All Fixed-Wing news – Page 306
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NewsGeneral Atomics confirms first Improved Gray Eagle purchase
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems has confirmed the US Army’s purchase of 19 “Improved Gray Eagle” UAVs following the service’s disclosure this week that its MQ-1C procurement has been “amended” to the extended-range version.
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NewsBoeing to fly new CH-47 Chinook ‘Block II’ rotor blade in 2016
Boeing’s development of an advanced blade for the tandem-rotor CH-47 Chinook is moving ahead, with the first blade “about to finish this week” ahead of flight trials in 2016.
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NewsBAE secures US Army Apache as APKWS laser-guided rocket customer
The US Army has ordered its first batch of 70mm laser-guided rockets from BAE Systems for its Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow “for immediate deployment” following the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System’s qualification on the helicopter gunship last year.
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NewsUS Navy orders super-sensor for RQ-21 UAS
Logos Technologies will develop a highly advanced sensor suite for the Boeing Insitu RQ-21 Blackjack unmanned air system under an $18.2 million contract awarded by the US Office of Naval Research.
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News
Boeing, Lockheed unveil competing UAV-killing concepts
With reports that Islamic State (IS) militants have begun operating commercially-produced unmanned air vehicles to support their activities in the Middle East, Boeing and Lockheed Martin are pursuing two very different approaches to knocking unmanned aircraft out of the sky.
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NewsUS Army wants more Gray Eagle weapon options
The US Army is interested in new weapons options besides the Lockheed Martin AGM-114 Hellfire missile for its General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-1C, and the service has asked industry to offer smaller, cheaper and more specialised alternatives as it considers a future requirement.
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News
Chinook, Apache face cuts if budget talks fail
Two Boeing helicopter programmes – the Boeing AH-64 and CH-47 Chinook – face several cut-backs if the Congress is unable to pass a new budget for Fiscal 2016, US Army acquisition leaders warn.
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NewsUS Army replaces Lockheed data link on AH-64 Apache
A Lockheed Martin communications system will be replaced on the Boeing AH-64E Apache fleet as the US Army moves to standardise data links for manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T).
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News
Sikorsky S-97 Raider reaching for top speeds by “summer 2016”
Sikorsky will conduct a significant amount of ground testing on its S-97 Raider before returning to flight trials, with just 2.2h of a 110h test programme clocked since the maiden flight in May.
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NewsNorway proposes F-35 funding increase for 2016
Building on its release of a Strategic Defence Review publication on 1 October, Norway has proposed a 9.8% real-term defence budget increase for 2016. This would see a near doubling of funding for the Lockheed Martin F-35, plus an authorisation request for six more.
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NewsPoland seeks new missiles for MiG-29 fleet
Poland wants to buy a new batch of 40 R-27R1 radar-guided missiles for its RAC MiG-29 fighters, with bid responses being sought by 16 November.
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News
Alenia Aermacchi P-72A MPA tests near completion
Alenia Aermacchi is nearing completion of a test and evaluation phase for the Italian air force’s new P-72A maritime patrol aircraft.
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NewsIraq debuts new Chinese CH-4 UAV
Iraq's defence ministry has released a video and pictures of its first China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) CH-4B “Rainbow” unmanned air vehicle taking off from Kut airbase.
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Opinion
OPINION: USAF bomber decision to threaten industrial balance
Northrop Grumman’s status as the US military’s third source of stealthy combat aircraft is doomed, whether or not it wins the $55 billion long-range strike bomber (LRS-B) contract from the US Air Force. At least, that’s an argument that’s been making the rounds for several months.
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NewsBell and Lockheed modify V-280 contract ahead of Sikorsky takeover
Lockheed Martin’s pending acquisition of Sikorsky has caused some contractual changes between Lockheed and Bell Helicopter for V-280 Valor development to ensure there is no cross pollination with its competitor, the Boeing-Sikorsky SB-1 Defiant.
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NewsUAE firm studies civil twins for next armed helo
A UAE-based firm is evaluating twin-engined commercial helicopters for conversion to military gunships, having successfully delivered several armed Bell Helicopter 407s to its host country.
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News
Thai army to boost AW139 fleet size
The Royal Thai Army is to increase its fleet of AgustaWestland AW139 utility helicopters to 10 units, after awarding the manufacturer a follow-on order for eight of the intermediate twins.
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NewsIsrael flies upgraded C-130H
The Israeli air force has performed the first flight of an upgraded Lockheed Martin C-130H tactical transport, under a modernisation programme launched in 2012.
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NewsUK Puma crash kills five in Kabul
A Royal Air Force-operated Airbus Helicopters Puma HC2 transport crashed in Afghanistan on 11 October, killing five of the 10 personnel aboard the upgraded type.
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AnalysisANALYSIS: The complicated conception of KFX
South Korea’s indigenous fighter programme has always been ambitious, but a failure to gain US technology export licences makes the project that much more formidable