Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

F-35A premiers at Hill AFB Red Flag

02/15/2017

The F-35A premiered at Red Flag this month, marking the first time the US Air Force’s Lightning Strike variant participated in the training exercise at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. The Hill event marked the second part of the F-35A’s Red Flag activities. Earlier this month, the F-35 participated in Red Flag exercises at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.

AERO INDIA: Lockheed powers up India F-16 pitch

02/15/2017

Lockheed Martin is confident of securing new sales for the F-16, and claims that the type’s economies of scale and broad user base give the Block 70 variant an edge in New Delhi’s requirement for a single-engined fighter.

US Air Force Narrows Field For Enlisted Drone Pilots

02/15/2017

The US Air Force may select its first enlisted drone pilots for surveillance, reconnaissance and intelligence training this month. Last week, the pilot selection board met to consider 185 airmen who passed the program’s qualifying phase.

Russian Helicopters Holding to Supply About 220 Helicopters to Customers in 2017

02/15/2017

The Russian Helicopters holding company is expected to supply about 220 helicopters to its customers this year, the company’s CEO Andrey Boginsky told Sputnik Tuesday.

Russia Showcases 300 Pieces of Military Hardware at Aero India Expo

02/15/2017

Russia's state arms exporter Rosoboronexport is showcasing about 300 pieces of Russian military hardware at Aero India, an international aerospace exhibition, held in India's Bengaluru on February 14-18, Rosoboronexport said in a press release issued on Tuesday.

F-35A stealth brings flexibility to battlespace

02/14/2017

Stealth isn’t new in the Air Force. But, stealth combined with the multirole capabilities of the F-35A is proving to be a game changer in the Nevada desert. Units from across the Air Force have converged here for Red Flag 17-01, the Air Force’s premier air combat exercise, which pits a friendly force against an aggressor force in scenarios designed to give pilots true-to-life experiences before heading into actual combat.

The unmanned wingman: high-speed drones to support fighter aircraft

02/14/2017

In October Kratos Defense & Security Solutions was awarded a contract by the US Defense Innovation Unit Experimental to explore the use of high-speed drones in both fully autonomous or semi-autonomous roles to support fourth and fifth generation fighter aircraft.

UH-60V Black Hawk achieves first flight

02/14/2017

Northrop Grumman and the US Army completed the first flight of the UH-60V engineering and development model last month, bringing the legacy Black Hawk’s analog cockpit into the digital age.

US Apache Helicopters Now Can Control Drones in Flight

02/14/2017

US Army officials say that developers are integrating new technology into the Apache attack helicopter, giving crews the ability to control the flight and view real-time video feeds from nearby drones, making it easier to destroy the aircraft.

Poland Modernizing Armed Forces With Black Hawk Choppers

02/14/2017

Poland’s ongoing military modernization program will start off 2017 by adding two Black Hawk choppers. The two helicopters are set to join a 16 chopper fleet that can replace the aging fleet of Mi-8, Mi-14 and Mi-17 aircraft.

Saab Woos India With Offer to Build Fighter Jet Factory in Exchange for Contract

02/14/2017

Swedish aerospace company Saab has offered India a new fighter jet factory if the defense organization is able to secure a deal to supply New Delhi with over 200 military jets. Saab is currently neck and neck with US company Lockheed Martin to supply India’s Air Force with 250 single engine combat planes.

Supersonic BrahMos Russian-Indian Missile Upgraded to Be Launched From Fighters

02/14/2017

The Russian newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta quoted Sudhir Kumar Mishra, chief executive of the Russian-Indian joint venture BrahMos Aerospace, as saying that India will test-fire the air-launched version of his company's supersonic Russian-Indian BrahMos cruise missile in the next three months.

No advanced jet launch system for China’s third aircraft carrier, experts say

02/13/2017

China will not adopt highly advanced electromagnetic take-off technology on its second domestically built aircraft carrier but instead rely on a conventional system, naval experts say. TheType 002 vessel – the country’s third aircraft carrier after the Liaoning and the Type 001A carrier under construction in Dalian – would be equipped with at least three conventional steam launch catapults, a source close to the navy told the South China Morning Post.

Recent developments surrounding the South China Sea

02/13/2017

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:

Will U.S. Navy Build Light Aircraft Carriers?

02/13/2017

While a new naval future fleet architecture study from the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments (CSBA) suggests that the U.S. Navy should maintain a fleet of 12 full-sized supercarriers, the paper also suggests that the service should develop a new class of light carriers. In the interim, while the new aircraft carriers are being developed, large deck amphibious assault ships could fill the role of the smaller flattops.

Boeing’s new India division aims to grow military aircraft production

02/13/2017

Boeing’s new Indian unit will help the company win more business from local customers and mean more employment in the South Asian country, the head of the US defence firm’s Indian business said. The new legal entity, announced this week, is the fourth separate country-specific business Boeing has established after setting up similar structures in Britain, Australia and Saudi Arabia.

5 Most Lethal Stealth Weapons of War

02/13/2017

Stealth, or the idea of reducing the ability of the enemy to detect a weapon, has been around since the first caveman sewed a pocket into his clothing and hid a rock in it. Thousands of years later, with the ability to detect objects on the ground, in the air and at sea using electromagnetic radiation, hiding weapons in plain sight has become much harder.

India may buy 6 Airbus aircraft for AWACS

02/13/2017

India is likely to place orders worth ?20,000 crore with Airbus to buy six A330 aircraft to mount the indigenously-built Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS). DRDO Chairman S Christopher, addressing reporters on the sidelines of Aero India international seminar, said, “Currently the order to buy Airbus aircraft is before the Cabinet Committee on Security.”

Aviation companies, defence firms, govt set to tango at Aero India 2017 show

02/13/2017

The who’s who of the global aerospace industry will congregate in Bengaluru from February 14-18 to take part in Asia’s largest airshow Aero India-2017. Over 550 defence and aerospace firms, including 279 foreign companies, will take part in the 11th edition of the biennial event being held at the Yelahanka air force base.

Russia to Fly Surveillance Mission Over Italy Under Open Skies Treaty

02/13/2017

The head of Russia's Nuclear Risk Reduction Center said that Russian inspectors will fly over Italy this week as part of the Open Skies arrangement for aerial surveillance. "The surveillance flight over Italy will be carried out on a Russian An-30B plane under the Open Skies Treaty," Sergei Ryzhkov said.

Russia Successfully Tests Ship-Borne Ka-52K Helicopter

02/13/2017

Russia successfully tested its latest Ka-52K Katran reconnaissance and combat helicopter during the recent Mediterranean cruise by the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier, Rossiiskaya Gazeta reported.

Sell advanced fighters to Taiwan

02/12/2017

China has signed a substantial contract with Russia in 2015 to purchase 24 Sukhoi Su-35 fighters in a deal that is worth $2 billion. The TASS, a Russian news agency, reported on Feb. 2 that Russia will deliver the second batch of ten Su-35 fighter jets to China this year with 10 more aircraft in 2018.

Govt to set up panel to assess viability of building stealth fighter with Russia

02/12/2017

A multi-billion dollar Indian programme to co-develop a stealth fighter with Russia faces an uncertain fate with the government deciding to set up a committee to examine what the country gains from the project. A top government source said the panel, to be headed by a three-star officer, would look into different aspects of the fifth generation fighter aircraft (FGFA) project and the technology it brings into the country to meet the air force’s future requirements.

Gen. Nicholson wants Army UH-60 Blackhawks for Afghan forces

02/11/2017

Speaking before lawmakers on Capitol Hill Thursday, Gen. John Nicholson, the top commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, described the Afghan air force as a vital component to breaking the stalemate between Afghan and Taliban forces. “Offensive capability is what will break the stalemate in Afghanistan,” Nicholson said. “The key offensive capabilities for the Afghan security forces are their special forces and their Air Force.”

Leonardo Rejoins Air Force T-X Bidding Without Raytheon

02/11/2017

Italian aerospace company Leonardo is back in the running to bid on the U.S. Air Force’s T-X trainer jet competition after it separated from a joint venture with Raytheon Co., the company announced Wednesday. “Leonardo is proud to confirm its participation in the U.S. Air Force T-X competition with its T-100 integrated training system,” it said in a release.