Fixed-wing – Page 1235
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Coming down to earth
Douglas Barrie/LONDON The procurement plans of the Russian air force lie in tatters, with the aspirations of its financially beseiged leaders now focused on maintaining a modicum of capability rather than on the acquisition of a new, fifth-generation, aircraft, such as MAPO MiG's Article 1.42 fighter. ...
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GE builds wider R-R/Allison partnership around JSF bid
Guy Norris/Cincinnati General Electric, Allison Engines and its UK parent company Rolls-Royce are planning the formation of a joint military-engine group aimed specifically at the US/UK Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) programme. The proposed group represents a radical extension of the partnership already established to develop a ...
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India postpones first light-combat flight
India has put back the first flight of its LCA light combat aircraft until at least the start of 1998. The aircraft was rolled out in November 1995 and has been subjected to a series of delays since. The delay to the 8.5t fighter is thought to be ...
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Lockheed Martin eyes options for advanced F-16
Graham Warwick/Washington DC LOCKHEEDMARTIN IS considering using company funds to develop upgrades for the F-16, if a launch order for an advanced derivative is delayed beyond the end of this year. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is reportedly in serious negotiations to purchase the so-called "Block ...
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Lucas eyes military power-by-wire applications
Graham Warwick/WASHINGTONDC LUCASAEROSPACE hopes to have identified an initial application for its power-by-wire technology by the time a 1,000h in-service evaluation of electric flight-control actuation on a US Air Force Lockheed C-141 StarLifter is completed early in 1998. The company is pursuing military retrofit opportunities for ...
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Norwegians will test F-16 missile-warning system
NORWAY IS TO flight-test Northrop Grumman's AAR-54(V) missile-approach warning system on the Lockheed Martin F-16 mid-life update (MLU) aircraft. Data from the Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF) evaluation will be supplied to Denmark and the Netherlands, both of which are also upgrading F-16s under the MLU programme. ...
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Poland plans for more Mi-14 upgrades
The Polish navy has completed the first upgrade programme for its Mil Mi-14 helicopters, and is planning further modernisation work. The programme, begun in 1995, covers mainly the navy's 12 anti-submarine-warfare (ASW) Mi-14 PL variants. The upgrade focuses on increasing the capabilities of the helicopter's submarine-detection system. ...
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Room to train
Graham Warwick/WASHINGTON DC CANADA IS PREPARING to host NATO student pilots who will enter a unique industry-run flying-training programme. The first fighter pilots are scheduled to graduate from the NATO Flying Training in Canada (NFTC) programme in late 2000, having made full use of Canada's vast unrestricted airspace ...
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Timebomb?
Ian Sheppard/LONDON Efforts are under way in the USA to enable computer systems to a smooth transition through the "year 2000" software barrier. Defence and air-traffic-control (ATC) infrastructures have been afforded top priority, but there is some concern that, outside the USA, a dangerous "wait-and-see" attitude prevails. ...
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Lockheed Martin aims to bolster maintenance
Aircraft maintenance is being targeted by Lockheed Martin as the remaining sector where the US aerospace giant now intends to bolster its business with acquisitions, according to Lockheed Aeronautics president Mickey Blackwell. After a period of consolidation, Lockheed Martin now has a growing US maintenance business based at Greenville, ...
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Greek air force chooses Dasa for F-4 upgrade
Andrzej Jeziorski/MUNICH Daimler-Benz Aerospace (Dasa) appears to be poised to win a contract to upgrade the avionics in 39 Greek McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom IIs, according to the arms directorate of the Greek air force. The air-force evaluation committee has selected Dasa's offer in preference to ...
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French face more cuts in run-up to single currency
Julian Moxon/Paris The French defence industry is bracing itself for a further round of defence cuts as the Government tries to meet the criteria to allow the country to join the single European currency, due to be launched in 1999. Cuts of Fr1.8 billion ($300 million) ...
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Indonesia turns to Russia for supplies of new weapons
Indonesia is sending a strong signal to the US Government that it might purchase major new weapons systems from Russia, including fighter aircraft, in the face of growing criticism in Washington of its human-rights record. According to defence sources in Jakarta, the Indonesian Government has already signed a ...
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ITEC aims F124 at Yak-130
Guy Norris/LOS ANGELES International Turbine Engine (ITEC), an AlliedSignal subsidiary, is in talks with Yakovlev and Aermacchi over the possible use of its F124 turbofan in the companies' jointly developed Yak/ AEM-130 advanced-trainer/ light-combat aircraft. "We have got engineers at Phoenix looking at the installation, and ...
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Australian Nomads move on
The Australian Defence Forces' remaining Government Aircraft Factory Nomad utility aircraft have been transferred to the Indonesian navy. The 20 aircraft include two "stretched" N24s, modified with VIP interiors by Brisbane-based Jetcare, the maintenance and engineering division of Flightwest Airlines. Australia declared the type unsuitable for its requirements when operational ...
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Taurus to get its sea legs as KEPD missile family grows
Andrzej Jeziorski/MUNICH Daimler-Benz Aerospace (Dasa) and its Swedish programme partner, Bofors, are planning to make their Taurus KEPD 350 Kinetic Energy Penetrating Destroyer the basis of a family of long-range missiles, including a ship-launched variant. The basic 1,400kg, 5m-long KEPD 350 stand-off weapon is designed to ...
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Turkey wants Israeli-upgraded CH-53s
TURKEY PLANS TO buy ten US-surplus Sikorsky CH-53 heavylift helicopters for its special forces. The aircraft will be upgraded either by IsraelAircraft Industries (IAI), or in Turkey with Israeli assistance. The helicopters are likely to receive the IAI-developed CH-53 2000 upgrade. This includes improved navigation systems and cockpit ...
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Special observer
Guy Norris/WACO, TEXAS Twenty-four years ago, the Boeing 747SP was designed to be flown higher and further than anything in its class. These attributes, plus the large payload capacity of the "Special Performer", have now landed one aircraft in the small world fleet the unique role of the ...
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Sweden is taking steps towards closer inter-European defence-industry links Tim Ripley/LONDON Sweden is keen to join moves to hasten European-wide aviation- and defence-industry consolidation by building alliances, according to senior Saab executives and Government figures. A Saab team, headed by Sweden's special envoy for defence exports, ...
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Dassault merger in doubt as France keeps Aerospatiale
The French Government has thrown cold water on the privatisation of its biggest aerospace company, Aerospatiale, raising further questions about the planned merger with privately owned Dassault Aviation. Defence minister Alain Richard has made it clear that Aerospatiale will remain in state hands, and that Dassault Aviation will ...