Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

How the U.S. Air Force Almost Brought Back the P-51 Mustang

08/31/2016

The North American P-51 Mustang was one of the greatest fighters of World War II. Had life worked out differently, the Mustang could also have fought in Vietnam and flown against a Soviet invasion of Western Europe. In fact, it might even have replaced the A-10 Warthog.

Defence bill language could affect bomber technology development

08/31/2016

A provision within the House of Representative’s version of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 2017 could affect the development of emerging technologies for major defence acquisition programmes, including the Northrop Grumman B-21 bomber.

Russia holds reconnaisance flights over Caspian Sea

08/30/2016

Russian Defense Ministry reports that Aerospace forces of Central and Western military districts have been relocated to bases in Southern military district as a part of snap combat readiness inspection, Sputnik International reported.

Key West on the Short List for New Navy Drone Base

08/30/2016

Key West is on the U.S. Navy's short list to become its East Coast home base for a drone system, a project requiring up to 400 military personnel, and locals have a 30-day period starting Sept. 1 to weigh in. Naval Air Station Key West is one of three sites under consideration, joining Naval Station Mayport in Jacksonville and Virginia's NASA Wallops Flight Facility to build a launch and recovery base for four MQ-4C Triton drones.

Swiss Air Force jet MISSING in the Alps as contact with pilot fails

08/30/2016

This afternoon at around 2.30pm the single-seat Swiss Air Force aircraft went missing. The aircraft was one of two which was out on a training exercise. A rescue team was immediately activated to find the F/A-18 Hornet.

Patent application reveals KC-46 refueling pod fix

08/30/2016

A recent patent application reveals one issue Boeing overcame to develop KC-46A Pegasus tanker’s wing aerial refueling pod (WARP) system. The Cobham WARP mounted on the outboard wings of the tanker can refuel more than one aircraft simultaneously with 1,514l (400gal) of fuel per minute. The US Air Force will buy 94 KC-46 tankers through fiscal 2021 and 42 WARP sets.

Northrop captures beam control award for laser fighter jet demo

08/30/2016

The US Air Force awarded a $39 million contract to Northrop Grumman to develop the laser beam control portion of the Air Force Research Laboratory’s podded electric laser concept for fifth- and sixth-generation fighter jets.

Arms Race: China’s New Missile Defense System to Defend Against US, South Korea

08/30/2016

With ongoing tensions in the South China Sea and on the Korean peninsula, Beijing has deemed its third-generation surface-to-air missile combat-ready. In the latest sign of a new arms race between the United States and China, Beijing’s Air Force has announced the completion of a new missile defense system.

India Plans to Acquire Predator Drones from the United States to Combat Terror

08/30/2016

India’s Defense Minister visits Washington on Monday and at the top of his wish list is to push the Obama administration to provide New Delhi with lethal drone technology – a request defense analysts believe will be granted.

Russia to Carry Out Observation Flight Over Poland Under Open Skies Treaty

08/30/2016

Russian pilots will carry out an observation flight this week over the territory of Poland, Sergei Ryzhkov, head of the Russian Defense Ministry's Nuclear Risk Reduction Center, said Monday.

Russia's Best Military Aircraft: Not Armed With the Best Aircraft-Killer Missiles

08/27/2016

While Russia has deployed advanced warplanes to Syria including the Sukhoi Su-30SM, Su-34 and Su-35S, those jets are seldom seen carrying Moscow’s latest air-to-air weapons. More often than not, the Su-30SM Flanker-H and Su-34 Fullback are spotted armed with Soviet-era R-27 semi-active radar and infrared-guided medium range air-to-air missiles.

Russia's A-10 Warthog: Why the Su-25 Frogfoot Is a Flying Tank

08/27/2016

The Su-25 Frogfoot, known as the Grach or “Rook” by Russian pilots, is one of those aircraft that may not be at the cutting edge of technology, but still has seen widespread service around the world because it offers an effective and useful solution to the need to blast targets on the ground.

Watch this unique footage of Russia’s most advanced combat planes

08/27/2016

To celebrate the Russian Aerospace Force Day, the Russian MoD has published an interesting clip showing some of its most advanced combat planes including the newest Sukhoi T-50 fifth generation fighter PAK FA – Perspektivny Aviatsionny Kompleks Frontovoy Aviatsii—Future Tactical Air System.

New Delhi to replace C-130J lost in 2014 crash

08/27/2016

“The additional aircraft is being procured as a replacement for the one that was lost in an accident in March 2014,” says a source familiar with the matter. Another source corroborates the decision. The DAC is headed by defence minister Manohar Parrikar.

USAF opens path to order up to 100 more C-130Js

08/27/2016

The five year ordering contract (FYOC) accommodates orders placed by international and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers, the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) tells FlightGlobal. The contracting vehicle also could include new orders from the US government, the AFLCMC says.

New Zealand contracts Boeing for Orion upgrade

08/27/2016

Boeing has been contracted to upgrade the underwater intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance capability of the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s (RNZAF) fleet of Lockheed Martin P-3K2 Orions.

Russia’s 'Night Hunter' Helicopter Gunship to Become Immune to Enemy Fire

08/27/2016

Even though it looks much like its predecessor, the Mi-28NM boasts the latest and most innovative materials available and is armed with the most advanced active defense systems money can buy.

Russia to Redeploy Jets to Tactical Airfields in Central, West, South Districts

08/27/2016

The Russian Aerospace Forces’ fighter, bomber and army aircraft are readying to redeploy to tactical airfields across the Southern, Western and Central military districts, the Russian Defense Ministry said Friday.

The $400bn F-35 is 'not on a path to success': Damning test report warns fighter jet is 'running out of time and money'

08/26/2016

The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter has been hailed as the 'most expensive weapon in history,' and with a price tag of $400 billion for 2,457 planes, the fifth-generation fighter has been plagued with issues.

Russian Fighters Patrol Border as Part of Snap Readiness Check

08/26/2016

Russian fighter jets of the Western Military District are patrolling Russia’s western borders as part of nationwide snap combat readiness inspections, the district’s press service informs.

F-16’s manufacturing in India to affect Pakistan’s aerial defence

08/25/2016

An American global security and aerospace company's offer to shift all of its F-16 manufacturing to India could give New Delhi partial control, along with the US, over which countries are able to purchase the jets and spare, according to a media report.

India: Delivery of 4th Combat Helicopter to Afghanistan Faces Delay

08/25/2016

India has yet to hand over the last of four Mi-25 (Mi-24D) helicopter gunships to the Afghan Air Force (AAF) due to missing parts from Russia, according to local media reports. The helicopter is currently grounded at the Indian Air Force station in Pathankot in the Indian state of Punjab.

Colombians kick off Green Flag East in Louisiana

08/25/2016

Forty-five Colombian Airmen and four Colombian Air Force A-29B Super Tucanos are operating from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., as part of Exercise Green Flag East Aug. 15-29. The Colombian contingent arrived Aug. 13 and immediately started engaging with their U.S. Air Force counterparts in order to prepare for the two-week exercise.

Government report: USAF lacks info to back A-10 retirement

08/25/2016

Champions of the Fairchild Republic A-10 may be able to eke out a few more years for the Warthog following the release of a government report criticising the US Air Force’s plan to retire the aircraft.

Pentagon's top weapons tester doubts F-35A capabilities

08/25/2016

A recent memo from the Pentagon’s top weapons tester throws cold water on the US Air Force’s initial operational capability announcement earlier this month, which declared the Lockheed Martin F-35A equipped with Block 3i software could provide basic capabilities.