Special Purpose

Military Aviation News

Goodbye, Afghanistan — hello, Africa: Air Force to shift as U.S. exits Middle East

04/18/2014

As the war in Afghanistan begins to wind down, the Air Force foresees its resources shifting to Africa. Col. Kelly Passmore of the 449th Air Expeditionary Group commander at Camp Lemonnier said he believes it’s already happening. “Our presence here in Djibouti is enduring and I think it is growing,” Col. Passmore told Stars and Stripes. “As DOD has capacity that is freed up from our transition out of Afghanistan, it gives us forces that are able to now focus on this region.”

Two U.S. arms programs face live-or-die reviews after costs jump

An unmanned U.S. Navy helicopter built by Northrop Grumman Corp and a precision ship-landing system built by Raytheon Co face mandatory reviews that could lead to their cancellation after quantity reductions drove unit costs sharply higher in 2013, the Pentagon announced on Thursday.

US to send 'non-lethal' aid to Ukraine

The United States will send helmets, medical supplies and other non-lethal military aid to Ukraine amid fears of another Russian incursion there, Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel says. Hagel said on Thursday he had informed Kiev that President Barack Obama "has approved additional non-lethal military assistance for health and welfare items and other supplies".

Up to RM6bil for fighter jets?

The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), which is looking to replace its fleet of 18 Russian-made Mikoyan-29N Fulcrum jet fighters, will soon be accepting tenders for multi-role combat aircraft (MRCA) from defence aviation companies.

JSF Tests against Russian, Chinese Air Defenses

Six Air Force F-35A Joint Strike Fighter aircraft are currently at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., to test the aircraft's stealth and sensor technologies against representations of Russian, Iranian and Chinese air-defenses. "The surface threat is a tough problem because it is a system of systems and the emerging threats that we have right now can see you hundreds of miles away.

Jordanian Fighter Jets Attack Repel Terror Raid from Syria, Iraq?

Jordanian military warplanes struck a convoy of vehicles as they were trying to enter Jordan from Syria, the Jordanian army said in a statement Wednesday. A Syrian military official acknowledged the vehicles did not belong to the Syrian army. According to the Associated Press, the statement did not say how many vehicles were in the convoy, nor did it offer casualty figures.

International Debut for F-35 at Farnborough, Air Tattoo in July

The F-35 Lightning II aircraft will make its international debut in July this summer, the British Defence Secretary has announced. The F-35 Lightning II will participate in the flight demonstration at the Royal International Air Tattoo in Fairford (11-13 July, 2014). It will continue to the Farnborough International Air Show (14-20 July) where it will also participate in the aerial flight display.

Canada Sends Fighter Jets To Eastern Europe

Canada is deploying six CF-18 fighter jets to Eastern Europe as part of NATO’s response to the worsening crisis in Ukraine, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced Thursday. Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Ukraine was on the brink of civil war, stoking fears of outright Russian intervention.

US fighter aircraft to make European debut at Fairford Air Tattoo

Aviation history will be made in the UK this summer when, in a major airshow first, the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, the Joint Strike Fighter, makes its much-anticipated European debut. This hugely important multi-role combat aircraft, which has never before been seen outside of the US, will display at the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford between July 11 and 13.

Russian aircraft buzz US Navy destroyer: How big a deal?

Air Force General Backs A-10 Retention

Special Operations Command Increases Technology Funding

Removal of military gear limits options for U.S., NATO in Ukraine

France deploying fighters, AWACs for NATO due to Ukraine crisis

Why the Eurofighter Typhoon Is the Best Fighter for Canada… Right Now

F-35 fighter jet to make first trans-Atlantic flight in July

Affordable air power

The Killer Drone Goes Stealthy—Just in Time for a New Cold War

B-1B software upgrade to ensure future warfighting capabilities

Korean-made FA-50 fighters gaining popularity overseas