Aircraft & Propulsion

The F-35 is a “benchmark” in competition to replace the Tornado, German officials say.

Anglo-French UCAV and Turkish TF-X are preserving British fighter know-how.

Auto-ICAS integration challenge remains for F-16 as ground collision protection speeds up for F-35.

Aviation Week flies next step in combat aircraft collision avoidance safety. Photo: Christoper Higgins/U.S. Air Force

Malaysia has begun exploratory talks with other Hornet operators about buying surplus F/A-18s. Advanced new aircraft are not currently affordable.

Restricted from selling armed unmanned aircraft systems in the Middle East, an interim approach is to wirelessly link surveillance drones with attack helicopters.

Accumulated technological preparation, a record of cost control and a need to transfer experience argue for getting on with the next Japanese fighter, says local industry.

A recent surge in physiological cockpit episodes has led the U.S. military to take a closer look at oxygen systems in combat aircraft.

One former F/A 18 pilot says: “I just remember looking around the airplane thinking, man, I’m not completely certain I know how to fly this airplane anymore.”

Lockheed Martin is working with the U.S. government to translate potential F-16 deals from Greece and Bahrain into firm orders.

Fighter purchases are keeping the F-15, F-16 and Typhoon lines open longer than expected and giving Russia hope for increasing its exports.

The service’s new trainer will feature a next-generation ejection seat designed to improve safety for student pilots.

The MBDA Meteor and Diehl IRIS-T missiles will equip the KAI KF-X, which is also getting a two-seat version. Aircraft dimensions have expanded.

For the first time, the Navy has linked a specific component failure to a surge of cockpit events.

An influential Washington think tank is warning of a significant deterioration of the U.S. Air Force’s fighter capacity.

Aviation Week flew inverted and pulled 9g in the backseat of a Thunderbirds Fighting Falcon.

The U.S. and Qatar are close to finalizing a multibillion-dollar deal for up to 48 F-15QA multirole fighters.

The Swedish manufacturer is exploring options for a U.S. facility to build the new trainer.

The true first flight milestone will occur sometime in late October or early November, when the aircraft hovers about 20-30 ft. off the ground for about 1-2 hr. of powered hover testing.

The U.S. Air Force is moving forward with preparations to take two off-the-shelf light attack turboprop aircraft downrange to fight terrorists next year.

There are questions about how Doha’s tiny air force will be able to absorb the massive capabilities in which it is investing.

So-called concurrency continues to bedevil the Pentagon's ability to afford the F-35, as it will take a lot of work to bring some of the oldest aircraft up to the standard they will need to fight in combat.

Less than one week after the U.S. State Department approved the sale of 18 Boeing Super Hornets to Canada, the Canadian prime minister said he will refuse to do business with the Chicago-based aerospace company.

Boeing and Saab say 90% of their clean-sheet BTX aircraft would be made in the U.S. if it is selected for the U.S. Air Force’s T-X Advanced Pilot Training program.

The U.S. Air Force is making changes to F-35 flight equipment to make breathing easier for pilots.