Fixed-wing – Page 1128
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UK withdraws C-130 from East Timor
The UK has completed its operations in East Timor with the withdrawal of its remaining Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules and troops from the Australian-led International Force East Timor (INTERFET). Royal Air Force detachment commander Sqn Ldr Andy Torrance says it has been "an unusual experience" operating under Australian command. ...
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Joining up
The support helicopters of the UK's three forces are now under one command Stewart Penney/WILTON Last year, the UK's Strategic Defence Review (SDR) launched a plethora of joint service organisations to fulfil the Ministry of Defence's aim of increasing efficiency and cost-effectiveness over traditional single-service units and commands. ...
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Mergers
BFGoodrich has strengthened its position in the US ejector seat market by acquiring the IBP Aerospace Group, which has been marketing the Russian Zvezda K-36 ejection seat in the USA. BFGoodrich Aerospace expects to be able to offer the seat for US-built aircraft within three years. Opportunities include the Joint ...
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R-R prepares to test upgraded Adour
Rolls-Royce is preparing to test its upgraded Adour engine for the first time next year. The UK company expects to sign a contract with the first customer, South Africa, in the next few months to provide the powerplant for its BAE Systems Hawk trainer purchase. The Adour, originally developed ...
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US forces consider Python 4 as stopgap
Paul Lewis/WASHINGTON DC Arie Egozi/TEL AVIV The US Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard (ANG) have begun to investigate the possible purchase of the Israeli-built Rafael Python 4 air-to-air missile as a stopgap to arm the Lockheed Martin F-16 until the Raytheon AIM-9X can be fielded. Rafael's international ...
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B-2 software support
Northrop Grumman and the US Air Force are poised to move the laboratories that provide software development, maintenance and fully integrated test capabilities for the B-2 stealth bomber from the manufacturer's southern California plants to Tinker AFB Oklahoma, following the completion of the Weapons Systems Support Center. Source: Flight International
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Quality regulations push back Eaglet certification schedule
Euro-ENAER has pushed back certification of its Eaglet single-engined utility aircraft until the first quarter of 2000 because of the unforeseen demands of new European quality assurance regulations for general aviation aircraft. The fully composite two-seat Eaglet, originally set for approval in March, may become the first aircraft to ...
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Contracts
Saab has won a SKr1.2 billion ($142 million) Swedish Defence Material Administration contract to produce defensive aids systems, including radar warning receivers and electronic countermeasures, for the JAS39 Gripen. Messier Dowty has been selected to provide the landing gear for the Korean Aerospace Industries KTX-2. Canada's Magellan Aerospace has ...
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Russia reaches co-operation deals at LIMA
Russian industry's strong presence at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA 99) was marked by industrial co-operation agreements and the expectation of aircraft orders. The Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant has partnered the Malaysian industry as expected (Flight International, 24-30 November), but the Malaysian partner is SME Aviation rather ...
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Experimental pod eyes Timor
Peter La Franchi/CANBERRA The Royal Australian Air Force has been using its prototype long-range sensor pod in General Dynamics RF-111s since mid-August to monitor Indonesian Defence Force (TNI) and pro-Indonesian militia activities in East and West Timor. The system was initially deployed to monitor the security situation in East ...
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Netherlands F-16 cuts cause furore
Stewart Penney/LONDONOpposition is building in the Netherlands Parliament over plans in the country's Defence White Paper 2000 to disband a Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) Lockheed Martin F-16 squadron and cut the number of fighter units to five. A parliamentary debate is set to take place in February. Although equipment ...
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Cost hike to bomber improvements
Technical problems have increased the estimated cost of software upgrades for USAir Force Rockwell B-1 bombers by $46 million. The cost hike is disclosed in the US Department of Defense's latest quarterly Selected Acquisition Report (SAR). Cost increases in the $2.16 billion B-1 Conventional Mission Upgrade Programme are blamed ...
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Workshop
Aeronavali has concluded two separate deals with Boeing on FedEx aircraft. The first covers passenger-to-freighter conversion of 11 Boeing MD-11s, while the second is the advanced common cockpit conversion of 34 McDonnell Douglas DC-10s (to MD-10 configuration). Both contracts will be managed by Boeing Airplane Services. Rolls-Royce is expanding its ...
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Matra BAe outlines plan for cruise missile-firing airliner
Peter La Franchi/CANBERRA Matra BAe Dynamics (MBD) has unveiled a concept for deploying cruise missiles from a converted Airbus airliner fitted with twin stern launcher tubes. A modular missile storage and handling system occupies the passenger deck. The missile builder is also exploring the use of the system with ...
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Financial woes hit South American purchases of new fighters
Paul Lewis/WASHINGTON DCBrazil and Chile have begun to switch their attention to the second-hand fighter market for future combat aircraft purchases. The move comes as conflicting pressures to replace obsolete aircraft and a shortage of defence modernisation funds put a question mark against buying new aircraft. The two South American ...
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KAI is infuriated by BAE Systems' talks with Hyundai
Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) shareholder Hyundai Space & Aircraft has revealed that it is in talks with BAE Systems over a possible equity sale. Its two partners in KAI, the aerospace divisions of Samsung and Daewoo, see the move as threatening the restructuring process in South Korea. Hyundai briefed ...
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Black Hawk tests show airbag safety
Airbag technology has been successfully demonstrated on a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter during tests by the US Army. The Simula cockpit air bag system (CABS) supplemental restraint is designed to prevent fatal and serious injuries during survivable crashes. US Army test pilots maintained control during flight and ...
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RAF changes Strike Command
The UK Royal Air Force is restructuring Strike Command - which controls its front line assets - to reflect changes introduced as part of the 1998 Strategic Defence Review (SDR). A key to the SDR is the creation of combined-service entities, including the Joint Helicopter Command, Joint Force 2000 and ...
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AIDC pins hopes on F-5 upgrade
Andrzej Jeziorski/LANGKAWI Taiwan's Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC) aims to fly its prototype upgraded Northrop F-5E Tiger in July, in anticipation of a 40-aircraft upgrade contract from the Republic of China Air Force (RoCAF). Albert Wu, deputy director of AIDC's military aircraft division, says the RoCAF is, for ...
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Malaysia focuses on aerospace development
Andrzej Jeziorski/LANGKAWI Malaysian aerospace companies have signed a string of co-operative contracts as the economically recovering country pushes to develop its aerospace industry. Component manufacturing contracts and a Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules upgrade deal were signed at Malaysia's Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA 99), which took place from ...