All news – Page 6658
-
News
Greek Litening pod deal nears fruition
The Greek air force is to equip its McDonnell Douglas F-4s with the Rafael Litening targeting and navigation pod in a $35 million contract expected to be signed soon. The deal includes options that may bring the total value to the Israeli company to around $50 million. Last month ...
-
News
Refuellling order
Flight Refuelling is to supply Mk32B air-to-air refuelling wing pods for Lockheed Martin KC-130J Hercules tankers. The launch customers are the US Marine Corps, which has five aircraft on order, and the Italian air force, which will have six aircraft. The contract is valued in excess of $20 million. ...
-
News
Barco success
Barco Display Systems is to supply graphics controllers with radar display capability and 510mm rugged colour flat panel displays for the US Navy's Northrop Grumann E-2C Hawkeye 2000 upgrade programme. The Belgian company has also been selected to supply rugged colour displays for the British Aerospace Nimrod MR Central ...
-
News
UK carries out compatibility tests of search and rescue pod
The UK Defence Research Agency (DERA) has carried out fit compatibility tests of Avpro's Exint pylon-mounted pod, designed to carry soldiers or downed aircrew. The trials, carried out on 4 September, confirmed the pod's suitability for carriage by the British Aerospace Harrier. The pod was developed primarily for ...
-
News
F-22 testing stays on course to meet Congress deadline
Graham Warwick/FARNBOROUGH Flight testing of the Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22 is "on track" to meet a deadline set by the US Congress, which wants to be convinced that the fighter is meeting its performance goals before releasing funds for the first production-standard aircraft. Congress has demanded that 183h of ...
-
News
Sweden looks to restructure
Proposals on restructuring the Swedish armed forces will be submitted to the Swedish Government on 12 October. The plans will reflect Sweden's shift in stance from maintaining a neutral defence posture to participating in international peacekeeping operations. Maj Gen Jan Jonsson, Swedish air force Inspector General, says the restructuring will ...
-
News
UAE starts negotiations on $7 billion F-16 order
Formal negotiations with the United Arab Emirates on its $7 billion order for 80 Lockheed Martin F-16s have finally begun, after the completion of prolonged talks between the US and UAE governments on technology transfer. Sources say the resulting agreement gives the UAE the advanced technology features it wants ...
-
News
Yak-130 goes to Italy to beat Russian crisis
Aermacchi has admitted that the growing turmoil in Russia has delayed work on the Yak-130 jet trainer it is developing in a joint venture with Yakovlev. The Italian company says the problems mean the aircraft will be unable to meet the timetable of some potential customers, including South Africa. ...
-
News
Airbus confirms Emirates and ILFC A340 orders
Airbus Industrie has confirmed orders from two customers, Emirates and International Lease Finance (ILFC), for up to 26 A340-500/600s. The two deals have an estimated value of $3.8 billion, including options. ILFC's deal for 10 Rolls-Royce Trent 500-powered A340s includes five firm orders and five options, with deliveries scheduled ...
-
News
Eurofighter prepares bid for Norwegian contest
Eurofighter is preparing to submit a Typhoon bid to Norway in the first major international fighter competition since the United Arab Emirates elected to order the rival Lockheed Martin Block 60 F-16C/D. The Norwegian decision is viewed as being of major importance, with several countries now drawing up similar ...
-
News
Helicopter builders line up for contracts
Eurocopter, GKN Westland and Sikorsky are lining up to supply Finland and possibly neighbouring Scandinavian countries with up to 80 helicopters. Finland plans to buy an unspecified number of utility transport helicopters to replace its Mil Mi-8s, and is expected to issue a request for proposals early in 1999. ...
-
News
Globalstars lost
The failure of a Russian Zenit 2 booster during launch on 10 September, with the loss of 12 Globalstar mobile communications satellites, may force Boeing to carry a dummy satellite rather than a commercial payload on its first flight of the Sea Launch, a booster based on the Zenit 2, ...
-
News
France pumps more into defence budget
France has announced that it is raising its defence equipment spending by 6.1% to Fr86 billion ($14.3 billion) in 1999, marking the largest single increase in defence spending since 1990. The new budget, which has been presented to the all-party defence commission in the National Assembly and to the ...
-
News
Boeing reveals BBJ centres
Boeing has revealed the five completion centres for its Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) as the first aircraft made its maiden flight from Renton, Washington, on 4 September. Completion of the "green" BBJ airframes will take place at Jet Aviation, Lufthansa Technik, Associated in Dallas, Raytheon in Waco, Texas and ...
-
News
Gulfstream and GATX team for short lease offer
Gulfstream Aerospace and GATX Capital have formed a joint venture to make the Gulfstream IV-SP and V business jets available on short-term operating lease. The venture has agreed to purchase five GVs and one GIV for $210 million and has taken options on three more of each. Unlike the ...
-
News
Gulfstream joins Lockheed Martin for supersonic study
Gulfstream has joined forces with Lockheed Martin Skunk Works to study the technical feasibility and market appeal of a supersonic business jet. The initial study phase will last 18-24 months. "If we choose to go forward into development, it will take eight to 10 years to put into service," ...
-
News
Boeing to flight test 747X wing
Boeing is to flight test a full scale wing modification for the proposed 747X based on aerodynamic changes originally developed by McDonnell Douglas for the MD-11. The company has completed initial windtunnel tests of the change, dubbed the trailing edge wedge, and plans to refine the modification before flight ...
-
News
Japan brings forward formal start of AH-X programme
In a surprise move, the Japan Defence Agency (JDA) has advanced the formal start of its AH-X future attack helicopter programme by 18 months and issued competing European and US airframe and engine manufacturers with request for proposals (RFP). According to informed industry sources, the JDA has indicated that ...
-
News
Bombardier unveils plan for 90-seat jet family
Bombardier has announced its intention to develop an all new 90-seat class regional aircraft, dashing longstanding Mitsubishi Heavy Industries' (MHI) hopes of incorporating its Global Express business jet high aspect ratio super critical wing into the design. The proposed BRJ-X Option B design will feature an all new wing ...
-
News
FAA approves C-130J
The Federal Aviation Administration approved the Lockheed Martin C-130J tactical transport on 9 September, clearing the aircraft for export to Australia and delivery to the US Air Force. The first C-130J had already been delivered to the Royal Air Force on 26 August, as the service did not require ...