Military Aviation News Archive

Brazil defense minister favors French fighter jet

04/08/2010

The defense minister said Wednesday he favors the purchase of a French fighter jet for Brazil's revamped air force over aircraft from Sweden and the United States in the competition for an estimated $4.4 billion order.

First Lockheed Martin Mission Systems F-35 Enters Flight Test

04/08/2010

The first mission systems-equipped Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter flew for the first time today, ushering in what will be the most powerful and comprehensive sensor package ever to fly in a fighter.

Hawker Beechcraft adds power to armed AT-6

04/07/2010

Hawker Beechcraft has demonstrated a more powerful version of its AT-6 turboprop, ahead of a US Air Force competition for a light attack and armed reconnaissance (LAAR) aircraft.

Uganda denies buying Russian jets

04/07/2010

UGANDA has denied international media reports that it has signed a deal for the purchase of six fighter jets from a Russian company.

Russia Compares Its Military Strength With Western Airspace Violations

04/07/2010

In the most recent reported incident, two Tu160 Blackjack bombers, capable of travelling at 2,220kmph and carrying up to almost 40,000kg of ordnance including either cruise or short-range nuclear missiles, infiltrated British airspace over Northern Scotland on March 10.

Indian Americans rally to block F-16s sale to Pakistan

04/07/2010

A group of prominent Indian Americans, led by noted physician Sudhir Parikh, are lobbying hard to block Washington's sale of F-16 combat aircraft to Pakistan, drawing support from a large Congressional caucus.

Pilot training under way for F-35 fighters

04/07/2010

Pilot training for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter is on track despite recent cost overruns and development delays, the Navy Times reported.

PAF opens High Mark Exercise-2010 to assay professional skills

04/07/2010

The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Tuesday opened High Mark Exercise-2010 to assay its professional skills and capabilities and war preparations of the PAF in Jhang area of Thal.

Lockheed Martin, Aerojet Achieve Joint Air-To-Ground Missile (JAGM) Rocket Motor Breakthrough

04/07/2010

Lockheed Martin and Aerojet, a GenCorp company and teammate on the Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM) program, achieved a technological breakthrough by successfully completing full temperature range testing and validation to support a single rocket motor solution for all JAGM fixed-wing and rotary-wing platforms. The final completed tests were a series of cold temperature missile motor firings conducted in Camden, AR.

Boeing and the Republic of Singapore Celebrate F-15SGs' Arrival in Singapore

04/07/2010

Boeing and the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) on April 5 celebrated the arrival of the RSAF’s first five F-15SG aircraft at Paya Lebar Air Base, Singapore, where the aircraft were formally inducted into the F-15SG squadron.

Oman to buy 24 Eurofighters

04/06/2010

Oman is reported to be planning to buy up to 24 Eurofighter Typhoon strike jets worth an estimated $2.24 billion from Britain.

AF Needs COIN Plane: RAND

04/06/2010

Though late to the irregular warfare game, after considerable cajoling from Defense Secretary Robert Gates and now with an air chief with a real interest in the subject, Gen. Norton Schwartz, the Air Force has begun, albeit slowly, embracing elements of the irregular warfare mission.

Super Hornets to use bombing range

04/06/2010

RESIDENTS living near Evans Head are already used to seeing pigs fly, and soon they’ll be able to see a rhino do the same.

War game season in neighbourhood

04/06/2010

The armies of India and Pakistan are mobilising for separate large-scale war games on either side of the international border this month to experiment with concepts they will employ in the event of a war with each other.

Russia could modernize Slovakian combat helicopters

04/06/2010

Russia could help Slovakia modernize its fleet of Soviet-made combat helicopters, a Russian presidential aide said on Tuesday.

Afghan air force flies again on Soviet warhorses

04/05/2010

As training jobs go, U.S. Colonel Bernard Mater's task of mentoring the fledgling Afghan air force is among the more daunting ones.

France suspends arms supply to Pakistan

04/05/2010

NEW DELHI: India’s concerns about increasing military aid to Pakistan might not bother the Obama administration but the Sarkozy government is apparently taking note.

Russia signs $1.2 bln contract for jet fighter delivery to Algeria, Uganda

04/05/2010

Russia's state arms exporter Rosoboronexport has signed two contracts worth $1.2 billion on the deliveries of 16 jet fighters to Algeria and another six fighters to Uganda, the Russian Vedomosti daily reported on Monday.

Instant Gunships

04/05/2010

U.S. SOCOM (Special Operations Command) has adopted a U.S. Marine Corps idea to provide an "instant gunship" system, which enables weapons and sensors to be quickly rolled into a C-130 transport and hooked up. This takes a few hours, and turns the C-130 into a gunship (similar in capabilities existing AC-130 gunships).

The LuftRAFfe: British pilot and German navigator share Tornado in first-ever join combat flights

04/05/2010

An RAF pilot and an aviator from the Luftwaffe have flown together on a combat mission for the first time since Britain and Germany were bitter Second World War enemies.

Short airstrip perfect to hone C-130 landing skills

04/05/2010

In March, C-130s conducted about 20 short-takeoff-and-landing maneuvers each night at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center. STOL maneuvers require pilots to touch down inside a 500-foot landing zone and stop within 3,300 feet.

The Complete Withdrawal of the US Military from Ecuador: A Victory for Sovereignty and Peace in Latin America

04/05/2010

In Spanish, Ecuador means “equator”. Manta is a port town facing the Pacific Ocean in the west of the country. On the coast is a large Ecuadorian air force base. From 1999, the American military had been using the base as a Forward Operating Location (FOL).

Air force boss slams poor state of affairs

04/05/2010

South Africa's air force chief has delivered a damning verdict on the country's military aircraft, raising concerns about defence capabilities.

Taiwan Air Force blasted for not reacting to Russian warplane

04/05/2010

The Taiwan Air Force has been blasted for not reacting to a Russian military aircraft's incursion into Taiwan's airspace, a newspaper said Tuesday.

Farmers call for ban on low-flying aircraft after damage to livestock

04/05/2010

FARMERS in North and mid Wales were paid £700,000 last year in compensation by defence chiefs for damage to livestock caused by low-flying military aircraft.