Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Heads Up: Five F-15 Fighter Aircraft Will Fly Over The Hudson, Liberty Island, US Open At 4 P.M.

09/11/2016

Just in case you were wondering why five military fighter planes are flying overhead this afternoon, it's a planned military flyover! The NYPD says, "Today, at approximately 4 p.m., five (5) F-15 E Strike Eagle aircraft from the USAF will be flying over the Hudson River. They will be traveling north on the Hudson River, passing Liberty Island and the USS Intrepid. The aircraft will then flyover the US Open, and then proceed directly back to Newark Liberty International Airport."

UK fighter pilots give training to Slovak Air Force

09/11/2016

Fighter pilots have been training NATO partners in UK air combat techniques as part of a two week exercise in Slovakia. Royal Air Force aggressor pilots based at RAF Leeming, near Bedale, North Yorkshire, have been involved in Ex SLOVAK HAWK III, and Number 100 Squadron have been providing training to an experienced instructor pilot from the Slovak Air Force.

US aircraft carrier to take part in Korean drills in mid-Oct.

09/11/2016

The United States plans to dispatch a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to South Korea next month in a show of force to deter further military provocations by North Korea following its latest nuclear test, a military official here said Sunday. The USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76), the flagship of the Yokosuka, Japan-based Carrier Strike Group Five of the US Navy, will sail to South Korea's Yellow and South Seas to participate in a joint naval exercise with South Korea, slated for Oct. 10-15, the offici

China’s Third Aircraft Carrier will be More Lethal

09/11/2016

The third aircraft carrier being planned for the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) will also be China's first conventional carrier featuring a lengthy, horizontal flight deck and a catapult launch system that allows combat aircraft to carrier more weapons.

Indian fighter jet crashes in western state

09/11/2016

An Indian Air Force's MiG-21 fighter jet crashed in the western state of Rajasthan Saturday, a senior defense official said. However, the pilot and the co-pilot managed to eject safely, he said. "The incident took place near the state's Barmer district when the combat aircraft was on a routine sortie," the official said.

Syrian conflict: US and Russia agree peace moves

09/10/2016

Russia and the US have announced an agreement on Syria starting with a "cessation of hostilities" from sunset on Monday. Under the plan, the Syrian government will end combat missions in specified areas held by the opposition. Russia and the US will establish a joint centre to combat so-called Islamic State and al-Nusra fighters.

Chinese Army Equips All Ground Troops With Advanced WZ-10 Attack Helicopters

09/10/2016

An updated version of China’s WZ-10 combat helicopters will soon be assigned to all ground force aviation units, according to the China Daily. In service since 2012, the WZ-10 is designed for anti-tank warfare. It can be outfitted with cannons and machine guns, as well as guided missiles. Upgraded versions of the WZ-10, however, have also been equipped for air-to-air combat.

What Kind of Bomber Jet Does China Need?

09/10/2016

Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLA) has officially confirmed the development of a new strategic bomber. Indications of such a project were seen in Chinese military press earlier, although exact details remain unknown. Russian military expert Vasily Kashin spoke to Sputnik, deliberating the possible new bomber.

India-Russia to Step Up Talks on Co-Production of Kamov Helicopters

09/10/2016

In view of the upcoming visit of Russian President Putin for the BRICS Summit and the India-Russia Summit level talks, the Indian Defense Ministry is busy giving a final shape to Indo-Russian defense projects. The Defense Ministry is in the process of finalizing the joint production of the choppers.

India, US To Develop Joint Jet Engine Under 'Make In India' Initiative

09/09/2016

The US has connected the joint jet engine development project with India to a proposal to manufacture the US combat aircraft under ‘make In India initiative’. Pentagon has discussed all the options, including sharing of high end weapons, radar and power plant technology during recent Indian defense minister’s visit, The economics Times reported Wednesday.

Russian Experts Say Chinese Air Power Will Soon Match Russian, US Capabilities

09/09/2016

Last month, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced plans to strengthen the country's aviation industry, particularly the field of advanced engines. Commenting on Xi's remarks, Russian analysts told online newspaper Svobodnaya Pressa that the day when China comes to match the capabilities of Russian and US air power may be just around the corner.

Updated: Russian Fighter Came Within 10 Ft. of Navy Surveillance Plane Over Black Sea

09/08/2016

A Russian fighter has come within 10 feet of a Navy surveillance flight over the Black Sea on Wednesday, defense officials told USNI News. The incident between the Navy P-8A Poseidon surveillance aircraft and a Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker occurred at about 11:20 A.M. local time in international airspace over the Black Sea, according to a statement provided to USNI News.

Questions For The Next Commander-In-Chief

09/08/2016

Tonight’s Commander-in-Chief forum, co-sponsored by NBC and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, offers one of the few opportunities thus far to hear the presidential candidates discuss their views on national security issues in depth. Each candidate will have a half hour, back-to-back, which should provide enough time to ferret out substantive differences. It’s not enough to say “I’ll keep America safe,” or “I’ll make our military so strong no one will challenge us.” Specifics matter.

Pakistan hard sells JF-17 Thunder fighter jet to Kuwait, but will they buy it?

09/08/2016

Even eight years after the production of CAC/PAC JF-17 Thunder JF-17 Thunder, the Pakistani fighter jet made possible due to Chinese collaboration, the multi-role combat jet has no export order yet. Pakistan on its part has been hard selling the aircraft to several countries and has recently pitched it to Kuwait.

China Tests J-20 Stealth Fighter in Preparation for Pacific Ocean Patrols

09/08/2016

China's J-20 stealth fighter is being tested in the mountains close to the Indian border, but the new technology is intended for deployment in the Western Pacific, military expert Vasiliy Kashin told Sputnik.

PICTURES: Spain's first A400M gets airborne

09/08/2016

Airbus Defence & Space has performed the first flight of an A400M tactical transport for the Spanish air force, with the service on course to accept the aircraft later this year.

Pakistan, Russia Negotiating Deal on Russian Su-35, Su-37 Jets

09/08/2016

Islamabad and Moscow are negotiating a deal on Su-35 and Su-37 jets, Shahab Qadir Khan, deputy director of export promotion services in the Pakistani Defense Export Promotion Organization, told Sputnik.

Russia Seeks to Supply Mi-17 Antarctic-Suited Helicopters to Chile

09/08/2016

Russian state arms exporter Rosoboronexport Deputy Director General Sergey Goreslavsky said that the arctic and polar variant of the Mi-17 type helicopter could be popular in Chile, a country which is implementing a policy of exploring the Antarctic.

Russian Defense Ministry to Buy at Least 1 PAK FA Fighter Squadron in 2017

09/08/2016

Russian Deputy Minister Yuri Borisov said that mass production of the PAK FA will start in 2017 and the Russian Defense Ministry plans to buy at least one squadron of these aircraft in the first batch.

How One Soviet Pilot Pulled The Sheet Off The Ghostly MiG-25

09/07/2016

The MiG-25 Foxbat was an incredible rat rod of a plane—heavy, big and extraordinarily powerful—and it indirectly led to the development of Western planes like the F-15 Eagle. In the 1970s, the United States Air Force didn’t know much about it, until a Soviet pilot named Viktor Belenko decided to defect and landed one in Hakodate, Japan, 40 years ago today.

How good is the world’s most expensive fighter-jet helmet?

09/07/2016

“IN THIS style, $400,000.” That price tag for a hat sounds like something out of a tea party attended by Alice. It is actually, though, the expected cost of the world’s most high-tech helmet—one to be worn by pilots of the Lockheed Martin Lightning II, also known as the F-35, which has been developed by America and its allies to replace most of their existing strike aircraft.

F-35 finally gets its first mission: Controversial $400bn fighters to be sent to Japan for 'school of hard knocks' missions with Marines

09/07/2016

The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter has been hailed as the 'most expensive weapon in history, costing $400bn. Now, it is finally set for its first mission - following over a decade of delays. The Marines will begin moving 16 F-35Bs to Iwakuni Air Station in Japan early next year, it has been revealed.

New Zealand starts airlift, maritime patrol renewal study

09/07/2016

New Zealand’s Ministry of Defence has released requests for information covering the acquisition of future air mobility and air surveillance capabilities. The first request invites responses on potential fixed-wing aircraft solutions to replace the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s current air mobility assets, which include two Boeing 757-200 transports and five Lockheed Martin C-130H tactical airlifters.

US Eagles Vs. Russian MiGs and SUs: 4th Gen Planes to Remain USAF's Workhorse

09/07/2016

Last week, looking to upgrade the USAF's fleet, the DoD confirmed that it would spend $12 billion to upgrade its 1970s-vintage F-15 Eagle fighters, cancelling earlier plans to equip the Air Force with newer F-22s. For their part, Russian experts have said, without any irony, that this may be the smartest move the Pentagon has made in recent years.

Russia Prepares to Supply Ka-52K Attack Helicopters to Egypt

09/07/2016

An accord made recently by the defense ministries of Russia and Egypt gives reason to believe that Moscow is prepared to sell a considerable number of carrier-based helicopters to Cairo.