Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Taking Off

03/15/2016

For an indigenous light combat aircraft (LCA) disparaged by the Indian Air Force brass as “overweight”, “underpowered”, “obsolete”, “a three-legged cheetah” and, in technical terms, as a plane that “cannot fly without telemetry, pull more than 6G or an angle-of-attack (AoA) greater than 20 degrees” and “with an air intake that starves the engine”, is supposedly afflicted with “53 identified shortfalls”, and fails to meet the “minimum air staff requirements (ASRs)”.

U.S. confirms death of ISIS operative Omar al-Shishani

03/15/2016

Two U.S. officials told CNN that the Obama administration has confirmed that ISIS senior operative Omar al-Shishani is dead. The officials said he was injured in a U.S. airstrike last week and then died subsequently, though they wouldn't say how they know he is dead. The initial U.S. assessment was that he was "likely killed" in the strike, but further assessments led them to understand he had been injured and only later died.

Lockheed Martin Delivers Two KC-130J Super Hercules to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

03/15/2016

Lockheed Martin recently delivered two KC-130J Super Hercules aerial refuelers to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to be operated by Royal Saudi Air Force crews. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the 16th country to operate the C-130J Super Hercules to meet its refueling and airlift needs. Saudi Arabia has the distinction of having the largest legacy Hercules fleet outside of the United States of America.

Second CH-53K Helicopter Joins Flight Test Program

03/15/2016

Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company, today announced the second CH-53K helicopter has joined the flight test program and achieved first flight. In addition the first aircraft into the test program has achieved flight envelope expansion to 120 knots for the U.S. Marine Corps’ CH-53K King Stallion heavy lift helicopter program.

Australia's Finely Balanced Role In The South China Sea Dispute

03/14/2016

Australia is set to walk a finely balanced diplomatic line as strategic competition heats up over China's heavily disputed and growing territorial claims in the South China Sea. Commander of the US Pacific Air Forces, General Lori Robinson, said in Canberra on Tuesday the U.S. and its partners had to "maintain a credible combat power" with China's "militarisation" of the South China Sea, warning that China's military build-up raised the risk of sparking a miscalculated, unexpected incident.

Can Saudi Arabia fight two wars at once?

03/14/2016

For nearly a month, the kingdom has been hosting forces from 20 allied nations, its first chance to practise integrating the Saudi-led Islamic Coalition announced last year to combat terrorism. This, say the Saudis, is the largest concentration of military forces in the region since the Desert Storm campaign of 1991 drove Iraq's army out of Kuwait.

Military strikes continue against ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq

03/14/2016

On March 12, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted six strikes using attack, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL targets. Additionally in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 12 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using rocket artillery and attack, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL targets.

Egypt OKs Plan for €3B Military Gear Loan From France

03/14/2016

The Egyptian parliament has approved government plans to secure a €3.37 billion (US $3.76 billion) loan to fund the acquisition of weapons and military equipment, including Navy vessels and fighter jets, as part of the country's ongoing force modernization program, a new parliamentary report has said.

A litmus test for Astra as it finishes trial

03/14/2016

Jodhpur: Iron Fist 2016, the Indian Air Force exercise in the Pokhran deserts, will prove to be a litmus test for Astra, the Beyond-Visual-Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM), which having successfully completed its user trials including those for its seekers will be officially fired for the first time on March 18 in full public view, including the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Mod

Total air superiority with a bit of swing role: the Italian Typhoons have completed their first Red Flag

03/14/2016

On Mar. 11, RF 16-2 came to an end. Among the more than 70 combat planes that took part in the exercise at Nellis Air Force Base, there were, for the first time ever, also 8 Eurofighter Typhoons of the Aeronautica Militare (Italian Air Force).

Air & Space to preserve Vought's legacy

03/14/2016

A quirky aircraft company that helped to win World War II and guide the U.S. into the jet age with its unconventional designs will have its colorful history preserved by the San Diego Air & Space Museum. The museum has acquired a huge archive of photos and records from the hey-dey of Vought Aircraft, the developer of such iconic war planes as the F4U Corsair, whose eerie whine earned it the nickname “Whistling Death.”

US and Russia Begin Race for Sixth-Generation Fighter Jet

03/14/2016

As Russia and the United States develop concepts for sixth-generation fighter jets, we look at the main demands made by the countries' militaries and the issues the projects would have to overcome.

Syria's Downed MiG-21: How Russian Aircraft Will Defend Themselves

03/14/2016

A Syrian Air Force MiG-21US went down near an airfield in Hama province on Saturday. Conflicting reports have emerged over whether the aircraft crashed due to a technical failure, or was downed by jihadist militants; Russian analysts are questioning whether the terrorists now possess anti-aircraft missiles, and whether Russian planes are safe.

How Gaddafi’s anti-aircraft missiles are falling into ISIS's hands

03/13/2016

Deep in the Sahara, in the sun-baked Libyan town of Sabha, a ragtag group of gunmen agreed to show Timothy Michetti their most prized weapons. Michetti, an experienced investigator for a London-based company that tracks the sources of small arms in conflict zones, travelled there on a hunch.

China to create maritime judicial center as South China Sea tensions simmer

03/13/2016

China will create an international maritime judicial center to protect its national sovereignty and maritime rights, the country's Supreme People's Court said Sunday, according to state news agency Xinhua. The move comes as tensions rise in the South China Sea, where China is locked in long-standing maritime disputes with several countries.

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.