Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Speed Up Defence Procurement Process

03/26/2016

The Indian Air Force (IAF) recently admitted that it could not fight simultaneously on two fronts. This is not the first time it has expressed this view. In 2009, it had told the government it did not have the capacity to do so. Of course, it did not mean that the IAF would remain a mute spectator on one front while fighting on the other. It was merely the IAF’s way of reminding the government of the urgent need to strengthen its fleet of aircraft.

Medics transform C-17 into trauma center for presidential visit

03/26/2016

While the world watched President Barack Obama extend a hand of friendship to Cuba’s leader Raul Castro and the Cuban people March 20, Air Force medics from the 59th Medical Wing stood ready to provide life-saving care.

Can the Pentagon Pull a Branding Refresh on the Troubled F-35?

03/26/2016

As the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter inches toward Air Force combat readiness later this year, the Pentagon will take the troubled combat jet on a 14-stop tour around the world in an effort to boost the F-35’s flagging brand image.

“Even though we will lose CAS capacity, we are retiring the A-10 anyway” U.S. Air Force says

03/25/2016

As reported by DefenseNews.com, the service has recently revealed the number of A-10s that will be retired each year before the type is completely withdrawn from service in 2022. The plan call for the retirement of 49 planes or 2 squadrons in fiscal year (FY) 2018. This will be followed by 49 aircraft in FY2019, 64 in FY2020, and 96 in FY2021.

Defence Officials Talk about the MiG Refurbishment Scandal

03/25/2016

"The investigation about the refurbishment of Croatian MiGs in Ukraine is not a step towards the abolishment of the Croatian Air Force combat aircraft capability. If we determine that someone was guilty of what happened, they will not be spared", said Defence Minister Josip Buljevic in his first public comments on the scandal which has hit the Croatian Air Force in the last few days, reports tportal.hr on March 24, 2016.

Air Force F-16s fly the most sorties against ISIS, B-1s drop most bombs

03/25/2016

The Air Force has flown more than half of the 87,000 coalition sorties over Iraq and Syria since the air campaign against the Islamic State militant group began, striking key locations and assets about 25 times a day, Lt. Gen. John Raymond told reporters Thursday.

Iraq says it's launched offensive to recapture IS-held Mosul

03/25/2016

The Iraqi military backed by U.S.-led coalition aircraft on Thursday launched a long-awaited operation to recapture the northern city of Mosul from Islamic State militants, a military spokesman said. In the push, Iraqi forces retook several villages on the outskirts of the town of Makhmour, east of Mosul, early in the morning on Thursday and hoisted the Iraqi flag there, according to the spokesman for the Joint Military Command, Brig. Gen. Yahya Rasool.

Russia's special forces officer killed in Syria: Interfax

03/25/2016

A Russian special forces officer has been killed in a combat operation near Palmyra in Syria, Interfax news agency reported on Thursday, citing a Russian military source in Syria. "While performing a special task to direct Russian air strikes onto terrorist targets, a Russian special forces officer was killed," Interfax quoted a source at Russia's Khmeimim air base in Syria's Latakia province as saying.

Japan Gets Serious About Building Its Own Stealth Fighter

03/25/2016

In an effort to keep pace with China’s growing air power, Japan has long sought to upgrade its aging fleet of U.S.-designed F-15J fighter jets. But with the U.S. refusing to sell its Asian ally new F-22 Raptors and persistent problems dogging Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, Japan has reportedly opened talks with Western contractors about collaborating on a new stealth fighter.

THE U.S. AIR FORCE AND STEALTH: STUCK ON DENIAL PART I

03/25/2016

In the early morning of January 17, 1991, 10 F-117 Nighthawks slipped through the air over Iraq. The aircraft, designed for a Soviet threat in Europe, were perfectly suited for penetrating Iraqi airspace, which relied almost entirely on Soviet air defense systems. The F-117 was designed to be as stealthy as possible: Its faceted shape reflected radar waves away, the exhaust was baffled and mixed with cool air, and the aircraft was painted a non-reflective black.

Japan Seeks Sixth Generation Fighter Jet to Dominate Beijing’s J-20

03/25/2016

This week, Japan opened talks with US defense contractors Lockheed Martin and Boeing to discuss a sixth-generation fighter aircraft. The move comes as Tokyo seeks to repel the expansion of China’s influence as Beijing takes a more aggressive regional posture.

US Navy Begins Annual Military Exercise With South Korean Naval Forces

03/25/2016

Three US Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers operated with approximately 10 Republic of Korea Navy ships for seven days off the coast of the ROK peninsula, according to the US Navy press release.

Pakistan should select the CAIC Z-10 attack helicopter

03/24/2016

The appearance of the Changhe Aircraft Industries Corporation (CAIC) Z-10 Thunderbolt attack helicopter at the 2016 Pakistan Day Parade was interesting. It was the first instance where the Pakistan Army had brought the Z-10 to the public’s attention. As far as the average Pakistani is now concerned, the Z-10 is as much a part of the armed forces as the JF-17 Thunder and Karakoram Eagle airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft.

Finmeccanica to supply M-346 aircraft to Italian Air Force

03/24/2016

Finmeccanica has secured a €300m contract to supply Aermacchi advanced M-346 aircraft from the Italian Ministry of Defense. Under the terms of the agreement, the company will supply an additional nine M-346 aircraft for the Italian Air Force, bringing the total ordered by Italy to 18.

US to supply Kenya with five helicopters for war on al Shabaab

03/24/2016

The US is set to supply the Kenyan Air Force with five special military helicopters to boost efforts against terrorism. The helicopters militarily known as Huey II Standard are improved versions of the decades-old Bell UH-1H combat operation helicopters. The Bell UH- 1H Huey is a daily workhorse with an expansive cabin providing multi-mission flexibility and a standard seating of 12 people.

Japan, S. Korea Buy Global Hawk Drone From US

03/24/2016

The U.S. Air Force is in the process of selling large Global Hawk drones and F-35 multi-role fighter planes to Japan and South Korea as part of a broader effort to better arm and equip allies in the Pacific theater, senior service officials said. “South Korea and Japan are going for the Global Hawk,” Ms. Heidi Grant, Under Secretary of the Air Force, International Affairs, told Scout Warrior in an interview.

The Drone that Stalked Bin Laden

03/24/2016

In 2009, after two weeks of being embedded as an independent journalist with a small team of U.S. Marines in Afghanistan, I ended up at Combat Outpost Monti, a 14-acre camp of tents, plywood huts, a few concrete bunkers and makeshift guard towers, and a helicopter landing area, all ringed by collapsible barriers.

Lockheed F-35's Cybersecurity Flaws Cited by Pentagon Tester

03/24/2016

Cybersecurity weaknesses in Lockheed Martin Corp.’s F-35 are among “many unresolved deficiencies” hobbling the costliest U.S. weapons program as production of the fighter jet ramps up, the Pentagon’s top tester said. “The limited and incomplete F-35 cybersecurity testing accomplished to date has nonetheless revealed deficiencies that cannot be ignored,” Michael Gilmore, the director of combat testing, said in a prepared statement for a House Armed Services panel hearing Wednesday.

India keen to buy Boeing's F-18 fighter jets as talks loom in April

03/24/2016

India is keen to consider Boeing’s offer to supply F/A- 18 Super Hornet fighter jets to the Indian Air Force (IAF). Sources said that New Delhi will take a hard look at the proposal in April when a high-level delegation will engage the Indian officials over the offer. US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter will be in India on April 10 in a visit that is expected to lift cooperation to a new level.

Federal Report Says Pratt's F135 Engine Still Has Some Problems

03/24/2016

Federal investigators said Wednesday that Pratt & Whitney's engine for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter still is "not performing at expected levels" and is one of many glitches still plaguing the nation's next generation of fighter jets.

Russian Il-76 Transport Jet Leaves Syria With 160 Support Personnel

03/24/2016

A Russian Il-76 (NATO reporting name Candid) military transport plane carrying 160 material and technical support personnel has departed from Syria to return home, a RIA Novosti correspondent reported Wednesday.

Sweden toughens up Military Strategy Doctrine

03/23/2016

Sweden’s defense command has responded to the growing unpredictability of a changed security landscape in the greater Baltic Sea area by toughening up the Military Strategy Doctrine (MSD) under which the Swedish Armed Forces (SAF) deals with threats against the country’s sovereignty, Defense News reports.

Weighty Matters For Small Pilots

03/23/2016

The U.S. Air Force continues to have problems with the weight of its new the "look and shoot" helmet developed for the F-35. These HMDS (Helmet-Mounted Display System) smart helmets were first developed in South Africa during the 1970s and much improved by Israeli firms in the 1990s. HMDS are currently used by F-15, F-16 and F-18 pilots.

Lithuanian company to help maintain Ethiopian Air Force aircraft

03/23/2016

Lithuanian company FL Technics has won a tender to provide spare parts and components for aircraft operated by the Ethiopian Air Force (EAF), including L-39, An-12 and An-32 trainers and transports. The aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) company made the announcement on 18 March, saying the company’s military division – FL Technics Defence – will ensure the provision of various spare parts for Aero L-39 Albatros, Antonov An-12 and An-32 aircraft.

Red Flag 16-2: Italian, Turkish and U.S. Forces Train to Fight Advanced Adversary

03/23/2016

The second Red Flag of 2016 featured an international coalition training against a dynamic and integrated “Red Adversary” Force. The exercise, running from Feb. 29 to Mar. 11 included some 23 units representing the US Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines and contingents from NATO partners: the Aeronautica Militare (AM – Italian Air Force) and the Turkish Air Force (TAF).