Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Bell to roll back V-280 funding until US Army competition

01/30/2019

Bell plans to make no more significant investments in its V-280 Valor tiltrotor until the US Army makes a commitment to Future Vertical Lift Capability Set 1 or Capability Set 3 programmes. After the V-280 reached its 280kt (519km/h) speed goal on 23 January, Bell believes that it sufficiently demonstrated the tiltrotor technology.

US Air Force F-16s painted like Russia's Su-57 could give the US a major combat advantage

01/29/2019

The US Air Force's 64th Aggressor Squadron, which uses 20 F-16 fighter jets to train the rest of the force on realistic battle scenarios against enemy fighters, will take the paint scheme of Russia's newest fighter jet, the Su-57. And this should give the US a considerable advantage in aerial combat against the Russian jet that's meant to take on US F-22 and F-35 fighters, Brig. Gen. Robert G. Novotny, who commands 38 squadrons including the 64th, told The Drive.

Canada to extend life of Bell CH-146 Griffon helicopters to 2031

01/29/2019

The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) said that Bell Helicopter Textron Canada will be undertaking the design and development work necessary to upgrade the helicopter’s avionics systems, engines, cockpit displays and integrated sensor systems. Pratt & Whitney Canada says it has been selected to replace the engines on the fleet with its PT6T 9 TwinPac, which is equipped with an engine electronic control system.

PICTURES: RAF Tornados poised for operational end

01/29/2019

The UK Royal Air Force is within days of completing its last combat deployment involving the Panavia Tornado GR4, as preparations gather pace for the ground-attack stalwart's formal retirement by 31 March.

NATO chief: Top combat aircraft can defeat Russian air defenses

01/29/2019

Joining an editorial board meeting with the Washington Examiner on Sunday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg explained that the most advanced allied fighter-bomber aircraft can degrade Russia's ability to use anti-access/area denial systems, or A2/AD, to threaten NATO territory.

Israel Kamikaze Drones are Destroying Syria’s Air Defenses

01/28/2019

On January 21, Iranian, Syrian and Israeli forces unleashed a hail of missiles upon each other in what is becoming yet another flare-up of violence along the Syria-Israel border. Afterwards, the Israeli Defense Force released a video depicting unidentified munitions eliminating two or three short-range air defense systems—apparently including Russia’s latest short-range system, the Pantsir-S2.

Lockheed Martin receives $33,7M for Norwegian C-130J support

01/28/2019

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Corp. was awarded a $33,7 million contract for C-130J long-term sustainment support for the Royal Norwegian Air Force, according to the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).

Russian bombers buzz North American coastline

01/28/2019

A pair of Russian supersonic, nuclear-capable bombers buzzed North America Saturday, forcing American and Canadian fighter jets to scramble and intercept them, the U.S. military said. The two Russian Tu-160 Blackjack bombers “remained in international airspace,” but were escorted by two U.S. Air Force F-22 fighter jets and two Canadian CF-18 jets, according to a statement from the North American Aerospace Defense Command, better known as NORAD.

F-35A fighter jets to take a lead role in Red Flag 19-1

01/28/2019

The U.S. Air Force has announced that high-tech F-35A fighter jets, from the 388th and 419th Fighter Wings, will be to take a lead role in Red Flag 19-1 Operations at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. According to a 388th Fighter Wing Public Affairs statement, from Jan. 26 – Feb. 15, approximately 200 Airmen from Hill AFB, including reservists from the 419th Fighter Wing, will participate in what is known as the Air Force’s premier combat training exercise.

U.S. Air Force receives first KC-46A Pegasus aircraft

01/28/2019

On 25 January, team McConnell’s Total Force crews delivered the first two KC-46A Pegasus aircraft to the Home of Air Refueling – in the Air Capital of the World. “This day will go down in history as a win for Team McConnell and the Air Force as a whole,” said Col. Josh Olson, 22nd ARW commander. “With this aircraft, McConnell will touch the entire planet.”

China Offering J-10 Fighters To Laos, Bangladesh As Rival To Russian Yak-130 Aircraft

01/27/2019

China has started hard-selling its J-10 fighter jet to Laos and Bangladesh to wean them off Russian aircraft such as the Yak-130 trainer/light fighter which both countries are considering. The country has been trying to get Pakistan interested in the J-10 but Islamabad has shown little interest despite several photo-ops of Pakistani military leaders in the cockpit of the J-10 fighter jet.

Beijing tells Washington to abide by ‘one China’ principle after US Navy’s Taiwan passage

01/27/2019

The Chinese foreign ministry on Friday urged Washington to abide by its “one China” principle after two US warships passed through the Taiwan Strait the previous day. It was the first such operation this year and analysts said that while the coming year may see increasing confrontation over the self-ruled island, the two sides would both be very cautious about taking things too far.

Boeing secures $2.5bn order for 19 P-8 maritime patrol aircraft

01/27/2019

Boeing received a $2.5 billion foreign military sales order for 19 P-8 maritime patrol aircraft for the US Navy, Royal Air Force and Norway. The USN is ordering 10 aircraft, the UK is ordering four aircraft and the government of Norway is ordering five aircraft. Thus far, Boeing says it has delivered 78 P-8A Positions to the USN, eight to the Royal Australian Air Force, and eight P-8Is to India. The RAF is scheduled to receive its first aircraft by the end of 2019, says Boeing.

ANALYSIS: What lies ahead for aerospace sector over next decade?

01/27/2019

The decade since Flight International celebrated its centenary in 2009 seems to have flown by – if you pardon the pun – and during this period there have been some key developments across the aerospace industry, as outlined elsewhere. But that poses the question: what could the next 10 years hold in store? Here, we present some potential advances across the industry that could play out during Flight’s 12th decade.

General Atomics signs up UK suppliers for RAF Protector UAV

01/27/2019

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems has signed contracts with MBDA and Raytheon Systems for the armament of the UK Royal Air Force's future Protector remotely piloted air system, which is based on the manufacturer's MQ-9B SkyGuardian.

Canada to keep paying for F-35 development as fighter-jet competition ramps up

01/26/2019

Canada is poised to contribute tens of millions of dollars toward further development of the F-35 stealth fighter even as the federal government wrestles with whether to buy the plane or not. In an interview with The Canadian Press, the Department of National Defence’s head of military procurement says there are no plans for Canada to quit as one of nine partner countries in the F-35 stealth fighter program until after the Trudeau government completes the competition.

Stealth Fighters, Carrier-Killer Missiles and Deadly ICBMs: How China's Military Is Evolving

01/26/2019

TAIPEI - The U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency’s 125-page report, “China Military Power – Modernizing a Force to Fight and Win,” details China’s military modernization efforts with an emphasis that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is not a “national army” but a military arm of the Chinese Communist Party that exists to guarantee the CCP’s survival.

Japan Intercepts Russian Spy Plane

01/26/2019

Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) fighters intercepted a Russian Navy Ilyushin Il-38 “Dolphin” maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft over the Sea of Japan on January 17, Japan’s Ministry of Defense (MoD) said in a recent statement. The intercept took place in international water and Japanese airspace was reportedly not violated, according to the MoD.

Bell V-280 hits 280kt speed goal

01/26/2019

Bell has hit its target speed of 280kt (518km/h) with the V-280 tiltrotor in a little over a year since the technology demonstrator performed its first flight. The airframer says it will continue to expand the aircraft's flight envelope, as it eyes the US Army's Future Vertical Lift (FVL) programme.

KC-46A debuts as Boeing reveals rapid delivery plan

01/26/2019

Deliveries of the Boeing KC-46A to the US Air Force will rise sharply in the early part of 2019 following the delivery of the first two examples on 25 January, but will eventually level off at three aircraft monthly for the remainder of this year.

The F-16 Fighters Offered To Bulgaria Will Be Manufactured In The US, Not In India

01/25/2019

The U.S. aerospace company Lockheed Martin denied the claims circulating in some media recently that the F-16 Block 70 fighters for Bulgaria will be manufactured in India, learned BulgarianMilitary.com.

Qatar to receive first Rafale fighters early for February

01/25/2019

The Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF) is set to receive first recently purchased Dassault Rafale multirole fighters. The new Rafale fighters have already painted in a full two-tone grey camouflage color scheme, and are expected to be delivered on 7 February to Qatar. According to deputy commander of the QEAF, the first Qatari squadron will be deployed at Doha Air Base. Also noted that all oredered fighter aircraft will arrive in the emirate between 2019 and 2022.

China Flies Aircraft Close to Taiwan After Taiwan Launches Live-Fire Drills

01/25/2019

Taiwan’s defense ministry says the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) flew “various military aircraft” close to the island on Tuesday, one week after Taiwan held its first large-scale military drills of 2019 to deter a potential Chinese invasion.

USAF looks at autonomous drone swarms for search and rescue

01/25/2019

US Air Force researchers are looking at using swarms of autonomous unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) for search and rescue missions. The US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and the UK's Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL), in collaboration with the Wright Brothers Institute and University of Dayton Research Institute, said on 22 January that they plan to run a competition to explore the concept.

Is J-20 fighter really better than US’ F-35? At least Chinese media claims so

01/24/2019

Endowed with state-of-the-art aviation, stealth capabilities and an advanced weapon system, China's fifth generation fighter jet J-20 is considered as one of the world's most advanced fighter jets. China's ace fighter, developed by the Chengdu Aerospace corporation, is somewhat similar to the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor and the Sukhoi T-50 fighters. But, the Chinese media has claimed that J-20 is superior to the United States' F-35 stealth fighter.