WDIF

The FC-1 (Fighter China-1) ‘Xiaolong’ is the single-seat, single-engine, multirole fighter aircraft developed by Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation (CAC) for export market. Currently three prototypes are flying. A joint venture between CAC and Pakistani Aeronautical Complex (PAC) will begin initial production of 16 aircraft in 2006. The designation of the aircraft in the Pakistani Air Force (PAF) is Joint Fighter-17 (JF-17) Thunder. The PLA Air Force (PLAAF) has yet confirmed whether it would order any FC-1 fighter. Read the rest of this entry »

India carried out a successful test Dec. 13 of its surface-to-air Akash missile at an eastern coastal testing range, defense officials said.

The missile blasted off from the Chandipur-on-Sea testing site, 200 kilometers (125 miles) northeast of Orissa state capital Bhubaneswar and hit a flying target successfully, a defense ministry official.
The locally developed missile was lasted tested in January. The 700-kilogram (1,540-pound) Akash, meaning “sky” in Hindi, can track 100 targets simultaneously with onboard radar, move at 600 meters (yards) a second and deliver a 55-kilogram warhead across 27 kilometers in 50 seconds. Read the rest of this entry »

Saudi Arabia will soon start taking delivery of Eurofighter jets from Britain, its crown prince said Jan. 6, after London dropped a controversial probe which reportedly threatened the deal.

The 72 warplanes “will be sent to the kingdom very soon at specific dates” and in close succession, Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz, who is also defense minister, was quoted by the official SPA news agency as saying. Read the rest of this entry »

President Bush’s plan to increase the American military presence in Iraq is facing resistance from the new Democrat-led U.S. Congress.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., are urging Bush to begin withdrawing American soldiers from Iraq in four to six months. Read the rest of this entry »

General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products in Burlington, VT received a $9.4 million modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00421-05-C-0110) to exercises an option for the procurement of 34 M61A2 20 mm Automatic Gun Systems for the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet aircraft. Work will be performed in Burlington, VT and is expected to be complete in October 2008. The Naval Air Systems Command Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, MD issued the contract. Read the rest of this entry »