Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Throttle up: China closes the jet engine gap

12/23/2019

The Chinese defense industrial base is infamous for its tendency to “borrow” from foreign designs, particularly in the aerospace industry. Almost the entirety of China’s modern fighter fleet have either borrowed liberally from or directly copied foreign models. The J-10 was reputedly based on the Israeli IAI Lavi and by extension the United States’ General Dynamics F-16; the J-11 is a clone of the Russian Su-27; the JF-17 is a modern development of the Soviet MiG-21.

Syrian army advances into northwestern Idlib province

12/23/2019

The Syrian army, backed by Russian air power, has advanced into al-Qaeda-controlled north-western Idlib province over the past week with the aim of capturing the town of Ma’arat al-Nu’man, which straddles the highway linking Damascus with Hama and Aleppo.

Final F-35A Lightning II aircrafts delivered to Air Force

12/23/2019

According to the Air Force, airmen from the wings based at Hill are currently deployed in the Middle East and have flown some of the first combat sorties involving the aircraft. The Air Force conducted its first combat mission with the fifth-generation fighter in May when two F-35As struck an entrenched Islamic State tunnel network and weapons cache at Wadi Ashai, Iraq.

N Korea's Kim presides over military meeting as tension rises

12/23/2019

Kim Jong Un has held a meeting of North Korea's top military officials to discuss boosting the country's military capability, the country's state news agency reported on Sunday amid heightened concern the North may be about to return to confrontation with the United States. Kim presided over an enlarged meeting of the ruling Workers' Party's Central Military Commission, KCNA said, to discuss steps "to bolster up the overall armed forces of the country militarily and politically."

America establishes sixth military branch: US Space Force

12/23/2019

The US Space Force (USSF) was established as the sixth military branch of the US armed forces on 20 December 2019 when President Donald Trump signed the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act. The new service will reside within the US Air Force (USAF), under the leadership of the secretary of the air force, Barbara Barrett.

Typhoons, Rafales star in Qatar’s annual flypast

12/22/2019

A trio of Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoons took part in a flypast of Doha on 18 December, joining Qatari assets involved in national day celebrations. Also appearing for the first time were Dassault Rafales of the Qatar Emiri Air Force.

USA approves $78m upgrade to Argentina’s recently bought P-3C aircraft

12/22/2019

The US State Department approved a potential $78 million upgrade package for four Lockheed Martin P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft which Argentina recently purchased through the Pentagon’s Excess Defense Articles programme.

Boeing KC-46A to resume cargo and passenger flights after cargo lock fixes

12/22/2019

The US Air Force is again allowing Boeing KC-46A Pegasus in-flight refuelling tankers to carry passengers and cargo, lifting a ban after accepting Boeing’s cargo-lock retrofit. The USAF announced in September that during test flights multiple cargo-floor restraint locks malfunctioned and came unlocked. At the time, in-service KC-46As were transporting cargo. The service suspended cargo and passenger flights as a precaution.

American F-21 or Russian MiG-35 to be Hot Favorites for $15 Bln Indian Fighter Jet Tender: Analysts

12/20/2019

New Delhi (Sputnik): With the signing of the Industry Security Annex agreement between Indian and the US government on Thursday, the contest for the Indian Air Force’s $15 billion fighter jet tender has become more intriguing.

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.