Military Aviation News Archive

Erdogan’s Turkey Looks to Develop Next-Gen Drone Subsystems

04/19/2016

Turkey’s foray into drone technology comes amid increased crackdowns against political and intellectual dissent as well as on the country’s Kurdish minority, while emboldening the government’s imperial ambitions.

UK Defense Ministry Admits Gaffe Over Leaked War Games Report

04/19/2016

The UK Ministry of Defense has admitted a "communications issue" which led to a manual about a joint exercise off the Scottish coast containing codewords and "special instructions" being sent out accidentally to fishermen and ferry operators.

Moscow Prioritizes Russian Army Over Foreign Customers in Supply of S-400

04/19/2016

China and India are interested in purchasing the Russian S-400 Triumf air defense systems, but the priority will be given to the Russian army, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s aide for military-technical cooperation said.

Chinese military aircraft makes first public landing on disputed island

04/18/2016

A Chinese military aircraft has for the first time publicly landed at a new airport on an island China has built in the disputed South China Sea, state media said on Monday, raising the prospect that China could base fighter jets there.The United States has criticized China's construction of artificial islands in the South China Sea and worries that it plans to use them for military purposes, even though China says it has no hostile intent.

Russian aircraft shot down despite ‘President-S’ system

04/18/2016

The Russian Defense Ministry announced on April 12 “the crash of a Russian Mi-28H attack helicopter near the city of Homs“ the previous night. The two pilots were killed in the crash, and their bodies were recovered by Russian special forces who transferred them to Hmeimim airbase in northern Syria.

Russia refutes "aggressive" encounter with U.S. military aircraft

04/18/2016

The Russian Defense Ministry on Sunday refuted media reports of a dangerous encounter of Russian and U.S. aircraft over the Baltic. "The reports of foreign media are not true, which said a Russian Su-27 allegedly flew in dangerously close proximity to a U.S. RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft in the skies over the Baltic Sea on April 14," the ministry's spokesman Igor Konashenkov told reporters.

Russian Aerospace Forces to Receive 30 Yak-130 Aircraft By End of 2018

04/18/2016

The Russian Defense Ministry and Irkut Corporation have successfully reached a deal for the supply of 30 Yak-130 combat training aircraft to the Russian Aerospace Forces, the ministry’s press service said.

India-US Logistics deal a US coup, but India needs to tread carefully

04/18/2016

After years of rejecting to be part of the US camp, India appears to be more than willing to sign the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA). All these years even after signing the civilian nuclear deal, India was wary of the idea of a logistical support agreement. For the US, getting India this close to signing is a coup as the latter is not only the most populous democracy in the world, but also one of the most aggressive military arms buyers.

Russian Su-27 interceptor performs Top Gun stunt over U.S. spyplane

04/18/2016

On April 14, a U.S. Air Force RC-135U Combat Sent electronic intelligence gathering aircraft flying a routine mission (in international airspace) over the Baltic Sea was intercepted by a Russian Su-27 in “an unsafe and unprofessional manner,” Navy Capt. Danny Hernandez, U.S. European Command spokesman told the CNN.

Seems Like We Have a Situation: Signs of Preparation for Nuclear Test Detected in N. Korea

04/18/2016

On Sunday, local media reported citing government sources in Seoul that Pyongyang is likely to carry out an additional nuclear test before early May, as North Korea had increased activity at its Punggye-ri nuclear test site. “We are in a situation, in which we don't know whether North Korea could stage any provocation to avoid isolation and consolidate its internal unity," Park said, as quoted by the Yonhap news agency.

What's Israel's Role in the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict?

04/18/2016

With the decades-long Azeri-Armenian conflict over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region burning out of control for four intense, blood-soaked days at the beginning of this month, questions have emerged over the secretive role played by Israel in the conflict.

Iran Puts Its New Russian S-300 on Display During Army Parade (VIDEO)

04/18/2016

Iran has displayed what is believed to be a part of the Russian-made S-300 air defense missile system during a military parade in Tehran, Tasnim Nes Agency reports. The parade, which is held to mark the National Army Day, was attended by foreign military attaches and experts.

Privatizing search-and-rescue would be a reckless, pointless move

04/17/2016

The Liberal government’s defence policy review will be revealed to Canadians like the infamous water torture: drip by drip. The latest pellet of water concerns the potential privatizing of search and rescue, a crucial operation that is currently under the operational control of the Royal Canadian Air Force. Clearly the Trudeau Liberals are a regime that reverses the legitimate role of government.

US Defense Chief Visits Aircraft Carrier in South China Sea

04/17/2016

For the second time in five months, Defense Secretary Ash Carter landed aboard a US Navy aircraft carrier in the bitterly contested South China Sea, sending a deliberate message to China on American power in the region.

Russian Jet Threatened U.S. Recon Aircraft

04/17/2016

A Russian fighter jet flew dangerously close to a U.S. RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft on Thursday in the latest military provocation by Moscow over the Baltic Sea, the U.S. European Command said Saturday. “On April 14, a U.S. Air Force RC-135 aircraft flying a routine route in international airspace over the Baltic Sea was intercepted by a Russian Su-27 in an unsafe and unprofessional manner,” said Navy Capt. Danny Hernandez.

France, India finalize $8.8 billion Rafale fighter deal

04/16/2016

Indian defense officials have agreed to an $8.8 billion deal to buy 36 Rafale jet fighters from French military aviation firm Dassault. The formal procurement pact is expected to be signed within three weeks, with initial deliveries of the jets to begin in 18 months according to reports by Indian news outlet NDTV. The sale had been expected to be completed earlier this year, ahead of a planned visit to India by French president François Hollande.

THE US-CHINA ARRANGEMENT FOR AIR-TO-AIR ENCOUNTERS WEAKENS INTERNATIONAL LAW

04/16/2016

As part of the September 2015 fanfare visit by Xi Xinping to the United States, the United States and China signed an arrangement on rules of behavior for safety of air-to-air encounters of military aircraft. The deal is supposed to avert aviation incidents in international airspace between military aircraft of the United States and China.

Kerry: U.S. could have fired on Russian jets in Baltic Sea

04/16/2016

Secretary of State John Kerry said a U.S. warship in the Baltic Sea could have opened fire on Russian fighter jets buzzing it earlier this week. The unarmed fighter planes flew within 75 feet of the missile destroyer USS Donald Cook on Monday, making "numerous, close-range and low altitude passes," a U.S. European Command statement said. They returned with a Russian attack helicopter Tuesday "in a simulated attack profile and failed to respond to repeated safety advisories," the U.S. Navy said.

Russia to develop new strategic extra heavy airlift aircraft

04/16/2016

The Russian aviation industry will deal with development of a new strategic airlift aircraft for the Armed Forces and the civilian market, Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov said on Friday. "We will have to seriously work on a promising aircraft system; I mean an extra heavy airlift aircraft," the deputy minister said.

USA Reinforces Military Aviation in Turkey and Qatar

04/16/2016

The United States deployed more military aircraft in Turkey and Qatar, as a sign of the importance that this country gives to aircraft in the fight against the Islamic State, said today the newspaper Stars and Stripes. The Pentagon confirmed in the last hours the arrival in the Incirlik base in Turkey's territory of a squadron of EA-6B Prowlers aircraft. Their main mission is to intercept and disrupt communications of the terrorist group.

Marines Deploy EA-6B Prowler Aircraft to Turkey amid Anti-Air Threats

04/16/2016

The deployment of Marine EA-6B Prowler jammer planes to Turkey came amid growing concerns about the potential anti-aircraft threat from ISIS and other militant groups in Syria. The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria claimed Thursday that its "air defense" fighters had downed a Syrian government warplane in the southern Syrian province of Suwayda. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group based in London, said the pilot safely ejected and was not captured.

Canadian company helps train German Air Force

04/16/2016

Canada's Discovery Air Defence Services reports it has helped provide aggressor and dissimilar combat training to the German Air Force. The training in Germany involved the flying of two company A-4N Skyhawks in the first-ever German Air Force Eurofighter Fighter Weapons Instructor Course.

Companies team for Danish military aircraft contract

04/16/2016

Danish company Flatirons Solutions has teamed with Airbus Defense and Space in a bid to supply the Danish Air Force with Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft. Under the agreement signed Thursday, Flatirons will provide its CORENA Suite software for production and ongoing management of Danish Eurofighter Typhoon maintenance publications, including airframe and engine manuals.

US Sending Commandos, Combat Aircraft To Philippines

04/16/2016

In a military buildup certain to inflame tensions with China, the United States said Thursday it will send troops and combat aircraft to the Philippines for regular, more frequent rotations, and will conduct more joint sea and air patrols with Philippine forces in the South China Sea.

North Korea Possibly Producing More Plutonium for Nuclear Weapons

04/16/2016

North Korea declared itself a nuclear power in 2005. The United States, Japan and South Korea, as well as Russia and China, took part in talks with North Korea on the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula between 2003 and 2009, when Pyongyang withdrew from the talks.