The EC665 Tiger HAP (combat support) helicopter operated by the French Army's 5th Combat Helicopter Regiment, has now logged more than 1,000 flight hours in Afghanistan in less than a year.   With an availability rate of 90% in extremely harsh operating conditions, the Tiger has once again demonstrated excellent performance and operability levels for both reconnaissance missions and combat support operations for joint tactical groups (GTIA), which have been unanimous in their praise.  

Boeing P-8A Poseidon Aircraft T3 Enters Flight Test   SEATTLE, Aug. 2, 2010 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] P-8A Poseidon aircraft T3 successfully completed its first flight test in Seattle on July 29. T3 is the P-8A program's mission-system and weapon-certification aircraft.   During the two-hour and 48-minute flight from Boeing Field, Boeing and U.S. Navy test pilots performed airborne systems checks including engine accelerations and decelerations, autopilot flight modes, and auxiliary power

Canadian aircraft intercept Russian bombers   Canadian fighter jets have scrambled to repel Russian bombers that intruded into Canadian airspace.   The Russian Tupolev-95 is a long-range bomber capable of carrying nuclear warheads.   Canadian defence minister Peter MacKay says CF-18s were sent to intercept two of the bombers that made several attempts to enter Canadian airspace.   Military officials say there was no advance warning and Mr MacKay says all such incursions will be m

Four killed in Air Force plane crash in Alaska   ANCHORAGE Alaska (Reuters) - All four crew members were killed in a U.S. Air Force cargo plane that crashed in flames while practicing for an aviation show at Elmendorf Air Force Base, the Air Force said Thursday.   The C-17 Globemaster went down Wednesday evening in a wooded area near an airfield in Anchorage shortly after taking off, the military said.   The accident is believed to be the first crash of a C-17, manufactured by Boein

AZ, FL, UT, VT to get Air Force's new F-35 fighter   PHOENIX — The U.S. Air Force has chosen bases in Arizona, Florida, Utah and Vermont as homes for the military's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, prompting applause from officials banking on the pricey new combat jets to supercharge their communities' economies.   Operational missions of the single-engine jets would go to Hill Air Force Base in Utah and the Burlington Air Guard Station in Vermont, the Air Force said Thursday. For training

Boeing Flies F-15 Silent Eagle By: Chris Pocock AIN Defense Perspective >> July 2010 Military Aircraft The Silent Eagle testbed is a modified F-15E (the original prototype). On its first flight it demonstrated its conformal weapons bay. (Boeing)   Boeing has flown the interim version of the Silent Eagle, a company-funded effort to generate further export sales of the F-15 Strike Eagle.   The demonstrator, designated F-15E1, took off from St. Louis for an 80-minute flight, during