Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Helicopter collision kills 13 French troops in Mali

11/27/2019

President Emmanuel Macron expressed "deep sadness" over the biggest single loss of life for the French military since the 1980s. An investigation has begun into how the two helicopters hit each other. Thousands of French troops have been deployed in Mali since 2013 after militants overran parts of the north.

Mongolia Takes MiG-29s as Poland Resumes Operations

11/27/2019

Mongolia has accepted a pair of MiG-29UB two-seat fighters donated by Russia under the orders of President Putin. The acceptance ceremony took place on November 26—the nation’s Independence Day—at the military base within the fence of the Chinggis Khaan International Airport that serves the capital city, Ulaan-Baatar.

Spain’s Indra claims lead in EU electronic-warfare push for future aircraft

11/27/2019

Spanish military-electronics specialist Indra has claimed the lead in a program meant to equip future European military aircraft with new electronic-warfare capabilities, according to a company announcement. The project, named Airborne Electronic Attack, falls under the European Union’s latest batch of so-called PESCO initiatives, which are meant to foster collaboration among member nations in key military areas.

NATO upgrades surveillance with five Global Hawks, $1bn for AWACs

11/27/2019

NATO plans to award Boeing a $1 billion contract to upgrade the alliance’s fleet of E-3A airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft at a ceremony at Melsbroek Air Base in Brussels on 27 November. The alliance announced the upcoming ceremony on 25 November.

Kabul receives five additional MD530Fs

11/27/2019

The Afghan Air Force has taken delivery of the final five MD Helicopters MD530F rotorcraft. The five rotorcraft are the last examples of a 30-example order the company received in September 2017. They are part of the $1.4 billion IDIQ (indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity) package the company signed with the US government in September 2017 that covers up to 150 MD530 rotorcraft for partner nations.

PICTURE: MBDA contracted to integrate Meteor on KF-X

11/27/2019

Korea Aerospace Industries has awarded MBDA a contract to integrate the Meteor air-to-air missile on the developmental KF-X fighter. The contract includes integration support of the beyond visual range (BVR) weapon, test equipment, knowledge transfer, and a trial campaign, says MBDA. It gave no amount for the contract, and did not disclose the time period the contract covers.

An anti-access/area-denial capability for Australia?

11/25/2019

On a recent episode of ASPI’s Policy, Guns and Money podcast, analysts Marcus Hellyer and Andrew Davies debated the question of whether Australia needs an additional long-range strike capability. The issue had just been raised by two former Royal Australian Air Force chiefs, Leo Davies and Geoff Brown.

388FW’s F-35s Deploy Again To The Middle East Two Weeks After The End Of Their First Combat Tour in The UAE

11/25/2019

It’s been a busy year for Hill Air Force Base’s F-35s so let’s do a quick recap of what the 388th FW’s Lightning II have been up to during 2019. The 388th Fighter Wing at Hill AFB, the US Air Force’s first combat coded F-35 unit, deployed again its F-35As just two weeks after the end of the first combat deployment. The 34th Fighter Squadron “Rude Rams” moved last week to Al Dhafra Air Base, in the United Arab Emirates, to support the Central Command (CENTCOM) mission in the Middle East.

Russian Combat Aircraft Continue Patrol Mission In Northern Syria - Reconciliation Center

11/25/2019

25th November, 2019) The Russian combat aircraft on Sunday conducted air patrolling along several routes as part of the Russia-Turkey deal over the buffer zone in northern Syria, the commander of the Russian center for Syrian reconciliation said.

Britain‘s new £120m F-35B Lightning stealth jet is declared ready for combat

11/24/2019

‘Don’t mess with us!‘ Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson warns Putin as Britain‘s new state-of-the-art £1billion stealth fighter squadron roars into front-line service. Gavin Williamson has warned Britain‘s ‘enemies‘ including Vladimir Putin not to ‘mess with’ Britain now that the RAF‘s new fleet of supersonic stealth fighter jets are combat ready.

The J-10 Fighter is China’s F-16 (And Now Its For Sale)

11/24/2019

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.

Draken’s First Regenerated Mirage F1B Makes Maiden Flight in Florida

11/23/2019

The first Mirage F1 for Draken International took to the skies from Lakeland Linder International Airport, Lakeland, Florida. But it looks like it’s not a former Spanish Air Force jet. As we have already reported, Draken International recently unveiled the first of its 22 Mirage F1 jets that the company will employ for CAS (Contract Air Services) adversary role.

NAVAIR picks payload contest winners for US Marine Corps' MUX

11/23/2019

Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) has awarded the first four payload prizes for the Marine Air Ground Task Force Unmanned Aircraft System Expeditionary (MUX) programme. The US Marine Corps’ MUX programme ultimately aims to develop a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft which would be ship-based and serve as a platform for airborne early warning,

MiG Corporation Negotiated With Potential Buyers of Export Version of MiG-35 at Dubai Airshow-2019

11/22/2019

As a part of the joint exposition of PJSC UAC, MiG Corporation held a series of negotiations with potential buyers of the export version of the MiG-35 multirole fighter, and discussed maintenance and modernization of the earlier supplied aircraft.

France Hands Over Three Rafale Fighter Jets to India

11/22/2019

French aircraft maker Dassault Aviation has handed over a total of three Rafale multirole fighter aircraft to the Indian Air Force (IAF) thus far, the Indian government said in a November 20 statement. The three aircraft are reportedly being used to train IAF pilots and technicians in France.

Morocco approved for 36 AH-64Es with manned-unmanned teaming

11/22/2019

The US State Department approved a potential Foreign Military Sale to Morocco worth an estimated $4.25 billion for 36 Boeing AH-64E Apache attack helicopters and related equipment, including manned-unmanned teaming kits. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency says it notified the US Congress of the possible sale on 19 November.

US pegs New Zealand C-130J deal at $1.4 billion

11/22/2019

The US Defence Department has pegged the price of five Lockheed Martin C-130J tactical transports for New Zealand at $1.4 billion. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) statement follows Wellington’s announcement in June that it favoured the USA-built type to replace its five C-130Hs, and that it would request pricing information from Washington.

Israel-Iran: Risk of an all-out conflict grows after Syria strikes

11/21/2019

The Israeli Air Force's strikes against targets in Syria mark the latest stage in a developing struggle between Israel and Iran, one that inevitably risks a much broader conflict. Iran is eager to bolster its military footprint in Syria. Israel is just as eager to stop it.

Why The U.S. Needs To Invest More In Bombers

11/21/2019

U.S. Air Force bombers represent a crucial capability needed to support the 2018 National Defense Strategy, with the range, payload, endurance, and resiliency to hold targets at risk anywhere and at any time. These long-range combat aircraft routinely deploy to both Europe and the Indo-Pacific to send a strong deterrent message to potential adversaries and reassure America’s allies.

Second pair of Su-30SM combat aircraft arrives in Belarus

11/21/2019

Today, the fighters landed at the airfield of Baranovichi air base. In 2019, all the obligations to supply aircraft under the contract under the agreement between Russia and Belarus on the development of military and technical cooperation were fulfilled. Today, Su-30SM is considered one of the best fighters in the world. It has excellent characteristics. As it was previously reported, 12 such planes will be delivered to our country.

?PICTURES: China’s newest aircraft carrier docks at Hainan

11/21/2019

China’s second aircraft carrier has docked at Yulin Naval base at the southern tip of Hainan Island, amid media speculation that it will soon be commissioned into Peoples’ Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) service.

US Army looks for autonomous medevac vehicles, including UAVs

11/21/2019

The US Army is drawing up its roadmap for the future of medical care on the battlefield and is looking to autonomous vehicles, including unmanned air vehicles (UAVs), to support its medevac mission.

UAVs play outsized role in Iranian airpower: DIA

11/21/2019

A US Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) report has highlighted the importance of UAVs in Iran’s defence strategy, and the possibility of new fighter buys when United Nations sanctions end in 2020. “UAVs are Iran’s most rapidly advancing air capability,” says the report. “Iran uses these versatile platforms for a variety of missions, including ISR (intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance) and air-to-ground strikes.”

DUBAI: UAE tops up GlobalEye, MRTT orders

11/20/2019

Saab is celebrating after the United Arab Emirates, its launch customer for the GlobalEye airborne surveillance system, announced its intention to order two additional units of the Bombardier Global 6000-based platform.

India nearing C295 contract go-ahead, Airbus believes

11/20/2019

India’s long-running process to replace its Hindustan Aeronautics-built HS 748 – or “Avro” – fleet of utility transports could be nearing an end, with Airbus Defence & Space confident of concluding an order for its C295. “We hope to progress soon with India,” says Ioannis Papachristofilou, the company’s head of marketing, who notes that Airbus also has “a lot of open campaigns” for the twin-turboprop type.