Military Aviation News Archive

Mission Cleopatra: Egypt's Mistral Taking Part in Joint Drills With France

06/22/2016

Egypt’s Mistral-class helicopter carrier delivered from France is taking part in military exercises, which are jointly conducted by the French and Egyptian navies in the Mediterranean Sea.

Caliphate's 'Unmanned Surveillance': Drones That Daesh Uses in Syria, Iraq

06/22/2016

These days not an hour goes by without an aircraft, piloted or not, traversing the skies above Iraq and Syria. Damascus-led forces and their allies, including Russia, as well as France, Israel, Jordan, Turkey, the UK and the US have been spotted using an array of drones in their counterterrorism efforts. Daesh is not excluded as well.

U.S. F/A-18 Hornets almost clashed with Russian fighter bombers over Syria

06/21/2016

There have been several close encounters between Russian and U.S. and allied manned and unmanned aircraft over Syria since Moscow deployed a contingent of combat planes to Latakia, in northwestern Syria, at the end of September 2015. On Oct. 10, 2015, a Russian Su-30SM had close encounter with an unspecified U.S. combat plane supporting Operation Inherent Resolve.

US Nato general fears rapid Russian troop deployments

06/21/2016

The commander of US troops in Europe says Nato cannot rapidly deploy large forces to Eastern Europe in the way that Russia can. Lt-Gen Ben Hodges was speaking to the BBC's Hardtalk programme during large Nato exercises in north-western Poland. "The Russians are able to move huge formations and lots of equipment a long distance very fast," he said.

Israel’s New Stealth Jets Will Transform IAF Combat Strength

06/21/2016

The Israeli Air Force (IAF) will be forever revolutionized in the coming months. Global defense and advanced technologies manufacturer Lockheed Martin plans to unveil the first of the fifth-generation fighter jets in the F-35 Lightning II series, one of the world’s most advanced stealth fighter jets, on Wednesday. The Israeli defense establishment has said the new plane is a true game changer for the Jewish state as it will make Israel unique in all aerial capabilities against its enemies.

Canada must do more to help NATO combat Russian threat, Mulroney says

06/21/2016

Former prime minister Brian Mulroney says the Trudeau government should choose the very best fighter jet to confront the growing threat from Russia as he urged Canada to play a more forceful role within NATO and the United Nations. In a prepared text for a major foreign policy speech to the NATO Association of Canada on Monday night, Mr. Mulroney warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin is attempting to create a new Eurasian union dependent on Moscow.

In rare move, the Navy sends two aircraft carriers near the Philippines

06/21/2016

The Navy just concluded the multi-day deployment of two carrier strike groups to the Philippine Sea, a rare move that comes at a sensitive time ahead of an international tribunal’s ruling on territorial claims by China and other nations in the nearby South China Sea.

Armed S-70i breaks cover in Poland

06/21/2016

Sikorsky company PZL Mielec used NATO’s multi-national exercise Anakonda to debut an armed version of the S-70i Black Hawk in mid-June. On display in Drawsko Pomorskie, Poland, the rotorcraft attracted visitors including Polish defence minister Antoni Macierewicz.

3D Printing Assists Military in Lowering Costs and Expediting Repairs

06/21/2016

In 2017, the Marine Corps will 3D print certain parts for their most sought after rotorcraft. Naval Air Systems Command officials announced earlier this month that they plan to print roll out parts for the new CH-53K King, H-1, MV-22B Osprey, and light/attack Helicopters, including the AH-1Z Viper, as well as the Stallion, which is still in the early phases of production.

Chubby Girl': Meet China's Xian Y-20, the World's Largest Military Plane

06/21/2016

The first two Xian Y-20 military transport aircraft have been delivered to the Chinese air force, officially making it the largest military plane currently in production. Earlier this month, Zhu Qian, head of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) indicated that Beijing intends to purchase a vast fleet of heavy transport aircraft, in addition to new stealth fighters.

Baku, Ankara Start Joint Military Exercises in Turkey

06/21/2016

Baku and Ankara are holding joint military drills in Turkey, the Azerbaijan Defense Ministry said Monday. "According to the military plan of bilateral cooperation, Azerbaijan and Turkey launched the ISIK-2016 military drills," a press release from the ministry reads.

France Quietly Adapts to A400M Problems

06/20/2016

Finally responding in public to shrinking demand for its new A400M military transport, AirBus executives admitted that they screwed up and recently provided details. AirBus said the main problems were with the engines it selected for the A400M. These came from an inexperienced supplier and AirBus was late in realizing how bad the problems were. There were many lesser problems, mainly with not adding features users needed if they were to replace existing C-130s and similar transports with the A40

As 10-year war anniversary nears, Israel to receive new stealth fighter jets

06/20/2016

Ten years after Second Lebanon War, Hezbollah is armed with surface to air missiles and a vast rocket arsenal, and the fifth-generation aircraft will be key in helping the IAF tackle these threats.

Boeing, Tata joint venture establishes aerospace facility in Hyderabad

06/20/2016

Boeing and Tata Advanced Systems today celebrated the foundation laying of a new facility in Hyderabad for its joint venture named TATA Boeing Aerospace Limited (TBAL). The joint venture has been established to co-produce Boeing AH-64 Apache helicopter fuselages and other aerostructures, as well as to pursue integrated systems in aerospace.

U.S., Coalition Continue Strikes Against ISIL in Syria, Iraq

06/20/2016

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.

Erdogan: Turkey Will Build Its Own Aircraft Carrier

06/20/2016

On Saturday, at a ceremony at a naval shipyard in Istanbul, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey would soon begin the design and production of a domestically built aircraft carrier. "There isn't any obstacle to producing our own aircraft carrier. It is possible with this determined government and state," he said. "Turkey cannot fall into laziness in the defense and military issues. The strategic point of our country doesn't allow this."

General warns congressmen about China, lack of pilots for Air Force

06/20/2016

Potential adversaries such as China are closing in on the U.S. technological edge in the skies at the same time the Air Force has a shortage of hundreds of fighter pilots and its fleet of fourth-generation aircraft is aging. Maj. Gen. Jerry D. Harris, vice commander of the Air Combat Command, delivered that message to four Ohio congressmen Saturday in a House Armed Services Committee field hearing at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.

Pentagon is Developing Drone Swarms Designed to Destroy Sophisticated Enemy Air Defenses

06/20/2016

Defeating so-called anti-access/area-denial (A2/AD) threats—such as zones defended by advanced Russian and Chinese built integrated air defense systems—is a top priority for the United States as the world enters an era of renewed great power competition.

US Aircraft Carriers Start Drills Off Philippines

06/20/2016

Two US aircraft carriers have started exercises in the Philippine Sea, defense officials said Sunday, as Washington’s close ally Manila faces growing pressure from Beijing in the South China Sea. The US Pacific Command said the USS John C. Stennis and USS Ronald Reagan, among the world’s largest warships, began conducting air defense drills, sea surveillance, and long range strikes on Saturday.

AH64 Apache, world’s most advanced multi-role helicopter gets ‘Made in India’ link

06/19/2016

Leading aerospace company Boeing and Tata Advanced Systems (TASL) have joined hands to set up a facility in Hyderabad to co-produce helicopter fuselages and other aerostructures. The JV, named Tata Boeing Aerospace Limited (TBAL), has been established for producing Boeing AH-64 Apache helicopter fuselages and other aerostructures besides pursuing integrated systems in aerospace.

Images suggest that Russia cluster-bombed US-backed Syrian fighters

06/19/2016

Russian airstrikes targeted the base of U.S.-backed Syrian fighters near the Jordanian border this past week, according to U.S. defense officials, prompting the most aggressive response from the Pentagon since Russia began its air campaign over Syria last year.

Drones with radiation detectors designed for nuclear emergencies

06/19/2016

They resemble miniature Reaper drones, but the nimbler Sandstorm’s mission will veer sharply from its weapons-laden cousin as the Department of Energy explores using unmanned aircraft to respond to nuclear emergencies.

Budget Caps Latest Excuse to Retire A-10 Aircraft: Advocates

06/19/2016

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh and the man who would succeed him, Vice Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein, both said this week that automatic spending caps are what spurred the service’s decision to push for the retirement of the plane.

RSAF participates in air combat exercise with US, Japan Air Forces

06/19/2016

The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) participated in the United States Air Force (USAF)-hosted Exercise Red Flag - Alaska, held from Jun 1 to 17, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) announced on Saturday (Jun 18).

Female fighter pilots raring to take up combat mission

06/19/2016

“We want to be part of the country’s future combat missions and make our parents proud,” said the three female fighter pilots, beaming with pride. The trio entered the annals of history on Saturday as they were commissioned into the Indian Air Force (IAF) in the presence of Defence minister Manohar Parrikar at the Air Force Academy in Dundigal here on Saturday.