Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Here's how the F-35 stacks up to Russia and China's 5th-generation aircraft

02/24/2017

As the US starts to forward-deploy more of its F-35 Lightning, China and Russia have been putting the finishing touches on their own batches of fifth-generation aircraft — and they all express vastly different ideas about what the future of air combat will look like.

Boeing Fighter Jet, Feared Dead, Gets New Life From Trump Tweets

02/24/2017

Now Dan Gillian, who heads the Boeing fighter-jet program, is plotting upgrades to keep the F/A-18 flying through the 2040s -- and even looking at increasing the production rate. The U.S. Navy may need at least 100 of the Super Hornets over the next five years while it waits for Lockheed’s next version of the F-35. Boeing also sees opportunities for additional sales from India, Finland and Switzerland.

Team Spartan challenges Canadian FWSAR award

02/24/2017

Team Spartan filed a 6 January application for judicial review before the Federal Court challenging the Public Services and Procurement Canada’s award decision, according to a 23 February Team Spartan press release. During the protracted competition, Airbus had pitted their C295 turboprop against Leonardo’s C-27J Spartan. Brazilian-based Embraer also put forth its KC-390 twinjet and Lockheed Martin ultimately backed out of its HC-130J proposal.

USAF requests funding for low-cost fighter test

02/24/2017

During a 23 February speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, USAF chief Gen David Goldfein told the audience the experiment would not cost much money. In January, Goldfein said the USAF would run an experiment in the spring assessing off-the-shelf options to fill a low-end fighter role.

Italian navy takes first troop transport NH90

02/24/2017

Italy has received the first of 10 NH Industries NH90 troop transport helicopters destined for its navy, which will be used to perform special forces and amphibious support missions.

No Thanks: India Turns Down British Advanced Aircraft

02/24/2017

Following a request from India’s Defense Ministry, New Delhi’s Air Force has decided not to make an acquisition request for the British Advanced Hawk trainer aircraft, due to a recent bribery scandal.

US Claims Beijing Installing Long-Range Missiles in South China Sea Islands

02/24/2017

US officials are reporting that China has almost completed constructing two dozen buildings on its artificial islands in the South China Sea. The structures, according to reports, are intended to contain long-range surface-to-air missiles.

Commander of Russian Carrier Looks Forward to Ka-52 Helicopters

02/24/2017

?apt. 1st Rank Sergey Artamonov, the commander of the Russian Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier, stated that he was looking forward to the introduction of Kamov Ka-52 Alligator helicopters into service.

Russia's Admiral Kuznetsov Carrier Crew Ready for Next Mission After Syria

02/24/2017

Ship commander Sergey Artamonov said that the crew of Russia's Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier is prepared for further missions after completing the tour to Syria.

The Age of Strike Carrier Is Over

02/23/2017

The age of the strike carrier is over. As the United States enters an era where the potential for modern great-power war is increasing dramatically in Eurasia, a return to the traditional roles of the aircraft carrier is required to maintain maritime access. Carrier-borne over-land strike warfare has not proved decisive in previous conflicts in heavily contested air defense environments, and will not prove so in the future.

Sorry, ‘Sniffer’ Fans: WC-135 Isn’t Smelling Russian Nukes

02/23/2017

The U.S. Air Force’s WC-135 Constant Phoenix aircraft, capable of detecting nuclear explosions, deployed to the United Kingdom last week for a routine mission, the service said Wednesday. The “nuke hunter” plane, also known as the “sniffer,” is on a “pre-planned rotational deployment scheduled in advance,” Air Force spokeswoman Erika Yepsen told Military.com.

Russia's T-50 stealth fighter in tests for integration with missiles

02/23/2017

Russia's next-generation Sukhoi T-50 stealth fighters are being tested for integration with missiles and bombs, Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov said Tuesday. "Aviation weapons including guided air-to-air, air-to-surface missiles and bombs are being integrated on the fighter T-50, and the aircraft systems are being evaluated," Borisov told the state-run Rossiyskaya Gazeta daily.

China's J-20 Stealth Fighter Photographed Toting Massive External Fuel Tanks

02/23/2017

China's stealthy J-20 fighter-interceptor program continues to gain steam, with deep avionics integration work underway and even reports the jet is already deployed in a semi-operational state. Now the aircraft has appeared in a totally new configuration, toting a quartet of massive auxiliary fuel tanks (aka, drop tanks or "bags") under its usually clean wings.

Pakistan Still Eying JF-17 Thunder Fighter Sale to Sri Lanka

02/23/2017

Pakistan has reportedly upped the ante in its ongoing campaign to sell eight Pakistan Aeronautical Complex/Chengdu Aerospace Corporation (PAC/CAC) JF-17 Thunder fighter jets to Sri Lanka. According to ANI News Service, Islamabad has purportedly offered Colombo an F-7 fighter for free for each JF-17 the Sri Lankan Air Force purchases from Pakistan. (The F-7 is China’s license-built version of the MiG-21, a supersonic third-generation fighter jet.)

Leonardo sets sights on strike-roled M-346 FA

02/23/2017

Leonardo has used the IDEX exhibition in Abu Dhabi to unveil plans to produce a new fighter/attack (FA) version of Aermacchi M-346, to be available from next year. “The new version has been conceived to take advantage of the performances and the introduction of an enhanced mission configuration, based on the proven Grifo-346 multimode radar, to accomplish air-to-air and air-to-surface operations,".

Airbus seeks fresh talks to ease burden of A400M

02/23/2017

Airbus has written to its customers for the A400M military transport in a bid to reduce its financial exposure to programme delays, after the company’s charges on the programme hit €2.2 billion ($2.3 billion) last year.

US Navy Tests Intelligent Drones During Simulated Combat Trials

02/23/2017

The Naval Research Laboratory has tested its Tactical Battle Manager (TBM) software system that guides drones to serve as "wingmen" to human piloted aircraft, the US Navy announced in a press release.

Russia May See Mid-East, African States Queuing for MiG-35 Fighter Jet

02/23/2017

The latest Russian advanced MiG-35 multirole fighter jets could be in demand in the Middle East and may soon be presented to a number of potential buyers from the region, Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC) Deputy Director Alexei Frolkin said Wednesday.

Watch: Officials discuss bringing F-35 to Michigan's Selfridge Air National Guard Base

02/22/2017

Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel hosted a news conference Tuesday to discuss how officials are working to bring the F-35 Lightning II combat aircraft to Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Harrison Township. The news conference was at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Zuccaro's Banquet Center in Chesterfield Township. Watch the whole conference below. Hackel's office announced an educational website to promote the effort to get the F-35 to Selfridge - MI35.org

NATO INTERCEPTS RUSSIAN BOMBERS ABOVE BALTIC SEA TWICE IN ONE WEEK

02/22/2017

NATO jets intercepted a skein of Russian combat aircraft, flying alongside Russian bomber planes above the Baltic Sea last Tuesday and Thursday—twice in a week, Lithuania’s government reports. The uptick of Russian approaches to the airspace of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania since Moscow’s annexation of another former Soviet territory—Crimea in 2014—has unnerved and convinced them that the Kremlin may harbor similar designs for their lands.

Australian forces within 50km of Mosul

02/22/2017

Australian special forces are within 50 kilometres of the frontline of the Islamic State stronghold of Mosul as the ground offensive shifts to liberating the city's west. Australian soldiers are at forward operating bases advising and assisting Iraqi soldiers and providing medical treatment to the wounded. Schools and markets have reopened and life is starting to return to normal for civilians in East Mosul.

Russia's Most Lethal Fighter Jet Ever Is Heading to the Middle East

02/22/2017

The United Arab Emirates has agreed to purchase a batch of advanced Sukhoi Su-35 Flanker-E fighters from Russia. The Flanker-E is the most capable operational Russian combat aircraft would add to the UAE’s already formidable fleet of Lockheed Martin F-16E/F Block 60 Fighting Falcons. More troubling for the United States, the deal is an indication that the UAE—a long-time U.S. ally—is drifting into Moscow’s orbit.

Next-generation fighter jet deal signed by Russia and UAE

02/22/2017

Russia and the UAE signed an agreement this week to develop a fifth-generation fighter jet. The deal was announced by Sergei Chemezov, the CEO of the Rostec State Corporation, at the International Defence Exhibition in Abu Dhabi, the Emirati capital.

Indonesia-Russia Su-35 Fighter Jet Deal Will Be Signed in ‘Coming Months’

02/22/2017

Indonesia and Russia will likely conclude an agreement for the purchase of up to 10 Russian-made Su-35S multirole fighter jets for the Indonesia Air Force (TNI-AU) in the near future, according to a senior Russian defense industry representative.

Lockheed pops reporter into T-50 cockpit

02/22/2017

There was no turning back from my maiden trainer voyage aboard a Lockheed Martin T-50A once the glass canopy closed down above my head. As we slowly taxied down the runway, I mentally prepared myself for the moment I would flatten into my seat upon takeoff. But the afterburner helped lift the T-50 off at 124 knots in 1200 feet for such a smooth departure that I would be disappointed with my commercial flight back home later that evening.