Other news from Jane's

Brazil struggles to modernise

The new Brazilian government is prioritising its military equipment modernisation plans in the face of severe budgetary restrictions, said Defence Minister Jose Viegas Filho. The Ministry of Defence’s budget for the coming year has been cut by more than 30%, leading to the postponement and possible cancellation of a number of modernisation initiatives.
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Major reorganisation for EADS

EADS, the second-largest global aerospace and defence company in terms of revenues, announced a major reorganisation on 11 April, integrating and strengthening its defence and security business by realigning its defence electronics, military aircraft and telecommunications activities.
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US$14bn contracts for C-130Js and weapon systems

March was a very encouraging month for Lockheed Martin Corporation, and in particular Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. of Fort Worth, Texas, in winning contracts worth a total of US$10 billion.
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Resumption of JASSM flight tests

The Lockheed Martin AGM-158 JASSM (Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile) resumed its flight testing on 28 March with a successful live-fire test against a point target at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, writes David C Isby. JASSM flight testing was suspended in November 2002 after two test failures in October raised safety-of-flight considerations (See JMR, January 2003, p10). The most recent trial was Development Test 12 (DT-12). It had been scheduled for February but was postponed.

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Russia deploys conventional-warhead cruise missile

A new 3,500km-range strategic cruise missile equipped with a conventional warhead is already in service with Russia’s Long-Range Aviation, writes Piotr Butowski. The deployment was announced by General Igor Khvorov, the commander of Russian Long-Range Aviation during an interview by the Russian weekly Nezavisimoye Voyennoe Obozreniye (Independent Military Review).
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Iraq war delays delivery of Swiss F-5Es to US Navy

The Swiss government’s sale of 32 surplus Northrop Grumman F-5E Tiger II fighter aircraft to the US Navy for use as trainers has been postponed until the end of the Iraq war, according to officials from both countries.
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