Fixed-wing – Page 61
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News
UK F-35s make first combat strikes from HMS Queen Elizabeth
The UK has for the first time demonstrated its restored Carrier Strike capability, with Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightnings operating from the 65,000t vessel HMS Queen Elizabeth striking targets in the Middle East on 18 June.
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News
USAF seeks initial bids to deliver “Bridge” tankers after 2029 under KC-Y effort
The US Air Force is seeking industrial partners to deliver up to 160 “Bridge” tankers, a commercial aircraft-based aerial refueling jet that the service intends to acquire after Boeing stops producing KC-46As in 2029.
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News
US Air Force T-7A advanced jet trainer delayed by up to 15 months
The US Air Force’s T-7A Red Hawk advanced trainer has fallen as much as 15 months behind schedule after parts shortages, initial design delays and the discovery of aircraft wing rock.
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News
USAF demos converting commercial-grade jet fuel into military fuel for ‘Agile’ operations
The ability to refuel at commercial airports would allow US military aircraft to operate or transit from more locations.
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News
New Lockheed Martin exec takes over F-35 programme at make-or-break point
Bridget Lauderdale has the privilege – or the burden – of taking over the management of the Lockheed Martin F-35 at a critical point.
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News
Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota to be first operational base for B-21 stealth bomber
The base will also host the stealth bomber’s formal training unit.
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News
Lockheed Martin to produce 133 to 139 F-35s in 2021 as Covid hangover lingers
Lockheed Martin plans to manufacture between 133 and 139 examples of its F-35 stealth fighter in 2021, a number about the same as 2019 levels, but below previous projections as the programme continues to feel the lingering effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
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News
Saab to deliver six Gripen Es in 2021, as contest decisions near
Saab will deliver a combined six Gripen E fighters to Brazil and Sweden this year, as the manufacturer also pursues additional export opportunities for the new-generation type.
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News
F-35 Lightning begins trials aboard UK’s second aircraft carrier
The UK has performed the first landing of a Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning combat aircraft aboard the Royal Navy’s second aircraft carrier, HMS Prince of Wales.
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News
US Navy’s unmanned MQ-25 demos air-to-air refuelling of F/A-18 Super Hornet for first time
The US Navy’s Boeing MQ-25 Stingray unmanned air vehicle has demonstrated in-flight refuelling of an F/A-18F Super Hornet for the first time.
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News
RAAF flies F-35As in ‘beast mode’ for the first time
The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has operated a pair of Lockheed Martin F-35A fighters with a full weapons load for the first time.
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News
Brazilian air force to nearly double Saab Gripen order, cut KC-390 order in half: reports
In a major shakeup of its aircraft buying plans, the Brazilian air force plans to nearly double its order of Saab Gripen fighters and cut its number of Embraer KC-390 Millennium transports roughly in half.
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News
Red 6, augmented realty fighter pilot training start-up, raises $30 million
Red 6, an augmented reality fighter pilot training start-up, has raised a $30 million round of financing.
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News
Brazilian air force to cut its Embraer KC-390 order, citing pandemic fiscal constraints
The Brazilian air force plans to cut its order of 28 examples of the Embraer KC-390 Millennium transport due to the negative impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Brasilia’s budget.
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News
US Air Force asks to retire 201 older aircraft, plans to invest in R&D and new aircraft
The US Air Force is asking the US Congress to let it retire 201 aircraft in fiscal year 2022, in order to reinvest savings from not operating and maintaining those aircraft into research and development, as well as procurement of next-generation aircraft and weapons.
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News
US Air Force completes Golden Horde autonomous bomb testing
Six modified Boeing GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs, dropped simultaneously from two Lockheed Martin F-16s, established communications with each other and a ground station, and after receiving new instructions mid-flight, autonomously swarmed and hit two targets.
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News
USAF bungling caused KC-46’s $100m refuelling boom redesign: Inspector General
By overlooking design changes made by Boeing to the KC-46A’s refuelling boom, the US Air Force (USAF) missed an opportunity to catch problems early and stave off a $100 million redesign effort.
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News
USAF should consider supersonic business jets for battlefield management: think tank
The Mitchell Institute is calling on the US Air Force to consider using in-development supersonic business jets as next-generation command and control aircraft.
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News
X-Net data link, designed for small munitions, gets NSA Type-1 certification
Raytheon’s X-Net communication system has received a Type-1 certification, the highest encryption rating from the National Security Agency.
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In depth
A400M sales set to take off, says Airbus programme manager
With its 100th operational aircraft delivered and several key development hurdles cleared within the last 18 months, the A400M is now “at a turning point”, the Airbus Defence & Space official in charge of the programme believes.