Alert 5 - Military Aviation News

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52973582010-03-12T09:13:41.647+08:00Alert 5 - Military Aviation NewsAlert 5http://www.blogger.com/profile/10084603280585495585noreply@blogger.comBlogger5000125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5297358.post-82905490513943651662010-03-12T08:59:00.001+08:002010-03-12T09:13:41.658+08:00Cost of developing F135 engine now at $7.28 billion

A U.S. Navy document shows the cost of completing the F135 engine is now estimated to be $7.28 billion.This is $2.5 billion more than the $4.8 billion initially projected for the engine.

Alert 5http://www.blogger.com/profile/10084603280585495585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5297358.post-65699698695678744372010-03-12T08:31:00.002+08:002010-03-12T08:54:34.486+08:00Gates: Pentagon will drive a hard bargain on tanker

US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said on Thursday the Pentagon will drive a hard bargain with Boeing which is currently the sole bidder for the USAF's refueling tanker program."We will certainly be sharpening our pencil when it comes to negotiating a contract with Boeing", Gates said.

Alert 5http://www.blogger.com/profile/10084603280585495585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5297358.post-64345103143918335482010-03-12T08:05:00.000+08:002010-03-12T08:06:32.366+08:00YouTube: F-35B makes 40kt approach and slow landing

Alert 5http://www.blogger.com/profile/10084603280585495585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5297358.post-40210984980467531762010-03-12T08:01:00.000+08:002010-03-12T08:02:32.732+08:00Indian Air Force Signs €560 Million Contract For 12 AW101

AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that a contract has been signed by the Government of India for the acquisition of twelve AW101 helicopters.

Alert 5http://www.blogger.com/profile/10084603280585495585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5297358.post-22661533954469187662010-03-11T13:21:00.001+08:002010-03-11T13:23:53.576+08:00USMC lost F/A-18D, both crew rescued by USCG

A USMC aircrew flying a F/A-18D were rescued Wednesday evening off the coast of St. Helena Sound after their aircraft crashed. Pictures of them with their rescuers is in the article.

Alert 5http://www.blogger.com/profile/10084603280585495585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5297358.post-7089575066215124302010-03-11T09:18:00.002+08:002010-03-11T10:03:10.115+08:00France warns U.S. of 'consequences' over tanker deal

France's Minister for Europe told reporters that there will be 'consequences' over what Paris perceive as favoritism in Washington's aerial tanker contest. "I can assure you that there will be consequences. The president will act on the matter at the appropriate time. This matter is in no way finished."

Alert 5http://www.blogger.com/profile/10084603280585495585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5297358.post-66912772346620934842010-03-11T08:50:00.002+08:002010-03-11T09:12:13.262+08:00Two women PLAAF pilots selected as astronauts

China has selected two women for the country's second batch of astronauts. Both are pilots from the People's Liberation Army Air Force.

Alert 5http://www.blogger.com/profile/10084603280585495585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5297358.post-43809131954997000842010-03-11T08:43:00.000+08:002010-03-11T08:48:54.114+08:00India's minister confirms order for ten C-17s

The Indian Defence Minister A.K. Antony has confirmed that his ministry has requested for ten C-17 airlifters with the U.S. government.

Alert 5http://www.blogger.com/profile/10084603280585495585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5297358.post-22798943744261728782010-03-11T08:31:00.000+08:002010-03-11T08:32:04.475+08:00Britain buys fourth Skynet 5 satellite

Paradigm, a wholly owned subsidiary of Astrium Services, has signed a contract with the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) to extend and enhance the Skynet 5 private finance initiative (PFI) programme. This will involve the manufacture, launch, test and operation of a fourth satellite, Skynet 5D, and the extension of the Skynet 5 contract by two years until 2022.

Alert 5http://www.blogger.com/profile/10084603280585495585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5297358.post-72651281808336172232010-03-11T08:28:00.000+08:002010-03-11T08:29:38.287+08:00Northrop Grumman Successfully Demonstrates Capabilities of LITENING Targeting System on U.S. Navy F/A-18E/F

Northrop Grumman Corporation announced it has successfully demonstrated its LITENING advanced targeting capabilities on the U.S. Navy's premier fighter/attack aircraft, the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, marking the eighth U.S. combat aircraft to fly the advanced targeting system.

Alert 5http://www.blogger.com/profile/10084603280585495585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5297358.post-76622023750620341782010-03-11T08:26:00.000+08:002010-03-11T08:27:31.976+08:00Neil Armstrong received honorary Naval Astronaut Wings aboard Ike

Legendary astronaut and former Navy pilot Neil Armstrong received a pair of honorary Naval Astronaut Wings in a ceremony aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) (Ike) March 10 in recognition for his dedicated service to the Navy and in the field of space exploration.

Alert 5http://www.blogger.com/profile/10084603280585495585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5297358.post-65197446132258897472010-03-10T10:28:00.002+08:002010-03-10T10:33:53.563+08:00China warns U.S. not to sell F-16s to Taiwan

China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said his country is firmly opposed to U.S. sales of weapons to Taiwan, including F-16s.

Alert 5http://www.blogger.com/profile/10084603280585495585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5297358.post-28531328639897782622010-03-10T10:24:00.002+08:002010-03-10T10:27:49.572+08:00Pentagon unwilling to stop work on MEADS

Washington Post reports that the Pentagon is resisting the Army's call to cancel the Medium Extended Air Defense System.The Army argues that the program has become too expensive and is taking too long to produce.

Alert 5http://www.blogger.com/profile/10084603280585495585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5297358.post-46174940335100834572010-03-10T09:59:00.002+08:002010-03-10T10:07:58.943+08:00India and Russia to sign agreement for PAK-FA

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin will be signing the first of a series of agreements for the development of the PAK-FA for India.

Alert 5http://www.blogger.com/profile/10084603280585495585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5297358.post-25250960854707201232010-03-10T09:37:00.002+08:002010-03-10T09:51:10.059+08:00EADS won't go alone on KC-X; Boeing thinks 'soap opera' not ended yet

Boeing's Jim Albaugh doesn't think the KC-X saga will end anytime soon. Albaugh compared the last nine year's to supply the USAF with an aerial refueling tanker as equivalent to soap opera.In the mean time, EADS made it clear that it won't go alone in bidding for the KC-X.

Alert 5http://www.blogger.com/profile/10084603280585495585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5297358.post-32031121156774798782010-03-10T09:16:00.002+08:002010-03-10T09:28:18.852+08:00People's Liberation Army looks fierce on paper

Analysts including those from China believes that the country's military increasingly fierce only on paper."What is their readiness level? How effective are these things they've developed themselves?" said Drew Thompson, of the Nixon Center, a think tank in Washington.

Alert 5http://www.blogger.com/profile/10084603280585495585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5297358.post-9772376768007296992010-03-10T09:12:00.000+08:002010-03-10T09:14:57.656+08:00Brazil's President not decided on FX-2 winner

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva says a decision to buy which fighter for the air force has not been reached yet.

Alert 5http://www.blogger.com/profile/10084603280585495585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5297358.post-13512766944005760002010-03-10T09:02:00.002+08:002010-03-10T09:09:19.373+08:00Pentagon wants new air launch cruise missile

The Obama administration's fiscal 2011 budget request contains language to replace the AGM-86B Air Launched Cruise Missiles.Global Security Newswire reports that $800 million will be put aside for a new air launched nuclear-armed cruise missile.

Alert 5http://www.blogger.com/profile/10084603280585495585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5297358.post-14578477034610299112010-03-10T08:54:00.001+08:002010-03-10T08:56:36.066+08:00North Korea creates mid-range ballistic missile division

North Korea has created a new division in charge of its intermediate-range ballistic missiles.

Alert 5http://www.blogger.com/profile/10084603280585495585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5297358.post-29765655801691188352010-03-10T08:42:00.000+08:002010-03-10T08:45:03.565+08:00Boeing Receives Phase 1 of Contract for US Air Force QF-16 Drone

Boeing has been awarded a U.S. Air Force contract worth approximately $69.7 million for the initial engineering, manufacturing and development of QF-16 Full Scale Aerial Targets to replace the QF-4 fleet. Under the terms of the remainder of the contract, expected to be awarded in coming years, up to 126 QF-16 drones will deliver beginning in 2014.

Alert 5http://www.blogger.com/profile/10084603280585495585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5297358.post-78415491082789429092010-03-10T08:26:00.001+08:002010-03-10T08:26:46.877+08:00U.S., Pakistan air forces conduct air refueling information exchange

Pilots and aircrews from the U.S. and Pakistan air forces participated in a joint aerial refueling information exchange as part of an on-going effort to enhance cooperation and develop the air refueling capabilities of both nations in early March at Pakistan air force base Chaklala.

Alert 5http://www.blogger.com/profile/10084603280585495585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5297358.post-40941862051192908482010-03-09T09:44:00.001+08:002010-03-09T09:46:33.864+08:00A400M cost overrun is 10%

The RAF is expected to cancel two or three A400M aircraft from its order after cost overrun in the program, which is expected to be 10 percent.

Alert 5http://www.blogger.com/profile/10084603280585495585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5297358.post-89934874504120025442010-03-09T09:31:00.002+08:002010-03-09T09:37:06.286+08:00Gripen NG cannot fly to India for trials, Gripen D dispatched instead

Saab has run into a little trouble with the fighter competition in India as its not able to bring its Gripen NG to the country.The aircraft is currently in Sweden for modifications and cannot leave the country. India had said that the fighter being offered must be the one that comes for trials.Saab has dispatched two Gripen Ds instead and will ask India for new dates to bring the Gripen NG over

Alert 5http://www.blogger.com/profile/10084603280585495585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5297358.post-52762481314392998082010-03-09T09:25:00.002+08:002010-03-09T09:27:22.335+08:00Malaysian officials found its missing F-5E engines in Uruguay

Malaysia's Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail said he and his team went to Uruguay and positively identified the country's two missing F-5E jet engines."We visited the military facility where the engines are kept under the custody of the Uruguayan judicial authority and have positively identified them as belonging to the Government of Malaysia."

Alert 5http://www.blogger.com/profile/10084603280585495585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5297358.post-65946366511927397822010-03-09T09:16:00.002+08:002010-03-09T09:23:23.501+08:00F-35 delays force Israelis to rethink about F-15

Israeli defense officials are taking a second look on Boeing's F-15 after delays with the F-35 program.The Jerusalem Post reported that the signing of a letter of agreement has been pushed back by a year.

Alert 5http://www.blogger.com/profile/10084603280585495585noreply@blogger.com