May 17, 2012 Military Aviation News

VFC-13: MiG role player for COMPTUEX

05/17/2012

The “Fighting Saints” of Fighter Squadron Composite (VFC) 13 are currently supporting the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group’s Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) from the NAS Jacksonville flight line. COMPTUEX is a series of graded exercise scenarios intended to evaluate and prepare the strike group for its upcoming deployment. For COMPTUEX, the carrier and its strike group of support ships are somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean, east of Florida.

USAF: F-35B cannot generate enough sorties to replace A-10

05/17/2012

The US Air Force has concluded that the short take-off vertical landing (STOVL) Lockheed Martin F-35B- model aircraft cannot generate enough sorties to meet its needs; therefore the service will not consider replacing the Fairchild Republic A-10 Warthog close air support jet with that variant. Meanwhile, the USAF and the US Navy are hoping to more closely integrate their forces as part of the US Department of Defense's (DoD) new AirSea battle concept.

Forces in Europe to Preserve Strategic Edge

05/17/2012

With major force changes to unfold across Europe, including a drawdown of about 7,000 U.S. forces there, U.S. European Command remains committed to its mission of ensuring a ready force prepared to respond if called upon, officials said. About 80,000 military forces based in Europe remain the command's No. 1 tool - both for maintaining U.S. influence across the theater and, when called upon, for projecting power within and beyond it, the Eucom commander, told Congress.

Ghana takes delivery of second C-295; to receive Mi-17 helicopters

05/17/2012

The Ghana Air Force has received its second and final Airbus Military C295 transport aircraft. The first C-295 was delivered in November last year as part of the Air Force’s modernisation drive, which will also see it gain four Mi-17 helicopters in the coming months. Ghana’s second C295 was seen landing in Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands on April 24, and arrived in Ghana the following day. It is based in the capital Accra while the first is based in Tamale.

China Flies New Stealth Fighter as Problems Plague U.S. Jets

05/17/2012

The second copy of China’s stealth fighter prototype has just flown at a research facility in the city of Chengdu. The first flight of the J-20 Mighty Dragon with the nose number 2002 doubles Beijing’s stealth test fleet at a time when America’s latest jet fighters are hobbled by cost overruns, labor disputes and lethal design flaws. But it’s far from certain how much, and how fast, the new Chinese jet will alter the military balance.

Russia's military aircraft industry: overview and outlook

05/17/2012

During the round table discussion regarding the current state and the process of re-equipment and the prospects of the Russian Air Force Konstantin Makienko, deputy director of the Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies, presented his report on the prospects of producing military aviation equipment for export and the use by the Russian Air Force.

Syria: the elephant in the room amid military exercise in Jordan

05/17/2012

With a photo of a raging lion over their shoulders, senior U.S. and Jordanian generals opened a massive military exercise dubbed "Eager Lion." The kickoff came with adamant statements that the 12,000 troops from 19 countries now in Jordan were here only for the training - and it all has nothing to do with the violence now raging across Jordan's northern border inside Syria.

Mi-28NE Havoc Helicopter to be Displayed at Moscow Expo

05/17/2012

The Mil Mi-28NE Havoc (Night Hunter) attack helicopter and 49 other military exhibits will be displayed by 14 Russian organizations at the 5th International Helicopter Industry Exhibition (HeliRussia 2012) in Moscow, the Federal Service for Military and Technical Cooperation reported. The exhibition will be held on May 17-19 at the Crocus Expo exhibition center in the Russian capital’s northwest. Russia’s Industry and Trade Ministry is its organizer.

Russia ‘May Buy’ $50 Mln Worth of Israeli UAVs

05/17/2012

Russia may buy a large new consignment of unmanned aerial vehicles from Israel and 24 command and control systems worth around $50 million in the foreseeable future, a high ranking source in the Russian defense industry said on Wednesday. Israel Aerospace Industries previously delivered to Russia two Bird Eye-400, eight I-View Mk150 and two Searcher Mk.2 UAVs, totaling $53 million.

Russia to Sell Off 18 'Indian' Su-30 Fighters

05/17/2012

Russia is to put up for sale a batch of 18 Sukhoi Su-30 multirole fighter aircraft, rejected by India on concerns about their engines and returned to Russia in 2003, a defense official said on Wednesday. "The 18 Su-30s previously used by India and then returned, are in an aviation repair plant in Belarus and are on sale to potential buyers," said Alexander Fomin, deputy director of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation.

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