NAVAIR Issues V-22 Osprey Contracts Worth $1.17B
Posted on: Fri Dec 30th, 2005 | defenseindustrydaily.com

The USA's Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, MD has issued a series of contracts over the last week or so related to the twin-engine V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor transport aircraft. The V-22 Osprey remains controversial given its $100 million per plane cost performance questions over the course ...

DPRK: US carries out over 180 aerial espionage ops in December
Posted on: Fri Dec 30th, 2005 | news.xinhuanet.com

It's time again for the monthly update on reported US spy flights over North Korea. In November, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) reported 210 reconnaissance flights. Today, according to Chinese state-owned Xinhua, the DPRK released the numbers for December; 180 flights.

Arms sales to Pakistan, India in 2006: Rivalry could put US ‘on the hook’
Posted on: Fri Dec 30th, 2005 | dailytimes.com.pk

WASHINGTON: The Bush administration is manoeuvring to balance possible big new US arms sales to archrivals India and Pakistan in the New Year.

Poland Takes Over as NATO Policeman of Baltic Airspace
Posted on: Fri Dec 30th, 2005 | defensenews.com

Poland on Dec. 30 became the first former communist state to patrol the airspace of the Baltic states when it took over a NATO air police mission from the United States at a ceremony in Lithuania.

Russia to begin supplying Su-30MKM fighters to Malaysia in 2006
Posted on: Fri Dec 30th, 2005 | tass.ru

IRKUTSK, December 29 (Itar-Tass) - Russian aircraft-makers will begin supplying Su-30MKM fighters to Malaysia in 2006, officials at the Irkut research and production corporation told Itar-Tass on Thursday.

Boeing test-fires anti-ballistic-missile laser
Posted on: Fri Dec 30th, 2005 | stltoday.com

The prospect of shooting down enemy ballistic missiles has tantalized the Pentagon for decades. But developing missile defense weapons is costly - about $100 billion has been spent on them since 1985 - and littered with failures.

El Al to install anti-missile systems on six passenger jets
Posted on: Fri Dec 30th, 2005 | haaretzdaily.com

El Al Israel Airlines will install anti-missile systems on six passenger jets that fly to areas where the Al-Qaida terror network has been active, a transportation official said Friday.

£40bn Saudi fighter jet deal brings RAF shortage fears
Posted on: Fri Dec 30th, 2005 | theherald.co.uk

SAUDI Arabia plans to buy more than 200 Eurofighter Typhoon jets from the UK in a deal worth up to £40bn including spares, maintenance and training over the next 20 years, The Herald has learned.

'Pentagon to kill F-35 back-up engine'
Posted on: Fri Dec 30th, 2005 | financialexpress.com

WASHINGTON, DECEMBER 30 : The Pentagon has decided to kill a planned back-up engine for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the most expensive U.S. warplane program ever, in a boost to United Technologies Corp. and a blow to rivals, a well-placed defense consultant said on Thursday.