Fixed-wing – Page 1338
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News
Thais seek funding for fighters
THE THAI AIR force is pushing for funding in the next defence budget for an additional 18-20 fighter aircraft to equip its third frontline squadron. The air force has been receiving informal preliminary briefings from competing manufacturers and is expected to make an official request for more information ...
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BAe studies TIALD for Harriers
BRITISH AEROSPACE is carrying out a project-definition study into equipping the Royal Air Force's BAe Harrier GR.7s with the GEC-Marconi Thermal Imaging and Laser Designation (TIALD) pod. The TIALD pod is already in service with the RAF on its Panavia Tornado GR.1 strike aircraft. The air force has ...
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Lockheed executives retire before merger
KENNETH CANNESTRA, who heads Lockheed's aeronautics unit, has become the latest senior executive to announce early retirement ahead of the US aerospace group's merger with Martin Marietta. Cannestra was to have been in charge of the combined aeronautics division until the end of this year, when he would ...
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Russian An-124 offer fuels FLA fears
A RUSSIAN OFFER to supply Antonov An-124 heavy-lift aircraft as settlement for the country's debt to Germany is raising fears that the Federal finance ministry could use it to undermine procurement funding of the Future Large Aircraft (FLA). According to the German defence ministry, the offer is to ...
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Westland woos Canada on EH101
Jim Bagnall/OTTAWA WESTLAND is again attempting to persuade Canada to purchase the EH Industries EH101 as the helicopter programme is believed to be about to receive a considerable fillip with an UK Ministry of Defence order for around 25 aircraft. A procurement to meet the ...
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IAI offers Phalcon technology to China
ISRAEL AIRCRAFT INDUSTRIES (IAI) is offering China airborne-early-warning (AEW) technology based on its Phalcon AEW aircraft to meet a Chinese air force requirement. The Chinese have an outstanding AEW requirement, with several companies pursuing the business. GEC-Marconi Avionics is believed to have supplied its Argus system, based on ...
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Technical details
The Tiger comes in three configurations - combat support, anti-tank and support (does everything). As well as the sight on the mast, there is also a thermal imager, a helmet-mounted sight display (both crew), a TV camera, laser range finder, missile localiser and night-vision goggles. (Everything in the cockpit is ...
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Second C-17 Squadron
The first McDonnell Douglas C-17 transport has been delivered to Charleston AFB, South Carolina, for the formation of the second operational C-17 squadron. The 14th Sqn of the 437th Airlift Wing is switching to the C-17 from the Lockheed C-141. It will be operated alongside C-17s of the 17th Airlift ...
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Japan's economy set for expansion
The initial reaction of the financial markets and analysts to major natural disasters, particularly when they occur in developed societies, is nearly always wrong. This was true of the Los Angeles earthquake in January 1994, and even more so of the recent disaster in Kobe. The immediate impact on the ...
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An-70 crash threatens programme's future
Alexander Velovich/MOSCOW THE ANTONOV AN-70 four-engine military transport-aircraft programme faces collapse following the loss of the prototype aircraft, only two months after its first flight. The prop-fan-powered aircraft crashed on 10 February, following a mid-air collision with an Antonov An-72 Coaler chase aircraft. All seven ...
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German Navy Tornado bombs civilian ship by mistake during target practice
THE GERMAN NAVY IS blaming sun-blindness for an incident in, which a civilian ship at the edge of a firing range in the western Baltic was accidentally bombed by a naval Panavia Tornado. According to the Federal Ministry of Defence, the incident occurred on 9 February, when two ...
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JDA near to F-15 radar choice
THE JAPAN Defense Agency (JDA) is close to a selecting a new radar for its fleet of McDonnell Douglas (MDC)/ Mitsubishi F-15J/DJ fighters, as part of a wider aircraft mid-life upgrade programme. The improved Hughes APG-63 upgrade radar is understood to be the Japan Air Self-Defence Force's ...
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Significant achievement
The first NH Industries NH90 takes shape. Julian Moxon/PARIS At first sight, it might be difficult to appreciate the significance of the all-composite fuselage shell sitting on makeshift landing gear at Eurocopter France's Marseilles factory. It is, however, the visible evidence of progress on what is potentially ...
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Evergreen eavesdroppper
The durable Lockheed C-130 has been used in many 'special' roles Martin Streetly/LONDON By the time the Lockheed C-130J transport aircraft enters production in 1996, the Hercules will have been in service for 40 years. Its longevity is matched by the diversity of roles it has been ...
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Boeing plans 767 tanker for Japanese requirement
BOEING HAS announced formally its intention to develop a combined military tanker/transport derivative of its 767, with the aim of securing a launch order from the Japan Air Self-Defence Force (JASDF). It is offering two versions of the Tanker/Tanker Multi-Mission aircraft, based on the 767-200ER and stretched ...
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Brazil seizes Il-76
THE BRAZILIAN authorities have seized an Ilyushin Il-76 transport aircraft carrying military spares to the Peruvian air force. Peru and Ecuador are involved in a border dispute. The aircraft, which was seized at Ortaleza Airport, was bound for Lima and carried spares for Peruvian Mil Mi-8 Hips. Ecuador ...
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Euroflag talks to Japan about Kawaski FLA role
Paul Lewis/TOKYO THE JAPAN Defence Agency (JDA) is holding discussions with Euroflag about the possible participation of Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) in the development and production of the Future Large Aircraft (FLA). The Japan Air Self-Defence Force (JASDF) has a long-term need for up 30 ...
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German air force ready to cover Bosnian withdrawal
Andrzej Jeziorski/MUNICH THE GERMAN air force is ready to add its strength to an operation to cover the withdrawal of UN Protection Forces (UNPROFOR) from war-torn Bosnia-Herzegovina if necessary, according to the Federal Ministry of Defence. The defence ministry says that, while a final go-ahead ...
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RAF to test civil training methods
THE ROYAL AIR FORCE is to train its multi-engine crew in the civil sector in a trial to establish whether such a route will provide an adequate level of tuition for military-transport pilots. Some RAF pilots are now undergoing multi-engine training in the civil sector in Canada. ...
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BAe offers Westland Tiger work
Douglas Barrie/LONDON BRITISH AEROSPACE is attempting to head off possible political pressure to select the Westland bid for the UK attack-helicopter programme by offering it a significant work package on the BAe-led Eurocopter Tiger contender, should it win. The move, which will be highlighted in ...