News on Military Aircraft Technology

Pentagon: F-35 fighter jet cost doubles

2010-03-11T14:32:26Z

<div id="subtitle">Pentagon says cost of new F-35 fighter jet will be double original estimates</div><div><p>The Pentagon said Thursday the cost to build its next-generation fighter jet has doubled to as much as $113 million per plane since 2001.</p><p>The bad news about the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Progam, delivered Thursd...

China warns US against selling F-16s to Taiwan

2010-03-09T01:15:15Z

<div id="subtitle">China warns US against selling F-16s to Taiwan</div><div><p>China on Tuesday warned the United States against any future arms sales to Taiwan, including F-16 fighter jets the island has been pushing for in hopes of upgrading its air defense ...

Pentagon sees no erosion on F-35 total buy

2010-03-04T14:01:07Z

<div><p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Pentagon's chief arms buyer on Thursday said he was not seeing signs that the U.S. military services or international partners would cut their planned purchases of Lockheed Martin Corp F-35 fighter jets, but acknowledged that was a risk for such a big program.</...

US announces two-year delay in F-35 fighter program

2010-03-02T17:15:39Z

<div><p>The US Air Force announced Tuesday a two-year delay in the production of its new F-35 stealth fighter, touted as the future of the American air fleet.</p><p>Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley, the civilian head of the department, told reporters that the Joint Strike Fighter, scheduled for use by 2013, would now not be ready until the end of 2015.</p><p>"I do think we're going to have a ...

Russian New Bomber

2010-03-01T12:15:10Z

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin looks on during a visit to the city of Beslan in the republic of North Ossetia in the Russia's North Caucasus, Monday, March 1, 2010. Putin said Monday during a government meeting that focused o...

Putin: Russia to build new strategic bomber

2010-03-01T12:33:14Z

<div id="subtitle">Putin says Russia will build new strategic bomber, part of modernizaton effort</div><div><p>Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Monday that Russia will build a new strategic bomber, a move that comes as the nation tries to upgrade its aging military arsenal.</p><p>Putin said in televised remarks that work on the bomber must follow the devel...

Airbus Military Plane

2010-02-24T05:16:48Z

FILE - In this Dec. 11, 2009 file photo, the new military Airbus A400M transport plane lands after its exhibition flight at Seville, Spain. France can "reasonably expect" a deal next week between seven countries and European defense giant EADS to resolve a financial dispute over the A400M military transport plane, ...

U.S. And Japan To Begin Talks On Futemna Airbase Relocation Issue

2010-02-24T04:31:21Z

KADENA, JAPAN - FEBRUARY 24: US Air Force F-22 Raptor fighter jets fly over Kadena Air Base on February 24, 2010 in Kadena, Japan. U.S. and Japan will begin talks on Futemma Air Base relocation in early March, following a ...

Iran launches production lines for unmanned planes

2010-02-22T10:51:19Z

<div id="subtitle">Iran launches production lines for 2 unmanned planes with attack capabilities</div><div><p>Iran has launched two production lines to build unmanned aircraft with surveillance and attack capabilities, the defense minister announced Monday.</p><p>It also announced that Iran would soon deploy a missile air defense system more powerful than the advanced Russi...

Defense chief fires head of troubled office

2010-02-22T12:57:38Z

<div id="subtitle">Defense chief duns contractor Lockheed Martin and fires head of troubled fighter jet program</div><div><p>Defense Secretary Robert Gates is removing at least one senior manager and withholding money from a defense contractor because of continued troubles in

China US Taiwan Arms Sales

2010-02-01T08:46:02Z

Visitors to the Chinese military museum look at remains of U.S. made Taiwanese reconnaissance planes, at left, shot down by the Chinese in the 1960's, and a Chinese fighter jet in Beijing, China, Saturday, Jan. 30, 2010. China angrily summoned the U.S. ambassador on Saturday and warned that a plan to sell $6.4 billion in arms to

Pentagon underscores commitment to F-35

2010-02-22T16:48:18Z

<div><p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Deputy Defense Secretary William Lynn on Thursday underscored the Pentagon's commitment to Lockheed Martin Corp's $300 billion F-35 fighter jet, saying the Alexei Kuznetsov says the Su-27 fighter jet has taken off from an air base near the city of

Obama to ask for $33 billion for Afghan troop buildup

2010-02-22T21:05:51Z

<div><p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama plans to ask Congress for $33 billion in emergency war funding for a major U.S. troop buildup in Afghanistan this year, defense officials said on Wednesday.</p>&...

US mulling Japanese participation in F-35 fighter: report

2010-02-23T08:27:47Z

<div><p>The United States is considering allowing Japan to take part in a multinational project to develop the F-35 next-generation stealth fighter, a press report said Tuesday.</p><p>Washington may allow Tokyo to participate in the project even without assurances from Japan that it will procure the F...

U.S. House approves $636 billion military spending bill

2010-02-23T15:09:51Z

<div><p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives approved a $636 billion military spending bill on Wednesday that funds the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and also includes money to extend jobless aid for tw...

US Air Force confirms 'Beast of Kandahar' drone

2010-02-23T18:56:12Z

<div><p>The US Air Force on Tuesday confirmed for the first time that it is flying a stealth unmanned aircraft known as the "Beast of Kandahar," a drone spotted in photos and shrouded in secrecy.</p><p>The RQ-170 Sentinel is being developed by Lockheed M...

Japan mulls F-35 purchase as next main fighter jet

2010-02-24T01:53:01Z

<div><p>Japan is considering buying around 40 F-35 fighter jets as the future mainstay of the nation's air force, it was reported Monday.</p><p>Japan has officially been pacifist since World War II but has been gradually expanding the role of its military, in part due to concern over nuclear-armed North Korea and US military and Coast Guard personnel were missing Friday after a mid-air collision between a transport plane and helicopter over the Pacific Ocean, authorities said.</p><p>As dawn broke early Friday, an extensive search was under way for survivors of the crash near debris spotted in waters off the souther...

Obama calls US defense budget a victory for reform

2010-02-24T12:59:38Z

<div><p>US President Barack Obama Wednesday signed a 680-billion-dollar military budget bill, saying his campaign to stamp out Pentagon waste proved political change was possible in Washington.</p><p>A significant civil rights move was also attached to the legislation by Congress -- a hate crimes bill which outlaws offenses motivated by a person's race, gender, identity or sexual orien...