Saudi Says Eurofighter Deal with Britain on Course

Posted at: Tue Apr 4th, 2006

Saudi Arabia said on April 3 that a deal to purchase Typhoon Eurofighter jets from Britain, believed to be worth billions of dollars, was on course after technical committees signed relevant documents. "The papers of the Eurofighter jets deal were signed by the (Saudi and British) technical c...

US finally looks beyond the B-2 for long-range strike capability

Posted at: Tue Apr 4th, 2006

One of the most significant decisions in the Pentagon's Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR), published in February (2006), is its support for a plan to develop a long-range strike (LRS) aircraft and bring it into service by 2018. The QDR states that the US Air Force (USAF) "has set a goal of increasing...

Mars orbiter begins aerobraking campaign

Posted at: Tue Apr 4th, 2006

PASADENA, California (AP) -- The most advanced spacecraft to reach Mars has begun adjusting its orbit so that it can study the planet in detail this fall, scientists said. The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter fired its thrusters for nearly a minute Thursday to lower its obit, a step toward...

U.S. Losing Unofficial Space Race, Congressmen Say

Posted at: Tue Apr 4th, 2006

WASHINGTON - Some congressmen believe the United States and China are in an unacknowledged space race that this country could lose if it doesn't spend more money on the civilian space program. The communist nation's military runs its manned space program, employs an estimated 200,000 ...

China's R&D: Don't Freak [opinion]

Posted at: Tue Apr 4th, 2006

China is about to pass the U.S. in the development of defense and commercial technology. And they're gonna take our lunch money, too. Those are the conclusions China hawks will draw, no doubt, from a new Office of Naval Research (ONR) report on Beijing's science and technology. Posted by Stev...

'Eurofighter to Lead Growing Fighter Market'

Posted at: Tue Apr 4th, 2006

NEWTOWN, Conn. --- The world combat aircraft market is much more competitive than it was a year ago, primarily due to two significant developments. First, the U.S. Air Force failed to overturn cutbacks suggested for the Lockheed Martin F-22 program in early 2005; the service will now acquire about 1...

USAF to Test High-Speed, Convertible 'SkyTote' UAV

Posted at: Tue Apr 4th, 2006

4/3/2006 - WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFPN) -- Air Force Research Laboratory scientists are working on a novel unmanned air vehicle called SkyTote that will take off and land vertically like a helicopter, but also transition into horizontal flight like a conventional aircraft.