Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Over 20 Aircraft, Helicopters Set to Take Part in Russia's Baltic Fleet Drills

09/21/2016

More than 20 planes and helicopters will take part in naval aviation military exercises held by Russia's Baltic Fleet, the fleet's press service said in a statement on Tuesday. he statement added that the pilots would also train landing of troops, support of land forces and would conduct missile launching and bombing.

USAF intel eyes new Russian, Chinese bombers in 2020s; proliferation of fifth-gen fighters

09/20/2016

Russia and China are poised to field new stealth bombers as soon as 2025 and 12 foreign fifth-generation fighter aircraft programs are now in development -- including systems designed to challenge the F-22A and F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, according to a new Air Force intelligence assessment of foreign airborne threats.

The US Air Force wants to roll out a cheaper attack aircraft to fly alongside the A-10

09/20/2016

The hullabaloo surrounding the future of the US Air Force’s A-10 Thunderbolt II has been endless. Its effectiveness on the battlefield has been proven with servicemembers on the ground going as far as calling it their “guardian angel” in the heat of battle. Equipped with an arsenal of weapons, including its notorious 30mm Gatling gun, it’s not hard to see why the A-10 commands such respect.

Gulf states gain from new US-Israel aid package

09/20/2016

With the Adir seemingly safeguarding Israel's military advantage, the way is open for US sales of advanced combat aircraft to Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain.

Tata-Lockheed Martin Joint Venture Delivers 50th C-130J Super Hercules Empennage

09/20/2016

The 50th C-130J Super Hercules empennage assembly was delivered by Tata Lockheed Martin Aerostructures Limited (TLMAL) on Sept. 16. TLMAL is a joint venture between Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and Lockheed Martin Aeroframe Corporation located here.

U.S. Air Force Awards Lockheed Martin $87 Million Contract for Paveway II Plus Laser Guided Bombs

09/20/2016

Lockheed Martin received an $87.6 million contract from the U.S. Air Force for follow-on production of Paveway II Plus Laser Guided Bomb (LGB) kits. The contract represents the majority share of fiscal year 2016 funding and the 8th consecutive majority win for Lockheed Martin in the annual Air Force competition. Deliveries include the guidance and tail assemblies for GBU-10 (2,000-lb.) and GBU-12 (500-lb.) LGB configurations.

Certifiable Predator B nears flight test phase

09/20/2016

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems is carrying out ground tests of its newly built Certifiable Predator B unmanned air vehicle, ahead of a flight campaign at the US Army’s Yuma Proving Ground throughout 2017 and 2018.

Russia to Use Syrian Combat Experience in Upgrading Helicopter Optical Systems

09/20/2016

The Russian military will use its experience gained in Syria to upgrade Mi-35M attack helicopters and Mi-8AMTSh multirole helicopters with new 360-degree OPS-24N1 surveillance and targeting opto-electronic systems, a Defense Ministry representative said Monday.

Daesh shoot down Syrian military aircraft in eastern province of Dayr al-Zawr

09/19/2016

Amaq, a news outlet affiliated to Daesh, said in an online statement released on Sunday that the jet came down in Jebel Tharda area, near the Dayr al-Zawr military airport. The airbase, along with some other government-held districts, has been besieged by Daesh over the past year. The Syrian army has confirmed the downing of the warplane, saying it had been on a mission against Daesh when it was shot down.

RAAF was part of fatal air strike in which 80 Syrian troops were killed ‘by mistake’

09/19/2016

AUSTRALIAN aircraft were part of a botched bombing raid against Islamic State terrorists in which 80 Syrian army soldiers were allegedly killed by mistake. It is believed that two RAAF F18 Super Hornets could have been part of the combat operation, which struck at what was thought to be a significant Islamic State fighting position in eastern Syria.

Chinese Media Warns US-Japan 'Fishing for Trouble' in South China Sea

09/19/2016

China’s Xinhua news suggests that Japan has “ulterior motives” for intervening in the South China Sea including cozying up to the United States and garnering influence towards its own territorial dispute over the Senkaku (Diaoyu) Islands.

India’s Rafale Fighter Jets to Serve as ‘Strategic Delivery System’ of Nukes

09/19/2016

India pushed forward the completion of the long-delayed deal for the French fighter jets after determining that the aircraft fulfills a vital strategic purpose – the delivery of nuclear weapons.

Test of Gun for Russia's PAK FA 5th-Gen Stealth Aircraft Spotted on Video

09/19/2016

A video of live fire tests of an automatic rapid-fire cannon developed for Russia’s T-50 fifth generation fighter plane has appeared on the Internet, Rossiiskaya Gazeta reported.

Eurofighter Typhoon is No Pushover

09/18/2016

The Eurofighter Typhoon has joined the Dassault Rafale, the Saab Gripen, and the Sukhoi “Flanker” in pursuit of a growing niche in the international fighter market. These aircraft offer capabilities beyond the Generation 4 platforms developed in the 1970s, but don’t carry the costs and complications of stealth. While the Eurofighter has enjoyed outstanding technical success thus far, the market niche may not be large enough to sustain production over time.

US-led Coalition Airstrike Accidentally Hits Syrian Government Troops

09/18/2016

U.S. military officials said coalition aircraft had accidentally struck Syrian government troops Saturday during a raid against Islamic State fighters. Syrian and Russian sources said dozens of soldiers were killed. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group gave a toll of at least 80 soldiers killed.

The Latest F-35 Grounding Isn't That Big a Deal

09/18/2016

The media is making a big deal out of the sudden grounding of 15 F-35s, which includes nearly the entire inventory of “operational” USAF F-35As, or around ten jets. 57 aircraft are affected in all, but 42 of those are in various stages of production and not flying.

The Legend of the Vietnam War’s Mystery Fighter Ace

09/18/2016

Col. Nguyen Tomb?—?or “Toon”?—?is one of the names immortalized in military aviation, like Baron von Richthofen and Eddie Rickenbacker. I first encountered Tomb when I was 10 years old, playing Chuck Yeager’s Air Combat on my dad’s computer. In one mission, you fly against the Vietnamese ace, infamous for having scored 13 air-to-air kills.

China's Military Is Getting Strong (So Why Aren't Chinese Weapons Selling?)

09/18/2016

One of the frequent arguments made about China’s 20-year-long military buildup is that its locally produced weapons are better than they used to be. To a certain extent this is true, if hardly surprising. Relatively modern systems, such as the J-10 fighter jet, the Yuan-class submarine, and the Type-99 main battle tank, are certainly superior to the weapons systems they replaced, that is, the J-7, the Ming-class sub, and the Type-59 tank – all basically copies of Soviet weapons.

Thailand To Buy New Transport Aircraft

09/18/2016

The Thailand Air Force is eyeing to buy a new fleet of transport aircraft to replace their ageing C-130 Hercules. The competition between Shaanxi Aircraft Corporation Y-9 and Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules might emerge for procurement of new transport planes, an official was quoted as saying by Xinhua Friday.

Nigeria to buy JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft from Pakistan; Turkey to buy Super Mushshak

09/18/2016

Nigeria is likely to buy JF-17 Thunder multi-role combat aircraft from Pakistan. The oil-rich West African country has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that covers the sale of the aircraft. The deal is expected to be finalised in November, during the International Defence Exhibition and Seminar in Karachi, IHS Jane's reported quoting a senior official of Pakistan's Defence Export Promotion Organisation.

Aero Vodochody stresses military market focus

09/18/2016

Aero Vodochody has reaffirmed that its primary strategic focus is on the military jet trainer market, one month after UK start-up Aircraft Integrated Solutions announced it was to resurrect development of the Czech manufacturer’s Ae 270 civil light transport.

Deliveries of Spanish NH90s gather pace

09/18/2016

Airbus Helicopters is on track to deliver another pair of NH Industries (NHI) NH90 TTH troop transports to Spain before the end of the year, adding to the three examples already handed over.

Israel to Receive More Second-Hand F-15 Eagles in Massive New Aid Package

09/17/2016

There has been much speculation about what exactly the massive military aid package between the US and Israel would include. Some reports stated that more F-15 Strike Eagle derivatives would be a part of it, along with dozens of F-35s. Now that the deal has been inked we know more about what it will actually includes and there are signs that long-pending fighter jet sales to Kuwait and Qatar are finally going to be cleared to move forward.

China to Receive 4 Su-35 Fighter Jets From Russia in 2016

09/17/2016

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army-Air Force (PLAAF) is slated to receive the first four out of 24 Russian-made Sukhoi Su-35 multirole fighter jets, the governor of Khabarovsk Krai, a federal subject located in the Russian Far East, said in a speech during the opening of a new aircraft production plan on September 15, according to local media reports.

Air Force Grounds ‘Combat Ready’ F-35 Over Coolant Line Flaw

09/17/2016

Seven weeks after the Air Force declared its first F-35 jets combat ready, 10 of the aircraft aren’t flying after service mechanics discovered “peeling and crumbling” insulation wrapped around lines that carry liquid to cool combat systems and computers.