http://www.janes.comA special collection of articles covering Military Aircraft News and Analysis.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/JDF/JDFMAP/jnDocViewResults.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/JDF/JDFMAP/jnDocViewResults.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 00:00:00http://www8.janes.com/JDF/JDFMAP/jnDocViewResults.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/JDF/JDFMAP/jnDocViewResults.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/JDF/JDFMAP/jnDocViewResults.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/JDF/JDFMAP/jnDocViewResults.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/JDF/JDFMAP/jnDocViewResults.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 00:00:00