Special Purpose

Military Aviation News

IAF in talks with Russia for urgent MiG 29 purchase

02/17/2019

Indian Air Force, which is facing an acute shortage of combat aircraft, is in advance talks with Russia for an urgent procurement of MiG 29 fighters that can be delivered at a relatively short notice. The plan to acquire 21 additional aircraft to make a new squadron of MiG 29 jets that were first purchased in the 1980s has been discussed in detail last month and is expected to cost the Indian exchequer less than Rs 6,000 crore, government sources said.

South Korea begins building prototype of next-generation fighter aircraft

Korea Aerospace Industries, or KAI, is starting production on the first prototype of a next-generation fighter jet. On 14 February, South Korea’s biggest aerospace company held a ceremony in order to celebrate the start producing of the first bulkhead, which is the main part of the forward fuselage of the next-generation Korean Fighter Xperiment (KFX) aircraft.

US Army helicopters to get 5,000 encrypted communication systems

The US Army awarded Raytheon a contract worth $406 million to provide ARC-231A communication systems for a variety of helicopters. As part of the contract, Raytheon will deliver 5,000 systems over the next five years, as well as support services and software upgrades to the US Army, the company says.

New Delhi sets stage for naval utility helicopter RFP

New Delhi has called for expressions of interest related to the planned procurement of 111 aircraft via its Naval Utility Helicopter (NUH) requirement, leading up to a request for proposals (RFP) due for release late in the third quarter.

Moscow claims new A-100 superior to E-3 Sentry

Moscow has touted the capabilities of its new Beriev A-100 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft as being far superior to domestic and international rivals. The Russian defence ministry made the claim in a recent release about the type’s launch of preliminary flight tests pending acceptance by the country’s military.

Pentagon lays out F-35’s Tier II global repair network

The US Department of Defense roughly outlined the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II’s Tier II global repair network. Tier II servicers within the F-35’s maintenance, repair, overhaul and upgrade network are eligible to fix nearly 400 repairable components, including avionics, power systems, landing gear, egress and canopy systems, pumps, valves and power systems, the Defense Department said 12 February. The network is responsible only for global work outside the continental United States.

China's eyeing a 6th-generation fighter to beat the US — its 5th-gen fighters probably don't stand a chance in a fight

China is locked in an intensifying arms race with the US, and it's not backing down, Chinese media warned Monday. China is developing a sixth-generation fighter that could be seen as early as 2035, if not sooner, the Global Times reported Monday, citing a recent Chinese media interview with Wang Haifeng, a chief architect at Chengdu Aircraft Research and Design Institute who was involved in the development of the J-20 stealth fighter.

The F-35s New Best Friend: The Navy's 6th Generation Fighter Could Be All Sorts of Amazing

The Navy program, called Next-Generation Air Dominance, has moved beyond a purely conceptual phase and begun exploration of prototype systems and airframes as it pursues a new, carrier-launched 6th-Gen fighter to emerge in 2030 and beyond, service officials explained.

Spain joins France, Germany on new combat fighter

Spain will join a Franco-German project to build a new fighter plane to replace the Eurofighter and Rafale, the defence ministry said Monday. Defence Minister Margarita Robles will sign a letter of intent with her French and German counterparts on Thursday on the margins of a NATO meeting in Brussels, a spokesperson said.

Boeing losses in KC-46A programme continue to rise

PICTURES: Boeing transfers fifth KC-46A to Altus base

What exactly is the F-35 ‘Beast Mode’ we keep hearing about?

China to sell aircraft carrier to Pakistan

Jaguar, IAF's ground attack deep penetration fighter to roar at Vayushakti 2019

Warplanes: B-52 Stays, B-1B Retires

Airbus and Dassault announce partnership to develop sixth-generation fighter

What’s Next for China’s Fifth Generation Fighter Jet?

USAF to struggle with novice aircraft maintainers for years

Lockheed Gets Boost When Pentagon Labels Late F-35s as ‘On-Time’

Nigerian Air Force orders 12 A-29 Super Tucano light attack aircraft