Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Australia wins huge maintenance program to support F-35 aircraft

03/08/2017

Fifteen years after the Australian government signed on to the Joint Strike Fighter program to deliver a fifth-generation fighter, the F-35 was the star of the recent Avalon Airshow. The appearance of the Lockheed Martin stealth fighters in Australia has long been anticipated and comes in advance of their official delivery to the Australian government in 2018.

MiG-35 is frontrunner in Bangladesh Air Force tender: CAWAT

03/08/2017

The MiG-35 is the favourite to win the recently announced tender for 8 multi-role fighters for the Bangladesh Air Force, the official representative of the Centre for Analysis of World Arms Trade (CAWAT) told RIA Novosti on Mar. 3. Russia’s Su-35, MiG-35 and Su-30SM are the leading contenders in the tender, the CAWAT official said. The MiG-35 is the only Russian platform equipped with an active electronically-scanned array (AESA) radar, he added.

East Asia beefs up military strength

03/08/2017

Eight of the world’s 20 biggest military forces by troop numbers are in East Asia, with Japan coming 21st, but the Military Strength Index compiled by Credit Suisse gives only a 5 per cent weighting to personnel on the ground, placing greater importance on a country’s access to military hardware such as tanks, aircraft and warships.

Has Israel Actually Sent The F-35 Into Combat Already?

03/08/2017

For some time now, various news outlets have claimed that Israel is already using its pair of recently-delivered F-35I Adirs in a combat role even before they've been declared operational by the Israeli Air Force. But today, military aviation journalist Thomas Newdick conveyed a report by a French journalist that not only claimed the F-35Is have been active over Syria, but also details what targets they specifically took out on their mission there.

F-18, Rafale or Gripen: Indian Navy looks for its next fighter jet

03/08/2017

The Indian Navy has launched a global search for maritime fighter jets it plans to operate from future aircraft carriers and is awaiting response from top military contractors on what they have to offer. The navy wants 57 multi-role carrier-borne fighters (MRCBF) and the potential order could get bigger with an option clause to buy more jets. The hunt for new deck-based fighters comes at a time when the navy is left with just a solitary aircraft carrier.

BlueBird transforms MicroB UAV for Indian contest

03/08/2017

BlueBird chief executive Ronen Nadir reveals that the new version will not use the flying wing shape of the original MicroB. “We came to the conclusion that this shape limits the aerodynamic capabilities of this small UAV,” he says.

Chinese Premier: Expand Military Presence in South, East China Seas

03/08/2017

In a move analysts expect will inflame tensions between regional powers in the East and South China Seas, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang called on the National People’s Congress for reinforcements to increase manpower in waters Beijing claims are integral to the country’s destiny, Chinese media reported.

Germany to Purchase US-Made MQ-4C Triton Drones Instead of Euro Hawk Aircraft

03/08/2017

Germany will purchase three MQ-4C Triton aerial surveillance drones manufactured in the United States instead of its initial plans to acquire RQ-4 Global Hawk surveillance aircraft because of their high price, local media reported Tuesday, citing sources from the German Defense Ministry.

Taiwan Risks Beijing Backlash Over South China Sea Patrols

03/07/2017

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen is risking a new showdown with Beijing by stepping up military capabilities to protect holdings in the widely contested South China Sea. The navy of Taiwan, a diplomatically isolated government that claims the entire sea and controls its largest land feature, will increase patrols in the 3.5 million-square-kilometer body of water because of China's own growing military might, Defense Minister Feng Shih-kuan told parliament in Taipei last week.

Recent developments surrounding the South China Sea

03/07/2017

The USS Carl Vinson, which is steaming through the South China Sea, is just one of several high-profile displays of U.S. naval power as President Donald Trump's administration weighs options of how to reassure allies and respond to an assertive China.

Russia to Upgrade Aircraft Carrier in 2017

03/07/2017

The modernization of the flagship of the Russian Navy, the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, will commence before July 2017 at the Zvezdochka shipyard in Severodvinsk in Northern Russia and will take two and a half years, according to a Russian defense industry source.

Air Force 'Light Fighter' Concept Seems A Bit Light On Logic

03/07/2017

As the Trump administration's budget plans come into sharper focus, it is increasingly clear that the Pentagon will not be getting enough money to recover from the depressed investment levels of the Obama years. Trump's proposed defense spending level for next year is only 3% above what Obama planned, and there is no guarantee that Congress will repeal budget caps precluding robust investment in new weapons.

Pentagon: Pyongyang's Tests Confirm Prudence of THAAD Deployment to S. Korea

03/07/2017

Missile launches by North Korea confirm that the decision to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system to South Korea was right, US Department of Defense spokesman Navy Commander Gary Ross told Sputnik.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS SURROUNDING THE SOUTH CHINA SEA

03/06/2017

A look at recent developments in the South China Sea, where China is pitted against smaller neighbors in multiple disputes over islands, coral reefs and lagoons in waters crucial for global commerce and rich in fish and potential oil and gas reserves.

China is about to launch its second aircraft carrier, 001A

03/06/2017

The ship — dubbed Project 001A, or CV17, is likely to be launched within weeks. Adding to the atmosphere of expectation is a Beijing state-media video ‘infographic’ outlining the modular design and advanced construction of the as yet unnamed aircraft carrier being built in the Chinese port city of Dalian.

Syrian pilot whose plane crashed in Turkey says aircraft shot down en route to Idlib

03/06/2017

A Syrian air force pilot who bailed out as his warplane crashed on Turkish territory told a Turkish rescue team his MiG-23 had been shot down, Turkey's state-run Anadolu news agency reported on Sunday. The 56-year-old pilot was identified as Mehmet Sufhan, and medical staff said he was not in critical condition despite some fractures in his spine. He is being treated at a hospital in the Hatay region, a hospital spokeswoman said on Sunday.

China Expands Its Strategic Airlift Capability, Prepares to Expand Its Sphere of Influence

03/06/2017

Although combat aircraft such as the J-31 stealth fighter and J-15 aircraft carrier strike aircraft have made most of the headlines, China has made significant accomplishments in the realm of military transport, long range maritime patrol and carrier borne AEW&C aircraft over the past year. First operational in 2016, the Y-20 military transport is now the largest such aircraft in production in the world.

Iran Successfully Tests Russian S-300 Missile System During Drills

03/06/2017

According to the Tasnim news agency, Iranian experts conducted a number of tests of the Russian missile systems. The tests included all phases, namely, detection, identification, interception and target shooting.

Russia's UAC Could Win Tender to Deliver Fighter Jets to Bangladesh

03/04/2017

An official representative of Russia’s Centre for Analysis of World Arms Trade said that Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation with its advanced MiG-35 fighter jets is one of the key candidates to win a contract to deliver eight multi-role combat aircraft to the Bangladesh Air Force.

Drones are revolutionising the way the RAAF fights war

03/04/2017

Of the 16 Orion surveillance planes in the RAAF's fleet, there are two they do not talk about. These special Orions are effectively flying electronic spies, with state-of-the-art, intelligence-gathering equipment allowing them to hoover up electronic signals from other planes and ships as they quietly perform routine patrols over the waters to Australia's north.

US Air Force to hold light attack experiment this summer

03/04/2017

The US Air Force is planning a light attack aircraft experiment at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico this summer, marking the service’s first step to introduce a new, low-cost fighter. The USAF chief and acting secretary will direct the experiment this week, which would continue work from a previous US Special Operations Command effort known as Combat Dragon.

Northrop changes JSTARS leadership after grounding aircraft

03/04/2017

Northrop Grumman changed leadership at its JSTARS sustainment facility after the US Air Force grounded almost a quarter of the E-8C fleet for inspection. Last September, the USAF initiated an investigation for safety of flight issues on four of the 17 JSTARS delivered from depot maintenance at Northrop’s sustainment facility in Lake Charles, Georgia. Northrop has since assigned new executive leadership and implemented operational improvements at Lake Charles, according to a Northrop spokesman.

Camcopter buyer orders PicoSAR payloads

03/04/2017

Leonardo has built on its recent sales success with the French military by adding another contract for its unmanned air system-carried PicoSAR surveillance payload.

Boeing Wins $46 Million to Provide Contractor Support for Saudi F-15 Fleet

03/04/2017

Boeing has received a $46.3 million contract to provide support services for the fleet of F-15SA Eagle fighter-bombers operated by the Royal Saudi Air Force, the Department of Defense said in a press release.

Moscow Refutes Allegations of Close Calls Between Russian, NATO Aircraft

03/04/2017

All Russian aviation flights are carried out in accordance with international safety standards, the Russian Defense Ministry said Friday in response to the US military's accusations of four close calls with Russian planes last month.