All Fixed-Wing news – Page 1382
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Short take-off, low funding
When General Dynamics rolled-out its F-111A Tactical Fighter (TFX) prototype in 1964, the-then-US defence secretary Robert McNamara proclaimed it as "...the greatest single step forward in combat aircraft to occur in several decades". In the event, the "Aardvark", as it was nicknamed, turned out to be a "turkey" in most ...
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Privatisation path
In February, El Al at last emerged from 12 years of receivership. Now, for the first time since the early 1980s, Israel's national airline is under the control of its own board of directors. Their primary objective is to speed the airline towards privatisation, while at the same ...
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FAA turns down waiver for ageing 707 fleet operator group
THE US FEDERAL Aviation Administration is rejecting attempts by Boeing 707 operators to extend the imminent deadline for completion of the type's aging-aircraft programme. The work has to be done by 29 April, or at 20,000 cycles, and, although no more than 25 aircraft fall under the FAA's ...
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UAE close to strike decision
THE UNITED ARAB Emirates (UAE) will decide on an aircraft to fulfil its strategic-strike requirement by the end of this year, say industry sources close to the competition. The UAE air force is interested in procuring up to 80 aircraft to provide a long-range-strike and an air-defence ...
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Malaysia will buy AA-12
MALAYSIA IS TO become the first export customer for the Vympel RVV-AE (AA-12) medium-range air-to-air missile (AAM), say senior Russian industry officials at the show. The Malaysian air force has ordered 18 Mikoyan MiG-29 Fulcrum fighter aircraft and the supply of the RVV-AE is believed to be ...
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UK clears Hakim for sale to UAE
THE UK HAS CLEARED the design of a GEC-Marconi long-range air-to-surface missile to take part in a competition for a United Arab Emirates (UAE) requirement, after having initially blocked such an offer. The UK Government objected to the initial GEC design because the missile's range was close to ...
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Australian Caribou competition hots up
COMPETITION TO replace Australia's fleet of de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou light-transport aircraft has intensified, with IPTN of Indonesia and Alenia of Italy announcing teaming agreements with Australian companies. CASA is expected to follow. The size of the RAAF order has not yet been determined, but could ...
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Lockheed signs C-130J agreement
LOCKHEED Aeronautical Systems has signed agreements with three Australian companies to supply components for the C-130J as part of its proposed sale of 12 aircraft to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). The three local manufacturers selected to join the Lockheed Martin Industrial Team, as C-130J suppliers are, ...
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Bidders team up for RAAF trainer competition
MANUFACTURERS competing for a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) order for a new lead-in fighter trainer are playing down the significance of local assembly, and instead placing greater emphasis on costs and after-sales support. The RAAF has a requirement for 35-45 aircraft as replacements for its aging ...
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RAF pictures help Turks bomb Iraq PKK bases
PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN from UK and French combat aircraft of the Kurdish safe haven in northern Iraq have been made available to the Turkish military. Its forces launched the largest-ever incursion into northern Iraq on 20 March in pursuit of Kurdish PKK guerrilla fighters. The Royal Air Force and ...
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Turkey to launch hunt for MPA
TURKEY IS ABOUT to release a request for proposals for a maritime-patrol aircraft (MPA), with Fokker, CASA and Dornier among the likely bidders. The requirement looked likely at one point to be satisfied by an ex-US Navy Lockheed P-3 Orion, but this deal appears to have fallen through. ...
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Chile software demands halt Phalcon deliveries
THE CHILEAN air force has refused to accept its Phalcon airborne early-warning aircraft from Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI), demanding that the mission software be completely debugged before delivery. Phalcon test flights were completed earlier this month, but Chilean observers claimed that various problems, mainly software related, had not ...
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UAE decides to buy Eurocopter Panthers
THE UNITED ARAB Emirates is to purchase seven Eurocopter AS.565 Panthers and upgrade seven Eurocopter Super Pumas to meet its anti-submarine-warfare (ASW)/anti-surface-vessel requirement. The $235 million deal, agreed on the last day of the IDEX show, appears to bring to an end a long-running saga, during which a ...
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Starstreak-Avenger test is cancelled
A US ARMY demonstration of the Shorts Starstreak missile on the Boeing Avenger air-defence system has been cancelled, but the weapon may be evaluated on the Army's McDonnell Douglas Helicopter AH-64 Apache attack helicopter. Plans had called for live firings of the Starstreak hypervelocity air-defence weapon from the ...
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Rolls-Royce completes its acquisition of Allison
ROLLS-ROYCE HAS completed its acquisition of Allison, after clearing the final US regulatory hurdles. Under a deal worked out with the US Government, R-R will be denied access to Allison's work on classified defence programmes. R-R is focusing on the commercial benefits of taking on Allison's existing ...
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History of ASTOVL
The ASTOVL programme originally emerged from a US Navy STOVL fighter strike study and continuing research under the US-UK ASTOVL co-operative research agreement. The ARPA programme was examining STOVL as a way of reducing the cost of performing a strike mission. As this is one of the main drivers of ...
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India turns down offer of Su-30
THE INDIAN Government has rejected a Russian offer of Sukhoi Su-30 fighters. Russian delegations have recently visited New Delhi for discussions about a plan to sell 35 Su-30s. Indian defence officials say that they are still facing supply problems on spares for various Mikoyan aircraft and ...
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John Lawson
John Lawson, new president of Bombardier's Business Aircraft division, credits the Canadian company's refined succession planning for the rapidity with which he was appointed to replace Bryan Moss when he left for rival Gulfstream Aerospace. Lawson, and new executive vice-president Keith Gardner, were in place within three days of Moss' ...
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21st Century tiger
The Northrop F-5 fighter is gaining a new lease of life. Guy Norris/LOS ANGELES In late April, sharp-eyed passengers at Los Angeles International Airport may see the unusual sight of a Northrop F-5E fighter lining up for take-off among the airliners. It will be no ...
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Bell to test obstacle- detector laser radar
BELL HELICOPTER Textron is preparing to flight-test an obstacle detecting laser radar developed by Orlando, Florida-based Schwartz Electro-Optics (SEO). The Scanning Helicopter Interference Envelope Laser Detector (SHIELD) provides lower-hemisphere protection at low speed and while hovering in confined or hazardous areas, SEO says. The radar can detect wires ...