Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

FARNBOROUGH: Embraer on track to deliver Super Tucanos to Lebanon

07/14/2016

Production is under way on the first Embraer A-29 Super Tucanos for the Lebanese Air Force, with delivery to start at the beginning of 2017. In November, the US government agreed a $173 million foreign military sales contract that will see Embraer's US partner Sierra Nevada deliver six of the light-attack turboprops to the Lebanese air force by 2019.

French Aircraft Carrier to Return to Anti-Daesh Mission in Persian Gulf

07/14/2016

French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle will return to its mission to combat Daesh terrorist group in Persian Gulf, after undergoing technical maintenance in France, French President Francois Hollande said Wednesday. The head of the country added, that France will boost its assistance to the Iraqi army in the fight for freeing Mosul from terrorists in northern Iraq by sending military instructors to the country.

US Delivers ‘Sniper’ Weapon Pods for F-16 Combat Jets to Netherlands

07/14/2016

The Netherlands Air Force has received 14 Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods for air-to-ground firepower support, according to Lockheed Martin statementr.

Shifting Allegiances: Did Turkey Just Give Up on Toppling Assad?

07/14/2016

In what appears to be a major reversal, the Turkish government has issued a call for improved relations between Iraq and the Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad.

New Russian Bomber to Be Able to Launch Nuclear Attacks From Outer Space

07/14/2016

The Russian Strategic Missile Forces Academy is developing a hypersonic strategic bomber capable of striking with nuclear warheads from outer space, Lt. Col. Aleksei Solodovnikov told RIA Novosti on Wednesday.

Inside look at U.S.-led coalition's deadliest single attack on ISIL

07/13/2016

The initial reports coming into Baghdad’s operations center seemed implausible: A convoy of dozens of Islamic State vehicles were preparing to flee advancing Iraqi forces in Fallujah. A surveillance drone dispatched to the area confirmed the reports. Staff officers gathered around screens and stared incredulously as the numbers of vehicles continued to expand, the militants apparently oblivious to the target they presented from the air.

Russia's Next Military Game Changer: Microwave Weapons?

07/13/2016

Russia will arm its sixth-generation combat drones with microwave weapons. These weapons, which disable an aircraft’s electronic equipment, already exist today “and can hit targets within a radius of tens of kilometers,” said Vladimir Mikheev, a director of state-owned Russian electronics firm KRET, in an interview with TASS.

South China Sea: Court rules in favor of Philippines over China

07/13/2016

An international tribunal in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines in a maritime dispute Tuesday, concluding China has no legal basis to claim historic rights to the bulk of the South China Sea. Chinese President Xi Jinping rejected the decision by the Permanent Court of Arbitration, which is likely to have lasting implications for the resource-rich hot spot, which sees $5 trillion worth of shipborne trade pass through each year.

Lockheed Martin Explores Adaptable Weapons Kit for International BLACK HAWK Helicopter

07/13/2016

Lockheed Martin is exploring options to bring its weapons integration expertise to bear on the European S-70 BLACK HAWK helicopters made by Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company. The goal is to produce an armed kit scalable to the requirements of customers that procure BLACK HAWK aircraft direct from Lockheed Martin.

FARNBOROUGH: L-159 set for Red Flag debut with Draken

07/13/2016

Czech manufacturer Aero Vodochody is looking forward to its L-159 light attack aircraft taking part in a Red Flag-series exercise in the USA for the first time. The aircraft is going to be used by contractor Draken International as an aggressor during the exercise, which will pit it against a number of different US Air Force fighters, as well those from other allied forces.

FARNBOROUGH: Saab boss reports record interest in Gripen

07/13/2016

Less than two months on from the roll-out of its new-generation Gripen E, Saab is seeing unprecedented interest in its fighter at the show, says chief executive Håkan Buskhe.“So many people are visiting us – we’ve probably never had so many,” Bushke says. “There is extremely strong interest in how we can provide that capability while being so lean,” he adds, noting that the company will complete development of the Gripen E for less than $2 billion.

FARNBOROUGH: Scorpion jet offered for UK training deal

07/13/2016

Textron AirLand’s Scorpion jet has emerged as an early contender for a significant military training deal in the UK, with the versatile type to be offered under a new teaming agreement with Qinetiq and Thales. First details of the UK’s Air Support to Defence Operational Training (ASDOT) requirement emerged earlier this year, with a new capability expected to enter use in January 2020.

After South China Sea Ruling, Beijing Unveils New Guided-Missile Destroyer

07/13/2016

On the same day that the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled against China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea, Beijing has commissioned its fourth guided-missile destroyer.

France Puts Off India by Proposing New Conditions for Rafale Deal

07/13/2016

Inter-government talks between India and France on the purchase of Rafale fighter planes have hit another major roadblock as France has reportedly proposed an arrangement that India is most likely to reject outright.

Russian Mi-38 Multirole Choppers Catch Contractors’ Eye at Farnborough

07/13/2016

Russian-made Mi-38 multirole civil helicopters attracted the attention of foreign buyers at Farnborough Airshow in the United Kingdom, the manufacturer said Tuesday.

Israeli Firms Eye Growing Market for Combat-Capable Utility Helos

07/12/2016

Israel’s top three defense firms are jockeying for a substantial share of an aerospace sector that each believes is bound to surge in coming years: the conversion of heavy utility helicopters to self-defending, multirole combat/transport aircraft. Given the glut of shoulder-fired missiles on the black market and the growing need to move troops in and out of high-threat areas, executives here say demand to upgrade the thousands of heavy transports operating around the globe is set to expand.

Russia Offers India Nuclear Aircraft Carrier

07/12/2016

Russia has offered its nuclear aircraft carrier, dubbed "Storm," to India for purchase, a senior Indian Navy official said. The offer comes as India and the US discuss the transfer of technology for India's future nuclear aircraft carrier, the INS Vishal. A diplomat with the Russian Embassy confirmed that a Russian team visiting India last week made the offer.

F-35 Program Announces Phase II Cost Reduction Initiatives

07/12/2016

The Department of Defense announced two initiatives with industry to reduce F-35 Lightning II production and sustainment costs today. The first is a two-year extension of the “Blueprint for Affordability for Production” program announced in 2014, and the second is the creation of a similar concept to reduce the operation and sustainment costs of the F-35 weapon system.

Boeing to boost British Army capability with 50 AH-64E Apache helicopters as UK confirms purchase

07/12/2016

Boeing will deliver 50 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters to the British Army under an agreement signed between the U.S. and UK governments, the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) announced today. The agreement is also a precursor to potential, significant long-term support opportunities for Boeing.

Embraer and Boeing to Collaborate on Worldwide Sales, Support of KC-390 Medium Airlift

07/12/2016

Embraer and Boeing [NYSE: BA] have signed a teaming agreement to jointly market and support the KC-390, a multi-mission mobility and aerial refueling aircraft. Under the agreement the companies will together pursue new business opportunities, both for the aircraft itself and for aircraft support and sustainment. Embraer will provide the aircraft while Boeing will be responsible for in-service support.

FARNBOROUGH: UK firms up two big military buys

07/12/2016

The UK Ministry of Defence has firmed up two expected orders at the Farnborough air show, committing to the purchase of both the Boeing P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft and AH-64E Apache attack helicopter. As the show opened, it was announced that an order for nine P-8s that were selected through the UK’s November 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review has been placed, along with a deal for 50 new-build Apaches: both through foreign military sales with the US government.

FARNBOROUGH: Raytheon and USAF begin SDB II tri-mode seeker flight tests

07/12/2016

Raytheon and the US Air Force have started flight testing of the Small Diameter Bomb II’s coordinated attack capability, which uses GPS and anti-jamming to attack static targets from at least 40 miles away. Recent flight tests also employed the SDB II’s normal attack capability, which fires on fixed and moving targets using infrared imaging and millimetre-wave seeker modes, according to Raytheon.

Russia to Deploy Aircraft Carrier in Mediterranean No Sooner Than October

07/12/2016

Russia will deploy its Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean Sea no earlier than October and recent media reports regarding a planned early deployment are false, a source familiar with the matter said Monday.

Russia Boosts Arctic Military Presence, Builds Ten Airfields

07/12/2016

By making this move, the country aims to ensure its military security in the region. Russia's Federal Agency for Special Construction (Spetsstroy) is currently developing infrastructure facilities on military bases and garrisons in the Far North, Far East and Siberia for 20,000 service members, their families and civilians working for the Ministry of Defense.

Is the F-35 the Best in the World?

07/11/2016

An F-35 fighter pilot says he would be confident flying the Joint Strike Fighter against any enemy in the world, including Russian and Chinese 5th Generation stealth fighters.