Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Longeron upgrade would keep F-15Cs flying

05/25/2017

The release of president Donald Trump’s fiscal year 2018 budget, which continues millions of dollars in funding for ongoing upgrades to the Boeing F-15C – as well as a new service life-extension programme (SLEP) for the aircraft’s longerons – has allowed the US Air Force to officially quash rumours of a near-term retirement for the fighter.

Budget spares U-2 and A-10 from retirement

05/25/2017

The US Air Force has no near-term plans to retire two of its most iconic aircraft: the Fairchild Republic A-10 and Lockheed Martin U-2. President Donald Trump’s fiscal year 2018 budget request ensures that both the close-air support specialist and high-flying surveillance aircraft will remain in the USAF’s inventory – although it is unclear for how long, given the Department of Defense’s shaky overview of its future years' programme budget.

Israeli air force to receive unique test F-35

05/25/2017

Israel's air force will take delivery of an additional Lockheed Martin F-35 in 2020 with a special suite of test instrumentation. "This unique aircraft, which was not part of any other F-35 contract, will enable us to begin the work of upgrading the capabilities of this aircraft so that it answers our special operational requirements," says the commander of the air force's test centre, identified only as Lt Col Shlomy.

Israel to boost M-346 capabilities

05/25/2017

The Israeli air force is upgrading the capabilities of its Leonardo M-346 advanced jet trainers, to equip the "Lavi" with inert training bombs and external fuel tanks. "We work closely with the manufacturer, and this may lead to offering the same upgrades to other customers," says the commander of the air force's flight test centre, identified only as Lt Col Shlomy. The unit is tasked with overseeing the modifications, as well as opening the trainer's full flight envelope.

ANALYSIS: Swedish air force returns to Cold War footing

05/25/2017

Sweden is changing. After a lengthy period of shrinking investment in its armed forces and a tactical shift from national defence to developing expeditionary capabilities, Stockholm's focus has reverted to protecting its population against invasion.

Pentagon Awards $76 Million to Support Afghan Air Force's Chopper Fleet

05/25/2017

The Pentagon announced Wednesday it had awarded $76 million worth of foreign military sales contract for logistics support of the Afghanistan Air Force's helicopters. US contractor MD Helicopters won more than $76 million to provide logistics support for the Afghan Air Force’s chopper fleet, the Department of Defense said in a press release.

Friend or Foe? South Korean Military to Upgrade Aircraft Identification System

05/25/2017

As threats of military conflict continue unabated from its northern neighbor, South Korea’s military officials have signaled the need to upgrade their nation’s ability to quickly determine whether incoming aircraft are friend or foe.

Air Force Requests 4K More Airmen, 46 F-35s, No Bonus Changes

05/24/2017

The Air Force wants to add 4,000 airmen, buy 46 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters and keep bonuses relatively unchanged despite a pilot shortage, according to its fiscal 2018 budget request. The service is requesting to boost end-strength by slightly more than 1 percent from 321,000 active-duty airmen in the current fiscal year to 325,000 airmen in the next -- part of a modest increase since reaching a low in 2015, according to budget documents released Tuesday.

China Has a Powerful Air Force (and One Big Flaw It Can't Easily Fix)

05/24/2017

China is determined to close that gap, but it has not yet succeeded in doing so. Last year, Beijing setup the Aero Engine Corp. of China (AECC) as part of its efforts to solve the problem. The firm has $7.5 billion in capital and 96,000 employees. According to a CNN report, Beijing's most recent five-year development plan states that developing and producing indigenous engines is one of China’s most important goals.

F-35 remains on track in Trump request

05/24/2017

With a Defense Department review of Lockheed Martin F-35 and Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet still ongoing, procurement for the Joint Strike Fighter remained steady in the president’s fiscal year 2018 budget request.

President Trump signs $110 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia

05/24/2017

In his first international trip as US president, Donald Trump arrived in Riyadh bearing a record-setting arms deal for Saudi Arabia that features integrated air defense systems, Black Hawk helicopters - including local assembly - and precision-guided munitions, in a multi-billion contract bonanza for Boeing and Lockheed Martin.

Cost considerations fuel Israeli tanker debate

05/24/2017

As a decision on acquiring new tankers for the Israeli air force becomes time-critical, two options are the subject of a heated debate within the nation's defence ministry.

Israel divides Hercules unit following upgrade

05/24/2017

Israel's air force has formally split its "Knights of the Yellow Bird" squadron into two separate units: one operating upgraded Lockheed Martin C-130Hs; and the other equipped with the new-generation J-model Hercules.

US Navy Orders High-Tech Upgrades for Hawkeye Maritime Surveillance Aircraft

05/24/2017

US Navy has awarded a $7.5 million contract to test and integrate new technology into a carrier-capable tactical airborne early warning aircraft that is designed to provide real-time tactical intelligence in maritime combat zones.

Military Milestone: All You Need to Know About the New North Korean Missile

05/24/2017

South Korean experts managed to establish the type of missile that the DPRK military launched on May 21. According to sources in the Defense Ministry of the Republic of Korea, it was a Pukykson-2 type missile. In the West, it is known as KN-15.

Indian Air Force Sukhoi Jet Goes Missing Near China Border

05/24/2017

A Sukhoi-30MKI jet of the Indian Air Force (IAF) has gone missing on Tuesday morning near the Tezpur IAF base in the north-eastern state of Assam while on a routine sortie near the China border.

Israeli-American coalition takes on ‘enemy’ aircraft in the south

05/22/2017

An Israeli-American aerial coalition squared off against enemy forces in southern Israel, sustaining heavy (mock) losses, but learning invaluable lessons along the way, an IDF official said Sunday, speaking to reporters at the end of a two-week exercise.

War with North Korea: An inside look at how U.S. troops would respond worldwide

05/22/2017

The Trump administration sees no good military options in North Korea. The rogue regime’s missile tests are growing more frequent, and Kim Jong-Un is closer than ever to being able to deliver a nuclear-tipped missile to the United States’ West Coast. Yet given Seoul’s proximity to the border, military leaders fear that any preemptive strike would almost certainly set in motion a cataclysmic chain of events resulting in profound loss of life.

Kim Jong-un Approves Mass Production of Successfully Launched Ballistic Missile

05/22/2017

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ordered on Monday to deploy Pukguksong-2 ballistic missile for combat use. Earlier on Monday media reported, that Pyongyang announced the successful launch of the intermediate-range ballistic missile. "This type of missile should be rapidly mass-produced in a serial way," Kim said as quoted by Yonhap news agency.

Indo-Russian project to develop aircraft hits roadblock over price, technology

05/21/2017

An ambitious Indo-Russian project to co-develop fifth generation fighter planes has hit major roadblocks over the issues of price and technology even as New Delhi has scrapped a programme to jointly produce multirole transport aircraft with Moscow over similar issues.

ANALYSIS: Saab counts down to Gripen E debut

05/21/2017

Saab is counting down to performing the first flight of its Gripen E combat aircraft before the end of June, as it also strives to finalise a slew of potential new sales of the earlier C/D version in Europe and Africa.

Chat Between Top Diplomats Signals China, US Are Moving Closer on North Korea

05/21/2017

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Chinese State Councillor Yang Jiechi in a Saturday phone call affirmed that the two countries must work more closely to use diplomatic dialogue to counter the threat posed by Pyongyang's unbridled ballistic missile and nuclear weapon testing, as well as on other international issues.

Speedy 'Crocodiles' and Top Gunships: The Future of Russian Helicopters

05/21/2017

Russia's latest achievements in the construction of state-of-the art helicopters will be presented at the 10th HeliRussia exhibition, which is due to kick off in Moscow on May 25, according to the news network Zvezda.

Canadian CF-18 Combat Aircraft to Patrol Skies Over Iceland

05/21/2017

Ottawa is dispatching its CF-18 combat aircraft to Iceland as part of Operation Reassurance to contribute to NATO deterrence efforts, the Canadian Armed Forces announced in a statement on Friday.

Pak air force narrows gap as IAF struggles to get fighter jets

05/19/2017

As India struggles to beef up its fighter aircraft fleet due to slow induction of new jets, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) is narrowing the gap with the Indian Air Force. The IAF has 33 fighter squadrons compared with almost 25 units, including those for training, of the neighbouring country, translating into a combat ratio of 1.3 to 1, defence experts say. A squadron usually has 16 to 18 fighters.