Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

How the improved F-22 trains for future wars (with F-35s)

03/13/2016

As the Air Force's most advanced aircraft, the F-22 is in such high demand that Raptor pilots and crews are constantly deploying for training and wartime missions. It’s no doubt that the Raptor has been put on a pedestal in the Air Force’s trophy case. Even though the service only has 186 in inventory, according to Air Combat Command, it’s likely the world will see more of it in months to come.

Syrian Air Force MiG-21 Jet Downed, Pilot Killed - Source

03/13/2016

Syrian Air Force MiG-21 has been downed by armed militants near a military airfield in western Hama Governorate, a military source told Sputnik. One pilot was able to eject to safety, the second one died in a failed emergency landing, according to the source. "A Syrian warplane MiG-21 was shot down near the Hama military airfield," the source said.

Syrian Opposition: Muallem Putting 'Nails in Coffin' of Geneva Talks

03/13/2016

A spokesman for the Syrian opposition's High Negotiations Committee (HNC) criticized Saturday's statement of Foreign Minister Walid Muallem on the upcoming Geneva negotiations, calling them "nails in the talks' coffin.

Pentagon Mad Scientists Have Made the F-16 Even More Lethal

03/12/2016

In the middle of June 2015, a U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter took off from an air base in Alaska and flew over a military training range at 430 miles per hour. On command, something burst from the fighter’s flare dispenser—a drone roughly the size of a soda can and weighing just one pound.

In a first, U.S. forces in Jordan have attacked ISIS in Syria

03/12/2016

U.S. troops in Jordan launched a GPS-guided rocket artillery attack into Syria for the first time on March 4, defense officials said, revealing an new facet of the American-led coalition’s ground-based fight against Islamic State militants.

The Gathering Storm Of The Chinese Military

03/12/2016

Pacific Theater: Communist China is completing infrastructure in the South China Sea with which it can project military aggression. The Obama U.S. power vacuum brings “change” to yet another region of the globe. You’ve got to wonder if President Obama’s own national security personnel are crying out for help for America.

HAL seeks new joint venture partner for 50-80 seat aircraft

03/12/2016

India’s plans to develop a home-grown regional transport aircraft (RTA) appear to have been scrapped, with state owned airframer Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) releasing a new request for information for the manufacture of a 50-80 seat dual-role regional aircraft in India.

Pentagon’s Strategy to Counter Russia, China, Begins to Take Shape

03/12/2016

The nation’s top generals and admirals will gather in the coming weeks to mull over ideas on what the Pentagon must do to close the gap as Russia and China continue to push the edge of their military capabilities. These talks are likely to shape decisions on what investments, policy and organizational changes the Defense Department would have to make to offset adversaries’ advances in high-tech weaponry such as precision weapons and air defense systems.

Afghan Air Force Not Ready Until 2020, Top US General Says

03/12/2016

The Afghan air force will not reach necessary strength levels until 2020, according to a top U.S. general. General John Campbell, who ended his command of U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan last week, told reporters Friday that some aircraft procured for the force would not arrive in Afghanistan until 2018. The force would then need an additional two to three years to train the pilots needed for the new aircraft, he explained.

North Korean Submarine Lost Off Eastern Coast - Reports

03/12/2016

US spy satellites, aircraft and ships observed as the North Korean navy searched for the missing submarine for several days, the officials said on Friday. The United States is unaware of the submarine’s current whereabouts. On Thursday, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said that North Korea had fired two short-range missiles. The missiles hit waters northeast of the port city of Wonsan, the South Korean military said.

US warns that China could project 'substantial offensive military power' from Spratlys within months

03/11/2016

China will be able to project "substantial offensive military power" from artificial islands it has built in the South China Sea's disputed Spratly Islands within months, the director of US national intelligence said.

US Sends 3 Nuclear Stealth Bombers to Pacific

03/11/2016

The United States has deployed three B-2 Spirit nuclear stealth bombers to support U.S. Pacific Command, U.S. Strategic Command announced Wednesday. The aircraft are the United States' most advanced bomber and part of its nuclear deterrent defenses. It is not the first time that the United States deployed the B-2 bombers to the Pacific Command. Last fall, the U.S. Air Force deployed three B-2s to Guam. In March 2013, the U.S. sent two B-2s to conduct a flyover near Seoul, South Korea.

Army Apaches with skis: Attack helos get cold weather upgrades

03/11/2016

As the Army builds its very first AH-64 Apache battalion in Alaska, soldiers in the unit are experiencing a lot of firsts. The 1st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, is the first Apache unit to permanently install skis on the bird. It also is the first to “cold-soak” the aircraft in temperatures as low as 20 degrees below zero for days at a time to see how the system reacts to such extreme cold.

Indian AF Says New Indigenous Missile Will Be Too Heavy

03/11/2016

India's Air Force has raised objections to the indigenous new generation anti-radiation missile (NGARM) currently in development. The 60-kilometer-range NGARM, developed by state-owned Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), will undertake flight trials in three months but Indian Air Force (IAF) officials say the missile is too bulky. DRDO is developing NGARM for the service's Mirage-2000H, Jaguar, Su-30 MKI and the upcoming Light Combat Aircraft.

Pentagon: Military spy drones in U.S. used for disaster relief

03/11/2016

Military spy drones used for non-war purposes over the United States were almost exclusively for disaster relief or during training for natural disasters, according to the Pentagon. "I can tell you with 100% certainty that these exercises are of a Defense support-to-civil authorities nature. It's (training for or responding to) a natural disaster of some kind, earthquake, flood, hurricane or nuclear-reactor blowing up. Something like that," said Air Force Lt. Col. Tom Crosson, Pentagon spokesman

Could drones replace Canada’s fighter jets?

03/11/2016

Challenging the orthodoxy isn’t typically encouraged in large organizations, so when it happens, a minor celebration is in order. General Jonathan Vance, the country’s top soldier, is reimagining the future of the Royal Canadian Air Force – and that may include fewer fighter planes, but more drones.

Indian Air Force to showcase combat capability at Iron Fist-2016

03/11/2016

At least 181 aircraft of the Indian Air Force will come together over Thar desert this month in a breathtaking aerial ballet during Exercise Iron Fist-2016 to showcase the force's combat capability across the entire spectrum of aerial operations. Defence Attaches from various countries, except those of Pakistan and China, are scheduled to attend the event that will project India's deterrence power.

Deliveries of Russian S-300 Systems to Iran on Schedule

03/11/2016

There are no problems with the deliveries of Russian-made S-300 air defense systems to Iran, the chief of staff of the Iranian presidential administration said on Thursday. Earlier this week, an Iranian Defense Ministry source confirmed that there were no problems with the S-300 delivery to Iran, noting that work was underway to resolve the remaining technical issues.

Pentagon: US Strikes Degrade Daesh Chemical Weapons Capability

03/11/2016

The United States has launched airstrikes that destroyed some chemical weapons capabilities of the Islamic State (Daesh) and will continue such operations in the future, US Department of Defense spokesperson Peter Cook told reporters on Wednesday.

Russia Developing Advanced Laser Guidance System for Mi-28 Gunships (VIDEO)

03/11/2016

Russia is developing a multifunction image processing system and an upgraded laser guidance system for guided weapons for its newest Mi-28NM attack helicopter.

USAF studying future attack aircraft options

03/10/2016

The US Air Force has begun studying future close air support (CAS) aircraft to succeed the Fairchild Republic A-10 as the Pentagon evaluates the weaponry it needs for “prolonged operations” of one year or more.

Army Chinook Helicopter to Fly for 100 Years

03/10/2016

The Army plans to fly its Vietnam-era workhorse CH-47 Chinook cargo helicopter for 100 years by continuously upgrading the platform through a series of ongoing technological adjustments designed to improve lift, weight, avionics and cargo handling, among other things. The Army goal is to allow the helicopter, which was first produced in the early 1960s, to serve all the way into the 2060s – allowing the aircraft service life to span an entire century.

USAF equips F-22 Raptor with AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder Tactical Missiles

03/10/2016

The US Air Force's 90th Fighter Squadron based in Elmendorf-Richardson has equipped an F-22 Raptor with an AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder Tactical Missiles. USAF3rd Wing weapons manager chief master Sergeant Chuck Jenkins said: "This has been in the inventory for the Air Force and Navy for some years; it's nothing new to the military. But to put it on the Ferrari of aircraft, the F-22, the most advanced aircraft we have, it gives the pilots more manoeuvrability, larger range.

Turnbull plays down US bombers in NT

03/10/2016

The government has played down reports that US supersonic long-range B-1B bombers could soon conduct training exercises from an RAAF base in Australia's north. Neither Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull nor Foreign Minister Julie Bishop denied this would happen or commented on a possible reaction from China. Mr Turnbull said US forces rotated through Australia all the time under the close defence relationship.

Report: Navy Aircraft Involved in Iraq Search-and-Rescue Mission

03/10/2016

A mission to recover a U.S. Army reconnaissance plane that went down March 5 in northern Iraq included Navy helicopters and Air Force personnel, according to a news article. Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson said Air Force pararescuemen and Navy choppers from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 5 out of Norfolk, Virginia, participated in the mission, which was launched from the nearby city of Erbil, according to an article in The Washington Post.