Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Jakarta receives more former USAF F-16 Block 25 fighters

03/28/2017

Indonesia has received 18 of 24 Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 25 fighters that have been refurbished after USAF use. The aircraft were delivered from the USAF’s Ogden Air Logistics Complex, says a statement from the USAF. The four most recent aircraft include three single seat ‘C’ jets and one tandem seat ‘D’ aircraft.

Did the Air Force Dash Hopes for Building More F-22s?

03/27/2017

When the F-22 Raptor production line ceased in 2011, Air Force Lt. Col. Daniel thought the Pentagon had made a huge mistake. He was driving in his car in 2009 when he found out "the Raptor fleet is done at 187, and I remember thinking, 'This is not great.' I thought it was an error."

Selfridge Military Museum, Air Park to open for season

03/27/2017

With the return of spring weather, the Selfridge Military Museum and Air Park will soon once again be open to the general public. The museum and air park will be open from noon to 4:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays from April 1 to Oct. 29. It will also be open on Independence Day and Memorial Day. Visitors to the museum and air park will see more than $7 million worth of displays. The site features more than 30 military aircraft, all with a Michigan connection, and thousands of artifacts.

Rafale, Eurofighter Not Shortlisted In Malaysian MRCA Jet Competition: Defence Minister

03/27/2017

Malaysia’s defence minister Hishamuddin Hussain has squashed reports that the Dassault Rafale and Eurofighter Typhoon had been shortlisted for the Malaysian air force’s multi-role combat aircraft (MRCA) requirement. Asked if the ministry would settle for Eurofighter Typhoon by BAE Systems or the Rafale by Dassault Aviation, he said the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and the Saab Gripen “are still in the running”.

Sudan and Saudi military to hold joint air force drills

03/27/2017

Sudan said on Sunday that it will begin military air operations with Saudi Arabia this week, the first exercises of its kind since the breakdown in 2015 of the links between Khartoum and Tehran. The maneuvers will take place from 29 March to 12 April in Meroe, north of Khartoum, and will involve hundreds of air force personnel from both countries.

North Korea Warns of Attack ‘Without Warning’ as Western War Games Continue

03/27/2017

In the midst of ongoing joint military exercises between the United States and South Korea, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) has stated that it may attack without warning against what it claims are preparations for an enemy invasion by the West.

Full Coverage: Russia Upgrades Its Air Defense Shield to Strikingly New Level

03/27/2017

In his program Vesti Nedeli (News of the Week), broadcast by Russia's Rossiya 1 news network, TV host Dmitry Kiselev specifically focused on Russia's air and missile defense systems, which he said have been bolstered considerably over the past several years. Kiselev recalled that "in the early 2000s, Russia's air defenses were locally installed, with only major economic and military facilities being protected by these systems at the time."

What Makes US Aircraft Carriers Dominant?

03/26/2017

Down the road, the Navy’s pursuit of a sixth-generation fighter will hopefully keep the carrier air wing vital and effective, even against strongly defended targets.

‘We back indigenisation, but Tejas didn’t fit the bill’

03/26/2017

The Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Sunil Lanba , in a wide-ranging interview with The Hindu , clarifies that the Navy has only taken a purely technical decision in turning down the naval version of the light combat aircraft developed by the DRDO despite its strong commitment to indigenisation. He highlights the need to step up training facilities to meet personnel shortage and the Navy’s strong ‘Act East’ focus.

With Russia's Help, India's Fleet of Su-30s is About to Get a Whole Lot Deadlier

03/26/2017

Irkut Corporation, manufacturer of Russia's Sukhoi brand of fighter aircraft, has offered the Indian Air Force a proposal to carry out a 'major modernization' of India's fleet of Sukhoi Su-30MKI multirole air superiority fighters. What benefits will the upgrade mean for the Indian Air Force? Sputnik investigates.

India Conducts Maiden Firing of Israeli Barak Missile From Aircraft Carrier

03/26/2017

The Indian Navy successfully conducted the maiden trial-firing of a newly installed surface-to-air missile system from its Russian-origin aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya. The missile system, the Israel-made Barak 8, was taken out from a decommissioned warship and fitted into the Vikramaditya, the former Admiral Gorshkov, in 2015. The missile system has been fitted on the warship by cutting the deck.

After Almost 30 Years in Service, Indian Navy Tupolevs to Retire

03/26/2017

The Indian Navy's three Tupolev Tu-142M aircraft will be decommissioned on March 29. The aircraft will be converted into a museum in collaboration with an Indian state. The navy had already begun gradually phasing out the Tupolevs, nicknamed Albatross, which were key in anti-submarine warfare and maritime patrol roles.

Pentagon Awards $909Mln Contract for Air Force Landing Gear Logistics Program

03/26/2017

The Department of Defense announced that the United States awarded a $909 million contract to AAR Supply Chain for the Air Force’s landing gear logistical program.“AAR Supply Chain Inc., Wood Dale, Illinois, has been awarded a $909,394,297 firm-fixed-price with economic price adjustment requirements contract for the Landing Gear Performance Based Logistics One program,” the release stated on Friday.

UK.gov confirms it won't be buying V-22 Ospreys for new aircraft carriers

03/25/2017

Britain is not buying V-22 Osprey aircraft to fly from its new aircraft carriers, the government has confirmed. “The V-22 Osprey is not part of the resourced plan to deliver the UK Carrier Strike capability,” said junior defence minister Earl Howe. “However, the Ministry of Defence will continue to explore a variety of options to augment the capabilities of the Queen Elizabeth Class carriers in future.”

Sukhoi Su-27 vs FA-50 specs: China, PH’s fighter jets compared; FA-50PH fleet to be complete in May

03/25/2017

The Philippines is set to have additional six new FA-50 fighter jets from South Korea in the following weeks, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said Thursday. On Wednesday, two of the six Philippine FA-50 fighter jets (tail numbers 007 and 008) would arrive in the country. Two more would land in April and the last two in May, according to Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla.

Russian Knights demonstrate their new Su-30SM at Malaysian trade fair

03/25/2017

The plane can stop dramatically in mid-air, turn on a dime, and rapidly accelerate. The Russian Knights, the elite aerobatic demonstration team of the Russian Air Force, is showcasing the new Sukhoi Su-30 fighters at the LIMA 2017 maritime and aerospace exhibition in Malaysia, March 21-25.

Will India, Russia Co-Develop a New 5th Stealth Fighter?

03/25/2017

India and Russia have failed to make progress on one of their most prestigious defense deals—the co-development and production of the Sukhoi/HAL Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA), known in India as the Perspective Multi-role Fighter (PMF).

FRENCH MILITARY POWER GETS A BOOST WITH NEW FIGHTER JETS AND SURGE IN DEFENSE SPENDING

03/25/2017

France is overhauling its popular Rafale multi-role fighter jet to better serve in combat missions, the French defense ministry said this week. The makeover comes as France is pouring millions of new dollars into defense spending to bolster national security. France has directed contractor Dassault Aviation to upgrade the Rafale with changes to its missiles, engines and new capabilities.

Is Germany Getting Ready to Build Its Very Own Stealth Fighter?

03/25/2017

Germany and Airbus Defense and Space are working on the initial stages of a new program to replace Berlin’s long-serving fleet of the Panavia Tornado bombers and complement the Luftwaffe’s Eurofighter Typhoon air superiority fighters. The Future Combat Air System (FCAS)—as the Bundeswehr program is called—would likely be a system of systems that combines manned and unmanned elements.

KC-46 costs come down but delays loom

03/25/2017

The Boeing KC-46A tanker’s costs have decreased by $7.3 billion, or about 14%, since its initial estimate but the programme could see future delays, according to a Government Accountability Report released this week.

PICTURES: Kabul welcomes latest batch of Super Tucanos

03/25/2017

Afghanistan has bolstered to a dozen its in-country fleet of Embraer/Sierra Nevada A-29 Super Tucano light-attack aircraft, with the arrival of its latest four examples in Kabul. Flown from the US Air Force’s Moody AFB in Georgia, the A-29s arrived in Afghanistan on 20 March. They will undergo “a brief reconfiguration, after which they will be ready for combat operations in the 2017 fighting season”, according to the USAF.

Polish Air Force Considering F-35, F-16 Acquisitions

03/25/2017

Military strategists in Poland are torn as to whether to bolster the country’s aerial arsenal with more beleaguered F-35 Joint Strike Fighters or upgraded F-16 Fighting Falcons. "I can say that, regarding the F-16 and F-35 aircraft, there is an ongoing discussion on which one to select," Deputy Defense Minister Bartosz Kownacki recently told the Polish Parliament.

Lockheed still weighing light attack plane offering, but T-50 is likely out

03/23/2017

Lockheed Martin is considering whether it has a plane in its inventory that can meet the U.S. Air Force’s nascent light attack aircraft requirement, but may subvert expectations by not offering the T-50, a top company executive tells Defense News.

Rafale appears in the lead as Malaysia seeks new fighter jets - defence source

03/23/2017

France's Rafale fighter jet is emerging as the frontrunner as Malaysia looks to replace its aging fleet of combat aircraft, a source in the Southeast Asian nation's defence ministry said on Wednesday, despite narrowing its defence spending this year. French President Francois Hollande was expected to make a pitch for the Rafale, made by Dassault Aviation SA, when he and his team visit Malaysia next week, the source said.

Belgium plans to replace F-16 Fighting Falcon with new combat aircraft

03/23/2017

Belgian Defence Minister Steven Vandeput has announced plans to replace its existing fleet of F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft, in a bid to improve its air combat capability. The 54 F-16s currently in service with Belgium will be replaced by 34 new multi-role combat aircraft. Vandeput said: "The government has made the courageous decision to renew our air combat capability and to replace the F-16s fleet, and with this capability we are making an important contribution to Nato's collective defence.