September 2011
Turkey ordering new radars not under NATO specifications so that the Turkish Air Force can shoot down Israeli jets. Since September 1 with the publication of the UN Palmer report which justified Israel’s actions aboard the Mavi Marmara in May 2010, Turkey has changed its policy towards Israel, taking an aggressive stance demanding an apology, downgrading diplomatic relations and interfering in Israeli trade agreements with Cyprus and Greece. The latest ...
Category: Military Aviation
Boeing and the U.S. Navy have delivered a proposal to the government of Japan offering the advanced F/A-18E Super Hornet Block II to become the Japan Air Self Defense Force’s (JASDF) next premier fighter aircraft. The F/A-18E Block II is the United States’ newest operational and combat-proven fighter aircraft. Japan issued a Request for Proposal for its F-X fighter competition on April 13, with a deadline of Sept. 26. “The ...
Category: Military Aviation
Su-35 fighters carried out more than 300 flights on flight tests program. At present, the first and second Su-35 fighter aircraft were delivered to the 929th State Flight Test Center (GLITS) for the state joint tests (SJT), and on August 15 this year they started to implement the agreed program. At the same time the first serial production Su-35S-1 fighter has also joined the program. The first and second Su-35 ...
Category: Russian Aviation
Lockheed Martin F-22A Raptors have been cleared to fly for the first time in four months, but the oxygen problem that grounded them remains a mystery to the US Air Force. It will be two months before F-22A pilots regain full operational capability of the fighters after the four-month hiatus, Gen Norton Schwartz, USAF chief of staff, said on 20 September. The USAF’s wide-ranging safety investigation, which was prompted by ...
Category: Military Aviation
The Obama administration plans to supply state-of-the-art weapons for Taiwan’s existing F-16 fighter fleet as part of a potential $5.85 billion upgrade, a U.S. official involved in Taiwan policy said on Tuesday, amid a push to shape perceptions about the deal. “I do not have the impression that anything is being held back, frankly,” said the official, referring to Taipei’s request for technology involved in the “retrofit” of about 145 ...
Category: Military Aviation
The Indian Air Force will seek a more powerful engine for the Sukhoi T-50 fifth-generation stealth fighter jet that is being jointly developed by Russia and India for delivery in 2018, a top government official said. The air force is aiming to induct 250 Sukhoi T-50s with stealth technology, 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft and 120 indigenously built light combat aircraft, known as the Tejas, in addition to upgrading RAC ...
Category: Military Aviation
The U.S. Air Force on Wednesday cleared its F-22 Raptor fleet to return to service following a four-month grounding over concerns that the jets’ pilots weren’t getting proper oxygen. Bases are cleared to start flying the fighter jets under a “return to flight” plan with new rules including daily inspections of the life-support systems that the Air Force announced earlier in the week, said Staff Sgt. Heidi Davis, spokeswoman for ...
Category: Military Aviation
With flight envelope expansion for ship trials completed, four F-35B test pilots started expeditionary airfield (EAF) building up to field carrier landing practice (FCLP) Sept. 14. EAF and FCLP testing is part of the pilot certification process for landing aircraft on an amphibious deck, to ensure pilots are adequately prepared for the inherent danger in operating aircraft in a maritime environment. Four test pilots are scheduled to participate in initial ...
Category: F-35 Lightning II
Sep
20
Romanian F-16 deal in doubt
Romanian President Traian Basescu told Pro TV he pointed out during his visit to the United States that Romania cannot afford to buy F16 fighters without a long-term financing solution. Romania may sign a contract to buy the planes only if a long-term financing solution is found, said the head of state. Romania cannot afford to pay billions of dollars in the next five or six years, but will be ...
Category: Military Aviation
The Boeing Company has received a contract from the U.S. Air Force to provide mission planning support for the F-22 Raptor. The order, valued at up to $24 million if all options are exercised, was awarded under the Air Force’s Mission Planning Enterprise Contract-II (MPEC-II). Boeing is one of five contractors selected in June 2010 for MPEC-II, an indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity program with an approximate total value of $920 ...
Category: Military Aviation
A World War II-era fighter plane flown by a veteran Hollywood stunt pilot plunged Friday into the edge of the grandstands during a popular air race, killing three people, injuring more than 50 spectators and creating a horrific scene strewn with smoking debris. The plane, piloted by 74-year-old Jimmy Leeward, spiraled out of control without warning and appeared to disintegrate upon impact. Bloodied bodies were spread across the area as ...
Category: General Aviation
Eighteen Su-30K fighter jets which were delivered by Russia to India in the 1990s could end up in service with the Belarusian air force, respected Russian business daily Kommersant said on Friday. Russia and India agreed on the sale of advanced Su-30MKI fighters to the Indian air force in mid-1990s, but Moscow had not been able to deliver the aircraft until early 2000. The sides found a compromise the first ...
Category: Russian Aviation
Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Daniel Inouye delivered the following opening statement at today's subcommittee markup of the Fiscal Year 2012 Defense Appropriations bill.
"Today, the Subcommittee meets to make recommendations for the Fiscal Year 2012 Defense Appropriations Bill. Last week the full Committee agreed to an allocation for the defense bill ...
Category: F-35 Lightning II
Australia and Canada share a common concern that the new Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) will be delayed, possibly requiring acquisition of an expensive interim air combat capability. To present a united front, Australia and Canada will now conduct top level talks on procurement and capability issues of mutual concern. As well as JSF, that will also touch on submarines, with both Australia and Canada experiencing big problems on maintaining submarine ...
Category: F-35 Lightning II
