PALMACHIM AFB, ISRAEL While a test aircraft from a new family of UAVs buzzed in circles overhead, the pilots of Israel’s lone squadron of unmanned reconnaissance aircraft showed visitors a film taken from one of their robot planes. A bucolic black-and-white scene in a suburban neighborhood was suddenly destroyed with the explosive launch of a pair of Katyusha rockets from a small stand of trees between houses.

WASHINGTON The Pentagon is considering cutting F-22 production by more than 100 aircraft, further reductions in Joint Strike Fighter purchases and possibly building more U-2s as a hedge against rising Global Hawk UAV costs. The proposals are part of a flurry of activity in preparation for Fiscal 2004 budget deliberations.

PALMACHIM AFB, ISRAEL, and TEL AVIV Weeks of intense attack helicopter operations in West Bank towns have produced important lessons for Israel Air Force pilots and service leaders; they need different weapons and more armed helicopters, and they have to learn to live with complex rules of engagement.

NEW DELHI The Indian Air Force grounded six MiG squadrons comprising 72 aircraft last week following the May 3 crash of a MiG-21 into a building that killed eight people on the ground. The crash struck a two-story bank after the pilot ejected successfully.

EVENDALE, OHIO Systems planned for use in the General Electric/Rolls-Royce F136 powerplant have strong ties to technologies developed under the Defense Dept.’s Integrated High Performance Turbine Engine Technology, or IHPTET initiative.