Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

China Learns To Generate Lots Of Sorties

01/30/2010

As the Chinese Air Force puts an increasing number of modern combat aircraft into service, it has realized that it's logistical support services have to modernize as well. Logistics is essential if these modern aircraft (like the Su-30) can be kept in battle. To do that, these aircraft need large quantities of fuel, weapons, spare parts, and people who know how to get that stuff to where it is needed, and on time. The emphasis is on "generating sorties" (rearming and refueling modern fighters qu

Israel Aerospace Industries Presents Various New Technologies and Products at Singapore Air Show 2010

01/29/2010

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) will present a wide variety of its advanced technologies and products at this year's Singapore Air Show, taking place from February 2nd – February 7th, 2010 at the Changi Exhibition Centre.

Boeing B-52 With CONECT Upgrade Accomplishes 1st Test Flight

01/29/2010

Boeing announced today that a B-52H upgraded with new communication technology successfully accomplished its first test flight at Edwards Air Force Base on Jan. 17. The Combat Network Communications Technology (CONECT) upgrade allows B-52H crews to receive and send real-time digital information during their missions.

Boeing Delivers Record Number of Apache Longbow Crew Trainers in 2009

01/29/2010

Boeing delivered a record five Apache Longbow Crew Trainers (LCTs) in 2009 -- more than in any previous year -- and all five have been declared "ready for training."

Taiwan's fighter jets too costly to maintain

01/29/2010

The United Arab Emirates Air Force is considering selling the Mirage 2000-9 jet fighters that it originally purchased from France, according to a UAE representative at the Dubai Air Show last November. The main reason, he said, was high maintenance costs.

U.S. military aircraft touches down in Bogota

01/29/2010

A United States aircraft landed at a military air base in Colombia on Thursday, with the intention that it will be used by the Colombian government to deliver aid to Haiti.

At Lockheed, Fighter-Jet Plan Looms Large

01/29/2010

Though Lockheed Martin Corp. has thousands of government contracts, none is more important to its future than the F-35 Lightning II, a fighter-jet program that will cost almost $300 billion to design, build and buy in the coming decades.

Russia optimistic about MIG-35's victory in Indian Air Force tender

01/29/2010

Russia on Thursday expressed optimism that the MiG-35 fighter jets fielded by it in the Indian Air Force's tender for acquisition of 126 Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) will prove an edge over its Western rivals and ultimately win the contract.

Combat Exercises Begin at Nellis Air Force Base

01/28/2010

The military says Nellis Air Force Base will host extra activity in coming days with combat training exercises being conducted over the Nevada desert.

Singapore Airshow taking place amidst aviation pickup

01/28/2010

The Singapore Airshow 2010, starting on February 2, will take place at a time when industry players are noticing a pickup in the aviation sector.

Boeing to Highlight Broad Range of Products and Services at Singapore Airshow

01/28/2010

The Boeing Company will highlight its broad range of commercial and defense products, technologies, and services during this year’s Singapore Airshow, which begins Feb. 2.

Russian "stealth" fighter to fly by end-Jan

01/28/2010

Russia will test fly by the end of January a new "fifth generation" stealth fighter that aims to challenge the United States for technical superiority, an aviation industry source told Reuters on Wednesday.

First U.K. Service Pilot Flies The Lockheed Martin F-35

01/28/2010

A Royal Air Force officer on Tuesday became the first active-duty service pilot from the United Kingdom to take to the skies in a Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] F-35 Lightning II, also known as the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF).

Libyan Minister Arrives for Arms Talks

01/27/2010

Libya's defense minister arrived in Moscow on Tuesday for talks that Russian media said could result in a $2 billion defense contract including 20 jets.

India progressing on Aircraft technology

01/27/2010

Seeds of Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) requirements can be traced back to Kargil conflict more than a decade ago. When Indian air force was pressed into service to clear Mountain peaks in Kargil of Pakistani Army Regulars and Terrorist, many serving aircrafts from the Indian air force inventory like Mig-21/27/29, Jaguars and Mirage 2000D were pressed into service in various roles.

Eurofighter Typhoon trounces F-15 in war simulation

01/27/2010

NATO air forces recently carried out several training engagements known as dact, Dissimilar Aircraft Combat Training. These competitions pit pilots in various aircraft against each other to see how the various craft measure up.

EADS seek future for Airbus military plane

01/27/2010

Nations that have ordered Airbus' A400M military transport plane met Tuesday with parent company EADS before a weekend deadline to find a solution to the troubled project, an official said.

F-35 To Dominate Future Fighter Market

01/27/2010

During the past decade, world fighter production totaled only around 2,500 units, but over the next 10 years, annual deliveries are set to rise. Unlike the 1970s and 1980s, when large numbers of dedicated ground-attack aircraft were produced in addition to fighters, the modern market for combat aircraft is focused almost exclusively on multirole fighters that can handle both the air superiority and attack missions. The U.S. Air Force recently proposed building a new bomber, but this program is n

RTAF seeks B20bn jet fleet budget

01/26/2010

The air force is seeking cabinet approval to buy six more Gripen jet fighters and upgrade six F-16 fighters at a combined cost of more than 20 billion baht.

First A400M Flight Phase Goes Well

01/26/2010

Airbus engineers are working on minor A400M airframe modifications and fixes to the engine control software as the manufacturer digests the broadly positive results of initial flight testing.

U.S. Drone Goes Down Over Pakistan

01/26/2010

A U.S. drone reportedly crashed in Pakistan on Sunday. The Associated Press calls it “a rare mishap for a program Washington has increasingly relied on to kill Taliban and al-Qaida militants.” But that’s not quite right; American unmanned aircraft go down all the time. They’ve even gone down before in Pakistan.

Son Of Predator Joins The Army

01/26/2010

U.S. Army received its first Sky Warrior MQ-1C UAVs about a year ago, and since last April, several of these aircraft have been operating around Baghdad. The first flight in a combat zone, lasting 10.5 hours, was last April 18th.

More MiG-29s for Myanmar

01/25/2010

In late December 2009, reports surfaced that Myanmar (formerly Burma) had signed a EUR 400 million (about $571 million) deal with Russia’s Rosoboronexport for 20 MiG-29D fighters. Some sources add a deal for more Mi-35 attack helicopters, and place the entire package at EUR 450 million.

SINGAPORE 2010: Asian fighter requirements continue to grow

01/25/2010

The Asia-Pacific fighters market will continue to be the world's most active over the next decade, with the countries likely to buy more than 500 aircraft to supplement existing fleets, embark on upgrades and acquire new capabilities to take them into the next stage of their development.

Drones could be growth market for Brevard

01/24/2010

A young Air Force pilot, weaned on computer games, scans his video screen for the enemy he's stalking from thousands of miles away. A camera-equipped unmanned aerial vehicle known as a Reaper provides the video.