Model Airplanes

In February 15, the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) workhorse PSLV rocket thundered off a launch pad at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, for a record-making mission. The rocket disgorged 104 satellites into space, 101 of them for foreign customers. Just the day before, on February 14, global arms firms had converged on Bengaluru for the biennial four-day Aero India 2017 air show to display their fighter jets, helicopters and drones to the Indian armed forces, who are looking to buy military hardware worth over $100 billion over the next decade.

These two recent events, just a day apart and entirely unrelated, illustrate the gap between India’s capabilities. Entirely self-sufficient as a space power yet utterly dependent on imported arms for its military power. India has the world’s third largest military, and with a Rs 2.74 lakh crore defence budget this year, it is also the world’s sixth largest spender on defence. However, nearly 60 per cent of its military hardware is imported. India has often held the title of the ‘world’s largest arms importer’, and between 2012 and 2016, the country accounted for 13 per cent of all global arms exports. Figures tabled by the government in the Lok Sabha put the value of arms imports at Rs 82,496 crore between 2013 and 2016. Even as the government pitches for a permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council, it cannot but be aware of a cruel irony-it is effectively a net importer of security from four of the five permanent members.

The

Article source: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/defence-industry-india-arms-import-military-requirements-parrikar-make-in-india/1/889372.html

Korean Air’s new President Cho Won-tae on Monday said the airline will aim to boost sales with its cutting-edge aircraft and ensure passenger safety by making changes to the carrier’s safety policies.

At an event at Korean Air’s Incheon Airport hangar to unveil the new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner that will begin servicing flights in mid-March, Cho spoke to reporters on board the plane in his first public press appearance since being named president.

Cho, who is the son of Korean Air Chief Executive Officer and Hanjin Group Chairman Cho Yang-ho, was named president and chief operating officer of Korean Air last month.

Korean Air President Cho Won-tae speaks to reporters aboard the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, Monday. (Korean Air)
“We decided that the B787 was the top plane in terms of fuel efficiency or customer convenience, which is why we chose it,” Cho said, when asked about the B787’s competitiveness over the Airbus 350-900, which will be brought in by rival airline Asiana Airlines.

“This is our first mid-sized plane that can service long-haul flights, so we will be supplying the plane according to demand.”

The B787, which seats 269 passengers including six first-class and 18 prestige (business) class seats, will begin flights between Jeju and Gimpo on March 12. The airline plans to bring in 10 B787s — five of them within the year — to service long-haul flights such as those to Los Angeles, Madrid and Toronto.

It is a significant model for Korean Air, which partnered with Boeing to manufacture

Article source: http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20170227000748

Which of America’s military aircraft are the most expensive? Opinions vary.

Turn to Google for the answer, and you’ll find multiple “top 10” lists. Most of these key off an old Time magazine report that ranked such aircraft as Northrop Grumman‘s (NYSE:NOC) B-2 Spirit stealth bomber and Lockheed Martin‘s (NYSE:LMT) F-22 Raptor stealth fighter as among America’s priciest planes — which is sort of true. With sticker prices of $2 billion for each B-2 and $412 million for the F-22, Spirit and Raptor were among the priciest planes America produced. But that’s no longer the case.

So expensive it was once said to cost twice its own weight in gold, Northrop Grumman’s B-2 Spirit stealth bomber is no longer the priciest military plane built in the USA. Image source: Airman First Class Michael S. Dorus for the U.S. Air Force.

The fact is, America hasn’t built a single new F-22 fighter in more than five years, while the last B-2 bomber rolled off the production line in 2000. While these planes remain expensive, they’re no longer in production. Meanwhile, the new B-21 stealth bomber, which will also be built by Northrop, at an estimated cost of $550 million per plane, has not yet begun production. But what are the priciest planes being built right now, soaking up taxpayer dollars today?

Here’s a quick list, as of 2016, of the seven priciest military planes (still) made in the USA.

1. Boeing C-17 Globemaster III

Image source: Boeing.

First developed

Article source: https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/02/24/the-7-priciest-military-planes-made-in-the-usa.aspx