Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

US Air Force Considers Reviving 1,500MPH F-22 Raptor Stealth Fighter Jet

08/01/2016

A movement is underway in the US to restart the production of the fearsome super elite F-22 Raptor stealth fighter jet despite warnings by the Pentagon that it would be cost prohibitive. The US Air Force is not particularly keen on the idea nor are Pentagon officials who warn that bringing back the F-22 fighter jet, America’s most lethal warplane, would be cost prohibitive and threatens to undermine progress on the F-35 and a future sixth-generation fighter jet, but US lawmakers are not convince

Is China's DF-41 Missile Really a Late Soviet Gift to Beijing?

08/01/2016

Rumors about a big Soviet gift to China are circulating in the country, which will ease Beijing’s jitters about the impregnability of America’s THAAD missile system. Sputnik discussed the matter with Russian defense expert Vasily Kashin.

Russia's Combat Flight Skills Competition to Expand Abroad in 2018

08/01/2016

The Aviadarts flight skills competitions among combat planes held in Russia will expand beyond the country's borders in 2018, Russia's Aerospace Forces Commander Col. Gen. Viktor Bondarev said Sunday.

Reports Turkish troops have sealed off Incirlik US/NATO nuclear air base

07/31/2016

TURKISH citizens and police have ‘surrounded’ the Incirlik air base it operates with the United States — and where a large stockpile of NATO nuclear weapons is held — ahead of a visit by a senior US official tomorrow.

5 Lethal American Weapons of War Russia Wished It Had

07/31/2016

During the Cold War, the Soviet Union and the United States struggled to match each other’s best weapons. The MiG-25 informed the F-15; the Tu-95 “Backfire” resembled the B-52; submarines and tanks were designed with their competitors firmly in mind.

Military Strikes Continue Against ISIL in Syria, Iraq

07/31/2016

U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Syria and Iraq yesterday, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today. Officials reported details of yesterday’s strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports.

Final SEAHAWK Helicopter Delivered to US Navy in Support of FMS

07/31/2016

Lockheed Martin has delivered the 24th, and final, MH-60R SEAHAWK® helicopter to the U.S. Navy in support of the Navy’s Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). The milestone delivery took place during a July 27 ceremony at Lockheed Martin’s Owego, New York facility.

Marine from Arcadia killed in Twentynine Palms jet fighter crash accident

07/31/2016

A jet fighter pilot killed in a crash during a training exercise in Twentynine Palms on Thursday has been identified as a 36-year-old Arcadia man, the U.S. Marines announced Saturday. Third Marine Aircraft Wing pilot Maj. Richard “Stranger” Norton died in the F/A-18C Hornet crash, which took place about 10:30 a.m. Thursday near the Marine Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, U.S. Marine Corps officials said in a written statement.

India eyes direct purchase of six refuelling aircraft

07/31/2016

India is now planning "a direct strategic purchase" of six flight refuelling aircraft (FRA) or tankers to enhance the reach of its fighter jets, bombers and surveillance aircraft after the bid to acquire them through global tenders failed twice over the last decade.

India Wants Fleet of 1,317MPH Next-Gen Russian ‘Super Sukhoi’ Fighter Jets

07/31/2016

New Delhi and Moscow near an $8 billion deal to upgrade the fearsome Su-30MKI fighter jet into the Super Sukhoi, but the deal does not threaten the joint Indo-Russia fifth-generation fighter aircraft (FGFA) program.

Russian Military Forces in Crimea Possess Modern Air Defense S-400 Systems

07/31/2016

Russian military forces in Crimea are in possession of modern air defense S-400 systems, a source from military in Crimea told RIA Novosti Friday.

F-15 unit tests new game-changing processor

07/30/2016

The Operational Flight Program Combined Test Force at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., completed an historic test mission July 8 on an aircraft system that will enhance the life and lethality of the F-15. The first-ever flight equipped with the Advanced Display Core Processor II tested the aircraft’s flight safety, in-flight refueling and basic landing capabilities over Eglin’s water and land ranges.

Rooivalks the ‘blue eyed boys’ of UN mission in the DRC

07/30/2016

South Africa’s Rooivalk deployment with the United Nations in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is the blue eyed boy of the mission due to its unrivalled effectiveness, according to an SA Air Force (SAAF) official. Lieutenant Colonel Danie Bellingan, OC of 16 Squadron, said the Rooivalk is highly respected in the DRC as it is an effective and well utilised weapon, being preferential to the Mi-24 attack helicopters there.

Lockheed Martin delivers MH-60R Seahawk in support of Royal Australian Navy program

07/30/2016

Lockheed Martin has delivered the 24th, and final, MH-60R Seahawk helicopter to the U.S. Navy in support of the Navy’s foreign military sales (FMS) program with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). The milestone delivery took place during a July 27 ceremony at Lockheed Martin’s Owego, New York facility.

European Countries’ Use of Military Drones: Deployed in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Sub-Saharan Africa

07/30/2016

The European Forum on Armed Drones (EFAD) launch was on the eve of an important European Parliament meeting, jointly organised by the subcommittee on Human Rights and the Subcommittee on Security and Security and Defence, focusing on the human rights impact of armed drones in counter-terrorism operations. A video of the meeting, including inputs from Jennifer Gibson of Reprieve and Radhya Almutawakel of the Yemeni Mwatana Organisation for Human Rights is availablehere.

Buying American Blades

07/30/2016

On the eve of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s second trip to the US as PM in September last year, the Cabinet Committee on Security cleared the proposal to purchase 22 ‘assault helicopters’, or helicopter gunships, from Boeing for the Indian air force and the army. The decision had come as a surprise to experts then, for Boeing was offering a version of the Apache by way of direct sale. Moreover, this flew in the face of the Make In India policy.

Top Marine aviator: F-35B is ready for war

07/30/2016

The F-35B is “ready to go right now” if it is needed to fly combat missions, the head of Marine Aviation told reporters Friday. Although the F-35B is still being tested, the Marine Corps declared in July 2015 that it was ready to fly operations. The Marine version of the F-35 needs upgraded software and other improvements.

Marines Corps general calls for optionally manned helicopter

07/30/2016

While many have forecasted unmanned aircraft as the future of aviation, Lt Gen Jon “Dog” Davis believes the next generation of medium-lift, long-range rotorcraft should still have a pilot in the cockpit for some missions.

India Upgrades Mirage 2000 Aircraft in Record Time

07/30/2016

In a display of high technical competence and self-dependence, India has successfully upgraded the Mirage 2000 fleet of the Indian Air Force. The mid-life Final Operational Configuration (FOC) upgrade was done in a record time of eight months by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), a public sector manufacturer.

Turkey’s Akinci Air Base Used by Coup Plotters Will Be Shut Down

07/30/2016

The Akinci Air Base near the Turkish capital of Ankara that served as the de-facto headquarters for attempted coup plotters will be shut down, Turkey’s Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said Friday.

A Russian Victory In Iraq

07/29/2016

Russia is very satisfied with the combat performance of its new generation of armed helicopters. That’s because these new helicopters are performing well in Iraq, where they are not being flown by Russians but by Iraqis. This is a big deal because Russia needs export sales and evidence that locals can handle this new tech in combat is a big selling point.

Naval Air: MQ-25A, The F-35 Replacement

07/29/2016

The U.S. Navy has made it official in early July 2016 and announced what it will call its first carrier-based unmanned combat aircraft. This UCAS (unmanned combat air system) will be called the MQ-25A Stingray and it will enter service in the early 2020s. All this comes after a decade of design, development and test flights. The UAV that made the MQ-25A possible rolled out as the X-47B in 2008.

B-1 bombers will deploy to Guam for first time in a decade

07/29/2016

The Air Force is preparing to send B-1 bombers to Guam for the first time in a decade. The Lancers from Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, and approximately 300 airmen will deploy on Aug. 6 to Andersen Air Force Base as part of the military's continuous bomber presence mission in the Pacific, according to an Air Force release. The bombers were last in the region in April 2006.

Surprise Bid For Two New Planes Could Wreck Air Force Modernization Plan

07/29/2016

When Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James was asked this week about a surprise proposal from within her service to squeeze two new aircraft types into an already overcrowded modernization plan, she said she hadn't seen the proposal and then asked the obvious question: "Where would we get the money?"

Netherlands, Luxembourg agree joint A330 MRTT buy

07/29/2016

A multinational initiative to acquire a pooled fleet of Airbus A330 multirole tanker/transports has edged closer to take-off, with the Netherlands and Luxembourg agreeing to buy an initial two examples.