Fixed-wing – Page 1134
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Star target
NATO is well on the way to having its own version of the USA's Joint STARS Paul Lewis/MELBOURNE, FLORIDA After years of deliberation, NATO has embarked on a programme that could see the alliance field its own version of the US Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (Joint STARS) by ...
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Fessler loses partner Ryan but goes ahead with Walter purchase
US investor Robert Fessler has signed a framework agreement to buy 94% of Czech aero-engine manufacturer Walter, despite a decision by his would-be joint venture partner Tony Ryan, the founder of Irish low-cost airline Ryanair, to withdraw from the takeover deal at the last minute. The pair had planned ...
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A400M nations to use new Euro procurement agency
Andrew Doyle/TOULOUSE The seven countries evaluating the Airbus Military (AMC) A400M for their airlifter requirements have agreed to buy the aircraft through the OCCAR (Organisme Conjointe de Co-operation en matiere d'Armament) international armaments agency. The procurement agency is being set up by potential buyers France, Germany, Italy and the ...
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BAe Australia ties up OTHR support contract with RAAF
British Aerospace Australia (BAeA) has finalised negotiations for a A$40 million ($26 million) five-year support contract for the Royal Australian Air Force's 1RSU operational over-the-horizon radar (OTHR). BAeA was selected as the preferred supplier for the requirement in May. The contract includes options for three extensions of two years ...
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Belgium updates Alpha Jet fleet
Stewart Penney/LONDON The Belgian air force is upgrading its Dassault/ Dornier Alpha Jets in a bid to reduce the maintenance requirements for its advanced trainers. Maj Ronnie Vaerten, Belgian air force Alpha Jet test pilot, says older equipment with a high maintenance burden, such as the manual gunsight and ...
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USA set for new powerplant
Paul Lewis/WILLIAMSBURG The US Army is set to sign an initial agreement with the US Navy to move forward with a requirement for an all new 2,230kW (3,000shp) common engine programme (CEP) to power the Boeing AH-64 and Sikorsky H-60 series helicopters. An operational requirements document (ORD) has been drafted ...
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New Zealand F-16 costs will be doubled
The total costs of New Zealand's Lockheed Martin F-16 lease from the USA is expected to top NZ$1.2 billion ($618.6million) over the next 10 years, nearly double previous disclosures on the value of the contract. The deal, however, is expected to save the country NZ$831 million over the lease ...
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Keeping up the pace
Commercial technology drives the flight simulation industry, and the military is trying hard to keep up Graham Warwick/WASHINGTON DCNowhere in the military arena is the light-speed pace of commercial electronics more keenly felt than in simulation. Without the unique demands of airborne operation to insulate it from the 18-month new ...
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French swoop on Embraer shares may pave way to merger with ATR
Julian Moxon/PARISA merger between ATR and Embraer is one likely outcome of the purchase of a 20% stake in the Brazilian airframer by a group of French aerospace companies. The military sales prospects of Dassault Aviation in South America are also likely to be boosted by the move, which saw ...
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Mergers
United Technologies is to acquire composite components overhaul specialist Cade Industries for $129 million and engine parts supplier Dallas Aerospace for $57 million. Both companies will become part of UTC's Pratt & Whitney Engine Services unit. Dallas Aerospace is owned by the parent company of Fairchild Fasteners. Derlan Industries is ...
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Contracts
United Industrial subsidiary ACL Technologies is to build a Lockheed Martin F-16 component overhaul depot near Cairo, Egypt. The $28 million centre will handle electrical, fuel, hydraulics, pneumatics, oxygen and landing gear systems. Raytheon has received a $16 million US foreign military sales contract to provide AGM-65 Mavericks trainers and ...
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F-22 test milestones completed
Lockheed Martin and Boeing have completed all F-22 test milestones originally established for this year. These include engine runs of the third development aircraft. Updated software has been delivered for the Boeing 757 avionics flying testbed. The milestones had been established as prerequisites for a US Department of Defense decision ...
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USAF selects upgrade team for Stratotankers
Ramon Lopez/WASHINGTON DC The US Air Force has selected a Rockwell Collins/Raytheon Systems team to upgrade more than 500 Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers to meet global air traffic management (GATM) requirements. At the same time, the USAF has slowed down the $4.2 billion avionics modernisation programme (AMP) for 510 Lockheed ...
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Italian air force upgrades approved
The Italian Parliament has approved upgrades for the air force's Aermacchi MB339 advanced trainers, Alenia/Aermacchi/Embraer AMX fighter-bombers and Boeing 707 tankers. A mid-life update of the MB339 fleet will start by year-end and will last for five years. The L110 billion ($62 million) update will allow the Italian air force ...
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USAF's smarter bombs get longer legs
Ramon Lopez/EGLIN AFB The US Air Force is expected to back development and procurement of a more precise, smaller, longer-range Boeing Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM). It will also push ahead with buying Raytheon GBU-15 glide bombs and Paveway III laser-guided bombs enhanced with global positioning system (GPS) guidance. ...
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Portugal signs for Eurocopter EC635
The Portuguese army has signed a c35 million ($37.4 million) contract with Eurocopter for nine EC635s, the military version of the EC135. The EC635s will be used for medical evacuation, fire support "and to help civilian populations in emergency situations", says Eurocopter. The contract is part of a broader ...
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IAI warns Raytheon on Phalcon pricing
Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI)has told Raytheon, its airborne early warning (AEW) programmes partner, that a high price on its proposal for Turkey could mean an end to their teaming agreement. An IAI/Raytheon team was one of the losers in the Australian Wedgetail AEW competition, won by Boeing offering 737-700s ...
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Austria ready to modernise
Keen to show its neutrality, Austria has long kept its air force to a minimum. This strategy could soon change René van Woezik/VIENNA Austria spends less than most European countries on defence, as a proportion of its GDP that is, and stretches the lives of its aircraft to their ...
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Sextant aims for US presence
Stewart Penney/BORDEAUX French avionics manufacturer Sextant is keen to buy a US-based avionics company as part of a three-pronged strategy to increase its military business. The plan could see it bidding against the UK's Smith Industries, which is also on the acquisition trail. Sextant military aircraft avionics president Jean-Loïc ...
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USAF gets funding to begin work on Galaxy re-engining
Paul Lewis/WASHINGTON DC The US Air Force has secured $18 million in long lead funding to begin work on re-engining the Lockheed Martin C-5A/B Galaxy, as the Air Mobility Command (AMC) prepares to conclude a critical study of its future heavylift transport options. Congress has approved initial funding in ...