Military Aviation News Archive

USAF suspends Boeing KC-46A tanker deliveries until FOD is fixed

03/02/2019

After foreign object debris, including forgotten tools, were found inside an undisclosed number of Boeing KC-46A Pegasus aircraft delivered to the US Air Force, the service suspended acceptance of the air refueling tankers on 20 February.

Dassault chief warns on creating 'Eurofighter 2.0' for FCAS work

03/02/2019

Additional partners could still be brought into the ongoing effort to develop a European future fighter aircraft, but lead company Dassault has warned against overcomplicating the project. France and Germany agreed to jointly develop a Future Combat Air System (FCAS) in 2018, comprising both manned and unmanned assets. Dassault and Airbus Defence & Space are the industrial champions.

Singapore to order four F-35s, with options for eight

03/02/2019

Singapore plans to place a firm order for four Lockheed Martin F-35s, with options for an additional eight aircraft. “We have announced our plans to replace our F-16s, which will face obsolescence post 2030, with the F-35s,” said defence minister Ng Eng Hen in a parliamentary speech.

US Navy declares IOC for Lockheed Martin F-35C

03/01/2019

The US Navy declared the Lockheed Martin F-35C Lightning II, the aircraft carrier-capable variant of the stealth fighter, to have achieved Initial Operational Capability (IOC) on 28 February. The declaration comes shortly after the USN’s first F-35C squadron, Strike Fighter Squadron 147, completed aircraft carrier qualifications aboard USS Carl Vinson and received a Safe-For-Flight Operations Certification, the service said.

After delays Sikorsky promises HH-60W flight before July 2019

02/28/2019

Two fully assembled Sikorsky HH-60W Combat Rescue Helicopters are preparing for maiden flights planned to take place before mid-2019 at the company’s West Palm Beach, Florida testing site. The aircraft were transported late in 2018 to West Palm Beach after rolling off the final assembly line at Sikorsky’s factory in Stratford, Connecticut, said Sikorsky.

Northrop Grumman pitches AESA radar for Boeing B-52 bomber

02/28/2019

Northrop Grumman’s AN/APG-83 active electronically scanned array radar is being considered by Boeing for the Cold War-era B-52 bomber. The company said it is pitching the modern radar to Boeing as part of the B-52 Bomber Modernisation Radar System initiative, which would include engineering, manufacturing, development and delivery of an initial seven radar units.

AVALON: Kawasaki C-2 makes Down Under debut

02/28/2019

The Kawasaki C-2 transport aircraft made its first public appearance in Australia after a flight from Japan via the Philippines. The twin-engined aircraft appeared in the static park near the Airbus Defence & Space A400m, to which it is the most similar in size.

Pakistan-India: Pakistan 'shoots down two Indian jets' over Kashmir

02/27/2019

Pakistan says it has shot down two Indian Air Force jets in a major escalation of the Kashmir conflict. A spokesman said one plane had fallen in Pakistani territory and two pilots had been captured. Pakistan also denied reports one of its jets was shot down. India has confirmed the loss of an MiG21 fighter and said a pilot was missing. It said it was investigating reports of his capture.

AVALON: Boeing drone heralds Australian aerospace renaissance

02/27/2019

Australian defence minister Christopher Pyne sees the developmental Boeing Airpower Teaming drone as heralding a renaissance in Australian aerospace defence production. “This is the first military aircraft Australia has invested in since the Boomerang in 1942 to 1945,” said Pyne, referring to a piston-engined fighter developed by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation.

PICTURES: Serbia receives MiG-29 fighters from Belarus

02/27/2019

Serbia formally accepted four RAC MiG-29 fighters donated by Belarus during a ceremony at the latter's 558th Aircraft Repair Plant in Baranavichy on 25 February. Maintenance and overhaul work to be funded by Serbia, along with the replacement of some avionics and the installation of new navigation and communication equipment, will take up to 18 months to complete, with Belgrade expecting its first modified aircraft to be available before year-end.

Rolls-Royce touts modernised Indiana factory for B-52 engine bid

02/26/2019

Rolls-Royce plans to build its F130 turbine at a modernised factory in Indiana if selected by the US Air Force to replace the engines on the service’s fleet of Boeing B-52 bombers. The USAF programme calls for 650 new engines to help extend the longevity and performance of its aging B-52s. Rolls-Royce says its Indianapolis, Indiana facility is nearing completion of a $600 million modernisation initiative, which would optimise production of an engine in the size class of the F130.

Pilot error caused Light Attack Experiment crash: Investigators

02/26/2019

US Air Force investigators have found that the fatal Sierra Nevada/Embraer A-29 Super Tucano crash in June 2018 during the service’s Light Attack Experiment was caused by pilot error. After the crash the USAF suspended further experimental flights and eventually finished its testing programme prematurely. The pilot flying the A-29 died as a result of the crash, while the aircraft’s weapons systems officer was able to eject and parachute to safety, sustaining only minor injuries.

ANALYSIS: How Aero Vodochody recharged the L-39

02/26/2019

Most of the pilots who honed their combat skills in the Aero Vodochody L-39 Albatros single-engined jet trainer were defending the Soviet empire. The 21st century-born aviators who fly its successor – the L-39NG – will only know of the Cold War from history books.

Lockheed Martin’s proposal is attractive sales pitch

02/25/2019

Lockheed Martin’s offer to make F-21s — F-16s in new avatar — in India has opened up prospects for the Indian fifth generation fighter development programme but a possible tie-up with the US aircraft-maker will hinge on its commitment to honour license issues and the extent of technology transfer.

The Crazy Story of How the Stealth F-35 Fighter Was Born

02/25/2019

Development and procurement of roughly 2,400 F-35s through 2037 is now estimated cost over $400 billion, roughly eight times the annual defense spending of Russia. In 2019, the first fully-combat capable of F-35 Lightning stealth fighters with Block IIIF software will finally enter service—twenty-seven years after it was first conceived, and after over 350 aircraft have already been delivered.

India’s Tejas Light Combat Aircraft Is Combat Ready

02/25/2019

More than three-and-half decades after the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mark-I was conceived, the fighter jet was accorded final operational clearance (FOC) by India’s aviation certifying authority this week. FOC certification means that the Tejas fighter jet is now ready to be deployed in combat operations by the Indian Air Force (IAF).

Brazil’s navy ordered three Airbus H135 light twin-engine helicopters.

02/24/2019

Brazil’s navy ordered three Airbus H135 light twin-engine helicopters. The helicopters will be operated by the 1st General Purpose Helicopter Squadron and will be used for missions such as special operations, transport of troops and freight, naval inspection, search and rescue and medical evacuation, says Airbus Helicopters. The aircraft are replacements for the Brazilian navy’s twin-engine, light utility Eurocopter AS355 Écureuil helicopter.

OPINION: Lockheed's F-21 reveal: marketing or masterstroke?

02/24/2019

What’s in a name – particularly when your product seemingly already has more than enough of them to choose from? Lockheed Martin surprised everyone at the Aero India show near Bengaluru by launching its F-21 fighter in pursuit of a 110-unit opportunity with the nation’s air force.

Attrition: Rebuilding the Ukrainian Military

02/19/2019

In early 2014 Russia invaded Ukraine. This began with special operations troops, the so-called “little green men” appearing in Crimea and declaring that they were separatists who wanted to free Crimea from Ukrainian rule.

Japan's New F-3 Fighter: Why Not Just Buy More F-35s?

02/19/2019

In February 2019, Japan turned heads with its decision to proceed with the development of an indigenous stealth fighter jet. This came in the wake of the decision to purchase more than one hundred American F-35 jets, and the supposed cancellation of the Japanese X-2 stealth fighter prototype in 2018.

F-35 Block 4 jet fighter could become killer for the Navy with Small Diameter Bomb II, Aim 9X Block II

02/19/2019

After years of expensive development, the first combat-capable Block IIIF F-35 stealth fighter will enter service in this year, yet the Pentagon already is looking ahead to adding capabilities to a follow-on model called the F-35 Block 4 -- an upgrade so ambitious, its already budgeted to cost $16 billion. The National Interest reports. Continue reading original article

Canada receives two F/A-18 Hornet fighter aircraft from Australia

02/19/2019

The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) has received the first two F/A-18 AB Hornet fighter aircraft at Canadian Forces Base Cold Lake in Alberta from Australia. Last year, the Australian Government agreed to sell up to 25 aircraft to Canada along with spares and support equipment.

IAF in talks with Russia for urgent MiG 29 purchase

02/17/2019

Indian Air Force, which is facing an acute shortage of combat aircraft, is in advance talks with Russia for an urgent procurement of MiG 29 fighters that can be delivered at a relatively short notice. The plan to acquire 21 additional aircraft to make a new squadron of MiG 29 jets that were first purchased in the 1980s has been discussed in detail last month and is expected to cost the Indian exchequer less than Rs 6,000 crore, government sources said.

South Korea begins building prototype of next-generation fighter aircraft

02/17/2019

Korea Aerospace Industries, or KAI, is starting production on the first prototype of a next-generation fighter jet. On 14 February, South Korea’s biggest aerospace company held a ceremony in order to celebrate the start producing of the first bulkhead, which is the main part of the forward fuselage of the next-generation Korean Fighter Xperiment (KFX) aircraft.

US Army helicopters to get 5,000 encrypted communication systems

02/17/2019

The US Army awarded Raytheon a contract worth $406 million to provide ARC-231A communication systems for a variety of helicopters. As part of the contract, Raytheon will deliver 5,000 systems over the next five years, as well as support services and software upgrades to the US Army, the company says.