Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

China's Shiny New Air Bases in the South China Sea

11/29/2016

A colorful graphic insert from the June 2016 Chinese naval magazine Naval and Merchant Ships offers a troubling glimpse of one possible future for the South China Sea. A map on the graphic accurately displays Beijing’s three new long runways that have been built up since 2014 in the Spratlys, alongside overlapping range arcs for HQ-9 air defense systems (200km), YJ-62 truck launched anti-ship cruise missiles (300km), as well as for J-11 and JH-7 fighter/attack aircraft (1500km).

New engine being designed for fifth-generation Russian fighter aircraft

11/29/2016

The United Engine Corp., part of Rostec state holding company, successfully conducted the first ground-based ignition of the second stage of the engine for the Prospective Airborne Complex of Frontline Aviation (PAK FA T-50 aircraft). In order to carry out the testing, gas generators had to be prepared for it, in addition to the demonstrator engine.

Norway plans to buy five new P-8 Poseidons

11/29/2016

Norway has proposed replacing its aging fleet of Lockheed Martin P-3 Orions and Dassault DA-20 Jet Falcons with five new Boeing P-8 Poseidons, the country's minister of defense announced on 25 November.

Developmental test F-35s need service life extension

11/29/2016

The Joint Strike Fighter programme intends to award F-35 prime contractor Lockheed Martin a sole source contract in the third quarter of fiscal year 2017, according to a September announcement posted on the Federal Business Opportunities website. Under the SLEP contract, Lockheed will examine the aircraft’s airframe, hardware, software and structure, the Joint Programme Office tells FlightGlobal.

Holloman selected as temporary home for new F-16 training unit

11/29/2016

Holloman AFB in New Mexico has been selected by the US Air Force to be the interim home for two new Lockheed Martin F-16 training squadrons. Established as a result of “critical” pilot shortages in the air force, the two squadrons will temporarily be based at Holloman until a permanent flight training unit (FTU) is established to address the shortage on a long-term basis.

US Approves $200Mln Sale to Poland for F-16 Jet Upgrades, Enhanced Missiles

11/29/2016

The US Department of State has made a determination to approve a possible Foreign Military Sale to Poland for upgrades to F-16 combat aircraft and stand-off missiles, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said in a release.

Russian Navy Gets Advanced Su-30SM Fighters – Spokesman

11/29/2016

Su-30SM are air superiority jets of the 4++ generation that combine functions of a fighter and a bomber. They are produced in Irkutsk in southern Siberia. "The handover ceremony took place at the airfield of the Irkutsk aviation factory where pilots of the Russian Navy’s maritime combat aviation corps received another batch of Su-30SM jets," ?apt. 1st Rank Drygalo told reporters.

U2 ‘Dragonlady’ pilots spy on ISIS from the edge of space

11/28/2016

Getting dressed for a combat mission in a U2 “Dragonlady” reconnaissance plane looks almost like the preparations for a space flight, the pilot in a yellow compression suit wearing a massive white helmet. The suits need to be cooled the entire time, otherwise the pilots would die of heat exhaustion in a matter of minutes, but they are necessary to protect the crew members as they fly surveillance missions over Iraq and Syria at more than 70,000 feet scoping out ISIS targets.

Criticism over plan to spend €2m on Israeli-made drones

11/28/2016

The Defence Forces’ decision to spend almost €2 million on upgrading their drone systems from an Israeli defence company goes “against the will of our people”, according to a Sinn Féin Senator. Department of Defence documents, released under Freedom of Information (FoI) legislation, reveal plans to “accelerate the upgrade and acquisition” of Orbiter 2B UAV systems by the end of 2017.

Recent developments surrounding the South China Sea

11/28/2016

A look at recent developments in the South China Sea, where China is pitted against smaller neighbors in multiple disputes over islands, coral reefs and lagoons in waters crucial for global commerce and rich in fish and potential oil and gas reserves.

The U.S. Air Force Wants to Make Deadly Supersonic Mid-Air Crashes History

11/28/2016

Emerging Air Force computer technology can thwart a supersonic mid-air collision by automatically changing the flight path of two fighters headed for a deadly crash. Envision a scenario where two or more supersonic fighter jets are conducting combat maneuvers in such close proximity that they come less than 500-feet away from one another -- when an automatic computer system engineered into the aircraft takes over and re-directs the fighters, saving lives and averting a catastrophic collision.

Russian Campaign in Syria Exposes Moscow’s Defense Gaps

11/28/2016

A flotilla of Russian warships in the Mediterranean is providing a high-profile show of force in support of the Syrian regime. But the deployment has also thrown into sharp relief the limits of Moscow’s conventional military. State television broadcasts to the domestic audience Top Gun-style footage of bombers taking off from Russia’s flagship aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov. Foreign observers get to see one of the country’s most important weapons exports, the MiG-29 fighter plane, in ac

Tehran 'Might Change Legislation' to Give Russia Permanent Military Base in Iran

11/28/2016

Commenting on Iran's announcement that it could allow Russia to use the Hamadan air base in western Iran for Moscow's aerial operation against terrorists in Syria, Russian political and military analyst Alexander Perendzhiev said that Tehran might even change its legislation to give Russia a more permanent presence at the base.

Donald Trump Should Announce U.S. Will Stay Out of Syria

11/27/2016

The U.S. presidential election mercifully has ended. But global conflict continues. And politicians are still attempting to drag America into another tragic, bloody Middle Eastern conflict. To do so would be madness. President-elect Donald Trump appears to recognize that Syria is not America’s responsibility. Unfortunately, Vice President-elect Mike Pence, as well as some of those mentioned for top administration positions, take a more militaristic perspective.

Japan scrambles fighters as Chinese military planes fly off Miyako Strait

11/27/2016

Japan scrambled fighter jets Saturday as Chinese air force planes passed the Miyako Strait in Okinawa Prefecture, southwestern Japan, the Defense Ministry said. Six Chinese airplanes believed to include two fighters flew over the strait between Okinawa's main island and Miyako Island, according to the ministry. There was no actual infringement of Japanese territorial air space, it said.

Indonesia to maintain Saudi Arabian military aircraft

11/27/2016

Starting in 2017, state-owned aircraft manufacture PT Dirgantara Indonesia (DI) will maintain Saudi Arabian military helicopters and aircraft. “We are still processing the contract,” Brig. Gen Jan Pieter Ate, the Defense Ministry’s director of the defense industry and technology, told The Jakarta Post on Friday.

Analysis of the Russian MIG-29k carrier borne supersonic fighter

11/27/2016

The MIG-29K is a carrier version of the plane designed by the Mikoyan design bureau. It is a short landing and takeoff aircraft with retractable wings for storage abroad carrier. The plane was in the news recently when it was operating from the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov. The plane which took off for a sortie along with 2 others failed to land back and crashed into the sea.Out of the other 2, only one could land back on the carrier.

Purchase of Russia's Su-30 Jets on Iran's Defense Ministry's Agenda - Minister

11/27/2016

The Iranian Defense Ministry is considering purchase of the Russian Sukhoi Su-30 multirole fighter jets, Iranian Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan said Saturday. "The purchase of Su-30 fighters is on the agenda of the defense ministry," Dehghan said, as quoted by the Tasnim news agency.

Pakistan in talks with many countries for sale of JF-17

11/26/2016

Pakistan is in talks with several countries for the sale of JF-17 Thunder fighter jet, and the air force is hoping to finalise some orders at the ongoing IDEAS 2016, Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman said on Thursday. “JF-17 is a very potent aircraft. We are in talks with many countries and there will be a number of orders for the supply of the jets,” Sohail Aman said. “This is not just business, such deals would further strengthen Pakistan’s defence ties with friends.”

How Much of an Advantage Is China's Aircraft Carrier?

11/26/2016

After three years of training, Beijing has announced that its aircraft carrier Liaoning and attached air units are ready for operation. Although the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has formidable air power, the Liaoning would be the only feasible platform for power projection in the foreseeable future, beyond the newly built airstrips in the South China Sea, due to China’s lack of overseas airbases.

Finland receives five responses for HX fighter procurement

11/26/2016

Finland has received information from five aircraft primes regarding the replacement of its air force’s Boeing F/A-18C/D Hornet fleet. The HX fighter replacement programme was kicked off in November 2015 by defence minister Jussi Niinistö. This was followed some weeks later by the issue of a request for information (RFI) from the government to five manufacturers.

OPINION: Canada's F-35 participation deserves scrutiny

11/26/2016

Canada’s crazily protracted process to acquire a new fighter has been the subject of another unexpected plot twist, with its defence minister announcing a plan to order an interim batch of 18 Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornets.

Moscow Demands Kiev Stop Preparation of Missile Drills in Crimean Airspace

11/26/2016

Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsia) said Friday it had sent a protest note to the Ukrainian authorities demanding that Kiev stop immediately the preparation of missile drills that violate Russian airspace.

US Soldier Killed in IED Blast in Syria; First US Casualty in Syrian War

11/26/2016

A US soldier was killed in a blast in northern Syria November 24. The soldier was killed by an improvised explosive device near Ayn Issa, according to a statement by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). Ayn Issa is about an hour from Raqqa, Daesh's self-declared capital in Syria.

India Unable to Integrate Missiles, Looks to Israel for Combat Drones

11/26/2016

The Indian Government had put a contract for Heron drones on hold for a year in the hope that defense scientists will produce an alternative. The Indian government has signed a $400 million final contract with Israel Aerospace Industries during Israeli President Reuven Rivlin's last week's India visit for armed drones.