All Fixed-wing articles – Page 16
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NewsCanada exploring purchase of autonomous fighter platform to complement F-35As
Documents obtained by The Canadian Press indicate the Department of National Defence is mulling the possible acquisition of uncrewed combat jets that could fly alongside the Royal Canadian Air Force’s planned fleet of Lockheed Martin F-35As.
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NewsJapan warns of China’s expanding airpower reach
China’s air force is extending its operational reach beyond the First Island Chain into the Pacific, according to Japan’s latest defence white paper, which highlights Beijing’s growing bomber and aircraft carrier capabilities.
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NewsTokyo to reduce number of F-15Js to be upgraded
Japan remains committed to an ambitious upgrade programme for its Boeing F-15J fighters but has reduced the number of aircraft involved.
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NewsUS Air Force test pilots ferried Super Tucanos with ‘zero formal flight training’
Test pilots with the US Air Force had to transfer the Embraer turboprops to the service’s test pilot school in California, despite having never trained on the lightweight single-engined type.
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NewsL3Harris to upgrade Moroccan C-130s
The American defence systems integrator will provide an avionics update, depot maintenance, engine overhaul and other support efforts for the Royal Moroccan Air Force’s C-130H transports.
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NewsIndia tests Astra air-to-air missile with indigenous seeker head
India has successfully tested the locally developed Astra beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile using an indigenous radio frequency seeker.
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In depthUK military’s F-35B shortcomings laid bare by spending watchdog
The UK National Audit Office (NAO) has detailed the challenges faced by the Royal Air Force (RAF) and Royal Navy (RN) in fielding the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, while projecting that the nation’s through-life spend on the stealth fighter programme could potentially top £70 billion ($94 billion).
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NewsBabcock eyes military training expansion and hails Ukraine contribution
UK aviation services provider Babcock has highlighted the ongoing success of its contribution to the training of Ukrainian air force pilots, as it eyes further expansion of its training business across Europe.
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NewsChinese JH-7s in “unusual” approaches against Japanese YS-11EBs
Tokyo has protested close passes of Chinese Xian JH-7 strike aircraft near NAMC YS-11EB surveillance aircraft in international airspace.
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NewsCanada begins air base upgrades as A330 tanker fleet expands
The C$850 project at CFB Trenton includes resurfacing the existing runway, aprons and taxiways, plus construction of a new hangar, fuel depot, and ramp extension as Ottawa prepares to field a new fleet of Airbus multi-role tanker transports.
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NewsDARPA ends Liberty Lifter programme as agency scuttles plans to build heavy-lift flying boat
The secretive Pentagon research agency says the Liberty Lifter programme has proven the viability of building an amphibian transport aircraft capable of operating in heavy sea states, but that it will not pursue assembly of a demonstrator.
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NewsFrance, UK strengthen air-launched weapons collaboration via MBDA
France and the UK are to order fresh batches of MBDA Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG cruise missiles, while also strengthening their commitment to an in-development successor capability, and pledging to jointly develop a future extended-range air-to-air missile.
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NewsRetired US Air Force generals call on lawmakers to fully fund E-7 acquisition
The group of 16 high-ranking officers, which includes several former air force chiefs of staff, says a robust air battle management and threat-tracking platform is essential to projecting air power and winning conflicts.
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NewsBell advances to build phase of secretive DARPA high-speed VTOL contest
Bell’s concept for an advanced tiltrotor-jet hybrid aircraft will move into the build stage of the US Defense Advanced Research Project Agency’s Speed and Runway Independent Technologies X-plane contest, after defeating rival finalist Aurora Flight Sciences.
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NewsAirTanker to deliver A330 Voyager connectivity upgrade for RAF
AirTanker has been awarded a £170 million ($231 million) contract to modernise communication equipment aboard the Voyager tanker/transports it provides for use by the UK Royal Air Force (RAF).
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NewsChinese jet designer calls for fighters to be produced, updated ‘like mobile phones’
A prominent Chinese aircraft designer has highlighted the importance of advanced technologies for future fighters, as more images emerge showing Beijing’s naval aviation ambitions.
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NewsF-15E and F-16C fighters control four XQ-58s in US Air Force tests
The successful use of legacy fourth-generation fighters to control the uncrewed jets is a significant advancement for the Collaborative Combat Aircraft concept, which has largely focused on pairing the autonomous platforms with fifth-generation and emerging sixth-generation designs.
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NewsUnion urges UK to order more Typhoons as BAE enters final assembly gap
Trade union Unite has repeated its call for the UK government to order a further batch of Eurofighter Typhoons for Royal Air Force use, after reporting that BAE Systems has concluded final assembly of the type against existing contracts.
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NewsFrance details defence spending hike, as Rafale F5 study work advances
France’s defence ministry has announced new orders worth €4 billion ($4.7 billion), with its efforts around “strengthening defence capabilities and defence innovation” having totalled €12 billion through the first half of this year.
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NewsUK engineering team arrives in Kerala to repair stranded F-35B
The UK’s military has deployed a team of engineers to work on a Lockheed Martin F-35B which has been stranded in India’s southwestern Kerala state since making an emergency landing in mid-June.