Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Spain receives its first A400M transport

11/18/2016

Spain has taken delivery of its first Airbus Defence & Space A400M tactical transport, which will now be transitioned to its home operating base at Zaragoza in the northeast of the country. Aircraft MSN44 carried out its maiden flight from Airbus’s Seville final assembly site in September, and is the first of 27 examples on order for Spain.

US Government Approves $21.1Bln Sale to Qatar of F-15 Fighter Jet Package

11/18/2016

The US government approved the sale of an F-15 fighter jet package that will include 72 aircraft, support and training worth an estimated $21.1 billion to Qatar, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a press release.

Decision Time: Half of US F-15s Need Overhauls — Or Retirement

11/17/2016

The F-15C Eagle weighs about 16 tons, but with nearly 47,000 pounds of thrust pushing it down the runway it feels more like 16 ounces. In a just seconds, the plane passes 100 miles per hour, then twice that. It hops off the ground but the pilot, Maj. Jay “Fat” Talbert keeps it level, fifty feet up, and pours on more speed. “Here come the G’s,” Talbert warns his passenger in the back seat. Then he pulls back the stick.

Poland's first M-346 trainers arrive in Deblin

11/17/2016

Poland’s first two Leonardo Aermacchi M-346 advanced jet trainers were delivered to its air force’s 41st training base in Deblin on 14 November. The aircraft – with the tail numbers 7702 and 7703 – arrived from Rivolto, flown by Italian air force pilots.

PICTURE: Jordan's first PC-21 trainer gets airborne

11/17/2016

Pilatus has conducted the first flight of a PC-21 trainer for the Royal Jordanian Air Force, a new customer. Conducted from the Swiss manufacturer’s Stans production site on 15 November, the milestone sortie involved PC-21 serial number 283, with the tail number 1170 and temporary registration HB-HXA.

Sharpening the Raptor’s Talons

11/17/2016

Lockheed Martin Corp. has received a $536 million contract modification from the U.S. Air Force for sustainment of the F-22 Raptor. The funding is part of a Performance-Based Logistics (PBL) contract providing weapon systems sustainment of the F-22 fleet at all operational bases for the 2017 calendar year.

US Approves $1Bln Predator Drones Sale to UK - Defense Cooperation Agency

11/17/2016

US Defense Security Cooperation Agency said that the US Department of State has approved a possible $1 billion sale of Predator drones, equipment, training and support to the United Kingdom.

Russia to Upgrade Admiral Kuznetsov Aircraft Carrier in 2018

11/17/2016

Russia's Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier will be upgraded in 2018 after returning from service, Vice President of the United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) Igor Ponomarev said Wednesday.

MiG-29 Crashes on Approach to Russian Carrier

11/16/2016

A Russian Navy MiG-29KUBR Fulcrum-D crashed on approach to the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov earlier today due to technical problems. The twin-engine fighter was conducting a training sortie, according to the Russian defense ministry.

Indian Navy to get additional P8I submarine hunter, reconnaissance aircraft in 2020

11/16/2016

The Indian Navy will get its additional P8I submarine killer, maritime reconnaissance aircraft starting July 2020, with work being initiated at the Boeing facility here to deliver an updated version of the combat plane. The boost to the Indian fleet will come at a time when the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), which has been growing at a scorching pace over the past decade, is projected to have over 70 submarines in service.

UAE has deployed aircraft to Eritrea, Libya

11/16/2016

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has deployed combat aircraft to Libya and Eritrea to combat Islamist militants and support its forces in Yemen. The base in Libya appears to have been established at the beginning of this year. According to IHS Jane's Defence Weekly, Airbus Defence and Space satellite imagery shows the construction of buildings in March this year at Al-Khadim Airport in Marj province around 100 km from Benghazi. By the end of June, hangars and a new ramp had been built.

China claims its first aircraft carrier is now ready for combat

11/16/2016

China's first aircraft carrier is now ready to engage in combat, marking a milestone for a navy that has invested heavily in its ability to project power far from China's shores. The Liaoning's political commissar said in an interview with Tuesday's Global Times newspaper that his ship is "constantly prepared to fight against enemies," signaling a change from its past status as a platform for testing and training.

Indonesian air force's new CN235 MPA unveiled

11/16/2016

The Indonesian air force has put its latest Airbus Defence & Space CN235 maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) into service, equipped with winglets and an electronic support measures (ESM) system.

PICTURE: Greece receives first ex-US Army Chinooks

11/16/2016

Greece has received the first three of an eventual 10 Boeing CH-47D Chinook heavy-lift rotorcraft that it has bought from the US Army. Arriving at the port of Piraeus on 11 November, the Chinooks will join the already 15-strong fleet operated by the Hellenic Army.

India to Test Own Drone to Avoid US, Israeli Makes

11/16/2016

India's state-owned defense research company is about to test a medium altitude long endurance drone. Its success could make the Indian military market for drones out of bounds for US and Israeli companies.

Will Russia Hand Over Multi-Million Dollar MiG-29s to Serbia 'for Free'?

11/16/2016

Serbia is expected to receive six Russian Mikoyan MiG-29 multirole fighters and armored vehicles at a huge discount, totaling approximately $80 million, Defense analyst Miroslav Lazanski told Sputnik, commenting on unconfirmed reports that Moscow is ostensibly planning to transfer weapons to Belgrade.

Share of Modern Weapons in Russian Army Should Exceed 50% by Year End - Putin

11/16/2016

Russia's rearmament plans should be carried out efficiently using funds allocated from the state budget, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday. "Our plans should certainly be implemented. The question arises: through what? Certainly through optimization, and more careful use of allocated state resources to focus attention on the most important promising areas of our work," Putin said while opening a series of meetings with defense industry top officials.

Russia's Admiral Kuznetsov Aircraft Carrier Begins Combat Operations in Syria

11/16/2016

"Today, we started a major operation to launch massive strikes on Daesh and al-Nusra Front targets in the Idlib and Homs provinces [in Syria]," Shoigu said at Russian President Vladimir Putin's meeting with the ministry’s leadership and defense enterprises.

Bagram Attack: Bomber Kills 4 At U.S. Air Base In Afghanistan

11/14/2016

Bagram Air Base, outside Kabul, Afghanistan, is among the most tightly secured military facilities in the world. Even so, yesterday, a man armed with a suicide bomb found a way into the base, detonated that bomb and killed four Americans. The Taliban has taken responsibility for the attack.

US Blocks Nigeria From Buying Military Aircraft From Brazil

11/14/2016

Strong indications have emerged that the United States has again blocked the Federal Government from acquiring fighter ground attack aircraft considered crucial in the ongoing campaign against Boko Haram in the North-East. Investigations showed that the US has prevented the military from acquiring the A-29 Super Tucano light attack aircraft from Brazil.

The J-20: China’s counterfeit-fighter that could still mean trouble

11/14/2016

What we know for sure about the new Chinese J-20 stealth fighter jet is subject to some debate. We know that, according to claims within the Chinese government, that it was designed to compete directly with the latest in American fighter jet technology: the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Outwardly, its appearance resembles that of the F-22.

China’s Top Fifth-Gen Fighter Is The Best ‘Marketing Tool’ For America’s F-35 [PHOTOS]

11/14/2016

China’s elite fifth generation stealth fighter recently made its debut, raising questions about its capabilities. The Chengdu J-20, a Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group product, is designed to close the gap between American and Chinese air power. The stealth fighter is regarded as a potential rival to America’s F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter and F-22 Raptor.

Three Countries Competing to Create 'Next-Gen Suborbital Nuclear Bomber'

11/14/2016

Traversing the skies at a speed exceeding Mach 5, hypersonic weapons are said to be capable of penetrating the most advanced air defense systems in the world. Not a single country has put hypersonic arms into service so far, with Russia, the United States and China being the closest to taming the game-changing technology of the future.

Military Strikes Target ISIL Terrorists in Syria, Iraq

11/13/2016

U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Iraq yesterday, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today. Officials reported details of the latest strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports.

Russia's MiG-31 Fighter Is a Mach 3 Monster (Even at 35 Years Old)

11/13/2016

In the last decade of the Cold War, the MiG-31, codenamed Foxhound by NATO, enjoyed a certain mystique in the West. The same grainy photos aerial photos of the high speed fighter would show up in aviation publications, along with ominous speculation over its capabilities. But unlike its peers—the MiG-29 and Su-27—the Foxhound never fully emerged from obscurity after the Cold War.