Northrop Grumman has successfully flown its Scalable Agile Beam Radar (SABR) AESA radar on a USAF F-16 in tests at Edwards AFB in California. The SABR is designed as a retrofit for F-16s and other fourth generation fighters as part of a greater electronics upgrade program. “This officially marks the first time a retrofit AESA
US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has restructured the F-35 JSF program, sacking the head of the JSF Program Office, Major General David Heinz, reportedly replacing him with Vice Admiral David Venlet, the current commander of the Naval Air Systems Command. Gates has described the JSF program as having a “troubling performance record” of late – despite him
Russia’s Sukhoi T-50 made its first official flight on January 29 from Sukhoi/KnAAPO’s Komsomolsk-on-Amur facility in Siberia’s far east. The T-50 is the prototype of the next generation PAK-FA (Perspektivnyi Aviatsionnyi Kompleks Frontovoi Aviatsy, or Future Frontline Aircraft System) under development for Russia and possibly India to replace the Su-27/Su-30 Flanker series from late next
The RAAF has commenced C-17 pilot training in Australia with the induction of its first two pilot initial qualification (PIQ) trainees, following last year’s delivery of a C-17 full flight simulator to RAAF Base Amberley. The simulator, operated by Boeing Defence Australia on contract to the RAAF, will provide 120 simulated flight hours to the
Final assembly of the fourth Airbus Military A400M is underway at Seville, Spain, following the arrival of MSN004’s wingset on January 21. The airlifter’s vertical tailplane is due to be delivered to Seville in mid February and the fuselage and nose one month later. MSN004 is due to fly before the end of 2010.
Hawker Beechcraft announced on February 2 that it has delivered the first four T-6A military trainer aircraft to the Iraqi Air Force. “With the T-6A, the Iraqi Air Force now has the most successful primary trainer in the world at its fingertips,” said Jim Maslowski, president, US and international government business. “These aircraft will play
