All Fixed-Wing news – Page 1317
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Lockheed Martin Aeronautical Systems
C-5 GALAXY An improved, version of the Galaxy, the C-5D was proposed by Lockheed Martin as an alternative to the MDC C-17, under the USAF's Non-Development Airlift Aircraft (NDAA) programme. The C-5D would have new turbofans - GE CF6-80C2s and a two-crew cockpit based on that under development ...
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Lockheed Martin Tactical Aircraft Systems
F-16 FIGHTING FALCON Lockheed Martin's F-16 Block 60 proposal remain in the UAE's strike fighter competition, with an announcement now expected by the turn of the year. The last F-16 on order for the USAF will be delivered in 1997, although the service has a stated requirement for ...
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Lockheed Martin/Boeing
F-22 Re-phasing of the USAF's F-22 Advanced Tactical Fighter programme to cope with budget cuts has delayed the first flight of a development aircraft from the mid-1996 to the first quarter of 1997. The number of development aircraft has been cut from 11 to nine (seven single-seat F-22As ...
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MAPO
MIG-21 FISHBED India has "agreed" an upgrade programme for some 100 of its MiG-21s with MAPO, although it is not known as to whether the programme has actually begun. The package is based on Mikoyan's MiG-21-93 proposal, which includes the Phazotron Kopyo multi-mode lightweight radar. Israel Aircraft Industries ...
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McDonnell Douglas
C-17 GLOBEMASTER III The US DoD and Congress have approved a multi-year procurement for 80 additional C-17s for the USAF. This brings the planned fleet total to 120 aircraft by 2005. The decision followed the successful conclusion of a reliability, maintainability and availability demonstration concluded in August 1995 ...
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Mitsubishi Helicopter Dept
F-4EJKAI Mitsubishi is the prime contractor for modernisation of 96 Japan Air Self-Defence Force McDonnell Douglas F-4EJ Phantoms. The first updated F-4EJKai was delivered in 1989. Improvements include installation of a Westinghouse APG-66J pulse- Doppler radar as well as other avionics upgrades. F-2 Formerly ...
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Northrop Grumman
A-6 INTRUDER The A-6E carrier-borne attack aircraft is being withdrawn from service. A limited upgrade of USN A-6Es added missile-approach warning, towed active decoys, satellite navigation and other improvements. Boeing-built composite wings were retrofitted to 172 A-6s. The last new A-6E was delivered in February 1992. ...
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Panavia Aircraft
TORNADO The RAF Tornado GR4 upgrade project began in 1996. The mid-life update (MLU) is intended to improve the aircraft's covert operational capability and includes a GPS, FLIR and night-vision-compatible cockpit. With the completion of the 35 electronic combat and reconnaissance aircraft for the German air force in ...
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Saab Scania
JAS39 GRIPEN An initial batch of 30 production JAS39As for the Swedish air force was ordered in 1982, followed by a second batch of 110, including 14 JAS 39B two-seaters in 1992. Batch 1 deliveries began in 1993 and the last Batch 2 aircraft will be delivered in ...
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WSK PZL
I-22 The Polish air force grounded its I-22s in early 1996 following a fatal crash in January. In the wake of the incident, some design modifications, including reducing the aircraft's landing-approach speed, are being implemented. The air force has also placed an order for an additional six aircraft. ...
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Trimble GPS deal
Trimble Navigation will provide the US Army with global-positioning-system (GPS) receivers to equip light-utility helicopters under a $13.4 million contract. The GPS maker will build 785 so-called Cargo Utility GPS Receivers (CUGR). The self-contained, lightweight stand-alone GPS units will be installed in the Army's Bell Helicopter Textron UH-1 transport helicopters. ...
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Military aircraft of the world
The FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL'S 1996 Military Aircraft Directory provides details on the major military fixed-wing aircraft now in service or under development. As usual, turbine-powered military trainers have been included in the directory, as many advanced trainer aircraft are now also being promoted as light-to-medium strike fighters. ...
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Greek air force issues RFP for Phantom F-4 laser-designator
Andrzej Jeziorski/Munich THE GREEK AIR FORCE has issued a request for proposals (RFP) for laser-designator pods to equip its McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom fleet, due to be upgraded shortly. The candidates under consideration are the GEC-Marconi Defence Systems TIALD pod, Lockheed Martin's LANTIRN and Rafael's ...
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Racal-Thorn wins Sea King AEW upgrade
THE UK Ministry of Defence has selected Racal-Thorn Defence to act as prime contractor for the radar and mission-system upgrade (MSU) on the Royal Navy's fleet of Sea King AEW Mk.2A airborne-early-warning (AEW) helicopters. At the heart of the upgrade is the company's Searchwater 2000 radar, already selected ...
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Iranian missile deal with N Korea falters
NORTH KOREA'S contract to supply Nodong-1 ballistic missiles to Iran has been shelved, following attempts by the USA to block the deal and Tehran's failure to make payments, according to a senior US Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) official. Negotiations to supply Iran with up to 150 of ...
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Elta and Raytheon team for RAAF AEW bid
Paul Phelan/CAIRNS ISRAEL'S ELTA is to team with Raytheon E-Systems to offer a derivative of its Phalcon airborne-early-warning (AEW) system to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), with the preferred aircraft believed to be an Airbus. The Australian Government selected four US contractors: Boeing, Lockheed Martin, ...
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Congress supports Chinook upgrade
US ARMY PLANS to upgrade its ageing Boeing Chinook CH-47D fleet have received a fillip from Congressional supporters, with funding being made available to begin the programme earlier than expected. The improved-cargo-helicopter (ICH) refurbishment project also recently won the endorsement of the US Army leadership, which approved the ...
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China receives Su-27 batch and discusses third order
Paul Lewis/BEIJING CHINA'S AIR FORCE has finished taking delivery of a second batch of Sukhoi Su-27 fighters and is now believed to be discussing a third follow-on purchase with the Russian company. According to local defence sources, a further 24 fighters have now entered service with ...
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Swedish SH37 Viggen crashes photographing...
Swedish SH37 Viggen crashes photographing new Russian cruiser IN AN EPISODE reminiscent of the Cold War, a Swedish air force reconnaissance aircraft crashed on 16 October while on a low-level pass over a new Russian cruiser at sea for the first time. The Saab SH37 Viggen ...