May 2011
Global defence and security company, Saab AB will open new UK headquarters and draw on British engineering expertise in a new Saab Design Centre in London. With 200 employees already based in the UK, Saab is preparing to expand its reach into the British defence industry by opening a central London office to co-ordinate all in-country operations. The opening of the company’s new UK headquarters will be followed by the ...
Category: Military Aviation
A flight demonstration of Russia’s advanced frontline aircraft system (PAK FA) and the modernised MiG-29UPG aircraft carrier-based fighter jet was held for a delegation from India led by Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force Pradeep Vasant Naik at the Gromov Flight Research Institute in the town of Zhukovsky near Moscow on 23 May 2011. The Russian officials attending the event included Mikhail Pogosyan, the president of ...
Category: MiG News
Faced with a dual threat from China and Pakistan, which have even come together to manufacture fighter jets, India is really cranking up military aviation contracts. Even as the $4.1 billion deal for 10 C-17 strategic airlift aircraft awaits the final nod from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), another major contract is now headed that way. Defence ministry sources on Wednesday said the long-awaited deal with France for the ...
Category: Military Aviation
The RAAF will have to wait seven years before the long-delayed Joint Strike Fighter enters service, a key national defence think tank has warned. First deliveries of the troubled US-built stealth fighter were originally promised to start next year. In its latest report on the project, the government-backed Australian Strategic Policy Institute said further delays, and not cost blowouts, pose the biggest risk to the program. Canberra has placed a ...
Category: Military Aviation
The U.S. Air Force’s fleet of radar-evading F-22 Raptor fighters has been grounded until “further notice.” It’s the latest blow to the reputation of the world’s most expensive, and allegedly most fearsome, dogfighter. “The stand-down is a prudent measure following recent reports of oxygen system malfunction,” Gen. Will Fraser said. Without oxygen, Raptor pilots can’t fly at the high altitudes where the sleek, supersonic Lockheed jet performs best. The Air ...
Category: Military Aviation
Boeing today announced it has completed delivery of six F/A-18E/F Super Hornet aircrew and maintenance trainers to the Royal Australian Air Force at RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland. “These are the first Super Hornet training devices for a Foreign Military Sale customer and are part of the acquisition and establishment of 24 Australian F/A-18F Block II aircraft, initial spares, support equipment, trainers and training,” said Mark McGraw, Training Systems & Services vice ...
Category: Military Aviation
The U.S. Air Force has accepted into its fleet the first of a planned 1,763 production-model Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters. The signing of formal acceptance documents for the jet, known as AF-7, took place at Lockheed Martin’s F-35 final assembly plant in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday, May 5. The jet flew to Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., on Friday to begin its flight testing program. “This first ...
Category: F-35 Lightning II
Phantom Ray unmanned airborne system (UAS) successfully completed its first flight April 27 at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. The 17-minute flight took place following a series of high-speed taxi tests in March that validated ground guidance, navigation and control and verified mission planning, pilot interface and operational procedures. Phantom Ray flew to 7,500 feet and reached a speed of 178 knots. “This day has ...
Category: Military Aviation
The J-15 Flying Shark is China’s newest attack jet, a sinuous fighter with the folding wings, shortened tail cone and bulked-up landing gear it needs to serve on China’s first aircraft carrier, which is expected to start sea trials soon. It is indisputable evidence of China’s growing mastery of military technology. Also military technology of Russia and Ukraine, albeit not entirely with their consent. Barely two weeks after splashing photographs ...
Category: Military Aviation
