Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

China launches its first combat-ready aircraft carrier

04/28/2017

On August 26, the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) launched its first domestically constructed aircraft carrier from a shipyard in Dailan. The as-yet-unnamed carrier still requires much more additional work before it joins PLAN's fleet. But the ship's construction began less than five years ago (in November of 2012), and it only moved into full dry-dock construction in 2015.

Israeli strikes inside Syria pick up tempo in proxy war

04/28/2017

Syria’s military said Israel struck a military installation southwest of Damascus International Airport before dawn Thursday, setting off a series of explosions and raising tensions further between the two neighbors. Apparently seeking to interrupt weapons transfers to the Hezbollah group in Lebanon, Israel has struck inside Syria with increasing frequency in recent weeks, making the war-torn country a proxy theater for Israel’s wider war with Iran.

Gripen tops shortlist for Bulgarian fighter deal

04/28/2017

Bulgaria's government has announced the Saab Gripen C/D as the preferred candidate in the country’s new combat aircraft competition. Sofia late last year issued a request for proposals for the purchase of eight multirole fighters, to be delivered by 2020. Another eight of the selected type would be contracted in 2022 under current plans.

Poland Sets Sights on NATO Aircraft to Replace Soviet-Era Warbirds

04/28/2017

In an effort to upgrade its air force and to bolster the nation’s military, Poland is considering the possibility of replacing its aging fleet of Soviet military aircraft with US-manufactured warplanes. According to RIA Novosti, the Polish military seeks to do away with the Su-22 and MiG-29 military aircraft currently employed by Poland’s Air Force, and has currently set its eyes on theF-16 and F-35 multirole fighters, which may eventually replace the aging Soviet planes.

T-X competitive field could expand, Saab suggests

04/27/2017

The Boeing/Saab team which is vying to win the US Air Force's T-X advanced jet trainer recapitalisation contest is on track to accumulate all required information by the end of this quarter, according to the Swedish manufacturer.

F-35 will not attend Paris Air Show

04/27/2017

The Lockheed Martin F-35 will skip an appearance in June at the Paris air show, the joint programme office confirms. With the event less than two months away, the JPO has not received an invitation to attend and is not aware of any F-35 participation in the show, a JPO spokesman tells FlightGlobal.

Israel seeks automatic collision avoidance for F-16s

04/27/2017

Israel's air force is negotiating the purchase of Lockheed Martin's automatic ground collision avoidance system (AGCAS) for its F-16 fleet. The system was developed to address the problem of accidents caused by distracted or incapacitated pilots flying into the ground in an otherwise fully functioning aircraft.

Meteor integration gets boost for UK F-35s

04/27/2017

MBDA has been awarded a £41 million ($52.6 million) contract to begin preparing its Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile for integration with Lockheed Martin's F-35B for the UK. The European company – which will perform the activity at its Stevenage facility in Hertfordshire, England – says its funding allocation includes "test assets, productionisation and engineering work needed to support Meteor's compatibility and use from F-35".

US Navy launches review of pilot oxygen supply

04/27/2017

A top US Navy admiral and former F/A-18 fighter pilot will lead a comprehensive review of recent reports of pilots suffering oxygen deprivation or cockpit pressurisation issues on Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornets and T-45 Goshawk trainers.

The USAF's F-35s in Estonia Are a Message to Russia and Critics

04/26/2017

The U.S. Air Force’s F-35A Joint Strike Fighter has made its first trip to Estonia. Though small, the deployment is an important statement to Russia, America’s NATO allies, and critics of the often vexing aircraft. On April 25, 2017, U.S. Air Forces in Europe formally announced that two F-35As stealthy fighter jets and approximately 20 airmen had arrived at Ämari Air Base in the Baltic country’s Harjumaa County.

Bulgaria Completes Assessment Of Offers For New Combat Aircraft

04/26/2017

Bulgarian working group has completed the analysis on offers for the supply of new combat aircraft to replace its ageing fleet of Russian-made MiG fighter aircraft. The working group set up by the defence ministry and led by Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Tsanko Stoykov has analysed and assessed the offers and will submit its conclusions to the government which is to make a decision on the next step in the procurement procedure, the defence ministry said in a statement Monday.

ANALYSIS: US Army builds a Black Hawk bridge to Future Vertical Lift

04/26/2017

For US Army aviation, the future is spelled FVL, as in Future Vertical Lift, and it is being explored by bold prototype models: Bell V-280 Valor, Karem ATR36, Sikorsky-Boeing SB-1 Defiant. To power that future, the service and industry are grappling with another Herculean project, ITEP – the improved turbine engine programme, to replace the GE T700 engine that powers the Boeing AH-64 Apache and Lockheed Martin/Sikorsky UH-60.

White Swans' Nest: The Birthplace of New Russian Strategic Bombers

04/26/2017

An aircraft factory in Kazan is expected to become the birthplace of a new generation of Russian Tu-160 long-range supersonic bomber aircraft known throughout the world as the White Swan.

India Inducts Sukhois Into IAF Squadron at Station Near Pakistan Border

04/26/2017

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has deployed Sukhoi-30MKIs at the Halwara base station, close to the India-Pakistan border. The Sukhois have been inducted into the IAF’s 221 Squadron, Valiants, which used to fly MiG-23 aircraft till 2009.

The Deadliest Aircraft in the U.S. Military's Arsenal You Have Never Heard Of

04/24/2017

In a military that operates Raptor stealth fighters, A-10 tank busters, B-52 bombers and Harrier jump jets, the U.S. Navy’s placid-looking E-6 Mercury, based on the 707 airliner, seems particularly inoffensive. But don’t be deceived by appearances. Though the Mercury doesn’t carry any weapons of its own, it may be in a sense the deadliest aircraft operated by the Pentagon, as its job is to command the launch of land-based and sea-based nuclear ballistic missiles.

Russia to Carry Out Observation Flights Over Croatia, Slovenia

04/24/2017

The head of the Russian Defense Ministry's Nuclear Risk Reduction Center said that Russian military experts will carry out observation flights over the territory of such Balkan states as Croatia and Slovenia.

WATCH: New F-35 Joint Strike Fighters Touch Down in Israel

04/24/2017

Three new Lockheed F-35 joint strike fighters have arrived at Nevatim air base in Israel, to enter service along with another two that were purchased late last year. They are the first five of 50 expected to be delivered by 2021.

N Korean Newspaper Vows Pyongyang Will Sink US Aircraft Carrier in Show of Force

04/24/2017

Pyongyang vowed to sink the USS Carl Vinson in what it described as a "show of military force," Reuters reported citing the the newspaper of the North's ruling Workers' Party. The news comes as Japan sent two destroyers for drills with the US carrier group. Two Maritime Self-Defense Force ships have left the Sasebo naval base in Nagasaki to meet up with the USS Carl Vinson-led group for joint drills following fresh ballistic missile tests in North Korea, The Japan Times reported.

A Look at Syrian Air Defenses That Could Not Shoot Down US Tomahawks

04/24/2017

In an interview with Sputnik, Syrian President Bashar Assad said that Damascus is interested in buying Russian advanced air defense system. Currently, the Syrian Army has in service Soviet-made S-200 air defense systems.

How Formidable Is North Korea's Air Force?

04/23/2017

The Korean People's Army Air Force is perhaps the least threatening branch of Pyongyang’s military forces. However, while technologically backwards and often lacking the level of proficiency of Western air forces (with pilots often receiving fewer than 20 annual flight hours), the KPAAF does have a few strong points. As with many North Korean facilities, most KPAAF air bases are hardened to withstand air attacks and the country has a large number of aircraft available.

New Jets, New Birds: UK F-35s to Carry Meteor Missiles by 2024

04/23/2017

Over the next 10 years, US-made F-35 fifth-generation fighter jets delivered to the UK will be modified to carry English air-to-air Meteor missiles. Citing a need to integrate European armament with US-built military aircraft, Lockheed-Martin F-35s delivered to the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy will be equipped with English-built ‘Meteor' Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) weapons, according to defense-update.com.

Canadian Jets Intercepted Russian Tu-95MS Bombers Near Alaska

04/23/2017

The fighter jets of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) followed US Air Force in intercepting two Russian Tu-95MS military planes that were flying in the neutral airspace around the northern coast of Canada, local media reported, citing the North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) spokeswoman.

Raytheon Inks $79Mln for Sidewinder Missile Support to US, 20 Foreign States

04/23/2017

Raytheon has been awarded $79 million for engineering services and training for AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II tactical missiles for the US Navy, Air Force and the governments of 20 nations, the US Department of Defense said in a press release.

Pilot ejects from fighter jet as Vinson carrier heads to Korea

04/22/2017

The pilot of a strike fighter on final approach to the aircraft carrier Carl Vinson safely ejected in the Celebes Sea early Friday morning and was recovered, Navy officials said. The incident occurred as the pilot of the F/A-18E Super Hornet assigned to Carrier Air Wing 2 was trying to land. The Navy didn’t identify the person publicly.

SYRIA MOVES COMBAT AIRCRAFT NEAR TO RUSSIAN BASE

04/22/2017

CNN reports that the Syrian government has relocated the majority of its combat planes to protect them from potential U.S. strikes. CNN bases its report on comments by two U.S. defense officials. The aircraft in question reportedly were moved to an airfield close to a base where the majority of Russian air forces helping the Assad regime are located. The theory is that President Trump is unlikely to launch an attack that might strike Russian assets.