Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

China powers up military jet engine tech to wean itself off Russian imports

12/12/2016

China is ready to launch its new J-11D fighter after it failed to acquire Russian engines on schedule and was forced to develop its own technology, military observers said. The progress included advances in home-grown turbofan technology and radar systems, and showed that Beijing was no longer reliant on Russian engines for its new generation of fighters, analysts said.

Japanese, Chinese military aircraft engage in latest tit-for-tat moves in airspace above Western Pacific

12/12/2016

China and Japan have continued their recent tit-for-tat moves in the airspace above the Western Pacific, with aircraft from the two Asian giants on Saturday again engaging in an apparently tense encounter over the high seas between Okinawa’s main island and Miyako Island.

Pentagon chief weapon tester says reports about F-35 performance are ‘misleading, ambiguous, ignore facts’

12/12/2016

In a memo leaked to Bloomberg, Michael Gilmore stated: “If not changed, the existing responses would at best be considered misleading and at worst, prevarications.” He was referring to draft responses being prepared in answer to questions from Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain. Senator McCain last month challenged a fresh round of delays — and cost blowouts — relating to the delayed development of the strike fighter.

Advanced F-35 fighter jets set to land in Israel today

12/12/2016

Israel’s most advanced weaponry, two F-35 stealth fighter jets, are set to touch down at Nevatim Air Force Base near Beersheba for the first time on Monday afternoon. Expected at the ceremony to welcome the jets to Israel will be President Reuven Rivlin, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Gadi Eisenkot, OC Air Force Maj.-Gen. Amir Eshel and US Secretary of Defense Ash Carter.

Japanese F-15 jets launch decoy flares at Chinese military aircraft

12/11/2016

Two Japanese F-15 fighters Saturday launched decoy flares at Chinese Air Force aircraft that were flying over the Miyako Strait for routine offshore training in western Pacific Ocean, China’s defense ministry said. Spokesperson Yang Yujun said the Japanese Self-Defense Forces aircraft endangered the safety of the Chinese aircraft and their personnel. He added the Chinese pilot took quick measures and proceeded with the training.

Chinese aircraft fly around Taiwan

12/11/2016

Chinese military aircraft yesterday flew over the East China Sea to the south of Japan’s Okinawa Island and circled the international airspace surrounding Taiwan before passing over the Bashi Channel to return to China, officials from the Ministry of National Defense said. It was the second time in two weeks that Chinese military aircraft have flown around Taiwan and passed over the Miyako Strait between Japan’s Okinawa and Miyako islands.

IAF lines up series of sleek ‘Astra’ trials from Monday

12/11/2016

Indian Air Force (IAF) is slated to carry out a series of captive trials of indigenously developed beyond visual range (BVR) air-to-air missile ‘Astra’ from a fighter aircraft from Monday. Defence sources said the missile will be fired from Sukhoi-30 MKI aircraft targeting a Pilotless Target Aircraft (PTA) at different altitudes from different angles over the Bay of Bengal to reconfirm the killing efficiency of the all-terrain and all-weather weapon system.

India to get Rafale fighter jets in 3-yr time: IAF chief Arup Raha

12/11/2016

India will get the first tranche of Rafale fighter jets from France in the next three years, Indian Air Force chief Arup Raha said today. "Rafale contract caters for delivery time between 36 months to about 66 months if I am not wrong. So within three years time we will have the first few aircraft delivered to us and within five and a half years we will have two full squadron of aircraft in operation," Raha said at a function here.

Russian Aerospace Forces Equipment to Receive Full Lifecycle Maintenance in 2017

12/11/2016

Russia's Aerospace Forces Commander Col. Gen. Viktor Bondarev said that full lifecycle maintenance would be able to quickly supply components and blocks necessary for any type of flying vehicles, thus, enabling military personnel to repair the equipment faster.

Russia to Start Advanced PAK FA Fighters Production on Schedule in 2017

12/11/2016

Russian Aerospace Forces Commander Viktor Bondarev said that the tests of Russian Sukhoi T-50 (PAK FA) fifth-generation fighters are proceeding in leaps and bounds, the eighth prototype has already been delivered.

BANGLADESH IS PLANNING TO PROCURE EIGHT NEW MULTI-ROLE FIGHTERS

12/10/2016

Bangladesh’s Minister of Law Anisul Huq informed the Bangladesh Parliament that the government will be procuring eight multi-role combat aircraft for the Bangladesh Air Force. As per local news outlets, such as the Daily News, Mr. Huq noted that the fighter acquisition – alongside the procurement of six Mi-171Sh helicopters, two maritime search and rescue helicopters, one medium-range surface-to-air missile system, and one unmanned aerial vehicle system.

Get Ready, Russia and China: The F-35 Stealth Fighter Is Testing Out Its Most Important Capability

12/10/2016

Pilots at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., are testing the ability of groups of Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighters to accurately pass data amongst themselves during combat operations against advanced enemy surface-to-air missiles (SAM) defenses.

India to Train Vietnam Fighter Pilots

12/10/2016

India will begin training Vietnamese fighter pilots starting next year, according to an agreement inked by the two countries this week. On December 5, Indian Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar and his Vietnamese counterpart, General Ngo Xuan Lich, signed a pact with Hanoi to train the pilots of its Russian-made Sukhoi Su-30 multirole combat aircraft. The inking of the agreement came during Ngo’s much-awaited four-day visit to India, which began on December 3.

F-35I ADIR – Mission Autonomy, Stealth to Transform Air Warfare in the Middle East

12/10/2016

The first two F-35s expected to land in Israel next week will be the first 5th Generation jet fighters the U.S. hands out to a foreign ally. The two ADIR Jets are only the beginning. Over the next eight years, Israel will receive 50 aircraft forming two full ADIR squadrons flying the F-35. No. 140 Squadron will be the first to receive the new fighters.

Bulgaria invites bids for supply of multipurpose combat jets from 4 countries

12/10/2016

NATO member Bulgaria said on Friday it has invited four countries to submit offers for the supply of multi-purpose combat aircraft for its Air Force. The invitation was sent to Italy, Portugal, the United States and Sweden, the defence ministry said in a statement.

Will make India net exporter of fighter aircraft: Saab

12/10/2016

Swedish aerospace major Saab says it would set up a brand new production line in India if it wins an Indian Air Force (IAF) contract for single-engined combat jets and would make the country a net exporter of such fighters -- once the necessary procedures are in place.

Marines could pair FVL with unmanned VTOL

12/10/2016

The US Marine Corps envisions teaming the medium-lift future vertical lift aircraft up with its own expeditionary group 5 UAV, though service officials say they will not force the pairing if timelines do not meet up.

Special forces NH90 helicopter still under consideration

12/10/2016

Initially proposed as a joint development for Australia and France, the idea has drawn interest from Germany, Italy and New Zealand, said Vincent Dubrule, president of the NHI consortium, speaking at an event in Germany on 8 December.

How Russian Carrier Admiral Kuznetsov Compares to US Counterparts

12/10/2016

On December 5, a Russian Su-33 fighter jet skidded off the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean while landing. On November 14, a MiG-29K fighter bomber crashed while landing on the carrier’s flight deck. The two mishaps raised a barrage of often unjustified criticism both in Russia and abroad.

European Nations Sign Cooperative Aircraft Maintenance Contract

12/08/2016

Spain has joined Britain and France in signing a maintenance contract for the A400M military airlifter, allowing the three nations to draw on a common pool of spares and technical support, Airbus Defence and Space announced Wednesday. “Airbus Defence and Space has signed a long-term Global Support Service contract for the A400M new generation airlifter with the UK, France and Spain,” the company said in a statement.

The U.S. Navy is Preparing the MQ-4C Triton Drone for Service in the Pacific

12/08/2016

The Navy announced that next generation aircraft avoidance systems will be installed on its new high-tech maritime surveillance drone. Northrop Grumman has received a $9.6 contract to install the Automatic Response Module of the Airborne Collision Avoidance System X into the MQ-4C Triton’s avionics system.

US JET CRASH: American fighter jet goes down off coast of southern Japan

12/08/2016

The F/A-18 Hornet was stationed at the Iwakuni base in the Yamaguchi prefecture and is understood to have gone down at 6pm local time off the southern Kochi Prefecture. Initial reports from the Japanese Defence Ministry said the lone pilot and ejected from the fighter jet and survived the crash.

Tanveer discusses military aircraft supply to Egypt

12/08/2016

Minister for Defense Production Rana Tanveer Hussain Wednesday discussed supply of military aircraft to Egypt for training military — men as well as defence of the brotherly country. The minister who is currently on an official visit to Cairo in his meeting with Egyptian Defence Minister Gen Sedkhi Sobhy talked about the supply of Super Mashshak (trainer) and JF-17 Thunder (fighter) aircraft.

Chile AF signs deal for six S-70i helicopters

12/08/2016

Sikorsky will deliver six Polish-made S-70i helicopters through 2018 to the Chilean Air Force after completing three months of contract negotiations.

Lockheed Martin Receives $67 Million Sensor Spares Contract

12/08/2016

The U.S. Air Force has awarded Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) a $67.3 million contract to provide spares for the Royal Saudi Air Force's (RSAF) F-15 sensor suite. Under the contract, Lockheed Martin will produce LANTIRN Extended Range (ER) navigation pod spares, Infrared Search and Track (IRST) system spares and Sniper® Advanced Targeting Pod (ATP) spares.