David Donald
Contributor - UK
Contributor - UK
Latest from David Donald
Aircraft
Mantis prays, and waits for Europe to bite
Although developed to help answer the UK’s surveillance requirements, the BAE Systems Mantis unmanned air vehicle technology demonstrator has become the fo
Scaleable Carabas can see under ground
Developed originally by Ericsson Microwave Systems (now part of Saab Electronic Defence Systems’ business area), the Carabas foliage penetration (FOPEN) ra
All eyes focus on U.S. trainer contest
Northrop’s venerable T-38 Talon supersonic trainer entered service with the U.S.
Aircraft
McDonnell F-4D Phantom Bows Out of Service
The Republic of Korea Air Force brought an era to an end when on June 16 it conducted the last flights of its McDonnell F-4D Phantom IIs.
Aircraft
Eurofighter Tranche 3B Negotiations Begin, While Upgrades Continue
The Eurofighter consortium in May submitted a proposal for the final batch of
Aircraft
Turkey in Urgent Quest for Helicopter Gunships
While it looks forward to accepting its first TAI/AgustaWestland T129 attack helicopter, Turkey is urgently seeking interim helicopter gunships in the face
Aircraft
Boeing's C-130 AMP Enters Production
Having been dogged by cost overruns, Boeing's avionics modernization program (AMP) for the C-130 Hercules has passed its Defense Acquisition Board Mileston
Aircraft
Kuwait Is Latest KC-130J Super Hercules Customer
Lockheed Martin on May 27 announced the award of a $245 million contract covering the supply through Foreign Military Sales of three KC-130J Hercules tanke
Aircraft
Jordan Could Be First Customer for Boeing AH-6i Helicopter
At the SOFEX special forces exhibition held at Amman in May, Jordan signed a letter of intent (LOI) to purchase the Boeing
Aircraft
MMRCA delayed as Indian procurement continues
Attempts by India to fast-track the procurement process for its 126-aircraft Medium Multi-role Combat Aircraft requirement have come unstuck as the evaluat
Aircraft
First HC-130J for the Air Force
On April 19 Lockheed Martin rolled out from its Marietta, Georgia, facility the first of a new batch of special-mission Hercules for the U.S.
Aircraft
Fire-X rotary-wing UAS launched
Earlier this week at the Navy League Sea-Air-Space Exposition, Northrop Grumman and Bell Helicopter announced the joint development of a new high-capacity
First Modernized Tornado Delivered to Luftwaffe
Last month, EADS Defence & Security delivered back to the Luftwaffe the first Tornado to undergo the production ASSTA 2 upgrade program.
Aircraft
Upgraded AT-6 Takes to the Air
Hawker Beechcraft successfully completed the maiden flight of its second
First ‘Golden Eagle’ F-15C for USAF Air National Guard
The first Boeing F-15C to be upgraded with a Raytheon APG-63(V)3 active electronically scanned antenna (AESA) radar was rolled out on April 12 at
Aircraft
UK Confirms Deal for Boeing RC-135 Rivet Joint Sigint Airplanes
The UK’s Secretary of Defense, Bob Ainsworth, confirmed on March 22 that the Royal Air Force would receive three Boeing RC-135 Rivet Joint aircraf
Aircraft
India’s Light Combat Helicopter Takes Flight
HAL on March 29 made the first flight of its light combat helicopter (LCH) prototype, conducting hover tests for around 15 minutes at Bangalore, I
Aircraft
Romania Selects Used F-16s as a Stop-gap Measure
In late March the Romanian defense council approved the acquisition of used Lockheed Martin F-16s as a stop-gap measure to fill the air force’s ne
Aircraft
Technical Challenges Add to Lockheed Martin F-35 Problems, Say Auditors
The Lockheed Martin F-35 program is facing manufacturing inefficiencies, parts problems and at least six engineering technical challenges.
QF-16 Target Program Launched
For many years the U.S.
Rotorcraft
Korea’s Surion Helicopter Flies
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) flew the prototype of its Surion utility helicopter for the first time on March 10.
Northrop and Raytheon battle for F-16 AESA radar business
Northrop Grumman and Raytheon are going head-to-head with active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar programs to update F-16 fighters and other fight
Aircraft
Unmanned helos eyed for cargo carrying role
Unmanned air vehicles for cargo duties have been studied for some years, but the current difficulties being experienced by U.S.
‘Super’ Spike missile triples range
With the program having been declassified last November, the Rafael’s Spike NLOS weapon is being seen here for the first time at a trade show.
Aircraft
Chengdu’s J-10B Multirole Fighter on Trial
With J-10A production in full stride, Chengdu is working on integrating new technology, which may lead to an improved production aircraft.
Stratech Aero launched to take on UAV market
Singapore-based Stratech Systems Ltd.
AIM-9X missile aims at surface
Following a successful test last fall, Raytheon’s fifth-generation AIM-9X–the principal short-range air-to-air missile employed by U.S.
