Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Air force starts firing exercise

10/09/2016

Air to air live firing exercise by fighter aircraft of Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) started at Kutubdia firing range in Chittagong yesterday. The exercise will continue till October 26, from 8:00am to 5:00pm. During this 19-day exercise, BAF fighter aircrafts -- F-7BGI/FT-7BGI, F-7BG/FT-7BG, MiG-29B/UB, L-39ZA, K-8W, YAK-130 and F-7MB/FT-7B --will practice different air combat maneuvers and tactics along with air to air live firing, an ISPR release said.

What Weapons Would Fight in a US-Russia War?

10/09/2016

Taking stock of America and Russia’s military assets is important. For example, what are the key weapons platforms each nation has? Which are the very best? What would prove the most decisive in a conflict?

America's First Stealth Fighter: The Legend of the F-117 Nighthawk

10/09/2016

The F-117 Nighthawk, America’s original stealth plane with a deeply sinister appearance, is an example of a weapon system designed around the limitations imposed by a promising new technology. The Nighthawk was revolutionary when it entered service in 1983—not that many could appreciate that, as the plane was kept secret from the public for five years.

IAF kicks off contest to make single-engine fighters

10/09/2016

A global contest has restarted for supplying India a medium, multi-role fighter, with the Indian Air Force (IAF) inviting top international fighter jet manufacturers to set up a production facility in India. Business Standard has learned that Indian embassies in Washington, Moscow and Stockholm wrote on Friday to fighter jet manufacturers in these countries to confirm whether they would partner an Indian company in building a medium, single-engine fighter, with significant transfer of technology

Army will not pursue AH-64F model Apache

10/09/2016

As Boeing prepares for a possible F model Apache as a bridge between the legacy helicopter and the Future Vertical Lift aircraft, the US Army says it will not pursue the development of the AH-64F.

Russia Blocks French UN Security Council Ceasefire Resolution on Syria's Aleppo

10/09/2016

On Saturday, Russia blocked a draft UN Security Council resolution on the cessation of hostilities in Syria's Aleppo favoring a proposal by the UN Envoy to Syria that focuses on evicting al-Nusra terrorists (al-Qaeda) from Eastern Aleppo.

Russian Parliament ratifies indefinite deployment of air force in Syria

10/08/2016

Russia's lower house of parliament on Friday ratified an agreement presented by Russian President Vladimir Putin to indefinitely station combat aircraft and soldiers in Syria. The deal will bring Syria closer to peace, the legislature's deputy speaker, Sergei Zheleznyak, said in comments carried by state news agency TASS.

Five deals that will bolster India's air defence

10/08/2016

In a bid to strengthen the country's defence capacity, India plans to sign big-ticket defence deals with its traditional and strategic partner Russia during the upcoming annual summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi next week in Goa on October 15-16. It is expected that some of the most important defence deals may get green signal during the meet.

‘Rafale deal not a setback for Saab’s Gripen jet’

10/08/2016

Swedish aerospace giant Saab AB, which is planning to manufacture here its most advanced multi-role fighter Gripen NG, says that it does not see India’s decision to procure French Rafale jets as a set back. Mats Palmberg, Vice-President, Industrial Partnerships, Saab Aeronautics, in an interview with BusinessLine says he finds the Indian market quite promising. Excerpts:

Could Russia Really Shoot Down an F-22, F-35 or B-2 Stealth Bomber in Syria?

10/08/2016

As tensions between Washington and Moscow flare, the Russian military is warning the United States that it has the ability to target stealth aircraft such as the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit that might be operating over Syria with the Almaz-Antey S-400 (NATO: SA-21 Growler) and the recently arrived S-300V4 (NATO: SA-23 Gladiator) air and missile defense systems.

Russian Military Bases Abroad: Facts and Details

10/08/2016

Russia's lower house of parliament, the State Duma, has ratified the Russian-Syrian agreement on the deployment of an air group of the Russian Armed Forces in Syria at the Hmeymim airbase for an indefinite period of time.

Italy Is Prepping Its Only Aircraft Carrier to Handle F-35B Stealth Fighters

10/07/2016

Cavour, Italy’s only aircraft carrier, is designed to accommodate up to 12 F-35B stealth jump jets. In theory. In reality, actually operating the stealth fighters requires Cavour to undergo some significant modifications. Although conceptually similar to the smaller Harrier jump jet that already flies from Cavour, the Lockheed Martin F-35B produces much more heat than the older Boeing fighter does.

Is Poland really considering restarting production of its indigenous obsolete I-22 Iryda trainer aircraft?

10/07/2016

On Oct. 3, Mateusz Morawiecki, Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of development visited Chelm State Higher School of Vocational Education (PWSZ – Panstwowa Wyzsza Szkola Zawodowa). Among the things said during the visit one is particularly interesting: a claim has been made by the school officials that the Polish indigenous PZL I-22 Iryda trainer program will be reactivated, with the jets being manufactured in Chelm, alongside small UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) and drone systems.

BAE Systems in arms talks with Saudi Arabia

10/07/2016

The announcement by the defence, aerospace and electronics giant will stoke controversy over weapons sales to the Arab kingdom. However, it will hold out a lifeline to aircraft factories in the North West. The UK has been one of the biggest suppliers of defence equipment to Saudi Arabia for more than 40 years, including the 1980s al-Yamamah deal.

Attrition: Turkey Loses Its F-16 Surge Mojo

10/07/2016

The July 2016 coup attempt in Turkey had many victims and one of the lesser known ones was the effectiveness of Turkish fighter fleet. While few F-16 pilots took part in the coup, the government lost (through dismissal or resignation) 274 combat pilots. This reduced the ratio of pilots per F-16 from 1.25 to .8. Suddenly the combat capabilities of the Turkish air force were greatly reduced, especially if the F-16s were called on to engage in large scale and intensive operations.

Germany may buy as many as six C-130Js

10/07/2016

Germany has signalled its intention to acquire as many as six Lockheed Martin C-130J tactical transports as its frustrations deepen with the underperforming Airbus Defence & Space A400M. As part of a memorandum of understanding with France, signed by the defence ministers from both countries, the Hercules would be part of a “common air transport squadron” to be created by 2021.

Finnish Air Force Suspects Two Airspace Violations by Two Different Su-27 Planes

10/07/2016

On Thursday, Finland's Yle television reported citing border guard services that a Russian Su-27 jet had alleged stayed in the Finnish airspace for about a minute after crossing the border near the town of Porvoo some 30 miles east of the capital, Helsinki.

Russian Military Denies Violation of Finland's Airspace by Su-27 Fighter Jet

10/07/2016

"A Russian Su-27 combat plane on October 6, 2016, carried out a training flight over neutral waters of the Bay of Finland," the ministry said in a statement. "The plane did not deviate from the established route, which is confirmed by means of objective monitoring," the statement said.

Russian Tu-95 and Tu-22M3 Bombers to Patrol Airspace Between Hawaii and Japan

10/07/2016

A new division of Tu-95MS and Tu-22M3 strategic bombers will soon appear in the Russian Far East to patrol the area over the Pacific Ocean inside the Japan – Hawaii – Guam triangle, Izvestia reported.

Third Russian Black Sea Fleet Missile Ship en Route to Syria

10/07/2016

The Kalibr cruise missile-equipped Serpukhov and Zeleny Dol corvettes are planned to join the Russian Navy's permanent task force as part of an off-shore maritime zone rotation in the Mediterranean.

Four European nations scrambled air forces to intercept nuclear-capable Russian Blackjack bombers that flew from Norway to Spain last month

10/06/2016

Two Russian Blackjack bombers were intercepted flying back and forth to Northern Spain from the direction of Norway, it has emerged. Four nations - Norway, the UK, France and Spain - all deployed their own jets as the TU-160 planes skirted the airspace of each country, flying around the UK.

Pakistan to Sell 100 Military Aircraft to Turkey

10/06/2016

The chairman of the Pakistani Senate’s Standing Committee on Defense, retired Lieutenant General Abdul Qayyum, announced on October 4 that Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) will export 100 MFI-395 Super Mushshak military training aircraft to Turkey, according to local media reports.

Japan Unveils Plan for Pilotless Combat Aircraft to Support Fighters

10/06/2016

The Japanese Ministry of Defense has released new details about its plans for future unmanned aircraft that would fly in supporting roles, aiding piloted fighters in the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force, or JASDF. Specifically, JASDF is hoping to add two distinct craft to its fleet: unmanned wingmen that would fly in formation with and receive commands from a pilot in a conventional fighter, and a high-flying ballistic-missile defense (BMD) aircraft that would use sensor arrays to track missiles.

Lockheed Martin Receives $49 Million U.S. Army Contract for Apache Helicopter Sensor Upgrades

10/06/2016

$49.3 million contract to upgrade the Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor (M-TADS/PNVS) on the AH-64E Apache helicopter. Under this contract, Lockheed Martin will produce an additional 42 Modernized Day Sensor Assembly (M-DSA) upgrade kits and spares for the U.S. Army as part of Lot 1 production. Production will take place at Lockheed Martin’s facilities in Orlando and Ocala, Florida, through March 2019.

Israeli Fighter Jet Malfunction Leaves Pilot Dead, Navigator Injured

10/06/2016

According to the Israeli military, one of its pilots was killed following a strike mission over the Gaza Strip. On Wednesday, a squadron of Israeli Air Force jets was deployed in response to a rocket attack launched from Gaza.