All articles by Craig Hoyle – Page 76
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NewsRussia's re-engined Il-76MD makes flight debut
Russia’s air force remains on track to receive its first Ilyushin Il-76MD-90A airlifter before the end of this year, after the type completed a 4h 20min flight debut from the Aviastar SP production site in Ulyanovsk on 3 October. The aircraft’s crew performed checks on its general handling, engine performance ...
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NewsLearjet collided with German Eurofighter during hard turn
The two-man crew of a Bombardier Learjet 35A died when their aircraft was in collision with a German air force Eurofighter when a quick reaction alert training exercise went wrong, Germany’s BFU accident investigation board has concluded, in an interim report into the 23 June mishap.
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NewsUK to delay next Tornado squadron retirement
All three of the Royal Air Force’s current Panavia Tornado GR4-equipped frontline squadrons will continue to operate the strike aircraft for the immediate future, after the UK government reversed a decision to disband one of the units early next year.
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NewsA400M performs maximum-capacity airdrop
Airbus has demonstrated one of the A400M’s key contractual requirements, with an aircraft from the manufacturer’s “Grizzly” development fleet having performed a maximum-capacity airdrop.
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NewsAustralia debuts armed Super Hornets over Iraq
Royal Australian Air Force combat aircraft have performed their first operational mission over Iraq, the nation’s Department of Defence has confirmed.
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NewsAllies strengthen coalition against Islamic State militants
Several additional nations have begun taking part in US-led operations against Islamic State militants in Iraq, with UK aircraft having performed their first strikes, and fresh deployments made or announced by Belgium and the Netherlands.
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Thailand requests additional UH-72A helicopters
Thailand is hoping to increase its future fleet of UH-72A Lakota light utility helicopters, after requesting the purchase of additional examples from US contractor Airbus Defence & Space.
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NewsThales gets new AESA radar study contract
France’s DGA defence procurement agency has awarded Thales a multi-year contract to research technologies required to produce the next generation of active electronically scanned array radars.
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NewsPoland requests JASSM weapons for F-16 fleet
Poland is looking to add the Lockheed Martin AGM-158A Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) to its fleet of Lockheed F-16 fighters, under a potential acquisition worth around $500 million.
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NewsRAF Tornados strike first Islamic State targets
A pair of Royal Air Force Panavia Tornado GR4s engaged their first Islamic State targets in Iraq on 30 September, the UK Ministry of Defence has announced.
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NewsFirst PC-21s head for Qatar
Pilatus has delivered its first two PC-21 trainers to Qatar, with the pair having left its Stans manufacturing site in Switzerland for the Middle East on 29 September.
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NewsMore T-6C trainers head for New Zealand
Beechcraft has transferred its second batch of two T-6C trainers to New Zealand, with the aircraft having left its Wichita production site in Kansas.
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NewsWatchkeeper fully operational in Afghanistan, UK reveals
The British Army’s Thales UK/Elbit Systems-developed Watchkeeper unmanned air system has become fully operational in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence has announced.
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NewsNATO finishes AWACS commitment to Afghanistan
NATO has completed a more than three-year commitment of Boeing E-3A airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft to Afghanistan, with two of the command and control assets having returned to Europe.
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NewsGermany's first A400M runs its engines
Airbus has performed the first engine ground run with an A400M tactical transport for future operator Germany, with the milestone having being reached in accordance with a schedule to deliver the aircraft before the end of this year.
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NewsKings of the swingers: Top 13 swing-wing aircraft
As the operators of Europe’s Panavia Tornado mark the 40th anniversary of its first flight, we bring together a baker’s dozen of variable geometry aircraft – only most of which made it into operational service.
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NewsSouth Korea ready to sign F-35 deal
South Korea has finalised its selection of the Lockheed Martin F-35A, with the nation’s air force to receive 40 of the conventional take-off and landing combat aircraft from 2018.
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NewsTornado could fly on into 2030s, partners say
Europe’s Panavia Tornado will remain in use as a relevant frontline asset for more than another 10 years, according to its programme partners, even though one of its main operators does not plan to retain the type beyond the end of this decade.
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NewsThird Rivet Joint airframe to perform crucial testing for UK
A new series of flight tests involving an aged Boeing KC-135 tanker will help to inform the UK Ministry of Defence about whether the aircraft will be able to secure full operational clearance as a converted signals intelligence asset.
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NewsTurkey receives penultimate AEW&C 737
The Turkish air force has received its penultimate 737-based airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) system aircraft from Boeing, following its conversion by in-country partner Turkish Aerospace Industries.