All news – Page 6714
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News
Northrop goes into BAT
Paul Lewis/WASHINGTON DCNorthrop Grumman has begun looking at alternative missile applications for the Brilliant Anti-Armour Submunition (BAT). This follows a long-awaited initial production order to fit the acoustically-guided weapon to the Lockheed Martin MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACM). The manufacturer is discussing installing BAT into the US Air Force's ...
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Ultra Electronics/Cubic teamed to develop HIDL
The UK Ministry of Defence has selected an Ultra Electronics/Cubic team to conduct a one-year study contract to set specifications for a back-up high-integrity datalink (HIDL) for unmanned air vehicles. The MoD is providing about $200,000, with the companies contributing an undisclosed amount. The contract grows out of the ...
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Standard test
A Raytheon Standard Missile-2 Block IV intercepted a supersonic BQM-37 target drone at the White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, on 1 July, marking the first successful intercept by a production version of the Block IV, designed to protect warships against aircraft and anti-ship cruise missiles. Raytheon says the first ...
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New engines
Reg Technologies has completed a short test run of a new "winged-rotor" diesel engine being developed through NASA's Small Business Innovation Research programme. Vancouver, Canada-based Reg also seeks a $600,000 grant to design, fabricate and test a 185kW (250hp) Rand Cam engine built to power light aircraft. The engine borrows ...
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Kazakhstan eases launch ban after Russia agrees to pay
The Kazakhstan Government has eased its ban on Russian launches imposed following the failure of a Proton booster launched from Kazakhstan earlier this month. The prohibition had threatened a mission to deliver equipment to the Mir space station. The mission was due to go ahead from Kazakhstan's Baikonur Cosmodrome ...
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China Southern begins merger talks with Air China
Chris Jasper/SHANGHAI China Southern Airlines has confirmed that it has held talks with flag carrier Air China over a possible merger that would bring together two of the country's three biggest airlines. China Southern says that its parent, Southern Airlines Group, has held preliminary talks with Air China which ...
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Pentagon prepares for Global Hawk
Ramon Lopez/WASHINGTON DC The US Department of Defense is preparing to approve limited production of the Teledyne Ryan Aeronautical RQ-4A Global Hawk as the high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned air vehicle begins 13 months of US military user assessments and prepares to be deployed to Australia. US Navy Rear Adm ...
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Aerospatiale Matra fishes for army contract with Heron
Aerospatiale Matra is using an Israeli long endurance unmanned air vehicle (UAV) to compete for a French army requirement for a medium altitude vehicle. The Israel Aircraft Industries Heron UAV (above) was displayed by Aerospatiale Matra at the Paris air show as the Eagle without any hint that it was ...
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UK sends for Sender tenders
The UK Ministry of Defence is to award 12-month assessment contracts for its Sender unit-level unmanned air vehicle (UAV) requirement next year. Sender is one of two emerging tactical UAV requirements that specify systems to enter British Army service in around 2008. It will have a range of 30km ...
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US Predators give extra guidance
The US Army has installed laser designators on four General Atomics Predator unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) to mark targets for laser-guided munitions. The designators are also available for use on TRW/Israel Aircraft Industries Hunter vehicles. "This concept of operation would facilitate target acquisition, permit the aircraft to release their ...
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Shorts close to Starstreak Apache fix
Stewart Penney/BELFASTShorts Missile Systems (SMS) is closing on a solution to eliminate an adverse pressure wave when the Starstreak missile is fired from the Boeing AH-64 Apache attack helicopter. Tests by the US Army have revealed problems with debris from the missile's packaging and a pressure wave created by the ...
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Battle expected for USAF C-130X award
At least four US aerospace firms are expected to compete in the US Air Force's $4 billion C-130X avionics modernisation programme (AMP). Incumbent Lockheed Martin will be trying to keep the work away from Raytheon Systems, Boeing and the Austin, Texas-based unit of Marconi Electronic Systems (formerly Tracor). The ...
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IPTN plans business split as it looks to privatise
Indonesia's cash-strapped Industri Pesawat Terbang Nusantara(IPTN) plans to spin off its rotary wing work, defence and space systems into subsidiaries as part of its restructuring plan. The move is a prelude to eventual privatisation, says IPTN. According to IPTN's aircraft unit executive vice-president Ilham Habibie, the rotary wing, defence ...
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AIM-9X launch
The US Navy has successfully completed the first guided launch of the new Raytheon AIM-9X Sidewinder air-to-air missile at China Lake. The missile was fired from a Boeing F/A-18 Hornet fighter and intercepted a McDonnell Douglas QF-4 drone. The launch was the first of 40 guided test firings scheduled to ...
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Mesa's preference for 35-seat regional jet favours Embraer
Paul Lewis/WASHINGTONMesa Air Group wants early delivery of a new 50-seat regional jet. It has an additional requirement for a smaller complementary aircraft, giving the Embraer RJ-145 the edge over the competing Bombardier Canadair Regional Jet CRJ-200. Phoenix, Arizona-based Mesa plans soon to announce the acquisition of up 40 new ...
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BM widens the field for Fokker replacement
British Midland (BM) is widening its evaluation of 100-seat aircraft to replace its Fokker 70/100 and warns that, with the increasing number of new types becoming available, Boeing will have to make a "very attractive offer" to win the UK carrier's order for its 717 twinjet. The airline has ...
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Routes
Japan Airlines (JAL) plans to codeshare with Iberia on Amsterdam-Madrid and Amsterdam-Barcelona routes from October. JAL and KLM co-operate on the Amsterdam-Spain routes, but this would end if the JAL/Iberia link is confirmed. Continental Airlines launched the first non-stop connection between Cleveland, USA, and London Gatwick, UK, on 1 July, ...
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Turkish row triggers Piaggio take-over by Italian investor group
Andy Nativi/GENOAA group of Italian investors has taken control of general aviation aircraft maker Piaggio in a move prompted by an Italian/Turkish political row. Aero Trust has acquired a 16% stake in the company from Turkey's Tushav holding group (which previously held 51%), taking its share to 60%. The trust, ...
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Esprit racer appears at Cranfield
The Esprit VFII experimental homebuilt racing aircraft was on display at the Cranfield, UK, Popular Flying Association rally on 2-4 July. The Rolls-Royce 0200-powered all-composite kit, designed by Switzerland's Valentino Fry, offers a maximum range of 1,000km (540nm) and a maximum speed of 210kt (385km/h). According to Fry, the aircraft's ...
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Italian amphibian
The Italian Civil Protection Agency is in negotiations with Bombardier for the acquisition of up to five Canadair CL-415 amphibians, to add to its current fleet of 10. The aircraft will be used to fight fires in the Reggio Calabria, Trapani, Olbia and Ciampino areas. The aircraft will be operated ...