Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Pakistan Dismissed US Report on China's Secret Plan to Build Fighter Jets in Its Country

12/29/2018

Pakistan has said that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a bilateral economic project and has no military dimensions. Foreign Office spokesman Mohammad Faisal said this at the weekly media briefing here on Thursday when asked about a US media report that alleged that China has hatched a secret plan to build fighter jets and other military hardware in Pakistan as part of the USD 60 billion project.

A Fleet of 'J-20s'?: China Wants to Take Old Air Force Planes and Make Them Stealthy

12/29/2018

China is trying to devise ways to make its nonstealthy aircraft radar resistant. This week, the Hong Kong–based South China Morning Post reported that China is working on experimental technologies to make even its older aircraft appear stealthy to most radar systems. Citing scientists working on the project, the SCMP said, “The technology involves the use of a ‘metamaterial’, a fabricated layer comprising microscopic structures similar to integrated circuits.

Israel has used Lebanese airspace to avoid Russian S-300 on yesterday’s attack in Syria (Photos)

12/28/2018

The Israeli air force (IAF) attack on Iranian targets in Syria was performed by standoff weapon systems, learned BulgarianMilitary.com. According the Middle Eastern sources, the Israeli fighter aircraft released their weapons while flying over Lebanon. This to avoid entering the foot print of the Russian S-300 air defense systems deployed recently in Syria

Kazakhstan receives four new Su-30SM fighter jets

12/28/2018

The Kazakhstan Air Defense Forces (KADF) has received a four new Sukhoi Su-30SM multirole fighter aircraft from Russia, according to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Defense. “Within the framework of the agreement on military-technical co-operation with the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Kazakhstan received next shipment newest Su-30SM multirole aircraft,“ – according to a 25 December statement.

Pilots Kept Losing Oxygen and the Military Had No Idea Why. Now There’s a Possible Fix.

12/28/2018

The United States Air Force and Navy appear to be closing in on a partial solution to a complicated set of problems that have for years caused pilots to experience adverse physiological symptoms midair, endangering them and the aircraft. Officials from both services said that by early 2019 they will replace faulty oxygen-supply systems with new hardware and software in their T-6 Texan trainer aircraft.

Air War: Russia's Su-35 Fighter vs. America's F-16 Fighting Falcon (Who Wins?)

12/27/2018

The Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon has been the mainstay of the U.S. and allied air forces for decades. Over the years, the aircraft has evolved from a lightweight visual range dogfighter into a potent multirole warplane that flies the gamut of missions ranging from the suppression of enemy air defenses to air superiority. Though it has been operational since 1980, the “Viper” continues to evolve and will remain in service with the U.S. Air Force and other militaries for decades to come.

PICTURES: SB-1 Defiant breaks cover

12/27/2018

Sikorsky and Boeing have unveiled the SB-1 Defiant helicopter, providing a pair of images showing the rotorcraft from the front and rear. The type had been expected to fly in 2018, but in mid-December the Sikorsky-Boeing team decided to push this into 2019.

Boeing tapped for SOCOM Helo support | Greece buys Viper-upgrades |Kuwait & Saudi Arabia: $3.4b deal incoming!

12/25/2018

Boeing is being awarded with a seven-year maintenance contract external link supporting US Special Operations Command aircraft. The IDIQ, firm-fixed-price, cost reimbursable contract is valued at $1.1 billion and allows for life cycle contractor support the MH-6, MH-47, and MH-60 aircraft.

PICTURES & VIDEO: Aero Vodochody L-39NG completes first flight

12/25/2018

The first pre-production L-39NG jet trainer (msn 7001) completed its maiden flight on 22 December from Vodochody airport in the Czech Republic. This new-generation derivative of Aero Vodochody's long-established trainer was flown by company test pilots David Jahoda and Vladimír Továrek.

Russian Fighter Jets Moved To Annexed Ukrainian Region

12/24/2018

More than a dozen advanced Russian fighter jets have arrived at a base in the Ukrainian region of Crimea, which Moscow occupied and annexed in 2014. The Reuters news agency cited witnesses who saw the Su-27 and Su-30 fighters arriving at the Belbek air base on December 22.

Bulgaria announces F-16V Block 70 procurement to replace ageing MiG-29s

12/24/2018

The Bulgarian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has announced a plan to procure eight F-16V Block 70 fighter jets aimed at replacing its ageing Soviet-designed MiG-29s. On Friday, Bulgaria’s defense ministry commission recommended that the government starts talks with the United States to buy new F-16V Block 70 fighter aircraft to improve its compliance with NATO standards.

USAF's Next Budget Request Will Include New F-15X Advanced Eagle Fighter Jets: Report

12/22/2018

Last July, I broke a story about the existence of Boeing's F-15X Advanced Eagle concept, one that the plane-maker had been in discussions with the USAF about for many months. That aircraft would be procured to replace America's existing F-15C/D aircraft, the vast majority of which are operated by the Air National Guard. Since my expose, the USAF has officially remained somewhat flippant about the F-15X and its talks with Boeing.

Leonardo flies first production-standard M-345

12/22/2018

Leonardo has flown the production-standard version of its M-345 jet trainer, as it works towards service entry with the Italian air force in 2020. Performed from the company's site in Venogono Superiore in the north of Italy, the sortie was conducted by test pilots Quirino Bucci and Giacomo Iannelli.

Video Alert: The Russian Air Force Is Showing Off Its Deadly Su-35 Fighter

12/20/2018

Footage recently released by the Russian Ministry of Defense shows Russia's flagship fifth-generation stealth fighter, the Su-57, being aerially refueled by an Il-78 tanker. Before this, the Su-57 can be seen imitating a refueling formation behind an An-12 transport aircraft.

Super Stealth: Could the Air Force Eventually Have Over 200 New B-21 Bombers?

12/20/2018

The U.S. Air Force is getting bases ready for its new B-21 Raider stealth bomber. But it’s still unclear how many B-21s the flying branch might buy. The Air Force selected Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma as the primary maintenance facility for the new bomber, the service announced on November 16, 2018.

Venezuela Agreed To Let Russia Set Up A Bomber Outpost On This Caribbean Island: Reports

12/20/2018

Russian media outlets are reporting that the Kremlin is planning to establish a forward outpost on the Venezuelan island of La Orchila in the Caribbean Sea and base nuclear-capable Tu-160 Blackjack bombers, two of which just wrapped up a recent deployment to the country, at the site. If true, this could help bolster the embattled regime of Venezuela’s dictatorial president Nicolás Maduro and would significantly change the strategic reality in the Western Hemisphere for the United States.

China Holds Long-Range Air Combat Drill Near Taiwan

12/20/2018

The Republic of China Air Force (ROCAF) scrambled fighter jets to intercept and escort an undisclosed number of People’s Liberation Air Force (PLAAF) Xian H-6K bombers, Sukhoi Su-30 fighter aircraft, and a Shaanxi Y-9JB (GX-8) electronic warfare and surveillance plane conducting a long-range patrol near Taiwan on December 18, according to Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense.

Argentine Air Force Strengthens Airspace Defense

12/19/2018

The Argentine Air Force (FAA, in Spanish) strengthened its airspace defense capabilities during Exercise Integrador (Integrator in English ) 2018, as part of preparations for the 2018 G20 Buenos Aires Summit, carried out in the city of Buenos Aires, November 30th-December 1st. The event gathered the world’s main heads of state.

MQ-25 Stingray: the first drone to refuel fighter jets in flight

12/19/2018

Boeing Defense, Space & Security recently won a hotly contested contract to design, develop, fabricate, test, deliver, and support four MQ-25A Stingray unmanned air vehicles (UAVs), integrating them into the aircraft carrier air wing, something the US Navy has been looking at for some time.

Tokyo set to become second biggest F-35 operator

12/19/2018

The Japanese cabinet has approved a plan to add an additional 105 Lockheed Martin F-35s to its planned fleet of 42 examples, potentially making it the world’s second largest F-35 operator. In a press briefing, the chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga confirmed that the country’s Medium Term Defence Program has been approved by the cabinet.

Bell V-280 to focus on manoeuvrability after flying 250kt

12/19/2018

Bell’s V-280 demonstration programme plans to continue to expand the tiltrotor’s flight envelope, with additional focus on manoeuvrability, after reaching 250kt this September. So far, the aircraft has been tested on 50° banked turns at 200kt, which is the equivalent of 1.8g, says Vince Tobin, Bell executive vice-president for military business. During upcoming tests the manufacturer expects the aircraft to fly turns that generate more than 3g, he says.

CBO floats variety of cost cutting ideas, including fewer F-35s

12/18/2018

The Congressional Budget Office floated a number of cost-cutting ideas for the US federal government including reducing the number of additional Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II purchases, retiring the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor or Rockwell B-1B Lancer bomber fleets, and deferring development of the Northrop Grumman B-21 stealth bomber.

Boeing and Embraer agree on terms for planned tie-up

12/18/2018

Boeing and Embraer have agreed the terms of their planned joint venture under which the US manufacturer is set to take control of Embraer’s commercial aircraft activities in 2019. The deal still is subject to approval by Brazil’s government, shareholders and regulatory authorities, the two airframers say.

VIDEO: JF-17 breaks cover at Myanmar air force party

12/18/2018

The Chengdu/Pakistan Aeronautical Complex JF-17 Thunder has appeared at a celebration to mark the 71st anniversary of Myanmar’s air force. Images and video of the 15 December event on social media show four JF-17s are visible on static display in Myanmar’s distinctive blue camouflage scheme. One image shows a Myanmar officer inspecting a JF-17 cockpit, with a special ‘71’ logo visible on the jet’s fuselage.

Pilot killed in Su-27 fighter crash in Ukraine

12/16/2018

A pilot has been killed in a Su-27 fighter jet crash in Ukraine on 15 December, said in the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. According to a statement of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, on Dec. 15, 2018, at around 3 p.m., the Su-27 fighter jet crashed on landing while making routine training mission.