Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Nothing scares Hornet pilots more than losing oxygen — and it happens all the time

05/09/2016

The third time the high-pitched alarm rang "deedle deedle" in the F/A-18F Super Hornet's cockpit, it was clear that something with the air flowing into their regulators had gone horribly wrong. "That's when I realize my lips were tingling, my fingers are tingling, and I'm like, 'S---, man, something's wrong,' " a Navy pilot recalled. "And the guy in the back's like, 'Hey, dude! My fingers are blue!' "

Indian Air Force in focus

05/09/2016

The Indian Air Force is massive and so are the problems it faces. The BJP chief whip in Lok Sabha, Arjun Ram Meghwal, admitted recently that Indian women were afraid of flying the MiG-21 fighters due to its high accident rate. On a supplementary to defence minister Manohar Parrikar on induction of women in the IAF’s combat stream, Meghwal said women were afraid of flying the MiG-21s due to their high accident rate.

ROC to start upgrade of its F-16 jets in 2017: AIDC

05/09/2016

An upgrade of Taiwan's fleet of F-16 fighter planes will begin in early 2017, shortly after the completion of a hangar that is being built for that purpose, according to the Aerospace Industrial Development Corp. Upon completion next January, Taiwan's biggest fighter jet maintenance facility will have the capacity to handle the upgrade of 24 aircraft per year in the country's F-16A/B fleet, AIDC Chairman Anson Liao said.

Customs Act change may delay modernisation of Mirage, Jaguar, other fighter planes

05/09/2016

The Indian Air Force has asked the Defence Ministry to find a way out in the wake of a recent amendment in the Customs Act removing blanket duty exemption for defence goods, a move that may delay modernisation and maintenance programmes of fighter planes like Mirage and Jaguar. Under the new rules, which came into effect from April 1, customs duty exemption has been given to specific projects, all of which are in production in the country.

U.S. Role in Afghanistan Turns to Combat Again, With a Tragic Error

05/09/2016

The Taliban attacked the Afghan police compound at first light, coming from all sides at the American Green Berets holed up inside. The insurgents fired assault rifles, heavy machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades. They came in what a soldier called “human waves.” Not even strafing runs by American F-16 fighters stopped the assault. The elite American soldiers — whose mission was only to train and advise Afghan troops — had never seen a firefight as intense.

Air Force planes to land on highways

05/08/2016

Don’t be surprised if the traffic on a highway is stopped and a military aircraft lands, an experiment carried out a year ago when the Mirage 2000 fighter aircraft descended on the Yamuna Expressway connecting Delhi with Agra. The Indian Air Force (IAF) has drawn up plans to expand the scope of using the highways as “alternative landing grounds” for war-time operations or in an emergency

Russian Military Involved In Shooting Down Flight MH17, Researchers Say

05/08/2016

Russian officials are trying to discredit a new report that implicates the Russian military in the shoot-down of Malaysia Airlines flight 17. Nearly two years ago, that attack in the skies over eastern Ukraine killed 298 people. The latest report comes from a U.K.-based organization called Bellingcat, which bills itself as a group of citizen investigative journalists.

Russia Says No Aircraft Flew over Bombed Syria Camp

05/08/2016

Russia's military on Friday insisted no aircraft flew over a Syrian refugee camp the day it was hit by deadly strikes, suggesting the al-Qaida-linked Al-Nusra Front could have shelled the location. "We have attentively studied the information from the air space monitoring data in this area for May 4 and 5, 2016. There were no flights by Russian or any other aircraft," spokesman Igor Konashenkov told Russian news agencies.

US Air Force A-10s Challenge China in the South China Sea

05/08/2016

It’s no surprise that the A-10’s first mission was a show of force over the Scarborough Shoal, which China refers to as Huangyan Island and claims as its own. With plans to develop the narrow strip of land into a tourist destination, Beijing was incensed to see the Warthogs fly by.

F-35 Pilots Not Happy to Perform A-10 Comparison Tests

05/08/2016

J. Michael Gilmore, the U.S. Defense Department’s top weapons-tester,confirmed on April 26 that the Pentagon will conduct a head-to-head test of a new F-35 stealth fighter and an old A-10 attack jet in the close-air-support mission. Critics of the high-tech, budget-busting F-35 and fans of the tried-and-true A-10?—?a rugged, purpose-built ground-attack plane?—?applauded the announcement.

Over 100 Aircraft Take Part in Final Rehearsal of V-Day Parade in Moscow

05/08/2016

More than one hundred aircraft participated in the final rehearsal of Victory Day military parade in Moscow, a source in the Russian Defense Ministry press service said Saturday.

OPINION: Can Scorpion jet fight its way to sales success?

05/07/2016

When commercial aircraft product launches are stage-managed with a careful unveiling of billions of dollars worth of orders from a few hand-picked customers, the sight of a new military aircraft propelled into development with no announced buyers can come across as a rarity bordering on reckless.

Swiss Air Force plans to replace wing of F/A-18 fighter jet

05/07/2016

The Swiss Air Force is to replace a wing on its Boeing F/A-18 Hornet combat aircraft after it discovered a disbond in an adhesive joint during regular inspection. The joint between the wing and the fuselage of one F/A-18 aircraft was found to have become detached, according to the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection, and Sport (DDPS).

IAF gains experience by taking part in global air exercises

05/07/2016

Indian Air Force gains by participating in international combat exercises, especially when its fighter jets are pitted against US F-16s and F-18s which are used by Pakistan, government said on Friday. Without naming Pakistan, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said in Lok Sabha that knowledge of close combat ability of F-16s and F-18s was important for the Western front of India.

U.S. Seeks To Approve Attack Aircraft For Nigeria

05/07/2016

Additionally, U.S. military officials revealed that it would provide more intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance resources to the Nigerian military and plans to train Nigerian infantry troops to more effectively combat the insurgents.

U.S. forces now on the ground supporting combat operations in Yemen, Pentagon says

05/07/2016

The Pentagon has placed a small number of U.S. advisors on the ground in Yemen to support Arab forces battling al-Qaeda, military officials said on Friday, signaling a new American role in that country’s multi-sided civil war. Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman, said U.S. personnel had been in the country for about two weeks, supporting Yemeni and Emirati forces that are fighting a pitched battle against militants near the southeastern port city of Mukalla.

US-Foreign Military Sales 2016 Are Thriving; Middle East Among Major Buyers, Recipients Of Aircraft, Weapons

05/07/2016

The United States has continued its foreign military sales (FMS) momentum from last year into the first half of this fiscal year and is on pace to exceed its 2015 profits from selling combat aircraft in part to countries in the Middle East and Asia, according to Defense News. Last year, the U.S. pocketed $43 billion in foreign military sales.

Amid Daesh Threat, Turkey Ramps Up Drone Development

05/07/2016

Since January, dozens of Turkish residents have been killed in cities along the Syrian border, victims of rocket attacks believed to have been carried out by Daesh, also known as IS/Islamic State. In an effort to counter these attacks, the Turkish military will fast-track two programs aimed at developing armed drones.

US Defense Giants Expect $50Bln Aircraft Sales to Israel, Arab States

05/07/2016

A new financial report projects that the largest US defense contractors are looking forward to a new bonanza of expensive aircraft sales to Gulf states and Israel, including an extra squadron of F-15 jets, the Defense News reported on Friday. "The… finalization of a ten-year military funding plan for Israel [is] expected to be in the $40 billion to $50 billion range," the newspaper stated, citing a financial report from Guggenheim Securities.

Flat Refusal: India Dismisses US Offer of F-16 Jets

05/07/2016

In what can be seen as a sharp denial to the US, India has dismissed a proposal made by Lockheed Martin Corp to build F-16 fighter jets in India. India's defense minister Manohar Parrikar said in Parliament, "The experience of flying against F-16 is what we require as we are not going to induct F-16, at least; as of now."

A call on Vietnam’s most modern air force units

05/06/2016

Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporters followed a major general of Vietnam’s air defense force on Wednesday during a surprise military inspection on two of the country’s most modern air regiments in the southeast province of Dong Nai.

Will the Air Force Build More New F-22s?

05/06/2016

Several prominent leaders in the national defense community are calling upon the Pentagon to re-start production of the high-speed F-22 Raptor stealth fighter jet which began air attacks against ISIS targets in Iraq and Syria. The F-22's recent performance in combat missions for Operation Inherent Resolve over Iraq and Syria have led observers and analysts to emphasize the importance of the fighter.

Sri Lanka may buy a Russian fighter (instead of JF-17/LCA)

05/06/2016

The Sri Lankan Air Force (SLAF) is reportedly planning to open talks with Russia for the purchase of fighter aircraft. The type and numbers have not been specified, but it seems Sri Lanka is not going to engage with any of its neighbours in South Asia for new combat aircraft to replace its ageing MiG-27s and IAI Kfirs.

Chinese naval group heads to disputed South China Sea for combat drill

05/06/2016

The Chinese navy has begun a comprehensive combat drill in the South China Sea involving its most advanced warships amid rising tensions with the United States over the disputed waters. A naval group of two destroyers, two frigates, and a supply ship left Sanya, Hainan province, on Wednesday for drills analysts said were aimed at boosting combat readiness. Another destroyer will join them soon.

Even as Agusta fire rages, government puts UPA's Rafale deal under scanner

05/06/2016

As the BJP and the Congress lock horns over the AgustaWestland chopper deal, the Narendra Modi government has decided to up the ante by initiating investigation into all the defence deals finalised by the previous UPA government, including the high-profile Rafale jets. Sources in the Defence Ministry have told India Today that a probe has been ordered into the previous acquisition of Pilatus Aircraft and MMRCA deal (Rafale jet deal) finalised during the Congress-led UPA-2 regime.