Fixed-wing – Page 1303
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Indonesia turns to MiG-29 as F-16 delay continues
The Indonesian military is beginning to show interest in the MAPO-MiG Mikoyan MiG-29 Fulcrum, in the wake of its continued failure to obtain an additional batch of nine Lockheed Martin F-16A/Bs from the USA. According to local sources, Indonesian officials have begun obtaining initial information on the Russian ...
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Pentagon expects more JSF partners...
The US Defense Department expects further states to join the Joint Strike Fighter project in the near future, with several agreements expected to be concluded this month. The USA and UK - full partners in the next-generation fighter programme - can expect to see Norway, the Netherlands and ...
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UAE looks at buying more...
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) air force is considering purchasing an additional number of Dassault Mirage 2000E fighter aircraft, as well as carrying out a major upgrade on the aircraft it already has in service. The service is looking at purchasing six, eight, or 18 further Mirage 2000s, ...
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Comanche takes aim
FLIGHTTESTING of the Boeing/ Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche scout/ attack helicopter is "making progress and staying safe", the team says. With only one prototype available, and an annual fight for funds to keep that aircraft flying, safe expansion of the flight envelope is paramount, says flight-test director Clarence Hutchinson. ...
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Sikorsky crash
Two Royal Malaysian Air Force Sikorsky S-61 Nuri helicopters crashed in a mountainous jungle area of Sabah, Borneo, on 18 March. All 11 serviceman aboard the two helicopters are believed to have been killed. The S-61s were reportedly returning to Labuan AB after a supply mission when the accident happened. ...
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Imaging PGM
GEC-Marconi has added another variant to its Precision Guided Munition (PGM) family of air-launched stand-off weapons. It has confirmed that it has developed an imaging-infra-red-guided version of its 225kg and 900kg PGMs. GEC continues to decline to identify the launch customer for the PGM, although it is known to be ...
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UAE springs EF2000 surprise
The United Arab Emirates has formally reintroduced the Eurofighter EF2000 into its multi-role/strike aircraft competition, catching the previously two short-listed competitors, Lockheed Martin and Dassault, off guard. The move comes after months of behind-the-scenes political activity and several visits by senior UAE defence officials to British Aerospace's Warton site ...
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Argentina orders Su-29s
The Argentine Air force has signed an order for eight Sukhoi Su-29 trainers. The deal, valued at nearly $5 million, represents the first time that the Russian company has sold aircraft to Argentina, although several Sukhoi types are operated by Peru. Sukhoi signed the deal with the Argentinians ...
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Invincible ideas?
The last attempt by the UK's Royal Navy to launch a new class of purpose-built aircraft carriers floundered amid an inter-service battle in the late 1960s. The senior service is trying again and, with the help of industry, is attempting to persuade a cost-conscious Ministry of Defence (MoD) that a ...
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Civil warfare
Italy's airline industry is at a crossroads. Long dominated by flag carrier Alitalia, the country's air-transport industry is still coming to terms with the 1995 liberalisation of the domestic market. Despite the dramatic events of the last year or so, most agree that there is still plenty of room for ...
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MTR bids to power new Chinese helicopter with MTR390
MTU Turbomeca Rolls-Royce (MTR) is proposing its MTR390 powerplant for a new 5-5.5t helicopter concept now being studied at Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing (HAMC) in China. Although few details are available, Aviation Industries of China confirms that such a concept is under discussion, but stresses that no go-ahead has ...
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STAe profits as civil overhaul rates increase
Singapore Technologies Aerospace (STAe) has bounced back into profits with a better-than-expected year-end result, boosted by an up-turn in commercial business and stronger earnings from associate companies. The Singapore company made a net profit of S$27.8 million ($19 million) in 1996, turning around a loss of more than ...
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US Air Force considers broad re-engineing
BOEING AND ROLLS-Royce/Allison Engine could win a major US Air Force contract to re-engine not only the Boeing B-52H bomber, but other aircraft derived from the Boeing 707. A final decision on whether to re-engine the B-52H fleet is pending as a Congressional committee looking at the issue ...
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US Army seeks more RAH-66 funding
ADDITIONAL FUNDING is being sought to avoid a six-month hiatus in flight testing of the Boeing/Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche scout/attack helicopter. The first prototype is due to be grounded from April to September 1998, because of a lack of cash. The US Army is seeking an extra $40 million ...
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Westland discusses helicopter upgrade options with Egypt
GKN Westland is taking part in preliminary negotiations with Egypt over an upgrade of the country's Commando MkI and MkII transport helicopters, along with its Sea King Mk47 anti-submarine warfare/anti-surface-warfare helicopters. The discussions are the first formal contacts between Egypt and Westland since the resolution of prolonged legal ...
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UAE discusses Hawk purchase with BAe
The United Arab Emirates is discussing with British Aerospace the purchase of a possible 12 Hawk 63 advanced jet trainers to supplement the 23 Hawks it has already purchased. The UAEis likely to buy additional Dassault Mirage 2000s soon, as well as a multi-role/strike aircraft, and an additional ...
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Lockheed Martin looks east with KC-130J
Lockheed Martin is developing a hybrid boom/ probe-and-drogue variant of its KC-130J Hercules II, aimed at Middle Eastern states with mixed fighter fleets. Egypt and Saudi Arabia are thought to be the most likely near-term customers, although the United Arab Emirates could emerge as a prospect in the ...
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BAe offers Gripen to Oman to replace Jaguar
British Aerospace is proposing the Swedish Saab JAS39 Gripen to Oman as a replacement for its Sepecat Jaguar combat aircraft, while Lockheed Martin is understood to be offering secondhand and new-build F-16s. The Omani air force is conducting a study into its future combat-aircraft strategy, including consideration of ...
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First flight for NH90 second prototype
Eurocopter France has carried out the maiden flight of the second prototype NH Industries NH90 multi-national transport helicopter. It is the first of the five planned prototypes to be fitted with a fly-by-wire flight-control system - although that was inhibited on the initial flight, to ensure that other ...
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C-17 is capable of all envisaged roles
Sir - We agree with Comment "Strategic retreat" (Flight International, 12-18 February, P3), which says that the US armed forces must replace the Lockheed C-141 in the early 2000s. That replacement, the McDonnell Douglas C-17 Globemaster III, already exists. We recently delivered aircraft No 30 to the Air ...