Military Aviation News Archive

Russia Conducting No Talks on Creating Military Bases in Libya

01/23/2017

Russia is not conducting talks on creating military bases in Libya, Viktor Ozerov, head of the Russian Federation Council's defense committee, said on Sunday.

PAK DA's Precursor, Russian Tu-160M2 Bomber to Get Universal Anti-Missile Shield

01/23/2017

The newest incarnation of Russia's Tu-160 supersonic variable-sweep wing heavy strategic bomber/missile carrier, one of Moscow's most formidable weapons, is expected to have double the functionality of its current version.

Are U.S. Aircraft Carriers Nearly Unsinkable?

01/22/2017

The bottom line on aircraft carrier survivability is that only a handful of countries can credibly pose a threat to America's most valuable warships, and short of using nuclear weapons none of those is likely to sink one. Large-deck, nuclear-powered aircraft carriers are the signature expression of American military power. No other combat system available to U.S. warfighters comes close to delivering so much offensive punch for months at a time without requiring land bases near the action.

Red Flag air combat exercise will rattle windows near Nellis starting Monday

01/22/2017

Nellis Air Force Base officials say residents in the north Las Vegas Valley can expect to hear excessive military aircraft noise starting Monday as more than 80 fighter jets, bombers and support aircraft depart and return to the base twice a day for the year’s first Red Flag air combat exercise.

Taiwan expected to complete F-16 upgrades within six years: AIDC

01/22/2017

Taiwan's state-owned Aerospace Industrial Development Corp. (AIDC) said it has begun an upgrade of the country's fleet of U.S.-manufactured F-16 fighter jets and that the work is expected to be completed within six years. The first batch of four F-16s is being upgraded at the AIDC's plant, said the company, adding that a new hangar will be launched soon to facilitate the retrofit program.

Japan scrambled jets against approaching aircraft a record 883 times over nine months; most incidents involved China

01/21/2017

Japan scrambled fighter jets against aircraft approaching its airspace a record 883 times over the nine months through December, with 73 percent of the incidents involving Chinese aircraft, the Defense Ministry said Friday. The number was up 316, or 36 percent, from the same period the previous year.

Russian MoD Seeks New Military Transport Aircraft

01/21/2017

The Russian Defense Ministry is seeking to replace obsolete passenger aircraft with new Russian aircraft models after a deadly crash of the Tu-154 plane last month. The Kommersant newspaper reported Friday that Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has ordered to analyse possibilities to substitute Tu-154, Tu-134 and Il-62M passenger aircraft with new passenger aircraft models.

Congress Produces Its Shopping List for Beefing Up the U.S. Military

01/21/2017

The Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Arizona Senator John McCain, released a paper on Tuesday calling for the Pentagon to receive a nine percent boost in defense spending next year. The plan calls for spending more than $400 billion over five years, reversing what the Senator calls "damage done to the military over the past eight years." The plan roughly mirrors defense spending increases proposed by President Elect Donald Trump.

Airbus offers C295 tanker fit after H225M test success

01/21/2017

Airbus Defence & Space has begun offering its C295W transport with an in-flight refuelling system modification, after completing a fresh series of trials with a medium rotorcraft. Conducted during December in conjunction with Airbus Helicopters, the trials involved a pair of C295s supporting H225M Caracals. This involved the use of a palletised hose-and-drogue refuelling system, deployed via the medium transport’s rear ramp.

Polish firm updates Mi-24 for Senegal

01/21/2017

Poland’s Lodz-based WZL-1 has completed the modernisation of a Mil Mi-24V attack helicopter for the Senegal air force. The secondhand rotorcraft is understood to have been acquired from a former Soviet-era operator.

ANALYSIS: Lasers and scanners illuminate F-35 ramp up

01/21/2017

As World War II raged, US Air Force Plant 4 cranked out 17 B-24 Liberators a day for the Allied forces. The Lockheed Martin plant in Ft Worth, Texas went on to be the birthplace of the F-111 Aardvark and the F-16 Fighting Falcon. Today, the dwindling F-16 line occupies a smaller facility next door known as the Falcon’s Nest, dwarfed by the colossal space, several football fields long, that is now the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter production line.

Japan, S Korea, US Conduct Military Drills to Counter N. Korea's Missile Threat

01/21/2017

Japan, South Korea and the United States are conducting military drills on January 20-22 to prepare for a potential missile launch from the territory of North Korea, media reported Friday, citing a source in the South Korean military.

China reveals chilling new 'Sharp Sword' stealth drone capable of dropping TWO TONNES of bombs on 'high-value' targets

01/20/2017

China's new 'Sharp Sword' stealth drone - which is capable of dropping TWO TONNES of bombs - has won second prize in competition. Little is known about the unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) dubbed the "Lijian" in Mandarin - other that it is the first non- NATO aircraft of its kind and 'better' than that used by all military in the West.

Kazakhstan orders Russian Mi-35M helicopters

01/20/2017

Russia's state-owned Rostec subsidiary Russian Helicopters plans to supply Kazakhstan with four Mi-35M combat helicopters in 2018. According to the company, the sale is part of a military modernization effort for both countries, and strengthens strategic cooperation between their respective armed forces. The new rotorcraft will be used to replace Kazakhstan's aging fleet of Mi-24 helicopters.

China’s first aircraft-carrier bares its teeth

01/20/2017

FOR Admiral Wu Shengli, the commander of China’s navy since 2006, it must have been a sweet swansong to mark his imminent retirement. In November China announced that its first and only aircraft-carrier, the Liaoning, was combat ready. On December 24th its navy duly dispatched an impressive-looking carrier battle-group with three escorting destroyers, a couple of frigates, a corvette and a refuelling ship. It sailed from the northern port of Qingdao down through the Miyako Strait.

Air Force Chief Scientist: F-35 to Get Artificial Intelligence - Control Drones

01/20/2017

F-35s, F-22s and other fighter jets will soon use improved “artificial intelligence” to control nearby drone “wingmen” able to carry weapons, test enemy air defenses or perform intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance missions in high risk areas, senior Air Force officials said.

Russia’s Stealth Fighter Starts New Test Phase

01/20/2017

Russia’s T-50 PAKFA fifth-generation stealth fighter is about to undergo flight testing by military pilots for the first time. The Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) said on January 6 that it would take delivery this year of five of the aircraft that have been flight-tested by Sukhoi at the Gromov Flight Research Institute (LII) in Zhukovsky.

AF fighter jets practice for inauguration flyover

01/20/2017

Four Air Force fighter jets practiced for the inauguration flyover at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, Jan. 19, 2017. Two generations of fighter aircraft are scheduled to fly in a close formation during the inauguration of President-elect Donald J. Trump at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., Jan. 20, 2017.

Why the B-2 Stealth Bomber Was Used to Strike ISIS Camps in Libya

01/20/2017

Six years ago, US-backed coalition airpower tore down Libyan strongman Muammar Gaddafi's air defenses. Since then the dictator has been killed. So have a US Ambassador and three other Americans, and thousands of Libyans. Libya, in general, descended into chaos following the death of Gaddafi and the winding-down of coalition air operations over the country.

B-2 bomber hits Islamic State sites in Libya

01/20/2017

Together with the interim Libyan government, the bombers destroyed two Islamic State camps 45km southwest of Sirte, according to the air force. The two bombers launched over 100 Boeing GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munitions and USAF MQ-9 Reapers employed Lockheed Martin AGM-114 Hellfire missiles following the initial strike, a service spokesman says. Each B-2 has the capacity to carry 80 226kg (500lb) JDAMs or an equivalent 18,100kg payload.

Did Trump Really Bring Down Price of F-35?

01/20/2017

People with knowledge of the ongoing negotiations between the US Department of Defense and weapons-manufacturer Lockheed Martin indicated Wednesday that the average unit cost will fall below $100 million for the first time, two days before Trump takes office. The tenth order of F-35s delivered by Lockheed Martin will be the largest shipment, at 90 fighter jets, in the Joint Strike Fighter’s history.

Russia and Turkey 'in first joint air strikes on IS'

01/19/2017

IS was targeted in the suburbs of the town of al-Bab, Aleppo province, where Turkey suffered heavy casualties last month battling the group on the ground. Turkey's military was quoted by Reuters as saying Russia had carried out air strikes "in co-ordination with Turkey". Russia and Turkey back opposing sides in Syria's five-year civil war.

The F-35 Is Slowly Starting to Replace the F/A-18 (But One Big Problem Won’t Go Away)

01/19/2017

The United States Navy is pressing ahead with plans to replace the original model Boeing F/A-18A/B/C/D Hornets with the Lockheed Martin F-35C Joint Strike Fighter. Four F-35Cs are scheduled to arrive at Naval Air Station Lemoore on Jan. 25 as part of a new Fleet Replacement Squadron for the West Coast.

Rolls-Royce studies two new stall fixes for V-22 engines

01/19/2017

The US Naval Air Systems Command plans to award the maker of the AE1107C turboshaft engines a contract to complete two studies that would validate the company’s ideas for making the propulsion system safer to operate.

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.