Fixed-wing – Page 1161
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NH90 consortium reaches price agreement
NH Industries consortium members and the four customer nations for the NH90 helicopter have agreed a 12.9% cost reduction of July 1998 prices on condition that the contract is signed this year. The signing of a memorandum of understanding covering the pre-production and production phases of the project has been ...
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First upgraded Greek Phantom flies
The first Greek air force McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom fighter to be upgraded by DaimlerChrysler Aerospace (Dasa) has had its maiden flight from the German company's Manching test centre. The aircraft reached a speed of Mach 1.5 and an altitude of 45,000ft (13,750m), flown by German air force test pilot ...
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Israel prepares to make fighter choice
The Israeli Ministry of Defence is poised to make a decision on selection of a new fighter once the first round of voting in the general elections is complete on 17 May. The outcome is likely to be a purchase split between the Lockheed Martin F-16I and the Boeing ...
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Yugoslav crisis delays Hungarian ATC upgrade
Julian Moxon/PARIS The Hungarian air traffic and airport administration LRI has been forced to delay the service entry of its new air traffic control (ATC) centre by seven months because of the conflict in Yugoslavia. Other central European administrations introducing new ATC equipment are likely to follow suit. Hungary's ...
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Arms makers square up for Polish bidding war
Andrew Doyle/MUNICH The Polish Government has agreed a timetable for the country's planned multi-billion dollar purchase of advanced fighter aircraft and helicopters and is pledging to issue formal tenders during the next few weeks. The move forms part of Poland's long-term effort to upgrade its equipment to NATO standards. It ...
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Japan may merge air force and navy tender
Andrzej Jeziorski/SINGAPORE The Japan Defence Agency (JDA) and the Technical Research and Development Institute are considering merging air force and naval requirements for a new transport and patrol aircraft. The solution is being studied because of Japanese budget restrictions. Other possibilities would be to delay one of the ...
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Funds sought to modernise UH-60
The US Army wants initial funding next year to start a two-step avionics and powerplant modernisation programme for its Sikorsky UH-60A/L Black Hawk utility helicopters. A Black Hawk modernisation programme calls for up to 613 UH-60As to be upgraded to UH-60L+, starting in 2002. Another 357 will be modernised ...
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Suite tests
Flight tests will begin this year of the ITT Industries ALQ-211 suite of integrated RF countermeasures (SIRFC). Two self-protection suites have been delivered to the US Army for ground tests. Operational test and evaluation and production will begin in 2000. The army is to fit SIRFC to Boeing AH-64D Longbow ...
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US Army nears decision on Apache requirement
The US Army hopes to decide towards year-end on the number of Boeing AH-64D Apache helicopters it plans to remanufacture, as well as the mix and quantity of Lockheed Martin Longbow fire control radars needed to equip the fleet. It originally planned to modernise 748 AH-64As and acquire enough ...
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Marconi aims to crack Brazilian deal
Marconi Electronic Systems and partner Lockheed Martin are seeking to take advantage of Elbit's troubled Northrop F-5E/F upgrade negotiations by offering Brazil a revived proposal that includes the option for a future beyond visual range (BVR) missile capability. Negotiations between Brazil, local F-5 upgrade prime contractor Embraer and Elbit ...
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Israel is key to F-15 production
Paul Lewis/WASHINGTON Boeing's hopes of keeping the F-15 fighter production line open beyond early next year rests on an order from Israel, following its failure to dissuade Greece from purchasing additional Lockheed Martin F-16C/Ds and Dassault Mirage 2000-5s. The company's St Louis plant is to deliver its final outstanding ...
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Greece plumps for F-16s and Mirages
Stewart Penney/LONDONGreece's decision to split its interim fighter order between the Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 50-plus and the Dassault Mirage 2000-5MkII will provide a rapid boost in capability for its air force. Both manufacturers are supplying aircraft with improved capability over versions of the types in service with Greece. Block ...
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Combat debut for Have Nap missile
US Air Force (USAF) Boeing B-52 Stratofortress bombers based in the UK have employed the AGM-142 Have Nap air-launched stand-off missile for the first time as part of NATO Operation Allied Force against Yugoslavia. Developed by Israel's Rafael and co-produced by Lockheed Martin in the USA, the AGM-142 is ...
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USN to start Super Hornet evaluation
The US Navy is poised to start a six-month, 800 flight operational evaluation (Opeval) of the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet following the successful conclusion of engineering management and development on 30 April. US Navy air test and evaluation squadron VX-9 will conduct Opeval with seven aircraft stationed at China ...
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India considers SAR pod for MiG-27 Floggers
The Indian air force is considering equipping its Mikoyan MiG-27 Floggers with an Elta synthetic aperture radar (SAR) pod, and with an electronic warfare suite also developed by the Israeli company. Elta, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI), has signed major deals with India in recent months, ...
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USAF seeks to block Boeing/Elta AEW
The US Air Force has raised objections to Boeing and Elta teaming up to meet an Israeli air force requirement for advanced airborne warning and command aircraft. The pair will install an Elta Phalcon-based phased-array radar as the main sensor on a Boeing 767, or similar platform. Boeing was ...
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JSF programme office trims work plan
Paul Lewis/WASHINGTON DC The US Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) programme office has agreed to trim design refinement efforts to keep Boeing and Lockheed Martin's concept demonstrations efforts within budget and on time. Revised proposals from the companies in response to programme office concerns about budget overruns and delays have ...
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Apache tests
The US Army has begun flight testing the ITT Avionics ALQ-211 integrated radio-frequency countermeasures in a Boeing AH-64D Longbow Apache. Tests have included checking electromagnetic compatibility with the fire-control radar and RF Hellfire missiles. Source: Flight International
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USN eyes role change for CH-60S utility helicopter
Paul Lewis/WASHINGTON DC Sikorsky is designing an airborne mine countermeasures (AMCM) version of the US Navy's new CH-60S utility helicopter and has begun modifying a prototype machine to conduct aerial towing demonstrations. The Navy's prototype YCH-60 helicopter is being fitted with a swivel-tow coupling, mounted to the aft underside ...
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UK police forces line up for Eurocopter EC135
McAlpine Helicopters has delivered a Eurocopter EC135 to the Chiltern air support unit (ASU), which combines the Thames Valley, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire police forces. This marks the fourth delivery of the twin-engined helicopter by McAlpine to UK police in the last six months. The Oxford Airport-based Eurocopter distributor and completion ...