Fixed-wing – Page 1135
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First came the mega-deal: now comes the mega-challenge
Chris Jasper/LONDON As the dust settles on the Franco-German accord that will ultimately lead to the formation of the new European Aeronautics, Defense and Space Company (EADS), one thing is becoming clear: the landscape of the aerospace industry worldwide has changed for ever. Beyond that realisation, however, some initial impressions ...
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Dassault considers options following creation of EADS
Julian Moxon/PARISDassault Aviation says its future within the new European Aeronautics, Defense and Space Company (EADS) will be decided "when our shareholders are ready". DaimlerChrysler Aerospace's (Dasa's) merger with one of its two major shareholders, Aerospatiale Matra, creates conditions in which it could reassert its independence, Dassault says. Following the ...
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US Army seeks new Huey upgrade
Paul Lewis/WASHINGTON DC The US Army is again studying a series of industry suggestions for sustaining its remaining fleet of Bell UH-1 Huey utility helicopters. The service is doing so against the backdrop of a fundamental shift in military planning and uncertain future funding. According to the ...
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Greece to buy PGMs and more Chinooks
The Greek armed forces have concluded a deal to buy more Boeing CH-47D Chinooks and are close to finalising a deal for US-supplied AGM-142 Have Nap stand-off missiles. According to industry sources, the Clinton Administration will shortly notify the US Congress of its intention to sell an undisclosed number ...
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Ukraine hands over bombers to Russia
The Russian air force has begun acceptance testing of eight Tupolev Tu-160 Blackjack and three Tupolev Tu-95MS Bear strategic bombers from Ukraine. The bombers were left in Ukraine when the Soviet Union was dissolved in 1991 and are being handed to Russia following an inter-governmental agreement. Russia will deduct ...
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Kosovo air campaign shows up US and NATO disparities
Ramon Lopez/WASHINGTON DC US secretary of State for Defense William Cohen says the Kosovo air campaign highlighted disparities between US military forces and those of NATO allies, including precision strike capabilities. Cohen's assessment is contained in an initial Kosovo after-action report from the Department of Defense containing early lessons from ...
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Israel firms could arm Brazilian helicopters
Israeli companies Elbit and Rafael are proposing to upgrade Brazilian army transport helicopters to an armed configuration. The plan, under which transport helicopters will be equipped as anti-tank machines, was discussed earlier this month during a visit to Israel by a Brazilian delegation that included the army chief of ...
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TUAV shoot-out marred by crash
The US Army's fly-off involving four tactical unmanned air vehicles (TUAV) suffered its first casualty when an AAI Shadow 200 was destroyed in a crash on 11October near Fort Huachuca, Arizona. The Shadow 200 began its system capability demonstration (SCD) on 4 October and had completed two check flights ...
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Boeing joins Meteor missile group
Stewart Penney/LONDONBoeing is joining Team Meteor, the European consortium competing in the UK's Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) competition to select a weapon to arm the Eurofighter. A decision is expected by early next year. Boeing joins a European grouping that includes the Matra BAe Dynamics (MBD), Alenia Marconi ...
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Turks review Ka-50 in Russia
A high ranking Turkish army delegation has visited Russia to review the Kamov/Israeli Aircraft Industries (IAI) Ka-50-2 Erdogan. The co-axial-rotor attack helicopter is a contender in the Turkish army competition to provide 145 machines. Kamov has been forced to redesign its side-by-side Ka-52 attack helicopter to meet Turkey's requirement ...
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Aircraft mixture may fill US sensor scheme
A US Army requirement for an Aerial Common Sensor (ACS) aircraft could be met with a mix of long-range/high-endurance fixed-wing aircraft and unmanned air vehicles (UAVs). ACS will combine the capabilities of three aircraft types into one or more platforms, offering corps-level airborne intelligence, surveillance and target acquisition capabilities. ...
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Running with it
If Europe has found a way of sorting out its fragmented space, guided weapons, commercial aircraft and even helicopter industries with a path being trodden for avionics, radar and other defence systems, the fighter road is far from clear. It is a worrying sign, given that air power will ...
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GE uses Learjet experiment to plot unusual T-38 engine upgrade path
Guy Norris/LOS ANGELES General Electric plans to certificate an upgraded CJ610 engine in a Learjet 20 as a means of offering the same conversion to the US Air Force for more than 500 Northrop T-38 Talon trainers. This will be as an "off the shelf" procurement. The unusual plan, thought ...
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USAF to contract out student pilot screening
Paul Lewis/WASHINGTON DC The US Air Force has abandoned plans to return its troubled fleet of Slingsby T-3A Firefly trainers to flying status. Instead it will contract out all student pilot screening to private schools on a permanent basis to cut costs. Enhanced flight screening (EFS) using the ...
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MAPO offers Russian-powered MiG-AT to India
MAPO has briefed India on a Russian-powered version of the MiG-AT advanced trainer as the Indian air force moves closer to selecting a replacement MiG-ATs are powered by the French Snecma/Turbomeca Larzac. India received tenders from British Aerospace and Dassault in late September, following the release of the latest request ...
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Comanche tests to speed up
Paul Lewis/WASHINGTON DCBoeing and Sikorsky plan to accelerate RAH-66 Comanche helicopter flight and system testing in a move to reduce development risk. This coincides with the US Congress signalling its intent to pay much closer scrutiny to the helicopter programme. Key members of the House Appropriations Committee defence panel warn ...
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AVIC split: time will be judge
Andrzej Jeziorski/BEIJING China's lumbering aerospace industry may have been restructured, but the impact of Beijing splitting state-owned Aviation Industries of China (AVIC) into two smaller, yet still enormous, enterprises remains unclear. While some in China claim the move will lead to a major transformation, others suggest the sector has ...
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Arrowhead sensor seeks more targets
Lockheed Martin is soliciting international support for its proposed Arrowhead targeting and navigation sensor for the Boeing AH-64. This takes place as competition with Raytheon intensifies, ahead of an expected request for proposals (RFP) to upgrade the US Army's fleet of attack helicopters. Arrowhead is being offered to ...
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Congress gives go-ahead for multi-year aircraft orders
Paul Lewis/WASHINGTON DC Congress has given the US Navy and US Air Force a green light to negotiate multi-year procurement contracts for 222 Boeing F/A-18E/F fighters and a follow-on batch of 60 Boeing C-17 ster transports, respectively. The go-ahead comes as part of an agreed $17.3 billion increase in defence ...
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Israeli support for EW sale to Greece marks policy shift
The Israeli Ministry of Defence is supporting an Elisra bid to supply the Greek air force with electronic warfare equipment for its latest batch of Lockheed Martin F-16s. The move marks a shift in Israeli Government policy. Elisra has teamed with Greece's national aerospace company Hellenic Aerospace Industries (HAI) ...