Military Aviation News Archive

Russian MoD Denies Plans for Nuclear-Capable Outer Space Strategic Bomber

07/15/2016

Reports claiming that the Russian Strategic Missile Forces Academy is developing a hypersonic nuclear-capable outer space strategic bomber are not true, a representative of the Russian Defense Ministry told reporters Thursday.

US to Propose Establishing Joint Operational Center on Syria to Russia

07/15/2016

The new US proposal on military cooperation with Russia on Syria includes a plan to establish a joint command center with prospects of integrated operations, The Washington Post reports.

Blackhawk’s possible successor unveiled: ‘You need this kind of speed and range’

07/14/2016

The possible successor to the U.S. military’s iconic Blackhawk helicopter was unveiled Tuesday at the Farnborough International Airshow. Bell Helicopter gave attendees an up-close look at the V-280 Valor, which is part of the Army’s Joint Multi-Role (JMR) program for assessing next-generation aircraft capabilities. Bell teamed up with Lockheed Martin to produce the aircraft’s advanced tiltrotor systems.

Desperate for planes, military turns to the 'boneyard'

07/14/2016

It's something akin to raising the dead. A troubling shortage of flyable combat aircraft - one military official recently called the air fleet the "smallest, oldest and least ready" in history - is forcing the military to go to its "boneyard." The Marine Corps announced last month it was taking the extreme step of resurrecting 23 F/A-18 Hornets to meet fleet requirements until the new - and much-delayed - F-35 fighter is eventually delivered.

LONGBOW LLC Receives $89 Million Contract for Apache Radar Upgrades

07/14/2016

The U.S. Army awarded the LONGBOW Limited Liability Company (LLC) an $89.8 million contract to upgrade the Apache attack helicopter’s LONGBOW Fire Control Radar (FCR). The LONGBOW LLC is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman. The contract includes the production of 84 Radar Electronics Units (REUs) as well as software upgrades.

FARNBOROUGH: ?Bombardier looks to open up talks with USAF over Compass Call sole-source

07/14/2016

Bombardier has provided additional information to the US Air Force following the service’s proposal to sole-source a Gulfstream G550 to fulfill the EC-130H Compass Call’s mission. In May, the air force suggested Gulstream’s jet was the only option which did not require additional development or certification work.

FARNBOROUGH: Rafael and Northrop team to offer Toplite for V-22

07/14/2016

Rafael and Northrop Grumman are teaming to offer the former’s Toplite optronic system for the US Marines Corps’ Bell Boeing MV-22 tilt rotor. The two companies teamed to respond to a request for proposals issued for an advanced optronic system that is needed to improve the operational capabilities of the MV-22 in different combat scenarios.

FARNBOROUGH: Embraer on track to deliver Super Tucanos to Lebanon

07/14/2016

Production is under way on the first Embraer A-29 Super Tucanos for the Lebanese Air Force, with delivery to start at the beginning of 2017. In November, the US government agreed a $173 million foreign military sales contract that will see Embraer's US partner Sierra Nevada deliver six of the light-attack turboprops to the Lebanese air force by 2019.

French Aircraft Carrier to Return to Anti-Daesh Mission in Persian Gulf

07/14/2016

French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle will return to its mission to combat Daesh terrorist group in Persian Gulf, after undergoing technical maintenance in France, French President Francois Hollande said Wednesday. The head of the country added, that France will boost its assistance to the Iraqi army in the fight for freeing Mosul from terrorists in northern Iraq by sending military instructors to the country.

US Delivers ‘Sniper’ Weapon Pods for F-16 Combat Jets to Netherlands

07/14/2016

The Netherlands Air Force has received 14 Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods for air-to-ground firepower support, according to Lockheed Martin statementr.

Shifting Allegiances: Did Turkey Just Give Up on Toppling Assad?

07/14/2016

In what appears to be a major reversal, the Turkish government has issued a call for improved relations between Iraq and the Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad.

New Russian Bomber to Be Able to Launch Nuclear Attacks From Outer Space

07/14/2016

The Russian Strategic Missile Forces Academy is developing a hypersonic strategic bomber capable of striking with nuclear warheads from outer space, Lt. Col. Aleksei Solodovnikov told RIA Novosti on Wednesday.

Inside look at U.S.-led coalition's deadliest single attack on ISIL

07/13/2016

The initial reports coming into Baghdad’s operations center seemed implausible: A convoy of dozens of Islamic State vehicles were preparing to flee advancing Iraqi forces in Fallujah. A surveillance drone dispatched to the area confirmed the reports. Staff officers gathered around screens and stared incredulously as the numbers of vehicles continued to expand, the militants apparently oblivious to the target they presented from the air.

Russia's Next Military Game Changer: Microwave Weapons?

07/13/2016

Russia will arm its sixth-generation combat drones with microwave weapons. These weapons, which disable an aircraft’s electronic equipment, already exist today “and can hit targets within a radius of tens of kilometers,” said Vladimir Mikheev, a director of state-owned Russian electronics firm KRET, in an interview with TASS.

South China Sea: Court rules in favor of Philippines over China

07/13/2016

An international tribunal in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines in a maritime dispute Tuesday, concluding China has no legal basis to claim historic rights to the bulk of the South China Sea. Chinese President Xi Jinping rejected the decision by the Permanent Court of Arbitration, which is likely to have lasting implications for the resource-rich hot spot, which sees $5 trillion worth of shipborne trade pass through each year.

Lockheed Martin Explores Adaptable Weapons Kit for International BLACK HAWK Helicopter

07/13/2016

Lockheed Martin is exploring options to bring its weapons integration expertise to bear on the European S-70 BLACK HAWK helicopters made by Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company. The goal is to produce an armed kit scalable to the requirements of customers that procure BLACK HAWK aircraft direct from Lockheed Martin.

FARNBOROUGH: L-159 set for Red Flag debut with Draken

07/13/2016

Czech manufacturer Aero Vodochody is looking forward to its L-159 light attack aircraft taking part in a Red Flag-series exercise in the USA for the first time. The aircraft is going to be used by contractor Draken International as an aggressor during the exercise, which will pit it against a number of different US Air Force fighters, as well those from other allied forces.

FARNBOROUGH: Saab boss reports record interest in Gripen

07/13/2016

Less than two months on from the roll-out of its new-generation Gripen E, Saab is seeing unprecedented interest in its fighter at the show, says chief executive Håkan Buskhe.“So many people are visiting us – we’ve probably never had so many,” Bushke says. “There is extremely strong interest in how we can provide that capability while being so lean,” he adds, noting that the company will complete development of the Gripen E for less than $2 billion.

FARNBOROUGH: Scorpion jet offered for UK training deal

07/13/2016

Textron AirLand’s Scorpion jet has emerged as an early contender for a significant military training deal in the UK, with the versatile type to be offered under a new teaming agreement with Qinetiq and Thales. First details of the UK’s Air Support to Defence Operational Training (ASDOT) requirement emerged earlier this year, with a new capability expected to enter use in January 2020.

After South China Sea Ruling, Beijing Unveils New Guided-Missile Destroyer

07/13/2016

On the same day that the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled against China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea, Beijing has commissioned its fourth guided-missile destroyer.

France Puts Off India by Proposing New Conditions for Rafale Deal

07/13/2016

Inter-government talks between India and France on the purchase of Rafale fighter planes have hit another major roadblock as France has reportedly proposed an arrangement that India is most likely to reject outright.

Russian Mi-38 Multirole Choppers Catch Contractors’ Eye at Farnborough

07/13/2016

Russian-made Mi-38 multirole civil helicopters attracted the attention of foreign buyers at Farnborough Airshow in the United Kingdom, the manufacturer said Tuesday.

Israeli Firms Eye Growing Market for Combat-Capable Utility Helos

07/12/2016

Israel’s top three defense firms are jockeying for a substantial share of an aerospace sector that each believes is bound to surge in coming years: the conversion of heavy utility helicopters to self-defending, multirole combat/transport aircraft. Given the glut of shoulder-fired missiles on the black market and the growing need to move troops in and out of high-threat areas, executives here say demand to upgrade the thousands of heavy transports operating around the globe is set to expand.

Russia Offers India Nuclear Aircraft Carrier

07/12/2016

Russia has offered its nuclear aircraft carrier, dubbed "Storm," to India for purchase, a senior Indian Navy official said. The offer comes as India and the US discuss the transfer of technology for India's future nuclear aircraft carrier, the INS Vishal. A diplomat with the Russian Embassy confirmed that a Russian team visiting India last week made the offer.

F-35 Program Announces Phase II Cost Reduction Initiatives

07/12/2016

The Department of Defense announced two initiatives with industry to reduce F-35 Lightning II production and sustainment costs today. The first is a two-year extension of the “Blueprint for Affordability for Production” program announced in 2014, and the second is the creation of a similar concept to reduce the operation and sustainment costs of the F-35 weapon system.