Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Russian Army to Receive Ka-52 Alligator Combat Choppers Used in Syria Op

06/04/2017

Russia’s Defense Ministry will get 14 Ka-52 Alligator combat helicopters by the end of this year. The choppers have been tested during the operation in Syria. Russia’s Defense Ministry will get 14 Ka-52 Alligator combat helicopters by the end of this year, with a total of 50 choppers entering service by 2020, the deputy defense minister said Saturday.

Demand for “red air” ramping up

06/03/2017

Ask Garry Venman and he’ll tell you that it’s an exciting time to be an air combat training provider. Venman, who is the executive vice-president of business development and government relations at Discovery Air Defence (DA Defence), spoke to Skies during the 2017 CANSEC tradeshow in Ottawa, hosted by the Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries (CADSI).

Navy Unfunded Priorities List Emphasizes Aircraft Buys, Facilities Improvements, Production Efficiencies

06/03/2017

The Navy has asked lawmakers for additional aircraft, warfighting capability improvements and facilities upgrades if more money were to become available to the service, with the release of its Fiscal Year 2018 Unfunded Priorities List.

USAF wish list requests 14 more F-35s, three more tankers

06/03/2017

The US Air Force’s unfunded priorities list includes $1.7 billion for 14 additional Lockheed Martin F-35 aircraft, as well as additional funds for increased Boeing KC-46 tanker procurement.

Proposed F-35 engine upgrade validates performance promises

06/03/2017

Pratt & Whitney has verified that an unfunded upgrade for the 40,000lb-thrust-class F135 engine could increase the thrust of the Lockheed Martin F-35 by 6-10% and reduce fuel consumption by 5-6%, the company announces on 31 May.

NATO Training Exercise Baltic Operations to Include US AWACS Aircraft

06/03/2017

The 2017 iteration of the NATO Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) will include a US E-3 Sentry aircraft, better known as the Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS), which has not participated in the exercise in 20 years, the Air Force said in a press release.

Can Germany Defend Europe On Its Own?

05/31/2017

German chancellor Angela Merkel has reaffirmed her position as the unlikely superhero of Europe’s liberal elites. Twelve years in power and facing a difficult election in September, she struck out at the least popular man in Europe: Donald Trump.

Breaking: Russian military aircraft crashes in Saratov region, one dead

05/31/2017

An Antonov An-26 aircraft has crash landed during a flight training mission, Russia’s Defense Ministry has confirmed. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, “the aircraft failed to maintain the parameters of descent during the final approach and went below the glide path.” “Six crew were on board the plane, which caught fire after the crash landing. One serviceman died and five crew members were evacuated to the hospital by rescue helicopter.”

Pakistan to obtain three more Saab 2000 AEW&C aircraft

05/31/2017

A source with knowledge of the acquisition says the aircraft will be equipped with the Swedish firm's Erieye radar system, which can track both air and surface targets. On 15 May, Saab released a statement that it had signed a contract with an undisclosed customer in the airborne early warning & control segment valued at SEK1.35 billion ($155 million). It said that deliveries would run from 2017 to 2020, with the order to be booked within the next six months.

Russian Military Transport Aviation to Receive 3 New IL-76MD-90A Planes

05/31/2017

Commander of Russian Military Transport Aviation, Lt. Gen. Vladimir Benediktov, said that it plans to receive three bland new Il-76MD-90A military transport aircraft in 2017.

Russian Military to Commission Su-35S Fighter Jet by End of 2017 - MoD

05/31/2017

Deputy Defense Minister said that Russian military is expecting to complete the final tests and commission the advanced Su-35S fighter jet by the end of 2017.

The U.S. Military Might Have Come Up with the Ultimate Weapon: B-52’s Armed with Lasers

05/30/2017

Aircraft-launched laser weapons from fighter jets could eventually be engineered for a wide range of potential uses, including air-to-air combat, close air support, counter-UAS(drone), counter-boat, ground attack and even missile defense, officials said. Low cost is another key advantage of laser weapons, as they can prevent the need for high-cost missiles in many combat scenarios.

Russian Activity In The Baltic Region Leads To Spike In Alert Scrambles By NATO Interceptors Supporting BAP Mission

05/30/2017

The NATO fighter aircraft supporting BAP (Baltic Air Policing) mission in the Baltic States conducted six alert scrambles to identify and escort Russian military aircraft over the Baltic Sea in one week. The Ministry of National Defence Republic of Lithuania has just released some interesting data about the activities conducted by the NATO fighter aircraft deployed to the Baltic States in support of NATO BAP mission.

Fighter jets scrambled over Russian aircraft in weekend-break of Arctic Challenge Exercise

05/30/2017

On Monday, the second week of Europe’s largest air force exercise this year takes off from the airports in Bodø (Norway), Luleå (Sweden) and Rovaniemi (Finland). More than 100 aircraft from 12 nations continue with training sorties in the skies over northern Scandinavia.

China Denies Intercepting US Jet

05/30/2017

China's Defense Ministry on Sunday denied intercepting a US Navy surveillance aircraft, saying its fighter jets were verifying the US aircraft and that the operation was lawful, professional and safe. Two Chinese J-10 fighter jets tried to intercept a US Navy surveillance aircraft over the South China Sea on Thursday, US officials said.

Civilian Air Safety a Concern After US, Chinese Intercepts in South China Sea

05/30/2017

It’s starting to get crowded about the South China Sea, and US surveillance planes in the area could result in a civilian air tragedy, a security expert warns. After Chinese fighters intercepted a US plane earlier this week, fears are growing that military aircraft in the area could jeopardize the safety of civil air traffic.

Super Hornets see boost in new US budget request

05/28/2017

President Donald Trump’s proposed budget would add funding to buy up to 74 Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornets through 2022, or 60 more than planned in previous budget forecasts.

US Navy previews MQ-25 solicitations

05/28/2017

The US Navy is taking one of the final steps before sending out a request for proposals for its unmanned carrier-based tanker programme, with the release of a notice informing the industry that the competition for the MQ-25 development contract will be limited to four companies.

Seoul picks Elta radar for KF-X fighter

05/28/2017

Elta Systems will develop an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar for South Korea's KF-X fighter, under a contract signed with the state-run Agency for Defense Development.

Second HAL Light Utility Helicopter takes flight

05/28/2017

The second prototype of the Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) Light Utility Heicopter (LUH) has conducted its first flight. The aircraft, LUH PT2, made its maiden sortie on 22 May, eight months after first prototype, PT1, flew in September 2017, says HAL.

F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Soon to Be Armed with AIM-9X Missile and JDAM

05/26/2017

The Air Force expects to operationalize the F-35’s latest “3F” software iteration by October or September of this year, a development which will integrate additional technology and equip the stealth aircraft with a wider range of weapons such as the Small Diameter Bomb and AIM-9X, service leaders said.

Boeing files protest against USAF Compass Call acquisition

05/26/2017

Boeing has become the second competitor to file a protest against the US Air Force’s acquisition strategy for the Compass Call recapitalisation programme, alleging L-3 Communications’ lead on the cross-deck effort will hand the award to Gulfstream’s G550.

Sikorsky bullish on export prospects for CH-53K helicopter

05/26/2017

Sikorsky hopes it can secure at least 200 export orders for its CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift helicopter, with Germany and Israel its clearest near-term prospects. Both nations are seeking to replace elderly fleets of legacy CH-53s delivered in the 1970s and late 1960s, respectively. Frank Crisafulli, sales director international, heavy-lift helicopters at Sikorsky, describes Germany as the "closest opportunity, provided it stays on schedule".

Boeing to Integrate Infrared Search, Tracking System in F-18 Combat Jets

05/26/2017

The Pentagon has tasked US aerospace giant Boeing with the Navy's F/A-18 Super Hornets with Infrared Search and Track System to give pilots ability to view multiple targets at higher resolutions and longer ranges compared to radars.

Beijing Pumps the Brakes on Next-Gen Aircraft Carrier

05/26/2017

Pictures on Chinese social media of battleship parts have led to frenzied discussion as to whether China’s Type 002 aircraft carrier is underway ahead of schedule, but analysts say the engineering chops for the ship simply aren’t there yet.