Lased and Confused: Off-the-Shelf Infrared Lasers Could Ward Off Missile Attacks on Military Helicopters   Scientific American -- By Charles Choi   A newly developed broad-spectrum laser mounted on choppers could effectively dazzle shoulder-launched antiaircraft weapons in flight, and prevent them from finding and destroying their targets.   Helicopter-mounted lasers that can dazzle and defend against heat-seeking missiles are now under development, researchers reveal.   The military o

Saab Courts Asia, Eastern Europe to Save Gripen Warplane   Bloomberg -- By Howard Mustoe and Ola Kinnander   Saab AB is stepping up a campaign to sell its Gripen warplane in Asia and eastern Europe as Switzerland’s decision to delay a $1 billion fighter purchase threatens to curtail production of the 1,320 mile-per-hour jet.   Orders from Bulgaria, Romania and Slovakia and a follow-on contract from Thailand are “major near-term opportunities” for the Gripen, which competes with models fr

C-5 Becomes A ‘Superstar’ Lockheed Martin   MARIETTA, Ga., September 2nd, 2010 -- Another Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] C-5 is being transformed into the world’s most capable strategic airlifter, the C-5M Super Galaxy. With more than 70 improvements, the Super Galaxy is rapidly becoming the linchpin of success in achieving global reach. The next C-5M Super Galaxy will be delivered on Sept. 30, 2010 and will be stationed at Dover Air Force Base, Del. The C-5M Super Galaxy recently achiev

From Kotaku.com   As all stores located on Army and Air Force bases will no longer be allowed to sell Electronic Arts' upcoming military shooter Medal of Honor because an aspect of the game includes playable Taliban characters.   The Army and Air Force Exchange Services has confirmed to Kotaku that they requested the game pulled from the 49 GameStop's located on bases in the continent U.S. The ban, an AAFES representative told Kotaku, also extends to all military PXs worldwide.   In an ema

Russia to sell Mi-17 helicopters to Argentina   RIA Novosti. Alexei Kudenko   Russia has signed a "historic" contract on Mi-17 helicopter deliveries to Argentina, a member of a Russian delegation said on Wednesday.   "The contract provides for the delivery of two Mi-17 helicopters to the Argentinean Air Force," the official said, adding that the contract was signed on Tuesday evening.   The sale is the first time the Argentinean military has bought Russian military hardware, he sai

First Flight for New HELLFIRE II Missile Design   Lockheed Martin   ORLANDO, Fla: Lockheed Martin's new multi-functional AGM-114R Hellfire II missile scored a direct hit during its first proof-of-principle (POP) flight test recently at Eglin Air Force Base, FL.   The Hellfire II design, now entering the qualification phase, features a new multi-purpose warhead that enables a single missile to cover all of the target sets of the current laser-guided Hellfire II variants.   The POP

F-4 group holding conference in Panama City   DANIEL CARSON / News Herald Writer   PANAMA CITY — A national nonprofit group dedicated to preserving the history of the F-4 Phantom fighter jet will hold its annual conference in the Panama City area this year, a group spokesman said Monday.   The F-4 Phantom II Society’s “PhanCon” is scheduled for Sept. 20-23, with the group’s members planning to visit Tyndall Air Force Base and Pensacola’s Naval Air Museum as part of the conference.