Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Marine Corps aircraft crashes at Syrian base, leaving two wounded

09/30/2017

A Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey crashed on a coalition base in Syria early Friday morning, injuring two American troops in a combat zone where the United States maintains Special Operations forces and artillery support. The aircraft is a “total loss,” having experienced what the military refers to as a hard landing before catching fire on the ground, a U.S. defense official told The Washington Post. Officials have not said what caused the crash, only that it’s possible the fire was somehow related.

Navy trainers resume flying with oxygen monitoring upgrades

09/30/2017

The US Navy has cleared the Boeing T-45 Goshawk fleet to resume regular flights after a five-month grounding caused by contamination concerns over the system that generates and supplies oxygen to the training jet's pilots.

PICTURE: Afghan air force welcomes first Black Hawks

09/30/2017

A lead cadre of Afghan air force pilots is poised to commence training on the service's first two Sikorsky UH-60A Black Hawk utility helicopters, following their delivery on 18 September. The rotorcraft arrived at Kandahar airfield aboard a US Air Force Boeing C-17 strategic transport, following a flight from Huntsville, Alabama.

Meet the J-20: China Commissions First Non-US Stealth Aircraft (VIDEO)

09/30/2017

The People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLA-AF) of China has officially commissioned its very first stealth aircraft, Chengdu’s J-20 fighter, a Chinese military spokesman said September 28, making it only one of three operational stealth aircraft models in the world.

Leonardo flies first upgraded Brazilian Super Lynx

09/29/2017

Leonardo Helicopters has performed the maiden sortie of the first of eight upgraded Super Lynx Mk21A rotorcraft for the Brazilian navy. Each helicopter will receive new CTS800 engines, made by the Honeywell-Rolls-Royce joint venture LHTEC, as well as new glass cockpits and an advanced avionics suite.

China and Pakistan Demonstrate Alliance, Flex Muscles During Joint Exercise

09/29/2017

For the first time ever, a Pakistani fighter pilot has flown a Chinese warplane during joint combat exercises between the two Asian nations. The exercises, which lasted through most of September, took place in Xinjiang, the westernmost province of China that borders Pakistan.

Russia to Take Adequate Response if Observation Flights Over US Limited

09/29/2017

Moscow will take adequate retaliatory steps if observation flights over the US under the Open Skies treaty are limited, the Russian Foreign Ministry stated. Russia will evaluate the US intentions reportedly aimed to impede observation flights under the Treaty on Open Skies, spokesperson of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova said during a press briefing.

The Air Force Is Sending Its Light Attack Plane Competition to War

09/28/2017

The U.S. Air Force is sending two of the four aircraft involved in its OA-X light attack aircraft competition to the battlefield. The move, likely unprecedented, will allow the service to evaluate both airplanes in combat missions before a final purchase decision is made.

Indonesia's SU-35 countertrade deal: Worth its weight in jet fighters?

09/28/2017

In August, Indonesia announced that state-owned trading company PT Perusahaan Perdagangan Indonesia and Russia’s state-owned defence holding company Rostec had signed a memorandum of understanding, on a countertrade deal for the procurement of 11 Russian Sukhoi SU-35 Flanker E combat aircraft.

The Greatest Threat Today To U.S. Air Superiority May Be The Pilots’ Oxygen System

09/28/2017

Today the greatest threat to U.S. air superiority may be something entirely different and, until recently, almost unrecognized by the military. This is the danger of hypoxia, a deprivation of adequate oxygen for the human body to function. Hypoxia can cause dizziness, disorientation, decreased mental functions, a slowing of reflexes, heart palpitations and, in very severe cases, death.

BAE optimistic about fighter-borne directed energy weapons

09/28/2017

The chief technologist of BAE Systems is optimistic about fighter aircraft carrying directed energy weapons in the not-too-distant future, as he also discusses other emergent technologies.

Seoul to add more T-50s to meet training requirements

09/28/2017

Seoul looks likely obtain additional Korea Aerospace Industries T-50 advanced jet trainers (AJT) to support its future fleet of advanced fighter aircraft. The new aircraft are necessary owing to incoming types such as the Lockheed Martin F-35 and, in the 2020s, of the KAI KFX fighter, says the defence ministry. It did not state the number of aircraft to be acquired, or the type, but requires that they be domestically acquired. The only AJT produced in south Korea is the T-50.

Why the U.S. Military Misses the F-14 Tomcat

09/27/2017

The service has not had a dedicated air-to-air combat aircraft since it retired the Grumman F-14 Tomcat in 2006. But even the Tomcat was adapted into a strike aircraft during its last years in service after the Soviet threat evaporated. Now, as new threats to the carrier emerge and adversaries start to field new fighters that can challenge the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and Lockheed Martin F-35C Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), attention is starting to shift back to this oft-neglected Navy mission

Israel, Croatia discuss combat aircraft tender

09/27/2017

Israel’s Defense Minister on Tuesday confirmed his country was in discussions with Croatia over supplying combat aircraft and military cooperation. Croatia will close a tender for the purchase of a squadron of combat aircraft, which was announced in July this year to replace its existing MIG combat fleet that does not meet NATO standards. Defense Minister Damir Krsticevic said Greece, Sweden, the U.S., Israel and South Korea had submitted offers, which were now being evaluated.

Germany lifts Tiger helicopter grounding

09/27/2017

Germany has lifted a flight ban on the fleet of Airbus Helicopters Tiger attack rotorcraft operated by its army, but has yet to restart operations with the type. Berlin grounded the Tiger, except for operational emergencies, following a late-July fatal crash near Gao in Mali in which two servicemen were killed.

Germany, Norway sign for five A330 tankers

09/27/2017

Germany and Norway have formally added a further five Airbus Defence & Space A330 multirole tanker transports to a multinational programme launched earlier this year by Luxembourg and the Netherlands.

Bulgarian government backtracks on Gripen selection

09/27/2017

Bulgaria is to restart its fighter procurement initiative, following recommendations made by a parliamentary investigation board after its review of the decision to name Saab's Gripen C/D as preferred candidate. The review board – which completed its work on 20 September – indicates that a combined offer of used Lockheed Martin F-16s submitted by the governments of Portugal and the USA was disqualified in an improper manner, preventing a fair evaluation of all submitted bids.

Israeli Parliament Orders Review of Future F-35 Purchases

09/27/2017

Coinciding with the Pentagon’s contemplation of whether it is prudent to retire 100 F-35s from combat operations rather than give them costly upgrades of their outdated software, the Israeli Parliament will explore whether alternatives might be more effective than the expensive Lockheed Martin jets.

Breaking: Syrian military downs possible aircraft in rural Damascus

09/26/2017

Minutes ago, the Syrian Air Defense fired a surface-to-air missile above the Mezzeh Military Airport, striking an unknown target in the night sky. According to Al-Masdar’s Ibrahim Joudeh in Damascus, a powerful explosion was seen over the night-sky in the nation’s capital after a surface-to-air missile struck the target. While the target remains unknown, some sources have speculated the explosion was a result of the missile striking an unmanned aircraft (UAV) that was traveling over the Mezzeh A

North Korea Says It Has the Right to Shoot Down U.S. Warplanes

09/26/2017

North Korea threatened on Monday to shoot down American warplanes even if they were not in the country’s airspace, stating that President Trump’s comments suggesting he would eradicate North Korea and its leaders were “a declaration of war.”

Pentagon scenario of a new Korean war estimates 20,000 deaths daily in South Korea, retired US general says

09/26/2017

A retired U.S. general said a Pentagon war scenario showed a conventional war with North Korea could result in about 20,000 deaths per day in South Korea, according to the Los Angeles Times. Meanwhile, a retired U.S. Navy admiral sees a 50/50 chance of a conventional conflict with North Korea although much less likelihood of a nuclear war.

Flawed control rod installation led to fatal Apache crash

09/26/2017

An investigation committee has delivered its final report into the 7 August 2017 accident, which killed one crew member and injured a second. It attributes the mishap to an incorrect installation of the tail rotor component, which resulted in rapid wear and control rod disengagement.

Israel finalises Seahawk sensor configuration

09/26/2017

Israel's air force and navy have identified the intended sensor fit for a planned fleet of second-hand Sikorsky SH-60F Seahawk maritime helicopters. The proposed acquisition of eight ex-US Navy rotorcraft is still in its early stages, but the type is expected to enter use aboard the Israeli navy's future fleet of four Saar-6 corvettes. The USA has already approved the transfer.

IAI waits on German approval for Heron TP deal

09/26/2017

Israeli sources expect Berlin's planned introduction of the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) Heron TP unmanned air system to be advanced following German Chancellor Angela Merkel's re-election.

Italian Eurofighter Typhoon Crashes During Terracina Airshow Killing Test Pilot

09/25/2017

On Sunday Sept. 24, 2017, an Italian Air Force Eurofighter F-2000A Typhoon (most probably MM7278/RS-23) belonging to the Reparto Sperimentale Volo (Test Wing) has crashed into the sea at Terracina, 76 kilometres south of Rome. Based on the several videos that have already emerged on social media, the pilot Capt. Gabriele Orlandi was unable to /did not recover the aircraft at the end of a looping and didn’t attempt to eject from the jet.