Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

The South China Sea and Beijing’s Rebuttal: US Stennis Aircraft Carrier Denied Entry to Hong Kong

05/03/2016

Beijing denied a US aircraft carrier permission to make a port call in Hong Kong, a US consulate official says, a rejection that comes amid escalating tensions in the South China Sea. The Chinese Foreign Ministry told the US on Thursday night the visit by the USS John C. Stennis would not be allowed, said the official, who requested anonymity.

‘Deep Targets’: On the Ground With British, US Drone Forces Targeting ISIS

05/03/2016

Framed by a matted khaki sky, a Royal Air Force MQ-9 Reaper drone armed with four Hellfire missiles and two GBU-12 laser-guided bombs takes off from this undisclosed location. The unmanned aircraft is on its way to Iraq or Syria as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the coalition air war against the Islamic State, the terrorist army also known as ISIS. There is a 16.1 percent chance the Reaper will return to this base with fewer rockets and bombs, according to RAF data.

Prestigious fighter pilot critical of showdown between F-35 and A-10

05/03/2016

While critics of the F-35 welcome a showdown with the purpose-built ground-attack A-10, US fighter pilot Lt. Colonel Joshua Wood doesn’t share the same enthusiasm. As commander of the US Air Force’s 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron — a division tasked with developing new tactics for frontline fighters — Lt. Wood believes the showdown would not deliver any reasonable insights as results could be skewed.

Use of US Army, Contract Aircraft Maintainers Out of Whack

05/03/2016

The US Army wants to find the right balance between when it uses soldier and contract maintainers for its fleet of aircraft, but right now the levels are “out of balance,” according to the new Army Aviation and Missile Life Cycle Management Command (AMCOM) leader. “I think we are contractor heavy,” Brig. Gen. Doug Gabram said at the Army Aviation Association of America’s Mission Solutions Summit on Friday.

U.S., NATO Look to Combat an Aggressive Russia

05/03/2016

The U.S. and its NATO allies are dusting off their old playbooks this week during a trip abroad by Defense Secretary Ash Carter, citing the myriad threats facing Europe as the impetus for the Pentagon's pushing the Cold War alliance back onto a continental war footing.

Flying America’s Lethal A-10 Warthog

05/03/2016

Known for an ability to keep flying after taking multiple rounds of enemy machine gun fire, land and operate in rugged terrain, destroy groups of enemy fighters with a 30mm cannon and unleash a wide arsenal of attack weapons, the A-10 is described by pilots as a “flying tank” in the sky -- able to hover over ground war and provide life-saving close air support in high-threat combat environments.

Afghan A-29 COIN fighters begin combat operations

05/03/2016

For the first time since the end of the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, the AAF has engaged in live combat using modern-day fixed-wing combat aircraft. In April, the Afghan Air Force (AAF) reached a major milestone in its development. For the first time since the end of the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, the AAF has engaged in live combat using modern-day fixed-wing combat aircraft.

India becomes 11th International Customer for LONGBOW LLC’s Apache Radar

05/03/2016

The U.S. Army awarded LONGBOW Limited Liability Company (LLC) a $57.1 million foreign military sale contract to provide the Indian Air Force with LONGBOW Fire Control Radar (FCR) systems for their new Apache AH-64E helicopters. LONGBOW LLC is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman Corporation.

US Approves $30Mln Sale of Hellfire Missiles to France

05/03/2016

The US State Department has approved a possible $30-million worth sale of air-to-surface Hellfire Missiles and associated equipment to France, the Defense Cooperation Agency said in a press release on Monday. "The estimated MDE [Major Defense Equipment] cost in this amendment is $25 million. The total estimated cost is $30 million," the release stated.

Here's Exactly How Congress Wants To Measure The A-10 Warthog's Replacement

05/02/2016

America’s ancient but venerable flying tank, the A-10 Warthog, is on the budgetary chopping block. Congress is fighting to keep it flying, and has laid out exactly what they want to see out of any potential replacement jet. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (H.R. 1735) proposed by House Armed Services Committee (HASC) Chairman Rep. Mac Thornberry proposes that the A-10 be protected from retirement until the end of 2016.

Turkish Violations Over Greek Air Space During Holy Week

05/01/2016

Turkish violations in the Aegean continued on Good Friday when a Turkish military aircraft flew over Inousses and Panagia. The Turkish military aircraft violated the Athens FIR when it flew over the island of Inousses at a low altitude at 10:53, 10:56 and 11:00. Four minutes later, it flew over the islet of Panagia, east of Inousses. The Turkish aircraft was recognized and intercepted by Greek military aircraft.

Flight of Fancy? Ukraine Considers Building 'Domestic' Multirole Fighter

05/01/2016

Last week, Petro Poroshenko announced that Ukraine's defense enterprises would soon create a new engine for the country's fighter jets. Unfortunately, the engines would still be attached to Russian MiG and Sukhoi airplanes. Therefore, Ukrainian media have also reported that the defense industry could also produce Ukrainian-designed aircraft.

Russian defends jet fighter 'barrel roll over US reconnaissance plane'

05/01/2016

Russia said on Saturday it had sent a fighter plane on Friday to intercept a US aircraft approaching its border over the Baltic Sea because the American plane had turned off its transponder, which is needed for identification.

The Futuristic Aircraft That May Replace the Black Hawk Will Fly Next Year

05/01/2016

Next year will bring the first flights of the prototype rotorcraft vying to replace the Army’s venerable Black Hawk and other helicopters. But don’t expect the futuristic aircraft to hit battlefields for another decade and a half — unless their manufacturers find other customers first.

Fierce Dragon Wheeler-Dealers Pounding Sri Lanka Air Force

05/01/2016

A former Air Force Chief and an infamous big business wheeler-dealer are attempting to influence the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) to acquire multi-role JF-17 ‘Fierce Dragon’ fighter aircraft jointly developed by China and Pakistan, at a higher rate, an Air Force inside source said. The source, who wished to remain anonymous, said a JF-17 will cost the SLAF a staggering US $ 29 million while the same aircraft from a reputed manufacturer in Russia would cost between US $ 20-25 million.

Asia’s New Battlefield: The Philippines’ South China Sea Moment of Truth

04/30/2016

A specter is haunting Asia—the specter of full Chinese domination in the South China Sea. Latest reports suggest that China could soon move ahead with building military facilities on the Scarborough Shoal, a contested land feature it has occupied since 2012. This would allow China, according to a Mainland source, to “further perfect” its aerial superiority across the contested waters.

AN/DAS-4: Sharper Eyes for the Reaper

04/30/2016

The U.S. Air Force awarded Raytheon a $90 million first-lot production contract for the next-generation Multi-Spectral Targeting System. The AN/DAS-4, the latest variant of the MTS family of sensors, incorporates greater fire control and target location accuracy technology delivering more accurate coordinates for higher precision weapon engagements.

Video - Japan’s X-2 prototype stealth fighter’s maiden flight

04/30/2016

On 22 April, Japan’s X-2 prototype stealth fighter carried out its maiden flight. Under development by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), since 2009, at the request of the Japanese Ministry of Defense, the X-2 (formerly ATD-X) is at present a small-scale demonstrator. It will test different technologies (propulsion, stealth and avionics) which could be embedded within fifteen years on future Japanese fighters. To date, the development costs of the programme stand at around 320 million euros.

Marine Osprey flies in to fuel up F-35B

04/30/2016

A U.S. Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey descended on Edwards to link up with a Marine F-35B Joint Strike Fighter April 28. Both aircraft are assigned to Marine Operational Test & Evaluation Squadron 22 (VMX-22) out of Marine Corps Air Station Yuma in Arizona. VMX-22 has a detachment here where Marines are testing and evaluating their version of the JSF, which is the short take-off and vertical landing variant.

OPINION: Why Japan's X-2 fighter is more than a symbol of pride

04/30/2016

Although the experimental X-2 will never be an operational fighter, it is the most visible part of a broad Japanese industrial effort, fully backed by the government, to develop technologies necessary for advanced fighters, such as stealth, thrust vectoring control, sensors and advanced engines.

Nations must resist China's maritime flexing, Australian think-tank says

04/30/2016

The professionalism displayed by China's navy in some of the world's most contested seas is masking an underlying challenge to the existing order in the East China Sea and South China Sea that must be resisted, according to a report by an Australian security think tank. "Beijing's newly acquired taste for maritime 'rules of the road' is lowering the risk of accidental conflict," wrote Ashley Townshend and Rory Medcalf in a report published Friday.

China denies US carrier group entry to Hong Kong amid South China Sea tensions

04/30/2016

China has denied a US request for an aircraft carrier group led by USS John C. Stennis to make a port visit to Hong Kong, the US State Department said on Friday, confirming earlier media reports. Pentagon spokesman, Commander Bill Urban, said another US warship, the USS Blue Ridge, was currently in Hong Kong on a stop-over and the US expected that to continue.

U.S. Deploying Pre-Production F-35 Aircraft Unfit for Combat

04/30/2016

Chronic maintenance problems with the aging F-18 Hornet are hobbling the Marines, leaving them with less than 60 percent of the strike fighters they need to conduct training and operations, the Marine deputy commandant for aviation testified recently as reported at Breaking Defense. Units deployed overseas are fully equipped, as they need to be, but this removes capability from training and non-deployed units even though squadron size has been lessened.

Russian Su-27 Performed Flyby of US RC-135 Plane in the Baltic Sea

04/30/2016

With tensions rising in the Baltic Sea following an incident involving two Russian fighters and the USS Donald Cook, US officials claim that an Su-27 has performed another “unsafe” flyby of an American surveillance aircraft in the region. Two US defense officials claim that a Russian jet performed a "barrel roll" within 100 ft. of a US Air Force RC-135 spy plane, according to the Telegraph.

Obama Scraps Subsidy in $700Mln F-16 Sale to Pakistan

04/30/2016

US President Barack Obama’s administration plans to abandon the plan to subsidize the $700 million deal to sell F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan, a senior US State Department official said Friday.