Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

The Iraqi Phoenix Rises Again

08/20/2010

When U.S. and Coalition Forces aircraft launched the air campaign at the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom during the early morning hours of March 20, 2003, not a single Iraqi Air Force (IqAF) aircraft took to the skies to challenge the attacking aircraft.

Israel: no plans to upgrade F-16s

08/20/2010

The Israeli defence ministry has decided, pending formal government approval, to purchase an initial 20 Lockheed Martin F-35 fighters. The $2.75 billion deal has been the subject of US-Israeli discussions over Israeli industrial co-operation and the extent to which the country will be allowed to install its own electronic warfare systems in the stealth fighter.

Fearing China, Taiwan Pleads For US Warplanes

08/20/2010

Taiwan has repeated its plea for advanced F-16 warplanes from the United States to defend itself - apparently from a potential Chinese military threat - in the wake of the latest Pentagon report on China's military might.

India to order another 59 Russian Mi-17 helicopters

08/20/2010

The Indian Air Force will soon order an additional 59 Russian Mil Mi-17 helicopters on top of the 80 ordered earlier, the IAF chief said on Thursday.

Boeing C-130 AMP Head-Up Display Endorsed by Headquarters US Air Force Directorate of Operations

08/20/2010

Boeing announced today that Headquarters U.S. Air Force Directorate of Operations (HQ USAF/A3O) has endorsed the company's C-130 Avionics Modernization Program (AMP) Head-Up Display (HUD) and Head-Down Primary Flight Display (HDPFD) as the aircraft's primary flight reference.

Serbia - Close cooperation between armed forces of Serbia, China

08/19/2010

Minister of Defence Dragan Sutanovac said in Beijing after meeting with Chinese Minister of National Defence General Liang Guanglie that there is close cooperation between the armed forces of Serbia and China, but noted that there is always room for improvement of relations.

BAE Systems plans to set up military aircraft assembling plant in Kingdom

08/19/2010

BAE Systems intends to establish a military aircraft assembling plant in Saudi Arabia, according to Guy Griffiths, managing director international and a member of the company’s executive council.

The Chinese Military Challenge

08/19/2010

The Pentagon's annual report on China's military power finally surfaced Monday, five months overdue. Considering that the report tells us little that we didn't already know—not least, that China is rapidly modernizing and expanding its arsenal of missiles, ships and aircraft—we'll put the delay down to the Obama Administration's reluctance to offend Beijing's sensitivities. That may be the most alarming fact of all.

Intelligence experts analyse 'North Korean fighter jet crash'

08/19/2010

Intelligence experts are analysing reports that a North Korean fighter jet crash-landed in northern-eastern China on Tuesday afternoon, leading to speculation of a failed defection attempt by the plane’s pilot.

India may spend $2 bln upgrading Su-30 fighters

08/19/2010

India could spend up to $2.34 billion on modernization of its fleet of Su-30MKI Flanker-H fighters with the participation of Russian companies, the country's Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.

Russia flexible on supply of Mi-17 helicopters to Afghanistan

08/19/2010

Russia is interested in supplying Mi-17 helicopters to Afghanistan and is setting no constraints on a possible deal, a Kremlin aide said on Tuesday.

Israel approves U. S. 5G fighters deal

08/19/2010

Israel's Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Sunday approved purchase of U. S. fifth-generation F-35 fighters, the ministry's press service said.

Sultanate Of Oman Acquires Two Additional C-130J Super Hercules

08/19/2010

Lockheed Martin has signed a contract with the Sultanate of Oman for two additional C-130J Super Hercules.

Lockheed Martin Conducts First Flight of F-35 Electro-Optical Targeting System on Cooperative Avionics Test Bed

08/19/2010

Lockheed Martin has successfully conducted the first flight of the F-35 Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS) on the Cooperative Avionics Test Bed (CATBird) platform. EOTS maturation on the CATBird is the final step prior to integration on the BF-4, the first mission systems-equipped F-35 test aircraft.

Lockheed Martin Team Completes Major Component Design Reviews on Joint Air-To-Ground Missile Program

08/19/2010

Lockheed Martin and teammates Marvin Engineering and Aerojet have completed successful component and system Preliminary Design Reviews (PDRs) on the Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM) Technology Development (TD) program, further demonstrating the missile’s technological maturity level.

Possible North Korean MiG-21 Crashes in China

08/18/2010

China's official Xinhua news service confirms that a military aircraft, likely a MiG-21, has crashed in China's Liaoning Province today and may be from North Korea.

Weapons sales to Gulf reach $60 billion

08/15/2010

The United States has approved a long list of arms sales to friendly Arab countries in the Persian Gulf aimed at countering Iran’s growing influence in the region.

Ohio Guard unit is first to switch to C-27J

08/15/2010

The Air Force’s adoption of the C-27J Spartan cargo plane reaches a milestone Saturday when the 179th Airlift Wing in Mansfield, Ohio, becomes the first unit to convert to C-27J operations.

Russian 5G fighter to outstrip best analogs

08/15/2010

Russian fifth-generation T-50 fighter, which is currently being developed by the Sukhoi aircraft manufacturer, will outstrip best world analogs, Air Force Commander Colonel General Alexander Zelin said on Saturday.

More U.S. Helicopters Arrive in Pakistan to Support Flood Relief

08/15/2010

Two U.S. Navy MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopters arrived in Pakistan today as part of the continued U.S. humanitarian assistance to Pakistan in support of flood relief from the monsoon floods.

French warships for Russia to be armed with Ka-52 helicopters

08/15/2010

Mistral-class helicopter carriers, which Russia plans to buy from France, will be armed with Russian Ka-52 Alligator helicopters, Air Force Commander Colonel General Alexander Zelin told the Ekho Moskvy FM station on Saturday.

Indian Fighter Downselect Coming

08/14/2010

With flight trials complete, the downselect process has begun for the six candidate fighters in India’s Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) program, a competition with a $10 billion-plus payday for providing 126 aircraft.

Government to use drones to study how hurricanes intensify

08/14/2010

The U.S. government is preparing to launch a study to solve one of the most vexing questions about hurricanes: Why do some storm systems rapidly intensify into destructive cyclones, while most remain weak?

Russian air force completing MiG-31BM modernization program

08/14/2010

The Russian air force is completing a modification program for its MiG-31 interceptor aircraft to the MiG-31BM standard, the force's commander Col.Gen. Alexander Zelin said on Friday.

IAF going in for massive upgrade of airfields, helipads

08/13/2010

From new Sukhoi-30MKI bases at Chabua (Assam), Halwara (Punjab) and Jodhpur (Rajasthan) to one for Tejas fighters in Sulur (Tamil Nadu), IAF is going in for a massive upgrade of its airfield and helipad infrastructure across the country.