Fixed-wing – Page 1149
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Lockheed Martin sharpens knife
Chris Jasper/LONDONLockheed Martin has launched a sweeping review of its entire business portfolio and will decide in a few months on the possible disposal of some of its assets. Industry sources suggest the US giant is prepared to shed $1 billion-worth of assets as it fights to reverse a sharp ...
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Delta III engine 'exploded'
Tim Furniss/LONDON The failure of Boeing's Delta III launcher to place the Orion 3 satellite into a correct orbit in May was probably caused by an explosion in the combustion chamber of the second stage engine, says Boeing. The stage was powered by a Pratt & Whitney RL-10 Centaur-class ...
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NATO slams Europe's warfighting capability after Kosovo conflict
Stewart Penney/LONDON NATO's new military committee chairman, Adm Guido Venturoni, and UK defence secretary George Robertson have criticised Europe's ability to support alliance operations such as the recent conflict with Yugoslavia. Both acknowledge that the USA provided the lion's share (70-80%) of air assets in Kosovo. Venturoni says that, ...
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C-27J Spartan drive gathers impetus in Italy
Andy Nativi/GENOA Lockheed Martin Alenia Tactical Transport Systems (LMATTS) is stepping up its C-27J Spartan marketing campaign in Italy as it prepares the first prototype for a maiden flight late next month. Despite Italian air force claims that it has no funds available for even a small batch of ...
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UK rings Matra BAe for Alarm
Stewart Penney/LONDON Matra BAe Dynamics has won a contract to upgrade the Royal Air Force's Alarm anti-radiation missile with a new solid rocket motor as part of a wider proposal to improve the weapon. The seeker is also being updated as part of a "black" programme. Responsibility for the seeker ...
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Israel serenades Turkey with Guitar
Israeli manufacturers continue to use Israel's growing military relationship with Turkey to pursue requirements from Ankara. Rafael hopes Turkey could be a potential launch customer for the Guitar passive missile warning system. Israel's two leading unmanned air vehicle (UAV) manufacturers are mounting a joint bid for a $350 million ...
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Eurocopter/Kawasaki fly EC145
Eurocopter and Kawasaki have begun test flights of the EC145 medium utility helicopter, a successor to the jointly developed BK117 twin turboshaft. The manufacturers decline to reveal programme details, but the helicopter is understood to be a development of the BK117, incorporating some cockpit and forward fuselage features of ...
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Erieye signature
Greece and Ericsson have signed a SKr4 billion ($465 million) contract for four Erieye radar-based airborne early warning systems. The radars will be mounted on Embraer RJ-145 regional jets. First delivery will be in 2002. Until then, the Greek air force will use a Swedish air force Argus, a Saab ...
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Italian trim
5,000 Italian air force personnel are to lose their jobs as reorganisation continuesAndy Nativi/GENOABy 2005, the Italian air force plans to have cut its ranks to about 55,000 personnel, also reducing its number of bases and shedding aircraft. The latest changes mean that 5,000 people will be axed, at ...
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Condor and British Airways to plug airliners into cyberspace
Emma Kelly/LONDONCondor Flugdienst is activating Rockwell Collins' Integrated Information System (I2S) on two Airbus A320s this month as part of a project to test technologies linking an aircraft-based intranet to airline terminal area databases. At the same time, British Airways is equipping the first of two Boeing 747-400s as part ...
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The future is smart
First came precision guidance: now all-weather missiles are set to join the US arsenal Ramon Lopez/WASHINGTON DC NATO's dependence on precision guided munitions (PGMs) is expected to grow in the coming years, when current-generation laser-guided bombs will be complemented by all-weather weapons using global positioning/inertial navigation system (GPS/INS) guiding and ...
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Cultural training
A serious shortage of airline pilots is causing US and European training traditions to converge David Learmount/LONDON US regional airlines are advertising for young, qualified pilots with 800h flying time. Only two years ago, taking on pilots with less than 2,000h would have been unthinkable. But within a few months, ...
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Nordic standard helicopter could be licence built
Stewart Penney/LONDON A proposal by Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden to jointly purchase up to 100 9-15t helicopters for diverse roles could lead to licence production of the successful type. Nordic Standard Helicopter Programme (NSHP) manager Col Mats Westin says a working group has been established to discuss ...
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UK favours Raytheon for Successor work
Raytheon has been selected as preferred bidder to supply identification friend and foe (IFF) for Matra BAe Dynamics Rapier Field Standard C short-range surface-to-air missile systems as part of the UK's Successor IFF (SIFF) programme. SIFF is a multi-phase programme to fit Mark XII/Mode S compatible IFF equipment to ...
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Singapore wants more Chinooks
Singapore PLANS to purchase an additional four Boeing CH-47SD Super Chinook helicopters to supplement six earlier CH-47Ds and four improved -47SDs already on order. It is also embarking on a search for six to 12 naval helicopters to equip a planned fleet of new corvettes. Selection of the maritime helicopter ...
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Turkey waits for Australia on AEW&C aircraft order
Turkey is holding off on the final selection of a new airborne early warning & control (AEW&C) aircraft until after Australia's decision on a similar requirement. A verdict is expected to be made by Australia before the end of July. Australia and Turkey have been engaged in parallel evaluations ...
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Military rotorcraft market review
Major contracts are in the offing for an industry that is making slow progress towards consolidation Stewart Penney/LONDON The past year brought some consolidation to the rotorcraft industry and conclusions to notable competitions. Meanwhile, significant procurement battles loom over the next 12 months, particularly in Europe. Finmeccanica and ...
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BAe sheds jobs and closes factory
British Aerospace is closing a production site and laying off 2,200 workers. Dunsfold, home to Harrier final assembly, will close with the loss of 800 jobs. The rest of the cuts will come mainly from Brough, Chadderton, Warton and Samlesbury sites. Dunsfold's closure follows the wind-down of Harrier production ...
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USAF launches C-130X and ponders new -J buy
Ramon Lopez/WASHINGTON DC The US Air Force is set to initiate a multi-billion dollar Lockheed Martin C-130X avionics modernisation programme (AMP), following recommendations by an Air Mobility Command C-130 study team. USAF leaders are also considering the study group's recommendations for a powerplant upgrade and acquisition of 150 new ...
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Israel kicks off consolidation with merger
Arie Egozi/TEL AVIV Defence manufacturers Elbit Systems and Elop have revealed plans to merge in a move that marks the beginning of consolidation within the Israeli defence and aerospace industries. Elbit reports that it is in negotiations with Elop following the authorisation of discussions by its board. Israeli ...