Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Thailand Approves $257 Million Plan for 8 More South Korean Jets

07/12/2017

Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha said Tuesday that Bangkok has approved a plan to buy eight additional South Korea-made T-50 trainer jets. Chan-ocha made the announcement following a cabinet meeting in which members endorsed the $257 million dollar plan. The jets are being purchased in addition to four other South Korean jets Thailand agreed to buy in a $110-million deal signed in September 2015, with deliveries set for 2018.

Russian Scientists Finish Aircraft 'Nervous System' to Improve Flight Safety

07/12/2017

Russia's Foundation for Advanced Research Projects (FPI) has completed the development of the advanced control system of aircraft structures state, which is based on the principles of the nervous system of living organisms and is expected to significantly improve flight safety, head of the project Dmitry Uspensky told Sputnik on Tuesday.

Block 5 MQ-9 debuts in combat

07/11/2017

The latest version of the MQ-9 Reaper, the Block 5 variant, flew its first successful combat mission June 23, 2017, in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. The aircrew flew a sortie of more than 16 hours with a full payload of weapons including GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munitions and AGM-114 Hellfire missiles. During the mission, the crew employed one GBU-38 and two Hellfires while providing hours of armed reconnaissance for supported ground forces.

Officials: 16 dead in military plane crash in Mississippi

07/11/2017

A military refueling aircraft crashed Monday afternoon in a soybean field in Leflore County, killing at least 16 and leaving a debris field five miles in radius, officials said. Mississippi Emergency Management Agency Director Lee Smithson said the plane crashed on the Sunflower-Leflore county line. Leflore County EMA Director Frank Randle confirmed that 16 are dead in the crash.

A first strike on North Korea? Bad choice

07/09/2017

Think of the North Korean problem as a set of two dangerous streams of activity, moving rapidly toward each other. One is the increasing range of the Kim Jong Un regime’s intercontinental ballistic missiles, which are now verifiably in the 3,000- to 4,000-mile range — probably far enough to strike the continental United States.

Crowds in Hong Kong Line Up to See China’s First Aircraft Carrier

07/09/2017

Hundreds of people in Hong Kong lined up on Saturday to visit China’s first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, which is making a five-day port call here to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the former British colony’s return to Chinese rule.

Why in the World Does Turkey Want an Aircraft Carrier?

07/09/2017

Upon overseeing the launch of a domestically-built corvette in July 2017, Turkish Pres. Recep Tayyip Erdogan voiced his country’s goal of building “our own aircraft carriers” as part of Ankara’s efforts to “become independent in the field of defense by 2023.” “We must move even faster,” Erdogan declared. “We are proud of our ability to build military ships, especially construction of submarines.”

Sikorsky courts German aerospace on CH-53K supply chain

07/09/2017

Sikorsky hosted German aerospace companies during a recent two-day event at in West Palm Beach, Florida, discussing the US Marine Corps CH-53K and the German Air Force “Schwerer Transporthubschrauber” (STH) heavy-lift helicopter programme.

Austria to retire Eurofighter Typhoons from 2020

07/09/2017

Austria is to phase out its fleet of 15 Tranche 1 Eurofighter Typhoons from 2020, amid a deepening row with the four-nation consortium over the cost and capability of its aircraft. Vienna in February began legal proceedings against Airbus Defence & Space and Eurofighter over alleged fraud and deception related to its near €2 billion ($2.28 billion) acquisition of the Typhoons in 2003. Airbus and the consortium deny the accusations.

India advances on taking additional C-17

07/06/2017

India's planned acquisition of an additional Boeing C-17 strategic transport would boost its air force's fleet of the type to 11 examples, and the proposed purchase would be worth around $366 million.

Merlin makes first landing aboard new UK aircraft carrier

07/06/2017

UK Royal Navy AgustaWestland AW101 Merlin helicopters performed the first deck landings aboard the service's new aircraft carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth, just four days after the 65,000t vessel embarked on its maiden voyage.

India’s quest for armed drones

07/05/2017

The US government’s decision to grant India the licence for the export of 22 Guardian drones through the US foreign military sales programme will address gaps in India’s maritime surveillance capabilities. However, India’s quest for armed drones in the absence of a defined strategy for the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) has created misconceptions about their utility for India in conducting cross-border strikes or “surgical strikes” against Pakistan-based terrorists.

U.S. Confirms North Korea Fired Intercontinental Ballistic Missile

07/05/2017

The Trump administration on Tuesday confirmed North Korea’s claim that it had launched an intercontinental ballistic missile, and it told Pyongyang that the United States would use “the full range of capabilities at our disposal against the growing threat.”

Sikorsky gets multi-year contract for Black Hawk production

07/05/2017

Sikorsky has agreed to a new multi-year contract with the US Department of Defense, which will lead to it delivering up to 360 UH-60 Black Hawk utility helicopters to the US Army and overseas customers by 2022.

UN Secretary-General Condemns Latest North Korea’s Missile Launch – Statement

07/05/2017

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned the latest Pyongyang’s missile launch, which violated the resolution of the UN Security Council, the statement read. North Korea announced on Tuesday that it had successfully launched its first intercontinental ballistic missile, the Hwasong-14, at 00:30 GMT. It said the missile traveled 580 miles and reached an altitude of 1,740 miles during its 39-minute flight before "accurately hitting the target waters" in the Sea of Japan.

North Korea Claims Ability to Strike 'Any Part of the World' With ICBM Launch

07/05/2017

North Korea is capable of attacking any target on Earth with its intercontinental ballistic missiles, Pyongyang said in an official statement Tuesday. Published by the North Korean Academy of Defense Science as cited by the Korean Central News Agency, the statement claims its new capabilities would "reliably defend the peace and stability of the Korean peninsula and the region."

N. Korea Fires Ballistic Missile Which Lands in Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone

07/04/2017

North Korea has reportedly launched a ballistic missile Tuesday morning, just days after the South's new President Moon Jae-In and US President Donald Trump focused on de-escalation of tensions on the Korean peninsula in their first summit.

India Plans Next Generation Bombproof Shelter for 108 Fighter Jets

07/04/2017

With tensions rising with its neighbors, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has once again asked India’s defense ministry to approve funding for building next generation hardened shelters designed by state-owned research organization DRDO for every aircraft deployed in eastern and north-eastern airfields.

China has built new military facilities on disputed South China Sea islands and can deploy 'at any time'

07/01/2017

China has built new military facilities on islands in the South China Sea, a U.S. think tank reported on Thursday, a move that could raise tensions with Washington, which has accused Beijing of militarizing the vital waterway.

Norway prepares for first naval deployment of NH90 helicopter

07/01/2017

Norway will embark one of its NH Industries NH90 NFH helicopters for the first time later this summer, but has again offered thinly veiled criticism of the 11t-class rotorcraft, deliveries of which are running 10 years behind schedule.

Report to Congress: Out of Breath – Military Aircraft Oxygen Issues

06/30/2017

The Air Force recently grounded some of its newest aircraft, F-35A strike fighters, due to incidents in which pilots became physiologically impaired with symptoms of oxygen deficiency while flying. Although the root cause of the F-35 incidents has not yet been established, the grounding has renewed attention on hypoxia, a physical condition caused by oxygen deficiency that may result in temporary cognitive and physiological impairment and possible loss of consciousness.

Germany and Norway sign up to European A330 tanker pool

06/30/2017

Germany and Norway have officially signed up to an effort led by European NATO members to jointly acquire and operate a pool of up to 11 Airbus Defence & Space A330 multi-role tanker transports (MRTT).

A400M's "Pack 2" gearbox fix nears certification

06/30/2017

Airbus Group chief executive Tom Enders says the company is making progress in negotiations with users of the A400M, while propulsion system supplier Europrop International (EPI) has released further details of its essential "Pack 2" update.

PICTURES: Oman takes delivery of its first Typhoons

06/30/2017

Oman's first pair of Eurofighter Typhoons has arrived in the country, with the nation's air force staging a welcoming ceremony at its Adam air base on 21 June. The aircraft arrived following a ferry flight from BAE Systems' Warton final assembly site, having left the UK on 19 June.

Lockheed Martin Gets $18Mln to Provide THAAD Ground Components to UAE

06/30/2017

The US Department of Defense said that US defense supplier Lockheed Martin won more than $18 million in foreign military sales to provide the United Arab Emirates with ground components for its THAAD system.