All articles by Ryan Finnerty – Page 3
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NewsUS Air Force flies last T-7A test aircraft ahead of low-rate initial production decision
The fifth example of the Boeing T-7A Red Hawk jet trainer took off from Boeing’s fighter delivery centre at St. Louis Lambert International airport on a customer acceptance flight, with the commander of the US Air Force’s 416th Test Squadron at the controls.
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NewsHermeus completes ground testing ahead of Quarterhorse Mk 1 first flight
The US hypersonic flight start-up is preparing to launch a test campaign for its Quarterhorse Mk 1 vehicle, a subsonic fixed-wing jet that will be used to evaluate systems intended for use on subsequent supersonic and hypersonic Quarterhorse models.
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AnalysisPentagon reports nothing anomalous in rash of drone sightings over US airspace
Fuelled by rampant speculation on the internet, US law enforcement agencies have received more than 5,000 reports of unknown drones operating over airspace along the Eastern Seaboard in recent weeks, with most turning out to be commercial aircraft or hobbyist drones.
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NewsEmbraer secures first European order for Super Tucanos with 12 aircraft buy from Portugal
The $210 million order for 12 of the A-29N Super Tucano turboprops from Portugal expands Embraer’s growing European defence business, which already includes sales of the C-390 transport and a partnership to assemble the latest Saab jet fighter.
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NewsRolls-Royce completes critical design review for new B-52J engine
Engine maker Rolls-Royce says its new F130 turbofan successfully cleared critical design review, a key programmatic step in the effort to modernise the US Air Force’s iconic B-52 long-range bombers with new propulsion and improved onboard systems.
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NewsSikorsky to demonstrate autonomous Black Hawk for US Marine Corps
Sikorsky will fly its Optionally Piloted Vehicle variant of the UH-60 Black Hawk for the US Marine Corps throughout 2025, showcasing the potential to convert existing rotorcraft into uncrewed, autonomous aircraft capable of executing resupply and medical evacuation missions.
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NewsCongress orders review of US air-to-air missile inventory needs
A provision in the draft legislation covering 2025 Pentagon operations would require the US Air Force and US Navy to assess their inventory requirements for air-to-air missiles, including possible extension of AIM-120 AMRAAM production beyond 2028.
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NewsNorthrop begins production of first E-2D for French navy
The three airborne command and control turboprops will replace France’s fleet of E-2C Hawkeye 2000 aircraft.
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NewsLawmakers move to cut US F-35 purchases over ‘long-standing’ sustainment issues
A provision in wide-ranging defence legislation covering Pentagon operations for 2025 would limit new acquisitions of the Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth fighter to 48 examples until concerns about availability rates and aircraft sustainment are addressed.
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NewsIsrael strikes hit Syrian navy amid leadership uncertainty
The Israeli ministry of defence has confirmed it sank at least 15 Syrian naval vessels in the ports of Al-Bayda and Latakia as the region waits to see who will take control of the war-torn country’s new government.
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NewsDutch F-35s intercept Russian surveillance aircraft over Baltic Sea
Just a week after they arrived in Estonia to support NATO air patrols along the Russian border, F-35 fighters from the Royal Netherlands Air Force have intercepted Russian military aircraft over the Baltic Sea.
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NewsPentagon again grounds Osprey fleet after recent ‘near-crash’
The US miltiary’s fleet of Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey tiltrotors are grounded for the second time this year after what the Pentagon describes as a “near-crash” in November.
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NewsSyrian Il-76 disappears from flight tracking as ousted president defects to Russia
With a lightning advance of rebel fighters reaching Damascus, the country’s dictatorial president Bashar al-Assad fled the capital around the time a Syrian Air flight originating in Damascus disappeared from tracking over the rebel-controlled city of Homs.
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In depthNational leaders argue strong defence industry is essential to USA’s geopolitical position
Amid a turbulent transition into a new presidential administration in Washington, senior figures in the government are urging a continued commitment to the USA’s defence industry, at a time of precarious global security.
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NewsBoeing lands Lot 3 contract for US Army Block II Chinooks
The deal for three rotorcraft comes as Boeing and the US Army are negotiating a full-rate production deal for the latest version of the CH-47F, which could see hundreds of orders for Boeing.
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NewsOutgoing US Air Force leaders defer sixth-generation fighter decision to Trump administration
After promising for months to deliver a new strategy for the next generation of new aircraft development, civilian leaders of the US Air Force are deferring a decision on the service’s sixth-generation fighter programme to the incoming administration of Donald Trump.
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NewsLockheed names head of integrated fighters business to run Skunk Works
OJ Sanchez, a former US Air Force F-22 pilot, will take over the secretive Skunk Works advanced projects division after heading Lockheed’s integrated fighter group.
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NewsNorway, UK and USA test F-35 data-sharing during live-fire bombing drills
The drills over Norway and the North Sea involved fighters and bombers teaming with surveillance jets, reconnaissance aircraft, tankers and ground-based fire-control personnel to strike targets in Norway with live ordnance.
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NewsSierra Nevada begins modifying first 747-8 for ‘Doomsday’ jet replacement programme
Known as the Survivable Airborne Operations Centre, or SAOC, the new fleet of Boeing 747-derivative jets are intended to replace the US Air Force’s Boeing E-4B Nightwatch aircraft, which can serve as an airborne platform for commanding the American nuclear arsenal.
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NewsPentagon confirms A-10 strikes in Syria, claiming defence of US forces
Although the Pentagon has denied taking any part in the rebel offensive against Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, Washington says it conducted what are described as “self-defence strikes” in Syria against unspecfied threats to US forces and their partners.