Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Airman selected as Miss Arkansas USA
Meet USAF Second Lieutenant Kelly George who has recently been crowned Miss Arkansas USA. Kelly is the deputy chief of Public Affairs for the 314th Airlift Wing. Courtesy photo/Rhonda Garrett Gilliam.
| | |
|
Police agency says tourists from China interested in F-16s
Taiwan's police said that it had discovered that many tourists from China visiting Hualian have taken an interest in the activities of F-16 fighters from the 401st Tactical Combined Wing, based in Hualian.
It said that it has increased its monitoring of Chinese tourist groups to prevent tour members from leaving their group to move around unaccompanied.
| | |
|
China's missile systems on show in zhuhai
China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) will exhibit around 20 types of missiles at Airshow China 2006.
| | |
|
Boeing KC-767 Tanker Transfers Fuel for First Time
Boeing successfully transferred fuel for the first time Oct. 23 from its KC-767 Tanker advanced boom to a simulated receiver on the ground.
| | |
|
Russia Out in Force at China Show
Russia's aerospace companies were out in force at Airshow China 2006. However Moscow will not be showing its most advanced aircraft, such as the Su-33 and Su-35 as Russian military officials reportedly are uneasy about selling their best technology to China.
| | |
|
Sikorsky has hopes for rescue copter
Sikorsky believes that its HH-92 is the most current design and the most survivable among those who are competing for the CSARX program.
| | |
|
US Army: light cargo plane award on track for March
The U.S. Army and Air Force still aim to award a contract for Joint Cargo Aircraft next February or March, despite conflicting funding approved by Congress.
| | |
|
14th Air Force Chief Retires After 38 Years In Service
Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) chief Tan Sri Nik Ismail Nik Mohamed retired on Monday and is succeeded by his deputy, Datuk Seri Azizan Ariffin.
| | |
|
Russia Chooses Between $1.5 Billion and $2 Billion
China has appealed to Russia to let it export the FC-1 fighter with Russian engines. Russia has a list of countries which its has agreed to conduct military-technological trade and China wants Pakistan on that list.
If Russian refuses, it could complicate trade with China which is worth $2 billion annually. Agreement, however, could threaten Russia's ties with India, which are worth more than $1.5 billion per year.
| | |
|
North May Have Been Selling Missiles
The latest report by the U.S. Congressional Research Service indicated that North Korea was selling its missiles to the Near East as recently as 2003-2004.
The annual report says 40 surface-to-surface missiles were sold to the Near East that excludes United States, Russia, China, and European countries.
| | |
|
Small Aircraft May Become Large Sensors
There is a move to merge sensors, communications and weaponry into one and become the skin of the aircraft.
| | |
|
Boeing Starts Production of Wing Set for 100th F-22 Raptor
Boeing this week began assembling the wings for the U.S. Air Force's 100th F-22 Raptor at the company's Developmental Center in Seattle.
| | |
|
Monday, October 30, 2006
Helicopter Makes Emergency Landing
A Polish Mi-24 helicopter made an emergency landing near Suwayrah, south of Baghdad, after taking small-arms fire Oct. 28.
One coalition and one Iraqi soldier were wounded.
| | |
|
Germany confirms new Lebanon incident with Israel
There has been a second incident involving the German Navy and Israeli Air Force. This time involving a German navy helicopter and Israeli F-16 fighters.
The incident occurred on Thursday when the fighters locked on to the helicopter after it had taken off.
| | |
|
M51 Gives France More Flexible Deterrent To Meet Changing Threats
France's next-generation M51 nuclear tipped ballistic missile is expected to make its first land launch this year.
The new missile weighs half of the M45 and can carry up to six warheads over a range in excess of 6,000km.
| | |
|
Fuel leak blamed for Nimrod disaster
A fractured fuel line that set off explosions caused the RAF Nimrod MR2 to break up in flight and crashed in Afghanistan last month.
A fuel line near the bottom of the fuselage fractured and fuel and vapour that leaked into the bottom of the fuselage then caught fire.
| | |
|
Defence Department wants new navy helicopters
Canada has quietly amended its H-92 contract to allow the naval helicopters to carry troops as well.
The change is expected to add roughly $5 million to the overall price tag.
| | |
|
Vance bids farewell to T-37 'Tweet'
The first Vance class to train in the T-37, class 62-F, as well as the last class of Vance Tweet trainees, 07-08, gathered on Friday to bid farewell to the T-37 Tweet.
| | |
|
Canadian Pilot Gets His Wings
One Canadian and two Singaporeans graduated from the NFTC on Friday.
| | |
|
U.S. may put Patriots near Tokyo
The U.S. is considering deploying PAC-3 missiles near Tokyo after North Korea's recent missile and nuclear tests according to Nihon Keizai newspaper.
The missiles will be based at Yokota Air Base in Tokyo's western suburbs and around Yokosuka Naval Base.
| | |
|
Israelis put nuclear bunkers in gardens
Wealthy Israelis are rushing to build underground nuclear shelters in the gardens of their luxury homes over worries of a nuclear attack from Iran.
| | |
|
Navy ship back after £20m refit
More than 1,000 people lined the dockside at Portsmouth Naval Base on Saturday morning to welcome back aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal.
| | |
|
Sale of Fennce Helicopters and the related Spares, Tools and Equipment
The RSAF is selling 10 of its AS550 helicopters, no minimum price but you need to put in a S$500 deposit if you are interested in bidding.
3 AS550A2 and 7 AS550C2 are for sale.
| | |
|
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Naval Air Facility El Centro
Gerry has some new pictures from Naval Air Facility El Centro.
| | |
|
F-117: A long, storied history that is about to end
Twenty-five F-117 Nighthawks flew in formation over Holloman Air Base yesterday during a ceremony to mark its 25 years of service.
| | |
|
After the Blue Angels, flyers have diverse careers
The Blue Angels marks its 60th anniversary with a special air show at its home base of Pensacola Naval Air Station Nov. 10 and 11. This article describes the life of the pilots after flying for the Blue Angels.
| | |
|
Test range to close, work may be shifted to test site
The Tonopah Test Range in central Nevada is heading for closure and its flight-testing mission could be transferred to White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, or to the Nevada Test Site.
| | |
|
Saturday, October 28, 2006
New J-10 picture
This photo shows the 2nd batch of J-10s being commissioned for the PLAAF 131st Regiment, 44th Division. Photo from China Defense blog.
| | |
|
Boeing to Begin Ground Testing of X-48B Blended Wing Body Concept
Boeing's Phantom Works soon will begin ground testing of its X-48B Blended Wing Body (BWB) concept in preparation for flight testing early next year. Photo Credit: Boeing Image.
| | |
|
Czech government sells majority stake in jet maker Aero Vodochody
The Czech government has decided to sell its majority stake in aircraft maker Aero Vodochody to a Czech-Slovak investment group, Penta.
Penta's subsidiary Oakfield AS offered 2.9 billion koruna (€102 million; US$128 million) for the stake.
| | |
|
Hailstorm damages IAF choppers
A number of Indian Air Force Mi-17-1Vs were damaged by a hail storm Sarsawa airbase on Oct. 23.
The main and tail rotors suffered the most damage.
| | |
|
B-52s complete long-range training sortie
Two B-52s completed a long-range, nonstop training sortie Tuesday from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, to the Delamere Air Weapons Range in Australia.
After the 11.5 hours sortie, each aircraft dropped four BDU-50 inert bombs over the range and then returned to Guam.
| | |
|
JSF leads in race over Turkey's new generation fighters
The F-35 is leading over the Eurofighter in the race to supply 100 fighters to the Turkish Air Force.
While the Turkish government had wanted a combined purchase, the military wants only the JSF.
| | |
|
Defense minister denies reports Argentina considering purchase of Russian warplanes
Argentina's defense minister has denied reports that her country was considering buying Russian warplanes, helicopters, anti-missile systems.
| | |
|
U.K. carrier Ark Royal returns to service
HMS Ark Royal will rejoin the fleet today when she return to her home port at Portsmouth Harbour.
The carrier has been upgraded to become a commando helicopter carrier with the ability to carry Chinooks and Apaches as well as transporting up to 600 Royal Marines.
| | |
|
Boeing Airborne Laser Team Rolls Out Modified Aircraft and Prepares for Flight Tests
Boeing officially rolled out the Airborne Laser (ABL) aircraft from a modification facility in Wichita on Oct. 27.
While the head of the Pentagon's Missile Defense Agency praised the system during the ceremony. A former Pentagon chief weapons tester said the enemy could easily defeat the laser by putting a reflective coating on the outside of its missiles to bounce off the laser beam.
Sources
US hails airborne laser as weapons milestone
Boeing Airborne Laser Team Rolls Out Modified Aircraft and Prepares for Flight Tests
| | |
|
Airmen learn to counter satellite-jamming threats
The USAF 26th Space Aggressor Squadron is teaching airmen how to deal with situations when their GPS or SATCOM is jammed during combat.
| | |
|
Japan scrambles against unidentified planes up 45 percent in April-Sept.
JASDF fighters scrambled 149 times this year between April and September. 139 times were scrambles against Russian airplanes.
The number of scrambles against Chinese planes plunged to one compared to 30 last year.
| | |
|
Friday, October 27, 2006
F-117 pilot school closes
The last class of F-117 pilots graduated from the F-117 Nighthawk pilot school on Oct. 13.
| | |
|
Army evaluates potential JCA
The U.S. Army has begun evaluating the C-295 at Fort Rucker as part of Phase II evaluation for the Joint Cargo Aircraft.
| | |
|
Aussies learn C-17 ropes
RAAF maintainers are preparing to receive their country's first C-17 by training with C-17 crews at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii.
The airmen from 36th Squadron have been there since September.
| | |
|
Turkey may opt for hybrid solution on helicopter gunship program
Turkey could end up buying both U.S. and non-U.S. attack helicopters amid a rift between the military and the procurement agency over which helicopter is better.
Labels: Turkey Attack Helicopter
| | |
|
Military researchers working on fix for helicopter brownout
Researchers at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base has come up with a camera-computer system to help helicopter pilots in brownout situations.
| | |
|
New Boeing CH-47F Takes Flight
The first production CH-47F Chinook helicopter successfully completes its first flight Oct. 23.
| | |
|
Boeing KC-767 Tanker Completes Test Milestone
The Boeing KC-767 Tanker extends its fifth-generation, fly-by-wire boom telescoping tube for the first time during recent tests.
| | |
|
Afghan-bound troops practice on Sea Kings
Canadian troops bound for Afghanistan trained on five of the navy's Sea Kings, raising questions about whether the helicopters are bound for the country.
| | |
|
Boeing workers accept collective agreement
Remember the Boeing labor dispute in Australia? It has finally ended with 94 per cent of the Boeing maintenance staff voting in favor of a new collective agreement.
| | |
|
BMD Focus: USAF seeks SBIRS alternatives
In a sign that the U.S. Air Force is ditching the Space Based Infrared System, SBIRS. The service has awarded contracts to the Raytheon Company and to the Science Applications International Corporation to develop new infrared satellite detection systems.
| | |
|
Czech Gripen fighter helps Boeing 737
A Czech Gripen fighter came to the aid of a Dutch KLM Boeing 737 whose crew suspected that its cargo doors might have opened.
The fighter inspected the plane from behind without the passengers noticing.
| | |
|
Ninth Indo-US Malabar gets underway off GOA
Indian Navy Sea Harrier operating from ashore will be holding exercises with USS Boxer off Goa from Oct. 24 to 05 Nov. 5 2006.
| | |
|
U.N. draft targets Iran's missiles
European members of the U.N. Security Council have proposed sanctions that would target Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile program.
| | |
|
Russia to supply engines for India's Lakshya UAVs
India's Lakshya unmanned aerial vehicle will be getting NPO Saturn's TRDD-50MT engine to power it.
The Russian engine maker will supply 200 miniature engines to India for Lakshya UAVs in 2007.
| | |
|
Theodore Roosevelt Marks 20 Years
A ceremony honoring the 20th anniversary of the commissioning of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (TR) (CVN 71) took place in the ship's hangar bay Oct. 25.
| | |
|
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Restructured deal cuts cost of Lockheed cargo plane
Lockheed Martin Corp. is dropping the price of its C-130J transport by as much as 14 percent a plane.
The savings come from a restructured contract to purchase the transports by the USAF.
| | |
|
Audit reveals problems in Bell's H-1 program
The U.S. Naval Audit Service found problems with Bell Helicopter's H-1 helicopters program in a recent audit that mirrors earlier findings about cost controls and scheduling.
The audit found that the helicopter production schedules and cost estimates don't have reasonable assurances that schedule and cost estimates are reliable.
| | |
|
Sikorsky Tests World's Most Advanced Search and Rescue Helicopter Flight Controls
Sikorsky Aircraft is finishing developmental flight tests of its S-92 helicopter with a search and rescue automatic flight control system (AFCS).
| | |
|
EADS CASA delivers the first C-295 aircraft to Brazil
EADS CASA has delivered the first military transport aircraft C-295 to Brazilian Air Force on Oct. 23.
Four aircraft will be delivered before the end of year 2006.
| | |
|
Aircraft deal hinges on US military, officials say
Former U.S. deputy secretary of state Richard Armitage, now working as a lobbyist, had written to Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian to hold a bidding contest for the contract to refurbish the P-3Cs Washington is planning to sell to the island.
| | |
|
Navy officially confirms failure of Bulava missile system
The test of a Bulava missile from a submerged submarine has failed again on Wednesday.
| | |
|
Russia to Deliver Su-33 Fighters to China
Rosoboronexport is completing negotiations to sell two Su-33 naval Flankers to China with options for 12 more. The eventual number of aircraft purchased could reach up to 50.
The deal is expected to be signed in December in Beijing and will be constructed by Komsomolsk-on-Amur Production Association.
China will use the fighters to train on land and on the Varyag aircraft carrier that is being completed.
The Pentagon's 2006 Annual Report on China's military reported that China has shown interest last year to acquire Su-33s to form a combat air wing for a future aircraft carrier.
Related Article
Annual Report to Congress: Military Power of the People's Republic of China (PDF)
| | |
