All Fixed-Wing news – Page 33
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NewsDARPA advances ‘Liberty Lifter’ seaplane competitors with another $40m in funding
The Pentagon’s secretive technology development arm has allocated an additional $40 million to fund continued work on a heavy-lift seaplane demonstrator competition involving General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and Aurora Flight Sciences.
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NewsUS competition regulator clears L3Harris to acquire Aerojet Rocketdyne
The proposal by L3Harris to purchase the strategically important maker of rocket motors was approved by the US Federal Trade Commissionon on 27July, after the agency previously opposed a similar bid from Lockheed Martin.
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NewsFirst B-21 bomber powered up ahead of flight testing
Northrop Grumman continues to progress toward first flight of its in-development B-21 stealth bomber, announcing it recently powered up the initial flight-test aircraft for the first time.
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NewsNorthrop bows out of NGAD fighter competition
Chief executive Kathy Warden says the defence manufacturer, which is currently developing the next-generation B-21 stealth bomber, will not submit a prime bid for the US Air Force’s sixth-generation fighter programme.
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NewsBoeing reports $527m loss on defence business in second quarter
Despite strong demand around the world for military hardware, Boeing’s defence unit continues to struggle with money-losing development programmes and supply chain constraints.
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NewsPoland orders two Saab 340 airborne early warning turboprops
The Swedish airframer says its 340 airborne early warning platform provides a detailed situational picture that can be used for military and civilian tasks, including air surveillance and rescue operations.
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NewsAirbus wins $2.7bn contract for new Canadian tanker fleet, first deliveries set for autumn
Ottawa selected Airbus’s A330-based Multi-Role Tanker Transport to be the Royal Canadian Air Force’s new in-flight refueller, replacing the current Airbus CC-150 Polaris multi-purpose transport.
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NewsCatalina Aircraft relaunches ‘iconic’ flying boat, eyes military sales
Florida-based Catalina Aircraft says it plans to start new production on a modernised version of the legendary World War II-era PBY Catalina flying boat, targeting military and commercial operators.
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AnalysisWhy the US Air Force is accelerating its future tanker fleet plans
Accelerated plans to develop and field a next-generation tanker have raised questions about the US Air Force’s need to plug a gap as its venerable KC-135s head for retirement.
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NewsUSAF makes first-ever use of commercial in-flight refueling service
During recent exercises over the American southwest, a commercially-operated tanker provided air-to-air refuelling support to US Air Force military aircraft.
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NewsBoeing begins Block III upgrades to existing US Navy F/A-18s
The aerospace giant says it has begun installing Block III upgrades on the US Navy’s Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet strike fighters, which will get an additional 4,000h of service life and a new touch-screen cockpit display.
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NewsSuper Hornet production to end in 2025, following Indian competition loss
Boeing expects to finish production of its F/A-18E/F Super Hornet within around two years, following the type’s defeat in an Indian Navy contest for 26 carrier-based fighters.
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NewsDassault chief concerned by impact of Germany on FCAS export sales
Dassault chief executive Eric Trappier has expressed his concern that German reluctance to sanction arms exports to certain countries will hamper the success of the trinational Future Combat Air System (FCAS). The French airframer, alongside Airbus and Indra, is developing the FCAS – including next-generation manned and unmanned platforms – ...
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NewsC-17 engine upgrade will benefit all operators, Pratt & Whitney says
An updated engine support contract for the global fleet of Boeing C-17 strategic transports will deliver substantial savings to operators.
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NewsUK T-6 training output set to soar, Ascent boss says
Ascent Flight Training is in the advanced stage of preparations to increase by almost 50% its provision of basic instruction for the UK Royal Air Force using a fleet of 14 Beechcraft T-6C Texan IIs.
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NewsLockheed delivery numbers falter as Pentagon stops accepting new F-35s
The Pentagon has stopped taking delivery of new F-35s while manufacturer Lockheed Martin completes flight testing for the “Technical Refresh 3” upgrade package, substantially lowering the company’s delivery forecast for 2023.
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NewsBombardier delivers sixth Global 6000 for Saab GlobalEye
The Canadian airframer is supplying its multi-role, long-range business jet to serve as the backbone of Swedish aircraft maker Saab’s GlobalEye airborne early warning and control platform.
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NewsLawmakers brand UK’s reduced E-7 Wedgetail buy as ‘absolute folly’
A committee of lawmakers has slammed the UK government’s decision to reduce its purchase of Boeing E-7 Wedgetail airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft as “an absolute folly” that offered minimal financial savings.
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NewsRaytheon wins additional DARPA funding for hypersonic cruise missile
The Pentagon’ secretive Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency awarded an $81 million contract to Raytheon for further test flights of the Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept cruise missile.
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NewsHow the RAF’s Typhoon usage has soared since Ukraine conflict began
The UK Royal Air Force (RAF) has dramatically ramped up operating hours on its Eurofighter Typhoon fleet since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, achieving a record level of frontline activity last year.