Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

RUSSIA, PAKISTAN CONDUCT FIRST JOINT MILITARY EXERCISE

09/25/2016

Russia and Pakistan will carry out their first joint military exercise this weekend, the Pakistani military said on Friday, at a time of heightened tensions between Islamabad and nuclear-armed rival India. The exercise is being seen as a demonstration of closer defense ties between the two countries after they signed a military cooperation pact in 2014.

Indian Air Force successfully test fires long range air-to-air MICA missile

09/25/2016

The Indian Air Force has successfully fired recently acquired long range air-to-air MICA missile on a manoeuvring target from Mirage-2000 Upgrade combat aircraft. A Defence Ministry release said that the missile achieved a direct hit on a target which was much smaller than an actual aircraft and flying at a low altitude.

Foreign Jet-Fighter Makers Woo India

09/25/2016

India is being offered blueprints to advanced combat aircraft by the world’s aerospace companies, a move unthinkable even a decade ago, as New Delhi gets ready to place another multibillion-dollar air force order.

Fire damages F-35A during Mountain Home deployment

09/25/2016

A fire erupted in the aft end of a Lockheed Martin F-35A during the engine start sequence on 23 September in Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, forcing the pilot to escape, the US Air Force says.

Lockheed Martin and Japan Celebrate Roll Out of Japan Air Self Defense Force’s First F-35A

09/24/2016

Senior Japanese and U.S. government officials joined Lockheed Martin to celebrate the roll out of the first Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) F-35A Lightning II, marking a major milestone in Japan’s enhanced national defense and strengthening the future of the U.S-Japan security alliance.

China Develops Catapult-Launch Aircraft Carrier

09/24/2016

It has been confirmed that China continues to develop its Catapult-Assisted Take-Off But Arrested Recovery (CATOBAR) program for aircraft carriers, after the identification of a Shenyang J-15 Flying Shark carrier-borne fighter with CATOBAR apparatus, the US Naval Institute reported Thursday.

Russian Corporation Says in Talks With Several Countries on MiG-35 Jets Supplies

09/24/2016

According to a spokeswoman for the company, Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG is currently holding talks with several potential buyers of the MiG-35 jet fighters.

Russian Troops Arrive in Pakistan for First Druzhba-2016 Joint Drills

09/24/2016

Russian troops with the Southern Military District have arrived in Pakistan for the first Druzhba-2016 ("Friendship-2016") exercises in the country, the district's press service said Friday. "The Southern Military District troops arrived in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan aboard an Il-76 military transport aircraft today to participate in the first joint Russian-Pakistani 'Druzhba-2016' tactical exercises," the district said.

India, France Sign $8.7 Bln Contract on Delivery of 36 Rafale Jets

09/24/2016

The French and Indian defense ministers signed a 7.8 billion euro ($8.7 billion) contract on the delivery of 36 French-made Rafale fighter jets, Indian media reported on Friday. The signing ceremony between Indian Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar and French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian was broadcast by NDTV.

A NORWEGIAN F-35 PILOT PROVIDES AN UPDATE: SHAPING NEW COMBAT CAPABILITIES IN THE NORTHERN EDGE OF NATO

09/23/2016

The author of this post, Major Morten “Dolby” Hanche, has more than 2200 hours behind him in the F-16, he is a U.S. Navy Test Pilot School graduate, and on 10 November 2015 he became the first Norwegian to fly the F-35. He now serves as an instructor pilot with the 62nd Fighter Squadron at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona.

MiG 29 Combat Aircraft Upgradation In Final Stage

09/23/2016

The 11 Base Repair Depot (11 BRD) of Air Force Station at Ojhar in Nashik which undertakes maintenance and overhauling MiG series combat aircraft, is currently engaged in upgradation of MiG 29 which is in final stages. Group Captain and Station Commander of Air Force Station, Ojhar, P K Anand also said at the depot yesterday that overhauling of MiG23 has been stopped since 2015.

US, Russia Discuss Need to Enhance Measures to Avoid Incidents Over Syria

09/23/2016

Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook said that US Department of Defense and Russian Ministry of Defense officials held a phone conference to discuss avoiding future misunderstandings and accidents in the air space above Syria.

Russia to Supply Angola With Upgraded Mi-24P Attack Helicopters

09/23/2016

According to reports, Russian Helicopters company plans to deliver a batch of upgraded Mi-24P attack helicopters to the Angolan air force later this month.

Obama Administration Considers Arming Syrian Kurds Against ISIS

09/22/2016

The Obama administration is weighing a military plan to directly arm Syrian Kurdish fighters combating the Islamic State, a major policy shift that could speed up the offensive against the terrorist group but also sharply escalate tensions between Turkey and the United States.

UPDATE: U.S. military disputes report that fighter jets caused mysterious boom over Queens

09/22/2016

Fighter jets flying over Queens caused a boom Wednesday afternoon that alarmed people across the area, according to the NYPD — but the military disputed that claim. The noise, which sounded similar to an explosion, occurred at about 2:20 p.m. and sounded loudest near John F. Kennedy Airport in south Queens, according to WABC-TV. It could also be heard at Belmont Park and in southwestern Nassau County.

F-35 Lightning II has first operational air-to-air missile fire

09/22/2016

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 211 became the first operational F-35 Lightning II squadron to fire an air-to-air missile Sept. 15, during a 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group Weapons System Evaluation Program at Tyndall AFB. This feat was completed during Combat Archer, the U.S. Air Force's air-to-air Weapons System Evaluation Program executed by the 83rd Fighter Weapons Squadron here.

AERO VODOCHODY RESUMES L-159 PRODUCTION (FOR ONE UNIT)

09/22/2016

The Czech aircraft manufacturer Aero Vodochody has resumed the production of new-built L-159 Advanced Light Combat Aircraft (ALCA) – for at least one two-seat aircraft. Meant to fulfill an ongoing order for the Iraqi Air Force, the L-159 unit will be the first new-build model produced since 2003, when the last L-159 ALCA had rolled off the production line.

Congressional language would delay JSTARS IOC by a year

09/22/2016

Congressional language in the 2017 National Defense Authorisation Act would force the US Air Force to pursue a fixed-price engineering, development and manufacturing contract for the joint surveillance target attack radar system (JSTARS) recapitalisation effort, and delay initial operational capability of the new fleet by about a year, top USAF acquisition officials say this week.

US Air Force seeks more CV-22s for combat loss replacements

09/22/2016

Lt Gen Brad Webb says he is not aware of a purchase going forward, but says AFSOC is examining combat loss replacements for the CV-22. He made his comments to reporters at the annual Air Force Association conference Wednesday.

US Approves $1.9Bln Sale of Boeing Refuelling Aircraft to Japan

09/22/2016

The US Department of State approved a sale worth nearly $2 billion of four Boeing aircraft to Japan, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a press release.

Russia to Send Admiral Kuznetsov Cruiser to Mediterranean Sea - Defense Minister

09/22/2016

Russian Defense Minister said that Russia will send an aircraft carrier group with the Admiral Kuznetsov cruiser to the Mediterranean Sea to strengthen its capabilities there.

Over 500 Types of Russian Weaponry to be Showcased at ADEX Expo

09/22/2016

Russia's Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation said that a total of 512 types of Russian weaponry, including the latest modification of T-72 tank, attack helicopter Ka-52 and anti-tank guided missile complex 9M133 Kornet will be showcased at the Azerbaijan Defense Exhibition-2016.

TU-2S crash kills one pilot, injures another

09/21/2016

One pilot was killed and another injured after ejecting from a Lockheed Martin TU-2S Dragon Lady training aircraft in California on 20 September, the US Air Force confirms.

US Air Force finds F-35 fuel line fix

09/21/2016

Following a supply chain glitch that delivered the wrong material for the tubing insulation on 15 Lockheed Martin F-35As, the US Air Force has identified a solution and will fix the issue with the original supplier, according to the F-35’s executive officer of the joint programme office.

Russian Tu-95 Strategic Bombers to Participate in Anti-Terror Drills

09/21/2016

Russia's Tu-95MC Bear strategic bombers will take part in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) joint anti-terror exercises dubbed Peace Mission, an aide to the commander of the Russian Defense Ministry’s Central Military District (CMD) forces said Tuesday.