The Kawasaki P-1 is a four-engine, anti-submarine warfare and maritime-patrol aircraft. The aircraft is powered by the IHI F7-10 turbofan, rated at 13,448-lb.-thrust. The P-1 is intended to replace Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force P-3Cs. A prototype flew for the first time in 2007. Delivery of the first production model is scheduled for 2012. Through 2011, two developmental aircraft were built. Approximately 27 production units are forecast from 2012 through 2021.
Yes, competition would fix the “JSF Problem.” Look at the benefits gained from deregulating the airlines. A secondary problem is Congress's fetish to try and build one aircraft to do too much. History with the F-111 did not teach a satisfactory lesson. The military needs stealthy aircraft to initiate air superiority. But they make poor carpet-bombers. The military needs fast, multi-target killers to protect the fleet and bases, but everybody knows where they are.
The AS565 multirole, 10- to 15-seat helicopter is a military version of the commercial AS365 Dauphin. Variants include the U.S. Coast Guard's HH-65C Dolphin (powered by Turbomeca Arriel 2C2 engines); naval AS565MB (Arriel 2C); and land-based AS565UB (Arriel 2C). Through 2011, 1,004 Dauphin/Panther helicopters were produced, not including models license-produced by China's Hafei Aviation Industry Company Ltd (HAI), with 18 more for military use forecast from 2012 through 2021.
Boeing's 737 series is a family of twin-engine, narrowbody commercial transports. There are several programs for converting green 737 aircraft for specialized military use. Australia's E-7A Wedgetail airborne warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft, integrated by Boeing with a Northrop Grumman radar, first flew in 2004 and delayed deliveries began in 2010. Turkey's Peace Eagle 737 AEW&C is modified by Boeing and TAI, while South Korea's 737 AEW&C is modified by Boeing and KAI.
USAF Col. (ret.) Stephen B. Harrison (see photo) has joined the board of AAR Airlift Group in Melbourne and Palm Bay, Fla. He was president and CEO of National Airlines.
The Mi-28 is a twin-engine, tandem-seat attack helicopter. In Russian military use, the Mil Mi-28 has become the successor to the Mi-24. First flight occurred in 1982. The current version is the all-weather/night-capable Mi-28N; deliveries of the Mi-28N began in 2006. The Mi-28N is powered by 2,194-shp Klimov TV3-117VMA turboshaft engines. Through 2011, some 48 Mi-28s had been built. Another 128 are forecast for production from 2012 through 2021.
Europe's big three airline groups are making serious cuts to stem mounting losses. But if British Airways CEO Keith Williams is right, it will be a very long time before they are remotely near the healthy profit margins of 4-5 years ago.
Staffers on Capitol Hill have discussed reauthorizing NASA spending and even approving a spending bill that funds the space agency by the end of the year. But whether they succeed depends on the results of the November election.
The MiG-AT is a twin-engine jet trainer now in development at RAC MiG. One prototype made its first flight in 1996, and a second in 2004. The aircraft has two 3,150-lb.-thrust Turbomeca/Snecma Larzac 04-R20 turbofans, although it has been tested with 3,750-lb.-thrust Soyuz RD-1700 engines for the Russian air force. RAC MiG has also conceived a single-seat light fighter/attack version designated the MiG-AS.
Pentagon spending appears on the presidential campaign radar primarily as it relates to the No. 1 issue—jobs and the economy. When the candidates travel to Virginia—a military-heavy state that could make a difference in the election's outcome—they have to address defense issues. But without much emphasis by the campaigns on military matters, Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama wind up stumbling on the details.
New Delhi has cleared a proposal to buy more than 200 of the air-launched version of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles for the Indian air force. The federal Cabinet Committee on Security on Oct. 18 approved a proposal worth more than 60 billion rupees ($1.2 billion) for purchasing, testing and integration of the BrahMos missile on the Russian-made Sukhoi Su-30 MKI aircraft, a defense ministry official says. The missiles are based on the Russian-designed NPO Mashinostroyenie 3M55 Yakhont (SS-N-26).
One of the world's largest operators of helicopters has established a new corporate structure with the goal of driving improved safety and operating standards across its territories. Avincis Group has been established in London from the former World Helicopter Group, holding company for global onshore and offshore helicopter-service providers Bond Aviation Group and Grupo Inaer.
Australia's navy, which has 24 Sikorsky MH-60R ASW helicopters on order, will start sending crews to the U.S. in January for training on the new type. Cmdr. Grant O'Loughlan, commander of the squadron that will operate the helicopters, tells Aviation Week the navy is buying two full-flight mission simulators, but it will take time before the service is ready to start conducting its own MH-60R training. The Australian navy crews will undergo simulator training and “we will be training on U.S. [MH-60R] helicopters in the U.S.,” he says.
USAF Maj. Gen. (ret.) John Folkerts has been appointed to lead Tampa, Fla.-based Battelle's business with the U.S. Defense Department's Special Operations Forces. Folkerts's 34-year military career included a tour as vice commander of the USAF Special Operations Command.
When turnaround specialist Robert S. “Steve” Miller was appointed CEO of Hawker Beechcraft in February, he waved off rumors that the struggling manufacturer of business jets, turboprops and military trainers would be sold to a Chinese entity. “There is no plan in my kit bag here to sell this company or any of its pieces,” he told Aviation Week. Three months later, Hawker filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
The MB-339 was developed as a follow-on to Aermacchi's MB-326, with the first prototype flying in 1976. The single engine is either a Rolls-Royce Viper Mk 632-43 (4,000-lb.-thrust) or Mk 680 (4,400-lb.-thrust) turbojet. After more than 220 aircraft were built for flight training and light attack, production ended in 2004 with the MB-339CD variant, which serves as a lead-in trainer for Tornado and Typhoon fighter pilots in the Italian air force. It has also proven to be a popular aerobatic aircraft.
The A400M is a four-turboprop heavy military transport aircraft currently under development. Seven European nations are participating in the program: Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Spain, Turkey, and the U.K. The seven partner nations intend to acquire a total of 170 A400Ms. Malaysia joined the development effort in 2005, and will acquire four A400Ms. First flight occurred in December 2009, with deliveries to begin in the second quarter of 2013. Five test aircraft had been built through 2011, with 199 aircraft forecast to be built in the 2012-21 timeframe.
In 1991, two years after the U.S. withdrew from the Grumman/Chengdu Super 7 effort, Chengdu began the FC-1 lightweight fighter program. Pakistan (where the aircraft is known as the JF-17) and China signed an agreement in 1998 for joint development and production. The first prototype flew in 2003, and first delivery occurred in 2007. The single-seat aircraft is powered by a single Klimov RD-93 afterburning turbofan (18,300-lb.-thrust), with a two-seat variant also planned.
The EC120 is a single-turbine light helicopter primarily used in the military arena for flight training. Power is supplied by a Turbomeca Arrius 2F turboshaft engine rated at 504 shp. Through 2011, 701 civil/military EC120s had been produced, with another 27 for military applications expected from 2012 through 2021.
The HH/UH-60 (also S-70) Black Hawk series is a family of twin-turbine, medium-lift military transport and utility helicopters. Past models have included the UH-60A, powered by two GE T700-700 turboshafts, and the UH-60L, with two T700-701C engines. The latest version is the UH-60M, powered by two 2,215-shp T700-701D turboshafts. The UH-60 family also includes the new S-70i international model, assembled at Sikorsky subsidiary PZL-Mielec in Poland. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries produces the Black Hawk under license in Japan.
Thomas Anderson, president of Transact International, has received honors from coalition supporters at the NATO base in Kandahar, Afghanistan, for providing a series of mission-critical air charters into the region.
