Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Dassault delivers first Rafale to India

10/09/2019

New Delhi has taken delivery of its first four Dassault Rafales, completing a decades-long odyssey to obtain a new fighter for the Indian air force. The jets were handed over to Indian defence minister Raksha Mantri at a ceremony held at Dassault's Merignac production line near Bordeaux in southwest France.

Bulgarian PM: F-16 acquisition means long-term partnership to benefit Air Force

10/08/2019

The acquisition of the F-16V Block 70 fighter jets is not just a purchase, but a long-term partnership that enables the Bulgarian Air Force to successfully meet the new challenges in the sector, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boiko Borissov said at a meeting with representatives of Lockheed Martin, a government statement said.

Turkey launches airstrike after US confirms withdrawal

10/08/2019

Fears a US withdrawal from Syria will leave Kurdish fighters exposed to Turkish invasion have materialised amid reports of an airstrike by Ankara. Turkish combat aircraft carried out an airstrike against a Kurdish and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) military base in Syria's Hasakah province, local media reports. It came after US President Donald Trump defended a decision to withdraw American troops from northern Syria.

A botched program to train Saudi pilots for war in Yemen cost a U.S. Army aviator his life

10/08/2019

He died Sept. 6, 2018, while training a Saudi student pilot at the Khashm Al An Airfield in Riyadh. When the accident occurred, Reidy only had 75 hours of flight time on the AH-6i. He needed a minimum of 250 hours in that aircraft, according to Saudi Arabia’s own regulations, and so was granted a waiver, according to an investigation into the mishap obtained by Army Times.

Thailand wants software work for new fighter buy

10/08/2019

Bangkok wants to be involved in the development of software when it eventually looks to obtain a new fighter. In remarks made to the Bangkok Post, Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) commander Maanat Wongwat said that a Concept of Project Requirements (COPR) will be developed for aircraft acquisitions.

Why the U.S. Military Needs to Worry about China's 'Mini' Aircraft Carriers

10/07/2019

Is China’s newest aircraft carrier half-full or half-empty? That depends on how you look at the vessel’s aircraft capacity. The ship, prosaically named the Type 001A for now, is China’s second carrier and the first built in China. The first carrier, the Liaoning, is a refurbished ex-Soviet vessel. The Liaoning could carry twenty-four J-15 fighters. The Type 001A can carry thirty-six J-15s plus various support aircraft and helicopters, according to Chinese media.

Rafale with Meteor and Scalp missiles will give India unrivalled combat capability: MBDA

10/07/2019

Ahead of handing over of the first Rafale jet to India, European missile maker MBDA has said that the aircraft with most advanced weapons package comprising Meteor and Scalp missiles will provide the country unrivalled deep strike capability and air dominance in the region. MBDA's Meteor beyond visual range air-to-air missile and Scalp cruise missile will be the mainstay of the weapons package of the 36 Rafale jets being procured by India at a cost of Rs 59,000 crore.

RTAF denies jet purchase bid

10/07/2019

The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has downplayed reports it is planning to acquire a new fleet of high-tech, expensive fighter jets - including the US-made F-35 multi-role combat aircraft. Air force commander ACM Maanat Wongwat said the air force has a policy of not purchasing "ready-made" aircraft, and the F-35 manufacturer has yet to sell its jet to a buyer who wants to participate in the development of the fighter jets' software programmes.

Boeing’s F-18 jet may have a leg up in Germany over Eurofighter

10/05/2019

The race between Boeing’s F-18 jet and the Airbus Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft to replace Germany’s Tornado fighter-bombers has tilted toward the American plane, according to a German media report.

Erratic flight path: Canada’s fighter procurement plan

10/05/2019

The path towards procuring a replacement fighter for the CF-188 Hornet has been one with many twists and turns due to political gamesmanship and strategic business marketing, causing much public misunderstanding.

PICTURES: US Navy F/A-18C Hornet makes final flight

10/05/2019

The US Navy’s (USN) last F/A-18C Hornet made its final active-duty flight at Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach, Virginia on 2 October. The fighter aircraft, number 300, had been flying for decades, completing its first USN acceptance check flight 14 October, 1988, says the service. The service noted that Lieutenant Andrew Jalali, who piloted the Hornet for its final 1.5h flight, was also born in 1988.

Anduril unveils drone-smashing Interceptor UAV

10/05/2019

Startup Anduril Industries unveiled its drone-smashing Interceptor unmanned air vehicle (UAV) on 3 October. The small UAV is designed to take out drones, such as consumer quadcopters, by colliding into them, the Irvine, California-based company says in a media release.

USAF sets up advanced fighter technology office

10/05/2019

The US Air Force (USAF) has created a new office to help with the development of advanced fighter technologies. “The new office was created to transform the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program into the Air Force’s Digital Century Series initiative, using digital engineering, modular open systems architecture and Agile software development to design advanced airplanes faster and enter production with a significantly lower learning curve,” says the USAF.

Russia's Next Military Move: Selling Radar That Can Detect Hypersonic Weapons?

10/04/2019

Proving yet again that one nation’s misfortune is another’s business opportunity, Russia says it will sell radars in the Middle East that are designed to detect cruise missiles and hypersonic weapons. The announcement follows a devastating attack – reportedly by drones and cruise missiles – on Saudi oil facilities last month. The U.S. and Saudi Arabia accuse Iran of being behind the attack, which ostensibly was conducted by Houthi rebels in Yemen.

A-10 Warthog: Pilots Who Fly Them Love Them (And They Told Us Why)

10/04/2019

It is built to withstand more damage than any other frame that I know of. Its known for its ruggedness, A-10 pilot Lt. Col. Ryan Haden, 23rd Fighter Group Deputy, Moody AFB, told Scout Warrior in an interview last year. The pilot of the A-10 is surrounded by multiple plates of titanium armor, designed to enable the aircraft to withstand small-arms fire and keep flying its attack missions.

Misawa maintenance commander fired for ‘loss of confidence’

10/04/2019

The 35th Fighter Wing at Misawa Air Base in northeastern Japan relieved the commander of its maintenance squadron on Monday, according to a media report. Lt. Col. Jason Moehle, who led the 35th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, maintainers of the F-16 Wild Weasel aircraft, was relieved by 35th Maintenance Group commander Col. Rognald Christensen, who cited a loss of confidence in Moehle’s ability to command, the Air Force Times reported Wednesday.

Will Egypt and Algeria's Su-35s anger Trump

10/04/2019

In September 2018, the Trump administration imposed sanctions on China following its purchase of the Su-35SK under the terms of the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). This Act is intended to counter Russian influence in Europe and Eurasia, and to punish Russia for its involvement in the wars in Ukraine and Syria and for its alleged interference in the 2016 US election, by restricting its ability to export weapons.

UK RAF receives final advanced Typhoon fighter aircraft

10/04/2019

The British Royal Air Force (RAF) has received the final advanced Typhoon combat aircraft from BAE Systems during a ceremony at the company’s final assembly facility at Warton, Lancashire. The delivery marks a key programme milestone as BAE Systems completes the handover of 160 Typhoon aircraft ordered by the RAF.

USAF awards Collins Next Generation Ejection Seat contract

10/04/2019

The US Air Force (USAF) plans to award a sole source contract to Collins Aerospace to deliver 3,018 examples of its ACES 5 ejection seats for installation in the service’s fleet of Boeing F-15, Lockheed Martin F-16, Lockheed Martin F-22, Boeing A-10 and Boeing B-1Bs.

Belarus to get first four Russian Su-30SM aircraft in November

10/03/2019

The first four Russian Su-30SM aircraft are supposed to be delivered to Belarus in November, BelTA learned from Belarusian Defense Minister Andrei Ravkov on 2 October. The official said: “The contract, which was signed in 2017, has come into force. Its financing has begun. The first four Su-30SM aircraft are supposed to be delivered in November 2019.”

Huge win for Make in India! Lockheed Martin to build F16 fighter jets’ wings in the country

10/03/2019

One of the most significant Make in India success stories for the Modi government has been the US-based aerospace company Lockheed Martin’s decision to build F16 wings for their global supply to the world from India. Renowned aerospace scientist Dr Vivek Lall had made the announcement along with Lockheed’s strategic partner Tata in September 2018.

NDIA Perspective: Recapitalizing America’s Air Force

10/03/2019

The U.S. Air Force’s extended post-Cold War “procurement holiday” has many of these characteristics. During the late 1970s through the 1980s, the service averaged buying more than 200 combat aircraft per year. Post-Cold War, for more than 25 years, it averaged less than 20 leading to the smallest, oldest Air Force in history. When the Air Force deployed for Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, it had 134 fighter squadrons across all components.

ANALYSIS: Bell reveals 360 Invictus proposal for US Army contest

10/03/2019

Facing competitors who are pushing the envelope in terms of complexity and novelty, Bell has revealed that it is taking a more conventional route to its proposal for the US Army’s Future Armed Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) competition: a winged helicopter called the 360 Invictus.

Tokyo to receive nine additional E-2Ds

10/03/2019

Tokyo will receive the full allotment of nine Northrop Grumman E-2D Hawkeye airborne early warning & control (AEW&C) aircraft originally announced last year. A 26 September statement from the US Department of Defense navy awarded $1.4 billion to Northrop for the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) deal.

China Finally Unveils DF-41 Hypersonic Ballistic Missile: Nuclear Strikes From Beijing to Washington in 30 Minutes

10/02/2019

At the celebrations of the 70th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) unveiled a number of new pieces of high end hardware during a large scale parade in Tiananmen Square. Alongside new DF-17 hypersonic tactical missiles, WZ-8 hypersonic surveillance drones and Gongji-11 unmanned stealth bombers the PLA for the first time displayed its DF-41 hypersonic intercontinental range ballistic missiles.