MIRAGEC14

Rafale to expand Meteor missile testing

2013-05-17T20:56:00.000+02:00

Fresh separation trials involving the Dassault Rafale and MBDA's Meteor beyond visual-range air-to-air missile are due to be performed in late May, as the type edges closer towards eventual service introduction with the French armed forces. To be performed from the Cazaux flight test centre of France's DGA defence procurement agency over water using instrumented rounds without warheads, the

Second Generation Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System Intercepts Ballistic Missile Target

2013-05-17T20:46:00.001+02:00

Lockheed Martin's second-generation Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) system achieved its fourth intercept since May 2012. The system successfully launched and guided a Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block IB missile to engage a sophisticated, separating short-range ballistic missile target. spacewar

L-159s could be sold to Poland

2013-05-17T20:33:00.002+02:00

The Czech Republic is hoping to sell its L-159 Alca fighter aircraft to Poland, just months after an expected deal with Iraq apparently fell through. praguepost

F-35A Successfully Completes High Angle Of Attack Testing

2013-05-17T20:05:00.002+02:00

The latest in a series of Lockheed Martin [LMT] F-35A high angle of attack (AOA) testing was recently completed. The testing accomplished high AOA beyond both the positive and negative maximum command limits, including intentionally putting the aircraft out of control in several configurations. This included initially flying in the stealth clean wing configuration. It was followed by testing

North Korea May Have 200 Mobile Missile Launchers

2013-05-17T19:56:00.005+02:00

North Korea may have up to 200 mobile missile launchers, or twice the number previously estimated by South Korea’s authorities. rian.ru

Australia revives interest in MQ-4C

2013-05-17T19:47:00.001+02:00

Australia will issue a Letter of Request to request cost, capability and availability information on the MQ-4C. Graham Warwick-aviationweek

Russia to Deliver 12 More Mi-17 Helicopters to Afghanistan

2013-05-17T19:37:00.002+02:00

Russia will deliver 12 Mil Mi-17V5 military transport helicopters to the Afghanistan Armed Forces by the end of 2013. ria.ru

Saab Touts Naval Sea Gripen Variant

2013-05-17T19:28:00.002+02:00

Besides Brazil, Saab identified future demand for naval fighters in countries like India, Italy and the UK, which, in the coming years will be commissioning new aircraft carriers in their navies. According to Saab, there is a real and viable market for this type of aircraft. defencetalk

Spangdahlem launches final A-10 sortie in Europe

2013-05-15T13:26:00.004+02:00

The U.S. Air Force launched the final A-10 Thunderbolt II tactical sortie in Europe at Spangdahlem AB May 14, 2013. The airframe belongs to the 52nd Fighter Wing’s 81st Fighter Squadron, which inactivates in June. dvidshub

EADS says Pentagon ending buying Lakota helicopters

2013-05-15T13:18:00.002+02:00

The US Defense Department has decided to stop buying EADS Lakota helicopters for the Army next year, according to the head of the European aerospace's US-based unit. google.com

First Boeing P-8I Joins Indian Navy

2013-05-15T13:10:00.001+02:00

Indian Naval Aviation received a major fillip with the arrival of the first of eight Boeing P-8I Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance and Anti Submarine Warfare aircraft at Naval Air Station Rajali, Arakkonam, Tamil Nadu today, 15 may 13. livefist

Algerian Air Force Performs Trials With A330 MRTT

2013-05-15T12:15:00.002+02:00

The Algerian air force (AAF) has been conducting trials with the Airbus Military A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft. Demonstrations of the aircraft, using an airframe that is destined for the U.K. Royal Air Force, are understood to have taken place earlier this month at Boufarik airbase, the AAF’s main transport airfield near Algiers. Anthony Osborne-aviationweek

Germany will not buy Euro Hawk drones

2013-05-15T10:18:00.000+02:00

Germany will not purchase Euro Hawk reconaissance drones because meeting the standards required to win aviation approval would cost 500 million to 600 million euros. reuters

The Navy's X-47B Drone Has Taken Off From a Carrier For the First Time

2013-05-15T09:58:00.002+02:00

One of Northrop Grumman's star Unmanned Combat Air System demonstrator successfully catapult launched from the deck of the USS George H.W. Bush just off the Maryland coast. This marks the first time the X-47B, or any UAV for that matter, has ever taken off from a carrier at sea. gizmodo

U.K. Rivet Joint - First "Official" Picture

2013-05-15T09:13:00.001+02:00

USAF Photographers have snapped the first RC-135 Rivet Joint destined for the U.K. Royal Air Force. Tony Osborne-aviationweek

First Indian Navy P-8I Lands At Home Base Arakkonam Today

2013-05-15T09:08:00.001+02:00

The first of eight P-8Is (Tail No. IN 320) will land shortly before noon today at the INS Rajali naval air station in Arakkonam. livefist

French Minister of Defence confirms 11 FREMM Frigates and 6 Barracuda Submarines will be built

2013-05-14T22:30:00.004+02:00

French Minister of Defence Jean-Yves Le Drian confirmed this morning in Daily Ouest-France, the construction of 11 FREMM multi-mission frigates (as opposed to eight according to recent rumors following the publication of a White Paper on Defense last week) and 6 Barracuda new generation nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSN). The Minister also announced an increase in defense resources and

Clear photo of Li Jian UCAV

2013-05-14T22:13:00.000+02:00

A clear photo of the Li Jian (Sharp Sword) UCAV has emerged. The drone is allegedly designed by Shenyang Aircraft Design Institute and produced by Hongdu Aviation Industry. It is currently under testing at Nanchang. alert5

Otro submarino nuclear llega a Gibraltar

2013-05-14T21:51:00.001+02:00

El submarino nuclear británico Trenchant ha arribado este lunes en la base de Gibraltar para realizar una escala técnica, según han informado fuentes del Ministerio de Defensa del Reino Unido en la colonia británica. El Trenchant es el segundo submarino nuclear que llega a Gibraltar en la última semana. elpais

X-47B to be launched from aicraft carrier today

2013-05-14T15:50:00.002+02:00

Naval aviation will change forever Tuesday as we witness the first-ever launch of an unmanned aircraft from a modern aircraft carrier. This launch of the X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System demonstrator will mark an inflection point in history on how we will integrate manned and unmanned aircraft on carrier flight decks in the future. navylive

Azerbaijan interested in Turkey-made T-129 attack helicopter

2013-05-14T15:46:00.001+02:00

Azerbaijani military units are interested in Turkey-made T-129 attack helicopter, producer of the helicopter Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) told APA. Company representatives said that Azerbaijani military delegation watched flight debut of the helicopter that has advantages in maneuverability, avionics and weapons loads compared to its analogues, within IDEF-2013 international defense

Boeing Brings B-52 into Digital Age with Significant Communications Upgrade

2013-05-14T10:33:00.003+02:00

Boeing is providing an upgraded communications system for U.S. Air Force B-52 bombers so aircrews can send and receive information via satellite links, allowing crews to change mission plans and retarget weapons in flight and better interact with aircraft and ground forces. defencetalk

TAI Hurkus nears first flight and orders

2013-05-13T15:40:00.002+02:00

The Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) Hurkus turboprop trainer is planned to make its first flight in late June, according to the company, which displayed a mock-up of an armed version at the International Defence Industry Fair in Istanbul. flightglobal

F-35B performs first vertical take-off

2013-05-13T15:36:00.003+02:00

Test pilots at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, performed the first Lockheed Martin F-35B Joint Strike Fighter vertical take-off on 10 May. The US Marine Corps' short take-off and vertical landing variant had a requirement to perform vertical take-offs right from the outset of the JSF programme. However, the capability is not emphasised because the F-35B would not be able to carry a

Iran to Equip IRGC Vessels with Stronger Anti-Ship Cruise Missiles

2013-05-13T10:23:00.003+02:00

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) vessels have been equipped with sophisticated missiles with a range of 300km, a senior Iranian defense ministry officials announced on Sunday, but meantime added that more new missiles with much more advanced capabilities will be supplied to the force in the near future. farsnews