Search

The article discusses the modernization plans of the U.S. Air Force (USAF) with regards to its fleet of airborne ground-surveillance (AGS) intelligence collectors. The various improvements that are required in AGS are also highlighted.

The article discusses the key aspects and unique features of the Close Air Support (CAS) and Counter-Insurgency (COIN) aircraft, the modified popular trainer of Hawker Beechcraft on request from the U.S. Air Force (USAF) for a light-attack aircraft. The need for such aircraft has arisen for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Australia is home to Boeing's largest footprint outside of the U.S. and Boeing Australia is working hard to get back on track following a number of challenges encountered such as delays to several key defense programs. Some of the efforts undertaken by Boeing Australia to rebuild trust and customer satisfaction are highlighted.

Boeing's protest of the U.S. Air Force (USAF) source-selection decision regarding the sale of 179 tankers has led Northrop Grumman/EADS receiving a stop-work order. The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has recommended the USAF to obtain revised proposals and re-evaluate these proposals and make new source selection decisions.

The delivery of the first A380 aircraft to Singapore Airlines is scheduled for October 2007. Airbus officials appear to have overcome problems that plagued the development and manufacture process, which caused unexpected delays.

The formal launch of competition for refueling tankers is followed by questions that are emerging about the capacity of service to adequately adjudicate the massive duel between European designed Airbus A330 and a combination of Boeing 767 and 777 aircraft. The bidders namely Northrop Grumman/EADS North America team versus Boeing is focusing on a fair competition for future tanker.

NASA would announce on August 31, 2006, whether Lockheed Martin or Northrop Grumman/Boeing would build the Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) replacing the shuttle as the primary route to space for US astronauts. Hardware for the test flight of the ARES I vehicle that would carry the CEV to orbit is ready and engineers are preparing instrumentation for the ground test of the Ares I first stage in November, with NASA working on a tight timetable to minimize the gap in US space access after the space shuttle makes its final flight in 2010.

American Eurocopter's UH-145's impressive performance has shown excellent potential for the US Army's Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) competition. The LUH is planned mostly for non-combat uses and the Army is anticipating an order of 322 helicopters by 2015 with deliveries starting in Fiscal 2007.

Embraer, the Brazilian aircraft makers have entered a deal with JetBird for the100 Phenom VLJs, boosting the light jet aircraft programs in the European market while the development of Phenom 100 and 300 are in full swing. The launch of Lineage1000, a derivative of Embraer's 190 regional jets at the European Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition, which would have extra fuel tanks to boost its range to 4,200 nautical miles, is expected to enter service in mid-2008.

Airbus has now firmed up with 129 orders for the A380 with conversion of commitments from Qatar airways and Malaysia Airlines into final contracts. According to Boeing, there is no real market for the very large aircraft segment that can be put to the rest.

The Air National Guard and United States Air Force Reserve Command have added precision targeting Litening II pods their F-16 aircrafts . The Litening pods are made by Northrop Grumman.

The first of three planned Orion demonstrators have been rolled out by Aurora Flight Sciences after being selected by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory for the first phase of the Medium-Altitude Global ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) and Communications (Magic) program. The company is quite optimistic that it will be successful in putting its unmanned aircraft into production if the technology demonstration proves successful.

Chinese state airlines appear to be quite reluctant to buy Comac's C919 narrowbody aircraft owing to the rising prices of the same. Orders for only five C919s have come from China Southern Airlines, Air China and China Eastern Airlines.

The article discusses the key things that China has kept in mind when selecting onboard systems for the Comac C919. The only way that the C919 can thrive in commercial markets is if Avic, the Chinese manufacturer's main supplier rids itself of the mind-set of a military manufacturer.

Resilience in demand has led Indian airlines that were reeling under the impact of the global financial crisis to once again get back to business after three years of problems. Indian airlines are once again ordering new aircraft; however, the growth is more cautious.

The largest-ever single order for 32 Airbus A380 was placed at the Berlin Air Show by Emirates Airlines, the fourth repeat order raising the total count to 90. Emirates the Dubai-based airlines are hoping to have all its A380s in service by 2017 provided Airbus sticks to delivery schedules.

Germany's top-tier suppliers are under a lot of strain mainly due to delays on major aerospace and defense programs as well as ramp-up procedures in preparation for the Airbus A350 twin-widebody. Two of Germany's main aerospace suppliers, Premium Aerotec and Diehl Aerospace have had to remake their business strategy in order to prepare for the proposed extra workshare being allocated by Airbus and Boeing.

EADS, the aerospace manufacturer continues to face various obstacles and challenges in 2010 despite having record deliveries in 2009. Some of the challenges include the strong Euro, the problems associated with the A400 military aircraft and the A380 aircraft.

The competition for the US Joint Primary Aircraft Training System (JPATS) contract has another solid candidate in the SIAI Marchetti/Grumman's S.211A. The S.211A's small size and excellent handling put it strongly in the running for the JPATS deal.

The U.S. Air Force (USAF) is not planning any substantial changes to the KC-X refueling contest source-selection plans; thereby leading to more problems with bidders. The move has led to a further delay in issuing of the request for proposal (RfP), which USAF plans to stick to; however, is willing to consider other aspects.

Northrop Grumman will be formally rolling out the Euro Hawk, a Block 20 Global Hawk-based system that is being developed in collaboration with EADS. The intelligence and surveillance system is being purchased by Germany to replace its Atlantic manned signal aircraft and by NATO.

Comac has said that it is talking to both Chinese and foreign airlines and will announce its first customer list for the C919 narrowbody some time in 2010. The major assemblies for the C919 are expected to be built at different plants across China; the first flight is planned for 2014 and the first deliveries are expected in 2016.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates in September 2009 gave permission to the U.S. Air Force (USAF) to manage the re-bidding process for procurement of its KC-135 replacement aircraft. However, the Air Force will have to issue a draft request for proposals on a new set of rules for the KC-X contract race between Boeing and a joint Northrop Grumman/EADS team.

The article discusses the importance of stress tests with the induction of more and more unmanned aerial aircraft in the US Air Force (USAF). Testing and safety issues continue to dominate delays to the Global Hawk high-altitude UAS being developed by Northrop Grumman for USAF.

The Brazilian Air Force has signed a contract worth $1.3billion with Embraer to develop a tanker/transport military airlifter. This was revealed by the CEO Frederico Fleury Curado at the Latin America Aerospace & Defense (LAAD) show held in Rio de Janeiro.

Six U.S. teams who have won NASA contracts will work on developing next generation ideas and technologies for subsonic and supersonic aircrafts. This is part of the strategy for meeting environmental requirements and improved aircrafts that will enter service over the next 25-30 years.

Poor public relations appear to have been the reason for Boeing losing the contract for the KC-X refueling tanker for the U.S. Air Force to rival company Airbus.

Northrop Grumman, Boeing and Lockheed Martin have received a request from the U.S. Navy to develop a blueprint for an EPX aircraft. The design should incorporate the use of single radar along with use of receivers for intelligence gathering missions.

The article discusses the problems that EADS is facing due to a delayed payback in all of its big three aircraft programs, mainly due to an overrun in the A400M program.

The U.S. Navy examines options for purchase of single-seater aircrafts over double-seaters in cost cutting effort.

The companies like Northrop Grumman, Boeing and Lockheed Martin are struggling to win the bid for the U.S. Navy's Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) competition. Northrop Grumman's officials feel that the BAMS competition is only one where the testing is performed on full basis.

Defense contractors like Boeing and Northrop Grumman are working to bid protest a contract not yet awarded to build the U.S. Air Force refueling tankers.

Competing designs of unmanned-combat air vehicle (UCAV) concepts for the air-to-surface role will be presented to the Russian defense ministry by airframers MiG and Sukhoi.

The U.S Air Force has opposed to a bomber airplane being launched to foil enemies in North Korea and China. Though, the Air Force Requirements Oversight Council approved the plans for the fielding of the bomber in 2018.

The cash-flow crisis at EADS has put at risk the A350XWB, Airbus's much needed A330/A340 replacement, as well as other important elements of its product strategy. The company's Co-CEO Tom Enders stated that a decision on the A350 and hinted that the company's difficult situation could force the dropping of A350.

Northrop Grumman and EADS plan to team up to offer the A330 as a candidate for U.S. Air Force aerial refuelers. However, according to industry officials an influential study being reviewed at the Pentagon could impact the Department of Defense's procurement plans and send potential bidders back to the drawing board and open the field to new additional competitors.

Northrop Grumman/Boeing is planning to join Italy's Alenia into its Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) proposal to NASA in order to counter balance EADS teaming with Lockheed Martin to create a shuttle replacement that can return astronauts to the Moon. This second European participation might force NASA to face different international cooperative options for exploration.

US rotary-wing aircraft manufacturers have extended its Eurocopter campaign into military market. American Eurocopter and EADS North America won a $75 million contract in a separate development to provide 55 single-engine EC120 helicopters to the US Customs and Border Protection Agency.

Establishment of a KC-135 replacement plan in the wake of the defunct KC-767 lease proposal is expected to take longer time and could engulf Boeing, EADS, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman. Pentagon's slow pace in this case would enable entry for new US bidder that could provide the competition it wants without alienating the Congress who needs no part of an Airbus offering.

The Lockheed Martin-led US101 and Sikorsky VH-92 teams are entering the final stages of the competition for the development of the future presidential helicopter (VXX). The decision of who will build the VXX and the funding of the program is changed slightly.

Bethesda, Md.-based Lockheed Martin Corp.'s X-35 has won the competition for the Joint Strike Fighter. Industry analysts said that the United States Air Force and Navy may be forced to make budget cutbacks in their overall fighter aircraft programs to fund the Joint Strike Fighter program.

Chicago, Ill.-based Boeing Co. and Bethesda, Md.-based Lockheed Martin Corp. have won new contracts to produce Small-Diameter Bombs for the U.S. Department of Defense. The Pentagon's war in Afghanistan has lent support to backers of smart weaponry.

Bethesda, Md.-based Lockheed Martin Corp. has won a contract to supply its X-35 fighter jet for the Joint Strike Fighter program. The JSF program, which faces substantial funding obstacles, will be used by a broad range of countries to replace their current fighter aircraft.

This article discusses the AH 1-Z Super Cobra attack helicopter being produced by Bell Helicopter Textron for the U.S. Marine Corps. The AH1-Z will fly further and faster than the AH1-W that is already in the Marine Corps fleet.

Northrop Grumman officials in 2001 have designed and built an unmanned combat aerial vehicle demonstrator named Pegasus as a foundation for the company's work in the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's and the Navy's UCAV programs.

Industry analysts, including David A. Swierenga of the Air Transport Association of America, predict strong growth and earnings in the airline industry. Southwest Airlines, which has ordered 25 Boeing 737-700s, expects to have a 10% increase of passengers in 2001.

Air France and British Airways is working to get its Concorde supersonic aircraft back into operation. The Concorde, which will be refitted with $25 million in safety modifications, is being modified by BAE Systems and EADS.

This article discusses the 555-seat Airbus A3XX aircraft. Singapore airlines is to receive 10 of them in 2006, and Airbus expects to receive 40 to 50 more orders by the end of the year. The is a debate, however, as to the need for very large equipment for long distance service.