Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

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).

Run Silent, Run Scared: Russian Sub Hunter to Tote Powerful New Bomb

06/25/2016

Russian engineers are working to adapt the all-new Zagon-2 antisubmarine corrected air bomb for use by Mi-14 helicopters, RIA Novosti wrote citing Techmash Concern’s CEO Sergei Rusakov.

National Guard Units Bolster Air to Ground Integration During Saber Strike

06/24/2016

Saber Strike 16, this year’s iteration of a long-standing U.S. Army Europe-led cooperative training exercise, brought together 14 NATO Allies and regional partners to train alongside one another and enhance the relationships that are essential to successful future operations. Integration of air and ground operations is a major point of emphasis in the exercise.

Russia's attack on U.S.-backed rebels in Syria puzzles, frustrates the Pentagon

06/24/2016

One week after Russian aircraft bombed American-backed rebels in Syria, U.S. officials say they are still waiting for Russia to explain the incident that has put the two militaries at risk of confrontation. Russian aircraft on June 16 dropped cluster bombs on a New Syrian Army unit garrisoned at a base in al-Tanf, a remote desert outpost where the borders of Iraq, Syria and Jordan meet.

Lockheed's Fort Worth plant shows off new Israeli stealth fighter jet

06/24/2016

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics rolled out its first F-35 bound for Israel Wednesday where the sleek stealth fighter is so greatly anticipated it is known as "Adir," Hebrew for mighty, powerful and great. Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman was among the foreign, state and local dignitaries at Lockheed's complex in west Fort Worth to see the F-35 unveiled and then described as the weapon that will become the backbone of Israel's security needs far into the 21st century.

Marines To Pair Laser Weapon With Stinger Missile For Mobile Ground Unit Protection

06/24/2016

The Marine Corps is moving towards a future in which small dispersed units can protect themselves from incoming enemy drones with laser weapons and from missiles and aircraft with Stinger missiles, with both weapons netted into a detection system and mounted atop Humvees, Joint Light Tactical Vehicles and other combat vehicles.

Marines pull aircraft from 'boneyard,' get used Navy jets amid aviation crisis

06/24/2016

With most of its F/A-18 strike fighters unable to fly on any given day, the Marine Corps is resurrecting 23 Hornets from the “boneyard” and getting another seven aircraft from the Navy. The move comes as the Marine Corps and Navy struggle to keep F/A-18s in the skies until the F-35 joint strike fighter can replace the services’ aging aircraft.

OPINION: Can Airbus bear weight of A400M Atlas?

06/24/2016

By all rights, the Airbus Defence & Space A400M should be a soar-away success story in both the domestic and export markets – but at the moment the programme is looking dangerously vulnerable.

India considers additional 30-unit Hawk buy

06/24/2016

India’s defence ministry is considering the acquisition of an additional batch of BAE Systems Hawk advanced jet trainers. New Delhi indicates it could purchase as many as 30 examples of the Mk132 variant, which would be licence-built by Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL).

Airbus studying manned successor for German Tornados

06/24/2016

Airbus Defence & Space is eyeing a potential opportunity for European industry to develop a next-generation combat aircraft to replace the German air force’s Panavia Tornado fleet post-2030.

CH-53K King Stallion Achieves 27,000 Pound External Lift

06/24/2016

Lockheed Martin today announced the CH-53K King Stallion successfully completed an external lift of a 27,000 pound payload at Sikorsky’s Development Flight Test Center in West Palm Beach, Fla.

Russia Working on Modernization of Mine System for Mi-9, Mi-17 Helicopters

06/24/2016

Russian enterprises within the Techmash group are working on the modernization of the helicopter mine dispensing system for the Mil Mi-8 and Mi-17, the group's general director, Sergey Rusakov, said Thursday.

NATO's Stoltenberg Condemns Pyongyang's New Ballistic Missile Launch

06/23/2016

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg condemned on Wednesday recent launches of ballistic missiles by North Korea. Earlier in the day, South Korean media reported that North Korea appeared to have test-fired another medium-range ballistic missile, a second one on Wednesday.

15 killed as Nigerian Air Force bombs Boko Haram convoy

06/22/2016

At least 15 Boko Haram terrorists have been killed in Borno State, North-East Nigeria after the Nigeria Air Force (NAF) carried out its first major air campaign in the region. The operation was carried out under the recently launched ‘Operation Gama-Aiki’ mission. An Alpha Jet bombed the convoy of the militants in the northern part of Borno state, officials said.

Egyptian Additional 12 Rafale Order May Delay Indian Deliveries Further

06/22/2016

India’s 36 rafale fighter deliveries may be delayed further if Egypt opts to purchase 12 Rafale optional under the contract signed with France in February 2015. In the wake of the visit of French President François Hollande in Egypt in April this year , negotiations between the Egyptian army and Dassault Aviation have started to purchase twelve Rafale optional under the last year’s contract, La Tribune reported quoting sources as saying last week.

Russian state television accidentally broadcasts evidence that Moscow uses cluster bombs in Syria

06/22/2016

The state-sponsored television channel RT aired footage of a Russian combat aircraft carrying cluster munitions in Syria at the Khmeimim Air Base. In a news report about Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu’s visit to the airbase on June 18, RT broadcast images of RBK-500 ZAB 2.5SM incendiary cluster bombs, say independent researchers.

Rolls-Royce LiftFan Adds STOVL Operations to F-35's Capability

06/22/2016

Assuming its planned appearance at the Farnborough International Airshow goes ahead, the Lockheed Martin F-35 will be the most significant new military aircraft to be seen in the skies of southern England for many years. It has been a long wait for British eyes, the nation being the first overseas partner to sign up to the Joint Strike Fighter program, as it became. Britain joined following the signing of a government-to-government memorandum of understanding way back in 1995.

Meet the Future PLA Carrier Strike Group: Main Equipment of the Chinese PLA Navy

06/22/2016

Since World War II, the sine qua non of maritime power has been the carrier strike group, that assemblage of warships and other assets which together comprise the floating fortress that is the king of combat sea power. The Chinese People’s Liberation Army–Navy (PLAN) is in the process of building its carrier strike group, although it currently only possesses one carrier still in the process of training aircraft operations.

The Real Problem with America’s Aircraft Carriers Is Easy to See (But Near Impossible to Fix)

06/22/2016

Aircraft Carriers, specifically American aircraft carriers, seem to be taking quite a thrashing these days in the press. Some claim they are old and obsolete—no better than all of those expensive Battleships at the end of World War II—destined for the scrapper. Others argue they are undefendable, thanks to the proliferation of ballistic and cruise missiles all over the globe—heck, even non-state actors can get their hands on such weapons these days.

Norway reveals P-3 replacement plans

06/22/2016

Norway has revealed a proposed defence spending plan that allows for the acquisition of a new maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) to replace its six-strong fleet of Lockheed P-3 Orions. Presented to parliament on 17 June, the white paper recommends a gradual rise in the nation’s defence budget over the 2017-2020 period to result in a NKr7.2 billion ($870 million) increase over 2016 levels.

North Korea Fires Second Ballistic Missile Hours After First Failed Launch

06/22/2016

South Korea claims that the North has fired another mid-range ballistic missile, its second of the day. Officials with South Korea's Defense Ministry said earlier that Pyongyang had conducted a failed launch, with the missile falling into the Sea of Japan.