http://www.janes.comA special collection of articles covering Air Vehicles and Systems.en-gbCopyright: (C) Jane's Information Group. All rights reserved.http://www8.janes.com/public/images/janes_rss.gifhttp://www.janes.comVisit http://www.janes.comhttp://www8.janes.com/JDIC/JDET/documentView.do?docId=/content1/janesdata/mags/jdin/history/jdin2009/jdin80139.htm@current&Prod_Name=JDINThe activities of the two organisations have included the hosting of a defence energy conference in 2009 (which the spokesperson said raised levels of awareness about the issue in Australia); improvements in the ADF's transport fuel mix (which optimised use of existing fuel types); and a closer working relationship with the DoD's research and development arm, the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO), as it "researches alternative and emerging fuel types and assesses their ... - 2009/11/20 00:00:00http://www8.janes.com/JDIC/JDET/documentView.do?docId=/content1/janesdata/mags/jdw/history/jdw2009/jdw41507.htm@current&Prod_Name=JDWThe German government has extended the mandates of the Bundeswehr (German armed forces) in deployments abroad including Afghanistan and Lebanon, but not its participation in the deployment of NATO Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft over Afghanistan. German participation in NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan has been extended for a further year at its existing ceiling of 4,500 troops. German Defence Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg hopes ... - 2009/11/20 00:00:00http://www8.janes.com/JDIC/JDET/documentView.do?docId=/content1/janesdata/mags/jdw/history/jdw2009/jdw41472.htm@current&Prod_Name=JDWUS private equity firm JF Lehman & Company has agreed to sell guidance and navigation systems specialist Atlantic Inertial Systems to Goodrich Corporation for USD375 million. Atlantic will be integrated within Goodrich's Sensors and Integrated Systems business within its Electronic Systems unit. Atlantic Inertial Systems comprised BAE Systems' Inertial Products business (which was housed within what was then the Electronics & Integrated Solutions unit). - 2009/11/20 00:00:00http://www8.janes.com/JDIC/JDET/documentView.do?docId=/content1/janesdata/mags/jdw/history/jdw2009/jdw41517.htm@current&Prod_Name=JDWThe activities of the two organisations have included the hosting of a defence energy conference in 2009 (which the spokesperson said raised levels of awareness about the issue in Australia); improvements in the ADF's transport fuel mix (which optimised use of existing fuel types); and a closer working relationship with the DoD's research and development arm, the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO), as it "researches alternative and emerging fuel types and assesses their ... - 2009/11/20 00:00:00http://www8.janes.com/JDIC/JDET/documentView.do?docId=/content1/janesdata/mags/jdw/history/jdw2009/jdw41499.htm@current&Prod_Name=JDWThe Indonesian government has commenced a programme to draw up a comprehensive list of armed forces requirements over the next decade and beyond in a move partly aimed at boosting domestic defence industry development. Commodore Sudi Haryono, director for technology and industry in the Indonesian Ministry of Defence's Directorate General of Defence Facilities, told Jane's on 19 November that the inventory is expected to be completed in the next few months. "For equipment in the inventory that... - 2009/11/20 00:00:00http://www8.janes.com/JDIC/JDET/documentView.do?docId=/content1/janesdata/mags/jdw/history/jdw2009/jdw41521.htm@current&Prod_Name=JDWA proposal by EADS Deutschland and Indian firm Larsen & Toubro (L&T) to form a defence joint venture (JV) in India has been deferred for a fifth time by the Indian Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB). It also said that it had approved a proposal by Indian firm Vyoneesh Technologies to create a defence JV with an unspecified foreign company to develop defence electrical equipment. An Indian-based source close to the EADS/L&T proposal told Jane's on 17 November that, despite the continued... - 2009/11/20 00:00:00http://www8.janes.com/JDIC/JDET/documentView.do?docId=/content1/janesdata/mags/jdw/history/jdw2009/jdw41480.htm@current&Prod_Name=JDWA proposal by EADS Deutschland and Indian firm Larsen & Toubro (L&T) to form a defence joint venture (JV) in India has been deferred for a fifth time by the Indian Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB). It also said that it had approved a proposal by Indian firm Vyoneesh Technologies to create a defence JV with an unspecified foreign company to develop defence electrical equipment. An Indian-based source close to the EADS/L&T proposal told Jane's on 17 November that despite the continued ... - 2009/11/20 00:00:00http://www8.janes.com/JDIC/JDET/documentView.do?docId=/content1/janesdata/mags/jdin/history/jdin2009/jdin80140.htm@current&Prod_Name=JDINIndia needs to provide greater support to small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) entering the defence sector as the country embarks on a military modernisation process over the next decade, according to a report published by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Ernst & Young. AM Barbora's remark came one day after another Indian industry organisation, the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), repeated its call for the government to raise the limit on ... - 2009/11/20 00:00:00http://www8.janes.com/JDIC/JDET/documentView.do?docId=/content1/janesdata/mags/jdw/history/jdw2009/jdw41485.htm@current&Prod_Name=JDWDefence Minister Carme Chacón told a 17 November meeting of her counterparts in Brussels that Spain would lead any operation to support security sector reform in Somalia as a cornerstone of its obligations as holder of the rotating EU presidency from January 2010. EU security and defence policy chief Javier Solana told reporters that any EU mission in Somalia would be co-ordinated with other international actors, including the United States, and would have to complement existing African Union... - 2009/11/20 00:00:00http://www8.janes.com/JDIC/JDET/documentView.do?docId=/content1/janesdata/mags/jdw/history/jdw2009/jdw41503.htm@current&Prod_Name=JDWThe army is starting the Hellfire flight tests with an eye towards the deployment of the first Hellfire-armed QRC-2 Sky Warriors to Iraq or Afghanistan in August 2010. Sky Warrior QRC-1 aircraft - which, like QRC -2, consist of four UAVs and two ground stations - deployed to Iraq in August, flying alongside Sky Warrior Block 0 aircraft that were already in theatre. The first army unit (a combat aviation brigade) will be equipped with the programme of record Sky warrior aircraft - including 12... - 2009/11/20 00:00:00http://www8.janes.com/JDIC/JDET/documentView.do?docId=/content1/janesdata/mags/jdw/history/jdw2009/jdw41492.htm@current&Prod_Name=JDWThe Airbus Military C-295M has been selected as the Mexican Air Force's new medium transport aircraft, it was announced on 15 November. According to an announcement by the Mexican Treasury Department (MTD), five C-295Ms configured as military transports have been ordered, together with a logistics, aircrew training and ground maintenance package. The C-295Ms will be operated from the military air base (BAM-1) at Santa Lucia, home of the Mexican Air Force's transport fleet. - 2009/11/20 00:00:00http://www8.janes.com/JDIC/JDET/documentView.do?docId=/content1/janesdata/mags/jni/history/jni2009/jni73271.htm@current&Prod_Name=JNIWith ageing single-role auxiliary vessels nearing the end of their lives, smaller navies are seeking to retain their blue water capability by replacing them with cheaper multipurpose logistic ships, combining strategic sealift and replenishment capabilities. The programme for a new support ship - the Joint Logistiek Ondersteuning Schip (JLOS - Joint Logistic Support Ship), more usually referred to as the Joint Support Ship (JSS) - started to take shape in 2003-04. - 2009/11/20 00:00:00http://www8.janes.com/JDIC/JDET/documentView.do?docId=/content1/janesdata/mags/jdw/history/jdw2009/jdw41514.htm@current&Prod_Name=JDWUK military chiefs now aim to use a portion of this money to buy "up to 30" more Boeing CH-47 Chinook heavy-lift helicopters by the middle of the next decade, to bring the UK Chinook fleet to "around 70" airframes. Under 'Vision 2020' a major shake-up in the basing of all the UK's military helicopters will occur and the Royal Air Force's (RAF's) AgustaWestland Merlin HC.3/3A transport helicopters would be transferred to the Royal Navy. Under 'Vision 2020' the basing of all UK helicopters ... - 2009/11/20 00:00:00http://www8.janes.com/JDIC/JDET/documentView.do?docId=/content1/janesdata/mags/jdw/history/jdw2009/jdw41500.htm@current&Prod_Name=JDWThe Airbus Military A400M transport aircraft ran its fitted engines for the first time on 18 November, the company has announced. On the subsequent runs the test team will continue exploring the behaviour of the engine itself and also that of the aircraft systems that are powered by the engine. Additionally the aircraft's auxiliary power unit (APU) was tested and used to start the engines for the main engine run. - 2009/11/20 00:00:00http://www8.janes.com/JDIC/JDET/documentView.do?docId=/content1/janesdata/mags/jdw/history/jdw2009/jdw41511.htm@current&Prod_Name=JDWThe chief executive officer (CEO) of South Africa's defence acquisition agency, Armscor, was suspended with immediate effect on 18 November, the board of directors announced. Sipho Thomo had been asked to resign on 4 November following a series of statements inflating the cost overruns of the development programme for the Airbus A400M transport aircraft. His parliamentary testimony in October initiated a chain of events that ultimately led to South Africa's decision to cancel its order for ... - 2009/11/20 00:00:00http://www8.janes.com/JDIC/JDET/documentView.do?docId=/content1/janesdata/mags/jdw/history/jdw2009/jdw41495.htm@current&Prod_Name=JDWSaudi Arabia is looking to reclaim momentum in defence research and development as one of the world's leading arms buyers by incorporating joint ventures in support of its major procurement programmes. BAE Systems was awarded a three-year, GBP500 million service support contract in October for the Saudi Typhoon fleet, which is eventually to number 72 aircraft - 48 of which will be assembled in Saudi Arabia at the Alsalam facility. The company - a joint venture between Boeing, Saudi Arabian ... - 2009/11/20 00:00:00http://www8.janes.com/JDIC/JDET/documentView.do?docId=/content1/janesdata/mags/jdw/history/jdw2009/jdw41509.htm@current&Prod_Name=JDWThe Belgian Air Component (BAC) officially accepted into service its new Airbus A330-300 personnel and freight transport aircraft on 19 November, the Ministry of Defence announced. Melsbroek is the home of the 15th Air Transport Wing, which is responsible for the BAC's transport and VIP fleets. The station currently operates Airbus A310, Lockheed Martin C-130H, Embraer ERJ-135/ERJ-145 and Dassault Falcon 20/900B aircraft. - 2009/11/20 00:00:00http://www8.janes.com/JDIC/JDET/documentView.do?docId=/content1/janesdata/mags/jdw/history/jdw2009/jdw41504.htm@current&Prod_Name=JDWThe Afghan National Army Air Corps (ANAAC) has taken delivery of another four Mil Mi-17 'Hip' transport/assault helicopters, the US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) announced on 19 November. The four Mi-17s will provide combat airlift, logistical and medical evacuation support to Afghan forces and government officials. With these aircraft, the ANAAC currently fields 25 Mi-17s, including six former Czech and three former Slovakian aircraft as well as another seven 'Hips' funded by the United... - 2009/11/20 00:00:00http://www8.janes.com/JDIC/JDET/documentView.do?docId=/content1/janesdata/mags/jdw/history/jdw2009/jdw41508.htm@current&Prod_Name=JDWAccording to officials from the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), up to 250 examples of the JF-17 (also known as the FC-1 or 'Thunder') will be inducted into the air force in the next six to eight years, giving the aircraft a key position as the main second-line fighter to replace older Chinese F-7 fighters and A-5 ground attack aircraft. The JF-17, the unveiling of which was scheduled to take place at the PAF-run Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) north of Islamabad, joins the eight JF-17s built in... - 2009/11/20 00:00:00