All Fixed-Wing news – Page 26
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AnalysisWhy Berlin is ‘growing up fast’ thanks to defence spending boost
After years of under-spending on its armed forces, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has driven Germany to boost investment and re-equip its armed forces for an uncertain future.
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NewsUSAF releases first official images of B-21 in flight
The US Air Force has released images of the developmental Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider strategic bomber in flight, as it maintains that the programme is on track.
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NewsUSAF seeks $329m for single 737 VIP transport amid cuts to fighter procurement
The USAF wants to bolster its executive-transport fleet by acquiring a single new 737-based C-40D for $329 million, while at the same time acquiring fewer fighter jets, according to the service’s fiscal year 2025 budget request.
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NewsTechnology enhancements to boost Eurofighter sales appeal, BAE says
BAE Systems is moving into a busy few months of flight-testing involving numerous enhancements for the Eurofighter Typhoon, as it also continues to eye further export opportunities for the type.
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NewsAustralia and New Zealand launch military evacuation flights from New Caledonia
More than a week of unrest in the overseas French territory of New Caledonia has stranded thousands of civilians from Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere, for whom the South Pacific island is a popular holiday destination and mining hub.
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NewsAurora reveals new details of experimental fan-in-wing design
The fan-in-wing prototype recently advanced in DARPA’s Speed and Runway Independent Technologies project to develop a new high-speed jet aircraft capable of vertical take-off and landing.
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NewsPitch rate gyroscopes faulted in Singapore F-16 crash
Lockheed Martin and the Republic of Singapore Air Force have determined that bad inputs from pitch rate gyroscopes caused the crash of an F-16 on 8 May.
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NewsLead Belgian F-35A completes first flight
A first Lockheed Martin F-35A stealth fighter built for European customer Belgium has been flown for the first time, with the airframer expecting to deliver the jet later this year.
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NewsLatest F-35 configuration may not be ready for service until 2025
Already months behind schedule, US government auditors now predict the latest Technical Refresh 3 configuration of the Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter will not be ready for service until 2025, as the airframer struggles to resolve technical issues hindering flight certification of the new systems.
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NewsAurora now sole designer in Pentagon heavy-lift seaplane effort
Boeing subsidiary Aurora Flight Sciences is now the sole participant in a Pentagon effort to develop a heavy-lift amphibious transport, after a proposed design from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems was eliminated over schedule and technical concerns.
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In depth‘It will improvise’: Shield AI’s dogfighting algorithm developed novel fighter tactics
The founder of Shield AI, the company behind the artificial intelligence that recently powered an autonomous F-16 fighter in US Air Force dogfighting drills, says its algorithm has shown ability to improvise, and has even developed novel air combat tactics no human pilot would likely employ.
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NewsHermeus begins testing pre-cooler technology for hypersonic engine
Hypersonic developer Hermeus has begun testing a proprietary pre-cooler technology that will allow a standard Pratt & Whitney F100 jet engine to operate at higher speeds and with greater efficiency.
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In depthL3Harris poised to deliver first OA-1K Armed Overwatch turboprop
Although the Armed Overwatch programme to develop a new close-air support turboprop has been criticised by government auditors, US Special Operations Command stands by the concept and contractor L3Harris is poised to deliver the first aircraft.
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NewsUS F/A-18s overfly Guyana amid border dispute with Venezuela
The government of Guyana says it gave permission for two US Navy Boeing F/A-18 fighter jets to pass over the capital Georgetown, amid a border dispute with neighbouring Venezuela over access to valuable oil fields.
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NewsA-10s escort US ballistic missile submarine during strait transit
Ground-attack A-10 fighters from the US Air Force overflew the USS Nebraska ballistic-missile submarine during a transit through the Strait of Juan de Fuca, as the air force continues seeking new missions for the ageing jets.
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NewsUSA no longer pursuing amphibious MC-130 variant
Although they described the concept as technically feasible, procurement officials at the US Special Operations Command say they are no longer pursuing a kit that could modify the Lockheed Martin MC-130J for amphibious take-offs and landings, citing budget constraints and competing priorities.
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NewsTurkey offers Malaysia participation in Kaan fighter programme
Turkey has offered Malaysia the opportunity to participate in the Turkish Aerospace Kaan fighter programme, as deliveries of the Anka unmanned air vehicle to the Southeast Asia nation remain on track.
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NewsJakarta seeks to cut KF-21 financial commitment by 62%
Indonesia is reportedly seeking a major reduction in its funding commitment for the Korea Aerospace Industries KF-21 fighter.
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NewsTop US Air Force official rides in front seat of autonomous F-16
Secretary of the US Air Force Frank Kendall flew in the lead seat of the service’s X-62A Variable In-flight Simulation Test Aircraft (VISTA), a specially modified Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter being used to test and develop artificial intelligence and autonomy capabilities.
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AnalysisOttawa touts progress on defence spending despite missing 2% NATO target
The government of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is lauding a C$40 billion plan to boost military spending, particularly in the Arctic region, while downplaying the country’s failure to achieve the NATO standard of committing the equivalent of 2% of gross domestic product toward defence expenditures.