Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

ANALYSIS: US Air Force looks to the future of air superiority

09/12/2017

As the US Air Force approaches production on its Northrop Grumman B-21 bomber and eyes full operational capability for its Lockheed Martin F-35A, the service is examining the future of air superiority with its next-generation air dominance (NGAD) concept.

Lebanon Set to Lodge Complaint With UN Over Israeli Jets’ Sonic Booms

09/12/2017

On Sunday, Israeli Air Force F-15 fighters zipped over Saida, the third-largest city in Lebanon, while breaking the sound barrier. The sonic boom created by the fast, low-flying Israeli warplanes caused the foundations of buildings to shake and broke windows, Lebanese security officials told Reuters.

'Israeli jets hit Syria's Masyaf chemical site' - reports

09/08/2017

The Syrian army says Israeli jets have attacked a site in the west of the country where Western powers suspect chemical weapons are being produced. An army statement says rockets fired from Lebanese airspace hit a military post near Masyaf, killing two soldiers. A monitoring group says they struck a scientific research centre and base storing surface-to-surface missiles.

India armed forces sign for 41 HAL Dhruvs

09/07/2017

India’s army and navy have signed combined orders for 41 Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) Dhruv advanced light helicopters (ALH). The deal will see the army take 40 of the helicopters, and the navy a single aircraft, under a contract valued at Rs61 billion ($976 million). This will be executed over a 60 month period.

Russian Tu-95MS Strategic Bombers Perform Flights Over Arctic Ocean

09/07/2017

Two Russian strategic bombers carried out planned flights over neutral waters of the Arctic Ocean.

Lockheed Martin Gets $25Mln to Overhaul F-22 Raptor Jet Fighters

09/07/2017

Pentagon announced that the US Air Force has awarded Lockheed Martin almost $26 million for more upgrading work on its F-22 Raptor interceptors.

UK Navy to Have 24 F-35 'Frontline Fighters' on HMS Queen Elizabeth by 2023

09/07/2017

Details have emerged about the gradual increase in air wing numbers on board the UK Royal Navy's new aircraft carrier. Britain's Ministry of Defense plans to have 42 F-35 aircraft on board the Royal Navy's new carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth by 2023, with 24 being "frontline fighters," and 18 to be held in reserve or used for training.

This is what the F-22 Raptor's replacement will be like

09/06/2017

The F-22 Raptor is already the most lethal fighter jet ever built, severely outclassing virtually every other aircraft of a similar class fielded by the rest of the world’s air forces. But with the advent of newer anti-aircraft defense systems, stealth-defeating tracking technologies and the entrance of countries such as China and Russia into the stealth fighter foray, the F-22 will eventually need to be replaced with something even more powerful.

Pilots describe what it's like to fly the legendary A-10 Warthog

09/06/2017

Dubbed Warthog, Hog or just Hawg, the A-10 Thunderbolt II, the “airplane built around the GAU-8 Avenger 30-mm hydraulically driven seven-barrel Gatling-type cannon” to fight the Soviet tanks in the European battlefields during the Cold War, is considered one of the most durable and lethal combat plane in the CAS (Close Air Support) mission.

Luke AFB lifts altitude restriction on F-35As

09/06/2017

F-35As are flying high again at Luke AFB, Arizona, though the US Air Force has not identified the root cause of physiological events that provoked the base’s decision to restrict its F-35 squadron’s flying operations.

France to Start Equipping Its Drones With 'Precision Guided' Weapons

09/06/2017

France announced its intention to start using armed drones on Tuesday, joining several states that use the deadly unmanned aircraft in various military conflicts. rench Defense Minister Florence Parly said that France is going to start the process of arming its drones in the near future. The move will involve six US-made unmanned aircraft, which will be equipped with "precision guided" weapons from 2019.

NATO Fighters Escort Russian Jets in Int'l Airspace 7 Times in Week - Lithuania

09/05/2017

The Lithuanian military has again reported NATO fighter intercepts of Russian warplanes in international airspace over the Baltic region despite the fact that Russia's flights are being conducted routinely and in accordance with international law and other agreements.

Pyongyang Claims It Now Has Hydrogen Bomb Small Enough to Mount on ICBM

09/05/2017

North Korea has announced that it is now in possession of a miniaturized hydrogen bomb that can be mounted on an ICBM, according to Yonhap News. The People's Republic of North Korea (DPRK) has announced that it now has a miniaturized hydrogen bomb and is able to mount the deadly weapon on it's newly-built intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), according to a Sunday announcement by Pyongyang state media.

WATCH as Russia's Mi-28N Night Hunter Attack Chopper Unleashes Hell on Daesh

09/03/2017

Russian Mi-28N 'Night Hunter' choppers have struck at Daesh targets surrounded by the Syrian Army in an area near the Shaer gas field in central Syria. Zvezda television channel has released fresh video of the gunship in action.

Lockheed offers to export F-16 fighter jets from proposed India plant

08/30/2017

Lockheed Martin Corp. is closing in on an international deal for F-16 fighter planes, and has offered to eventually build all the jets at a proposed plant in India if it wins a bigger order to supply the Indian Air Force, a top executive said. The US defence giant and Sweden’s Saab are in a two horse-race to equip the Indian military with at least 100 single-engine jets that have to be produced locally under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Make-in-India’ plan.

India’s Air Force Interested in 36 More Rafale Fighter Jets From France

08/30/2017

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is interested in placing a follow-up order for 36 additional fourth-generation Dassault Rafale multirole fighter jets, according to Indian Ministry of Defense (MoD) sources.

Boeing outlines India F/A-18 E/F offering

08/30/2017

Boeing is actively promoting its F/A-18 E/F fighter for a future Indian naval requirement, with promise of a major industrial programme. The US airframer recently discussed its bid for an Indian navy requirement for 57 fighters at a media event in New Delhi.

Israel to sell F-16As with upgrade package

08/30/2017

Normally fierce rivals, Elbit Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries are co-operating on an upgrade package for elderly Lockheed Martin F-16As. Israel retired its "Netz" fighters earlier this year and is now looking to sell the 40-strong inventory, which would be extensively modernised by the partners.

Elbit wins Asia-Pacific F-5 upgrade work

08/30/2017

Elbit Systems has won a $93 million contract from an undisclosed customer in the Asia-Pacific region for the upgrade of its Northrop F-5 fighters. To be conducted over a three-year period, the modification will see the Israeli firm install a number of systems to the legacy type.

HAL commences LCH production

08/30/2017

Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) has commenced production of the initial 15 Light Combat Helicopters (LCH) for the Indian army. At a ceremony at HAL's helicopter production centre in Bengaluru, minister of finance, defence and corporate affairs Arun Jaitley oversaw the launch of LCH production.

Pentagon Notifies US Congress of Sale of 12 Fighter Aircraft, Other Weapons Worth $593m to Nigeria

08/29/2017

The U.S. Department of Defence has notified its Congress of the sale of 12 Super Tucano A-29 planes and weapons worth $593 million to Nigeria for the fight against Boko Haram. The move on the sale, which included thousands of bombs and rockets and was originally agreed by former President Barack Obama’s administration, was announced by the Pentagon’s Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) on August 2.

PICTURES: Bell targets military market with 525 helicopter

08/29/2017

Bell Helicopter is pitching the in-development 525 Relentless to military customers as a 20-passenger troop transport or search and rescue (SAR) platform. Although Bell has previously identified civil SAR and VIP transport missions as alternatives to the depressed oil and gas segment it initially aimed the 525 at, the airframer has so far not pursued military customers.

New Delhi RFIs call for 234 new naval helicopters

08/29/2017

New Delhi has issued a new request for information for 111 naval utility helicopters (NUH) and 123 naval multi-role helicopters (NMRH). A request for proposal is likely to be issued in the second quarter of 2018 for both acquisitions. India’s navy has been struggling to acquire modern helicopters to replace an almost obsolescent rotorcraft fleet since 2010, without any success.

Japan Warns Citizens to Take Precautions Against Possible North Korean Missile

08/29/2017

A North Korean ballistic missile that passed over Japan early Tuesday morning has broken into three pieces and fallen into the sea 733 miles from Cape Erimo in northern Japan into the waters off Hokkaido, state broadcaster NHK reports.

More, More, More! Israel Signs Deal for 17 Additional F-35 Jets

08/29/2017

Israel has officially signed an agreement to buy 17 additional F-35 jets as part of an even larger deal to purchase a total of 50 stealth fighters. Signed by Major General (Res) Udi Adam, the director-general of Israel's Defense Ministry, this move will give the 69-year-old state two squadrons of the once-troubled jet after the delivery is made December 2024, the Jerusalem Post reported.