Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Iraq Receives New Batch of Mi-28NE Military Helicopters From Russia

06/29/2016

Russia supplied Iraq with a new batch of Mi-28NE "Night Hunter" military helicopters, the Iraqi Defense Ministry said on Tuesday. "These helicopters will make a great contribution in support of ground forces in their operations aimed at targeting terrorist positions and destroying [their] armoured vehicle packed with explosives," the ministry said in a statement published on its website.

Afghanistan mulling to buy aircraft and military equipment from Russia

06/28/2016

The Afghan government is mulling to purchase aircraft and other military equipment from Russia, it has been reported. The Russian Ambassador to Afghanistan Alexandar Mantytskiy has said the Afghan deputy foreign minister Hekmat Khalil Karzai has shared the issue with his Russian counterpart Igor V. Morgulov.

All Eyes on Farnborough, and F-35

06/28/2016

Two years after its aborted international debut in the UK, the F-35 Lightning II is set to finally turn up in force for the upcoming Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) and the Farnborough Air Show next month. The US Defense Department and aircraft prime Lockheed Martin are making up for the no-show in 2014, which was caused by engine troubles, with as many as five jets arriving in the UK to display at the back-to-back aviation shows.

F-35A nearly combat ready

06/28/2016

The first off-station deployment exercise for the F-35A Lightning II confirmed that the Air Force’s newest fighter jet is on track to reach initial operational capability later this year. A declaration of IOC means the F-35A will be combat ready. Seven F-35A aircraft and 181 personnel from Hill’s active duty 388th Fighter Wing and Reserve 419th Fighter Wing pushed the aircraft to its limits at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, during the training June 6-17.

America's F-4 Phantom: Taking On the World's Best Fighters (At Almost 60 Years Old)

06/28/2016

The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is a legendary aircraft?—?an icon of the Vietnam War and the archetype of the third-generation jet fighter designs that entered service in the 1960s. More than 5,000 of these heavy supersonic fighters were built, and hundreds continue to serve and even see combat in several air forces today.

Indigenously-Built Tejas Aircraft In Combat Role By Next Year

06/28/2016

The Indian Air Force plans to put much-delayed Tejas in combat role by next year after raising in July the first squadron of the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft which it counts "superior" to Pakistan's JF 17 fighters. State-run HAL will hand over the first two Tejas aircraft to Indian Air Force (IAF) on July 1 which will make up the 'Flying Daggers 45', the name of the first squadron of the LCA which will be based in Bangalore for the first two years before being moved to Sulur in Tamil Nadu.

DARPA revives turbine-ramjet concept for hypersonics

06/28/2016

A turbine-based combined cycle (TBCC) propulsion system to enable routine hypersonic flight by a vehicle that can take-off and land from a runway is back on the agenda at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) after a five-year hiatus.

PICTURE: Su-30 MKI flies first sortie with BrahMos missile

06/28/2016

An Indian air force Sukhoi Su-30 MKI aircraft has carried a BrahMos supersonic cruise missile aloft for the first time, a key milestone toward the eventual deployment of the capability. The twin-seat aircraft carried the 2,500kg missile during a 45 minute sortie from the Hindustan Aeronautics airport in Bengaluru, said the Indian aerospace firm in a statement.

Taiwan-US to Test Missile Defense System as Threat of War with China Grows

06/28/2016

In its push for full independence, Taipei looks to the Obama administration for support, a move that could result in a catastrophic war. On Monday, Taiwan announced plans to test-fire the newly acquired US-made Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missile defense shield next month amid heightened tensions with China.

How Russia Plans to Catch Up With the US in AWACS Capabilities

06/28/2016

Russian military analyst Vladimir Tuchkov sorts through Russian and US Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) platforms, laying out the two countries' capabilities and offering insights into the future trajectory of the development of Russian systems.

Can Hague ruling help curb China advances?

06/27/2016

Are China’s claims and actions in the South China Sea violations of international law? As early as by the end of this month, a court of arbitration in The Hague is expected to hand down the first ruling on the issue in a case initiated by the Philippines based on the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea. The struggle between China and the international community over the “rule of law” is about to get into full swing.

Iran’s Trying to Rebuild Its Air Force

06/27/2016

After decades of financial and technological strangulation, the Iranian air force—at one time among the most advanced in the world—finally has an opportunity to modernize and potentially become a serious aerial opponent for the United States and other rivals. The gradual lifting of international sanctions on Iran that began in January—a reward for Tehran agreeing to scrap its nuclear program—means the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force could, in theory, buy new jet fighters.

NAF to acquire 10 training aircraft to boost capacity

06/27/2016

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), has concluded arrangement to acquire 10 super mesh training aircraft from Pakistan Air Force to boost the country’s security. The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar, made the disclosure on Saturday at the graduation of Student Pilot Course (SPC) 41B in Kaduna. He said that the aircraft would be inducted into the 301 Flying Training School, Kaduna.

Military Strikes Continue Against ISIL in Syria, Iraq

06/27/2016

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

DARPA To Develop Military Aircraft Engine Capable Of Mach-5 Speed

06/27/2016

The US Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has launched its Advanced Full Range Engine (AFRE) program to develop an aircraft propulsion system that could operate over the full range of speeds required from low-speed take-off through hypersonic flight.

Russia Aerospace Forces to Receive Six S-400 Air Defense Systems in 2016

06/27/2016

Russian Aerospace Forces will receive six S-400 Triumph air defense missile systems in 2016, Aerospace Forces Commander Col. Gen. Viktor Bondarev said Sunday. "The industry is reaching its full capacity, so this year we will receive six S-400, and next year, we won't slow down the pace as well," Bondarev said.

Russia, China or Iran vs. US Navy: Who Wins? (A Sea Control Showdown)

06/26/2016

The capability risks that the United States Navy took in the immediate aftermath of the Cold War are coming back to haunt the service as Russia, China and Iran seek to challenge American forces at sea. Increasingly, rival powers are challenging American sea control—something that the U.S. Navy has not encountered since the implosion of the once mighty Soviet Navy in 1991.

How Long Before U.S. and Russian Jets Clash Over Syria?

06/26/2016

How long will it be before American and Russia jets dogfight in the skies over Syria? That possibility seems more likely after the latest in a string of confrontations between American and Russian aircraft. Earlier this month, Russian aircraft bombing U.S.-backed rebels fighting ISIS and the Syrian government almost confronted U.S. Navy fighters, according to the Los Angeles Times.

U.S. launches first attacks on Taliban under new rules

06/25/2016

U.S. warplanes in Afghanistan have launched airstrikes against Taliban targets in recent days under new authority granted to the top commander there to help Afghan forces achieve “catastrophic success,” Defense officials said.

A MIXED FIGHTER FLEET FOR CANADA? SUPER HORNETS, F-?35S, AND THE CHALLENGE OF COMPARISONS

06/25/2016

The following article originally published at the Conference of Defence Associations Institute. It is republished with permission. It may be read in its original form here. CDA Institute guest contributor Peter Layton, a Visiting Fellow at the Griffith Asia Institute in Queensland Australia, offers his thoughts on Canada’s potential plan to acquire Super Hornets as a bridging capability.

Watch this video of a U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle flying at low level over Norway

06/25/2016

Cool GoPro footage shot by 492nd and 493rd Fighter Squadrons during Arctic Fighter Meet 2016. From May 23 to 27, the 48th Fighter Wing from RAF Lakenheath, trained alongside the Norwegian, Swedish and Finnish air forces during exercise Arctic Fighter Meet 2016. Seven jets (F-15C and F-15E) from the 492nd and 493rd Fighter Squadrons deployed to Bodø airbase, Norway, to conduct BFM (basic fighter maneuvers) and DACT (Dissimilar Air Combat Training) to improve combined air operations.

RSAF's Peace Carvin V detachment tops Gunfighter Flag exercise in Idaho

06/25/2016

The Republic of Singapore Air Force’s (RSAF) Peace Carvin V’s (PC V) F-15SG fighter detachment topped a week-long Gunfighter Flag exercise in Idaho, United States in April, clinching the Overall Best Squadron award. It competed alongside teams from air bases in the US, as well as RSAF PC II’s F-16 detachment in the quarterly-held exercise. Other external units from the United States Navy, Air National Guard and United States Marine Corps were also invited to participate.

EXCLUSIVE: With only two planes and issues unresolved, IAF to bring LCA Tejas home

06/25/2016

A squadron of the indigenously designed and built Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas will be commissioned and thereafter join the ranks of frontline jets like Sukhoi 30MKI, Jaguar, Mirage 2000 among others in securing the Indian airspace.

This aging amphib will soon take on ISIS. Here's how sailors and Marines got it ready for the fight

06/25/2016

The Islamic State group is about to feel the sting of this 27-year-old gator as it heads out on its first major deployment in more than a decade. The amphibious assault Wasp is back in the fight. For the first time in 11 years, the Wasp will deploy to the Middle East with two other aging vessels: the dock landing ship Whidbey Island and the amphibious transport dock San Antonio. The three ships in the amphibious ready group have a combined age of 68 years.

1000 multi-function displays for Sukhoi 30 MKI handed over to HAL

06/25/2016

About 1,000 units of indigenously manufactured multi-function display (MFD) for installation in India's frontline Sukhoi 30 MKI fighter aircraft has been handed over to state-run HAL. The displays were manufactured by Samtel HAL Display Systems (SHDS), a joint venture between Samtel Avionics and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).