Fixed-wing – Page 1162
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B-2 bombs on target, says USAF
Ramon Lopez/WASHINGTON DC Six US Air Force Northrop Grumman B-2 stealth bombers have dropped more than 454,000kg (1,000,000lb) of global positioning system (GPS) -guided bombs on Yugoslav targets with no collateral damage, according to USAF Brig Gen Leroy Barnidge, commander of the 509th Bomber Wing at Whiteman AFB, Missouri. ...
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Armed reconnaissance role for Harriers
The UK's Royal Air Force has deployed a specialist reconnaissance interpretation centre (RIC) to Gioia del Colle AB in Italy, its base for Operation Allied Force. Activation of the RIC allows the 12 RAF British Aerospace Harrier GR7s based at Gioia del Colle to fly armed reconnaissance patrols over Kosovo ...
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Kosovo highlights
NATO intensifies its air campaign, flying 600-plus sorties a day. Some aircraft have started to operate at lower levels. Serb air defences evident with numerous SAM launches and AAA activity. Short helicopter flights observed. NATO accused of killing civilians in mistakenly destroying two civilian buses. The alliance admits ...
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Antarctic conversion
The US Air Force has awarded Raytheon an $18 million contract to convert two US Navy Lockheed Martin ski-equipped LC-130Rs to USAF LC-130H configuration, to support Antarctic research projects. The Raytheon Systems unit, in Waco, Texas, will upgrade the cockpits to include new avionics, navigation and communications equipment and displays. ...
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German CH-53 tanks
Derlan has shipped the first external fuel tanks to Eurocopter Deutschland for Germany's Sikorsky CH-53 helicopter range-extension programme. Delivery of 21 shipsets, each of two filament-wound composite tanks, will be completed by year-end. Source: Flight International
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Mangusta equipment
Israel Aircraft Industries' Tamam division will supply the electro-optic night targeting and electronic warfare systems to Agusta for its A129 Mangusta, which is short-listed by Turkey for its attack helicopter requirement. The helicopter will be able to use Hellfire and TOW anti-tank missiles. Tamam confirms that the Israel-equipped A129 is ...
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More B-52Hs help NATO step up air strikes
Ramon Lopez/WASHINGTON DC Ten more Boeing B-52H Stratofortress bombers are to be deployed to Europe to help meet NATO's request for 300 additional US aircraft in the Balkans conflict. Eight hundred US aircraft are involved in the five-week-old Operation Allied Force air campaign. Other nations are also expected ...
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US police reduce maintenance with jet fuel additive
Two US police aviation units have completed the field demonstration of a US Air Force-developed jet fuel additive which reduces maintenance caused by coking in engines and fuel systems. The USAF is briefing other law enforcement and civil helicopter operators. Florida's Tampa Police Department and Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office ...
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Embraer to roll out aircraft for Amazon surveillance
Paul Lewis/RIO DE JANEIRO Embraer is planning to roll out the first of five ERJ-145SA airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft later this month, along with the first ALX light attack version of the EMB-314 Super Tucano. The aircraft form two of the three airborne systems that make up ...
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New Zealand F-16s to get strike capability
Peter La Franchi/CANBERRAThe Royal New Zealand Air Force is to upgrade the strike capabilities of its planned force of 28 Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 15 fighters with pod-based ECM jamming and laser target designation systems. The office of New Zealand defence minister Max Bradford has confirmed that a range of ...
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USAF seeks data on expanded multirole capabilities for F-22
Graham Warwick/WASHINGTON DC Lockheed Martin and Boeing will report back to the US Air Force by mid-year on the work needed to expand the F-22's multirole capabilities. New programme general manager Bob Reardon says the team has been asked to look at 31 different precision-guided weapon scenarios and ...
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Boeing and Lockheed Martin await JSF verdict
The Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) programme office will respond on 10 May to Boeing and Lockheed Martin's revised plans to keep their competing concept demonstrator aircraft (CDAs) within budget and on schedule. Both manufacturers received letters from the US Department of Defense in early April, asking for proposals on ...
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Tests begin on Rafale optronics
Julian Moxon/PARISFlight tests of the Thomson-CSF Optronique front sector optronics (FSO)system that will give the Dassault Rafale fighter a passive infrared and television imaging capability have begun on a Dassault Falcon 20 testbed. The FSO will provide all-weather air-to-air and air-to-ground surveillance and targeting and, says Thomson-CSF Optronique, is the ...
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CASA offers quick response offshore surveillance
CASA is developing its maritime patrol and surveillance capability, to offer customers a "quick response" in what it sees as a growing market for low-cost, effective offshore systems. The company is awaiting an initial order from the Spanish air force to equip five Lockheed P-3 Orions with its latest ...
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Northrop Grumman lands $1.3 billion E-2C Hawkeye contract
Paul Lewis/WASHINGTONNorthrop Grumman has won a $1.3 billion multi-year procurement contract for 22 new improved E-2C Hawkeye 2000s for the US Navy and France. The deal secures continued production of the turboprop airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft through to early 2006. The five-year contract covers 21 of the Hawkeye 2000 ...
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HAI plans civil business and revenues boost
Julian Moxon/ATHENS Hellenic Aerospace Industries (HAI) aims to double its revenues in the next five years by building up its civil business to the same level as that of its military activities. "We want to achieve an even split between the two," says HAI managing director George Goulios. ...
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Flight training
Raytheon Systems has won a Boeing contract for an operational flight trainer (OFT) and instrument flight trainer (IFT) for the US Navy's T-45C advanced jet trainer. These are the fourth OFT and third IFT for the digital-cockpit T-45C. Raytheon has delivered six OFTs and two IFTs for the original T-45A. ...
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Cubic range
The US Air Force has awarded Cubic Defense Systems a $28 million contract to upgrade the tethered air combat manoeuvring instrumentation (ACMI) range system in Taiwan. The contract includes 24 ACMI pods and six sets of display and debriefing equipment. The work, to support training in Northrop F-5s and Lockheed ...
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KAL's safety blasted on the net
Korean Air (KAL) is facing a new public relations crisis after the anonymous publication on the Internet of a damning review of its flight safety procedures and Delta Air Lines' suspension of its codeshare alliance with the carrier. The detailed assessment appeared on the Internet in March. In early ...
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Alitalia defends Italy
Alitalia is considering setting up a southern Italian regional operation which observers believe may be a defensive action against similar plans by British Airways. Alitalia is carrying out a feasibility study, to be completed in June, into setting up a regional operation connecting southern Italy with other destinations ...