to Little Rock Air Force Base to learn how to operate and maintain three C-130Bs and a C-130H aircraft the country's air force will receive in September.
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US warship gets approval to join Indian Navy
India is looking into getting six SH-3 Sea King helicopters for Landing Platform Dock (LPD) USS Trenton which it intends to buy.
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Republic of Singapore Air Force Open House
One more week to go before RSAF's open house on Sept. 2 and 3. The local media was given a preview of the show that includes a solo aerobatic display by the F-16 Blk 52+.
Sources
RSAF Open House
Transforming for the future (Video)
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Lockheed Martin Will Use Neuroscience-Based Technologies To Help Evaluate Tomahawk Missile User Interface
The U.S. Navy wants to make its Tomahawk cruise missile 'smarter' by monitoring the humans operating it.
The Office of Naval Research awarded $724,000 to Lockheed Martin's Advanced Technology Laboratories (ATL). ATL will apply neuroscience-based technologies in augmented cognition on a system called T-TIDES (TTWCS-Tool for Interface Design Evaluation with Sensors) that will read the cruise missile operator's physiological markers and monitor the person's effectiveness.
The project aims to evaluate prospective modifications to the Tactical Tomahawk Weapons
Control System (TTWCS) user interface to detect stress or drowsiness.
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Everett would do bulk of work on tanker
Boeing will not just build but modify its 767 tankers at Everett if it wins the tanker contract from the USAF.
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Commanders Want THAAD Fielded Early
The U.S. Missile Defense Agency the THAAD by 2009 or 2010 at the request of combatant commanders.
The original plan was to deploy it in 2012 but commanders indicated that they wanted to get the capability to the field as quickly as possible.
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Ships’ crews undergo tactical missile training
U.S. Navy crews are going through tactical certification for the ballistic missile defense mission.
Several of the crew have already been tactically certified.
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January 2005 crash of prototype Pilatus PC-21 attributed to pilot error in official crash report
Pilot error lead to the crash of a PC-21 during an early morning aerobatic practise in Jan. 2005.
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MINDEF's Permanent Secretary visits South Africa to boost ties
Singapore's Defence Ministry Permanent Secretary Chiang Chie Foo will visit a UAV detachment from the RSAF currently training in South Africa.
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Northrop Grumman Unveils Next Generation Global Hawk
Northrop Grumman Corporation rolled out the first production version of the new RQ-4 Block 20 Global Hawk unmanned aerial reconnaissance system in a ceremony Aug. 25.
The new Block 20 aircraft will carry up to 3,000 pounds of internal payload and will operate with two-and-a-half times the power of its predecessor.
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Billions in new aircraft just drop in bucket, air force head says
Lt.-Gen. Steve Lucas, head of the Canadian Air Force, says the purchase of cargo planes and helicopters are only a start at rebuilding an air force that was at one time the fourth largest in the world.
There is a need to replace the CF-18s, buy new surveillance aircraft and ground attack and medical evacuation helicopters all within the next decade.
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High-power microwave weapons - full power ahead?
Janes claims that the United States has designed a class of high-power microwave warhead for a bomb or cruise missile.
The warhead uses explosive energy to produce a single, instantaneous, broadband pulse of power that can be used for defence suppression.
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Ukraine Officers Visit RAF Lakenheath
The U.S. Air Force 48th Fighter Wing played host to a group of Ukrainian military officers from Aug. 18-23.
Among them were three fighter pilots from the Ukrainian Air Force.
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Friday, August 25, 2006
Viper Lance wraps up (Video)
Three F-16 Fighting Falcons taxi for takeoff before the last sortie flown at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, Romania, during Exercise Viper Lance 2006. We got a video as well. U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Eydie Sakura.
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Salvaged flight deck from C-5 mishap becomes tool
The flight deck belonging to the C-5 that crashed short of Dover Air Force Base's runway has been salvaged for use in C-5 aircraft crew training. U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class James Bolinger.
It will go to Robins Air Force Base where it will be used as a modernized C-5 software simulator.
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Bagram A-10s surge for summer offensives
Lt. Col. Keith McBride, commander of the 81st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron talks about the role of the A-10 in Afghanistan.
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Bell finishes first AH-1Z, AH-1Y craft
Bell Helicopter has completed its first production AH-1Z and UH-IY and both will make their first flight soon.
The AH-1Z will make its maiden flight in early September and the Y will be out doing flight tests a few weeks later.
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U.S. offers Japan 80 more Patriot missiles
Washington has offered to sell up to 80 PAC-3 missiles to Tokyo after recent missile testing by North Korea.
The additional missiles are expected to be deployed at the Air Self-Defense Force's 1st Air Defense Missile Group in Saitama Prefecture, where its first PAC-3 is already slated to be deployed next March.
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