ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – Indian aircraft violated Pakistan's airspace Saturday but were chased back over the border by fighter jets, a Pakistani air force spokesman said.
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14 December 2008
Dutch to Augment UAV Force
The Netherlands is hoping to award a contract in January to increase its unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capacity in Afghanistan.
The objective is to have the new unmanned aircraft operational in March 2009, which requires a January contract award, the state secretary for defense, Jack de Vries, told the Dutch parliament. The timeline is "very tight," he warned and any delays would affect operational availability in the combat area.
10 December 2008
U.S. Army Fielding Many UAS For War Effort
The U.S. Army is planning to field a variety of unmanned aircraft soon, using about $300 million dedicated last summer to sending more intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance collectors to Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Army is expecting to field three new and 12 refurbished MQ-5B Hunter unmanned aerial systems (UAS) with new Greendart signals intelligence collection systems, said Col. Gregory Gonzales, project manager for Army UAS systems. He declined to provide details of the Greendart’s capabilities, citing security concerns.
US-led air raid kills Afghan civilian and six police: force
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (AFP) — Six police and a civilian were killed Wednesday when US-led forces targeting a Taliban commander bombed a police station in southern Afghanistan, the force and a local official said.
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Top US military officer raises doubts over F-22 jet program
WASHINGTON (AFP) — The top US military officer raised doubts Wednesday over the future of the costly F-22 fighter jet program, noting that the economic downturn could force the Pentagon to make budget cuts.
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09 December 2008
Dassault Signs With Tata for Offsets
Dassault Aviation and India's Tata Technologies have signed an agreement for Tata to provide Dassault with engineering services in support of the Indian Air Force's Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) program.
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Navy Wants NG X-47B To Demo Aerial Refueling
Northrop Grumman will modify the second X-47B naval unmanned combat air system demonstrator (UCAS-D) to allow autonomous aerial refuelling (AAR) using both U.S. Navy probe-and-drogue and U.S. Air Force boom-and-receptacle methods.
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08 December 2008
US F-18 jet crashes in San Diego
A US military F-18 fighter jet has crashed into a residential area of San Diego, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has said.
The San Diego Fire Department described the scene of the crash as "a heavily-populated area" near the 805 freeway.
07 December 2008
Air Force has proud history of service
Prior to the signing of Executive Order 9981 by President Harry Truman in July of 1948, segregation was the order of the day in the United States military.
At Vance Air Force Base, then known as Enid Army Air Field, the segregated unit was the 76th Aviation Squadron. These were largely support units providing air base defense or dealing with supplies, ammunition or transportation.
Read more.First border drone lands at ND base
FARGO, N.D. - After two failed tries, the first unmanned aircraft system to patrol the northern U.S. border successfully completed its flight from Arizona to North Dakota.
U.S Customs and Border Protection officials said the Predator B drone touched down at 1:28 p.m. EST Saturday at Grand Forks Air Force Base, after a six-hour flight from Libby Army Airfield in Sierra Vista, Ariz.
U.S. Army Aviation Accidents Rising
U.S. Army aviation incidents and accidents have started to get deadlier and costlier since the beginning of this decade, an exclusive Aerospace DAILY analysis of service mishap data shows.
Australian Air Force Campaigns For 100 F-35s
The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is stepping up its lobbying efforts for a full order of 100 F-35 Lightning IIs, a number that has been officially endorsed but could easily be trimmed in a defense white paper due next year.
Boeing Building Case For Multimission ABL
Boeing and its Airborne Laser (ABL) teammates are studying potential missions beyond shooting down boost-phase ballistic missiles in a bid to increase the weapon’s military utility and bolster its case for continued funding.
F-35 To Become Electronic Attack Aircraft
After years of debate about the future of tactical, airborne electronic attack for the U.S. Air Force and Marine Corps, it appears the F-35 will become the next-generation, digital warfare aircraft for both services.
USMC Should Cancel EFV, Re-examine MV-22
The U.S. Marine Corps should cancel the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV) and re-examine its decision to replace CH-46E helicopters with tiltrotor MV-22 Ospreys, a Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments (CSBA) study says.
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434th pilots train with Holloman Raptors
LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas – In an effort to provide unique training for the Air Force’s newest combat asset, pilots from the 434th Fighter Training Squadron have been traveling to Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. on a weekly basis to train against the F-22 Raptor.
Air Guard conducts evacuation in Antarctica U.S., Australian team conducts medical movement in Antarctica
HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE – A combined U.S. and Australian team successfully evacuated an Australian civilian in Antarctica to a hospital in Hobart, Australia, Nov. 5.
The seriously injured patient was part of an Australian Antarctic Division contingent conducting scientific research at Davis Station, Antarctica. He is currently in stable condition, receiving medical care in Hobart for multiple fractures caused by an all-terrain vehicle accident.
PACAF C-17 team hosts royalty
Lt. Col Casey Eaton, 535th Airlift Squadron commander (right), and Tech. Sgt. Kenneth Bragg, a C-17 Globemaster III loadmaster (left), show some of the features in the cargo area of the C-17 to His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiahsutan And Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei. The monarch made a visit to Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, Nov. 25 on a return trip from the Apec Summit Retreat in Lima, Peru. During the visit, his majesty was given to a tour of the 535th AS where he spent some time in the C-17 simulator and toured a C-17 aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Tom Czerwinski)
Civil Air Patrol keeps on flying
Civil Air Patrol volunteers Gary Hewett and Gary Schroeder love their job, even if it does sometimes make them sick.
From 1,000 feet above the ground, spotting a white pickup in the middle of a snow-covered forest is tough duty. It’s even tougher to do it while fighting off nausea in the tiny cockpit of a Civil Air Patrol plane that is making lots of twists and turns in a low-level search pattern. For an extra challenge, throw in some air turbulence while tracking GPS coordinates and taking notes on a clipboard.
GAO, DOD Debate Airlift Metrics
A new study outlining U.S. strategic airlift needs due by next spring will almost certainly change the planned mix of aircraft, yet defense officials and congressional auditors apparently still disagree on the underlying approach.
Airbus CEO Frustrated Over A400M Delays
Airbus chief executive Tom Enders expressed apparent frustration over continuing development problems with the Airbus Military A400M airlifter at a Nov. 24 dinner hosted by the French Association of Professional Air and Space Journalists.
Engine Software Bedeviling A400M
Continuing development problems with the propulsion system for the Airbus Military A400M airlifter are pushing first flight into the second half of 2009.
UK prepares for carrier operations with JSF
The UK is making significant advances in its preparations for carrierborne operations with the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, and expects to sign a contract by late February to acquire three aircraft to support test and evaluation of the type.
US Air Force completes F-22 synthetic fuel trials
The US Air Force has concluded analysis of the effects of using a natural gas-based synthetic fuel with its Lockheed Martin F-22, as work to trial the technology accelerates through its trainer, transport and fighter fleets.
AF chief: F-15 here for a while
Gen. Norton Schwartz knows the F-15E is aging.
But the Air Force chief of staff insists that despite a stressful workload, the Strike Eagle likely still has at least a decade of service left in it.
The future of the airframe was among the topics discussed by the nation’s top Air Force official Tuesday at the Pentagon.
How Long Can A Fighter Fly?
November 23, 2008: Earlier this year, a U.S. F-16 of the Vermont Air National Guard (VANG) set a record on March 24th, when it became the first F-16C to spend 7,000 hours in the air. Now that aircraft, with over 7,200 hours in the air, is being retired. Not to the scrap heap, but as an exhibition at the Smithsonian museum in Washington, DC. This F-16 will probably hold the record, for hours in the air for an F-16, forever. That’s because the U.S. Air Force is retiring its older aircraft, to save billions in maintenance costs. Smart bombs mean fewer aircraft are needed to provide ground support for the troops. And new F-22 and F-35s are arriving to take care of air combat, and ground support.
Read more.Norway picks US fighters to replace aging fleet
The U.S.-developed F-35 fighter jet has been chosen to replace Norway’s aging F-16 aircraft in a purchase that would cost the NATO member about 18 billion kroner ($2.5 billion) for 48 aircraft, officials said Thursday.
Coalition force Reaper unit deploys to Joint Base Balad
A coalition force comprising experts from the U.S. Air Force and Royal Air Force deployed here recently to sustain operations for the world’s most lethal unmanned aircraft system.
An MQ-9 Reaper aircraft maintenance unit, attached to the 46th Expeditionary Reconnaissance and Attack Squadron, melds airframe maintenance expertise with satellite communications system technical capability and brings American and British Airmen together to accomplish the Reaper’s persistent strike mission, said Capt. Antonio Camacho, the Reaper AMU officer in charge.
U.S. Airforce Thunderbirds To Fly Over Kenan Stadium
Just prior to the kickoff of the UNC/NC State game tomorrow, two United States Air Force T-38 Thunderbird jets will fly over Kenan Stadium, barring weather or schedule changes. The jets will be flying low and be quite loud. There will not be any practice runs prior to the actual fly-over on Saturday.
U.S. fighter plane needs major upgrades-arms buyer
The U.S. Air Force fleet of F-22 Raptors, designed to be the world’s top fighter jet, needs more than $8 billion dollars of upgrades to be made “capable and affordable to operate,” the Pentagon’s top arms buyer said on Thursday.
Boeing: ‘Nothing structural’ caused delays
The Boeing Co. said “nothing structural” is to blame for production delays caused by a Machinists strike, plane design changes and problems with suppliers.
Air Force Reserve C-130s Aerial Spray Southern Louisiana
An Air Force Reserve C-130 assigned to the 910th Airlift Wing Youngstown, Ohio aerial spray LaFourche Parish September 21 in Southern Louisiana as part of disaster relief efforts to help area residents. C-130s are required to fly at only 150 feet above ground to effectively eradicate mosquito infestations eliminating the potential for the spread of West Nile Virus and Encephalitis. Aerial spraying will continue for the next week ultimately spraying nearly 900,000acres. Photo by Calvin Telleson (FEMA Broadcast Operations)
Remains of B-52 aircrew laid to rest at Arlington
The remains of six B-52 Stratofortress aircrew members killed when their aircraft crashed off the northwest coast of Guam July 21 were laid to rest in a ceremony held Nov. 14 at Arlington National Cemetery.
Nov. 18 airpower summary: F-15Es support coalition forces
Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Nov. 18, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.
Lockheed looks overseas
The Lockheed Martin Corp. is scheduled to ceremoniously hand over the first of four mammoth C-130J airplanes to Norway today, the first international delivery in four years for the Marietta-built planes.
Sikorsky Flies First Canadian Cyclone
Sikorsky has begun flight tests of the CH-148 Cyclone maritime helicopter for the Canadian Forces. The aircraft completed its delayed first flight from the company’s development center in Florida on Nov. 15.
Dogfight Over F-22 Reveals DOD Schisms
The battle over how many F-22 Raptors the U.S. Air Force requires is revealing some nasty infighting as the White House administration change nears.
Army Aviation Accidents Top $16 Billion
U.S. Army aviation accidents and incidents have cost the service about $16.2 billion over the past dozen years, according to an exclusive Aerospace DAILY analysis of data provided by the Army Combat Readiness/Safety Center (USACRC).
Europe Moves on Joint A400M Force
Twelve European Defense Agency (EDA) member countries today have agreed to pool airlifter resources in the future, with the focus on the A400M.
Air Show China Takes Off With J-10 Fighter
Air Show China kicked off Nov. 4 with Chinese political and military weight giving impetus to the event.
Rebuilding IQAF Not Without Challenges
The Iraqi vision is grand: build one of the Middle East’s premier air forces flying F-16s, attack helicopters and modern airlifters. But years of neglect, combat losses and domestic turmoil mean that attaining this goal will be an enormous challenge.
Indian-French Mirage Talks Gain Urgency
The Indian air force appears eager to conclude negotiations with Thales and Dassault Aviation on the offset package for the upgrade of India’s 51 Mirage 2000s to the 2000-5 standard (M-2000H/TH upgrade), according to executives here.
USAF Pilot Critiques Red Flag Action
Indian pilots flying Su-30MKIs are extremely professional, but they’re still learning how to best fight with their new aircraft.
Young Warns JSF Cuts Could Split Test Program
Pentagon acquisition chief John Young says the congressional cut to Joint Strike Fighter funding in fiscal 2009 will cause problems executing the test schedule for the program.
U.S. Navy Sees Joint Standoff Weapon Gains
The U.S. Navy is satisfied with the results of a recent critical design review for Raytheon’s Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) C-1, though the program manager notes that adding a datalink to an existing weapon is likely to meet challenges.
Hawker Beechcraft Awarded $171 Million Contract for 23 King Air 350ER Turboprops
The United States Air Force (USAF) has awarded Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (HBC) a contract with an estimated value of $171 million. The contract is for 23 extended-range (ER) special mission Beechcraft King Air 350ER turboprops. Deliveries will take place in 2009.
Boeing, Northrop tanker news
The Boeing Co. announced it was laying off 800 defense workers in Wichita, Kan., due in part to the delay in the U.S. Air Force tanker competition.
Read more.Pentagon defends decision on Lockheed fighter jet
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon’s chief weapons buyer on Wednesday defended as a “prudent approach” his decision to initially provide less money than Congress mandated for Lockheed Martin Corp.’s F-22 fighter jet program until the next administration can assess its aircraft needs.
Lockheed gets $156 million Canadian military pact
NEW YORK (Associated Press) - Lockheed Martin Corp. said Wednesday it received a $156 million contract for work on Canadian military aircraft.
Under the contract, Lockheed will provide new outer wings, stabilizers and other parts to extend the lifetimes of 10 Canadian CP-140 Aurora aircraft.
DynCorp International to Maintain Kuwaiti Apache Aircraft
The United States Army Aviation Missile Command (AMCOM) has awarded DynCorp International a contract to support the Kuwait Air Force(KAF) with a Maintenance Augmentation Team (MAT) for its Apache AH-64D aircraft fleet. The firm-fixed-price contract is valued at approximately $11.2 million for the first two years and will increase to more than $16 million if an option year is exercised to extend the contract through December 31, 2011.
EADS Delivers the Sixth HC-144A Ocean Sentry Maritime Patrol Aircraft to the U.S. Coast Guard
ARLINGTON, VA, Nov 19, 2008 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX) — The U.S. Coast Guard has accepted the sixth HC-144A Ocean Sentry aircraft platform from EADS. This new medium-range surveillance maritime patrol platform significantly enhances the mission execution capability of Coast Guard aircrews.
Maj. Paul Kirmis, U.S. Air Force pilot
Nellis Air Force Base has the unique mission of hosting foreign militaries for combat training. In recent weeks, pilots from Singapore, Greece, France and Spain have flown over our valley.
One exercise, called Green Flag, helps pilots coordinate with ground forces. Red Flag hones air-to-air combat skills. Maj. Paul Kirmis, a 36-year-old pilot who was last deployed to Afghanistan, participated in recent Green Flag training with the French.
Apache Needs Cockpit Upgrades, AATD says
WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – If the U.S. Army’s Apache AH-64D Longbow aircraft is to keep pace with its own manned-unmanned common architecture program, it will require extensive technological upgrades to the cockpit, according to the Army Aviation Applied Technology Directorate (AATD), a driving force behind the technology.
Peer Review For Major Pentagon Programs
The Pentagon is adding another layer of review meant to better protest-proof its major acquisitions, and the first programs set for greater scrutiny are the U.S. Air Force’s $15 billion combat, search and rescue (CSAR-X) helicopter replacement plan and the $35 billion tanker fleet contract award.
Raytheon to Launch UAV from Submarine
Raytheon plans to launch a small unmanned air vehicle from a submerged U.S. Navy submarine early next year to demonstrate its concept for extending the boat’s sensor range in littoral operations.
AFRL Launches Energy-Optimization Program
Northrop Grumman is to lead Boeing and Lockheed Martin in studying energy-optimized aircraft with integrated hybrid-electric system architectures under the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory’s (AFRL) Integrated Vehicle Energy Technology (INVENT) program.
USAF Creates Global Strike Command
The U.S. Air Force will stand up a new major command called Global Strike Command devoted strictly to the nuclear enterprise, the service announced Oct. 24 at the Pentagon.
U.S. Navy Global Hawk May Head To Middle East
The U.S. Navy is considering deploying its first Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to an air base near Iraq to experiment with its ability to conduct maritime surveillance, according to defense officials.
U.S. Army Wants New ARH Requirements by Jan
The U.S. Defense Department’s cancellation of the Army’s Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH) program has set off a flurry of activity within the service.
This week in photos [AF]
Col. John Dolan, vice commander of the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing, taxis under the spray of two fire department crash trucks Dec. 2 at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, after he completed his 3,000th flying hour in an F-16 Fighting Falcon. Approximately 150 F-16 pilots have surpassed this milestone. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Jason Epley)
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