Military Aviation News Archive

Air Combat Command Head Suggests F-35A Approaching IOC Soon

07/09/2016

The head of Air Combat Command said Thursday the Air Force would likely declare the F-35A combat-ready within the “leading edge” of the August through December window for initial operating capability.

Russia sends its only aircraft carrier to Syria in response to US

07/08/2016

Russia’s accident-prone aircraft carrier is set to be put to the test — if it gets there. Its history of embarrassing breakdowns may see an anticipated mission to Syria backfire. The aircraft carrier is the largest leftover of the Soviet era’s Cold War still active in the Russian navy. Now Russian government news agency Tass has declared the warship will be sent into the Mediterranean to conduct air strikes against insurgents and Islamic State in Syria between October and January.

Lockheed Martin Says New F-35 Contract Talks in Final Stages

07/08/2016

Lockheed Martin Corp. is in the final stages of negotiations with the Pentagon to conclude a multibillion-dollar contract for the next batch of stealthy F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jets after months of protracted talks, a senior company official said Thursday.

Government of Canada Awards C-130J Super Hercules Fleet Support Contract to Lockheed Martin

07/08/2016

Lockheed Martin has been awarded a five-year contract extension worth approximately $504.3 million by the Government of Canada to provide In Service Support (ISS) for the Royal Canadian Air Force’s (RCAF) fleet of 17 C-130J Super Hercules aircraft, known in Canada as the CC-130J.

Sukhoi completes initial flight tests on T-50

07/08/2016

The Russian aircraft manufacturer Sukhoi has declared a flight test milestone for the T-50, before handing over the fifth-generation fighter to the Russian government for additional testing.

Canada examining all options for CF-18 replacement

07/08/2016

The Canadian government is consulting industry representatives on a replacement for its CF-18 fighters, as the new Liberal administration steps away from the controversial Lockheed Martin F-35 programme.

Plans under way for October F-35B sea-based test

07/08/2016

Lockheed Martin’s F-35B is due to embark on a third phase of ship-based developmental testing (DT) in October, the final step before it begins qualification trials on the UK’s Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier.

PICTURES: China inducts Y-20 strategic transport

07/08/2016

The four-engined jet was inducted during a ceremony in Chengdu, according to China’s defence ministry. "The Y-20 entering into service marks a crucial step for the Air Force improving its strategic power projection capability," says Air Force spokesperson Shen Jinke.

How Might Beijing React to Upcoming Ruling on China’s Territorial Claims?

07/08/2016

As the world awaits the ruling on the territorial dispute between Beijing and Manila in the South China Sea, US analysts predict how China will react if an international court at the Hague rules for the Philippines.

Budget Cuts Leave US Air Force With a 'Small, Old and Heavily Tasked' Fleet

07/08/2016

The US Air Force fleet aged due to budget cuts may negatively affect the ability of the forces to perform their combat tasks, US Air Force Maj. Gen. Scott West said.

China inducts its largest homegrown military transport plane

07/07/2016

China on Wednesday inducted its largest indigenously-built transport aircraft Y-20, a breakthrough in military aviation technology for the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) that allows the world’s largest force to transport cargo and troops over long distances in diverse weather conditions.

El Al Plane in Bomb Scare Above Switzerland

07/07/2016

Two Swiss combat jets were scrambled this morning to escort an El Al Israel Airlines Ltd. (TASE: ELAL) plane following a bomb scare. The crew of flight 002 inspected the plane's passengers and contents without any indications of a bomb and the flight landed at 1 pm at Ben Gurion Airport.

France Imposes New Conditions on Rafale Deal With India

07/07/2016

France has quietly insisted that an $8.9 billion government-to-government (G2G) deal with India be signed before a 50 percent offset deal for Rafale fighters is finalized, according to a French Embassy source in India.

This Russian aircraft carrier is up to something

07/07/2016

The aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov is the biggest ship in the Russian navy and the most visible symbol of the Kremlin's military power. This October, she will travel to the Mediterranean and carry out air strikes in Syria, according to a report from the Moscow-based Tass news agency.

Boeing, U.S. Army, Australia Collaboration Supports Early H-47 Deliveries

07/07/2016

Boeing delivered three H-47 Chinooks to the Australian Army, only 85 days after receiving the order, thanks to excellent cooperation with Australia and the U.S. Army. The deliveries increase Australia’s CH-47F Chinook fleet to 10, all of which were delivered early.

Moscow Ready for Dialogue With NATO Members to Prevent Sea, Air Incidents

07/07/2016

Russia is ready for dialogue with individual NATO members to improve the mechanisms of preventing incidents at sea and in the air, Russian envoy to the Western military alliance Alexander Grushko said Wednesday.

Canada to Upgrade Jets Due to Inability to Meet NATO, NORAD Commitments

07/07/2016

Canada needs to upgrade its fighter jets fleet as it is unable to meet concurrently its obligations to NATO and the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), Canadian Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan said in a press conference on Wednesday.

Italian Air Force’s T-346A and FT-339C jet trainers conduct in-flight refuelling mission

07/06/2016

The Italian Air Force has completed the first fuel transfer from a KC-767A tanker aircraft to T-346A and FT-339C jet trainers. The in-flight refuelling was conducted between jet trainers belonging to the 61st Wing at Galatina near Lecce and tanker aircraft from 14th Wing at Pratica di Mare, near Rome.

Why Russia's Only Aircraft Carrier Might Be Getting Ready for War in Syria

07/06/2016

The aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov is the biggest ship in the Russian navy and the most visible symbol of the Kremlin’s military power. This October, she will travel to the Mediterranean and carry out air strikes in Syria, according to a report from the Moscow-based Tass news agency.

First British F-35 completes transatlantic crossing

07/06/2016

The first of Britain's next-generation stealth fighters touched down in the U.K. for the first time, the Royal Air Force announced Thursday. The F-35B Lightning II was flown by RAF pilot and Squadron Leader Hugh Nichols across the Atlantic Ocean, accompanied by two U.S. Marine Corps F-35Bs, the RAF said in statement.

US-led forces destroy own combat drone after Syria crash

07/06/2016

Coalition forces fighting the Islamic State group in northern Syria destroyed one of their own combat drones Tuesday after the unmanned aircraft crashed, the US Air Force said. The MQ-9 Reaper — the armed version of the Predator drone — crashed while flying a combat mission after remote pilots lost “positive control” of the aircraft, the Air Force said in a statement.

F-35 Stealth Fighter vs. A-10 Warthog: The Ultimate Close Air Support Showdown

07/06/2016

Flying close to ground troops in combat in hostile and high-threat conditions requires a host of unique attributes for an aircraft -- such as flying slow and low to the ground, absorbing some degree of small arms fire and having an ability to quickly maneuver in response to fast-changing ground combat conditions.

GE wins $1bn contract to develop three-stream engine for combat aircraft

07/06/2016

GE Aviation has secured a $1bn contract to continue developing the three-stream adaptive cycle engine for the US Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC). The company will develop the engine under the USAF's Adaptive Engine Transition Programme (AETP).

Netanyahu Hints at Acquiring F-35B Fighter or V-22 Hybrid Copter

07/06/2016

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggested Thursday that Israel is looking into buying US-made next generation vertical takeoff aircrafts.

UK Typhoon with P3E weapons fit to participate in RIAT and Farnborough shows

07/05/2016

A UK Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft with full Phase 3 Enhancement (P3E) weapons is set to participate in this year's Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) and Farnborough International Air Show. To be flown by BAE Systems experimental test pilot Nat Makepeace, Typhoon will carry four Meteor beyond visual range air-to-air missiles, two Brimstone 2 low collateral precision strike weapons, two ASRAAM missiles and two Paveway IV laser guided precision weapons.