AVIATION FANS

Airbus Military's first A400M arrived today in Toulouse, France, where the multi-role airlifter will continue its flight test program. Touching down at Toulouse-Blagnac Airport following an evaluation flight performed in the Seville region of Spain, the aircraft was welcomed by Airbus Military head Domingo Urena-Raso. This new-generation transport is built by Airbus Military in Seville, where the [...]

A400M Comes to France, Flight Tests Continue is a post from: DefenceTalk | Defense & Military News - Forums - Pictures - Weapons

New Delhi: India and Russia have agreed in general on shared responsibility for the joint development of the fifth-generation fighter, the chairman of the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) said. Moscow and New Delhi are expected to sign a contract on the joint development of the new fighter in the near future, focusing on the design concept [...]

India, Russia agree details of joint 5G-fighter project is a post from: DefenceTalk | Defense & Military News - Forums - Pictures - Weapons

ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill: Northrop Grumman Corporation today announced it successfully demonstrated its LITENING advanced targeting capabilities on the U.S. Navy's premier fighter/attack aircraft, the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, marking the eighth U.S. combat aircraft to fly the advanced targeting system. "During the 1.5 hour flight conducted at the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, China Lake, Calif., [...]

LITENING Targeting System Demo on US Navy F/A-18E/F is a post from: DefenceTalk | Defense & Military News - Forums - Pictures - Weapons

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo: Four junior and 20 sophomore U.S. Air Force Academy cadets received the first unmanned aerial systems-remotely piloted aircraft wings awarded in the school's 55-year history during a function at the Dean's Heritage House Feb. 25, here. Lt. Gen. Mike Gould, the Academy superintendent and Brig. Gen. Dana Born, the [...]

USAF Academy Graduates First UAV ‘Pilots’ is a post from: DefenceTalk | Defense & Military News - Forums - Pictures - Weapons

The newly delivered IRIS-T air-to-air missile was shown to the public for the first time at the South African Air Force’s 90th anniversary parade held at AFB Swartkop, Pretoria. In 2008 the SAAF selected the IRIS-T as an interim short range air-to-air missile. It will ultimately be replaced by the indigenously designed and produced A-Darter, which [...]

South African Air Force Unveils New IRIS-T Missile is a post from: DefenceTalk | Defense & Military News - Forums - Pictures - Weapons

A new Russian-Indian military transport plane could make its maiden flight by 2018, the head of the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) said. New Delhi: Russia and India signed an intergovernmental agreement on the joint development of a multi-role transport aircraft (MTA) in 2007. The cost of the $600-mln project is being equally shared by the two [...]

Russia-India military transport plane could be ready by 2018 is a post from: DefenceTalk | Defense & Military News - Forums - Pictures - Weapons

LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz.: Members of the 56th Civil Engineer Squadron here are exploring ways to reduce the multi million dollar electric bill and go 'green' with plans to build one of the largest solar arrays in the Air Force by December 2011 at Luke Air Force Base. 2nd Lt. Christopher Warshaw, the 56th [...]

Solar array to ‘dim’ Luke AFB electric bill is a post from: DefenceTalk | Defense & Military News - Forums - Pictures - Weapons

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan: Airmen in the 4th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron are "looking for trouble," using the MC-12W Liberty to bring tactical intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, or ISR, to ground commanders in Afghanistan. "We bring a unique capability to the fight," said Lt. Col. Rob Weaver, 4th ERS director of operations, deployed from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, [...]

MC-12W Liberty Airmen Watch Over Afghanistan is a post from: DefenceTalk | Defense & Military News - Forums - Pictures - Weapons

AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that a contract has been signed by the Government of India for the acquisition of twelve AW101 helicopters that will perform government transport duties. The contract, valued at around EUR 560 million, includes an extensive five-year logistic support service and initial aircrew and technician training. Over 180 AW101 [...]

India Orders 12 AW101 Helicopters is a post from: DefenceTalk | Defense & Military News - Forums - Pictures - Weapons

The EU has warned against US protectionism, after European aerospace giant EADS said it was dropping out of a multi-billion dollar contract bid process. American rival Boeing is now the only bidder. The EU has warned Washington of negative consequences for future defense deals between the US and Europe if a recent contract for Air Force [...]

EU Warns Against Protectionism In Air Force Contract is a post from: DefenceTalk | Defense & Military News - Forums - Pictures - Weapons

SOUTHWEST ASIA: Airmen will teach the first Iraqi air force college pilot-training course beginning in March with Iraq's new T-6A trainer. The tandem-cockpit aircraft, that began arriving in Tikrit, Iraq, Dec. 16, is the platform Iraqi airmen will use to transform the college into a cornerstone of Iraqi air sovereignty. Its also the same aircraft U.S. Airmen [...]

Airmen to train Iraqi air force college students is a post from: DefenceTalk | Defense & Military News - Forums - Pictures - Weapons

LEIDEN, Netherlands: EADS confirms that the Northrop Grumman/EADS team will not bid for the US Air Force Tanker replacement program, following the announcement by its partner Northrop Grumman that they decided not to bid. Five years ago EADS had partnered with Northrop Grumman, as prime contractor, to pursue the US Air Force KC-135 modernization program. In [...]

Northrop-EADS Team Will Not Bid for the US Tanker is a post from: DefenceTalk | Defense & Military News - Forums - Pictures - Weapons

Washington: The US Defense Department on Tuesday defended its bidding practices as fair after Europe and some US lawmakers charged that contract rules threw a major military deal to Boeing. "One would not expect us to apologize with respect to getting the taxpayer the best aircraft for the capabilities that the air force has asked for," [...]

Pentagon defends under-fire tanker bid is a post from: DefenceTalk | Defense & Military News - Forums - Pictures - Weapons

ISLAMABAD:Pilots and aircrews from the U.S. and Pakistan air forces participated in a joint aerial refueling information exchange as part of an on-going effort to enhance cooperation and develop the air refueling capabilities of both nations in early March at Pakistan air force base Chaklala. Pilots and aircrews from the 22nd Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron arrived [...]

US, Pakistan air forces conduct air refueling information exchange is a post from: DefenceTalk | Defense & Military News - Forums - Pictures - Weapons

WASHINGTON, D.C.: The following is a statement from Wes Bush, Chief Executive Officer and President of Northrop Grumman Corporation, concerning the U.S. Air Force aerial refueling tanker program. "After a comprehensive analysis of the final RFP, Northrop Grumman has determined that it will not submit a bid to the Department of Defense for the KC-X program. [...]

Statement from Northrop on USAF Aerial Refueling Tanker Program is a post from: DefenceTalk | Defense & Military News - Forums - Pictures - Weapons

Taipei: China now has better fighter jets than Taiwan, according to a military report by the island's defence ministry as the air force Monday renewed its bid to obtain new F-16s from the United States. Of the three types of fighter jets in Taiwan's air force, only the F-16A/Bs have a slight edge over the Chinese [...]

Taiwan says China now has edge in air power is a post from: DefenceTalk | Defense & Military News - Forums - Pictures - Weapons

27 Afghan Aircrew are being trained in Wiltshire as part of a two year programme run by the UK Joint Helicopter Command (JHC), supported throughout by QinetiQ. Training of the Afghan Pilots and flight engineers began in February 2008 at Boscombe Down under PROJECT CURIUM. The aircrew have been trained on fixed wing and rotary [...]

Afghan ‘Top Gun’ Aircrews take to UK Skies is a post from: DefenceTalk | Defense & Military News - Forums - Pictures - Weapons

NEWTOWN, Conn: Boeing announced plans to offer the KC-767 in the competition to supply the U.S. Air Force with a new tanker under the long-delayed KC-X tanker program. The selection of the KC-767 for the job over a potential entry based on the larger Boeing 777 was expected after the Air Force released its final [...]

Boeing to Go with KC-767 in Tanker Contest is a post from: DefenceTalk | Defense & Military News - Forums - Pictures - Weapons

WASHINGTON: Boeing is poised to win a 35-billion-dollar US Air Force aerial refueling tanker plane contract after rival partners Northrop Grumman and European partner EADS bowed out. Northrop Grumman said that it had decided not to bid to build the new planes because the US Air Force's requirements for the KC-X tanker program, published last month, [...]

Boeing sole air tanker bidder as competitors exit is a post from: DefenceTalk | Defense & Military News - Forums - Pictures - Weapons

When the main clearance phase of Op MOSHTARAK was launched from Camp Bastion Airfield three weeks ago, the RAF completed 167 air moves and coordinated 90 aircraft in just four hours. But the RAF's involvement in the operation didn't begin and end there. They have been integral to the planning and conducting of all aspects of [...]

RAF support to Op MOSHTARAK is a post from: DefenceTalk | Defense & Military News - Forums - Pictures - Weapons