David Donald
Contributor - UK

Contributor - UK

Latest from David Donald

Aircraft

Return of the Nighthawk: Now It’s Official

Two F-117s have deployed to Fresno to train with the California ANG, affording the public its first view of the aircraft since its 2008 "retirement".
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Aircraft

Lockheed Martin Unveils KC-Y Tanker Contender

The U.S. Air Force is gearing up to buy another fleet of tankers, which could pitch the A330 MRTT into battle again with the Boeing KC-46.
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Aircraft

Greece Adds Six More Dassault Rafale Fighters

The additional fighters will allow the Hellenic Air Force to restore the number of aircraft within the Tanagra fighter wing to full level.
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Aircraft

Indonesia Confirms C-130J Airlifter Order

The direct commercial sale of C-130Js had previously gone unreported, but has been made public during a visit to Marietta by Indonesia’s air chief.
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Aircraft

India Approves C295 Airlifter Purchase

The Airbus medium transport will replace the Indian Air Force’s aging fleet of HAL-built British Aerospace HS 748s.
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Aircraft

Kazakhstan Orders Two Airbus A400M Airlifters

The order for the tactical/strategic-capable heavylifter follows on from the delivery of the smaller C295.
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Aircraft

L3Harris Flies ARES Surveillance Aircraft Demonstrator

The ARES demonsatrator will help the U.S. Army decide on how best to replace its fleet of aging RC-12 Guardrail aircraft.
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U.S. and NATO Launch Mass Evacuation from Kabul

A large-scale evacuation of allied personnel and at-risk Afghan nationals is under way from Kabul’s Hamid Karzai airport.
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Aircraft

Norwegian P-8 Poseidon Takes Flight

With the first flight of its first P-8, Norway has taken a major step towards becoming the second Poseidon operator in Europe after the UK.
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Aircraft

RAF Brings Sentry Surveillance Operations to a Close

The withdrawal of the E-3D airborne warning and control aircraft leaves a temporary capability gap that will be filled by aircraft from NATO allies.
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Aircraft

Bell Unveils Military HSVTOL Vehicle Concepts

Bell’s vision is for a family of military air vehicles that can achieve speeds beyond those offered by the company’s current tiltrotor technology.
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Aircraft

VISTA Testbed becomes X-62A, Joins Skyborg Effort

The long-serving variable-stability testbed and research platform is being recruited to the Skyborg autonomous low-cost air vehicle development effort.
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Aircraft

Dassault Hands Over First Rafale to Greece

The first six Rafales for Greece will remain in France for a while to train Greek aircrew and technicians.
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Aircraft

New Sukhoi Fighter Design Unveiled at MAKS

Russia’s latest fighter design is focused primarily on export sales, although could receive a small domestic order to boost its marketability.
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Aircraft

First Super Tucano Light Attackers Delivered to Nigeria

The light attack aircraft are being procured as part of a build-up of attack assets to counter extremist forces in the north of the country.
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Aircraft

NASA Retires Last Flying S-3 Viking

The delivery of the aircraft to the San Diego Air and Space Museum brings the flying career of the S-3 to a close after nearly 50 years.
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Aircraft

Boeing Rolls Out Norway’s First Poseidon

The first of five P-8A Poseidons is scheduled to take to the air for the first time before the end of July.
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Aircraft

F-35A Lightning II and Patriot Scoop Switzerland Air 2030 Selection

U.S. suppliers have beaten European competitors in Switzerland's Air 2030 program for new fighters and an air defense system.
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Aircraft

Green Light for 'Too Expensive' Philippines' F-16 Purchase

The U.S. is happy to sell F-16s to the Philippines, but the price may be too high for Manila.
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Aircraft

Germany Signs Off Funding for FCAS and Poseidon

Parliamentary approval of the 2022 defense budget clears the path for development of the FCAS next-generation air combat system.
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Rotorcraft

UK’s Royal Air Force Orders More Chinook Helicopters

With its latest order the RAF becomes the first export customer for the Block II version of Boeing's Chinook helicopter.
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Rotorcraft

Leonardo Hands Over First U.S. Navy TH-73A Trainer

The IFR-certificated version of the AW119Kx will replace the Bell TH-57 as the Navy’s undergraduate rotary-wing trainer.
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Aircraft

U.S. Air Force Retires Last Open Skies Aircraft

Boeing OC-135Bs performed the Open Skies surveillance mission from 1993 until the U.S. withdrew from the treaty in 2020.
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Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Boeing’s Stingray Performs First Unmanned Refueling

The MQ-25 Stingray is on course to be deployed as a tanker aboard the U.S. Navy’s carriers.
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Aircraft

Brazil To Cut KC-390 Airlifter Order

Brazil has opted to reduce its current order for 28 KC-390 tanker/transports, citing pandemic-related budgetary issues.
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Aircraft

Croatia Selects Rafale for Fighter Requirement

The selection of second-hand Rafales brings an end to a long-running search by Zagreb for a MiG-21 replacement.
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Rotorcraft

Philippines Government Confirms T129 Attack Helicopter Order

The Turkish Aerospace T129 will bring a needed boost to the Philippine Air Force’s counter-insurgency capabilities.
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Aircraft

U.S. Air Force’s Newest Fighter Completes First Exercise

Participation in Northern Edge in Alaska provided the combined F-15EX Eagle II test team with a chance to wring out the new fighter in a major exercise.
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Top Aces F-16 Fighter Cleared for Aggressor Duties

The training/adversary services provider is the first in the world to operate the fourth-generation F-16 on commercial services.
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Rotorcraft

Japan’s New Seahawk Variant Takes to the Air

The SH-60L is the latest in a line of license-built Seahawk versions for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.
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