All Fixed-Wing news – Page 1251
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USN faces funding gap for new aircraft
Efforts by the US Navy to develop a Common Support Aircraft (CSA) are continuing to founder because of opposition by US legislators. The recent rejection of a $27 million fiscal year 1999 request by the House National Security Committee (HNSC) means that the future of the project will be determined ...
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Eurofighter nations work on fixed price EF2000 order
The four Eurofighter partner nations are working towards conclusion of a fixed price order for 148 aircraft in the third quarter of this year, with an announcement likely to be timed to coincide with the Farnborough air show in September. The fixed price order follows on from the production ...
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F-22 begins tests at Edwards AFB
Test flights of the Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22 air superiority fighter began at Edwards AFB, California, on 17 May, with a 1h 20 min sortie. Lt Col Steve Rainey, the first US Air Force pilot to fly the development standard F-22, flew the aircraft at speeds "at or below 350kt [650km/h]", ...
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Australia signs for JSF
Ramon Lopez/WASHINGTON DC International interest in the US/UK Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) programme continues to grow, with Australia the latest to sign for the project as an observer. Meanwhile, US industry officials believe that Singapore may be the next to join the JSF project as a so-called "informed ...
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Australia request
The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has launched its requirement for an armed reconnaissance helicopter in a request for proposals (RFP) released to industry earlier this month. The total requirement is likely to be for between 25 and 30 aircraft, although airframe numbers are not detailed. Tandem seating is strongly preferred, ...
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Israel will upgrade Slovenian air force PC-9s
The Slovenian air force is to upgrade its Pilatus PC-9s in a deal with Israeli company Radom. The trainers will have new avionics, including a wide angle head-up display and weapon delivery and communications systems. Slovenian sources say the Israeli proposal was selected because it meets the specific requirements and ...
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GEC-Marconi's Chinese Argus negotiations reach deadlock
Paul Lewis/BEIJING GEC-Marconi's drawn-out contractual negotiations with the Chinese air force to supply the Argus 2000 airborne early warning (AEW) radar system are in danger of reaching an impasse over the issue of pricing. The two sides have been engaged in negotiations since late last year on the ...
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Rafael link gives F-16 users Python option
Lockheed Martin may market the Rafael Python-4 air-to-air missile to present and future F-16 customers as part of a deal signed earlier this month to form a joint venture. The agreement could involve manufacture of the advanced short-range infrared-guided missile in the USA. The Israeli company will transfer air-to-air ...
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NH90 participants thrash out production deal
Julian Moxon/PARIS Final agreement on workshare and production of the NATO NH90 transport helicopter came a step nearer at Berlin's ILA '98, with the removal of a major stumbling block to the project. Senior national defence officials from France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands thrashed out a deal ...
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AMC rebuffs An-70 as basis of Future Large Aircraft project
Airbus Military Company (AMC) has rejected any possibility of it using the Antonov An-70 as the basis for a European Future Large Aircraft (FLA). The timing of the statement during the Berlin air show angered senior Airbus Industrie management, apparently concerned that the rejection of a German-led initiative to ...
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German guard will take its first EC135
Germany's border guard is to receive the first of 13 Eurocopter EC155 twin-engine medium helicopters this year. Eurocopter co-president Siegfried Sobotta says the group is putting a "tremendous effort" into getting the first of the EC155s to the border guard this year. The EC155 is a further development of ...
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Swidnik searches for partnership
Polish helicopter manufacturer PZL-Swidnik is seeking a strategic partnership with a major European helicopter producer which could lead to licensed Polish manufacture of Western helicopters. Swidnik declines to name its potential partners, but industry sources in Germany confirm that talks have been held with Eurocopter and Italy's Agusta. Both ...
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Dasa expects Trigat missile contract
Daimler-Benz Aerospace (Dasa) missiles subsidiary LFK expects a German procurement contract for the long-range Trigat anti-tank missile in 1999. Its declaration comes despite the collapse of commitment to the Euromissile Dynamics Group project from France, which may now run a contest to select a weapons system for its Eurocopter ...
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Planar advance
Planar Advance of Beaverton, Oregon, has been awarded a contract by L-3 Display Systems to deliver a new, high-resolution flat-panel display subassembly for the US Army's Boeing AH-64 Apache attack helicopters. The Eagle-5M displays will be incorporated in the helicopter's target acquisition designation system in the gunner/co-pilot seat. Source: ...
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Boxing clever
US Vice President Al Gore's planned visit to Lockheed Martin's Forth Worth, Texas, F-16 production line on 15 May was effectively a celebration of far more than a $7 billion sale of the aircraft to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The event marks the closure of a threatening fissure between ...
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Venezuela thinks over AMX-T offer
Embraer is offering to develop and deliver an upgraded version of the AMX within 24 months to meet Venezuela's requirement for an advanced trainer/tactical support aircraft. The AMX-T is one of eight types being evaluated for the 24-aircraft requirement. Venezuela is to announce its choice by the end of May. ...
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UAE Block 60 order provides edge for Lockheed Martin
Douglas Barrie/LONDON Graham Warwick/WASHINGTON DC Victory in the $7 billion United Arab Emirates (UAE) fighter competition will allow Lockheed Martin to cut drastically its F-16 Block 60 bid price in the Greek and Norwegian fighter competitions now in progress. Sources close to the Norwegian programme say that the UAE's decision ...
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Kaman may join fray for South African maritime helicopter
Douglas Barrie/LONDON Julian Moxon/PARIS A South African technical evaluation team has visited US helicopter manufacturer Kaman to be briefed on the SH-2G Super Seasprite maritime helicopter, despite only Eurocopter and GKN Westland having been shortlisted to meet its naval helicopter requirement. The visit in early May was carried ...
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UK details RAF project delays
Douglas Barrie/LONDON Lockheed Martin has paid the first instalment in a £23.5 million ($38 million) penalty charge to the UK Ministry of Defence for delays in delivery of the Royal Air Force's C-130J Hercules 2 tactical military transport. Details of the "liquidated damages" are revealed in the National ...
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X-35 takes shape
Lockheed Martin has begun assembling its first X-35 Joint Strike Fighter concept demonstrator aircraft at the Skunk Works in Palmdale, California. Boeing plans to assemble its competing X-32s across the runway at Palmdale. Both are scheduled to fly early in 2000. Source: Flight International