Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

US Navy upgrades IRST for Super Hornet fleet

10/21/2017

The US Navy is upgrading its Boeing F/A-18E/F fighters with an improved Lockheed Martin IRST21 sensor system, allowing the Super Hornet fleet to see and detect farther. Lockheed received two contracts worth $100 million through prime contractor Boeing and will provide advanced software development, hardware upgrades and prototype deliveries as part of the Block 2 IRST package.

Watching Pyongyang: Seoul Buys Four Global Hawk Surveillance Drones from US

10/21/2017

The South Korean Air Force has announced the purchase of four Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicles, advanced drones built on US military contract for surveillance missions. The drones, which cost $223 million apiece, are being purchased as part of ROKAF's new program of airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR). ROKAF told lawmakers in Seoul that the acquisition of the first two drones is set to take place in December, with two more to arrive in 2019.

Strategic Rebalancing Act: Behind China's Drive to Build World's Strongest Army

10/21/2017

Speaking at the 19th Congress of China's Communist Party, General Secretary Xi Jinping pledged to complete the modernization of the country's military by 2035, and to transform it into a world-class fighting force by 2050. Military observer Andrei Kotz takes a closer look at the People's Liberation Army's plans for the future.

Boeing broadens bet on autonomous tech with new partnership

10/20/2017

Boeing will invest and partner with a commercial spin-off of Carnegie Mellon University's Robotics Institute that specialises in in developing sensors for unmanned aircraft to avoid collisions.

ADEX: Sikorsky upbeat on MH-60R in South Korean competition

10/20/2017

Sikorsky believes a more complicated security environment bodes well for its MH-60R helicopter in South Korea's second Maritime Operations Helicopter (MOH) competition. Christophe Nurit, vice president-Asia at Sikorsky, a unit of Lockheed Martin, says the submarine threat facing South Korea has grown since the country's last MOH competition early this decade.

US Supercarrier Patrols Near North Korea to Deter Military Moves by Pyongyang

10/20/2017

The USS Ronald Reagan’s presence off the coast of the Korean Peninsula in the Sea of Japan as part of previously reported naval and air force exercises with the South Korean navy is designed to persuade North Korea from taking military action, Reuters reported from aboard the ship Thursday.

North Korea’s Nuclear Testing Site Crumbling, But Far From Finished

10/19/2017

North Korea’s nuclear testing site may be literally falling apart, with geologists claiming that repeated underground nuclear tests have fractured and perforated the rock beneath the mountainous testing ground that has hosted six nuclear tests in the last 11 years.

India to Receive High-Tech US Carrier Launch System (VIDEO)

10/19/2017

The Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) to help jets take off from aircraft carriers - which has only just been tested on the US Navy’s brand new USS Gerald Ford - will now find its way onto India’s aircraft carriers.

State Department approves F-16V sale to Greece

10/18/2017

Greece has moved a step closer upgrading a fleet of Lockheed Martin F-16s with new radars, software-defined radios and other equipment. The US State Department has approved a package of upgrades valued at $2.4 billion to raise the Hellenic Air Force's fleet to the F-16V standard, a Defense Security Cooperation Agency notice says.

Undisclosed buyer adds to Super Tucano backlog

10/18/2017

Embraer has announced a new order for six of its armed A-29 Super Tucano, but declines to identify the latest customer to have committed to the type. Listing potential applications as including "tactical and advanced training, as well as light attack and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance", the Brazilian airframer says deliveries to the undisclosed buyer will conclude during 2018.

ADEX: KAI vows recovery as it eyes FA-50 deals

10/18/2017

Despite troubles at home, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) is as committed as ever to international sales, and expects an order for up to 12 FA-50s in the first half of 2018. Sang Choi, vice-president and general manager of KAI’s international marketing division, says that while international customers have asked the company about its domestic travails, they have not expressed deep concerns about KAI. Choi spoke to FlightGlobal at the company’s chalet at the Seoul ADEX defence show.

ADEX: USAF sends message to Pyongyang at Seoul show

10/18/2017

The US Air Force has made an impressive show of force at this year's Seoul ADEX defence show, bringing four stealth fighters and several other aircraft. The stars of the USAF contingent at the show are two Lockheed Martin F-22s and two Lockheed F-35As. All four aircraft appeared in the static display, with an F-22 also performing a high-g aerial display.

Massive US-South Korean Naval War Games Begin Near Korean Peninsula

10/18/2017

The US and South Korean navies have kicked off a five-day round of military drills, the type of exercise that North Korea has previously responded with ballistic missile tests. Guided-missile destroyers USS Stetham and USS Mustin and supercarrier USS Ronald Reagan will join several South Korean ships as part of the Maritime Counter Special Operations Exercise (MCSOFEX), the commander of the US Navy’s Seventh fleet said.

French Firm Thales Makes Robust Pitch for India’s $1.8Bln AESA Radars

10/18/2017

French firm Thales has made a strong pitch for India's $1.8 billion global tender for the state-of-the-art active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar systems that were successfully tested on the Tejas MK1A light combat aircraft at the Cazaux airbase in France. The flight test conducted a few weeks ago mainly focused on metrological analyses of the radar performance.

ANALYSIS: Fire and fury, the next Korean air war

10/11/2017

Despite the ramshackle nature of North Korea's military, allied air forces would have a long, tough fight. In addition to eliminating North Korea's obsolete air force, they will be tasked with several urgent missions in what will probably be a fast escalating conflict. The list includes “decapitation” missions against senior leaders, shutting down North Korea's bristling air defence network and destroying artillery hidden in mountainous terrain north of Seoul.

BAE Systems reveals Qatar Hawk order amid cutbacks

10/11/2017

BAE Systems has revealed a tentative order from Qatar for six examples of its Hawk trainer, but the manufacturer is cutting output of the type, as well as of the Eurofighter Typhoon, in a bid to maintain production into the next decade.

Sweden Trains to Defend Its Neighbor in Finland's Biggest Air Drill

10/11/2017

This week, the Finnish Air Force is carrying out its biggest tactical training event of the year, the Ruska 17 drills. This year's Ruska also marks the first time that the Swedish Air Force will practice defending its neighbor.

Russian, Armenian air forces carry out joint drills during Interaction - 2017

10/10/2017

Fighter, assault and army aircraft of the Southern Military District and of Armenia’s Armed Forces have taken part in joint drills for the CSTO Collective Rapid Reaction Forces (CRRF) dubbed "Interaction - 2017," the Southern Military District’s press service reported on Tuesday.

BAE Systems to axe over 1,000 UK jobs amid Typhoon slowdown

10/10/2017

Sky News has learnt that BAE will announce that many of the job cuts will affect its Warton plant in Preston, Lancashire, with the company's new chief executive, Charles Woodburn, also "trimming" its workforce at other locations. Insiders said the number of jobs being axed would number "well over 1,000", although the precise figure was unclear on Monday.

Canada cements interest in Australian Hornets

10/10/2017

Canada has formally expressed interest in Australia’s used Boeing F/A-18A/B Hornets, marking a significant development in the Royal Canadian Air Force’s search for a fighter that could temporarily fill the CF-18’s mission.

Pyongyang Preparations? South Detects 'Some Movement From Missile Facilities'

10/10/2017

A military official in Seoul said that although there is no sign of any impending “provocation” by Pyongyang, South Korea had detected “some movement from the North’s missile facilities and bases” and maintained ”the heightened reconnaissance and preparedness posture."

India’s First Women Air Combatants to Initially Fly MiG-21 Bison

10/10/2017

India's first three women air combatants will be given the Russian made MiG-21 Bison to fly after they are officially inducted into the Indian Air Force (IAF) next month. Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa considers the aircraft as the most potent to sharpen the skill of new fighter pilots.

Russia, Saudi Arabia Agree on S-400, Other Weapons Deliveries

10/10/2017

Russia and Saudi Arabia reached agreements on the supply of S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems, as well as Kornet-EM anti-tank missile systems, TOS-1A "Buratino" heavy flame systems, AGS-30 grenade launchers and Kalashnikov AK-103 assault rifles, Russian Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation spokeswoman Maria Vorobyova told Sputnik.

War Analysis: US vs China

10/08/2017

The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission is now reviewing expert proposals to provide a one-time unclassified report on China’s development of advanced weapons. The Request for Proposals seeks unclassified, open-source assessments of specific Chinese weapons systems and areas of ongoing technological inquiry.

India needs an upgraded, two-front Air Force

10/08/2017

The recent standoff between the Indian and Chinese Armies at Doklam reinforced India’s need to develop and maintain the capability of fighting a two-front war. The two fronts, of course, being China and Pakistan, with which India has had long-standing border disputes.