Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Iraq to revive T-6 trainer capability

07/26/2017

The US Department of Defense has awarded Textron Aviation a contract worth almost $8.8 million for the "reconstitution" of 15 Beechcraft T-6A basic trainers for the Iraqi air force. Placed via Washington's Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme, the deal "provides the purchase of long-lead supplies required to reconstitute the aircraft for Iraq training," the DoD says. Textron will undertake the work at the nation's Imam Ali/Tallil air base.

Beijing Confirms Putting Pressure on Hanoi to Stop South China Sea Oil Drilling

07/26/2017

Repsol, the Spanish oil firm cooperating with Hanoi on the project, had spent $300 million developing an oil field near the disputed waters. While Repsol seems to have wanted to make Block 136-03 commercially viable, Beijing reportedly vowed to Vietnam that drilling would lead to an attack.

Boeing Wins $122Mln for Navy Aircraft Spare Parts

07/26/2017

The Boeing Company [of] St. Louis, Missouri has been awarded a maximum $122,800,001 delivery order against a five-year base contract with one five-year option period for aircraft spare parts," the release stated on Tuesday.

New AF Light-Attack Plane May Soon See Combat

07/25/2017

One of the aircraft now preparing for a live-fly experiment to be the Air Forces’ new Light Attack aircraft may soon be sent to perform missions in a live combat scenario as part of the evaluation process, senior service leaders said. The emerging OA-X Light Attack aircraft is envisioned as a low-cost, commercially-built, combat-capable plane able to perform a wide range of missions in a less challenging or more permissive environment where the US Air Force already has air supremacy.

China is threatening US military aircraft. Here's how Trump should respond

07/25/2017

As Lucas Tomlinson reports at Fox News, this weekend, two J-10 Chinese Air Force jets came close to downing a U.S. Navy EP-3 reconnaissance plane this weekend. Flying erratically, they nearly crashed into the 24-person crewed U.S. aircraft. Let's be clear, this is a warning shot from the Chinese military. The Chinese remember full well what happened in April 2001, when a U.S. EP-3 was forced to land on Chinese-held Hainan island after a Chinese jet crashed into it. That incident sparked a major

Seven nations commit to Israel's Blue Flag exercise

07/25/2017

Seven foreign air forces have so far confirmed their participation in the "Blue Flag" exercise to be held in Israel during November. According to the commander of the Israeli air force's Uvda air base, identified only as Col I, France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Poland and the USA will take part in the exercise; making it the largest multinational event to be staged in the country.

Philippine air force gets Hermes 900 demonstration

07/25/2017

Elbit Systems has performed a series of demonstration flights with its Hermes 900 unmanned air vehicle for the Philippine air force, as the service evaluates the medium-altitude, long-endurance type.

Lockheed Martin Wins $8Mln to Upgrade F-35 Joint Strike Fighters for Israel

07/25/2017

US aerospace giant Lockheed Martin won more than $8 million for logistics support for F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters for Israel under the Foreign Military Sales program, the Department of Defense said in a press release.

A-10 Thunderbolt forced to make emergency landing in Alpena

07/24/2017

A pilot operating a Michigan Air National Guard A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing Thursday afternoon at the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center. According to a news release from the 127th Wing Public Affairs at Selfridge, the pilot was conducting training activities about 1:40 p.m. at the Grayling Training Complex when the aircraft malfunctioned, forcing him to divert and land at Alpena.

What These Pictures Of Two Russian Yak-130 Jets That Crash Landed Almost Simultaneously in Russia Say About The Causes Of The Mishaps

07/24/2017

According to several reports, two Russian Air Force Yak-130 Trainer/Light Attack (LA) Aircraft (Tail number 43white/RF-44496 from Borisoglebsk airbase and 55red/RF-44583 from Armavir) crashed almost simultaneously in two different places on Wednesday June 21, 2017. Information about incident has not released by the RuAF (Russian Air Force). The Yakovlev Yak-130 is a subsonic two-seat advanced trainer originally developed by Yakovlev and Aermacchi (now Leonardo).

Russia Keen To Sell MiG-35 To India, Talks On, Says Top Official

07/24/2017

Russia is keen on selling its new fighter jet MiG-35 to India with the MiG corporation's chief saying the country has evinced interest in the aircraft and talks were on to understand its requirements. Director General of Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG Ilya Tarasenko said the MiG-35 was "the best" and definitely better than Lockheed Martin's fifth-generation combat aircraft F-35. He claimed that the MiG-35 would beat the American jet in air to air combat.

US to Launch New THAAD Missile Defense Test to Counter North Korean Threat

07/24/2017

According to a warning notice from the US Coast Guard for mariners who intend to traverse the thousands of miles between Kodiak Island, Alaska, and the Hawaiian islands next weekend, a live-fire THAAD missile test has been scheduled by the US military.

Three Good Reasons Why Russia May Not Actually Need a Supercarrier

07/24/2017

Russia has adopted a new Navy Policy Framework up to the year 2030. The document devotes considerable attention to creating high-precision long-range cruise missiles, hypersonic weapons, robotics, and more, but does not elaborate much on plans to build a new aircraft carrier. Military observer Vladimir Tuchkov explains why this may be a good thing.

OSHKOSH: MILITARY AND CIVILIAN AIRCRAFT TO HIGHLIGHT AMERICA’S LARGEST AIRSHOW

07/23/2017

America’s largest aviation gathering begins on Monday as aerobatic performances by top civilian and military aircraft — including the Navy’s Blue Angels — highlight the seven day EAA AirVenture Airshow.

Trump, on new aircraft carrier, urges military funds boost

07/23/2017

United States President Donald Trump urged Congress to pass a budget that provides for higher, stable and predictable funding for the US military. "Call that congressman and call that senator, and make sure you get it," Trump said Saturday (July 22) at the commissioning of the Gerald R. Ford, the Navy's newest aircraft carrier. "We must end the defense sequester once and for all."

George F. Will column: Many Air Force planes would qualify for AARP

07/23/2017

The aircraft arrayed around the spacious lawn of Maxwell Air Force Base, home of the Air University, mostly represent long-retired types. The largest, however, is a glistening B-52 bomber, which represents a still-employed component of the Air Force’s aging fleet: The youngest B-52 entered service in 1962. Sons have flown the same plane their fathers and grandfathers flew.

Japan, Taiwan scramble fighters in response to Chinese bombers

07/22/2017

Japan and Taiwan scrambled fighter jets on Thursday after China flew a squadron of strategic bombers over the western Pacific, according to a Taiwanese press report. The Liberty Times reported Friday the Chinese bombers flew from the East China Sea to the western Pacific, an exercise that may have been conducted to warn Taiwan and Japan.

KC-390 wraps world tour

07/22/2017

Embraer’s KC-390 wrapped its 40-day demonstration tour this week after stops in 18 countries throughout Europe, Africa and Asia. The Brazilian transport tanker made its flight display debut at the Paris air show this June and went on to a series of flight demonstrations before returning to Brazil.

What You Need to Know About Russia’s New Sukhoi Su-30SM1 Fighter

07/21/2017

Russia has developed a new modernized version of the Sukhoi Su-30SM Flanker-H that features upgraded avionics and weapons. Designated as the Su-30SM1, the aircraft leverages the operational lessons that Russia has learned during its operations over Syria, according to a report in the Russian-language newspaper Izvestia.

Saudi Arabia considering Scorpion deal: Textron chief

07/21/2017

Saudi Arabia is considering acquiring the Textron AirLand Scorpion light attack aircraft, with initial discussions under way. Scott Donnelly, chief executive of parent company Textron, says Riyadh is one of a number of customers it is in talks with over the developmental aircraft.

UK to drive down Typhoon operating costs to match F-16

07/21/2017

Dubbed the Typhoon total availability enterprise, or Tytan, the new, 10-year arrangement between the RAF and industry partners BAE Systems and Leonardo is expected to reduce the Typhoon's per-hour operating cost by 30-40%. This should equate to a saving of at least £550 million ($712 million), which "will be recycled into the programme", according to BAE Systems Military Air & Information managing director Chris Boardman.

Franco-German fighter proposal gains momentum

07/21/2017

France and Germany have signalled their intention to co-operate on the development of a future combat aircraft to be produced after the Dassault Rafale and Eurofighter Typhoon.Part of a broader move to increase military co-operation and enhance export prospects for European products, the fighter initiative was referred to during a press conference involving French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Paris on 13 July.

Delhi outlines need for seven SIGINT aircraft

07/21/2017

Delhi has issued a request for information (RFI) for seven signals intelligence (SIGINT) and communications jamming aircraft. As per the RFI, two aircraft in SIGINT configuration will be acquired for the National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO) - India’s technical intelligence agency. Five SIGINT and communications jamming configured aircraft are to be operated by the air force.

Gulfstream proposes nose refuelling for JSTARS candidate

07/20/2017

Gulfstream’s proposal for the US Air Force’s JSTARS recapitalisation project will include a refuelling nozzle mounted on the nose of its G550 business jet, the company’s vice-president of special mission sales has revealed.

China Looking to Join the Race for Hypersonic Planes and Missiles

07/20/2017

A Chinese military expert says China should develop counter technologies after the U.S. and Australia jointly tested at least one flight for their Hypersonic International Flight Research Experimentation (HiFIRE) program.