Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Rafael nears latest Indian contract for Litening pods

07/18/2017

India is about to sign a contract to equip its Dassault Rafales with Rafael's Litening targeting pod, according to Yuval Miller, head of the Israeli company's air and C4I systems division. Miller says the advanced sensors will be manufactured by a local company that is jointly owned by Rafael and an Indian partner. "The Rafale is a multi-role aircraft, and the Litening gives it the flexibility to deal with ground and air targets with the same efficiency," he notes.

Israel broadens Lavi training scope

07/18/2017

The Israeli air force has enhanced the capabilities of its Leonardo Aermacchi M-346 "Lavi" advanced jet trainers by adding external fuel tanks. The enhancement was made possible after the aircraft's software was upgraded following a long series of test flights performed by the service's flight test squadron.

Former Israel Security Chief Calls for Military Action in Syria

07/18/2017

One day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu voiced his opposition to the Russia-US brokered ceasefire in parts of Syria, the nation’s former National Security Council chief called for Israel to examine military options that would keep Iran and Hezbollah from setting up permanent bases in the country.

Hypersonic Shield: Why Russia's Zircon Missile Could Be a Game Changer

07/18/2017

The newest Russian missile Zircon, which has already been tested, leaves no chance for any warship and cannot be destroyed by existing air defense systems. Sputnik explains why. According to numerous reports, the Zircon is actually a modified version of the BrahMos supersonic anti-ship cruise missile – a joint Russian-Indian design based on the P-800 Onyx missile. Therefore, the Zircon could have an effective range of about 400 kilometers.

Stratospheric Combat: Russian MiG-31 Intercepts, Destroys Supersonic Missile

07/18/2017

A Russian MiG-31 interceptor has successfully intercepted and destroyed a simulated supersonic cruise missile flying in the stratosphere during a drill in the Russian Far East. The press service of Russian Pacific Fleet reported that a pair of MiG-31s, stationed in Kamchatka, successfully locked onto and destroyed a simulated cruise missile target launched from a ship in the Sea of Okhotsk at an altitude of over 12,000 meters at over three times the speed of sound.

'Maneuverable and Reliable': MiG-35 to Steal the Show at MAKS-2017 (VIDEO)

07/18/2017

Russia's MiG-35S multipurpose generation 4++ fighter jet, which will be displayed at the MAKS-2017 airshow, will certainly be remembered as one of the highlights of the event. July 18 will see the opening of the MAKS-2017 International Aviation and Space Salon in the town of Zhukovsky outside Moscow; the presentation of the advanced Russian fighter jet MiG-35S is almost sure to become one of the highlights of the airshow.

Pyongyang Observed to Be Ramping Up Nuclear Weapons Fuel Processing

07/17/2017

Pyongyang has stepped up its manufacture of nuclear weapons fuel, according to a US group’s interpretation of recent satellite surveillance data. According to satellite imagery recorded between September 2106 and June 2017, North Korea has stepped up its production of weapons-grade plutonium at a faster rate than previously asserted by military experts.

Indian Navy wants its only fighter aircraft to toughen up

07/16/2017

The Indian Navy's only fighter aircraft MiG-29K continues to face problems as the maritime force feels that the fighter jet needs to be further ruggedised for carrying out operations from aircraft carriers which is supposed to be its main role. "The plane needs to be ruggedised further as very frequently after landings, the settings of the plane change and they have to be re-set," sources in the Navy told Mail Today.

Exclusive: Malaysia shelves plan to buy new fighter jets - defense source

07/14/2017

Malaysia has put on hold a $2 billion plan to replace its aging fleet of combat aircraft, looking instead to upgrade its aerial surveillance capabilities to confront the growing threat of militancy inspired by the Islamic State group, a source with knowledge of the matter said.

France and Germany Want to Build Their Own 5th Generation Fighter Jet

07/14/2017

France and Germany have announced their intention to work together to develop a new advanced "European" fighter jet. Though the final plan is still in the works, the decision appears to be wrapped up in a number of political and economic considerations and could potentially see the end the German military’s interest in the controversial F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

US approves new systems for Australian Super Hornets

07/14/2017

The US State Department has approved a potential electronics upgarde for Canberra's fleet of 24 Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter aircraft. The contractor for the deal is Harris Corporation, which would provide 32 MIDS JTRS tactical radio systems, and 39 AN/ALS-214A (V)4 countermeasures systems, says the Defense Security Cooperation Agency.

Russian Aerospace Forces to Get New Electronic Warfare Complexes at MAKS-2017

07/14/2017

Russia's Radio-Electronic Technologies Concern, part of the Rostec state corporation, says it would hand over new electronic warfare complexes to the country's Aerospace Forces at the International Aviation and Space Salon next week.

Indian Air Force Jets Slated to Have Beyond-Visual-Range Strike Capacity by 2018

07/14/2017

India’s Tejas light combat aircraft is armed and ready with I-Derby missiles for downing other aircraft, according to The Diplomat. The missiles have been integrated into the plane’s weapons suite but have yet to finish testing, which is slated to happen by year’s end, Flight Global reported.

USAF pins F-35A engine fire on strong tailwinds

07/13/2017

A US Air Force investigation blames a Lockheed Martin F-35A engine fire last September at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, on strong tailwinds, according to an accident report released by the service this week.

US, Australia conclude secretive hypersonic flight series

07/13/2017

The United States and Australia have concluded a series of hypersonic test flights at the Woomera test range in South Australia. The tests were conducted under the auspices of the Hypersonic International Flight Research Experimentation (HiFIRE) programme, says Australia's Department of Defence in a statement.

UK to Spend $50Mln on Upgrades of Typhoon Fighter Jets - Defense Secretary

07/13/2017

The United Kingdom will invest 40 million pounds [$50 million] in the development of a technology, which will enhance the defenses of Typhoon fighter jets, according to UK Defense Secretary Michael Fallon.

Taiwan: Chinese Navy Sailed Liaoning Carrier Into Its Defense Zone

07/13/2017

The Soviet-built carrier left Hong Kong early Wednesday morning before crossing over into the western side of the Taiwan Strait. Taiwanese defense officials said the ship didn’t present a concern, as there was no suspicious activity, but the situation is being closely watched, according to Channel News Asia.

USAF calls for drone defences after F-22 overflight

07/12/2017

Small, civilian-owned drones can buzz past the US Air Force’s stealthy fighter fleet sitting at domestic bases and the service’s head of Air Combat Command (ACC) has no way to deal with them.

Thailand Approves $257 Million Plan for 8 More South Korean Jets

07/12/2017

Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha said Tuesday that Bangkok has approved a plan to buy eight additional South Korea-made T-50 trainer jets. Chan-ocha made the announcement following a cabinet meeting in which members endorsed the $257 million dollar plan. The jets are being purchased in addition to four other South Korean jets Thailand agreed to buy in a $110-million deal signed in September 2015, with deliveries set for 2018.

Russian Scientists Finish Aircraft 'Nervous System' to Improve Flight Safety

07/12/2017

Russia's Foundation for Advanced Research Projects (FPI) has completed the development of the advanced control system of aircraft structures state, which is based on the principles of the nervous system of living organisms and is expected to significantly improve flight safety, head of the project Dmitry Uspensky told Sputnik on Tuesday.

Block 5 MQ-9 debuts in combat

07/11/2017

The latest version of the MQ-9 Reaper, the Block 5 variant, flew its first successful combat mission June 23, 2017, in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. The aircrew flew a sortie of more than 16 hours with a full payload of weapons including GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munitions and AGM-114 Hellfire missiles. During the mission, the crew employed one GBU-38 and two Hellfires while providing hours of armed reconnaissance for supported ground forces.

Officials: 16 dead in military plane crash in Mississippi

07/11/2017

A military refueling aircraft crashed Monday afternoon in a soybean field in Leflore County, killing at least 16 and leaving a debris field five miles in radius, officials said. Mississippi Emergency Management Agency Director Lee Smithson said the plane crashed on the Sunflower-Leflore county line. Leflore County EMA Director Frank Randle confirmed that 16 are dead in the crash.

A first strike on North Korea? Bad choice

07/09/2017

Think of the North Korean problem as a set of two dangerous streams of activity, moving rapidly toward each other. One is the increasing range of the Kim Jong Un regime’s intercontinental ballistic missiles, which are now verifiably in the 3,000- to 4,000-mile range — probably far enough to strike the continental United States.

Crowds in Hong Kong Line Up to See China’s First Aircraft Carrier

07/09/2017

Hundreds of people in Hong Kong lined up on Saturday to visit China’s first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, which is making a five-day port call here to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the former British colony’s return to Chinese rule.

Why in the World Does Turkey Want an Aircraft Carrier?

07/09/2017

Upon overseeing the launch of a domestically-built corvette in July 2017, Turkish Pres. Recep Tayyip Erdogan voiced his country’s goal of building “our own aircraft carriers” as part of Ankara’s efforts to “become independent in the field of defense by 2023.” “We must move even faster,” Erdogan declared. “We are proud of our ability to build military ships, especially construction of submarines.”