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Defense Projects and News

Discussion in 'Commercial & General Aviation' started by Jet News, Jan 19, 2013.

  1. Jet News

    Jet News JF News Editor Staff Member

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    First production Airbus A400M makes maiden flight

    The first Airbus A400M transporter recently made its maiden flight. The A400M transporter is expected to be delivered to the French Air Force later this year. The maiden flight ran for just under 6 hours. Delivery is expected around late May or early June the latest.

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  2. Jet News

    Jet News JF News Editor Staff Member

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    Second F-35 rolls out for the Royal Netherlands Airforce. The aircraft is to be used for pilot and maintainer training when completed. the RNLAF could buy as many as 85 of these aircraft.

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  3. Jet News

    Jet News JF News Editor Staff Member

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    Israel is to equip its F-35 JSF warplanes with weapons that have technologically advanced Spice-bomb guidance kit. The Spice kit can be loaded with 100 optional targets in a given area, which can be checked against its imaging infrared/TV sensor.

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  4. KCook

    KCook New Member

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    So . . . this spice bomb is really a dispenser?
  5. Jet News

    Jet News JF News Editor Staff Member

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  6. KCook

    KCook New Member

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    Cool. Seems that it can hit only one of those multiple targets. I bet it isn't cheap.

    Kelly
  7. Jet News

    Jet News JF News Editor Staff Member

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    Well if you look at the disadvantages listed on the wiki site, I think it said that they are too expensive versus other kits or options available.
  8. Jet News

    Jet News JF News Editor Staff Member

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    The United States Navy is considering adding conformal fuel tanks onto its fleet of Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet strike fighters. The twin dorsally mounted tanks are expected to be tested this summer. The Navy hasn't positively commented on the allegation but doesn't deny in its interest. "As of right now this information is proprietarily owned between Boeing and Northrop [Grumman] and PMA-265 cannot talk to it," the Naval Air Systems Command says.

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  9. KCook

    KCook New Member

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    Wild photo! My wallpaper collection thanks you.
  10. Jet News

    Jet News JF News Editor Staff Member

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    Seems like Boeing has been contracted to upgrade 68 Saudi F-15S combat aircraft in a contract worth some 4-billion dollars. Outlined by the US Department of Defense in a 2 November contract notification, the deal will cover "development, integration and testing, fabrication of trial kits to support validation and verification activities". To run until 31 December 2019, the deal also covers the procurement of 68 F-15SA conversion kits, "and installation of four base stand-up kits", the DoD says.

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  11. Jet News

    Jet News JF News Editor Staff Member

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    The United States Department of Defense (DoD) has apparently formally notified the U.S Congress of potential sales of the Boeing F-15SE -Silent Eagle- and Lockheed Martin F-35 JSF -Joint Strike Fighter- to South Korea on 29 March, 2013. The two aircraft are on offer to the Asian nation as part of South Korea's F-X III fighter competition. The Eurofighter Typhoon is the other candidate for the potential 60-aircraft deal.
  12. Jet News

    Jet News JF News Editor Staff Member

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    United States Air Force (USAF) F-22 Raptor have once again returned to the skies after having life support supgrades and modifications done. To resume normal operations the service has modified the Combat Edge upper pressure garment and its associated hoses, valves and connectors, the USAF says.

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  13. Jet News

    Jet News JF News Editor Staff Member

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    Looks like the Royal Netherlands Air Force will put their first F-35 in storage while they contemplate what might be the best way to replace their F-16 fleet. Newly appointed defence minister Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert announced the decision to park the test assets in a letter to the Dutch parliament on 4 April. The first test aircraft which was delivered in late 2012 as well as the second, to be delivered in mid-2013 are to be stored at Edwards AFB in the U.S. While there they will be flown off and on to keep them in good running order.
  14. Jet News

    Jet News JF News Editor Staff Member

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    U.S Defense budget is out!

    The US Department of Defense has outlined its budget for the fiscal year 2014 budget request on 10 April. However, the $527 billion spending plan does not include overseas contingency operations funding, nor does it reflect the effects of the automatic budgets cuts imposed by the US Congress. So really and truly, what are we looking at here?
  15. Jet News

    Jet News JF News Editor Staff Member

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    Looks like the U.S is on the verge to sell Israel V-22 tilt rotor aircraft. In addition to the Bell Boeing V-22 tilt-rotor transport aircraft they are looking to sell KC-135 tankers to them as well.

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  16. KCook

    KCook New Member

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    Now I wonder what props that big sound like in a fly-by
  17. Jet News

    Jet News JF News Editor Staff Member

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    Seems like some new military hardware may be purchased by Serbia. That country is near in completing a deal with Russia for the purchase of military equipment that includes six RAC MiG-29M/M2 multirole fighters and two Mil Mi-17 helicopters. This is all according to local media reports quoting deputy prime minister and defence minister Aleksandar Vucic and chief of staff Gen Ljubisa Dikovic.
  18. Jet News

    Jet News JF News Editor Staff Member

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    A Royal Air Force crew has performed the first weapons release over Afghanistan utilizing a General Atomics Aeronautical Systems 'Reaper' that was being controlled from UK soil. This all happened one week after conducting the first such operation from its Waddington base in Lincolnshire.

    Pictured below is a U.S variant

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  19. Jet News

    Jet News JF News Editor Staff Member

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    Lockheed gets funding to start build of the first two Israeli F-35A Joint Strike Fighters. "This is for long-lead funding for the two Israeli planes in LRIP [low rate initial production] 8," Lockheed says. "We received long-lead funding for the first 35 jets at the end of February, then Japan happened at the end of March."
  20. Jet News

    Jet News JF News Editor Staff Member

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    X-51 hypersonic program ends in success they say

    The Hypersonic X-51 program as been herladed a success. The Boeing X-51A Waverider test bed craft has successfully completed its fourth and final flight. In doing so it also broke the record for longest air-breathing hypersonic flight. The final flight took place on the 1st of May and was the first to achieve full satisfactory results. The vehicle launched from its B-52 mothership and was powered to M4.8 by a booster rocket. The X-51 separated cleanly from the booster and ignited its own engine, accelerating until it hit M5.1. The flight continued for 240s basically until X-51 ran out of fuel.

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