Common Airframe for New Bomber, Gunship?

Posted at: Fri Apr 14th, 2006

Air Combat Command officials are examining whether the Air Force's next long-range bomber and its future gunship could be based on the same airframe, Inside the Air Force has learned. With both next-generation aircraft tasked with carrying out "global persistent attack" missions -- c...

Air Force chief supports flying F-117s, U-2s longer, if necessary

Posted at: Fri Apr 14th, 2006

The Air Force will continue to fly the Lockheed Martin [LMT] U-2 Dragon Lady surveillance aircraft and F-117A Nighthawk stealth attack platform until their replacements, the Northrop Grumman [NOC] RQ-4 Global Hawk and Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor stealth fighter, have proven their merit, the Air Forc...

NASA Mulls Fuel Tank Test for Next Shuttle Flight

Posted at: Fri Apr 14th, 2006

CAPE CANAVERAL - NASA is mapping out plans to test shuttle Discovery's external tank at its Kennedy Space Center launch pad, but a final decision on whether to proceed with the fuel-loading operation still is pending. The test would involve pumping more than a half-million gallons of ...

Boeing bids to sell Indian Navy eight P-8A maritime aircraft

Posted at: Fri Apr 14th, 2006

(press release) ST. LOUIS, April 13, 2006 -- A team led by Boeing [NYSE: BA] today submitted its proposal to develop and deliver eight long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft to the Indian navy. Boeing is offering a variant of its P-8A Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft, ...

Air Force doubts Iran downed drone

Posted at: Fri Apr 14th, 2006

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - A spy plane that Iran claims to have shot down over its territory was not operated by the U.S. Air Force, a top American general said Thursday. Maj. Gen. Allen Peck also played down Pentagon planning for airstrikes on Iran, calling it routine. ...

Operation Mountain Lion enters 2nd day

Posted at: Fri Apr 14th, 2006

KABUL: Thousands of Afghan and coalition troops backed by US and British warplanes continued strikes on Thursday against a known insurgent area in the second day of Operation Mountain Lion, while in separate incidents, a suspected militant was killed and a rocket struck the country’s defence compo...

Taiwan to upgrade F-16, Mirage while waiting for 3rd-generation jets

Posted at: Fri Apr 14th, 2006

Taipei - Taiwan plans to upgrade its F-16 and Mirage warplanes while waiting to introduce its third-generation fighter jets, a newspaper said on Thursday. The China Times, quoting an unnamed air force source, said that Taiwan still hopes to buy JSF (Joint Strike Fighter) jets from th...

Eyes in the sky needed to spot lethal explosives on the ground

Posted at: Fri Apr 14th, 2006

The Pentagon is developing unmanned aircraft to find buried mines and improvised explosive devices, the largest killer of U.S. troops in Iraq. In the past month, records show, the Air Force and Navy have asked defense contractors to help devise bomb- and mine-hunting unmanned aircraft...

U.S. to conduct military exercises off Guam

Posted at: Fri Apr 14th, 2006

HAGATNA, Guam (Pacific Daily News, April 12) -- The U.S. military plans to gather three aircraft carriers off Guam this summer for exercises that will mark the first time since the Vietnam War that so many of the ships have operated in the Pacific Ocean together.

Coalition Launches 'Operation Mountain Lion' in Afghanistan

Posted at: Fri Apr 14th, 2006

WASHINGTON, April 12, 2006 -- Coalition forces, in cooperation with the Afghan National Army, began "Operation Mountain Lion" yesterday to establish security, deter the re-emergence of terrorism, and enhance the sovereignty of Afghanistan, military officials reported today.