Japan’s P-1 patrol aircraft faces delays

Tears in the skin of Japan’s P-1 patrol aircraft likely will delay induction of the four planes beyond March, a report by Kyodo agency said.

Youtube: Behind the scenes at the RAF Typhoon factory 26.07.11

Each aircraft spends more than six months in the hangar before it takes to the skies for the first time. Components are manufactured all over Europe and delivered to BAE Systems in Warton where a finely honed system is set in train.

France to Deploy Local Versions of the Israeli Heron-TP By 2014

F-Heron TP is expected to remain in service at least until the early 2020s, as the new Telemos matures. Telemos, a bilateral research and development program launched in November 2010 by the governments of the U.K. and France is a development program shared by BAE Systems and Dassault Aviation.

Youtube: X-47B UCAS First Flight Music Video

Two minute musical revue of historic first flight of the U.S. Navy’s X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System demonstration aircraft, designed and built by Northrop Grumman Corporation. Flight occurred Feb. 4, 2011 at Edwards AFB, Calif.

Surprise plan would transfer MC-12s to Army

Army and Air Force officials admitted the proposed transfer of the MC-12 Liberty program surprised each service when it appeared in a bill passed by the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Youtube: First Production F-35 Arrival at Eglin AFB

F-35 AF9 arrives at Eglin AFB July 14th 2011

Boeing’s fighting comeback

The company that acquired tactical aircraft specialist McDonnell Douglas in 1997 is still very firmly in the manned fighter business. Orders for both the Super Hornet and Strike Eagle are backlogged through the middle of the decade. How long Boeing can stretch out production of those legacy types remains to be seen, but company leaders think demand for the Super Hornet could extend into the early 2020s.

Boeing is in the early stages of preparing to compete for the next manned fighter programme. The preparations reveal the extent of internal changes within its military aircraft division during the past three years to transform how a defence company operates in a new era of tight budgets and risk-averse customers.