Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

US cruise missile strikes target Syria's Su-22 fleet

04/08/2017

US cruise missile strikes launched against a Syrian air base in the early hours of 7 April have delivered a significant blow to the nation's air force. A total of 59 Raytheon Tomahawk land-attack missiles were launched from US Navy vessels in the eastern Mediterranean during the action, which was conducted in response to a chemical weapons attack on the town of Khan Sheikhoun in Idlib province on 4 April, which killed at least 86 people.

Some 20 Syrian Army's Aircraft Destroyed in US Missile Attack - DoD Official

04/08/2017

A senior US military official told reporters that some 20 Syrian waplanes have been destroyed by US cruise missiles launched on an airbase in the Homs province. On Thursday night, the United States launched 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles at the Syrian military airfield in Ash Sha’irat, located about 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the city of Homs. US President Donald Trump said the attack was a response to the alleged chemical weapon use in Syria's Idlib on Tuesday.

Russia Holds Long-Range Warplanes' Drills in Country's West

04/08/2017

The Russian Aerospace Forces held long-range aviation exercises in western Russia involving more than 20 combat aircrew, the Defense Ministry said Friday.

More Armata Tanks, Less Warships: Russia Unveils 2018-2025 State Arms Program

04/08/2017

The experts believe that the Aerospace Forces will likewise be spared the cuts with the focus being on the tried-and-true Su-30SM, Su-34, Su-35 fighter planes, Mi-8AMTSh, Mi-28N and Ka-52 helicopters and the S-400 air defense missile systems. As for the top-of the-line S-500s, they will have to wait.

Plan to service UK F-35 jets in Turkey sparks security concerns

04/07/2017

SNP MP George Kerevan is to call for an inquiry into the policy in the light of last year's attempted coup in Turkey and tensions with its Nato partners. Major repairs to RAF combat jets have previously been carried out in the UK. The Ministry of Defence said the F-35 was an international project with a global support network.

Why Selling F-35s to Taiwan Is a Terrible Idea

04/07/2017

The Trump White House is mulling a new package of arms sales to Taiwan, according to unconfirmed media reports. The weapons could allegedly be sold as early as this summer and may include fifth generation Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft and advanced air defense systems.

The U.S. Military's Big Mistake: Putting So Much Faith in the F-22 and F-35?

04/07/2017

An F-22 has a combat radius of some five hundred miles on internal fuel. The F-35 can fly 875 miles when loaded for air-to-air combat. Now consider the thousands of kilometers lying between U.S. bases in the Pacific and Europe and various potential conflict zones.

How Malaysia can keep its MiGs and save billions

04/07/2017

Malaysia is looking for a replacement for its twenty-two year old MiG-29 fleet. France wants to sell its Rafale medium fighter to the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF). Having tasted success in the Malaysian market by bagging an order for four A400M military transport aircraft and two Scorpene submarines, France believes it is on a roll.

Air Force explores next-generation ejection seat

04/07/2017

The US Air Force is conducting market research for a next-generation ejection seat for fighters and bombers, according to a 5 April notice posted on the Federal Business Opportunities web site. The service plans to release a draft request for proposals in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2017 and a final RFP in the second quarter of FY18, programme schedule slides state. The air force will select two qualified sources and award contracts at the beginning of FY19.

Ospreys Join US Marines for Six-Month Australian Deployment

04/07/2017

US Marines deployed to Australia will soon be joined by a group of MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft for their annual six-month rotation. More than 1,200 of the California-based troops will use the versatile aircraft as they move across Australia’s Northern Territory.

Brazil Interested in Extra Batch of Russian Mi-35 Helicopters - FSMTC

04/07/2017

Brazil is interested in buying an additional batch of Russian Mi-35 helicopters, and negotiations are underway, Deputy Director of Russia's Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC) Anatoliy Punchuk said on Thursday.

Venezuela Interested in New Deliveries of Russian Su-30 Fighter Jets

04/07/2017

Venezuela is interested in purchasing a new batch of Russia's Su-30 fighter aircraft despite difficult political and economic situation in the Latin American county, Deputy Director of Russia's Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC) Anatoliy Punchuk said Thursday.

Syria war: US launches missile strikes in response to chemical 'attack'

04/07/2017

A Pentagon official said about 50 Tomahawk cruise missiles were fired from US Navy destroyers in the eastern Mediterranean at a Syrian air base. In a televised address, President Donald Trump said the base was where Tuesday's attack was launched from. He called on "all civilised nations" to help end the conflict in Syria.

Russian Yak-130 appears to be training aircraft choice for Vietnam

04/06/2017

The Vietnam People’s Air Force (VPAF) is shopping for a new training jet and it appears they are going to purchase the Russian Yak-130. The Yak-130 first flew in 1996 and has been marketed as a light attack aircraft. There have been over 100 of the twin engine, tandem seat jets built at an estimated cost of $15 million each.

Just How Good Is China's New J-20 Stealth Fighter?

04/06/2017

China's first stealth fighter, the Chengdu J-20, "has the potential to provide China with a variety of previously unavailable air combat options and enhance its capability to project power." That's the conclusion of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington D.C.-based security think tank. CSIS also concludes that the fighter, first flown in 2011, could enter service as soon as 2018.

U.S. Marines Will Keep The Harrier Around Longer As Hornet Fleet Crumbles

04/06/2017

Despite having the highest accident rate of any U.S. Marine Corps fixed-wing aircraft, the Marines will keep the AV-8B Harrier around longer than planned. The reason is simple: Marine F/A-18 Hornets are in far worse shape and need to be replaced sooner. In 2014, the Marines were committed to retiring the Harrier earlier than planned and extending the Hornet fleet, however, after an intensive review of the Harrier fleet and the rapid aging of Marine Hornets, the Harrier will be around longer.

Pilot ditched F-16 jet in woods to miss homes in Maryland neighborhood, military says

04/06/2017

A fighter pilot on a training mission ditched his jet in a wooded area of a suburban Washington neighborhood early Wednesday so that the plane would avoid crashing into a suburban Washington neighborhood, military officials said. The F-16C, which military officials said was at least 30 years old and worth $20 million, went down about 200 yards behind a small subdivision of two-story brick homes in the middle-class suburban community of Clinton, about 3 miles southwest of Joint Base Andrews.

Boeing, Lockheed debate F-35C capability gaps

04/06/2017

Compared to a Lockheed Martin F-35C, a Block III Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet will be able to detect and track stealth aircraft at long range by their heat emissions and carry a full load of external weapons for significantly longer distances, says Boeing programme manager Dan Gillian.

US Navy temporarily grounds T-45 fleet

04/06/2017

The US Navy has ordered a three-day grounding of its T-45 Goshawk trainer jets while US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) looks for ways to correct persistent oxygen issues on the aircraft.

Pyongyang May Have Been Testing New Technology in Latest Launch, Experts Say

04/06/2017

North Korea’s latest missile launch has caused more concern than usual, as experts suspect it may have been a second trial run of a worrisome new technology. Wednesday’s launch came a day ahead of US President Donald Trump’s meeting with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, and some think the timing may not be coincidental.

China Reveals How Many Fighter Jets the New Aircraft Carrier Can Dock

04/06/2017

According to Chinese news portal Sina, “At the moment, the aircraft carrier being prepared for launch is optimized in terms of load which compared to the Liaoning aircraft carrier can reach from 28 to 36 units of J-15 fighters.” Currently, the Chinese Navy arsenal consists of the Liaoning aircraft carrier, created on the basis of the Soviet cruiser Varyag. Liaoning can base 24 J-15 fighters.

US-Led Coalition Destroys Daesh Media Facility in Iraq - Inherent Resolve

04/06/2017

The US-led coalition carried out 15 strikes consisting of 22 engagements against the Daesh terror group (outlawed in numerous countries) in Iraq and Syria on Tuesday, and destroyed a Daesh media center near the Iraqi city of Al Qaim, Operation Inherent Resolve said in a press release.

HAL to aggressively market Advanced Hawk to foreign buyers

04/05/2017

Government-controlled Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is looking to aggressively market the upgraded Advanced Hawk trainer jets — jointly developed by HAL and BAE Systems of the UK — to foreign buyers, given the “rather tepid response” from the Indian Air Force for which the jets were initially intended. “We are looking to target friendly countries of both India and the UK, with India (HAL) priming the orders,” official sources said.

The latest drone pilot challenge: Training with manned aircraft for combat missions

04/05/2017

The biggest challenge in preparing pilots to fly remote-piloted aircraft is not one of technological skills and expertise. It’s one of mental and environmental preparedness, as pilots go from a training environment to immediately flying combat missions solo, often with limited live flying with manned aircraft.

Rockwell Collins teams with Embraer for radar technology

04/05/2017

Embraer subsidiaries Bradar and Savis announced beginning of global cooperation with Rockwell Collins on the opening day of the Latin American Aerospace and Defence (LAAD) in Rio de Janeiro on 4 April.