Venus Express has reached final orbit

Posted at: Tue May 9th, 2006

Less than one month after insertion into orbit, and after sixteen loops around the planet Venus, ESA's Venus Express spacecraft has reached its final operational orbit on 7 May 2006. Already at 21:49 CEST on 6th May, when the spacecraft communicated to Earth through ESA’s ground st...

CENTAF releases airpower summary for May 8

Posted at: Tue May 9th, 2006

5/9/2006 - SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) -- U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released today's airpower summary. In Afghanistan May 8, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs and a Predator unmanned aerial vehicle successfully struck an enemy cave complex near Shkin. The aircraft expended prec...

Air Force B-1B damaged

Posted at: Tue May 9th, 2006

5/9/2006 - SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) -- An Air Force B-1B Lancer was heavily damaged during a landing at a forward operating location May 8. The aircraft, with its crew of four, slid 7,500 feet before coming to rest on the runway with its landing gear in the retracted position. ...

Raptors, JSFs on short list for replacing aging Japanese fighters

Posted at: Tue May 9th, 2006

Japan's effort to replace its aging F-4 fighter aircraft fleet is focusing on six candidate aircraft -- a list that features four American-made planes, including the international Joint Strike Fighter and the U.S.-exclusive F-22A, according to Japanese defense officials.

Continued Norwegian participation in JSF

Posted at: Tue May 9th, 2006

Norwegian Ministry of Defence press release -- The Norwegian Government has today decided to continue participation in the Joint Strike Fighter programme. The decision came after Lockheed Martin presented an improved package for Norwegian industry.

Lockheed To Begin Work On Hybrid Launch Vehicle For USAF

Posted at: Tue May 9th, 2006

DENVER, Colo., May 8, 2006 -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) has been awarded a $2.5 million contract by the U.S. Air Force for the Hybrid Launch Vehicle (HLV) Studies and Analysis program. Part of the Operationally Responsive Space initiative, the HLV will provide the Air Force with an affordable, re...

Northrop Awarded $60M for RQ-4B low rate production

Posted at: Tue May 9th, 2006

DoD contract announcements (please read the editors note at the bottom)-- Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Integrated Systems Air Combat Systems, San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a $60,621,200 firm price incentive -- firm target contract to provide for long lead parts/advance procurement fo...

Proteus prepared for radar trial

Posted at: Tue May 9th, 2006

Scaled Composites' Proteus high-altitude, long-endurance manned testbed aircraft has flown with a 16.5m (54ft)-long canoe fitted under its fuselage to simulate the multi-platform radar technology insertion programme (MP-RTIP) sensor and enable initial airworthiness tests.

Flying robot attack "unstoppable": experts

Posted at: Tue May 9th, 2006

It may sound like science fiction, but the prospect that suicide bombers and hijackers could be made redundant by flying robots is a real one, according to experts. The technology for remote-controlled light aircraft is now highly advanced, widely available -- and, experts say, virtu...