Israel may lease up to eight V-22s

Faced with insufficient resources to fund the purchase of Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey tiltrotors, the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) are instead considering leasing six to eight of the aircraft for the Israeli air force.
Last year the service identified an operational requirement for the V-22, following an evaluation of the type at US Marine Corps facilities in the USA. The IAF had hoped to buy "a number" of tiltrotors for "special operations".


Read More................... 

RQ-21A Integrator completes first flight

 

Boeing  

Boeing Insitu on 28 July completed the first flight milestone of the US Navy and US Marine Corps' RQ-21A
Integrator unmanned air vehicle, with six months remaining in the development phase of the programme.
The 1h flight test at an Insitu facility in eastern Oregon will allow the Marines to begin operational testing in August, says Col James Rector, programme manager of PMA-263, the office in Naval Air Systems Command managing the small tactical unmanned air systems (STUAS) programme.
The 61kg (135lb), twin-boomed RQ-21A is designed as a follow-on to the Insitu ScanEagle, a 20kg UAS operated by the USMC and USN since 2004. The new aircraft is designed to carry significantly more payload, and to more easily swap out major sensors. The Integrator shares the same catapult launcher and hooking recovery systems.

Read More....................... 

Being advances India's first C-17 Globemaster production

l

Boeing has completed fuselage integration and wing assembly of the Indian Air Force's (IAF) first C-17 Globemaster III heavy-lift transport aircraft at its Long Beach manufacturing facility in the US.
The 'major join' ceremony saw the integration of forward, centre and aft fuselages into the airlifter. The work signifies an important step forward in production of the first of ten aircraft ordered by India under a $4.1bn contract in June 2011.
India's consul general N Parthasarathi said assembly of India's first C-17 further strengthens the growing defence relationship between India and the US.
''As India strives to become a global reservoir of highly skilled and technologically sophisticated manpower, we will witness an escalating technology transfer, collaborative joint research and development, and co-production of defense items between our two countries," said Parthasarathi.



Read More.......................... 

Boeing integrates Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System into F-15SE

Boeing has integrated Vision Systems International's Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System II/h (JHMCS II/h) on the F-15 Silent Eagle demonstrator aircraft.
"The JHMCS II/h allows a pilot to aim sensors and weapons wherever he or she is looking, through the use of new head-tracking technology and a display projected onto the helmet's visor," said Boeing in a statement.


Read More........................... 

Boeing 787 Engine Failure Sparks Fire at Charleston Airport

The first Air India Boeing 787 sits on display after rolling out of the manufacturer's Charleston, S.C., factory on April 27. (Photo: Boeing)

July 30, 2012, 9:35 AM

Another Boeing 787 engine problem—this time involving a General Electric GEnx turbofan in an airplane destined for Air India—sparked a grass fire at Charleston International Airport during a pre-flight test on Saturday, forcing the airport to close its main runway for more than an hour. The contained engine failure has prompted an investigation by the NTSB, Boeing and GE, maker of the engine now in service with Japan Airlines on four 787s.


Read More..................... 

Boeing Is Suing The Air Force For Almost $400 Million

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Boeing Cois suing the U.S. Air Force, its biggest client, for $385 million it says it is owed for Delta IV rocket launch services.
Boeing and the United Launch Alliance, a joint venture with Lockheed Martin Corp, filed a joint complaint on June 14 "to preserve their rights to recover these costs," Boeing said in a statement made available Friday.
At issue are "legitimate, allowable costs of the Delta IV program that Boeing incurred prior to the creation of ULA in 2006," said Jenna McMullin, a company spokeswoman.

Read More..................

Boeing to start F-15E RMP 2nd low rate initial production

Boeing has received F-15E Radar Modernization Program (RMP) approval from the US Air Force (USAF), to start low-rate initial production 2 (LRIP 2) of APG-82(V)1 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar systems.
LRIP 2 covers the production of ten radars and follows the Milestone C authorisation received by Boeing in September 2011 for the development of six systems under LRIP 1.
Boeing F-15 programme vice president Roger Besancenez said: ''With the F-15E RMP, Boeing is providing new technology and improved system reliability to ensure the air force has all the capability necessary to achieve total air-to-air and air-to-ground dominance well into the future.''
The RMP represents the latest modification for the F-15E Strike Eagle fleet and is currently undergoing a comprehensive 14-month, 110-sortie flight test programme at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, and Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico.
Boeing and AESA radar supplier, Raytheon, are conducting data reduction analysis throughout the test phase to validate the compatibility of system's performance with rigorous specifications.

Read More................. 

Boeing Receives $66M Contract for B-1 Integrated Battle Station from US DoD

      Boeing has received a $65.8 million Lot 2 follow-on contract from the U.S. Air Force for nine B-1 Lancer bomber Integrated Battle Station (IBS) modification kits, spares, training, support equipment and engineering support.

      IBS integrates three major aircraft modifications -- an updated front and aft cockpit, a new diagnostics system and a new Link 16 data link -- which all enhance situational awareness and communications for the crew.

      "Combining the three major B-1 modifications into one installation will not only save taxpayer dollars, but also will allow us to get the bombers back to the field much faster and with more capability," said Rick Greenwell, Boeing B-1 program director.

Read More............... 

Boeing Receives US Navy Contracts for SLAM ER and Harpoon Missiles

Boeing on June 29 received a firm-fixed-price contract from U.S. Naval Air Systems Command for the production of nearly 90 Harpoon Block II missiles and associated hardware for the U.S. and four foreign militaries. The $145.1 million contract also includes exercise and test variants of the Standoff Land Attack Missile Expanded Response (SLAM ER). The first missile deliveries are scheduled for this August and contract work is expected to run through December 2013. Boeing received two related weapons contracts from the Navy in May: One procured Harpoon and SLAM ER weapons system components for the U.S. and also supported foreign military sales for 12 countries. The other was for Advanced Harpoon Weapons Control software integration for one of the international customers.

The guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70) fires a Harpoon anti-ship missile during the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) maritime exercise. (Picture: US Navy)

"After four decades of cooperation with our Navy partners, Boeing continues to find innovative ways to incorporate system upgrades to enhance Harpoon's reach and interoperability," said Debbie Rub, vice president and general manager for Boeing Missiles and Unmanned Airborne Systems. "This contract allows us to further partner with the Navy to enhance the capabilities of Harpoon and SLAM ER to quickly and affordably meet the evolving needs of warfighters around the globe."

Read More...................

Boeing Delivers 2nd Production P-8A Poseidon Aircraft to US Navy

Boeing on July 17 delivered the second production P-8A Poseidon aircraft to the U.S. Navy. The P-8A is one of 13 low rate initial production (LRIP) maritime patrol aircraft that Boeing is building for the Navy as part of two contracts awarded in 2011. Navy pilots flew the P-8A from Seattle to Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Fla., where the first LRIP P-8A is being used for aircrew training. "We're proud to be able to meet our commitment and deliver another Poseidon to the fleet," said Chuck Dabundo, Boeing vice president and P-8 program manager. "Navy crews have had a couple of months of training with the first plane, and their feedback has been positive."

(Picture: Boeing)

Three P-8As currently are undergoing mission systems installation and checkout in Seattle, and three are in final assembly in Renton, Wash. In order to efficiently design and build P-8A aircraft for the Navy and P-8I aircraft for India, the Boeing-led team is using a first-in-industry, in-line production process that draws on the company's Next-Generation 737 production system. All aircraft modifications are made in sequence during fabrication and assembly.

Read More.................

Boeing Receives First 10 New Fuselages Designed for AH-64D Apache Block III

Today more than 1,000 AH-64D Apaches are in service, in production or under contract with 12 customers worldwide. This is just one example of the mutual benefits created by expanding the global reach of opportunities available to Korean industry.
Boeing has received the first 10 new fuselages designed specifically for the AH-64D Apache Block III attack helicopter from long-time supplier Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI). This milestone paves the way for delivery of the first Apache Block III aircraft with new fuselages next year. "KAI has been a key part of our ongoing effort to keep the Apache relevant and ahead of the competition," said Bill Elder, Boeing regional manager, Northeast Asia, Attack Helicopters Business Development.
"The Apache's role has dramatically changed over the years, and it is vital for Boeing to give its customers the capabilities they need in a package that will perform for many years to come."
The new fuselage incorporates a variety of small but important modifications to accommodate Block III configuration changes, such as enhancements to the extended forward avionics bays and slots for new electronics.

Read More.........