All articles by Craig Hoyle – Page 4
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News
F-16 programme powers past 50th anniversary of first flight
A remarkable anniversary in the history of Lockheed Martin’s F-16 programme will be marked on 20 January, exactly 50 years after a prototype of the lightweight fighter got airborne for the first time.
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News
Leonardo hones capabilities of BriteCloud 55-T decoy
Leonardo has upgraded the capabilities of its fighter-launched BriteCloud 55-T active decoy, with the effort having been completed in conjunction with a NATO working group.
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Tanzania signs for two C-27J tactical transports
Leonardo has added Tanzania to its list of buyers for the C-27J Spartan, with the African nation to acquire two of the tactical transports under a contract announced on 9 January.
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News
Albanian air force welcomes its first two UH-60A Black Hawks
The Albanian air force has taken delivery of its first two Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawks, as Tirana details plans to grow its fleet of the type to six examples.
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First UK Typhoon has ECRS Mk2 radar fitted ahead of flight-test campaign
BAE Systems has installed a prototype of Leonardo UK’s ECRS Mk2 active electronically scanned array radar on a first Eurofighter Typhoon, as part of a major development programme for the Royal Air Force.
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France signs tranche 5 deal for 42 air force Rafales
Dassault Aviation has received a contract to produce a further 42 Rafale fighters for the French air force, via a so-called tranche 5 order.
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News
UK details Typhoon’s role during strikes launched against Houthi rebels
The UK Ministry of Defence has detailed the role played by Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4s during strikes made against Houthi rebels in Yemen overnight on 11-12 January.
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Indonesia signs for third tranche of 18 Dassault Rafale fighters
Indonesia has finalised a deal covering the last batch of Dassault Aviation Rafale fighters to be ordered via a three-phase acquisition totalling 42 aircraft.
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News
Slovenia takes delivery of its first C-27J Spartan transport
Slovenia has welcomed its first of two Leonardo C-27J Spartans, with the tactical transport having arrived at its Cerklje ob Krki air base in late December.
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Analysis
Why Lockheed Martin’s F-16 remains a prize fighter 50 years after flight debut
Still in production half a century after its unplanned first flight in prototype guise, the F-16 continues to punch above its weight for 25 nations, with service entry also drawing near for Ukraine’s air force.
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Analysis
Why air forces are joining formation for SAF transition
Air forces are engaging with a new strategic threat – climate change – via actions including efficiency gains and the use of sustainable aviation fuel.
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News
Spain signs for 16 C295s adapted for maritime surveillance duties
Madrid has awarded Airbus Defence & Space a contract worth almost €1.7 billion ($1.8 billion) to produce 16 C295s adapted for maritime duties.
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GCAP fighter partners agree terms for trilateral organisation
The defence ministers of Italy, Japan and the UK have signed a treaty covering the joint organisation that will manage their Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP).
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News
UK reforms 809 NAS as second frontline F-35B squadron
The UK has stood up its second frontline squadron to operate the Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II: the Royal Navy’s 809 NAS.
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Australia waves its last AP-3C Orions into retirement
The Royal Australian Air Force has ended operations with the Lockheed Martin AP-3C Orion, with its final two examples having left use in early December.
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News
A400M shows off enhanced firefighting credentials during test campaign
Airbus Defence & Space has demonstrated the operational utility of a firefighting kit adaptation to its A400M, recently completing a flight-test activity in Spain.
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Analysis
Which types retired in our latest World Air Forces review?
We detail some of the most notable national fleet retirements recorded in the 12 months since we published our last World Air Forces directory at the end of 2022.
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News
Royal Air Force Poseidon fleet to get BAE’s Sting Ray torpedo
The UK Royal Air Force’s maritime patrol aircraft fleet is to gain a new anti-submarine/anti-surface strike capability, in the guise of BAE Systems’ Sting Ray Mod 1 lightweight torpedo.
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News
Italian air force receives first upgraded P180 Avanti II+ from Piaggio
Piaggio Aerospace has delivered its first P180 twin-turboprop to have been brought to an enhanced Avanti II+ standard for the Italian air force. Announcing the development on 30 November, the Italian airframer said it had completed upgrade, flight-test and certification activities on the new standard, which will be applied to ...
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News
Swiss air force resumes PC-21 operations following landing mishap
The Swiss air force resumed operations with its Pilatus PC-21 trainers on 30 November, following a brief suspension of activities imposed after a non-fatal accident involving the advanced turboprop.