Fixed-wing – Page 49
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NewsNATO defence spending surges ahead of Ukraine summit
A record 23 NATO member states are now spending at least the equivalent of 2% of gross domestic product on defence, as the alliance prepares to approve a new industrial strategy.
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NewsLockheed delivers 2,700th C-130
The handover of the milestone aircraft, a KC-130J refueller variant operated by the US Marine Corps, comes as airframer Lockheed Martin reports “robust demand” for the venerable tactical transport.
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NewsFirst flight of Air Force One replacement delayed to 2026
The issue-plagued Boeing programme to deliver two new presidential jets to the US Air Force is absorbing fresh production delays that will push the type’s first flight into 2026.
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NewsPratt & Whitney picks Patria as partner on engines for Finnish F-35s
The state-owned Finnish defence firm will assemble Pratt & Whitney F135 turbofans at a new production facility near the city of Nokia, starting in 2025.
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NewsPentagon supports French vow to supply Ukraine with Mirage 2000 fighters
Although previous objections had been expressed to Sweden providing Gripen fighters, Washington is expressing support for a similar move by France to transfer some of its older Dassault jets.
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NewsFirst F-16s expected to reach Ukraine this summer
At a meeting of top NATO defence officials in Brussels, the alliance reaffirmed its commitment to provide Ukraine with Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter jets, with the first examples arriving as early as this summer.
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NewsMerlin Labs exploring aircrew reduction technologies for SOCOM
The Boston-based autonomy start-up secured a $105 million contract from US Special Operations Command to design, integrate and test new technologies aimed at reducing the number of crew needed on MC-130J flights.
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NewsNorway secures approval for purchase of 300 AMRAAMs
The $1.94 billion order for the AIM-120C-8 version of Raytheon’s Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile will modernise Norway’s existing stock of older model munitions.
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AnalysisWhy Swedish Gripen fleet is NATO’s new ACE off base
Like a Nascar pit stop. That is how one former Saab Gripen and Viggen pilot describes the Swedish air force’s decades-old prowess in conducting road-strip operations.
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NewsMalawi’s vice-president, nine others confirmed dead in Dornier 228 crash
The deaths of all aboard the Malawian army turboprop were confirmed by the president of the southeast African country on 11 June, after the flight encountered bad weather and failed to report as scheduled.
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NewsUSMC upgrading one-third of F/A-18 Hornets to serve until 2030 or later
The US Marine Corps (USMC) is now half complete with a modernisation programme for its single-seat Boeing F/A-18Cs and two-seat F/A-18Ds, an effort to boost the ageing jets’ capabilities as the service faces delayed deliveries of Lockheed Martin F-35s.
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NewsBAE to produce electronic countermeasure pods for US Navy P-8s
The $95 million contract will see the US Navy’s Boeing P-8 maritime patrol jets equipped with a BAE electronic warfare pod intended to expand the non-stealth aircraft’s operating range in contested environments.
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NewsKazakhstan’s lead A400M transport makes 5h debut flight
Airbus Defence & Space has completed the first flight of an A400M tactical transport produced for export customer Kazakhstan.
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NewsFirst operational Boeing F-15EX arrives with USAF for frontline service
The latest variant of the venerable fourth-generation air superiority fighter will begin operational service in the state of Oregon with the US Air National Guard, which is responsible for homeland defence and air-interdiction missions.
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NewsChina using private companies and ‘lucrative contracts’ to recruit Western military pilots
Intelligence agencies from the so-called “Five Eyes” alliance of the USA, Canada, the UK, Australia and New Zealand say China continues to recruit current and former Western military pilots to train its own forces, using privately-owned shell companies offering “lucrative contracts and the opportunity to fly exotic aircraft”.
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NewsGerman F-35 production ready to take off as Lockheed Martin eyes further European sales
The first parts for Germany’s lead Lockheed Martin F-35A will enter the assembly process at the company’s Marietta site in Georgia in the fourth quarter of this year, ahead of deliveries starting in 2026.
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In depthRide along for an aerial tour of Normandy on the 80th anniversary of D-Day
FlightGlobal accompanied the US Air Force’s 86th Air Wing for a C-130J transport flight on 6 June 2024 as part of the ceremonies marking the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy, France.
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NewsEurofighter programme set for additional Italian order boost
The four-nation Eurofighter consortium appears to be close to securing another order boost from one of its partner countries, with Italy expected to announce a follow-on commitment in the near future.
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NewsMTU mulls market for ‘loyal wingman’ engine but waits on customer requirements
Germany’s MTU Aero Engines is considering its response to an emerging requirement for an engine to power a future ‘loyal wingman’ or remote carrier aircraft.
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NewsRobust demand should safeguard C-130J production through 2030s, Lockheed says
Lockheed Martin has delivered its final Hercules under a six-aircraft order for the German air force, while the company continues to see strong sales demand for the type.