Fixed-wing – Page 1143
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Rafael to help build missile plant for Singapore
Israeli weapons specialist Rafael will help Singapore build a missile assembly plant as part of a deal to sell the country its Spike and NT-Danti-tank missiles. The Singapore army has selected the Spike while the air force is evaluating both missiles for use with its combat helicopters, including recently ...
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AIDC still aims for privatisation
Andrzej Jeziorski/TAIPEI State-owned Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC) of Taiwan is to offer small stakes to potential investors in a bid to kick-start its privatisation, which it still hopes to complete this year. The company wants to sell up to 40% of its stock to a foreign strategic investor, ...
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Dasa partners with Russian industry on MiG-29 upgrades
DaimlerChrysler Aerospace (Dasa) is gearing up for an aggressive sales drive in the emerging Mikoyan MiG-29 Fulcrum upgrade market following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Russian manufacturer MAPO and arms export agency Rozvoorouzhenie. The German company has also revealed plans to establish a similar venture ...
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MiG 1.44 now scheduled to fly in September
Unlike its Sukhoi forward-swept wing counterpart the S-37 Berkut (above), the MAPO MiG 1.44 advanced fighter prototype failed to appear at the Moscow air show. After its first public appearance in January, the 1.44 remains in MAPO's hangar at the edge of the Zhukovsky airfield where it has been stored ...
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Mil, Kazan and Eurocopter sign Mi-38 deal
The MVZ Mil design bureau, Kazan Helicopter Plant, Eurocopter and Euromil (a joint venture between Mil and Eurocopter) have signed two memoranda covering the development and production of the Mil Mi-38 multipurpose helicopter. Eurocopter will act as avionics integrator. Kazan general manager Alexander Lavrentyev says the first Mi-38 fuselage ...
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New deep penetrator warhead used in Operation Allied Force
Ramon Lopez/WASHINGTON DC A US weapon still under development and designed to attack deep underground bunkers containing command and control centres and weapons of mass destruction (WMD) was secretly and successfully deployed against Yugoslav targets in the Kosovo theatre of operations, according to US Air Force officials. ...
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Longbow offer brings Israel back to talks
The Israeli air force has reopened talks with Boeing over a possible purchase of AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopters. The move comes after Boeing agreed a 30% discount on the price. Earlier this year, Boeing proposed a deal to supply a squadron of AH-64Ds for $560 million. This price ...
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Taiwan's F-16s grounded again
Taiwan's air force has again grounded its Lockheed Martin F-16A/B fleet following a crash at Chiayi on 18 August. The F-16 fighter fleet only recently returned to flight status following a 52-day grounding after a series of crashes (Flight International, 18-24 August). According to the air force, an F-16 crashed ...
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South Africa may delay Gripen or Hawk order
South Africa is considering delaying a pending order for either Saab/British Aerospace Gripen fighters or BAe Hawk lead-in fighter trainers, as it struggles to fund a planned R30 billion ($4.9 billion) defence modernisation programme. The proposed R10.9 billion order for 28 Gripen fighters is the most expensive procurement contained ...
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US export changes hit Canada
Canadian industry is struggling to cope with changes to US export controls which have curtailed its access to US technology and markets. The special status previously accorded to Canadian companies has been removed following changes to US International Trade in Arms Regulations (ITARs). As a result, US companies now ...
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South Korea buys westernised Mi-17
The first Kazan Mi-17 helicopter with western avionics, fitted by Kelowna Flightcraft, has been sold to South Korea's LG International for delivery to the country's police force. British Columbia-based Kelowna completed a prototype of the westernised Mi-17KF last year, and has sent a team to Kazan Helicopters to install ...
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China threat gets Taiwan F-16s flying again
The Taiwanese air force has resumed flying its Lockheed Martin F-16A/B block 20 fleet after grounding the aircraft for 52 days after two crashes. The F-16A/B is Taiwan's most potent frontline fighter alongside the Dassault Mirage 2000-5 but was grounded despite the heightened threat of military action as a ...
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Israel close to JSF sign-up
Arie Egozi/TEL AVIV Israel has moved a step closer to formally joining the US-led Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) programme with the submission of a letter of request for access for specific information on a paid basis. At the same time Lockheed Martin has selected Kaiser Electronics and Israeli ...
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UK buys ex-German air force Alpha Jets
A shortfall in the number of available British Aerospace Hawks and an ageing fleet of test aircraft has forced the UK Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) to buy 12 ex-German air force Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jets. These will be used at test centres in the UK. Thailand is concluding a ...
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SAAF marshals change
South Africa is extending the life of it C-130s by another 20 years, with programme completion planned for 2002 Hugh Field/CAMBRIDGE Marshall Aerospace of the UK is nearing completion of systems trials of the South African Air force's newly-upgraded C-130s. Marshall's programme has been carried out under contract to Armscor, ...
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Grounded Chinooks close to flying again
The US Army is hoping to return about half its grounded fleet of 466 Boeing CH-47D/MH-47E Chinooks to flight status after being inspected for potentially fatal cracked transmission gears first discovered on an RAF machine during a depot-level overhaul. A worldwide flight suspension order was issued as a result ...
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Contracts
Raytheon has received a US Air Force contract, potentially worth $250 million over five years, to support all U-2 sensors, datalinks and ground systems. Raytheon has also won a four-year $130 million contract to provide contractor logistic support for the US Navy's 116 Bell TH-57B/C training helicopters. Racal Avionics has ...
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Miniature air launched decoy nears flight test completion
Guy Norris/LOS ANGELES Flight testing of the Northrop Grumman miniature air launched decoy (MALD) is expected to be complete early next month, with the focus shifting to winning funding for an initial production run of 3,000 units. The MALD, built by Northrop Grumman's Ryan Aeronautical Center in San ...
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India downs Atlantic
An Indian air force MikoyanMiG-21 shot down a Pakistan navy-operated Dassault Atlantic 1 on 10 August using a Vympel R-60/AA-8 Aphid infrared-guided missile. All 16 on board were killed. Both countries claim the wreckage lies on their territory. Source: Flight International
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Spanish and US navies look at Sikorsky modifications
Paul Lewis/OWEGO, NEW YORK Spain is looking at upgrading its Sikorsky SH-60B Seahawks to the planned new SH-60R configuration. The US Navy, in the meantime, has said it is following closely a US Army study to re-engine its UH-60L Black Hawks. The Spanish navy operates six SH-60Bs and is planning ...