Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Italy Is Prepping Its Only Aircraft Carrier to Handle F-35B Stealth Fighters

10/07/2016

Cavour, Italy’s only aircraft carrier, is designed to accommodate up to 12 F-35B stealth jump jets. In theory. In reality, actually operating the stealth fighters requires Cavour to undergo some significant modifications. Although conceptually similar to the smaller Harrier jump jet that already flies from Cavour, the Lockheed Martin F-35B produces much more heat than the older Boeing fighter does.

Is Poland really considering restarting production of its indigenous obsolete I-22 Iryda trainer aircraft?

10/07/2016

On Oct. 3, Mateusz Morawiecki, Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of development visited Chelm State Higher School of Vocational Education (PWSZ – Panstwowa Wyzsza Szkola Zawodowa). Among the things said during the visit one is particularly interesting: a claim has been made by the school officials that the Polish indigenous PZL I-22 Iryda trainer program will be reactivated, with the jets being manufactured in Chelm, alongside small UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) and drone systems.

BAE Systems in arms talks with Saudi Arabia

10/07/2016

The announcement by the defence, aerospace and electronics giant will stoke controversy over weapons sales to the Arab kingdom. However, it will hold out a lifeline to aircraft factories in the North West. The UK has been one of the biggest suppliers of defence equipment to Saudi Arabia for more than 40 years, including the 1980s al-Yamamah deal.

Attrition: Turkey Loses Its F-16 Surge Mojo

10/07/2016

The July 2016 coup attempt in Turkey had many victims and one of the lesser known ones was the effectiveness of Turkish fighter fleet. While few F-16 pilots took part in the coup, the government lost (through dismissal or resignation) 274 combat pilots. This reduced the ratio of pilots per F-16 from 1.25 to .8. Suddenly the combat capabilities of the Turkish air force were greatly reduced, especially if the F-16s were called on to engage in large scale and intensive operations.

Germany may buy as many as six C-130Js

10/07/2016

Germany has signalled its intention to acquire as many as six Lockheed Martin C-130J tactical transports as its frustrations deepen with the underperforming Airbus Defence & Space A400M. As part of a memorandum of understanding with France, signed by the defence ministers from both countries, the Hercules would be part of a “common air transport squadron” to be created by 2021.

Finnish Air Force Suspects Two Airspace Violations by Two Different Su-27 Planes

10/07/2016

On Thursday, Finland's Yle television reported citing border guard services that a Russian Su-27 jet had alleged stayed in the Finnish airspace for about a minute after crossing the border near the town of Porvoo some 30 miles east of the capital, Helsinki.

Russian Military Denies Violation of Finland's Airspace by Su-27 Fighter Jet

10/07/2016

"A Russian Su-27 combat plane on October 6, 2016, carried out a training flight over neutral waters of the Bay of Finland," the ministry said in a statement. "The plane did not deviate from the established route, which is confirmed by means of objective monitoring," the statement said.

Russian Tu-95 and Tu-22M3 Bombers to Patrol Airspace Between Hawaii and Japan

10/07/2016

A new division of Tu-95MS and Tu-22M3 strategic bombers will soon appear in the Russian Far East to patrol the area over the Pacific Ocean inside the Japan – Hawaii – Guam triangle, Izvestia reported.

Third Russian Black Sea Fleet Missile Ship en Route to Syria

10/07/2016

The Kalibr cruise missile-equipped Serpukhov and Zeleny Dol corvettes are planned to join the Russian Navy's permanent task force as part of an off-shore maritime zone rotation in the Mediterranean.

Four European nations scrambled air forces to intercept nuclear-capable Russian Blackjack bombers that flew from Norway to Spain last month

10/06/2016

Two Russian Blackjack bombers were intercepted flying back and forth to Northern Spain from the direction of Norway, it has emerged. Four nations - Norway, the UK, France and Spain - all deployed their own jets as the TU-160 planes skirted the airspace of each country, flying around the UK.

Pakistan to Sell 100 Military Aircraft to Turkey

10/06/2016

The chairman of the Pakistani Senate’s Standing Committee on Defense, retired Lieutenant General Abdul Qayyum, announced on October 4 that Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) will export 100 MFI-395 Super Mushshak military training aircraft to Turkey, according to local media reports.

Japan Unveils Plan for Pilotless Combat Aircraft to Support Fighters

10/06/2016

The Japanese Ministry of Defense has released new details about its plans for future unmanned aircraft that would fly in supporting roles, aiding piloted fighters in the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force, or JASDF. Specifically, JASDF is hoping to add two distinct craft to its fleet: unmanned wingmen that would fly in formation with and receive commands from a pilot in a conventional fighter, and a high-flying ballistic-missile defense (BMD) aircraft that would use sensor arrays to track missiles.

Lockheed Martin Receives $49 Million U.S. Army Contract for Apache Helicopter Sensor Upgrades

10/06/2016

$49.3 million contract to upgrade the Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor (M-TADS/PNVS) on the AH-64E Apache helicopter. Under this contract, Lockheed Martin will produce an additional 42 Modernized Day Sensor Assembly (M-DSA) upgrade kits and spares for the U.S. Army as part of Lot 1 production. Production will take place at Lockheed Martin’s facilities in Orlando and Ocala, Florida, through March 2019.

Israeli Fighter Jet Malfunction Leaves Pilot Dead, Navigator Injured

10/06/2016

According to the Israeli military, one of its pilots was killed following a strike mission over the Gaza Strip. On Wednesday, a squadron of Israeli Air Force jets was deployed in response to a rocket attack launched from Gaza.

India Mulls Rafale or Gripen Combat Aircraft Over F-16 Read more: https://sputniknews.com/military/20161004/1045992683/india-rafale-f-16.html

10/05/2016

In what could be a difficult road ahead for US manufacturers Boeing and Lockheed Martin, Indian Air Force Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha will prefer the company that would not only set up its production line in India but would also be ready to transfer technology. During Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar's visit to the US in August, Boeing and Lockheed Martin made official proposals to manufacture F/A-18 and F-16s respectively under the "Make in India" campaign.

US Military Builds a New Air Base in Northern Syria

10/05/2016

The US is building a military airfield in northern Syria as part of its ongoing campaign against Daesh, a representative of the Syrian Democratic Forces command told Sputnik on condition of anonymity.

China Goes All Out to Become 'Global Aviation Power'

10/04/2016

Chinese leadership views investing in domestic aviation, both civilian and military, as one of the country's top priorities in hopes that this will help Beijing improve its manufacturing industry, boost innovation and improve national defense, Xinhua reported.

The Philippines considering additional purchase of S. Korean FA-50s: report

10/03/2016

The Philippines is considering a move to purchase additional FA-50 light attack aircraft from South Korea to bolster its defense capabilities, a news report picked up in Seoul on Sunday said. According to the latest issue of IHS Jane's Defence Weekly, Manila may be weighing the need to acquire 36 planes from Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. (KAI) as part of its Flight Plan 2028.

AFSOC shoots for AC-130 laser gunship mod in 2020

10/03/2016

US Special Operations Command has requested funding from the Defense Department for fiscal year 2018 budget to begin modifying an AC-130 gunship for a high energy laser capability.

F-16 drone reaches initial operational capability

10/03/2016

The US Air Force’s QF-16 full scale aerial target drone reached initial operational capability 23 September, US Air Combat Command declared this week. Boeing leveraged retired Lockheed Martin F-16As and C’s to create the unmanned QF-16, which can be flown with a pilot during training or as an unmanned target for live missile testing. The FSAT also maintains all of the F-16’s characteristics and payload capacity, including high-G maneuvering and electronic attack.

Italian air force struggles to prove air power relevance

10/03/2016

Italy’s air force is “taken for granted” by the general public, politicians and the nation’s other armed services, according to a leading academic. “It is difficult to make surface forces realise that they have some of their freedom because of the air [operations],” he says. And despite notable recent milestones – including it performing the first transatlantic crossing with the Lockheed Martin F-35 – the air force is still perceived less favourably than its sister services.

India’s Lethal 1370 MPH 4.5 Generation Tejas Fighter Jet Completes Maiden Flight

10/03/2016

ndia’s elite indigenous fighter jet crosses a major benchmark this week ahead of being deemed combat ready providing the country with a masterful fighter jet at a fraction of the cost of Western fighter jets.

Chinese Locally Made Aircraft Carrier To Enter Sea By Year End, Carry 40-50 Aircraft

10/02/2016

The Chinese PLA Navy’s first home-made aircraft carrier is likely to be seaworthy by the year end and play host to 40-50 aircraft and an Active Phased Array Radar (APAR) radar, Chinamil website reported today. The official website of the Chinese army quoted western media and a local military expert to provide details of the aircraft carrier and not any authoritative Chinese government source.

Air Force looking to acquire additional 36 FA-50PHs, 12 attack AW-109Es

10/02/2016

The Philippine Air Force is looking to acquire 36 additional South Korean-made FA-50PH “Fighting Eagle” and 12 more AW-109Es, IHS Jane’s 360 reports. This was revealed by a senior Air Force officer speaking at the Asian Defence and Security (ADAS) 2016 exhibition in Manila.

A United Arab Emirates (UAE) military vessel has been damaged in an incident off the coast of Yemen, local media said Saturday

10/02/2016

A United Arab Emirates (UAE) military vessel has been damaged in an incident off the coast of Yemen, local media said Saturday. The vessel was damaged in the strategic Bab-el-Mandeb strait between Yemen and the Horn of Africa, the Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported. No injuries were suffered among crew members, according to the news outlet.