Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

China’s claim it has ‘quantum’ radar may leave $17 billion F-35 naked

02/27/2017

The RAAF’s first F-35’s will be making their debut Australian appearance at the Avalon air show this week. It’s not a combat-capable aircraft, yet, though the first partially operational US squadron of the type was deployed to Japan earlier this year. But Beijing state media has boasted its scientists have successfully tested a new type of radar capable of defeating stealth technology at ranges out to 100km.

Indian Armed forces conduct month-long exercise to test combat readiness to deal with any possible threat

02/27/2017

The Navy has carried out a mega exercise which saw participation of its strategic assets including nuclear-powered submarine and aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, besides Su-30 and Jaguar fighter jets of IAF. The Theatre-level Readiness and Operational Exercise (TROPEX) was conducted to test combat readiness of the combined fleets of the Navy, the Air Force, the Army and the Coast Guard.

Russia's Syria Campaign Boosted Worldwide Sales of Russian Arms

02/27/2017

CEO of Russia's Rostec State Corporation Sergey Chemezov claims that Russia's counter-terrorist campaign in Syria has given a boost to global demand for Russian arms.

US, France to Start Open Skies Flight Over Russia on Monday

02/27/2017

US and French inspectors will conduct an aerial surveillance flight over Russia under the Treaty on Open Skies between February 27 and March 4, the head of Russia's Nuclear Risk Reduction Center said Monday.

Russia to Start Air Mission Over Turkey on Monday

02/27/2017

Russian inspectors will conduct an aerial surveillance flight over Turkey between February 27 and March 3 within the scope of the Treaty on Open Skies, the head of Russia's Nuclear Risk Reduction Center said Monday.

'A Perfect Choice': Vietnam Sets Its Sights on Russian Yak-130 Aircraft

02/27/2017

In its effort to boost the country’s air defense, Vietnam is choosing between Russian Yak-130 and Czech L-39 New Generation planes for its future center for training pilots of supersonic fighter aircraft.

Russia’s Aerospace Forces, Naval Aviation to Get 160 Aircraft in 2017 – Colonel

02/27/2017

Russia’s Aerospace Forces and naval aviation will have their air fleets boosted this year by a total of 160 planes and helicopters, Col. Gen. Viktor Bondarev announced on Sunday.

Officials seek community support for bringing F-35 jet to Selfridge

02/26/2017

Local officials are implementing a full-scale effort to garner community support for Selfridge Air National Guard Base to secure a fleet of the next-generation fighter jet. Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel and Brig. Gen. John D. Slocum, commander of the 127th Wing at SANG, conducted a news conference Feb. 21 to announce a campaign to tout the benefits of attracting a squadron of the F-35 Lightening II, a fifth-generation fighter, to the base.

Future US Navy plans are all about doubling or tripling the missiles they can shoot and how many missiles they can defend against

02/26/2017

In World War II, the U.S. Navy made extensive use of small aircraft carriers, ranging from very small carriers escorting convoys (CVEs) to light aircraft carriers (CVLs) that were essentially downsized models of the iconic big carriers (CVs). CVLs could handle post-WWII jets. However, the Navy concluded super carriers made more sense strategically and economically.

BREAKING: Nigerian Air Force fighter aircraft destroys Boko Haram terrorists’ vehicle mounted with anti-aircraft gun (Video)

02/26/2017

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets yesterday successfully intercepted a group of Boko Haram Terrorists (BHT) moving in an Hilux vehicle mounted with anti-aircraft gun. The armed vehicle was sighted at Talala in Northern Borno by an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft on patrol, which then called for strike by combat platform.

Activity at North Korean Nuclear Facility Could Mean Another Test Imminent

02/26/2017

Activity at North Korea's Punggye-ri Nuclear Test facility indicates that the country could conduct another nuclear test at any time, a North Korean watchdog warns. The website 38 North, which monitors commercial satellite imagery for clues to North Korea's actions, says the continued activity in many areas of the Punggye-ri site shown by images from February 18 indicate that work is underway at many of the site's tunnels.

Russia Working on Extremely Long-Range Cruise Missile for White Swan

02/26/2017

The Russian State Scientific Research Institute of Aviation Systems (GosNIIAS) is working on an extremely long-range cruise missile as part of efforts aimed at modernizing the Tupolev Tu-160 strategic bomber, Rossiyskaya Gazeta reported, citing GosNIIAS' First Deputy of the General Director and Supervisor of Studies Evgeny Fedosov.

F-35 to fight ISIS in a few years

02/25/2017

The US Air Force’s F-35A will fight ISIS in the near future, but don’t expect to see the Lockheed Martin Lightning II flying over Iraq or Syria this year. The F-35A’s Middle East deployment is not imminent and is planned a few years out, USAF Air Combat Command chief Gen Herbert Carlisle told reporters 24 February.

US Air Force to Phase Out MQ-1 Predator Drone in Favor of MQ-9 Reaper

02/25/2017

The US Air Force announced in a press release on Friday it is retiring the 21-year-old MQ-1 Predator drone and is transitioning to the MQ-9 Reaper. "The MQ-9 is better equipped than the MQ-1 due to its high definition sensors and increased speed," the release stated. "The fresh MQ-9 design picked up where the MQ-1 left off, boasting a nearly 4,000-pound payload and the ability to carry missiles and bombs."

US Nuclear-Capable B-2 Bombers Get New Flight Management Processors

02/25/2017

The US Air Force has equipped its fleet of 20 B-2 Spirit stealth bombers with flight-management-control processors that officials say enhance the performance of onboard computer systems by a factor of 1,000, Scout reports.

Russia's Next-Gen Stealth Bomber to Replace Tu-22, Tu-95 and Tu-160 Planes

02/25/2017

Developers of the Russian new-generation strategic bomber, known as the Advanced Long-Range Aviation Complex (PAK DA), have defended the preliminary design of the project, according to Evgeniy Fedorov, scientific director of the Russian State Research Institute of Aviation Systems.

Turkey Wants to Buy Russian S-400 to 'Develop Its Own Missile Defense System

02/25/2017

Ankara has expressed interest in purchasing the S-400 Triumf mobile surface-to-air missile systems from Russia to develop its own air defense system, Turkish MP Ahmet Berat Conkar of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) told Sputnik Turkey.

Kenya: Congress Could Block U.S. Military Aircraft Sale to Kenya

02/24/2017

Kenya's bid to buy $418 million attack aircraft from an American firm was on Wednesday facing an uncertain future after five US legislators asked Congress to stop the deal because it was "inflated", saying the cost was doubled. Congressman Ted Budd is leading four of his colleagues in a bid to block the sale of 12 attack aircraft and two trainer planes to the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), which plans to use them in the war on the Al-Shabaab terrorist group in Somalia.

Here's how the F-35 stacks up to Russia and China's 5th-generation aircraft

02/24/2017

As the US starts to forward-deploy more of its F-35 Lightning, China and Russia have been putting the finishing touches on their own batches of fifth-generation aircraft — and they all express vastly different ideas about what the future of air combat will look like.

Boeing Fighter Jet, Feared Dead, Gets New Life From Trump Tweets

02/24/2017

Now Dan Gillian, who heads the Boeing fighter-jet program, is plotting upgrades to keep the F/A-18 flying through the 2040s -- and even looking at increasing the production rate. The U.S. Navy may need at least 100 of the Super Hornets over the next five years while it waits for Lockheed’s next version of the F-35. Boeing also sees opportunities for additional sales from India, Finland and Switzerland.

Team Spartan challenges Canadian FWSAR award

02/24/2017

Team Spartan filed a 6 January application for judicial review before the Federal Court challenging the Public Services and Procurement Canada’s award decision, according to a 23 February Team Spartan press release. During the protracted competition, Airbus had pitted their C295 turboprop against Leonardo’s C-27J Spartan. Brazilian-based Embraer also put forth its KC-390 twinjet and Lockheed Martin ultimately backed out of its HC-130J proposal.

USAF requests funding for low-cost fighter test

02/24/2017

During a 23 February speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, USAF chief Gen David Goldfein told the audience the experiment would not cost much money. In January, Goldfein said the USAF would run an experiment in the spring assessing off-the-shelf options to fill a low-end fighter role.

Italian navy takes first troop transport NH90

02/24/2017

Italy has received the first of 10 NH Industries NH90 troop transport helicopters destined for its navy, which will be used to perform special forces and amphibious support missions.

No Thanks: India Turns Down British Advanced Aircraft

02/24/2017

Following a request from India’s Defense Ministry, New Delhi’s Air Force has decided not to make an acquisition request for the British Advanced Hawk trainer aircraft, due to a recent bribery scandal.

US Claims Beijing Installing Long-Range Missiles in South China Sea Islands

02/24/2017

US officials are reporting that China has almost completed constructing two dozen buildings on its artificial islands in the South China Sea. The structures, according to reports, are intended to contain long-range surface-to-air missiles.