Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

REACHING FOR THE SKY: A potential Army deal could bring $100B payday for Bell

05/12/2016

How the U.S. Army will transport many of its troops into battle situations for the next few decades is playing out in a plain, white hangar on the sidelines of Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport. Employees at Bell Helicopter have been assembling a portion of the latest technology in tiltrotor aircraft for the last few weeks, known as the V-280.

C-130J co-pilot's unauthorized maneuver didn't cause crash in Afghanistan

05/12/2016

Although the co-pilot of a C-130J in Afghanistan was performing an unneeded and unauthorized high-power, rapid ascent takeoff when the aircraft crashed Oct. 2, that was not the cause of the accident. The official investigation by the Air Force determined that a forgotten night vision goggle case had jammed the control yoke, directly leading to the crash that killed 14 people, and that neither the co-pilot flying the aircraft nor the takeoff maneuver itself were responsible.

US, PH hold joint patrols in South China Sea

05/12/2016

The United States yesterday revealed for the first time that American ships have started conducting joint patrols with the Philippines in the South China Sea, a somewhat rare move not done with many other partners in the region.

USAF's F-35 Lightning II combat aircraft take part in training missions

05/12/2016

The US Air Force (USAF) has completed four-ship combat training missions with F-35 Lightning II combat aircraft at the Utah Test and Training Range. The four F-35s, based out of Hill Air Force Base (AFB), helped active-duty and reserve pilots from the 388th and 419th Fighter Wings (FW) to detect and jam enemy radar and identify and destroy targets from roughly 40,000ft.

China Trains To Win In The End

05/11/2016

In May 2016 Chinese warships in the South China Sea were seen practicing detailed exercises for halting merchant ships and boarding them. China claims to control all of the South China Sea but the rest of the world does not agree with that. The May exercises are another sign that China does not care what the world thinks. In one part of the exercise the intercepting destroyer fired its guns, as it would to force a ship that refused orders to halt and be boarded.

Sweden to customise offer to push Gripen-NG fighter aircraft deal with India

05/11/2016

The Swedish government will soon place a structured offer to India to push through the Gripen-NG fighter aircraft deal, a product of Swedish defence major Saab, which is also keen to develop production processes in India. Sweden offered the Gripen-NG deal to India when a high-powered Swedish trade delegation visited the country in February this year.

A Day in the Life of an F-35 Test Pilot

05/11/2016

Here at the F-35 integrated test force, pilots spend their days simulating real missions to prepare the jets to one day operate on the battlefield. Defense News got a glimpse into the day-to-day life of an F-35 test pilot during a May 4 visit to Edwards Air Force Base. We followed Maj. Raven LeClair, assistant director of operations for the 461st flight test squadron, as he zipped up his flight suit, climbed into the cockpit, taxied to the runway and finally took off into the clear, desert sky.

Is the F-22 Raptor Ready for a Big Comeback?

05/11/2016

The US Congress’ House Armed Services Committee (HASC) has requested that the USAF begin a study on the possibilities of restarting production of the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor fifth generation fighter in the FY2017 defense authorization bill. Production of the F-22 was halted in 2009 at 187 aircraft, well short of the USAF Air Combat Command’s (ACC) stated requirement of 381 aircraft—let alone the original 749 aircraft originally planned.

Why Only Israel Can Customize America’s F-35 (At Least for Now)

05/11/2016

ANY BIG-TICKET MILITARY technology purchased from the US comes with rules. Big stacks of strict guidelines outline exactly what allies can do to the hardware and the systems that run it. Generally, it comes down to: nothing. No modifications, no additions, no deletions. You can’t even make repairs without written consent from the Pentagon.

Revealed: Flying America’s Stealthy New F-35 Joint Strike Fighter

05/11/2016

The Air Force’s new F-35A multi-role, stealth Joint Strike Fighter brings an unprecedented ability to destroy targets in the air, attack moving enemies on the ground and beam battlefield images across the force in real time, an Air Force pilot told Scout Warrior in a special interview.

Pilot errors caused on-ground F-16 collision at Nellis

05/11/2016

Pilot error led to two F-16s colliding on the runway at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, in 2015, which left one pilot with life-threatening injuries, according to an accident investigation report released Monday. After completing an orientation flight during the Red Flag training exercise at Nellis Aug. 15, the two aircraft attempted to land. The first F-16 landed without incident but did not clear the runway quickly , according to the report released by the Air Combat Command Accident Investigat

Naval Tejas successfully tested in Goa, will fly off aircraft carrier next year

05/11/2016

The naval version of the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), which will operate from India’s indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, after it is commissioned in 2018, has completed a successful flight-test campaign in Goa. Commodore (Retired) CD Balaji, chief of the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), which oversees the Tejas development programme, told Business Standard that taking off and landing from a 200-metre deck has been fully established.

US Navy Continues Provocative 'Freedom of Navigation' Drills in S China Sea

05/11/2016

On Tuesday, the Pentagon conducted its latest maritime reconnaissance in the South China Sea, performing a freedom of navigation patrol within the 12-mile territorial limit of Beijing’s recently-constructed artificial island. This time, China responded in kind.

Indian Air Force to Get Russian S-400 Triumf Missile System in 2017

05/11/2016

According to Indian Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar, "The five firing units of the S-400 Long Range Surface to Air Missile system are planned for induction in Indian Air Force in the 13th plan period (2017-2022)."

F-35 Test Flights Struggle To Boot Up, But Jets Fly On

05/10/2016

F-35 critics often point to the Pentagon's decision to start building the fifth-generation fighter before design and testing is complete as the root of the program's problems. Even now, as the Air Force prepares to declare its F-35A jets operational this year, so-called "concurrency" remains an obstacle.

U.S. airstrike takes out ISIS ‘emir’ in Iraq

05/10/2016

A U.S. airstrike has killed the so-called “emir” heading Islamic State operations in Iraq’s volatile Anbar province as well as a number of the group’s top commanders, the Pentagon confirmed on Monday. Shaker Wahib al-Fahdawi al-Dulaimi, also known as Abu Waheeb, was traveling in the Iraqi city of Rutba when his convoy was struck by American aircraft, according to Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook.

The Real Chinese 'Dragon': Exposing the Power of China's Deadly Air Force

05/10/2016

Tensions in the South China Sea and continued warnings about Chinese militarization of the disputed areas has led many Pentagon planners and analysts to sharpen focus on Chinese Air Force acquisitions and technological advances.

Air Force will have first combat lasers on C-17, C-130 aircrafts

05/10/2016

The U.S. Air Force plans to arms its fleet of drones and fighter jet with high-tech laser weapons, according to Next Big Future. The Air Force plans to begin firing laser weapons from larger platforms such as C-17s and C-130s until the technological miniaturization efforts can configure the weapon to fire from fighter jets such as an F-15, F-16 or F-35.

Russia's military in Syria: Bigger than you think and not going anywhere

05/10/2016

Last week the Russian military brought more than a hundred international journalists, including our CNN crew, to Palmyra. The trip was orchestrated to showcase Moscow's role in liberating the ancient heritage site but it also said a lot about the Russian army's capabilities and the scale of their assets in Syria.

Jihadi Terror Creates New Global Market For Close Air Support Aircraft

05/10/2016

Back in 2009, when the Department of Defense had but one problem on its mind, the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Air Force had the idea of developing a light air support (LAS) aircraft for the close air support (CAS) mission for counterinsurgency operations. The focus was on a non-developmental platform, one that was cheap and easy to operate and maintain, intended primarily for foreign militaries with limited budgets, infrastructure and trained personnel.

Raytheon Wins $100Mln Contract to Build More Air-to-Air Missiles - Pentagon

05/10/2016

The US Air Force has awarded the Raytheon Company a more than $104 million contract to produce additional air-to-air missiles for US allies Australia, Romania, Saudi Arabia and South Korea, the US Department of Defense said in a press release.

First Base: US Fighter Jets Make Their Debut on Finnish Soil

05/10/2016

The US military is bringing a number of F-15C fighter jets to Finland for joint exercises with the country's armed forces, which kick off today. This is the first time that US military aircraft have engaged in such large scale maneuvers in Finland, even though the exercise would considered trivial by US standards.

Rafale Scores Another Win

05/09/2016

India has finally, after years of negotiations, placed an order for 36 Dassault Rafale Fighter jets. This includes accessories, training, tech support and a ten year maintenance contract. All this drives the per-aircraft price up to $247 million.

Putin's Pullout: A Failing Public Relations Campaign

05/09/2016

On March 14, Russian President Vladimir Putin surprised observers by ordering the withdrawal of the “main part” of Russia’s forces from Syria. In a meeting with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, he said, “the task which was given to the Defense Ministry and the armed forces has overall been fulfilled.” A month later, in his annual call-in program, Primaya Liniya, Putin claimed that the Syrian army was capable of “serious offensive operations” even after the supposed withdrawal.

Military Strikes Continue Against ISIL Terrorists in Syria, Iraq

05/09/2016

U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in 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.