First Lockheed Martin Advanced Block 50 F-16 Unveiled for Turkish Air Force

Turkish Aerospace Industries, Inc. (TAI) and Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) unveiled the first of 30 new Turkish-built F-16s in ceremonies today at TAI’s facility near Ankara.

Ethiopia buys unmanned aerial vehicles from BlueBird

The Ethiopian army has ordered unmanned aerial vehicles from Israeli manufacturer BlueBird Aero Systems, and has also contracted the company to establish maintenance facilities for the aircraft.

F-35 may be dropped as Japan’s next fighter

Instead, the F/A-18 Super Hornet is expected to be picked to replace Japan’s F-15 Eagle fleet, the sources said Thursday. […]

In April, Tokyo narrowed down its selection to three choices — the F-35, F/A-18 and Eurofighter.

The Defense Ministry is expected to make a selection by the end of this year after receiving proposals from the manufacturers of the three aircraft by late September.

China Gives Pakistan 50 Fighter Jets

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — China has agreed to immediately provide 50 JF-17 fighter jets to Pakistan, a major outcome of a visit by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani to Beijing this week, Pakistani officials said Thursday.

Youtube: Fire Scout Littoral Combat Ship Testing

The Northrop Grumman-built MQ-8B Fire Scout conducts first test flights from the U.S. Navy’s littoral combat ship, USS Freedom (LCS 1) in November 2010.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BelfpW0Y-sg

F-35A AF-8 First Flight (First production F-35A Lighting II)

IDEF 2011: TAI eyes Anka production contract

Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) is confident of securing a production contract for its Anka MALE UAV from the Turkish Air Force by the end of the year.

Despite the integration of the Aselsan SAR/GMTI payload remaining at least 18 months away, company officials believe they can convince the air force to purchase a number of aircraft equipped with the AselFLIR-300T electro-optic (EO) payload alone.

70th anniversary of Whittle’s jet engine flight to be commemorated at RAF Cranwell

COMMEMORATIONS to mark the 70th anniversary of the first flight of Sir Frank Whittle’s jet engine at RAF Cranwell are to be held at the air base over the weekend of (May 14-15).