Thursday, November 30, 2006
City panel backs matching funds for F-14 project
The Willmar City Council's Finance Committee has pledged to match private contributions up to $25,000 to bring a Tomcat to Willmar Municipal Airport.
Private donors have so far raised $10,000 and $50,000 must be raised by 7 p.m. Monday.
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Black and White Sea Harrier wins the Defence Photographic Competition
This black and white image of a Sea Harrier by Leading Airman (Photographer) Michael Handy won the 'defence experience' section of the first official U.K. Defence Photographic Competition.
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Saudi Arabia plays down threat to end talks on BAE deal
Saudi Arabian sources insisted that the country has not canceled its Eurofighter Typhoon order while Downing Street has refused to comment on the investigation by the Serious Fraud Office.
It has been alleged that investigators have found secret payments in Swiss bank accounts linked to a billionaire arms broker for the Saudi royal family.
The Guardian also reported that the SFO is also investigating into allegations that bribery attempts occurred during a deal to lease BAE-Saab Gripen fighters to Czech Republic.
Sources
Saudi Arabia plays down threat to end talks on BAE deal
UK govt refuses to comment on BAE secret payments report
FAQ: The investigation
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Pak successfully test fires medium range Ballistic missile Hatf 4
Pakistan Army's Strategic Force Command successfully test fired a Hatf 4 medium range ballistic missile.
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Defense officials release name of downed F-16 pilot
Pentagon has identified Major Troy Gilbert as the pilot of the F-16 that crashed in Iraq on Monday. Meanwhile news sources report that human remains have been found in the wreckage.
Major Gilbert is assigned to the 309th Fighter Squadron, Luke Air Force Base.
Sources
Defense officials release name of downed F-16 pilot
Remains from F-16 crash site being DNA-tested
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Govt denies winding up Trishul missile project
Indian Defence Minister A K Antony revealed that development of the Trishul low-level quick-reaction surface-to-air missile system has been completed.
The Defence Research Development Organisation is working with the IAF on possible induction of the system.
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Kentucky Guard unit will provide 'air base in a box'
Kentucky's Air National Guard has establish a specialized quick-response air support unit dubbed as an "air base in a box."
The 123rd Contingency Response Group, the first of its kind, will carry on its planes all the equipment needed to set up an airfield at the site of a disaster or remote war zone.
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Five men trying to sell Strela-2M missile systems detained in Sochi
Russian police have arrested five people who were trying to sell four Strela-2M portable anti-aircraft missile systems.
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US Air Force still on plan with tanker competition
The U.S. Air Force is still on plan to pick a winning bidder next summer for the new aerial refueling tanker competition.
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Sukhoi holding's newest jets to take to the skies in 2007
ukhoi will conduct flight tests of the Su-35 Flanker-E prior to the MAKS-2007 International Aviation & Space Salon.
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Air Force announces 2006 as safest year in aviation
Fiscal year 2006 was the safest year in aviation ever for the U.S. Air Force. The Air Force recorded 19 major aviation mishaps, eight destroyed aircraft and one aviation fatality.
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Israel to purchase anti-Kassam system
Israel is expected to choose a combination of a laser and an missile interceptor defense system from Rafael in the coming days.
And despite heavy public and international pressure, the Skyguard anti-missile laser system from Northrop Grumman is rejected.
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Exploring New Ways to Sell Arms to China
Moscow is exploring ways to earn cash from China as the country switched from buying Russian fighters to developing its own aircraft.
One avenue being explored is to partner with Beijing to develop fighters to counter the latest American fighters.
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Lockheed protest in aircraft contest denied
The U.S. General Accounting Office has rejected Lockheed Martin's bid to rejoin the Joint Cargo Aircraft contest with its C-130J on Nov. 21.
Lockheed filed a protest after the Army rejected the C-130J along with the CN-235 in July.
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Boeing Delivers Second EA-18G Growler to U.S. Navy
Boeing has delivered the second EA-18G Growler airborne electronic attack (AEA) aircraft to the U.S. Navy test site at Naval Air Station (NAS) Patuxent River.
Labels: EA-18G
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Indo-US deal close to finalization for transport aircraft
The Indian Air Force is close to becoming the newest operator of the C-130J. IAF chief S P Tyagi disclosed at the Western Air Command conference that negotiations for six Hercules are in the final stages.
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Heli-One awarded Royal Malaysian Air Force S-61 autohover installation contract
Heli-One will install autohover systems in six RMAF Sikorsky S61A (Nuri) helicopters.
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S. Korea deploys F-16 fighter jets at Kunsan base
South Korea has started to deploy KF-16s at Kunsan Air Base early this month. The F-5Es based in Kunsan are being moved to other bases.
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Airbus Completes A Major A400M Wing Assembly Milestone
Construction of the first set of wings for the first A400M military transport aircraft has been completed.
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Black Hawk down
An Australian Black Hawk helicopter collided with HMAS Kanimbla in waters off Fiji while landing.
One pilot died and one soldier from the Special Air Service is missing after the helicopter sank in deep water. Eight were pulled out from the water.
Sources
Black Hawk down
Black Hawk victim a pilot
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Air combat void to cost millions
The RAAF has established an Air Combat Transition Office to develop options in case the F-35 program is delayed. One of the option is to buy the F/A-18 Super Hornet including the Growler.
These new fighters will stay in service beyond 2015 but the most likely scenario is to lease them.
Sources
Air combat void to cost millions
Secret plan to lease planes
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Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Fund raising deadline approaching quickly for F-14 Tomcat project (Free Registration)
HELP SAVE A TOMCAT! An F-14 at Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport will be cut up if Willmar Municipal Airport fails to secure $50,000 to demil the aircraft on Dec. 5. More information can be found
here.
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Ministry of Defence Major Projects Report 2006
The British National Audit Office has released its Ministry of Defence Major Projects Report 2006 and the Eurofighter Typhoon will miss one of its Key User Requirements, which is landing distance.
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UAV Could Be Used as Unmanned Refueling Plane
The Israeli Air Force is looking into turning a UAV into a refueling tanker for other UAVs as well as other aircraft.
IAI is said to have began work on the concept.
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QinetiQ completes world's first in-flight demo of multiple unmanned aircraft autonomy system
QinetiQ has successfully completed the world's first flight demonstration of a system capable of controlling and autonomously organising multiple unmanned aircraft.
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Pilot of crashed U.S. fighter jet missing in Iraq
The pilot of the USAF F-16CG that went down outside Baghdad, Iraq is missing and his status is unknown.
Meanwhile, Cannon Air Force Base confirmed that the jet was from Cannon but the pilot is not.
Sources
Pilot of crashed U.S. fighter jet missing in Iraq
Air Force jet crashes in Iraq
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U.S. Airmen help Iraqis take flight again
U.S. and coalition advisors are helping the Iraqi air force Squadron 3 train for their intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance mission.
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Taiwan says F-16 purchase dependent on budget passage
A spokesman from Taiwan's Defence Ministry said that the purchase of around 66 F-16s from the United States will be dependent on the passage of a long-stalled budget for a much larger arms package.
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Remarks at Demonstration of C-17 Strategic Airlift Capability
This is the transcript of NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer's speech at Riga, Latvia on Nov. 27 on the C-17 purchase.
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NATO says Swedish purchase pact won't change C-17 outlook
Boeing said that despite the interest from NATO and Sweden to purchase the C-17, it still doesn't change the outlook for its production line.
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Norway Denies In Deal To Buy Lockheed's F-35 Jet
The Norwegian Ministry of Defense on Friday denied a report by Swedish newspaper Dagens Industri that it had signed a letter of intent to buy the F-35.
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Boeing Delivers Royal Australian Air Force's First C-17
Boeing yesterday delivered to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) its first C-17 Globemaster III during a ceremony at the company's Long Beach, C-17 manufacturing facility.
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Different Communication Networks For Raptor Eyed By Air Force
Maj. Shawn "Rage" Anger, an F-22 instructor with the 43rd Fighter Squadron, said the F-22 communications system currently lack the bandwidth to transmit the most detailed battlefield picture.
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T-41 Trainer Jet Retires
The RoKAF has officially retired the T-41 Mescalero at the Air Force Academy in North Chungchong Province Tuesday.
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Air Force, Northrop have 40-year plan for B-2
Northrop Grumman has unveiled plans to upgrade the B-2 bomber fleet to keep them flying for another 40 years.
Some of the original stealth coatings will be replaced by "alternative high frequency materials" that require much less maintenance.
The aircraft will also be getting the Link 16 to free the crew from individually target each smart bomb on board.
A new smart bomb rack will be added to increase the number of bombs from 16 to 80. The B-2 will also be able to carry two 30,000-pound conventional bunker buster bombs.
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Patriot missile battery at Kadena to be officially activated Thursday
Kadena Air Base's PAC-3 missile battery will be officially activated in a ceremony Thursday.
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Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Raytheon HARM Variant Successfully Hits Target without Requiring Radar Guidance
Raytheon's HARM Destruction of enemy air defense Attack Module HDAM has successfully destroyed a ground target during a test with the target not emitting radar signals.
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BAE Systems confirms lack of progress in Eurofighter talks with Saudi
BAE Systems PLC has confirmed reports that talks between London and Riyadh for 72 Eurofighter Typhoons have stalled. The Independent also reported that the Saudis may switch to buying between 24 and 36 Rafales in the next 24 to 48 hours.
But French military officials and analysts downplayed the incident, saying that it is unlikely for Saudi Arabia to cancel the deal.
Sources
BAE Systems confirms lack of progress in Eurofighter talks with Saudi
French poised to steal £10bn Saudi contract from BAE
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Cherry Point may land flock of Marine jets
South Carolina politicians are trying to convince the USN to move their jets from Oceana to Beaufort and the Marines Hornets to Cherry Point.
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Lockheed welcomes Canada win for C-130J after US setback
Lockheed Martin says it welcome a decision by Canada to select its C-130J transports over rival A400M.
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NATO Chief Says 15 Allies and Sweden Plan To Buy C-17s
NATO’s secretary-general Jaap de Hoop Scheffer of the Netherlands says NATO and Sweden will be pooling money together to buy three C-17s.
Speaking at Riga, Latvia, de Hoop Scheffer told reporters the cargo planes will be used for transporting troops or humanitarian supplies and also support U.N. and European Union missions.
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Rockwell Collins gets Thai aviation industry pact
Rockwell Collins will upgrade six Royal Thai Air Force C-130 aircraft with an integrated communications, navigation, surveillance and air-traffic- management system.
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Palmdale-produced robot spy craft to begin real operations in U.S.
The Global Hawk Block 20 aircraft is about halfway through low-speed taxi tests at Palmdale's Plant 42. A first flight will occur just before Christmas or in early January.
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Shot in battle, by the video soldiers
Helmet-mounted cameras on British soldiers show RAF Harriers bombing Taliban positions in Afghanistan. Links to the videos in the article.
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Iranian Military Plane Crashes in Tehran, Killing 39
An An-74 from Iran's Revolutionary Guards crashed on Monday after taking off from Tehran's Mehrabad airport at 07:10 in the morning.
Major General Seyed Yahya Rahim Safavi told Fars News Agency that one engine failed after take off causing the aircraft to lose balance. A wing then hit the ground which lead to an explosion.
Sources
Iranian Military Plane Crashes in Tehran, Killing 39
IRGC Commander Rules Out Sabotage in Plane Crash
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Boeing Demonstrates UAV Automated Aerial Refueling Capability
The Boeing Automated Aerial Refueling (AAR) program successfully completed flight tests in August that demonstrated for the first time an unmanned air vehicle's ability to autonomously maintain a steady refueling station behind a tanker aircraft.
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India carries out anti-missile test
Robin Hughes, the deputy editor of Janes Defense Weekly, said that India's successful interception of a Prithvi II missile on Monday would represent a major advance for India.
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F-16 crashes northwest of Baghdad
A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon engaged in support of coalition ground combat operations crashed approximately 20 miles northwest of Baghdad Nov. 27 at about 1:35 p.m. Baghdad time. Unofficial reports indicated that the pilot did not survive the ejection.
Reuters reported that a local journalist filmed the body of the pilot wearing a parachute harness lying in a field strewn with the wreckage of the planes.
Sources
F-16 crashes northwest of Baghdad
U.S. F-16 crashes in Iraq, pilot dead - witnesses
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Monday, November 27, 2006
築城基地で航空祭 (Video)
From Asagiri : Video of the air show on Nov. 26 at JASDF Tsuiki AB, Fukuoka Prefecture.
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C-17 crews deliver under fire
There has been five major hits on the C-17 by combatants since 2001.
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Four U.S. ships to get missile interceptors
There will soon be five U.S. Navy ships equipped with the SM-3 missile defense system in Japan.
Four Aegis-equipped warships deployed in Japan will be fitted with the new missile and two will be ready as early as next spring.
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India seeks Israeli help for surveillance system
India has seeked Israeli help in its Divya Drishti project to build an early warning missile detection system.
12 radars would give India a countrywide radar coverage that can detect a missile up to 800km away.
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Newer, safer warhead re-enters U.S. arsenal
Since last month, the USAF has started replacing the older W62 nuclear warhead with the W87 on silo-base Minuteman III missiles in Montana, Wyoming and Nebraska.
The W87s were left over from the Peacekeeper missile which has been scrapped.
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Sunday, November 26, 2006
French angle for Saudi billions
Saudi Arabia has threatened to cancel the contract for 72 Eurofighter Typhoons if the British Serious Fraud Office opens up secret Swiss bank accounts allegedly linked to members of the Saudi royal family.
The Serious Fraud Office is currently investigating allegations that BAE bribed Saudi defence procurement officials with gifts for the Al-Yamamah defense contract.
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Steps to prevent MiG-21 crashes
The Indian Air Force found that a few of their MiG-21s were attributed to engine failure due to jamming of the Reciprocating Slide Valve (RSV) of the engine fuel system.
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Czech radar company sold
The Czech company ERA which develops the Vera passive surveillance radar system has been sold to American firm Rannoch Corporation.
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Heat caused jet crash, says former engineer
A former Nimrod flight test engineer claims that the aircraft was never designed for the hot environment it faced in South West Asia.
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