Special Purpose

Military Aviation News

Mission possible: China ramps up aircraft production

12/09/2019

China is mass-producing a genre of special mission warplanes that experts say will help create a full information system that allows the Chinese military to recognize every hostile movement and even sabotage enemy communications. Shaanxi Aircraft Industry Corp. Ltd. (SAIC) under the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) has been manufacturing special mission aircraft — including anti-submarine aircraft, early warning aircraft, surveillance aircraft and electronic warfare air

Indian Rafale fighter jets to fly with BS-series tail numbers honouring ex-IAF chief BS Dhanoa

The Indian Rafale fighter jets will fly with the tail sign 'BS' after the recently retired Air Force Chief Birender Singh Dhanoa. "While the two-sweater trainer Rafales will have the tail number initials of present Chief Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria RB, the fighter versions will fly with the tail sign initials of BS after the previous chief Dhanoa," IAF officials told ANI.

Malaysia MD 530G deliveries contracted for early 2020

MD Helicopters (MDHI) expects to start deliveries of six MD 530G light scout attack helicopters to Malaysia in the first quarter of 2020. When ordered in early 2016, plans had called for deliveries to start later that year, but MD Helicopters explains that this was delayed at the behest of Malaysian prime contractor, Destini Group.

Pentagon Considers Increasing Troop Presence in Middle East

The Pentagon is considering deploying additional forces to the Middle East—a move it considers a “prudent” step to deter Iranian aggression as part of a dynamic response to ongoing threats in the region, the Defense Department’s head of policy told lawmakers.

F-22 armed with more precision attack technology

The Air Force and Lockheed Martin are now arming the F-22 stealth fighter with more long-range precision attack technology, a wider targeting envelope or “field of regard” and new networking technology enabling improved, real-time “collaborative targeting” between aircraft.

Elbit upgrade to give MD 530G Hellfire, APKWS

MD Helicopters intends to upgrade its MD 530G Block II scout attack helicopter with an integrated weapons system made by Elbit Systems that would make the rotorcraft capable of carrying and firing the AGM-114 Hellfire missile. The addition of the semi-active laser-guided missile would give the MD 530G an anti-tank and anti-armour capability it does not currently have.

USAF searches for Boeing E-4B aerial command center replacement

The US Air Force (USAF) has started searching for a new airborne command, control and communications operations center to replace the Boeing E-4B, and the service is asking US defence manufacturers for input.

Air Force F-35 Simulator Will Let Pilots Fly in Formation, Talk to Other Aircraft

When the U.S. Air Force gets its first F-35 Lightning II distributed mission training simulator system at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, this spring, pilots will have the ability to fly virtually as a group, alongside other aircraft, and practice exchanging information across a network, according to Lockheed Martin officials.

Naval Version of India’s Tejas Fighter to Conduct Maiden Flight From Carrier

The naval version of the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) is being readied for its first-ever take off from the Indian Navy’s Kiev-class aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, according to Indian defense industry officials. “It [the carrier-based take-off] is not too far. Extra safety is being taken and hence time is being consumed,” a source within the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) was quoted as saying on December 2 by The Print.

ANALYSIS: AeroVironment plays catch-up with new Switchblade types

India funds P-8I top-up buy and AWACS acquisition

Spain picks PC-21 as C-101 trainer successor

What’s in the Malaysia-Russia Fighter Jet Exchange Deal?

CAE debuts new virtual reality system for cheaper pilot training

Romania to take five more F-16s from Portugal

Japan buys Mageshima island for US$146 million to conduct military drills with US

U.S. Air Force F-16 Crashes While Attempting To Land At Kunsan Air Base, South Korea. Pilot Ejected.

F-35 Lightning II: A 21st century concept

Lockheed Martin starts building 63 new F-35A combat aircraft and avionics in contracts worth $1.16 billion

ANALYSIS: 'Great Power' friction to inflate 2020 military budgets