Fixed-wing – Page 1266
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News
E-8 JSTARS price tag soars by $350 million
The cost of the Northrop Grumman E-8 Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS) project has risen by $350 million because of higher-than-expected modification and refurbishment costs. This is the single largest contributor to a $600 million rise in the cost of US Department of Defense (DoD) acquisition programmes. ...
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Russians poised to begin Su-25TM radar-testing
The Sukhoi Su-25TM, is about to begin flight testing with the Kopyo podded radar Alexander Velovich/MoscowDouglas Barrie/London The Russian air force is about to begin flight tests of the radar-equipped Sukhoi Su-25TM from its Ahktubinsk flight-test centre, while pilot instructors at the Lipetsk combat-training centre ...
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Business sense
European nations use Hughes' unit-level training devices The military-aircraft simulation industry worldwide continues to rely on international business as domestic programmes face yet more delays. Graham Warwick/ATLANTA International business continues to be vital to the military-aircraft simulation industry, as domestic programmes face further delays. ...
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French give Kamov's Alligator more bite
Alex Velovich/MOSCOWJulian Moxon/PARIS French manufacturers have supplied key avionics items for a new export version of the Kamov Ka-50 Hokum attack helicopter. The Russian helicopter builder is preparing for the first flight of the Alligator two-seat all-weather/ night-attack derivative of the Hokum. The helicopter is believed ...
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Singapore expands attack/transport rotary needs
Singapore intends to bolster its rotary-wing capabilities: it is evaluating new attack helicopters and plans the purchase of additional Boeing CH-47 Chinook transports. The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) is drawing up plans to evaluate and acquire a fleet of attack helicopters. It is now dispatching teams ...
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767 AWACS tests
The first Boeing 767 AWACS (airborne-warning and control system) has performed "as good, or better than expected", during maximum gross take-off weight certification and low-energy refused take-off tests at Edwards AFB, California. Tests are understood to have been performed at, or near, the 171,255kg maximum take-off weight earmarked ...
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Israel operates 707 in AEW role
THE ISRAELI AIR FORCE is operating several converted Boeing 707s in the airborne early- warning (AEW) role. The aircraft are fitted with Elta-developed, side-mounted antenna arrays in a configuration similar to those of the Israel Aircraft Industries/Elta Phalcon AEWs offered for export. The converted 707s are now the ...
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Eurocopter signs training helicopter contract with FBS
EUROCOPTER has signed a contract with joint-venture company FBS to supply 38 single-turbine AS350 Squirrel helicopters for use by the Defence Helicopter Flying School in the UK. The helicopters will be used to train Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force helicopter pilots. The school will have 76 ...
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Falcon rejuvenated
Graham Warwick/FORT WORTH and Guy Norris/EDWARDS AFB FIGHTER PILOTS use "check six" as slang for a look back to ensure that the enemy is not approaching from behind. It is also the motto of the Lockheed Martin F-16A/B mid-life update (MLU) programme - signifying a look back to ...
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Flanker advances
The Indian Government has approved the purchase of up to 40 Sukhoi Su-30MKstrike fighters. The order is for 20 aircraft with the option to purchase an additional 20. Details of the package remain scarce. Although the Indian aircraft may the first Su-30s to be fitted with canards. A ...
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Germany delays Eurofighter purchase decision
German defence minister Volker Rühe has been ordered to present parliament with a Eurofighter procurement plan by the end of January before the production investment phase of the programme is approved. Rühe failed to secure 1997's funding for the Eurofighter before the critical 14 November meeting of the ...
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MDC pushes tailless F-15
Guy Norris/LOS ANGELES NASA, THE US Air Force, McDonnell Douglas (MDC) and Pratt & Whitney plan to accelerate the F-15 ACTIVE thrust-vectoring programme to bring forward demonstration of a tailless aircraft, dubbed the F-15 MANX, boosting the likelihood that MDC will offer a stealthy, tailless derivative of the ...
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FAA approves Boeing antenna
Boeing's phased-array communication antenna has been certificated for operation by the US Federal Aviation Administration, after it was fitted to a corporate Boeing 757 at the Associated Air Center in Dallas, Texas. The antenna is able to receive live television and business data, including stock-market reports and financial ...
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Transport Vietnam '96 26-30 November,...
Transport Vietnam '96 26-30 November, Hanoi, Vietnam. Contact: Adsale Exhibition Services, 14/F Devon House, Taikoo Place, 979 King's Road, Quarry Bay, Hong Kong; tel: +852 2811 8897; fax: +852 2516 5024. Airport Regions Conference 28-29 November, Helsinki, Finland. Contact: Congress Team/Area Travel AGency, PO Box 6 (Päivärinnankatu 1), FIN-00251, Helsinki, ...
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News
BAe's Hawk trainer chosen for RAAF's lead-in fighter project
AUSTRALIA HAS named British Aerospace, with its modified Hawk trainer, as the preferred tenderer for its new lead-in fighter (LIF) project . Although details of the final package have yet to be determined, around 32-38 aircraft will be bought. The first 12 will be built in the UK, ...
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UK faces decision on future strike-aircraft partner
Douglas Barrie/LONDON The UK will have to decide by the end of the feasibility study into its strike-aircraft requirement whether to link with emerging European or US collaborative projects. The study is due to be completed in 1999. Funding for the study was expected to have ...
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China begins to produce stretched FT-7P
CHINA'S GUIZHOU Aviation Industry (GAIC) claims to have completed development and begun production of a stretched version of the tandem-seat FT-7P fighter trainer. The aircraft is a derivative of GAIC's original two-seat FT-7 trainer, incorporating a 600mm fuselage plug, says the manufacturer. The additional space created by the ...
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Greece outlines its ten-year defence-spending proposals
Greece has outlined a $17 billion, ten-year defence spending plan, including the acquisition of a further 60 fighters along with the purchase of three airborne early-warning (AEW) aircraft. The Government is expected to buy 50 more Lockheed Martin F-16s, and ten Dassault Mirage 2000s, as well as financing ...
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Boeing agrees on Chinese Chinook
Boeing and China National Aero Technology Import and Export (CATIC) have reached an outline work-share agreement to co-produce the Boeing 234-100 Chinook helicopter, but are still looking for sufficient orders to launch the programme. The two sides have broadly agreed to split production of the civil heavy-lift ...
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Dassault wants a Rafale deal soon
Dassault and the French Government are close to resolving a major problem over how to fund an earlier service entry of the air force version of the Rafale fighter, to meet export demonstration needs. Dassault had expressed considerable concern over the defence ministry delaying delivery of the air force Rafale ...