Military Aviation News Archive

F-35B arrives in Japan

01/19/2017

US Marine Corps F-35B fighters made their inaugural trip to Air Station Iwakuni, Japan on 18 January, where the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 will operate the Lockheed Martin stealth fighter on its first operational deployment overseas.

Air Force mulls low-end fighter experiment

01/19/2017

As Textron Aviation eyes the US Air Force’s lucrative T-X trainer competition, its dual light-attack fighter and trainer Scorpion aircraft could remain in the running for a low-end fighter role in the USAF.

Israel tests updated self-protection fit for C-130J

01/19/2017

As Israel continues to receive deliveries of the US-built transport, the air force's flight test centre has been performing operational tests of new countermeasures equipment based on highly-accurate decoy flares. This work has been conducted as part of a wider activity to equip the service's C-130Js with systems to support the missions of the Israeli defence forces' depth command.

Taiwan commences F-16 upgrade programme

01/19/2017

Four aircraft were flown to the Taichung production facility of Aerospace Industry Development Corporation (AIDC), according to local media reports quoting the Taiwanese air force. The upgrade work, which was due to have started in 2016, will see the entire fleet upgraded within five years.

U.S. forces team with Turkey again to attack ISIS in Syria

01/18/2017

American warplanes and combat advisers are once again backing Turkish military units battling Islamic State fighters in northern Syria, the most tangible indication yet that months of tension between the NATO allies may be easing.

America's First Step toward Reclaiming Naval Power

01/18/2017

The Senate Armed Services Committee, under the leadership of chairman John McCain, has taken up President-elect Trump’s challenge to make America great again and rebuked President Obama in his final days in office. The committee’s white paper, “Restoring American Power: Recommendations for the FY 2018-FY 2022 Defense Budget,” was released this week.

Davis-Monthan passed over for new F-35, drone units

01/18/2017

Davis-Monthan Air Force Base has been passed over, for now, as a home to new drones or the F-35 Lightning II next-generation fighter jet. After months of study and site visits, the secretary of the Air Force announced that Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina is the preferred location to base a new MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft group.

Aircraft carriers in Asia: How they are taking shape

01/18/2017

Aircraft carriers, it seems, are all the rage nowadays in Asia. Long written off by some as bulky, oversized “cruise missile magnets,” the flattop appears to be enjoying a new lease-of-life as of late. Until quite recently, only two nations in the Asia-Pacific operated fixed-wing carriers: India with a 50-year-old-plus ex-British carrier; and Thailand with its “pocket carrier,” the Chakri Nareubet. Both vessels could only operate aging Harrier jump jets, and most of these aircraft were in fact l

The Smart and Sneaky Way Russia's Military Is Getting Stronger

01/18/2017

In a recent article for The Strategist, I showed how Russia’s economic woes are negatively affecting plans to modernize the country’s military. In order to be thrifty, Moscow has, for the most part, been investing in modernized or upgraded versions of existing platforms, rather than waiting for altogether new platforms like the Armata tank or PAK-FA fighter to enter service.

Bell-Boeing receives $138 million Osprey contract modification

01/18/2017

Bell-Boeing, a joint-venture between Boeing and Bell Helicopter, received a $138 million contract modification for additional V-22 aircraft work. The modification is a follow-up to the company's contract with the U.S. Navy initially awarded in July 2014. Under the modification, Bell-Boeing will provide engineering services for MV-22 Osprey aircraft to be sold to the government of Japan.

Taiwan Begins Massive Drills Simulating Chinese Attack

01/18/2017

In what may be a response to a recent show of force by the transit of the Chinese aircraft carrier through the Strait of Taiwan, Taipei initiated defense preparation exercises over the weekend while vowing to "enhance training 365 days a year."

Russian Defense Ministry to Withdraw More Su-24 Bombers, Medics From Syria

01/18/2017

Russia is preparing to withdraw an additional flight of Su-24 Fencer attack aircraft and personnel of a special-purpose medical team from the Hmeymim airbase in Syria after a successful conclusion of their duty, Col. Gen. Andrei Kartapolov, commander of the Russian military contingent in Syria, said Tuesday.

Russian Anti-Submarine Jets Drills Start in Far East – Defense Ministry

01/18/2017

The Russian Navy has launched anti-submarine Il-38 jets drills that involve flying for a long period of time and in adverse conditions, a spokesman for the Eastern Military District’s Pacific Fleet said Tuesday.

Russia's Su-35 Fighter Has a Key Edge over America's F-22 Stealth Raptor in Battle

01/17/2017

America’s F-22 Raptor is one of the world’s most advanced warplanes. But it has several weaknesses. For one, it’s blind in the infrared though several of its potential rivals have infrared-search-and-track sensors, effectively allowing them to scan for enemy warplanes’ heat signatures.

North Korea ramping up emergency airfield capabilities, spy satellite reveals

01/17/2017

Amidst its nuclear war threat, North Korea seems to be silently preparing for war. Since late 2015, the reclusive state under the dictatorship of Kim Jong-un is reportedly preparing its highways to be used as airstrips in emergency. This has been backed up with commercial satellite imagery, IHS Jane's Defence Weekly reported.

Texas to Receive First Air Force Reserve F-35 Fighter Wing

01/17/2017

The Lone Star State will be home to the first Air Force Reserve Wing of the new F-35A Lighting II advanced stealth fighter. The 5th generation fighter will be hosted by Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth.

India: 200-250 additional fighters needed in next 10 years: IAF chief

01/17/2017

The IAF chief, Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha, said on Wednesday that an additional 200-250 fighter aircraft needed to be inducted in the next 10 years to meet operational requirements, even as he termed the disappearance of an AN-32 transport one of the “worst memories” of his career.

Italy presses ahead with AW129 attack helicopter replacement

01/17/2017

Italy has begun the process of replacing its army’s fleet of AW129 attack helicopters, signing a multi-year, €487 million ($515 million) contract with Leonardo, which will see the nation’s aerospace champion develop a successor aircraft.

Italian deal opens M-345 order book

01/17/2017

The Italian air force has taken a step towards modernising its basic trainer fleet, with Leonardo receiving a contract to produce an initial five Aermacchi M-345s. Announced on 13 January, the M-345 deal was signed with the Italian defence ministry’s National Armaments Directorate, along with a separate one linked to starting work on the country’s next-generation attack helicopter. Together, these are worth more than €500 million ($530 million), Leonardo says.

Turkish Fighter Jets Violate Greek Airspace Over Aegean Sea

01/17/2017

Two F-16s and two F-4s entered the Flight Information Region shortly before 2 p.m. (12:00 GMT) south of Lesvos. The four jets then proceeded to fly over Makronisi and Agathonisi islands, the Kathimerini newspaper reported.

Islamic State chief demotes eastern Mosul commanders over combat failures

01/16/2017

Nineveh (IraqiNews.com) Islamic State’s supreme leader has stripped group commanders in eastern Mosul of leadership due to dramatic losses to Iraqi government forces over the past two weeks, a local source has reported. A source told Alsumaria News that Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi withdrew the “emir” designation from all leaders of the extremist group in the eastern part of the city due to “delinquency and escaping” at battlefields in face of advancing Iraqi government troops.

Air Force Cyber-Protects F-22

01/16/2017

The F-22, often referred to by Air Force developers as an “aerial quarterback,” relies upon data link technology connecting to other aircraft and ground stations as more of the F-22’s technologies and avionics--such as radar warning receivers, mission data files, navigation and target mapping systems-are computer based.

McCain fires opening shot in Pentagon budget wars with buildup plan

01/16/2017

Sen. John McCain is set to propose a military buildup that would add nearly half a trillion dollars to the defense budget over the next five years and blow past current limits on Pentagon spending, according to a copy of the blueprint drafted by the chairman of the Armed Services and obtained by POLITICO.

Most Powerful Weapons Systems Used by Russia

01/16/2017

At a cost of $70 billion a year, Russia has the world’s third-largest defense budget. For that, the state boasts 845,000 troops, 22,550 tanks and 1,399 combat aircraft.

US Defense Contractors Win $138Mln to Develop V-22 Osprey Aircraft for Japan

01/16/2017

The US-based Bell-Boeing Joint Project Office won a $138 million Navy engineering contract to develop and test the V-22 Osprey for Japan. The US-based Bell-Boeing Joint Project Office (JPO) won a $138 million Navy engineering contract to develop and test the V-22 Osprey tilt rotor aircraft for Japan, the Department of Defense said in a press release.