Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

DARPA's next big project is an airplane-deployed drone swarm

12/20/2017

The Defense Advanced Research Project Agency plans to demonstrate an ability to launch and recover small drones from an Air Force C-130 aircraft as part of its continued development of the Gremlins program — a technical effort designed to deploy groups of small drones carrying 60-pound sensor payloads up to ranges of 300 nautical miles.

Yemen rebel missile fired at Riyadh 'bears hallmarks' of Iran

12/20/2017

A missile fired from Yemen at the Saudi Arabian capital, Riyadh, bears the hallmarks of a weapon provided by Iran, the US ambassador to the UN has said. Nikki Haley said Iran's actions threatened to drag the world "deeper into a broadening regional conflict". The missile was shot down by Saudi Arabia's military on Tuesday. There were no reports of any damage.

USAF details scope and schedule for B-52 re-engining

12/20/2017

A new US Air Force document released last week outlines the details, timeline and likely competitors for a plan to acquire at least 608 new turbofan engines to replace the eight Pratt & Whitney TF33s on each of 76 Boeing B-52H bombers in the US Air Force fleet.

Bell Valor V-280 makes maiden flight

12/20/2017

A prototype Bell Helicopter tiltrotor called the V-280 Valor lifted vertically off the ground and hovered in ground effect for the first time this week. The V-280, which denotes the aircraft's 280kt top speed, performed basic handling tests in hover mode outside Bell's tiltrotor production site in Amarillo, Texas, including a rapid pedal turn.

Boeing offers revealing sneak-peek of MQ-25 bid

12/20/2017

Boeing has revealed a narrow, nose-on view of the company’s bid to win a three-way competition to build the MQ-25 Stingray, a carrier-based unmanned air system (UAS) that the US Navy plans to use as an in-flight refueler to extend the range of manned fighters.

Chinese air force planes fly through Tsushima Strait for first time

12/19/2017

Chinese air force planes Monday flew through Tsushima Strait for the first time and conducted drills in international airspace over the Sea of Japan, an air force spokesperson said. The drills, involving bombers, fighters, reconnaissance planes and other aircraft, were aimed to examine the high-sea combat ability of the air force, said Shen Jinke, spokesman for the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force.

Russian-Egyptian military cooperation on the rise

12/19/2017

A few hours before Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Cairo to meet with his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Dec. 11, he ordered the Hmeimim air base in Syria’s Latakia province to begin withdrawing the bulk of Russian troops stationed in Syria, while maintaining a presence at Hmeimim and the Russian naval facility in Tartus.

Myanmar Commissions 10 Military Aircraft

12/19/2017

Myanmar has commissioned 10 military aircraft during a ceremony commemorating the 70 anniversary of the nation’s Air Force. A total of 10 airplanes — six Yak-130s, two Fokker-70s and two ATR 42-320s — were put into operation at the morning ceremony, held at the Air Training School in Meiktila Station in Mandalay Region, Eleven Myanmar reported Saturday.

China's warplanes hold drill near Japan, South Korea, Taiwan

12/19/2017

China sent several warplanes on a long-range drill to the Sea of Japan on Monday and also conducted drills around rival Taiwan, moved that prompted South Korea to scramble fighter jets and could raise concerns about Beijing's growing military presence in the region.Chinese air force spokesman Shen Jinke said the air force dispatched bombers, fighters and reconnaissance planes through the Tsushima Strait to the Sea of Japan to "test its ocean combat ability."

IAI IN TALKS TO UPGRADE SRI LANKAN KFIR FIGHTER JETS

12/19/2017

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is in talks to upgrade the Kfir fighter aircrafts of the Sri Lankan air force, The Jerusalem Post has learned. Sri Lanka purchased a total of 16 Kfir jets from Israel between 1995 and 2005; at least seven were lost during the 26-year-long Sri Lankan civil war and IAI is in talks with Colombo to upgrade and return to service its five grounded Kfir jets.

U.S. military sets record in ‘war against terrorists’ — see what they just did

12/18/2017

A B-52 Stratofortress, a long-range strategic bomber, just set a record for the number of “smart bombs” dropped during a combat mission, Military.com reported. Smart bombs use GPS to guide missiles to their targets. It happened during a November mission in Afghanistan, Air Force Brig. Gen. Lance Bunch, director of NATO’s Resolute Support mission, future operations, told Military.com. The bomber is stationed at the Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar.

Qatar seeks to ‘spend billions on military but faces staffing shortage’

12/18/2017

Qatar seeks to spend billions of dollars to increase its military power, particularly its air force capabilities, but the small Gulf state may face a staffing shortage, according to a report by Defense News.

Integration of BrahMos on 40 Sukhoi-30MKI combat aircraft begins!

12/18/2017

After the test-fire of the BrahMos-A supersonic Air-Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM) from a Sukhoi-30 jet, Indian Air Force said that BrahMos coupled with Sukhoi's superlative performance would give the IAF a strategic reach, allowing the force to dominate the ocean as well as the battlefields. The complicated process of BrahMos-Sukhoi integration involves electrical, mechanical, and software modifications to the Sukhoi aircraft.

PICTURES: Leonardo test fires Sidewinder from M-346

12/18/2017

Leonardo has continued development work on the attack variant of its M-346 trainer, performing a successful test firing of a Raytheon AIM-9L Sidewinder air-to-air missile from the platform.

USAF finds F-35 maintainers outside A-10 fleet

12/18/2017

The US Air Force no longer needs to rob its A-10 fleet’s maintainers to support the incoming Lockheed Martin F-35As, according to a Congressional report. The F-35 delivery plan currently outpaces the number of maintainers the USAF can maintain and recruit until fiscal year 2020. In the interim, the service is hiring contract maintainers through 2019 in non-deploying squadrons to allow the USAF to stand up new F-35 squadrons, but Congress remains wary of a long term gap.

Lebanon to receive MD530Gs, ScanEagles from USA

12/18/2017

Lebanon is to receive MD Helicopters MD530Gs and Boeing Insitu ScanEagle unmanned air vehicles as part of a new military assistance package from the USA. Announced by the US embassy in Beirut on 13 December, the deal is worth more than $120 million.

Russia's New Su-57 Stealth Fighter Has A Big Problem That Won't Be Fixed Until 2025

12/14/2017

Russia has started testing its new Sukhoi Su-57 PAK-FA fifth-generation fighter with its new next-generation Saturn izdeliye 30 engines. The flight-testing with the new engines will run for several years. In the meantime, the Russians will build a dozen Su-57s equipped with interim Saturn AL-41F1 afterburning turbofans producing 32,500lbs thrust each for operational testing.

Pentagon OKs limited F-35 testing before modifying jets

12/14/2017

The Pentagon’s top weapons tester intends to approve limited testing on the Lockheed Martin F-35 while the programme office waits for modifications needed to begin the fighter’s full initial operational test and evaluation (IOT&E).

Eurofighter powers up Typhoon production for Kuwait

12/14/2017

Kuwait's future fleet of Typhoons remains on track for introduction from 2019, with the first major parts now in production by the Eurofighter partner companies. "Production activities have begun, in order to comply with the contract and customer expectations," the Eurofighter consortium says. Kuwait signed for 28 of the multirole type – including six two-seat trainers – in 2016 and Italy's Leonardo is lead partner for the sale.

Elbit lands Israeli Hercules training deal

12/14/2017

Elbit Systems is to provide the Israeli air force with flight simulation services to support operations with its Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules tactical transports until 2030. Announced by the company on 6 December, the $74 million deal covers both the new-generation C-130J and Israel's upgraded C-130H transports.

Fresh upgrade boosts Colombia's Kfir fleet

12/14/2017

Israel Aerospace Industries has upgraded the Colombian air force's Kfir fighters to its latest C-60 standard, enabling the type to carry an expanded range of weapons and sensors. Benjamin Cohen, general manager of IAI's Lahav division, says the avionics suite at the heart of the upgrade is similar to the one installed in the Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 52.

New F-35 Avionics Improves Weapons Delivery & Targeting

12/13/2017

The Pentagon is upgrading mission systems avionics as part of a tech refresh effort for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter that improves memory, weapons delivery, storage, processing speed, display video and aircraft parametric data, industry developers said.

CHINESE MILITARY JETS ENCIRCLE TAIWANESE AIRSPACE AS INVASION FEARS RISE

12/13/2017

China’s military sent fighter jets, bombers and surveillance aircraft to patrol the self-governed island of Taiwan on Monday. The “island encirclement patrol” took place after a senior Chinese diplomat threatened that Beijing would invade Taiwan if any U.S. warships made port visits there.

‘Contract for 36 Rafales include weapons suite superior to the earlier case … higher capability more apt for IAF’

12/13/2017

I had the opportunity to fly the F-16 in the US, Gripen in Sweden and Eurofighter in the UK during official visits to these countries as chief of air staff. I also flew the Rafale in India during ‘Exercise Garuda’ with the French air force. These fighter aircraft are very impressive in their performance, equipped with state-of-the-art systems and weapons to execute operational tasks.

Australian 'Classic' Hornets to fill Canada capability gap

12/13/2017

Canberra has confirmed that it will sell 18 Boeing F/A-18 A/B Hornet fighters to Canada for an undisclosed amount. The first two "classic" Hornets will delivered to Canada in 2019, when the Royal Australian Air Force's transition to the Lockheed Martin F-35A will be well underway, says defence minister Marise Payne.