Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

New Jets, New Birds: UK F-35s to Carry Meteor Missiles by 2024

04/23/2017

Over the next 10 years, US-made F-35 fifth-generation fighter jets delivered to the UK will be modified to carry English air-to-air Meteor missiles. Citing a need to integrate European armament with US-built military aircraft, Lockheed-Martin F-35s delivered to the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy will be equipped with English-built ‘Meteor' Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) weapons, according to defense-update.com.

Canadian Jets Intercepted Russian Tu-95MS Bombers Near Alaska

04/23/2017

The fighter jets of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) followed US Air Force in intercepting two Russian Tu-95MS military planes that were flying in the neutral airspace around the northern coast of Canada, local media reported, citing the North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) spokeswoman.

Raytheon Inks $79Mln for Sidewinder Missile Support to US, 20 Foreign States

04/23/2017

Raytheon has been awarded $79 million for engineering services and training for AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II tactical missiles for the US Navy, Air Force and the governments of 20 nations, the US Department of Defense said in a press release.

Pilot ejects from fighter jet as Vinson carrier heads to Korea

04/22/2017

The pilot of a strike fighter on final approach to the aircraft carrier Carl Vinson safely ejected in the Celebes Sea early Friday morning and was recovered, Navy officials said. The incident occurred as the pilot of the F/A-18E Super Hornet assigned to Carrier Air Wing 2 was trying to land. The Navy didn’t identify the person publicly.

SYRIA MOVES COMBAT AIRCRAFT NEAR TO RUSSIAN BASE

04/22/2017

CNN reports that the Syrian government has relocated the majority of its combat planes to protect them from potential U.S. strikes. CNN bases its report on comments by two U.S. defense officials. The aircraft in question reportedly were moved to an airfield close to a base where the majority of Russian air forces helping the Assad regime are located. The theory is that President Trump is unlikely to launch an attack that might strike Russian assets.

Defiant's first flight falls behind

04/22/2017

Sikorsky-Boeing’s SB-1 Defiant has fallen months behind its scheduled first flight in the US Army’s Joint Multi-Role Technology Demonstration (JMR-TD), even as Bell Helicopter’s V-280 Valor marches toward its first flight in September.

OPINION: JMR-TD delays could slow US Army's high-speed rotorcraft effort

04/22/2017

It has not been a great week for the US Army’s Future Vertical Lift (FVL) programme. The Sikorsky-Boeing team has acknowledged that its SB-1 Defiant will not fly until next year, or several months after its rival in the army’s joint multi-role technology demonstration (JMR-TD) effort – the Bell Helicopter V-280 Valor – completes its first flight in September (assuming that programme runs to schedule, of course).

China Refutes Reports of Increased Military Aircraft Activity

04/22/2017

The Chinese Defense Ministry denied on Friday media reports alleging escalated activity of state military aircraft. On Thursday, Reuters news agency reported on an increased level of activity of Chinese bombers, citing US officials who wished to remain anonymous and did not specify the reason for the activity. The news outlet suggested that the move might be linked to concerns over the threat of North Korea.

Sikorsky and RCAF no closer to finding fault on Cyclones

04/20/2017

The Royal Canadian Air Force and Sikorsky appear no closer to finding the root cause of a failure with a flight control computer that has left its fleet of CH-148 Cyclone maritime patrol helicopters grounded since 10 March.

Boeing pulls out of Belgian fighter competition

04/20/2017

Boeing will not compete its F/A-18 Super Hornet to replace Belgium’s fleet of Lockheed Martin F-16s, the company informed the nation's government this week. In a statement, the airframer says it will not participate in a 19 April bidders' conference, nor respond to Brussels' request for proposals for the new fighter.

USAF leaves behind two F-35As during Lakenheath deployment

04/20/2017

Two of the six Lockheed Martin F-35As deployed by the US Force Lakenheath AB last week were left behind in the UK as their squadron mates made the return trip. An USAF pilot noticed a possible refueling issue on one F-35A and decided to hold back deploying both that aircraft and its wingman, says Lt Col George Watkins, commander of the 34th fighter squadron. Watkins called the check a routine safety precaution.

Russian Nuclear-Capable Bombers Fly Near Alaska for Second Night in Row

04/20/2017

US military has tracked two Russian nuclear-capable bombers near the coast of Alaska for a second night in row, according Fox News. Following a similar incident on April 17, the Russian planes appeared close to the Aleutian Islands on Tuesday night, Fox News reported citing US officials.

US Supercarrier Carl Vinson to Spend 30 Extra Days at Sea Near Korean Peninsula

04/20/2017

Carrier Strike Group One Commander Rear Adm. Jim Kilby said that supercarrier Carl Vinson will spend additional 30 days at sea to ensure US military presence off the Korean Peninsula.

Japan: US Marine Corps F-35B Fighter Jets Gearing up for Combat

04/19/2017

U.S. Marine Corps Fighter Attack Squadron 121, the service’s first overseas-deployed F-35B squadron, has conducted a hot-reload exercise at an airbase in Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture on April 6. It was the first time that ordnance was loaded onto a running F-35B, the U.S. Marine Corps variant of the supersonic fifth-generation F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter, capable of vertical or short takeoffs and vertical landings without requiring a catapult launcher.

US F-22s intercept Russian bombers off Alaska coast

04/19/2017

Two Russian TU-95 Bear bombers were intercepted in international airspace off the coast of Alaska by two US F-22 Raptor fighter aircraft on Monday, the Pentagon confirmed to CNN. The intercept, which was described by a US military official as safe and professional, took place about 100 miles from Kodiak Island after the Russian aircraft flew into the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone.

Norways starts F-35 braking parachute tests

04/19/2017

Norway has begun testing of the braking parachute it will employ on its fleet of Lockheed Martin F-35As. Initial efforts at Edwards AFB in California will focus on how the Joint Strike Fighter handles with the parachute fitted, as well as braking on both dry and wet runways. A later phase, running until early 2018 at Eielson AFB in Alaska, will evaluate its performance on icy runways.

Sikorsky Expands Helicopter Operations in Asia With New Center in Thailand

04/19/2017

Maintenance and support facilities for US helicopters are being expanding in the Asia-Pacific region with the opening of a center in Thailand, the Lockheed-Martin subsidiary Sikorsky announced in a press release on Tuesday. "This support center will represent Sikorsky’s seventh in the Asia-Pacific region and add to the growing network of 20 Sikorsky support centers world-wide," the release stated.

Russian Experts Impressed by N Korean Missiles, but Say ICBMs Still Decades Away

04/19/2017

Observers worldwide took note of the array of weapons put on display during Saturday's military parade in Pyongyang, including mockups of new long-range missiles. In a special commentary for Sputnik, analyst Vasily Kashin said that while the country's ICBM program is still far from the test phase, its leaders certainly aren't lacking in ambition.

Iran’s Fake Qaher F-313 Stealth Fighter Is Back

04/18/2017

A new version of Iran’s ridiculous Qaher F-313 stealth fighter has made an appearance complete with a video of the aircraft performing taxi trials. While Iran’s latest effort shows improvement over the last iteration of the Qaher, this new version of the alleged stealth fighter is probably just a model.

US, South Korea Hold Massive Air Combat Drills In Show Of Force As North Korea’s Missiles ‘Fizzle’ Out

04/18/2017

The U.S. and South Korea deployed numerous air assets for a massive air combat drill one day after North Korea’s latest ballistic provocation, the U.S. military reports. Around 1,000 U.S. airmen and fighter jets will train alongside the South Korean Air Force in the two-week Max Thunder exercise, one of the largest military flying exercises held in South Korea, U.S. Pacific Command revealed. The joint combat exercises began Monday and will last until the end of April.

Russia, Belarus to Carry Out Observation Flight Over France

04/18/2017

As part of the international Open Skies Treaty … a group of member states, the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation, plans to carry out an observation flight on the Russian An-30B jet over the territory of the French Republic. An observation flight over France will be carried out in the period from April 18 to April 22, 2017, from the Open Skies airfield Orleans Bricy with a maximum range of up to 2,078 kilometers [over 1,291 miles]," Ryzhkov said.

US, South Korea, Japan to Convene Trilateral Talks on North Korean Threat

04/18/2017

As parties continue to beat the drums of war in the Korean Peninsula, defense officials from Seoul, Tokyo, and Washington will convene in Japan on Wednesday to hold the Defense Trilateral Talks (DTT).

T-45s flying again after brief grounding

04/18/2017

The US Navy’s commander of Naval Air Forces allowed the service’s T-45 Goshawk trainer jets to return to flight 17 April, after US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) temporarily grounded the fleet in light of persistent oxygen issues on the aircraft.

'It'd be devastating': Air Force chief sounds the alarm how budget cuts will affect you

04/18/2017

Squadrons across the Air Force will be grounded. Moves will be put on hold, throwing families into turmoil. New recruits won’t be able to start basic training. Bonuses for critical personnel could be deferred. And that’s just the beginning. More than halfway through fiscal 2017, Congress still hasn’t gotten its act together enough to pass a budget that funds the Air Force and other government agencies.

U.S. and ROK units prepare for Exercise MAX THUNDER 17

04/17/2017

U.S. Air Force, Army, Marine Corps and Navy personnel and aircraft will train with the Republic of Korea Air Forces in the annual, bilateral training Exercise MAX THUNDER 17, which will be hosted at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, April 17-28, 2017. Exercise Max Thunder is part of a continuous exercise program to enhance interoperability between U.S. and ROK forces.