Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

"Adir" in the Sky

01/09/2017

On December 12, 2016, the first two F-35A jet fighters (dubbed "Adir," a word meaning "mighty" or "awesome" in Hebrew) landed in Israel. This is a major milestone in the long process of accepting the aircraft into Israel Air Force service, a process that began in 2008, when Israel first applied for the planes.

Why Did America Stop Building the Best Fighter Jet Ever?

01/09/2017

In the late 1990s, the United States was at a post–Cold War apex as an aviation juggernaut. Not only did it have the largest fleet of combat aircraft in the world, it was also producing the only fifth-generation fighter in existence: the F-22 Raptor. By 2009, the U.S. government had turned against the fighter, and only 187 were produced. What happened to the F-22 program, and why?

Argentina Has Just 3 Years to Invade the Falklands

01/08/2017

Argentina is trying to rebuild its air force by resuming negotiations with Israel to acquire 12–14 Kfir Block 60 fighters in 2017. These are capable?—?if antiquated?—?fighters originally dating to the 1970s. But the Block 60 includes several upgrades including a modern Elta 2032 AESA radar.

America's B-52 Stratofortress (Developed in the 1950s): Dropping Bombs Until 2040?

01/08/2017

The Air Force is surging forward with a massive, fleet-wide modernization overhaul of the battle-tested, Vietnam-era B-52 bomber, an iconic airborne workhorse for the U.S. military dating back to the 1960s. Engineers are now equipping all 76 of the Air Force B-52s with digital data-links, moving-map displays, next-generation avionics, new radios and an ability to both carry more weapons internally and integrate new, high-tech weapons as they emerge, service officials said.

Air Force leaders said the F-22 Raptor multi-role stealth fighter is performing well in bombing attacks over Iraq and Syria

01/08/2017

The Air Force's stealthy F-22 Raptor is performing very well in its first ever combat missions bombing Islamic State forces over Iraq and Syria, service leaders said Sept. 15. Praising its stealthy super-cruise speeds, maneuverability and ability to help other aircraft in the U.S.-led coalition, the Commander of Air Combat Command called the F-22 an "aerial quarterback" in the ongoing bombing efforts against ISIS.

ROYAL AIR FARCE Nearly a third of RAF’s combat jets grounded by mechanical gremlins as 14 years of war take their toll

01/08/2017

One in three of the £60 million multi-role Typhoon fighters and Tornado combat jets are unfit to fly. Both planes are vital to Britain’s air defence and are on high alert preventing Russian jets from entering UK air space. The two aircraft also taking part in combat missions against ISIS in Iraq and Syria as part of Operation Shader.

Upgrade advances A-10s search capability

01/07/2017

A-10C Thunderbolt IIs assigned to active duty fighter squadrons at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base are in the process of having new lightweight airborne recovery systems installed. The LARS V-12 is designed to allow A-10 pilots to communicate more effectively with individuals on the ground such as downed pilots, pararescuemen and joint terminal attack controllers.

China’s third aircraft carrier may soon be in the pipeline

01/07/2017

China is expected to “own” a third aircraft carrier in the near future, the People’s Daily online, the flagship of the Communist Party of China (CPC) is reporting, quoting a leading naval expert. The website quoted Liang Fang, a military expert, as saying that “the Chinese military’s combat capability has grown by leaps and bounds in the past decade.”

Frontline Bengal Air Base Likely to House Rafale Squadron

01/07/2017

Frontline Indian Air Force base in Hasimara in West Bengal is likely to be one of the bases for a Rafale squadron, informed sources said on Friday. The first squadron is likely to be based at the Sarsawa base in Uttar Pradesh. One more base for the third squadron remains to be identified. Each of these IAF squadrons will have 12 Rafale fighter jets.

China will Buy no More Russian-made Jets and Other Russian Combat Aircraft

01/07/2017

Russia kept its word by delivering the first four Sukhoi Su-35S supermaneuverable air superiority fighters to China in December. The delivery was confirmed by the People's Liberation Army (PLA). The People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) is the first foreign customer for the Su-35S --and also the last. After receiving delivery of the four Sukhois, the PLAAF said it will order no more Russian-made fighters and other combat aircraft after Russia delivers the remaining 20 Su-35Ss it bought.

Sales Outlook Brightens For Boeing's F/A-18 Super Hornet Fighter

01/07/2017

When President-elect Donald J. Trump tweeted on December 22 that he had asked Boeing to price-out an alternative to the stealthy F-35 fighter based on the company's F/A-18 Super Hornet, he stunned the defense industry. Although Super Hornet is the most successful carrier-based tactical aircraft the Navy has ever operated, it has long been assumed that production would cease in the near future to make room in the budget for the next-generation F-35.

Watch: India's next Western origin fighter jet- US F-16 or Sweden's Gripen?

01/07/2017

The competition for providing India with a single engine fighter jet is now between US defence major Lockheed Martin and Swedish arms company, Saab. India has already sent requests to US and Sweden, asking for details of single engine fighter jets in service which can be offered for a technology transfer project- these are Lockheed Martin F 16 and the Saab Gripen.

Air Force Secretary: B-52 accident will not push engine upgrade

01/07/2017

The Air Force is not moving faster on an effort to re-engine the Boeing B-52, even after a TF33 dropped from a bomber during a training mission earlier this week. In her final speech in Washington 6 January, Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James said the recent accident would not give more urgency to an earlier effort to re-engine the B-52. However, James notes there remains interests in replacing the bomber’s aging Pratt & Whitney engines.

Syria conflict: Russia 'withdrawing aircraft carrier group'

01/07/2017

Russia is starting to withdraw forces from Syria and its aircraft carrier group will be the first to leave, the Russian armed forces chief says. The announcement comes days after Russia and Turkey negotiated a ceasefire in Syria which is largely holding, according to the UN.

OFFICIAL 2016 NIGERIAN BUDGET CONFIRMS JF-17 ORDER

01/06/2017

The officially sanctioned Appropriation Act for 2016 – i.e. the 2016 Nigerian Federal Budget – confirms an order for three JF-17 multi-role combat aircraft. The JF-17 is jointly produced and marketed by Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) and the Aviation Industry Corporation of China. In December, PAC announced that it handed over 70 JF-17s to the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), the platform’s sole user, currently.

Defense Sec. Ash Carter Highlights DoD Accomplishments

01/06/2017

Below is my exit memo to President Barack Obama outlining some of the many accomplishments of the Department of Defense over the past eight years, my vision for the country’s future, and the work that remains in order to achieve that vision. Each cabinet secretary has provided his or her own memo to the president as of today.

F-35 pilot: It's 'preposterous' to think an upgraded F-18 could do the F-35's job

01/06/2017

In December, Business Insider interviewed a former US Navy Commander, Chris Harmer, who had a unique idea for an alternative to the F-35. Harmer suggested that in 2001, when the F-35 program first came together, military planners simply could have updated existing airframes, like the carrier based F-18, with the advanced avionics and sensor fusion featured in the F-35.

Pivot to Asia: US Navy Deploying New Airborne Early Warning Aircraft to Japan

01/06/2017

The US Navy announced Thursday that it will deploy its leading-edge early-warning surveillance aircraft to Japan in February. The aircraft, developed by defense contractor Northrop Grumman and the latest in air defense technology, can detect missile attacks and stealth aircraft as well as coordinate other ships and aircraft during combat.

Air Force receives 4 of Russia's latest fighters

01/06/2017

The Chinese military has confirmed that it received four Russian-made Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets in late December, but noted that the Su-35 might be the last combat plane China would import thanks to its own defense advances.

Russia and India to develop new Fifth Generation stealth fighter; but India wants export rights too

01/06/2017

Russia wants to cement its position as Indian Air Force's key supplier and give a decisive boost to Indo-Russian relationship. In view of this, India and Russia are looking to sign a design and development contract for Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA), a stealth fighter.

Purchase of new fighter aircraft: SLAF still to finalize fleet requirements

01/06/2017

The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) is still in the process of finalizing its fleet requirements to purchase new multi-role combat aircraft to replace MiG and Kfir fleet. Earlier, the government had announced that it intends to purchase eight to 12 new multi-role combat aircraft for the SLAF.

B-52 bomber drops engine

01/06/2017

During a 4 January training mission from Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, the pilot declared an in-flight emergency after discovering the engine had dropped from the bomber. The mammoth Boeing aircraft, which is powered by eight Pratt & Whitney TF33 engines, landed safely without injuries to the five personnel on board, the air force says in a statement. No weapons were on board during the mission.

F-35 pilot: Here's what people don't understand about dogfighting, and how the F-35 excels at it

01/05/2017

Since 2001, Lockheed Martin and US military planners have been putting together the F-35, a new aircraft that promises to revolutionize aerial combat so thoroughly as to leave it unrecognizable to the general public. Detractors of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter have long criticized the program as taking too long and costing too much, though overruns commonly occur when developing massive, first-in-class projects like the F-35.

The year ahead: The Asia-Pacific region

01/05/2017

On 15 December the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) snatched an unmanned underwater vessel (UUV) of the US Navy (USN). This occurred just 50nm from the Philippine coast, a reminder that Beijing sees the whole of the South China Sea as its own turf, to use in an inappropriate metaphor for maritime territory.

Dogfight Over Security Of Indian Skies To Begin Anew – Analysis

01/05/2017

The dogfight over the choice of fighter jets – known as the Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) – that are to provide security for the Indian skies is beginning again, this time for a much larger number than the 2007 figure of 189 asked by the Indian Air Force (IAF), an estimated 400 for for the Indian Air Force (IAF) and 60 for and Navy.