Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

U.S., British, French forces fly together at Langley

12/16/2015

The F-22 Raptor is a familiar sight in the skies above Hampton Roads. For the past two weeks, however, it hasn't been the only fighter jet up there. The United Kingdom Royal Air Force and French Air Force brought more than a dozen aircraft and 250 pilots and ground personnel to Langley to train with their U.S. counterparts. The training, named Trilateral Exercise, started Dec. 2 and extends through Friday.

U.S. presses Turkey to do more in coalition's fight against Islamic State

12/16/2015

U.S. fighter jets and armed drones scream skyward every few minutes from this sprawling air base in southern Turkey, flying deep into neighboring Syria on bombing runs against Islamic State targets. The intensity of the U.S.-led air war has increased sharply since Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed in September to let U.S. warplanes fly combat sorties from Incirlik, drastically reducing the flight time into Syria compared with using more distant U.S. bases.

US to help India make engine for next combat jet

12/16/2015

India and the US will jointly develop a jet engine for the proposed Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) project and participate in development of Electromagnetic Launch Systems (EMALS) for future aircraft carriers on government-to-government basis under the Defence Trade and Technology Initiative (DTTI). Joint working groups on both projects were reviewed by defence minister Manohar Parrikar and his counterpart Ashton Carter during the former’s four-day US visit this month.

Chinese Submarine Rehearsed Attack on US Aircraft Carrier Reagan

12/16/2015

With tensions high between Washington and Beijing, American defense officials claim that a Chinese submarine recently conducted a simulated cruise missile attack on the USS Reagan.

US, Russia Discuss Safe Interaction of Aircraft Over Syria

12/16/2015

Defense Department spokeswoman Michelle Baldanza said that the US and Russian military chiefs discussed safe interaction of the two countries’ aircraft in the Syrian airspace during a phone conversation.

Russian Military to Help Unite Syrian Govt., Opposition to Fight Daesh

12/16/2015

The Russian military will help coordinate efforts by the Syrian army and numerous armed opposition groups in the fight against Daesh, the Russian General Staff said Tuesday.

RAF fighter planes prepare to target IS leadership

12/15/2015

It was the first time Typhoon jets flew missions over Syria. Four Tornado jets launched the first air strikes on Thursday, hitting the Omar oil fields in eastern Syria. MPs backed United Kingdom military action against IS in Syria, by 397 votes to 223, after a 10-hour Commons debate on Wednesday. Across the border in Iraq, an unmanned RAF Reaper drone – flying close support for Kurdish peshmerga ground forces – destroyed an IS truck bomb with a direct hit from a Hellfire missile, the MoD said.

F-35 fighter pilots are gearing up for the new planes virtually

12/15/2015

US Air Force pilots are flying the newest fighter jets in a virtual world. The military’s fifth generation fighter jet, the F-35 Lightning II, will be flown by the Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force. They are not expected to be deployed until 2016 but that’s not stopping Air Force pilots from getting ready to fly missions.

The Russo-Iranian Military Coalition in Syria may be Deepening

12/15/2015

The Russo-Iranian military coalition in Syria may be deeper than many have believed. The Iranian armed forces appear to be allowing Russian aircraft to use their military airfields in support of combat operations over Syria. This development is remarkable: Iran is one of the most virulently anti-colonial regimes in the world, and yet it is allowing a former colonial power that had partitioned Persia with Great Britain to place military forces on its territory.

U.S. Navy, Lockheed Martin Conduct First LRASM Captive-Carry Flights on F/A-18E/F

12/15/2015

Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy recently completed the first Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) prototype captive-carry flight tests on the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. The flights were conducted at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Maryland. These initial airworthiness flight tests used a LRASM mass-simulator vehicle attached to the Navy’s F/A-18E/F to evaluate flight and handling characteristics, as well as to measure structural loads and strains on the aircraft.

Lockheed Martin Delivers Final C-5M Super Galaxy For 2015

12/15/2015

Lockheed Martin delivered the 32nd modernized C-5M Super Galaxy to the U. S. Air Force on Dec. 9. This aircraft was the ninth and final C-5M scheduled for delivery in 2015. The aircraft was delivered more than a week ahead of the contract commitment delivery date.

Saudi Arabia Forms Islamic Anti-Terror Military Coalition - Reports

12/15/2015

Saudi Arabia has set up an Islamic military alliance to fight terrorism, local media reported Tuesday, citing a governmental statement. According to Arabiya TV, the coalition consists of 34 countries. The joint operations command center will be based in the Saudi capital of Riyadh, the TV channel said.

Trials of Upgraded Sukhoi Su-25SM3s to Start by End of Year

12/15/2015

"The first two Su-25SM3 aircraft must be commissioned in December. Both aircraft will be shipped for trials. One of them will be delivered to the combat operation and pilot retraining center in Lipetsk for performance evaluation," the source said.

Free Syrian Army Ready to Provide Russia with Data on Terrorist Targets

12/15/2015

The Free Syrian Army is ready to provide Russia with data indicating positions of Daesh terrorists in Syria, head of FSA intelligence, Gen. Hossam Awak, told Sputnik on Monday. "We have precise intelligence, documents, maps, and we can share them with the Russians so that their strikes on Daesh are more effective," Awak said.

Russia to Finalize Delivery of S-300 Air Defense Systems to Iran in 2016

12/15/2015

Russia will continue deliveries of S-300 air defense systems to Iran through 2016, Vladimir Kozhin, Russian presidential aide on military-technical cooperation said Monday. "Iran is fulfilling its obligations on advanced payments, while we are fulfilling our obligations on timely deliveries," Kozhin said. The official added that the deliveries would take time and will most likely continue through 2016.

Embraer's KC-390 To Join Canada's Search-and-Rescue Bid

12/14/2015

Embraer is set to shake up the competition to provide Canada with search-and-rescue aircraft as the Brazilian firm seeks export orders for its new KC-390. The CAN $3.1 billion (US $2.3 billion) search-and-rescue aircraft procurement has long been seen as a competition between Airbus’ C-295 and Alenia’s C-27J. But Embraer officials told Defense News the company will submit its bid in January when Canada requests formal proposals from aerospace firms.

Merkel dismisses U.S. request for more military help against Islamic State

12/14/2015

Chancellor Angela Merkel on Sunday brushed off what a Germany magazine said was a request from the United States to provide more military help in the fight against Islamic State. "I believe Germany is fulfilling its part and we don't need to talk about new issues related to this question at the moment," Merkel told the ZDF broadcaster when asked about the Der Spiegel magazine report of the U.S. request.

Russia’s Politics Equal Greater Defense Exports To Asia

12/14/2015

Russia has an established reputation as one of the world’s leading exporters for military aircraft. A significant portion of Moscow’s defense sales comes from Asia, where most countries still prefer trading with Russia as compared to other global military equipment suppliers. It is worth noting that while Russia’s defense-related trade in Asia has been declining gradually as most states look to increase their own R&D capabilities or pursue new bilateral trade agreements.

Israel mulls buying advanced F-35B STOVL squadron

12/14/2015

The Israeli and US air forces have been conducting a dialogue over the past few months on Israel's procurement of a full stealth squadron. The stealth F-35 fighter aircraft can land vertically like a helicopter and take off on a 500 foot runway, sources inform "Walla." The F-35B stealth STOVL (short take-off and vertical-landing) model, manufactured by US aerospace giant Lockheed Martin, is designed to land and take off from naval aircraft carriers.

Israel has bought 33 F-35A conventional take off fighter aircraft, and has an option to buy 17 more, for two F-35 squadrons.

12/14/2015

Israel is in talks with the US about a possible acquisition of a squadron of F-35B fighter jets. Discussions over a new US decade-long defense package for Israel, starting in 2016, have expanded to include the possible acquisition of F-35B Lightning II short takeoff/vertical landing jets. The story was first reported by Walla.

India set to develop own stealth combat drones

12/14/2015

India is finally getting set to launch an ambitious project to develop its own stealth combat drones or UCAVs (unmanned combat aerial vehicles), which will be capable of firing missiles and precision-guided munitions at enemy targets and then returning to home bases to re-arm for further missions.

Asia’s Quest For Stealth: Advanced Combat Aircraft Projects

12/14/2015

Japan’s indigenous stealth fighter project is the ATD-X (Advanced Technology Demonstrator eXperimental) ShinShin (Spirit of the Heart), which is being developed with the Technical Research and Development Institute (TRDI) of Japan’s Ministry of Defense (MoD) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. The ATD-X project developed out of planning in Tokyo for a future fifth-generation aircraft to serve the Japan Air-Self Defense Force (JASDF).

India to Purchase Spare Parts for Su-30 Fleet From Russia

12/14/2015

India intends to sign an agreement with Russia for the purchase of spare parts for Su-30MKI fighter jets for the next five years. “The visit of representatives of the Indian Ministry of Defense is expected in the second half of December and we hope to be able to come to a positive solution and conclude an agreement as soon as possible,” representative of the Sukhoi holding told the Economic Times.

Syrian Warplanes Bomb Daesh Strongholds Across Homs, Aleppo, Hama

12/14/2015

The Syrian Air Force intensified its bombing campaign of Daesh positions across the provinces of Homs, Hama and Aleppo, Fars news agency reported on Sunday. “The ISIL [Daesh] positions in Maheen and Quaryatayn in the Central Homs province came under several air attacks by Syrian bombers, inflicting heavy damage on the terrorists' sites,” FARS news agency reported citing sources as saying.

Russian Defense Ministry got nearly 250 aircraft under 2015 state defense order

12/12/2015

The Russian Defense Ministry has got within the 2015 state defense order 243 modern aircraft and 90 air defense missile systems and complexes, Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said on Friday. "We received within the 2015 state defense order 243 modern aircraft, 90 air defense missile systems and complexes and 208 radar systems," he said.