Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Philippines to verify Chinese military assets in Spratlys

03/31/2017

The Philippine government said it is yet to verify the completion of Chinese military assets in the Spratly (Kalayaan) Islands in the South China Sea, the country's top diplomat said Thursday. This is despite Washington-based think tank CSIS Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative's (AMTI) recently released satellite images showing the nearly complete construction of infrastructures on Subi (Zamora), Mischief (Panganiban) and Fiery Cross (Kagitingan) Reefs.

Indian navy and coast guard order 32 Dhruv helicopters

03/31/2017

Hindustan Aeronautics has secured an INR80 billion ($1.2 billion) order for 32 Dhruv helicopters for use by the Indian navy and coast guard. Each maritime arm will receive 16 examples of the 5.5t Dhruv, says HAL in a statement.

USAF pushes back on F-15 retirement

03/31/2017

The prospect of an F-15C/D fleet retirement cropped up during a House Armed Services Committee hearing last week, when members of Congress asked USAF leadership whether the Boeing aircraft could be replaced with Lockheed Martin F-16s. While the director of the Air National Guard entertained that concept as a possibility, the air force’s public affairs quickly pushed back on the idea, saying it was “pre-decisional.”

Navy F/A-18s face persistent oxygen issue

03/31/2017

The US Navy is still struggling to find the root cause of the hypoxia issue plaguing the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and E/A-18G Growler, service leadership told House Armed Services Committee members this week. The service’s Boeing F/A-18s are experiencing a dangerous crew cabin pressure issue, while the newer variants may have possible oxygen contamination.

Airbus, Indonesian industry to discuss A400M possibilities

03/31/2017

The LOI was signed with Pelita Air Services, which represents a consortium of state-owned companies involved in aerospace, says Airbus in an email to FlightGlobal. “We believe that the A400M will be an outstanding asset to support Indonesia´s vision of creating an air bridge to help redistribute wealth and resources across the archipelago as well as providing the basis for the expansion of our long-standing industrial cooperation,” says Fernando Alonso, head of military aircraft at the airframer

UAE Shows Interest in Procurement of 1st Russian Unmanned Helicopter

03/31/2017

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is showing interest in the procurement of Russia's Ka-226 and Ansat helicopters, CEO of Russian Helicopters, a Moscow-based helicopter manufacturer, Andrey Boginsky said Thursday.

Iran 'Testing the Waters' By Saying Russia Could Get Access to Military Bases

03/31/2017

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif indicated that Tehran could allow Russia to use its military bases to carry out counterterrorism missions in Syria, saying the decisions would be made "on a case-by-case basis." Political analyst Vladimir Sazhin told Radio Sputnik that Iran's statement is meant to test the waters.

Japan Deploys New Kawasaki C-2 Military Transport Aircraft to Local Airbase

03/31/2017

According to the Kyodo news agency, the Miho airbase has become the first place of deployment of these aircraft. Three Kawasaki C-2 jets were delivered to the airbase on Tuesday, while the solemn ceremony of the deployment took place earlier on Thursday, the news outlet said.

Analysis: The Pace of Chinese Military Modernization is Getting Attention at the Pentagon and in Congress

03/30/2017

China's rapid development of new destroyers, amphibs, stealth fighters and long-range weapons is quickly increasing its ability to threaten the United States and massively expand expeditionary military operations around the globe, according to a Congressional report.

NATO Sends Typhoon Fighter Jets To Romania In Clear Message To Russia

03/30/2017

In a move that will surely make the volatile Black Sea region even more interesting, NATO will begin basing fighter jets in Romania in May, the United Kingdom announced this week. While it may not seem like much, it means NATO will further expand its reach into Russia’s southern flank, basing jets minutes from the Black Sea and sending one of the clearest messages yet to the increasingly aggressive country.

South China Sea: One of China’s Reef Constructions Can Hold 24 Combat Aircraft

03/30/2017

Satellite images published this week confirm that China has almost completed the construction of a variety of military assets in the Philippine and Vietnamese South China Sea, assets that allow it to deploy fighter jets and missile launchers at a moment’s notice and provide it expanded surveillance capabilities.

Air Combat Commander hints at rapid acquisition for new standoff aircraft

03/30/2017

The US Air Force could field its Penetrating Counterair platform on a fast track, according to the service’s head of Air Combat Command. The USAF will likely purchase its next standoff aircraft in batches and add capabilities along the way, rather than wait for years for an exquisite aircraft, Lt Gen Mike Holmes told reporters 29 March.

PICTURES: RAF welcomes updated Chinook HC5

03/30/2017

The UK Royal Air Force has received the first of its Boeing CH-47 Chinooks upgraded to the HC5 standard. Delivered to the service’s Odiham base in Hampshire on 22 March, the tandem-rotor helicopter is the first of eight HC3 models to undergo modernisation by Boeing under the Ministry of Defence’s Project Julius initiative.

Riyadh Looks East: China to Build First Drone Plant in Region

03/30/2017

The Saudis’ recent business tour through East and Southeast Asia, intended to increase the kingdom’s revenues, landed a new project for the oil-rich nation: China will set up a drone manufacturing plant in Saudi Arabia.

South Korean Military Says Pyongyang on Verge of Sixth Nuclear Test

03/30/2017

On Wednesday, South Korean news outlets reported that a sixth nuclear test by North Korea is imminent, and could take place as early as next week. An unnamed source within the South Korean military told Korea Joongang Daily, "We have intelligence that North Korea may conduct its sixth nuclear test in the first week of April and are in the process of confirming this…We have determined that North Korea is expected to finish all preparations for a nuclear test by March 31."

Norway Inks Deal to Buy P-8A Poseidon Maritime Patrol Planes From US

03/30/2017

Norway struck a deal with the United States on Wednesday to buy five Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, the Nordic nation’s Defense Ministry announced.

Finnish Air Force Unveils US-Themed Special Unit

03/30/2017

The Finnish Air Force has without unnecessary publicity formed a new US-style special unit called Raven. The newly-formed unit will, in line with their US prototype, handle the protection of aircraft and VIP passengers in hazardous locations.

With 500 bombs a week, Mosul airstrikes mark 'the most kinetic' phase of ISIS air war so far

03/29/2017

The last three weeks of airstrikes in Mosul have been “the most kinetic three weeks in the campaign in Iraq” against the Islamic State, the top Air Force general in Iraq said Thursday. Brig. Gen. Matthew Isler, deputy commanding general for Air, Combined Joint Forces Land Component Command, said in an interview that coalition aircraft above Mosul have dropped more than 500 precision-guided munitions a week so far in March even hitting as high as 605 weapons in one week.

Trump’s Favorite Fighter Jet Keeps Starving Pilots of Oxygen

03/29/2017

As President Donald Trump pushes for the Pentagon to buy more of Boeing Co.’s F-18 aircraft, the U.S. Navy is grappling with an escalating problem: Pilots suffering potentially dangerous oxygen deprivation or a loss of cabin pressure in the fighter jets.

Will The Air Force B-21 Bring New, Next-Generation Stealth Technology?

03/29/2017

The Air Force’s stealthy long-range bomber will have the endurance and next-generation stealth capability to elude the most advanced existing air defenses and attack anywhere in the world, if needed, senior service officials said. When the Air Force revealed its first artist rendering of what its new Long Range Strike – Bomber looks like, former Air Force Secretary Deborah James made reference to plans to engineer a bomber able elude detection from even the best, most cutting-edge air defenses.

South China Sea: Aircraft hangars, radar installed on artificial islands

03/29/2017

Dozens of aircraft hangars and high-end radar capabilities on China's man-made islands in the South China Sea are almost operational, according to new satellite imagery released by a US-based think tank. The new facilities will further establish China's military dominance over the highly contested region, experts told CNN, and could help China establish a controversial Air Defense Identification Zone in the area.

Lebanese pilot trainee flies A-29 Super Tucano light-attack aircraft for first time

03/29/2017

A Lebanese pilot trainee has flown an A-29 Super Tucano light-attack aircraft for the first time, as part of a training programme conducted by the US Air Force (USAF). The first ‘in seat’ training sortie was conducted at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, on 22 March this year. The training programme is being conducted to ensure that the Lebanese Air Force receives the support and training needed to safely and effectively employ the A-29 aircraft, the USAF stated.

USAF Aggressor F-16 Freshly Painted In "Shark" Scheme To Mimic Latest Russian Jets

03/29/2017

The 64th Aggressor Squadron, based out of Nellis Air Force Base, is one of only two USAF units that provide dedicated adversary support. The 64th aims to take the whole threat presentation mission to an extreme level. This doesn't just include emulating potential adversaries' tactics and procedures, as well as their weapons and aircraft capabilities, but also presenting front-line pilots with some of the same camouflage paint jobs they could see on enemy planes in battle.

US Navy on track for high-altitude P-8A weapon

03/29/2017

A new torpedo upgrade that will fundamentally change the way US Navy airmen hunt submarines is on track to seek approval to begin low-rate initial production later this year, Boeing and Navy officials say on 28 March.

US Air Force F-22 Jets Now Armed With New Sidewinder Missiles

03/29/2017

The US Air Force’s arming of the fifth-generation F-22 stealth fighter jet with new Air Intercept Missile-9X sidewinder missiles is causing excitement among the war plane’s pilots. Last year the weapon was integrated into the Raptor fleet, but it has been featured on the F-15, F-16, F/A-18 and other aircraft since the early 2000s.