Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Pentagon to investigate Air Force over KC-46A refueling arm

09/24/2019

The Pentagon will investigate the Air Force's handling of the development of a remotely operated boom on its newest refueling tanker, which has been plagued by a host of problems. The Defense Department’s Inspector General is expected to begin evaluating “whether the Air Force adhered to DOD and Air Force systems engineering processes” during the design and development of the refueling boom on the new Boeing KC-46A Pegasus, the IG’s office said in a statement last week.

Here's Who Has Been Flying The F-117 Stealth Jets And Why According To The Air Force

09/24/2019

After months of effort, The War Zone has been making steady headway in obtaining new details about the status of the U.S. Air Force's remaining F-117 Nighthawk stealth combat jets and their future fates, including that one is headed for the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. Still, it has long proven difficult to get any details about who is still flying at least some of these jets and why, which has long been one of the hottest topics of interest regarding these aircraft.

Combat Aircraft from the German, Italian and Israeli Air Force Joined RAF and USAF Assets For Ex. Cobra Warrior 2019

09/24/2019

Between Sept. 1 and Sept. 20 the large international exercise Cobra Warrior 2019 took place in UK airspace. Exercise Cobra Warrior is an annual exercise and is the RAFs premier tactical training event, designed to conclude the training of the Qualified Weapons Instructor, Qualified Multi-engine Tactics Instructor, QWI Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance and Qualified Space Instructor Course students.

PICTURES: France receives its first KC-130Js tanker

09/24/2019

The French air force received its first of two Lockheed Martin KC-130J Super Hercules aerial refuelling tankers at Orléans – Bricy air base on 19 September. A second KC-130J is planned for delivery in 2020, says Lockheed Martin.

Report: Unidentified Aircraft Strikes Base of Iran-backed Militia in Iraq

09/23/2019

An unidentified aircraft struck on Sunday a military base near an airfield west of Iraq's Anbar province, Lebanese television network Al-Mayadeen quoted Iraqi sources as saying. The sources added that the military base serves an Iranian-backed militia. No casualties were reported in the alleged strike. Hours later, a second attack on a base in the Fallujah area, used by Iranian-backed Popular Mobilization Forces fighters, was reported by Al Hadath, citing Iraqi security sources.

U.S. Marines conduct trans-Pacific flight in MV-22 tilt-rotor aircraft

09/23/2019

U.S. Marines with Marine Rotational Force – Darwin completed a trans-Pacific flight in MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft for the fourth time, transiting from Darwin, Australia to their home station on Marine Corps Base Hawaii on September 19, according to a recent service news release.

Commentary: Fighter jet sales to Taiwan and the complex US-China balance of power

09/22/2019

The recent announcement by the Trump administration approving the sale of new fighter jets to Taiwan has predictably drawn ire from China and stirred fresh debate about American arms sales to the East Asian island.

Why China Thinks Its Stealth Fighter is Better Than the F-35

09/22/2019

It’s not surprising that China claims that its J-20 stealth fighter is superior to the U.S. F-22 and F-35. All nations like to claim their weapons are better than those of their adversaries (and if they don’t, it’s because they want more money for the defense budget). But a Chinese defense magazine has gone a step further by describing how Chinese experts view the J-20 as superior to American jets in many – but not all – categories.

Boeing releases video of newest F-15EX fighter jet

09/21/2019

The U.S. aerospace giant Boeing released video of its newest F-15EX Advanced Eagle fighter jets. Boeing posted a short promo video of a new fighter jet on social media pointing that new combat aircraft will be equipped with World’s fastest computer, Fly-by-wire controls, and leading-edge electronic radar.

IAF receives its first ‘acceptance’ Rafale combat aircraft from Dassault Aviation in France

09/21/2019

IAF received its first ‘acceptance’ Rafale combat aircraft from Dassault Aviation in France, yesterday. Deputy Air Force Chief Air Marshal VR Chaudhary also flew in the aircraft for around one hour. India and rance had signed an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) to procure 36 Rafale fighter jets in 2016 during PM Narendra Modi's visit to that country. The contract for 36 ready-to-fly aircraft was signed at about Rs 58,000 crore.

MBDA, Bharat team up for India missile production

09/21/2019

MBDA and Bharat Dynamics (BDL) have entered a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the production of missiles in India. The agreement involves the ASRAAM and Mistral missiles, and covers final assembly, integration and testing, says MBDA.

Belgian fighter jet crashes in France, one stuck on high-tension wire

09/20/2019

A Belgian Air Force combat jet crashed into a field in France on Thursday, with one of the plane’s occupants reportedly stuck on a high-tension wire. The F-16 was carrying out a military exercise when it crashed into a field in Pluvigner, near the Morbihan gulf in northwestern France, according to the Belga news agency.

Rajnath Singh to receive first Rafale combat aircraft on October 8 in France

09/20/2019

Defence minister Rajnath Singh will travel to France on October 8 to receive the first Rafale combat aircraft manufactured by French firm Dassault Aviation. The fleet of aircraft will come to India next year. "October 8 is auspicious for two reasons. It is both Dussehra and Air Force Day," government sources told ANI.

First National Guard Unit Gets F-35 Joint Strike Fighter

09/20/2019

The Vermont Air National Guard is due to take delivery of the first two of what will become 20 F-35 fighter aircraft, the first Guard unit to receive the next-generation fighter. The aircraft will be based at Burlington International Airport and are being flown to Vermont on Thursday from the factory in Fort Worth, Texas.

Why would Iran raise the stakes by attacking Saudi Arabia?

09/20/2019

Saudi Arabia says it has evidence showing Iran sponsored Saturday's drone and missile attacks on two of its oil facilities, and called on the international community to take action. The question is whether there could be a war. The scale of the attacks means that Saudi Arabia cannot overlook what happened, and its decision to identify Iran as the culprit compels the kingdom to respond.

USAF: Our New Tanker Should Be Ready for War in 3 or 4 Years

09/19/2019

Problems with the new plane’s refueling system could prompt the Air Force to put off retiring 1960s-era KC-135 tankers that are supporting the U.S. military’s operations around the world. The KC-46 was supposed to be battle-ready in 2017, but numerous design and development problems have led to repeated delays and cost the plane’s maker Boeing more than $3 billion.

Belgian Air Force intercepts Russian aircraft flying in NATO airspace

09/19/2019

Two Belgian fighter jets intercepted four Russian military aircraft reportedly flying over the Baltic Sea, in NATO airspace, unauthorised, the Belgian Air Force announced. The Air Force announced that the Russian aircraft were two Russian Blackjack bomber planes and two Flanker fighters, sharing images of the combat jets on Twitter.

USAF to order 10 Sikorsky Combat Rescue Helicopters

09/19/2019

Sikorsky expects the US Air Force (USAF) to make a Milestone C decision for its Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH) on 24 September, paving the way for a low rate initial production contract worth more than $500 million for 10 aircraft to be signed shortly thereafter. The first production helicopter is scheduled for delivery in April 2021, says Sikorsky.

Boeing's KC-46A boom camera fixes progressing too slowly: USAF

09/19/2019

Boeing has made insufficient progress fixing issues with the KC-46A aerial refuelling tanker’s remote vision system (RVS) – the camera-based technology that helps crew guide a refuelling boom to receiving aircraft, according to the US Air Force.

Raytheon shows off expeditionary JPALS system

09/19/2019

Raytheon has demonstrated the rapid setup of its Joint Precision Approach and Landing System (JPALS), which can help aircraft land at austere, hastily-established airfields. The work took place at US Navy (USN) Air Station Patuxent River, with a Raytheon team getting the system operational in 70 minutes on the first day, and 50 on the second.

Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider first flight route announced

09/17/2019

The Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider stealth bomber’s first flight will be a short hop, about 22mi (35km) north across the Mojave Desert, from Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California where it is being built to its testing site at Edwards Air Force Base.

Raytheon unveils Peregrine: new medium-range, air-to-air missile

09/17/2019

Raytheon has unveiled a new medium-range, air-to-air missile called Peregrine. The in-development Peregrine offers the range of the AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM), with the manoeuvrability of the AIM-9X Sidewinder, says Mark Noyes, Raytheon’s business development executive for air warfare systems.

VIDEO: USAF christens new trainer as T-7A Red Hawk

09/17/2019

The US Air Force has designated the Boeing T-X jet trainer the T-7A Red Hawk, in tribute to the US Army Air Corps’ Tuskegee Airmen and their World War II-era P-40 Warhawks. The naming was announced by acting secretary of the air force Matthew Donovan at the 2019 Air Force Association’s Air, Space and Cyber Conference in National Harbor, Maryland on 16 September. The trainer will sport red livery on its tail as the aircraft of the Tuskegee Airman’s 99th Pursuit Squadron did during World War II.

Oil prices soar after attacks on Saudi facilities

09/16/2019

The drone attacks on plants in the heartland of Saudi Arabia's oil industry included hitting the world's biggest petroleum-processing facility. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Tehran was behind the attacks. Iran accused the US of "deceit." Later Mr Trump said in a tweet the US knew who the culprit was and was "locked and loaded" but waiting to hear from the Saudis about how they wanted to proceed.

Taiwan ‘ready to move quickly’ to seal deal on F-16 fighter jets from US

09/15/2019

Taiwan has signalled to US officials that it will move swiftly to complete the purchase of 66 new F-16 fighters once congressional foreign relations committees complete their review this month, according to a US State Department official. The department formally notified Congress on August 20 that it approved the sale, which includes munitions, defensive electronics and a fire-control radar that would allow precision-guided missiles and bombs to be launched from greater distances.