Raptor F-22 Jet Fighters To Deploy To Kadena Japan

Langley Air Force Base, Virginia-  There are plans now to send twelve of the F-22 Raptor Jet fighters stationed in Virginia to be deployed in Japan, for the second overseas deployment of the Aircraft. Six Members of the 27th Fighter Squadron left on Wednesday, January 7, 2009 with the other six set to leave the next day. They will stop at Hickam Air Base in Hawaii for fuel, and then will proceed to their new deployment home in Kadena, Japan. Nearly 275 airmen and support units will be accompanying the twelve jets to their new three moth deployment. “This is a U.S. Pacific Command Theater support security deployment to help bolster security in the Western Pacific,” said Major Sam Highley. “These are the way we show our commitment and that of the United States to keep the Pacific Theater safe and fulfill our security responsibilities.”  Said Major Highley. The last deployment of these Raptors in February 2007 there was some issues with the jets GPS systems, and they had to return to Hickam Air Base in Hawaii and were faced with about a five day delay. That problem has since been rectified and will not be an issue this time.

Source: http://www.usmilitary.com/

Gripen passes 160 000 flight hours during mission over Libya

Saab Gripen Multi Role fighters are now flying with great success in five different air forces around the world. Integration of new weapons and capabilities are ongoing and the demonstrator for the future Gripen NG has been flying with new avionics and displays since May 19.

Gripen is also now operational in Thailand following delivery to the Royal Thai Air Force in February of the first six aircraft, out of a total requirement of twelve. Thailand now formally joins Sweden, South Africa, Hungary, the Czech Republic and the UK based Empire Test Pilot School as a Gripen user.

Another first is the Swedish participation in the NATO led operation ‘Unified Protector’ over Libya. Since April 2 eight Gripen fighters, based at the Sigonella air base in Sicily, are flying daily reconnaissance and air supremacy missions. So far more than 300 recce missions have produced over 80 000 photos.

Among the upgrades of the existing Gripen C/D fleet, two new weapons are being integrated. In May Denel Dynamics, South Africa, completed the integration of the A-Darter fifth generation air-to-air missile on Gripen. While at the Vidsel test range in Sweden Saab is integrating Small Diameter Bombs on the Swedish Air Force Gripen.

On May 19 the Gripen NG demonstrator aircraft flew with new avionics for the first time. At this stage of flight testing, after almost 200 flights, an open system architecture avionics system that separate flight critical from mission critical functionality is integrated in the aircraft. Also integrated are new Tactical Mission Computers, Ethernet networks and new Rockwell Collins displays.

Source Gripen International

India to Buy 10 Boeing Jets in Largest U.S. Deal

India approved buying 10 Boeing Co. (BA)C-17 military cargo aircraft for $4.1 billion, its largest ever defense deal with the U.S., strengthening the country’s capability to transport troops, vehicles and artillery.

The cabinet’s committee on security headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today gave its final approval for the purchase of the heavy-lift Globemaster III planes at a meeting in New Delhi, according to a defense ministry official who didn’t wish to be identified before a public announcement.

The decision comes after fighter jets manufactured by Boeing and fellow American aircraft maker Lockheed Martin Corp. (LMT)in April failed to make a shortlist for India’s procurement of 126 warplanes at a cost of about $10 billion. Jets made by France’s Dassault Aviation SA (AM) and the European Aeronautic, Defence and Space Co. are now competing for the world’s biggest fighter-jet order in 15 years. 

Foreign governments and companies struggling to recover from global recession are competing to sell $120 billion worth of arms that India may buy between 2012 and 2017 as it seeks to overhaul its defense capabilities, according to a 2010 estimate by the Confederation of Indian Industry and Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India Pvt. The country is modernizing its military as it looks beyond a traditional rivalry with Pakistan to counter China’s rising power. 

India’s current military cargo fleet is dominated by ageing Russian-built Ilyushin and Antonov aircraft.

Source http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-06-06/india-said-to-buy-10-boeing-planes-in-largest-u-s-defense-deal.html