Fixed-wing – Page 13
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News
Boeing extends Super Hornet production to 2027 with final new-build order from USA
After a lengthy dispute that saw the Pentagon attempt to avoid purchasing new Super Hornet strike fighters that were already funded by Congress, the US Navy has agreed to a final production contract covering 17 new-build Block III F/A-18 jets.
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News
Niger moves to expel US forces from West African airbase
The military junta that overthrew Niger’s elected government in 2023 has ordered American forces to vacate their last remaining air base in the country, which has been critical to counter-terrorism operations in the troubled Sahel region.
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Canada highlights arctic aviation capability with far-northern drills
During a series of exercises known as Operation Nanook-Nunalivut, the Royal Canadian Air Force highlighted its ability to deliver ground forces and equipment on missions in high latitudes.
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News
Indian navy retakes hijacked cargo ship with C-17 commando airdrop
The operation to free a pirate-controlled bulk carrier ship involved marine commandos parachuting from a Boeing C-17 strategic transport, supplemented with reconnaissance support from a Boeing P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol jet.
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US Navy takes delivery of first MQ-25 autonomous refueller
Marking the receipt of the service’s first-ever carrier-based without a pilot, the US Navy accepted delivery of the first MQ-25 Stingray tanker jet from Boeing.
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Canada prepares $630m airfield upgrades as part of tanker acquisition
Improvements to runways and hangar facilities will support Ottawa’s planned fleet of nine Airbus A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport jets.
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In depth
US Air Force cuts fighter acquisition goals for 2025
In its fiscal year 2025 budget request, the US Air Force reveals it plans to acquire fewer F-15EXs, temporarily slow the pace of F-35 purchases and spend billions of dollars developing a sixth-generation fighter and autonomous jets to support the new platform.
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News
Poland gets US approval for $3.7bn air-launched weapons package
Poland has secured US Department of State approval for a trio of air-launched weapon acquisitions with a potential combined value of almost $3.7 billion.
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News
Pentagon declares full-rate production on F-35, years behind schedule
The US Department of Defense has approved Lockheed Martin for full-rate production on the F-35 stealth fighter programme, years behind schedule and well after the airframer had already started assembling the jets at maximum capacity.
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News
MBDA boosted by European spike in air-defence system demand
MBDA secured contracts worth €9.9 billion ($10.8 billion) last year, with increased demand for air-defence equipment dominating its business.
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News
Canada retires Hawk jet trainers without replacements identified
The Royal Canadian Air Force says its fighter training squadron has entered a “period of hiatus” after the service retired its fleet of BAE Systems CT-155 Hawk trainer jets.
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News
Stratolaunch completes first powered flight of hypersonic test vehicle
While the first Talon-A flight did not break the Mach 5 hypersonic barrier, Stratolaunch says the vehicle achieved high supersonic speed before executing a planned water landing.
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News
Sweden formally becomes 32nd NATO member
Sweden has joined NATO as the western military alliance’s 32nd member, with its prime minister Ulf Kristersson having formally deposited its instrument of accession with the US government in Washington DC on 7 March.
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News
Brazilian air force sends its last Hercules into retirement
The Brazilian air force (FAB) has retired the last of its Lockheed Martin C-130H tactical transports, bringing to an end almost 60 years of operations involving the Hercules.
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News
Canada takes delivery of new King Air 350ER-based surveillance aircraft
Under the Manned Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance project, L3Harris will modify three Beechcraft King Air 350ER turboprops with mission packages for service with the Royal Canadian Air Force under the designation CE-145C Vigilance.
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News
Rafale ramp-up in full swing to meet soaring demand
Dassault Aviation continues to increase production of its Rafale fighter to meet soaring demand from the export market as total orders for the multirole type near the 500-unit mark. The French airframer took in 60 orders for the Rafale last year – 42 tranche 5 jets for the French air ...
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News
USAF deepens cooperation with Sweden on eve of NATO integration
Washington and Stockholm launched joint air combat drills involving American B-1B heavy bombers and Swedish Gripen fighters as the Nordic country completes the long-delayed process of officially joining the transatlantic military alliance.
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News
Qatar’s air force nears completion of its fighter fleet expansion
Qatar will later this year complete a fielding process which will have added 96 advanced combat aircraft to its fleet since late last decade in a dramatic expansion of its air force capability.
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News
Aeralis unveils common core fuselage design for modular aircraft family
UK developer Aeralis has unveiled the common core fuselage design that will be at the heart of its modular family of military aircraft, with the structure on display at the DIMDEX exhibition in Doha, Qatar.
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News
USAF F-35As spar with Singapore F-15SGs, F-16s over South China Sea
Lockheed Martin F-35As of the US Air Force are in Singapore for dissimilar air combat training work with Boeing F-15SGs and F-16s of the Republic of Singapore Air Force.