Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

President Trump signs $110 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia

05/24/2017

In his first international trip as US president, Donald Trump arrived in Riyadh bearing a record-setting arms deal for Saudi Arabia that features integrated air defense systems, Black Hawk helicopters - including local assembly - and precision-guided munitions, in a multi-billion contract bonanza for Boeing and Lockheed Martin.

Cost considerations fuel Israeli tanker debate

05/24/2017

As a decision on acquiring new tankers for the Israeli air force becomes time-critical, two options are the subject of a heated debate within the nation's defence ministry.

Israel divides Hercules unit following upgrade

05/24/2017

Israel's air force has formally split its "Knights of the Yellow Bird" squadron into two separate units: one operating upgraded Lockheed Martin C-130Hs; and the other equipped with the new-generation J-model Hercules.

US Navy Orders High-Tech Upgrades for Hawkeye Maritime Surveillance Aircraft

05/24/2017

US Navy has awarded a $7.5 million contract to test and integrate new technology into a carrier-capable tactical airborne early warning aircraft that is designed to provide real-time tactical intelligence in maritime combat zones.

Military Milestone: All You Need to Know About the New North Korean Missile

05/24/2017

South Korean experts managed to establish the type of missile that the DPRK military launched on May 21. According to sources in the Defense Ministry of the Republic of Korea, it was a Pukykson-2 type missile. In the West, it is known as KN-15.

Indian Air Force Sukhoi Jet Goes Missing Near China Border

05/24/2017

A Sukhoi-30MKI jet of the Indian Air Force (IAF) has gone missing on Tuesday morning near the Tezpur IAF base in the north-eastern state of Assam while on a routine sortie near the China border.

Israeli-American coalition takes on ‘enemy’ aircraft in the south

05/22/2017

An Israeli-American aerial coalition squared off against enemy forces in southern Israel, sustaining heavy (mock) losses, but learning invaluable lessons along the way, an IDF official said Sunday, speaking to reporters at the end of a two-week exercise.

War with North Korea: An inside look at how U.S. troops would respond worldwide

05/22/2017

The Trump administration sees no good military options in North Korea. The rogue regime’s missile tests are growing more frequent, and Kim Jong-Un is closer than ever to being able to deliver a nuclear-tipped missile to the United States’ West Coast. Yet given Seoul’s proximity to the border, military leaders fear that any preemptive strike would almost certainly set in motion a cataclysmic chain of events resulting in profound loss of life.

Kim Jong-un Approves Mass Production of Successfully Launched Ballistic Missile

05/22/2017

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ordered on Monday to deploy Pukguksong-2 ballistic missile for combat use. Earlier on Monday media reported, that Pyongyang announced the successful launch of the intermediate-range ballistic missile. "This type of missile should be rapidly mass-produced in a serial way," Kim said as quoted by Yonhap news agency.

Indo-Russian project to develop aircraft hits roadblock over price, technology

05/21/2017

An ambitious Indo-Russian project to co-develop fifth generation fighter planes has hit major roadblocks over the issues of price and technology even as New Delhi has scrapped a programme to jointly produce multirole transport aircraft with Moscow over similar issues.

ANALYSIS: Saab counts down to Gripen E debut

05/21/2017

Saab is counting down to performing the first flight of its Gripen E combat aircraft before the end of June, as it also strives to finalise a slew of potential new sales of the earlier C/D version in Europe and Africa.

Chat Between Top Diplomats Signals China, US Are Moving Closer on North Korea

05/21/2017

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Chinese State Councillor Yang Jiechi in a Saturday phone call affirmed that the two countries must work more closely to use diplomatic dialogue to counter the threat posed by Pyongyang's unbridled ballistic missile and nuclear weapon testing, as well as on other international issues.

Speedy 'Crocodiles' and Top Gunships: The Future of Russian Helicopters

05/21/2017

Russia's latest achievements in the construction of state-of-the art helicopters will be presented at the 10th HeliRussia exhibition, which is due to kick off in Moscow on May 25, according to the news network Zvezda.

Canadian CF-18 Combat Aircraft to Patrol Skies Over Iceland

05/21/2017

Ottawa is dispatching its CF-18 combat aircraft to Iceland as part of Operation Reassurance to contribute to NATO deterrence efforts, the Canadian Armed Forces announced in a statement on Friday.

Pak air force narrows gap as IAF struggles to get fighter jets

05/19/2017

As India struggles to beef up its fighter aircraft fleet due to slow induction of new jets, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) is narrowing the gap with the Indian Air Force. The IAF has 33 fighter squadrons compared with almost 25 units, including those for training, of the neighbouring country, translating into a combat ratio of 1.3 to 1, defence experts say. A squadron usually has 16 to 18 fighters.

Russian Su-24 Fencer Combat Aircraft (Closely Watched By Swedish JAS 39 Gripen Jets) Buzz Dutch Navy Frigate In The Baltic

05/19/2017

On May 17, two Russian Su-24M Fencer attack jets flew quite close to the Royal Netherlands Navy Frigate HNLMS Evertsen, operating in the Baltic Sea. The two unarmed aircraft, escorted by Swedish JAS-39 Gripen jets in QRA (Quick Reaction Alert), come within 200 meters of the ship.

Boeing could deliver Block II Chinook to international customers in 2026

05/19/2017

The 2026 delivery date is dependent upon Boeing achieving full-rate production approval from the US Army in 2023 and its first full-rate production delivery in 2025, Randy Rotte says this week. The upgrade is also only available to countries with CH-47Fs in their inventory, such as Australia, since Boeing does not currently have the ability to transition a CH-47D to the CH-47F Block II configuration.

Finland analyses responses in Hornet replacement effort

05/19/2017

Finland is continuing to analyse responses to a request for information it issued last year as part of the HX programme to replace its air force’s fleet of Boeing F/A-18C/D Hornets. It anticipates beginning the formal selection process in early 2018, when it will send a request for quotation (RFQ) to five manufacturers. These are Boeing, BAE Systems (representing Eurofighter), Dassault, Lockheed Martin and Saab, for their respective F/A-18E/F, Typhoon, Rafale, F-35 and Gripen E.

General Atomics Wins $195Mln for Electromagnetic Aircraft Carrier Catapult

05/19/2017

General Atomics will manufacture and install the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) for the third next-generation Ford-class aircraft carrier Enterprise (CVN 80) under a $195 million contract, the US Department of Defense said in a press release.

Lift Off: New Chinese Attack Chopper Takes Maiden Flight

05/19/2017

China’s latest domestically produced military vehicle has made its first flight. The Z-19 helicopter conducted its maiden flight Thursday morning over the city of Harbin in northeastern China. State-owned AVIC Harbin Aircraft Industry developed the Z-19E attack chopper with the intention of selling it to foreign clients. The Z-19E is “the first export-oriented helicopter made especially for attack purposes,” Chinese media reported.

BP to Provide $244Mln in Jet Fuel to US Aircraft in Turkey Through Pipeline

05/18/2017

The US Department of Defense announced that BP has received a nearly quarter billion dollar contract from the US Defense Logistics Agency to supply jet fuel to air bases in Turkey and possibly along the Central European pipeline system.

Moon Warns of War on Korean Peninsula

05/18/2017

Following the deployment of the cutting-edge US-built THAAD missile system in South Korea and Sunday’s successful launch of Pyongyang’s most powerful ballistic missile to date, newly elected South Korean President Moon Jae-in has declared that war with the North is a "high possibility."

British RAF Drone Halts Daesh Public Execution, MoD Says

05/18/2017

A British RAF drone strike has managed to stop a public execution by Daesh in eastern Syria. The drone which is known as a General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper, capable of remotely controlled or autonomous flight operations, spotted the group of jihadists mustering a large crowd in the town of Abu Kamal in eastern Syria.

U.S. Air Force Sends Robotic F-16s Into Mock Combat

05/17/2017

The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratories and Lockheed Martin have demonstrated a mixed formation of manned and unmanned F-16s in a simulated combat environment. The Have Raider demonstration at Edwards Air Force Base in California included two phases, Lockheed announced on April 10, 2017. The first phase, Have Raider I, focused on formation-flying. Have Raider II sent the pilotless F-16 on a mock bombing run through “dynamic” enemy defenses.

Dassault Aviation sees new deal for its Rafale fighter jet in 2018

05/17/2017

French plane-maker Dassault Aviation SA sees a new sale contract for its Rafale fighter jet in 2018, Chief Executive Eric Trappier said in an interview with French regional newspaper Sud-Ouest on Sunday. "After a contract signed in India, regarding the delivery of 36 Rafale jets, and the order of 24 of these aircraft by Egypt and 24 other by Qatar, we should soon conclude a fourth contract abroad, but it will rather be in 2018," Trappier said in the interview.