Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Leidos’ $1.65bn buy of Dynetics brings hypersonic missiles and glide munitions

12/20/2019

Leidos signed an agreement to acquire privately owned Dynetics for $1.65 billion in cash, a deal which would add several up-and-coming military weapons, including hypersonic missiles and glide munitions, to the company’s portfolio. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2020, pending typical closing conditions and regulatory approvals. The board of directors of both companies unanimously approved the transaction, says Leidos on 17 December.

Embraer, Brazilian air force to research new light transport

12/20/2019

Embraer and the Brazilian air rorce will study the development of a new light military transport aircraft. The two have signed a memorandum of understanding related to the potential development, says the Brazilian manufacturer.

USAF names ballistic missile security helicopter the MH-139A ‘Grey Wolf’

12/20/2019

The US Air Force (USAF) named its intercontinental ballistic missile base security and support helicopter, the Boeing MH-139A, the “Grey Wolf” on 19 December. The MH-139A is the military version of the commercial Leonardo AW139 twin-engined, medium-sized helicopter. Built at Leonardo’s Philadelphia, Pennsylvania factory, the helicopter’s military components are added by prime contractor Boeing after initial assembly.

Lockheed Presses For Sale Of 75 F-35s To Israel; Boeing Touts F-15s

12/19/2019

A senior military source told Breaking Defense that both competitors are needed and the question is -- is who will get bought first: "The IAF needs 75 F-35s and the advanced version of the F-15, and the question is, who will be the first to be purchased."

NAVAIR engineers help solve Sikorsky CH-53K exhaust re-ingestion problem

12/19/2019

Engineers from Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) helped Sikorsky solve the CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift helicopter’s gas re-ingestion problem. The US Marine Corps (USMC) helicopter gets its heavy lifting capacity from three General Electric T-408 engines, rated at 7,500shp (5,520kW) each. However, Sikorsky has struggled to integrate the big engines, with exhaust gas re-ingestion being the “most troublesome” issue, NAVAIR says on 17 December.

Bell discloses booster engine for 360 Invictus

12/19/2019

Bell’s 360 Invictus, the company’s proposal for the US Army’s Future Armed Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) competition, will receive a power boost from a supplemental power unit, a Pratt & Whitney PW207D1 turboshaft.

F-35A formally enters South Korean service

12/19/2019

The Lockheed Martin F-35A has entered operational service with the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) following a ceremony in the central city of Cheongju, where the nation’s 17th fighter wing is based. According to a report in South Korea’s official Yonhap News Agency, no press was invited in order to keep the event low key, so as to not irritate the country’s volatile neighbour, North Korea.

Second China Aircraft Carrier Enters Service

12/18/2019

China's second aircraft carrier entered service on Tuesday, adding major firepower to its military ambitions as it faces tensions with self-ruled Taiwan as well as the U.S. and regional neighbors around the disputed South China Sea. The commissioning of the warship, named the Shandong, puts China in a small club of nations with multiple aircraft carriers, and the country is reportedly building a third.

Switzerland Sending Its Old Fighter Jets Back to the U.S.

12/17/2019

Switzerland has been struggling to modernize its own air force and now it looks like the U.S. plans to buy 22 aging fighter jets from the country. According to a U.S. Navy spokesperson, the contract is expected to be signed once U.S. lawmakers approve the fiscal 2020 defense budget.

Congress Wants to Grow Organic USAF Aggressor Capability

12/17/2019

The draft 2020 defense policy bill prohibits the Air Force from transferring any low-rate initial production F-35s to the adversary air role until the chief of staff submits a report to Congress detailing the service’s plan for modernizing its organic aggressor fleet.

Dublin, Prague bolster Airbus C295 backlog

12/17/2019

Airbus Defence & Space has secured new orders for its C295 twin-turboprop from the Czech Republic and Ireland, with the year-end business further bolstering its backlog for the utility and special-mission type. Prague on 16 December signed for two new C295s, and also committed to an upgrade programme for its in-service fleet of four examples. The Czech air force will receive its new, winglet-equipped medium transports by mid-2021, Airbus says.

Singapore to launch fighter jet training detachment on Guam

12/15/2019

Singapore and the United States have signed a memorandum of understanding for the Southeast Asian island nation to set up a fighter jet training detachment in the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam. The nonbinding agreement, which was signed by U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Singapore Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen, is meant for approximately a squadron’s worth of Republic of Singapore Air Force fighter jets and associated personnel.

America's Lethal F-15, Meet Russia's Su-35, PAK-FA and China's J-20

12/15/2019

The United States Air Force is in the midst of a transformational shift. Since the 1990s, all new combat aircraft accepted into inventory have been designed with stealth in mind. Stealth is considered a key aspect of survival over the modern battlefield.

RAAF welcomes new P-8A Poseidon to fleet

12/14/2019

Defence Minister Linda Reynolds and Defence Industry Minister Melissa Price have officially welcomed the latest P-8A Poseidon aircraft to Australia. Minister Reynolds said the cutting-edge anti-submarine and maritime surveillance aircraft will enhance Australia’s maritime security.

Air Force’s Future Clouded With Space Force On Track To Separate

12/14/2019

America is getting a sixth branch of its military, to be called the Space Force. Members of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees have agreed the sixth service should be organized within the Department of the Air Force and report to Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett, but the new Chief of Space Operations will be co-equal with the other service leaders sitting on the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

RAAF takes delivery of seven additional F-35A fighter aircraft

12/14/2019

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has accepted the delivery of an additional seven F-35A fighter aircraft at RAAF Base Williamtown from the US. The F-35A Joint Strike Fighter programme will provide the RAAF with a fifth-generation combat capability.

Meet The J-10 Fighter: China's Very Own F-16 That Is Now For Sale

12/13/2019

China has been showcasing its Chengdu J-10 Vigorous Dragon single-engine fighters prominently since 2018. The latest J-10C model is comparable with modernized variants of the classic American F-16 Fighting Falcon tactical fighter with capabilities including beyond-visual-range engagement, precision air-to-ground strike, digital glass cockpit instruments, in-flight refueling and electronic warfare.

Before Pensacola Shooting, Foreign Military Programs Had Years of Troubles

12/13/2019

The training programs that bring thousands of foreign military forces to the United States each year are meant to project American values around the world, but they have at times had troubling outcomes: soldiers accused of using their skills to overthrow governments, commit atrocities or crush democratic uprisings.

CHAOS AS RUSSIA'S AIRCRAFT CARRIER ADMIRAL KUZNETSOV CATCHES FIRE: 'IT WAS EVERYONE FOR HIMSELF,' WITNESS SAYS

12/13/2019

One of the workers caught up in a blaze on Russia's only aircraft carrier has spoken of how he thought he would die during his escape. A thick plume of smoke could be seen from the Zvezdochka shipyard in Murmansk, the home of Russia's Arctic fleet where the vessel was berthed, when the Admiral Kuznetsov caught fire on Thursday morning during repair work.

Turkey and UK agree to fast-track work on fighter jet development

12/13/2019

The governments of Turkey and the UK have reportedly reached an agreement to fast-track work on the next-generation fighter aircraft project. Turkey Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told Turkish media that the governments agreed to speed up their collaboration on the development of engines for the fighter jets. In 2017, the UK Government signed a £100m deal with Turkey to help develop the advanced combat jet for the Turkish Air Force.

F3-R-standard Rafale gains key French approval

12/13/2019

France has declared initial operational capability (IOC) with the F3-R-standard Dassault Rafale fighter. Introduced by the French air force in July, F3-R has been developed by Dassault, missile manufacturer MBDA, Safran and Thales under a 2013 contract.

Russian fighter jets hindered Israel from striking military base in Syria: report

12/11/2019

According to the report, Israeli planes seeking to attack the Syrian Air Force T-4 base located in the Homs district were confronted over the weekend with the Russian Air Force's advanced Sukhoi Su-35 aircraft deployed to intercept them from the Khmeimim Air Base, operated by Russia, in the south-east of the city of Latakia.

Air Force and Lockheed Martin arm F-22 Raptor jet fighter with new weapons for long-range precision attack

12/11/2019

F-22 jet fighter delivered some of the first strikes in the U.S.-led attacks on the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, when aerial bombing began in 2014. The Air Force and Lockheed Martin are arming the F-22 stealth fighter with more long-range precision attack technology, an expanded targeting envelope, and new networking for real-time collaborative targeting among aircraft.

Chilean air force C-130 bound for Antarctica crashes with 38 aboard

12/11/2019

A Chilean air force Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules transport headed for a base in Antarctica crashed somewhere over Drake Passage on 9 December with 38 people aboard. The military aircraft was headed to Antarctic outpost Base Presidente Eduardo Frei Montalva when radio contact was lost at 18:13 local time, says the Chilean air force on 9 December. Santiago declared the aircraft crashed about seven hours later on 10 December.

Ten years after debut, can A400M sales take off?

12/11/2019

It has certainly taken a long time, but Airbus at last looks to be entering smoother air with its long-troubled A400M Atlas tactical transport. As the 10th anniversary of the European airlifter’s first flight passes on 11 December, the company finds itself at a literal tipping point. It has now delivered 85 of the turboprop-powered type – almost half way through its total orderbook of 174 examples for a combined eight nations.