Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Russian pilots set world record for non-stop MiG-31 flight

04/13/2016

Russian pilots recently carried out the longest ever non-stop flight for a MiG-31 supersonic interceptor jet in the 36-year history of the aircraft. The flight lasted seven hours and four minutes. The pilots covered a distance of nearly 5,000 miles between military airfields in the Krasnoyarsk Territory and the Astrakhan Region with three mid-air refueling procedures performed en route.

Weeks after ‘pullout’ from Syria, Russian military is as busy as ever

04/13/2016

Russia portrayed last month’s drawdown from Syria as a victory and a homecoming after a six-month deployment in which its air force turned the tide of the long-running conflict. So it was a surprise when Russian state outlets reported in recent days that powerful new Russian helicopters were seeing Syrian combat for the first time.

AF releases criteria for basing new RPA units

04/13/2016

The Air Force released basing criteria April 12 that will be used to select candidate bases for a potential new MQ-9 Reaper wing with units at up to two locations. The Air Force is pursuing additional locations to help diversify assignment opportunities for personnel within the MQ-9 enterprise, provide increased opportunities for leadership from within the community, and provide flexibility to enhance integration with other organizations and capabilities.

This is the advanced Russian helicopter that just crashed in Syria

04/13/2016

A Russian Mi-28 helicopter crashed in Syria Tuesday, according to a statement by the Russian Ministry of Defense. Its two crew members were killed, and the aircraft was said to have crashed because of technical reasons.

Air Force F-22s deploy to England

04/13/2016

The U.S. Air Force has deployed its top-of-the-line F-22 fighters to Europe for the second time in a year in a show of commitment to NATO allies, the U.S. European Command announced Monday. F-22 Raptors from 95th Fighter Squadron at Tyndall Air Force Base in the Florida panhandle arrived at Royal Air Force Lakenheath in England on Monday for a deployment that will last into next month, the command said in a statement.

US, India Agree to Increase Bilateral Defense Technology Collaboration

04/13/2016

US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi to discuss the strategic importance of the US-India relationship and bilateral defense cooperation, the US Department of Defense said in a press release on Tuesday.

Iran Needs S-300 Systems While Moscow Needs 'Reliable Ally' to Fight Daesh

04/13/2016

Russian-made S-300 air defense systems would play an important role in maintaining Iran’s national security. At the same time, Moscow is interested in supporting Tehran on a number of issues, including the fight against Daesh in Syria, the settlement in Nagorno-Karabakh, and deterring Turkey.

Russian Bomber Pilots Destroy Simulated Enemy Airfields in Night Drills

04/13/2016

Russian Su-24M2 Fencer bomber pilots carried out a successful nighttime destruction of simulated enemy airfields in Khabarovsk Territory, the Eastern Military District spokesman said Tuesday.

F-22 Raptors are back in Europe

04/12/2016

F-22 stealth jets are back in Europe for more exercises with NATO and partner allies, U.S. European Command announced Monday. The Raptors deployed to RAF Lakenheath, England, from the 95th Fighter Squadron at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, and will continue training in Europe until May, EUCOM said. The exact number of fighter jets and airmen was not disclosed.

Japan's Lethal 'Helicopter-Destroyer': An Aircraft Carrier in Disguise?

04/12/2016

The Land of the Rising Sun has been quietly strengthening its military capabilities and procuring advanced equipment amid the ongoing debate over whether to amend Article 9 of the country’s constitution. Though officially called the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Forces (JMSDF), the Japanese Navy boasts an impressive array of hardware and if the country’s ruling party has its way with the constitution, its capability will only get stronger.

Watch this cool video of a Bulgarian Su-25 Frogfoot during a head-on low passage

04/12/2016

Shot by photographer Anton Balakchiev during the recent Thracian Thunder 2016 exercise, this short but rather interesting video shows a Bulgarian Air Force Su-25 Frogfoot performing a low passage over a hill where photographers had gathered to shot the aircraft flying low level missions.

At commanders’ meet, IAF looks to enhance ops

04/12/2016

The Indian Air Force (IAF), which is currently battling its lowest strength of fighter jets in a decade, today started its bi-annual “commanders conference” to enhance its operational capability. The five-day conference will be discussing various means and methods to improve operational capability, including the induction of new fighter jets. Minister of State for Defence Rao Inderjit Singh inaugurated the conference this morning.

Turkey Is An Indispensable U.S. Ally

04/12/2016

As the global fight against ISIS continues, no relationship has become more important to our country than the strong and critical relationship forged between the United States and Turkey. With the future of the Middle East evolving on a daily basis, Turkish-U.S. relations are critical to regional security and the management of regional crises.

Will India and the United States Coproduce Fighter Aircraft?

04/12/2016

India and the United States may sign an agreement for the coproduction of Lockheed Martin F-16V and Boeing F/A-18 fighter aircraft, according to Indian and U.S. defense officials. The deal is likely to involve technological transfers and the local production of U.S. fighter jets in India to meet Indian Prime Minister’s Narendra Modi’s so-called Make in India Initiative.

Air Force approves RPA initiatives

04/12/2016

The Air Force recently approved two initiatives for the remotely piloted aircraft career field. First, eight RPA reconnaissance squadrons will be redesignated as attack squadrons. Second, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III authorized RPA aircrews to log combat time when flying an aircraft within designated hostile airspace, regardless of the aircrew's physical location.

Air power in the South China Sea: Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines

04/12/2016

Much of the recent strategic analysis on the South China Sea has largely focused on the naval sphere, with the acquisition of new submarines by Vietnam and Malaysia and the US Navy conducting freedom of navigation missions in the contested waters. In contrast, the aerial domain has either been forgotten or only mentioned in passing. The absence of analysis on air power means that several questions have been left unanswered.

China and Pakistan Air Forces Launch Joint Training Exercise

04/12/2016

The People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) and the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) kicked off a joint training exercise this weekend, Xinhua news agency reports. The military drill, code-named “Shaheen (Eagle)-5” began on April 9 in Pakistan and is scheduled to run for three weeks until April 30.

Russia Confirms Delivery of First S-300 Air Defense Systems to Iran

04/12/2016

Russia has delivered the first batch of the S-300 air defense systems to Iran, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said Monday. The delivery of the first batch of Russian S-300 systems has been earlier announced by the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

In Libya you can buy machine guns rocket launchers and anti-aircraft guns on Facebook

04/11/2016

An online black market for for weapons sales is now flourishing in the Middle East and North Africa, according to a new study that found sales of machine guns, rocket and grenade launchers, and anti-aircraft guns for sale on Facebook in Libya.

The US is dropping bombs quicker than it can make them

04/11/2016

Ongoing air wars in Middle East have caused an unexpected dip in the Pentagon’s stockpile of air-to-ground munitions — and Washington has been slow to address the supply problem. The Pentagon has had months to deal with it. “We're expending munitions faster than we can replenish them,” USA Today quoted Air Force chief of staff Gen. Mark Welsh as saying in December.

PM Borisov: Bulgaria Is Capable of Guarding Its Borders on Its Own

04/11/2016

Prime Minister Boyko Borisov stated that the Bulgarian army and border police are capable of guarding the country's borders on their own without the need for assistance from NATO. Borisov said this after he attended the joint training of the navy and border police held in the bay of Burgas on Sunday.

Russian army to get sixth S-400 missile system by year end - Defense Ministry

04/11/2016

Russia’s Aerospace Forces will receive by the end of this year the sixth set of the S-400 Triumph air defense missile system, says a release by the Russian Defense Ministry press service received by TASS on Sunday. "Within the framework of the rearmament with new samples of weapons and military equipment in 2016.

MILITARY 3D PRINTING APPLICATIONS TO TRANSFORM THE INDUSTRY

04/11/2016

It is no secret that all branches of the United States military have been keeping a close eye on 3D printing technology. With the variety of uses across all industries, 3D printing has proven its versatility. Besides the ongoing research in a number of directions, such as 3D printing of replacement bones, battle armor, and vehicle parts, the Navy has already successfully tested ballistic missiles containing 3D printed components.

Sporadic clashes hit Yemen ahead of midnight ceasefire

04/11/2016

Sporadic fighting gripped parts of Yemen on Sunday, hours before a UN-brokered ceasefire aimed at laying the groundwork for upcoming peace talks was due to take effect. The new ceasefire, which was timed to start at midnight (1am UAE), is supposed to be the cornerstone of a long-lasting peace deal negotiated between Yemen’s warring parties from April 18 in Kuwait.

BAE Systems still keen on Malaysia’s fighter jet replacement programme

04/11/2016

BAE Systems (International) Ltd, a UK multinational defence, security and aerospace company that has been vying for the contract to replace the Royal Malaysian Air Force’s (RMAF) Russian-made Mikoyan MiG-29 fighter jet fleet since 2011, remains keen on the deal. And in the current challenging economic environment when governments all around the world are tightening their expenditure, it believes it has the better offer on the table.