Fixed-wing – Page 1328
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Sukhoi reveals latest thrust-vectoring Su-35 revealed
Douglas Barrie/LONDON SUKHOI'S LATEST pre-production Su-35 has been fitted with thrust-vectoring nozzles, and it is believed to be undertaking flight tests at the Zhukovsky flight-test research centre near Moscow. First pictures of the advanced Flanker derivative show two axisymmetric nozzles fitted to the aircraft. Senior ...
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German UHU variant
Changes to the original German PAH-2 anti-tank version followed the collapse of the Warsaw Pact and saw an extension of the combat helicopter role to provide a more flexible capability. "The longer distances and the considerably more complicated situation on a future battlefield led to the requirement that ...
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Helmet-mounted display technology
The Tiger's helmet-mounted display (HMD) draws on the technology developed by Sextant Avionique for the Rafale fighter's Topsight HMD system, and was also selected for the South African Rooivalk anti-tank helicopter. It is one of the primary targeting and display devices in air-to-air combat, presenting basic flight data ...
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Anti-tank Tiger
In its anti-tank guise, the Tiger's weapons system centres on the long-range version of the three-nation Trigat fire-and-forget missile (see box). Up to eight Trigat or HOT anti-tank missiles can be carried, while for self-defence against other helicopters, up to four Stinger (for Germany) or Mistral (for France) air-to-air missiles, ...
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Escort/Support (HAP) Tiger
The escort/support role was defined by the French army, and is for protecting transport helicopters (such as the four-nation NH-90) from other armed helicopters and light-armoured vehicles. For this, the HAP will carry a GIAT-developed 30mm nose-mounted gun (450 rounds, +/-90° azimuth, +/-30° elevation,) along with either four Mistrals and/or ...
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A mighty match
Can the Boeing 747-400 freighter be more profitable than an older conversion? Mark W Lyon reports.A new freighter aircraft can be a financial conundrum. How can one be confident of financing a $150 million investment over 20 years when cargo yields fluctuate wildly and show a disturbing long-term decline? Between ...
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London's firefighters test Eurocopter's BK.117
THE LONDON Fire Brigade (LFB) in the UK is to run a six-week trial of a helicopter on emergency operations. It will hire a Eurocopter BK.117C-1 from McAlpine Helicopters as part of a continuing evaluation of the possible role of helicopters (Flight International, 4-10 January). During ...
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IAI develops glide bomb
Israel Aircraft Industries MBT division is developing a dual-mode seeker stand-off glide bomb in an effort to produce a family of advanced guided weapons. The dual-mode seeker consists of an active synthetic-aperture radar for guidance, with an electro-optical sensor used for target recognition during the terminal phase of ...
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Charles Millon
Three top priority tasks face France's new defence minister, Charles Millon (pronounced Miyon). Described as a decisive man of action, he will have soon to: decide on the withdrawal or maintenance of French troops in the UN peace-keeping force in Bosnia; consider a limited number of underground nuclear tests in ...
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Hercules update
Edmonton-based CAE Aviation has received a C$135 million ($100 million) Canadian Forces contract to update the avionics in 30 Lockheed C-130 Hercules transports. Rockwell-Collins will supply avionics for the update. Source: Flight International
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UK contest seen as crucial test
Kevin O'Toole/LONDON The UK attack helicopter competition is being viewed as a crucial test of how the three main airframe manufacturers competing for the contract will fare in future battles to dominate world export markets, says Fred Hubbard, senior vice-president at Bell Helicopter Textron. At a ...
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Cold comfort
Rationalisation is the only answer to saving Russia's crumbling military-manufacturing base. Douglas Barrie/MOSCOW Even by the manufacturers' own figures, military production in Russia has collapsed by 80% over the past four years. Combat-aircraft producers in the former Soviet Union are battling for survival, and it is a fight ...
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Czechs cut air force upgrade
The Czech DEFENCE ministry has reduced ambitious plans for a substantial upgrade to part of the air force's Mikoyan MiG-21 Fishbed fleet. According to ministry sources in Prague, a more austere upgrade package is now envisaged. This will consist of replacing the Russian Odd Rods identification friend or ...
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Japan rekindles Harrier interest
Paul Lewis/SINGAPORE JAPAN'S MILITARY is signalling renewed interest in the British Aerospace/McDonnell Douglas Harrier, and hopes to secure funding in the next five-year defence plan for an initial batch of the vertical/short take-off and landing (V/STOL) aircraft. The purchase of between three and five aircraft is ...
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US Navy plans commercial-helicopter demonstration
The US Navy plans to study the feasibility of using commercially operated helicopters for vertical replenishment (vertrep) of ships. A request for proposals for a two-month demonstration was scheduled to be released on 26 May. Kaman Aerospace plans to respond with a bid based around the K-MAX commercial ...
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Thailand puts pressure on USA for F-15
Thailand has stepped up pressure on the US Government to release the McDonnell Douglas (MDC) F-15 and Hughes AIM-120 AMRAAM active-radar air-to-air missile for sale in South-East Asia, following Vietnam's purchase of up to 20 Sukhoi Su-27 fighters. The Thai air force is due to select a new ...
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Mikoyan designs single-seat MiG-AT strike derivative
Alexander Velovich/Moscow Mikoyan has started design work on a single-seat light strike, fighter derivative of the MiG-AT advanced jet trainer which it is offering to the Russian air force. The MiG-ATB (B for Boyevoy or combat) is intended for competition with aircraft such as the British ...
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Final assembly of Gulfstream V wing starts at Northrop
NORTHROP GRUMMAN has begun final assembly of the wings for the first Gulfstream V long-range business jet at its Commercial Aircraft division, formerly Vought Aircraft, in Dallas, Texas. Northrop Grumman, along with its revenue-sharing partner, ShinMaywa Industries of Japan, is supplying Gulfstream with the complete wing assembly, including ...
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China's Hong-7 may never enter service
Paul Lewis/SINGAPORE CHINA'S INDIGENOUSLY developed Jian Hong-7 strike aircraft is unlikely ever to enter service with the People's Liberation Army (PLA) naval air force, because of its relatively poor performance and outdated design, say Western military sources. The tandem-seat JH-7, or B-7, has been under ...
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Carry on carrier?
Is there enough political support for the concept of the aircraft carrier to continue into the next century? Douglas Barrie/LONDON Ramon Lopez/WASHINGTON DC Next to acquiring an arsenal of nuclear weapons, the pursuit of an aircraft-carrier programme identifies a country's aspirations to project its political will beyond ...