THE FIRST BOEING 767 AIRBORNE Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft had its maiden flight on 9 August, with a 2h 55min sortie from Everett, Washington. The flight marks the start of a seven-month test programme, before the installation of the aircraft's prime mission equipment (Flight International, 14-20 August, P4). The aircraft is one of four, which will be delivered to the Japan Air Self-Defence Force in 1998.
Source: Flight International
Athens signed a long-sought letter of offer and acceptance with airframer Lockheed Martin covering 20 F-35 stealth fighters, with options for a further 20 jets.
The joint North American Aerospace Defense Command dispatched fighter aircraft from both the USA and Canada on 24 July to intercept a combined flight of bombers from Russia and China operating in international airspace around Alaska.
Leonardo Helicopters has based its initial Proteus uncrewed technology demonstrator on the AW09 light-single, FlightGlobal can reveal.
