Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

MILITARY AIRCRAFT, RUNWAY AMONG DAMAGE AT IRAQI BASE STRUCK BY IRAN MISSILES

01/09/2020

Iran's missile attack on two large military bases in Iraq damaged installations housing U.S. service members and battered an airplane hangar, aircraft, buildings and runways. Preliminary reports from American and Iraqi military officials reported that Iran fired 22 missiles at both Al Asad Airbase in western Iraq and at the airbase near Erbil in the north. Two Defense Department officials told Newsweek that 18 ballistic missiles struck Al Asad Airbase alone.

Russia's Su-57 Stealth Fighter Is Getting a Brand New Missile

01/09/2020

Russia appears to be developing a new, small air-to-air missile that could arm the Su-57 stealth fighter. The United States also is working on smaller air-to-air missiles to arm its own growing force of radar-evading warplanes. The new missile appeared in a display at munitions-maker Vympel NPO's I. I. Toropov design facility in Moscow on Nov. 18, 2019, The War Zone reporter Joe Trevithick noted.

Potential Next Generation US Assault Aircraft V-280 Valor Unveiled In Arlington

01/09/2020

The U.S. military is looking for a new, modern aircraft that could replace the outdated Black Hawk helicopter fleet across all branches. On Wednesday, North Texas-based, Bell held a demonstration event for their offering, the V-280 Valor. In attendance was U.S. Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy who took the opportunity to comment on the tension with Iran.

Marshall lands KC-130J support deal with Kuwait

01/09/2020

The UK’s Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group will provide in-service support services for a trio of Lockheed Martin KC-130J tanker/transports for the Kuwait air force, after securing the business via the US government. Announcing its contract receipt on 6 January, Marshall said it will perform “planned maintenance interval inspections, full aircraft repainting and specific overhaul tasks this year” for the customer.

Half of US Navy’s $380 billion aviation spending in next 30 years to be fighters

01/09/2020

The cost to buy new aircraft to maintain the US Navy’s (USN) current fleet size is projected to be about $380 billion over the next 30 years. The replacement of fighter and attack aircraft, such as the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II and the Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet would represent the largest overall costs between 2020 and 2050, totaling about $190 billion, according to a projection by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), released on 6 January.

First Two Of Six B-52 Bombers Deploying To Diego Garcia Amid Growing Tensions With Iran

01/08/2020

The strategic bombers and their support tankers could be tracked online as they moved from Barksdale Air Force Base to the American outpost in the Indian Ocean as part of the U.S. build up in the region.

USDA, Michigan Air Guard program cuts risk of bird collisions

01/08/2020

The flightline at Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center is a busy place.As the year-round host for training events like Northern Strike – the Defense Department's largest joint reserve-component exercise – it's not uncommon to see more than 60 aircraft on Alpena's tarmac. During exercise Northern Strike 19, more than 450 flights launched from the airfield over two weeks.

Iran attack: US troops targeted with ballistic missiles

01/08/2020

Iranian state TV says the attack is a retaliation after the country's top commander Qasem Soleimani was killed in a drone strike in Baghdad, on the orders of US President Donald Trump. The Pentagon says at least two sites were attacked, in Irbil and Al-Asad. It is unclear if there have been any casualties.

Poland to float Seasprite replacement plan

01/08/2020

Warsaw intends to buy between four and eight new helicopters to replace its navy’s Kaman SH-2G Super Seasprite maritime rotorcraft, which are to be withdrawn from use due to a lack of technical support. Cirium fleets data shows that the Polish navy has an active fleet of four SH-2Gs, each aged at almost 30 years.

Trump overstates military spending and readiness in face of Iran conflict

01/07/2020

President Trump has made numerous claims in recent days that he has completely updated the U.S. military’s equipment and suggested it is well-prepared for a major conflict with Iran. But his comments grossly overstate spending decisions and mask an aging fleet of planes. On Sunday, Trump tweeted that “The United States just spent Two Trillion Dollars on Military Equipment” and that if necessary he would use it to hit Iran “very fast and very hard.”

Hill Air Force Base flyers demonstrate combat readiness, power

01/07/2020

In a show of military might, jet after jet took off from Hill Air Force Base on Monday in a scheduled exercise meant to keep the fleet ready at a moment’s notice. While the effort has been in the works for some time, it came against a backdrop of political and military tensions in the Middle East following the U.S. strike that killed Iranian Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani.

Lockheed Martin signs $1.9bn sustainment contract for F-35

01/07/2020

The F-35 Joint Program Office awarded Lockheed Martin a $1.9 billion contract to sustain and support the worldwide fleet of F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters in 2020. The contract will also fund increasing maintenance capacity for future deliveries of the F-35, says Lockheed Martin. To meet the needs of the growing F-35 fleet, the contract funds hiring industry sustainment experts for base and depot maintenance, pilot and maintainer training, and sustainment engineering efforts, says the compa

Erdogan Announces First Turkish Troops Are Heading to Libya

01/06/2020

Turkey has started deploying troops to Libya, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Sunday evening in a live television interview, keeping his promise to support the fragile government in Tripoli even as Western states have warned against escalating a conflict between the government and rebel forces.

US service member, DoD contractors killed after jihadi attack on base in Kenya

01/06/2020

A U.S. service member and two Department of Defense contractors died Sunday following an attack from al-Shabab militants in Manda Bay, Kenya, according to U.S. Africa Command. Two other Defense Department members were also injured in the attack, but remain in stable condition.

Netanyahu, in apparent stumble, calls Israel 'nuclear power'

01/06/2020

In an apparent slip of the tongue on Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described Israel as a nuclear power before correcting himself with a bashful nod and an embarrassed smile. Israel is widely believed to have an atomic arsenal but has never confirmed or denied that it has nuclear weapons, maintaining a so-called policy of ambiguity on the issue for decades.

Germany seeks talks with Iran to ease tensions

01/06/2020

Germany's foreign minister said Saturday he is hoping for direct talks with Iran, in addition to the country's European partners and the United Nations, as a way of de-escalating tensions in the Middle East following the US assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani.

US military aircraft, vehicles destroyed in Kenya attack linked to al-Shabab extremists; 5 attackers arrested, 4 dead

01/06/2020

The U.S. military said the security situation was "fluid" at a Kenyan airfield used by U.S. forces after a pre-dawn attack Sunday by the al-Shabab extremist group. The attack destroyed U.S. aircraft and vehicles, Kenyan authorities said, and at least four attackers were killed. It was not yet clear whether any U.S. or Kenyan forces were killed. A U.S. Africa Command statement said "an accountability of personnel assessment is underway."

Indonesia beefs up patrols after China fishing boat spat 6 hours ago

01/05/2020

Indonesia is stepping up sea and aerial patrols of islands near the disputed South China Sea, an official said on Saturday, following a diplomatic spat over "trespassing" Chinese vessels. Military aircraft and three warships with some 600 navy, army and air force personnel have been deployed to waters around the Natuna islands, which border the South China Sea.

Qasem Soleimani: How strong is Iran's military?

01/05/2020

"Severe revenge awaits" those behind the attack on General Qasem Soleimani, said Iran's Supreme Leader. So what do we know about Iran's military capabilities?

Turkey All But Gives Up On F-35 Jet Deal, Seeks Alternatives

01/05/2020

Turkey has all but given up on rescuing its deal for 100 F-35 fighter jets with the United States, and instead is seeking alternatives to the American jets besides improving its defensive capabilities. With the new U.S. National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in effect, it is highly likely that Turkey will not be able to receive its fifth-gen F-35 multirole stealth aircraft in the foreseeable future, according to an article by Dr. Can Kasapoglu of EDAM, an Istanbul based think tank.

Air Force sets foundation for energy optimization, lethality

01/05/2020

With 2020 here and the Air Force prepares to take on the challenges of the next decade, we must also review our successes and lessons learned from the last year. For Air Force Operational Energy, 2019 was a year for laying the foundation to build a more optimized and lethal force in the years to come.

RMAF seeking drones, aircraft and missiles

01/05/2020

The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) is diligently pursuing the acquisition of three major assets to bolster its maritime surveillance capabilities. Newly-appointed RMAF chief General Datuk Seri Ackbal Abdul Samad said the assets comprised unmanned aircraft systems, maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) and ground-based radars. “These are vital elements to shore up the air force which needs such requirements to meet the challenges ahead.

Iran’s F-14 Tomcats Take to the Skies: Air Force’s Elite Scrambled to Patrol Western Borders After U.S. Attack Kills Quds Force Commander Qassem Soleimani

01/04/2020

Following a U.S. airstrike on the convoy of Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps General Qasem Soleimani near Baghdad International Airport, which claimed the life of the senior commander and two dozen others, Tehran has vowed to respond with a "crushing revenge" sparking a rise in tensions across the Middle East.

Here's How Iran's Aging Air Force Would Take On America's F-22 Stealth Fighters

01/04/2020

With the United States withdrawing from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action nuclear deal with Iran, a war with Tehran seems to be a distinct possibility. In the event of a military conflict between Washington and Tehran, there is also the ever growing possibility that the White House might seek regime change in Iran.

Here's Why Iran Is Obsessed With Upgrading Its Older Air Force Jets

01/04/2020

The Iranian air force on paper is one of the biggest air arms in the world. Its order of battle includes around 350 fighters, more than twice as many as the Royal Air Force possesses. But most of Iran’s fighters are old and outdated. The ones that aren’t old are just new copies of old designs. The air force’s squadrons fly American-made F-14s, F-5s and F-4s dating from the 1970s, some 1980s-vintage MiG-29s and Sukhoi fighter-bombers and a few J-7s that the Islamic Republic bought from China.