All Fixed-Wing news – Page 1209
-
News
JSF programme office trims work plan
Paul Lewis/WASHINGTON DC The US Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) programme office has agreed to trim design refinement efforts to keep Boeing and Lockheed Martin's concept demonstrations efforts within budget and on time. Revised proposals from the companies in response to programme office concerns about budget overruns and delays have ...
-
News
Apache tests
The US Army has begun flight testing the ITT Avionics ALQ-211 integrated radio-frequency countermeasures in a Boeing AH-64D Longbow Apache. Tests have included checking electromagnetic compatibility with the fire-control radar and RF Hellfire missiles. Source: Flight International
-
News
USN eyes role change for CH-60S utility helicopter
Paul Lewis/WASHINGTON DC Sikorsky is designing an airborne mine countermeasures (AMCM) version of the US Navy's new CH-60S utility helicopter and has begun modifying a prototype machine to conduct aerial towing demonstrations. The Navy's prototype YCH-60 helicopter is being fitted with a swivel-tow coupling, mounted to the aft underside ...
-
News
UK police forces line up for Eurocopter EC135
McAlpine Helicopters has delivered a Eurocopter EC135 to the Chiltern air support unit (ASU), which combines the Thames Valley, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire police forces. This marks the fourth delivery of the twin-engined helicopter by McAlpine to UK police in the last six months. The Oxford Airport-based Eurocopter distributor and completion ...
-
News
B-2 bombs on target, says USAF
Ramon Lopez/WASHINGTON DC Six US Air Force Northrop Grumman B-2 stealth bombers have dropped more than 454,000kg (1,000,000lb) of global positioning system (GPS) -guided bombs on Yugoslav targets with no collateral damage, according to USAF Brig Gen Leroy Barnidge, commander of the 509th Bomber Wing at Whiteman AFB, Missouri. ...
-
News
Armed reconnaissance role for Harriers
The UK's Royal Air Force has deployed a specialist reconnaissance interpretation centre (RIC) to Gioia del Colle AB in Italy, its base for Operation Allied Force. Activation of the RIC allows the 12 RAF British Aerospace Harrier GR7s based at Gioia del Colle to fly armed reconnaissance patrols over Kosovo ...
-
News
Kosovo highlights
NATO intensifies its air campaign, flying 600-plus sorties a day. Some aircraft have started to operate at lower levels. Serb air defences evident with numerous SAM launches and AAA activity. Short helicopter flights observed. NATO accused of killing civilians in mistakenly destroying two civilian buses. The alliance admits ...
-
News
Antarctic conversion
The US Air Force has awarded Raytheon an $18 million contract to convert two US Navy Lockheed Martin ski-equipped LC-130Rs to USAF LC-130H configuration, to support Antarctic research projects. The Raytheon Systems unit, in Waco, Texas, will upgrade the cockpits to include new avionics, navigation and communications equipment and displays. ...
-
News
German CH-53 tanks
Derlan has shipped the first external fuel tanks to Eurocopter Deutschland for Germany's Sikorsky CH-53 helicopter range-extension programme. Delivery of 21 shipsets, each of two filament-wound composite tanks, will be completed by year-end. Source: Flight International
-
News
Mangusta equipment
Israel Aircraft Industries' Tamam division will supply the electro-optic night targeting and electronic warfare systems to Agusta for its A129 Mangusta, which is short-listed by Turkey for its attack helicopter requirement. The helicopter will be able to use Hellfire and TOW anti-tank missiles. Tamam confirms that the Israel-equipped A129 is ...
-
News
More B-52Hs help NATO step up air strikes
Ramon Lopez/WASHINGTON DC Ten more Boeing B-52H Stratofortress bombers are to be deployed to Europe to help meet NATO's request for 300 additional US aircraft in the Balkans conflict. Eight hundred US aircraft are involved in the five-week-old Operation Allied Force air campaign. Other nations are also expected ...
-
News
US police reduce maintenance with jet fuel additive
Two US police aviation units have completed the field demonstration of a US Air Force-developed jet fuel additive which reduces maintenance caused by coking in engines and fuel systems. The USAF is briefing other law enforcement and civil helicopter operators. Florida's Tampa Police Department and Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office ...
-
News
Embraer to roll out aircraft for Amazon surveillance
Paul Lewis/RIO DE JANEIRO Embraer is planning to roll out the first of five ERJ-145SA airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft later this month, along with the first ALX light attack version of the EMB-314 Super Tucano. The aircraft form two of the three airborne systems that make up ...
-
News
New Zealand F-16s to get strike capability
Peter La Franchi/CANBERRAThe Royal New Zealand Air Force is to upgrade the strike capabilities of its planned force of 28 Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 15 fighters with pod-based ECM jamming and laser target designation systems. The office of New Zealand defence minister Max Bradford has confirmed that a range of ...
-
News
USAF seeks data on expanded multirole capabilities for F-22
Graham Warwick/WASHINGTON DC Lockheed Martin and Boeing will report back to the US Air Force by mid-year on the work needed to expand the F-22's multirole capabilities. New programme general manager Bob Reardon says the team has been asked to look at 31 different precision-guided weapon scenarios and ...
-
News
Boeing and Lockheed Martin await JSF verdict
The Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) programme office will respond on 10 May to Boeing and Lockheed Martin's revised plans to keep their competing concept demonstrator aircraft (CDAs) within budget and on schedule. Both manufacturers received letters from the US Department of Defense in early April, asking for proposals on ...
-
News
Tests begin on Rafale optronics
Julian Moxon/PARISFlight tests of the Thomson-CSF Optronique front sector optronics (FSO)system that will give the Dassault Rafale fighter a passive infrared and television imaging capability have begun on a Dassault Falcon 20 testbed. The FSO will provide all-weather air-to-air and air-to-ground surveillance and targeting and, says Thomson-CSF Optronique, is the ...
-
News
CASA offers quick response offshore surveillance
CASA is developing its maritime patrol and surveillance capability, to offer customers a "quick response" in what it sees as a growing market for low-cost, effective offshore systems. The company is awaiting an initial order from the Spanish air force to equip five Lockheed P-3 Orions with its latest ...
-
News
Northrop Grumman lands $1.3 billion E-2C Hawkeye contract
Paul Lewis/WASHINGTONNorthrop Grumman has won a $1.3 billion multi-year procurement contract for 22 new improved E-2C Hawkeye 2000s for the US Navy and France. The deal secures continued production of the turboprop airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft through to early 2006. The five-year contract covers 21 of the Hawkeye 2000 ...
-
News
HAI plans civil business and revenues boost
Julian Moxon/ATHENS Hellenic Aerospace Industries (HAI) aims to double its revenues in the next five years by building up its civil business to the same level as that of its military activities. "We want to achieve an even split between the two," says HAI managing director George Goulios. ...