Fixed-wing – Page 121
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NewsAFRL debates number of weapons to be networked for Golden Horde
Flight demonstrations of the US Air Force Research Laboratory’s (AFRL) Golden Horde initiative, an effort to network precision glide bombs and decoys into collaborative attack teams, may not start in late 2020 as originally planned.
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NewsE-2D set to receive major cockpit upgrade
The US Navy’s Northrop Grumman E-2D Hawkeye airborne early warning and control aircraft is to get an extensive cockpit refurbishment, including the addition of head-up displays (HUDs). The US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) says it has awarded Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems $34 million for the requirements phase of the ...
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NewsLockheed Martin aims to put laser weapon on aircraft in five years
Its Tactical Airborne Laser Weapon System would be used to shoot down incoming tactical missiles, for instance, air-to-air missiles or surface-to-air missiles.
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NewsGE ships first engines for F-15EX fighter
GE Aviation has delivered its first F110-129 engines for integration with Boeing’s F-15EX fighter.
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NewsUSAF Special Ops return to niche missions for great power competition
US Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) plans to move away from some of the counter terrorism and anti-insurgency missions that it assumed after the 11 September 2001 attacks, in favour of traditional niche roles in the USA’s budding great power competition with Russia and China.
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NewsUSAF secretly builds and flies next-generation fighter demonstrator
The US Air Force has secretly designed, built and flown a full-scale demonstrator aircraft that is part of its Next Generation Air Dominance programme.
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In depthCan Boeing score 60-year production run with rejuvenated F-15?
With its contract to deliver a first batch of EX-version fighters to the US Air Force, Boeing can now target further international F-15 sales, and a delivery run potentially spanning 60 years.
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In depthExport deals to keep F-16 fighting fit
In common with Boeing’s F-15, US industry’s other similar-aged fighter – the Lockheed Martin F-16 – also has enjoyed a recent orders revival, just as it had appeared to be potentially nearing a production end. Lockheed’s firm order backlog for the single-engined type stood at a combined 38 aircraft for ...
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NewsUSAF passes targeting data to HIMARS inside Boeing C-17
The US Air Force (USAF) has downloaded target information to a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) while it was being carried inside a Boeing C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft.
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NewsUSAF’s digitally engineered aircraft to receive ‘e’ prefix, starting with Boeing eT-7A
If aerospace manufacturers weren’t already motivated enough to design their latest aircraft using much-talked about “digital engineering” software programs, secretary of the US Air Force Barbara Barrett says anyone who does so will have their aircraft prefixed with the letter “e”.
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NewsGreece orders 18 Rafale fighters
Greece plans to obtain 18 Dassault Rafale fighters and upgrade 10 of its Mirage 2000s. “I am delighted with this announcement, which reinforces the exceptional relationship we have had with Greece for nearly half a century, and I thank the Greek authorities for their confidence in us once again,” says ...
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NewsIndia inducts Rafale amid frontier tensions
The Indian air force has inducted the Dassault Rafale fighter into its ranks at Air Force Station Ambala, as border tensions with China simmer. The aircraft will serve with the air force’s 17 Sqn, says the service’s Facebook page. Rafale Induction India ...
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AnalysisAI to dogfight against real-world fighter aircraft in 2024: Pentagon
“We see AI as a tool to free up resources, time and manpower, so our people can focus on higher priority tasks and arrive at the decision point, whether in a lab or on the battlefield, faster and more precise than the competition,” says US secretary of defense Mark Esper.
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OpinionWill commoditised sales of the F-16 fighter work?
The Pentagon’s plan to offer a commoditised version of the Lockheed Martin F-16 could help propel the world’s best-selling fighter aircraft to new heights, but it remains to be seen if foreign customers will put aside their fondness of fancy custom features.
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NewsIndonesian funding issue re-emerges for KF-X
Financing has again raised its head as an issue with Jakarta’s involvement in the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) KF-X/IF-X fighter programme. Indonesia has fallen behind on payments related to the twin-engined fighter again, according to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency, citing sources. KF-X production Jakarta is ...
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In depthHow Lockheed Martin plans to speed up sales with commoditised F-16
The jet is already the most popular combat aircraft in the world, with 2,280 examples in service at the end of 2019. Yet, Lockheed Martin believes it can sell even more – faster – with the help of a new base model configuration.
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AnalysisH-6 evolves from Cold War relic to Beijing’s hammer
Beijing’s years of patient investment in the Xian H-6 bomber, a local variant of the Cold War-era Tupolev Tu-16, have created an attack asset which is of significant concern to Washington DC. If aircraft mentions are anything to go by, the Pentagon’s recent China Military Power Report suggests the flexible, ...
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NewsUK Typhoons to use ‘world’s most capable fighter radar’ from 2025
The UK Royal Air Force looks set to equip its youngest Eurofighter Typhoons with an active electronically scanned array (AESA) sensor offering electronic attack functionality.
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NewsSouth Korea embarks on final assembly of KF-X prototype
Final assembly of the first Korea Aerospace Industries KF-X fighter has commenced in Sacheon, South Korea.
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NewsM-Code GPS and inertial navigation for F-22 and E-2D finishes critical design review
Northrop Grumman’s Embedded Global Positioning System and Inertial Navigation System-Modernization (EGI-M) programme recently finished its critical design review.