Alert 5 - Military Aviation News

Russia could deploy nukes in space orbit

2008-07-25T08:07:00.001+08:00

Retired Col. Gen. Viktor Yesin, former chief of staff of the Russian Strategic Missile Forces, says Russia could based nuclear ballistic missiles in space to counter the American missile defense system in Europe.

India to test ballistic missile interceptor again

2008-07-25T08:04:00.001+08:00

India will test its ballistic missile defense system for the third time in the next few days.

Minot Air Force Base crew mishandle nuclear weapons again

2008-07-25T07:56:00.002+08:00

Three out of a four-men USAF nuclear missile crew fell asleep with an invalidated nuclear launch code component while on duty, a violation of procedure.

The launch codes for a nuclear-tipped missile inside the electronic component have been deactivated. Two crew is suppose to be awake while in control of the component but three of them fell asleep.

Sources

Minot Air Force Base Reports Missile Code Procedure Violation

Missile crew falls asleep with nuclear code device: air force

S-300 operational in Iran by 2009

2008-07-24T12:42:00.002+08:00

Senior Israeli defense sources said on Wednesday that Tehran will have its first S-300 air defense missile system this September. It will be operational in six months.

"Based on what I know, it's highly unlikely that those air defense missiles would be in Iranian hands any time soon," U.S. Secretary of Defence Robert Gates said in a Jul. 9 briefing when asked about the S-300.

Pakistan military equipment aid for F-16s

2008-07-24T12:32:00.001+08:00

Two-thirds of the proposed U.S. military equipment aid for Pakistan's anti-terrorism programs will be used to upgrade its F-16 fleet.

Switching the $226 million from anti-terrorism programs will require the approval of the U.S Congress.

Commercial aerial refueling coming to the USAF

2008-07-24T08:11:00.002+08:00

The U.S. Air Force will start a pilot study early next decade on commercial "fee-for-service" aerial refueling services.

The pilot will run from fiscal 2012 through 2016.

F-22 to deploy to Europe?

2008-07-24T08:09:00.001+08:00

There is talk among military personnel at RAF Lakenheath that the F-22 stealth fighter will be deployed there.

Indigenous UAV for South Korea

2008-07-24T08:06:00.001+08:00

The South Korean Air Force has shifted its focus from developing a fifth-generation fighter to unmanned aerial vehicles.

F-22 simulator arrives in Hawaii

2008-07-24T08:02:00.001+08:00

While they won't be flying the F-22 Raptor until 2010. Pilots from the Hawaii Air National Guard can start practicing on the simulator which has just arrived.

Schwartz to decide on unrate pilots for UAVs

2008-07-24T07:57:00.002+08:00

U.S. Air Force chief of staff nominee Gen. Norton Schwartz told U.S. senators that he needed more time to decide on his position whether to have more unrated unmanned aircraft pilots.

"It may well be that a blend of rated and nonrated operators makes the most sense," Schwartz told the Senate Armed Services Committee. "If confirmed, I will come to a conclusion on this issue quickly."

Raytheon's SLAMRAAM Completes System Field Integration Testing

2008-07-24T07:54:00.000+08:00

Raytheon's SLAMRAAM has successfully completed system field integration testing at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., demonstrating interoperability with both Patriot and Avenger weapon systems.

SLAMRAAM and Patriot exchanged and displayed unit position and air track data to form a common operational air picture between the two air defense systems.

U.S. Navy Conducts Flight Test of Tomahawk Block IV Missile

2008-07-24T07:50:00.000+08:00

A U.S. Navy Ticonderoga- class cruiser fired a Tomahawk Block IV missile June 17. The missile flew more than 500 miles along a preplanned route and precisely engaged its target.

This was the 13th consecutive successful test of the Tomahawk Block IV. Seven of the test shots were from a submarine, and six were from a surface vessel.

Officials name downed B-52 aircrew members

2008-07-24T07:34:00.000+08:00

There was no survivors in the B-52 bomber crash in Guam as the U.S. Air Force released all six names of those aboard the flight.

More trouble for VH-71

2008-07-23T14:58:00.004+08:00

United States lawmakers are unwilling to give more money for the VH-71 presidential helicopter program until the presidential elections are over.

The Pentagon requested more than $1 billion in fiscal 2009 but Congress is only will to give $231 million.

Bolivian presidential helicopter crash

2008-07-23T14:36:00.001+08:00

A Venezuelan Super Puma helicopter often used by Bolivian President Evo Morales crashed in central Bolivia on Sunday.

Four Venezuelan military personnel and a Bolivian officer on board did not survive the crash.

B-52H had good track record

2008-07-23T14:13:00.002+08:00

Retired Lt. Gen. Brett Dula, former commander of the Second Bomb Wing, said its too early to determine the cause of the latest B-52 crash.

Dula said the public should wait for the official investigation to complete.

Pilot error cause of RSAF chopper crash

2008-07-23T14:09:00.003+08:00

A junior pilot flying a RSAF Super Puma helicopter lost focus while taking off, causing the aircraft to crash land and roll over on May. 21.

The pilot was trying to correct a left yaw in the aircraft and forgot to apply extra power. This caused the helicopter to lose height, hit the ground and roll over.

Boeing back in C-27J program

2008-07-23T13:18:00.001+08:00

A senior source at Alenia said Boeing and his company has agreed on a deal to jointly build a C-27J Spartan assembly line in Florida.

"An agreement on the investment was reached and now we can start joint industrial activity at Jacksonville," the Alenia source said. "Everything is on course."

Tu-22 live firing in Siberia drills

2008-07-23T12:28:00.001+08:00

Five Russian Tu-22 bombers will conduct live firing at a test range in East Siberia's Irkutsk Region starting today.

The exercise will last till this Friday.

Rosoboronexport denies role in Suda MiG-29 shipment

2008-07-23T12:19:00.001+08:00

Rosoboronexport denied on Tuesday that its had shipped MiG-29 fighter jets to Sudan in violation of a U.N. arms embargo.

"Rosoboronexport has not been directly or indirectly involved in the delivery of MiG-29 fighters to Sudan," company spokesman Vyacheslav Davidenko said.

Norton Schwartz wants to keep F-22 line open

2008-07-23T12:10:00.003+08:00

Gen. Norton Schwartz said he prefers to buy more F-22 Raptors but he think the 381 jets his predecessors were asking for was too high.

During his nomination hearing on Tuesday, Schwartz said the F-22 production line should be preserved "at least for the near term."

USAF next chief of staff warns Russia on bombers in Cuba

2008-07-23T11:38:00.003+08:00

Gen. Norton Schwartz told a Senate committee during his nomination hearing that Russia would be crossing "a red line" if it were to based nuclear bombers in Cuba.

"I certainly would offer best military advice that we should engage the Russians not to pursue that approach," Schwartz told the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Indian Jaguar avionics upgrade

2008-07-23T11:35:00.001+08:00

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd will upgrade 68 Jaguar fighters with a new version of the display attack ranging inertial navigation (Darin-3).

F135 engine overrun budget

2008-07-23T11:28:00.002+08:00

Pratt & Whitney's F135 engine for the F-35 is now $850 million above budget. The Navy had thought the overrun is between $600 million and $700 million.

Pratt & Whitney Vice President Bill Gostic said all cost figures are "premature."

U.S. Navy awards $232 million JPALS SDD contract

2008-07-23T11:22:00.000+08:00

The U.S. Navy announced Jul. 17 that Raytheon Co., Fullerton, Calif., has been awarded the $232 Million System Development and Demonstration (SDD) contract for the Joint Precision Approach and Landing System (JPALS).

Raytheon is one of two companies that submitted proposals for the Cost Plus Incentive Fee (CPIF) contract with Award Fee provisions that will develop a GPS-based ship landing system for Navy aircraft carriers, L-Class Ships and other Naval combatants.