Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

India considers additional 30-unit Hawk buy

06/24/2016

India’s defence ministry is considering the acquisition of an additional batch of BAE Systems Hawk advanced jet trainers. New Delhi indicates it could purchase as many as 30 examples of the Mk132 variant, which would be licence-built by Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL).

Airbus studying manned successor for German Tornados

06/24/2016

Airbus Defence & Space is eyeing a potential opportunity for European industry to develop a next-generation combat aircraft to replace the German air force’s Panavia Tornado fleet post-2030.

CH-53K King Stallion Achieves 27,000 Pound External Lift

06/24/2016

Lockheed Martin today announced the CH-53K King Stallion successfully completed an external lift of a 27,000 pound payload at Sikorsky’s Development Flight Test Center in West Palm Beach, Fla.

Russia Working on Modernization of Mine System for Mi-9, Mi-17 Helicopters

06/24/2016

Russian enterprises within the Techmash group are working on the modernization of the helicopter mine dispensing system for the Mil Mi-8 and Mi-17, the group's general director, Sergey Rusakov, said Thursday.

NATO's Stoltenberg Condemns Pyongyang's New Ballistic Missile Launch

06/23/2016

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg condemned on Wednesday recent launches of ballistic missiles by North Korea. Earlier in the day, South Korean media reported that North Korea appeared to have test-fired another medium-range ballistic missile, a second one on Wednesday.

15 killed as Nigerian Air Force bombs Boko Haram convoy

06/22/2016

At least 15 Boko Haram terrorists have been killed in Borno State, North-East Nigeria after the Nigeria Air Force (NAF) carried out its first major air campaign in the region. The operation was carried out under the recently launched ‘Operation Gama-Aiki’ mission. An Alpha Jet bombed the convoy of the militants in the northern part of Borno state, officials said.

Egyptian Additional 12 Rafale Order May Delay Indian Deliveries Further

06/22/2016

India’s 36 rafale fighter deliveries may be delayed further if Egypt opts to purchase 12 Rafale optional under the contract signed with France in February 2015. In the wake of the visit of French President François Hollande in Egypt in April this year , negotiations between the Egyptian army and Dassault Aviation have started to purchase twelve Rafale optional under the last year’s contract, La Tribune reported quoting sources as saying last week.

Russian state television accidentally broadcasts evidence that Moscow uses cluster bombs in Syria

06/22/2016

The state-sponsored television channel RT aired footage of a Russian combat aircraft carrying cluster munitions in Syria at the Khmeimim Air Base. In a news report about Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu’s visit to the airbase on June 18, RT broadcast images of RBK-500 ZAB 2.5SM incendiary cluster bombs, say independent researchers.

Rolls-Royce LiftFan Adds STOVL Operations to F-35's Capability

06/22/2016

Assuming its planned appearance at the Farnborough International Airshow goes ahead, the Lockheed Martin F-35 will be the most significant new military aircraft to be seen in the skies of southern England for many years. It has been a long wait for British eyes, the nation being the first overseas partner to sign up to the Joint Strike Fighter program, as it became. Britain joined following the signing of a government-to-government memorandum of understanding way back in 1995.

Meet the Future PLA Carrier Strike Group: Main Equipment of the Chinese PLA Navy

06/22/2016

Since World War II, the sine qua non of maritime power has been the carrier strike group, that assemblage of warships and other assets which together comprise the floating fortress that is the king of combat sea power. The Chinese People’s Liberation Army–Navy (PLAN) is in the process of building its carrier strike group, although it currently only possesses one carrier still in the process of training aircraft operations.

The Real Problem with America’s Aircraft Carriers Is Easy to See (But Near Impossible to Fix)

06/22/2016

Aircraft Carriers, specifically American aircraft carriers, seem to be taking quite a thrashing these days in the press. Some claim they are old and obsolete—no better than all of those expensive Battleships at the end of World War II—destined for the scrapper. Others argue they are undefendable, thanks to the proliferation of ballistic and cruise missiles all over the globe—heck, even non-state actors can get their hands on such weapons these days.

Norway reveals P-3 replacement plans

06/22/2016

Norway has revealed a proposed defence spending plan that allows for the acquisition of a new maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) to replace its six-strong fleet of Lockheed P-3 Orions. Presented to parliament on 17 June, the white paper recommends a gradual rise in the nation’s defence budget over the 2017-2020 period to result in a NKr7.2 billion ($870 million) increase over 2016 levels.

North Korea Fires Second Ballistic Missile Hours After First Failed Launch

06/22/2016

South Korea claims that the North has fired another mid-range ballistic missile, its second of the day. Officials with South Korea's Defense Ministry said earlier that Pyongyang had conducted a failed launch, with the missile falling into the Sea of Japan.

Mission Cleopatra: Egypt's Mistral Taking Part in Joint Drills With France

06/22/2016

Egypt’s Mistral-class helicopter carrier delivered from France is taking part in military exercises, which are jointly conducted by the French and Egyptian navies in the Mediterranean Sea.

Caliphate's 'Unmanned Surveillance': Drones That Daesh Uses in Syria, Iraq

06/22/2016

These days not an hour goes by without an aircraft, piloted or not, traversing the skies above Iraq and Syria. Damascus-led forces and their allies, including Russia, as well as France, Israel, Jordan, Turkey, the UK and the US have been spotted using an array of drones in their counterterrorism efforts. Daesh is not excluded as well.

U.S. F/A-18 Hornets almost clashed with Russian fighter bombers over Syria

06/21/2016

There have been several close encounters between Russian and U.S. and allied manned and unmanned aircraft over Syria since Moscow deployed a contingent of combat planes to Latakia, in northwestern Syria, at the end of September 2015. On Oct. 10, 2015, a Russian Su-30SM had close encounter with an unspecified U.S. combat plane supporting Operation Inherent Resolve.

US Nato general fears rapid Russian troop deployments

06/21/2016

The commander of US troops in Europe says Nato cannot rapidly deploy large forces to Eastern Europe in the way that Russia can. Lt-Gen Ben Hodges was speaking to the BBC's Hardtalk programme during large Nato exercises in north-western Poland. "The Russians are able to move huge formations and lots of equipment a long distance very fast," he said.

Israel’s New Stealth Jets Will Transform IAF Combat Strength

06/21/2016

The Israeli Air Force (IAF) will be forever revolutionized in the coming months. Global defense and advanced technologies manufacturer Lockheed Martin plans to unveil the first of the fifth-generation fighter jets in the F-35 Lightning II series, one of the world’s most advanced stealth fighter jets, on Wednesday. The Israeli defense establishment has said the new plane is a true game changer for the Jewish state as it will make Israel unique in all aerial capabilities against its enemies.

Canada must do more to help NATO combat Russian threat, Mulroney says

06/21/2016

Former prime minister Brian Mulroney says the Trudeau government should choose the very best fighter jet to confront the growing threat from Russia as he urged Canada to play a more forceful role within NATO and the United Nations. In a prepared text for a major foreign policy speech to the NATO Association of Canada on Monday night, Mr. Mulroney warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin is attempting to create a new Eurasian union dependent on Moscow.

In rare move, the Navy sends two aircraft carriers near the Philippines

06/21/2016

The Navy just concluded the multi-day deployment of two carrier strike groups to the Philippine Sea, a rare move that comes at a sensitive time ahead of an international tribunal’s ruling on territorial claims by China and other nations in the nearby South China Sea.

Armed S-70i breaks cover in Poland

06/21/2016

Sikorsky company PZL Mielec used NATO’s multi-national exercise Anakonda to debut an armed version of the S-70i Black Hawk in mid-June. On display in Drawsko Pomorskie, Poland, the rotorcraft attracted visitors including Polish defence minister Antoni Macierewicz.

3D Printing Assists Military in Lowering Costs and Expediting Repairs

06/21/2016

In 2017, the Marine Corps will 3D print certain parts for their most sought after rotorcraft. Naval Air Systems Command officials announced earlier this month that they plan to print roll out parts for the new CH-53K King, H-1, MV-22B Osprey, and light/attack Helicopters, including the AH-1Z Viper, as well as the Stallion, which is still in the early phases of production.

Chubby Girl': Meet China's Xian Y-20, the World's Largest Military Plane

06/21/2016

The first two Xian Y-20 military transport aircraft have been delivered to the Chinese air force, officially making it the largest military plane currently in production. Earlier this month, Zhu Qian, head of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) indicated that Beijing intends to purchase a vast fleet of heavy transport aircraft, in addition to new stealth fighters.

Baku, Ankara Start Joint Military Exercises in Turkey

06/21/2016

Baku and Ankara are holding joint military drills in Turkey, the Azerbaijan Defense Ministry said Monday. "According to the military plan of bilateral cooperation, Azerbaijan and Turkey launched the ISIK-2016 military drills," a press release from the ministry reads.

France Quietly Adapts to A400M Problems

06/20/2016

Finally responding in public to shrinking demand for its new A400M military transport, AirBus executives admitted that they screwed up and recently provided details. AirBus said the main problems were with the engines it selected for the A400M. These came from an inexperienced supplier and AirBus was late in realizing how bad the problems were. There were many lesser problems, mainly with not adding features users needed if they were to replace existing C-130s and similar transports with the A40