Leigh Giangreco
- News
State Department clears potential F-35A export to Belgium
The US State Department has approved a possible foreign military sale of 34 Lockheed Martin F-35As to Belgium worth an estimated $6.53 billion, the agency announced this week.
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Pentagon's new strategy turns to Russian and Chinese threats
The US Defense Department’s 2018 National Defense Strategy, the Pentagon policy that will drive its budget priorities for the next five years, pivoted away from counter-insurgency operations and toward its high-end foes: Russia and China.
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Short-term funding could delay B-21 delivery
Development and delivery of the US Air Force’s B-21 stealth bomber could stall if Congress passes yet another short term funding bill that would freeze the Pentagon’s spending limit at previous fiscal year levels, a senior USAF official warns.
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Air Force snubs A-10 re-winging effort: POGO
The US Air Force is letting its close air support workhorse die a slow death by shelving plans to replace the remaining wings on the rest of its Fairchild-Republic A-10C fleet, according to a government watchdog group.
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DARPA completes second phase of swarming demo
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has completed the second phase of its collaborative control technology for unmanned air systems demonstration, the next step in an effort to orchestrate swarms of legacy UAS with the hand of a single human operator.
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US denies Raytheon radar protest on JSTARS
The US government upheld the US Air Force’s decision to exclude Raytheon’s Archimedes radar from participating in the competition to replace the Northrop Grumman E-8C JSTARS fleet.
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USAF: Skies over Iraq and Syria are “treasure trove” for adversary eyes
Russia and China are studying American air power over Syria and Iraq, and US Air Force generals are worried they have already learned too much.
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Aurora's long-range Orion UAS receives USAF funding
The US Air Force has awarded Aurora Flight Sciences a $48 million contract to develop a certified version of the long-endurance Orion unmanned air vehicle, possibly reviving the UAV's prospects with the air force after the service rebuffed it almost three years ago.
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USAF nominee leaves future of Pentagon innovation office in doubt
A key figure in the Obama administration's defence innovation strategy organized under the Third Offset initiative will lead the US Air Force’s acquisition office, leaving the future of the secretive Strategic Capabilities Office in limbo.
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AeroVironment revives Global Observer with new joint venture
AeroVironment will team up with the Japan-based SoftBank Corporation to develop a solar-powered high-altitude long-endurance unmanned air vehicle for commercial operations, the company announced this week.
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US offers Super Tucanos to Nigeria
The US government made an official offer for the sale of 12 Embraer A-29 Super Tucanos to Nigeria, the Nigerian air force announced in late December.
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Block III Super Hornet upgrades to begin this spring
The first US Navy Super Hornet to receive service life modification upgrades will arrive at Boeing’s St. Louis facility next April and will leave with an additional 3,000 flight hours, Boeing’s vice president of FA-18 programmes tells FlightGlobal.
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Lockheed and Northrop win deals to demo new missiles
The US Air Force Research Laboratory has contracted Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman to build low-cost, networked cruise missile prototypes for the service’s Gray Wolf technology demonstration effort.
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Boeing KC-46 receives 767 certification
Boeing’s KC-46A tanker received the Federal Aviation Administration’s amended type certification for the baseline 767-2C, ensuring the US Air Force’s tanker replacement is safe to fly, the company announced this week.
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Lockheed meets 2017 F-35 delivery goal
Lockheed Martin hit its F-35 delivery mark for the year, rolling out its 66th jet this month out of its Fort Worth, Texas facility.
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Bell Valor V-280 makes maiden flight
Bell Helicopter’s V-280 Valor flew its inaugural flight this week, marking a later maiden voyage than expected after the company announced the tiltrotor would fly earlier this fall.
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USAF finds F-35 maintainers outside A-10 fleet
The US Air Force no longer needs to rob its A-10 fleet’s maintainers to support the incoming Lockheed Martin F-35As, according to a Congressional report.
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AIA calls Congress to strengthen Ex-Im bank
The head of the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) praised Republican lawmakers’ efforts on new tax legislation while encouraging the more radical Tea Party contingent to back down from their attack on the US Export-Import Bank.
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Pentagon OKs limited F-35 testing before modifying jets
The Pentagon’s top weapons tester intends to approve limited testing on the Lockheed Martin F-35 while the programme office waits for modifications needed to begin the fighter’s full initial operational test and evaluation.
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Canada announces open fighter competition with caveats
Canada will hold an open competition to replace its aging CF-18 fighter fleet, but sent a firm warning to any company who might try to hurt Canadian business.