All news – Page 6255
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Workshop
Lufthansa Technik is carrying out post-delivery modifications to 14 Germania Boeing 737-700s to bring them up to the latest production standard. The work, which takes five days for each aircraft, is covered by the manufacturer's warranty and involves the replacement of wiring bundles inside the leading edge of the wing ...
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Europe's heavyweights match for size but stake out different territories
Chris Jasper/MUNICH Julian Moxon/PARISThe future balance of power within Europe's aerospace and defence industry has become clearer, with DaimlerChrysler Aerospace (Dasa) and Aerospatiale Matra revealing their final set of financial results before their formation of European Aeronautic, Defense and Space (EADS), along with Spain's CASA. Taken with recently published data ...
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FAA buoyant on industry future
Ramon Lopez/WASHINGTON DC The US Federal Aviation Administration predicts a rosy future for US airlines and commercial airframers, reporting that carriers will ride out the crisis of spiralling fuel prices and generate sustained growth. The latest FAA forecast says a strong world economy will produce an environment conducive to ...
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Dasa allies with Grintek on electronic warfare
DaimlerChrysler Aerospace (Dasa) is to form an electronic warfare systems alliance with South African defence electronics specialist Grintek System Technologies (GST), under the brand name MRCM Products (Monitoring, Reconnaissance, Countermeasures). To help the alliance, Dasa will spin off its electronic warfare activities into a new wholly owned subsidiary, to ...
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Israeli defence group aims for US purchase
Arie Egozi/TEL AVIV The new Israeli defence grouping formed by the Koor conglomerate is negotiating the purchase of a US defence electronics specialist, in line with its strategic aim of becoming a major manufacturer in the sector. Avner Raz, president of Koor electronic-warfare subsidiary Elisra and head of the ...
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Improved E-2C may extend production line beyond 2006
Northrop Grumman hopes to extend E-2C production beyond 2006, with development of the improved Future Hawkeye as a follow-on to the Hawkeye 2000, due to enter service this year. Initial funds have been allocated to test elements of the proposed Future Hawkeye, also known as the Hawkeye 2005, using ...
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Greece set to finalise purchase of 60 Typhoons
Greece's key defence and foreign policy committee has issued instructions to the defence ministry to conclude a deal for the purchase of 60 Eurofighter Typhoons, with 30 options. A meeting on 7 March of the committee, known as KYSEA, approved the deal and set aside DM10 billion ($4.9billion) of funding. ...
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Bids in for RAAF stand-off weapons needs
Peter La Franchi/CANBERRA Israeli Military Industries (IMI), teamed with BAE Systems Australia, has offered the Delilah II missile and the Modular Stand-Off Vehicle (MSOV) gliding dispenser weapon as a solution to the Royal Australian Air Force's (RAAF) Project Air 5418 Follow On Stand Off Weapon. The MSOV, competing as ...
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Hungary brings forward major forces revamp
Lessons from the Kosovo conflict in neighbouring Yugoslavia last year has brought forward a Hungarian Government review of its armed forces. The air force is preparing to ground many of its ageing fighters. The review could lead to a dramatic reduction in the armed forces - with personnel numbers ...
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Forward 50
Forward Aircraft, which took over the rights to the Fokker 50/60 turboprop after the Dutch company's closure, says it is close to finalising a deal with the Netherlands Government, which requires three aircraft for aerial surveillance and reconnaissance missions. If concluded, the Royal Netherlands Air Force will become the first ...
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RAF presses MoD for funds to improve precision strike
Carol Reed/LONDON The Royal Air Force is stepping up pressure on the UK Ministry of Defence to release funds to improve its precision strike capability in the wake of shortcomings exposed during last year's air campaign against Yugoslavia. Air Marshal Sir John Day, UK director of operations during the campaign, ...
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Enaer restarts Pillan line to meet growing regional interest
Paul Lewis/SANTIAGO Enaer is restarting production of the T-35 Pillan basic trainer and making a renewed push to launch a turboprop version as Latin American interest in the Chilean aircraft picks up again. Enaer has started work on four 225kW (300hp) Lycoming IO540-powered T-35s after a 12-month production ...
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First Texan II handed over to US Air Force
The first Raytheon T-6A Texan II has been handed over to the USAir Force's Air Education and Training Command at Randolph AFB, Texas. The USAF and US Navy will operate 454 and 328 T-6s respectively. The aircraft, developed from the Pilatus PC-9, was the winner of the Joint Primary Aircraft ...
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Turkey goes back to shortlist for attack helicopter requirement
Turkey has produced a shortlist for its attack helicopter contest, rather than announcing an outright winner. The move had been expected (Flight International, 15-21 February). Turkish prime minister Bülent Ecevit announced that Boeing and Eurocopter have been dropped, but that Agusta, Bell Helicopter Textron and a Kamov/Israel Aircraft Industries ...
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UAE to get first Block 60
Graham Warwick/WASHINGTON DC After lengthy negotiations, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has signed "contractual agreements" to purchase 80 Lockheed Martin Block 60 F-16s. The deal is worth $6.4 billion to the US company, plus$1.5 billion to the US Government, which will supply weapons and support. The long-awaited agreement ...
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China converts Y-8 for AEW role
China's navy has completed the conversion of a Shaanxi Y-8 transport for airborne early warning (AEW), with radar supplied by the UK's Racal. It also carried out initial naval exercises with the aircraft. The conversion, a major upgrade in the navy's capabilities, is the culmination of more than four years ...
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In the dark
Kawasaki is puzzled by Eurocopter's reluctance to promote the BK117/EC145 Andrzej Jeziorski/SINGAPORE Japan's Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) plans to lift the veil on its BK117C-2/EC145 helicopter programme, developed jointly with Eurocopter, at Tokyo Aerospace 2000 (TA2000). It faces an unusual problem, however, in its Franco-German partner's reluctance to ...
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Aiming high
Hopes for the future of Japan's troubled space programme rest with a simplified and cut-price version of its H-2 launcher Andrzej Jeziorski/TOKYO The 20th century closed on a low point for Japan's National Space Development Agency (NASDA). Two failures of its expensive H-2 expendable launch vehicle not only ...
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Low-key liberalisation
Japan has finally deregulated its domestic market. But the airlines are not convinced it will have a major effect on competition Andrzej Jeziorski/TOKYO When deregulation took hold in the USA in 1978, it changed the face of domestic airline travel. It led to an explosion of new airlines - ...
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Changing priorities
Growing regional threats meant Japan's defence procurement plans were relatively unaffected by economic downturn Andrzej Jeziorski/TOKYO The need to control defence spending in Japan has been offset by the evident anxiety caused by North Korea's recent testing of Taepo Dong ballistic missiles, one of which overflew Japan in what ...