Airbus has flown the first A330 MRTT for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in the service's colours.
Source: French Frogs Airslides
The RAAF has ordered five of the A330-200-based aircraft and the first is due to be delivered shortly to EADS Casa for modification to the tanker role. The refeuelling boom system has separately been flight-tested on an A310.
Following acceptance testing, the type is due in service by late 2009.
Source: Flight International
Using a specially modified F-16 fighter known as the X-62A VISTA, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and the US Air Force pitted a dogfighting artificial intelligence system against human fighter pilots in recent air-to-air combat exercises.
The US Army is exploring potential use of Electra’s hybrid-electric short take-off and landing aircraft (eSTOL) aircraft for logistics in contested environments.
The Pentagon is preparing to curtail the latest upgrade package for the fifth-generation F-35 stealth fighter, as lawmakers expressed frustration with an eight-month freeze in new aircraft deliveries related to certifying new control software.
