Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

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.

Korean Air in support deal for A-10 tank killer

12/10/2019

Korean Airlines Aerospace Division (KAL-ASD) has received a $213 million contract to support US Air Force Fairchild A-10 Thunderbolt II attack planes deployed to South Korea. The contract covers ten years to 31 December 2029, according the US Department of Defense. A-10s deployed to Korea are based at Osan, south of Seoul. KAL-ASD will perform support work at its MRO facility in Busan. The company also supports other USAF aircraft.

Boeing looks at laser-range finder for KC-46A refuelling boom

12/10/2019

Boeing is researching adding a laser-range finder to the KC-46A Pegasus’ problem-plagued refuelling boom camera system. The laser-range-finder retrofit onto the boom cameras, known as the remote vision system (RVS), would give operators additional information about the true distance between the end of the KC-46A’s boom and a receiving aircraft’s receptacle during in-flight refuelling, says Will Roper, assistant secretary of the US Air Force (USAF) for acquisition, technology and logistics.

Mission possible: China ramps up aircraft production

12/09/2019

China is mass-producing a genre of special mission warplanes that experts say will help create a full information system that allows the Chinese military to recognize every hostile movement and even sabotage enemy communications. Shaanxi Aircraft Industry Corp. Ltd. (SAIC) under the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) has been manufacturing special mission aircraft — including anti-submarine aircraft, early warning aircraft, surveillance aircraft and electronic warfare air

Indian Rafale fighter jets to fly with BS-series tail numbers honouring ex-IAF chief BS Dhanoa

12/09/2019

The Indian Rafale fighter jets will fly with the tail sign 'BS' after the recently retired Air Force Chief Birender Singh Dhanoa. "While the two-sweater trainer Rafales will have the tail number initials of present Chief Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria RB, the fighter versions will fly with the tail sign initials of BS after the previous chief Dhanoa," IAF officials told ANI.

Malaysia MD 530G deliveries contracted for early 2020

12/08/2019

MD Helicopters (MDHI) expects to start deliveries of six MD 530G light scout attack helicopters to Malaysia in the first quarter of 2020. When ordered in early 2016, plans had called for deliveries to start later that year, but MD Helicopters explains that this was delayed at the behest of Malaysian prime contractor, Destini Group.

Pentagon Considers Increasing Troop Presence in Middle East

12/06/2019

The Pentagon is considering deploying additional forces to the Middle East—a move it considers a “prudent” step to deter Iranian aggression as part of a dynamic response to ongoing threats in the region, the Defense Department’s head of policy told lawmakers.

F-22 armed with more precision attack technology

12/06/2019

The Air Force and Lockheed Martin are now arming the F-22 stealth fighter with more long-range precision attack technology, a wider targeting envelope or “field of regard” and new networking technology enabling improved, real-time “collaborative targeting” between aircraft.

Elbit upgrade to give MD 530G Hellfire, APKWS

12/06/2019

MD Helicopters intends to upgrade its MD 530G Block II scout attack helicopter with an integrated weapons system made by Elbit Systems that would make the rotorcraft capable of carrying and firing the AGM-114 Hellfire missile. The addition of the semi-active laser-guided missile would give the MD 530G an anti-tank and anti-armour capability it does not currently have.

USAF searches for Boeing E-4B aerial command center replacement

12/06/2019

The US Air Force (USAF) has started searching for a new airborne command, control and communications operations center to replace the Boeing E-4B, and the service is asking US defence manufacturers for input.

Air Force F-35 Simulator Will Let Pilots Fly in Formation, Talk to Other Aircraft

12/05/2019

When the U.S. Air Force gets its first F-35 Lightning II distributed mission training simulator system at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, this spring, pilots will have the ability to fly virtually as a group, alongside other aircraft, and practice exchanging information across a network, according to Lockheed Martin officials.

Naval Version of India’s Tejas Fighter to Conduct Maiden Flight From Carrier

12/05/2019

The naval version of the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) is being readied for its first-ever take off from the Indian Navy’s Kiev-class aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, according to Indian defense industry officials. “It [the carrier-based take-off] is not too far. Extra safety is being taken and hence time is being consumed,” a source within the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) was quoted as saying on December 2 by The Print.

ANALYSIS: AeroVironment plays catch-up with new Switchblade types

12/05/2019

After falling behind several new competitors, pioneering loitering-munition manufacturer AeroVironment is working on a bigger Switchblade variant, as well as several new uses for its legacy weapon. Additionally, the company believes it is close to receiving US State Department approval for a license to export its loitering munition, says AeroVironment chief executive officer Wahid Nawabi during a 3 December earnings call.

India funds P-8I top-up buy and AWACS acquisition

12/05/2019

The purchase of additional Boeing P-8I maritime patrol aircraft for the Indian navy has received government approval – but only six aircraft are now planned to be acquired, instead of the 10 originally planned. New Delhi has also revived its moribund Airborne Warning and Control System India (AWACS India) programme, which seeks to deliver an indigenous replacement for the Ilyushin Il-76-based A-50Is now in use.

Spain picks PC-21 as C-101 trainer successor

12/05/2019

Spain has selected the Pilatus PC-21 single-engined turboprop to replace its aged fleet of jet-powered CASA C-101 trainers. Tender documents indicated that Madrid will pay €204 million ($226 million) for 24 PC-21s, plus simulators and a logistics package, against a budget of €225 million.

What’s in the Malaysia-Russia Fighter Jet Exchange Deal?

12/04/2019

While speculation on the agreement continues to fuel headlines, there are few concrete indications about how it could play out. Late last month, Malaysia’s defense minister confirmed that Kuala Lumpur was still considering a fighter jet exchange deal with Russia that had previously been in the headlines. The comments once again spotlighted one of the areas of Malaysia-Russia security relations that continues to attract speculation.

CAE debuts new virtual reality system for cheaper pilot training

12/04/2019

Pilot training company CAE has unveiled a new virtual reality training system it says can help militaries accelerate pilot training and reduce pilot training costs. CAE's Sprint Virtual Reality system is meant to give military student pilots more hours in realistic flying scenarios at less expense than in full-motion simulators or in actual aircraft, CAE says.