LONDON – In Europe, it is revered as a fearsome, lethal aircraft – the newborn pride of a defense industry that had fallen on hard times. In the U.S. defense industry, it is considered Europe’s answer to Lockheed Martin’s F-16 – two decades too late.
WASHINGTON – Inside a command center, an Air Force technician studies a radar screen as the unmanned fighter he is controlling flies into air space considered too dangerous for U.S pilots. Using data from the aircraft’s sensors, bounced by satellite to the command center, the controller detects three concealed surface-to-air missile sites.
FORT WORTH – General Dynamics Corp. said today that it has reached an agreement with California-based defense giant Lockheed Corp. for the sale of its 20,000-employee Fort Worth Division for $1.5 billion in cash.
WASHINGTON – President Clinton threw his support behind the F-22 Raptor yesterday, saying it would be a mistake for the United States to abandon plans to produce the next-generation stealth fighter, which has become a target of House budget-cutters.
WASHINGTON – The F-16 fighter has spent most of the decade flying difficult missions in the Persian Gulf and Bosnia, while compiling a solid safety record. But Air Force officials have become concerned that the F-16 or the engines are showing their age.
WASHINGTON – It used to be easy to tell the hawks from the doves on Capitol Hill, but the dogfight over Lockheed Martin’s prized F-22 Raptor has left even veteran budget watchers wondering where the battle lines are drawn.
FORT WORTH – In a harshly worded letter to top management, the Air Force has asked General Dynamics Corp. to correct problems in F-16 production in Fort Worth that the government says could hinder the company’s efforts to keep building its primary jet fighter on schedule.
PARIS – To one of the Soviet Union’s top warplane designers, America’s F-117A stealth fighter-bomber is no big deal.He doesn’t think the aircraft’s accomplishments in the Persian Gulf War were all that impressive, and he’s confident that one of his own fighters could detect the F-117A and shoot it down.
PARIS – Europeans have an affinity for things American. They wear Levis, eat Big Macs, idolize Hollywood stars, and, fortunately for the Pentagon, fly U.S.-made jet fighters.With that in mind, the Defense Department is at full throttle trying to sign up European and other allies to share the staggering $250 billion cost of its Joint Strike Fighter program.
WASHINGTON — After 17 controversial years of the B-2 stealth bomber, congressional negotiators effectively sealed the fate yesterday of the last Cold War bomber program, deciding against making any more.
WASHINGTON — The Pentagon’s Joint Strike Fighter – the expensive replacement proposed for three existing planes – may get a boost from America’s British allies, who are considering it as an alternative to European fighters.
WASHINGTON – Many of the industry observers testifying before a Senate panel yesterday said the Chinese probably gained little from their work with American satellite companies that would have caused China’s missile capabilities to leap ahead.
WASHINGTON – It was the first time since World War II that Congress had voted on a declaration of war. The action came a day after President Clinton approved the activation of up to 33,000 military reservists to serve in the Balkan conflict.
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