Military Aviation News Archive

As 10-year war anniversary nears, Israel to receive new stealth fighter jets

06/20/2016

Ten years after Second Lebanon War, Hezbollah is armed with surface to air missiles and a vast rocket arsenal, and the fifth-generation aircraft will be key in helping the IAF tackle these threats.

Boeing, Tata joint venture establishes aerospace facility in Hyderabad

06/20/2016

Boeing and Tata Advanced Systems today celebrated the foundation laying of a new facility in Hyderabad for its joint venture named TATA Boeing Aerospace Limited (TBAL). The joint venture has been established to co-produce Boeing AH-64 Apache helicopter fuselages and other aerostructures, as well as to pursue integrated systems in aerospace.

U.S., Coalition Continue Strikes Against ISIL in Syria, Iraq

06/20/2016

U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Syria and Iraq yesterday, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today. Officials reported details of yesterday’s strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports.

Erdogan: Turkey Will Build Its Own Aircraft Carrier

06/20/2016

On Saturday, at a ceremony at a naval shipyard in Istanbul, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey would soon begin the design and production of a domestically built aircraft carrier. "There isn't any obstacle to producing our own aircraft carrier. It is possible with this determined government and state," he said. "Turkey cannot fall into laziness in the defense and military issues. The strategic point of our country doesn't allow this."

General warns congressmen about China, lack of pilots for Air Force

06/20/2016

Potential adversaries such as China are closing in on the U.S. technological edge in the skies at the same time the Air Force has a shortage of hundreds of fighter pilots and its fleet of fourth-generation aircraft is aging. Maj. Gen. Jerry D. Harris, vice commander of the Air Combat Command, delivered that message to four Ohio congressmen Saturday in a House Armed Services Committee field hearing at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.

Pentagon is Developing Drone Swarms Designed to Destroy Sophisticated Enemy Air Defenses

06/20/2016

Defeating so-called anti-access/area-denial (A2/AD) threats—such as zones defended by advanced Russian and Chinese built integrated air defense systems—is a top priority for the United States as the world enters an era of renewed great power competition.

US Aircraft Carriers Start Drills Off Philippines

06/20/2016

Two US aircraft carriers have started exercises in the Philippine Sea, defense officials said Sunday, as Washington’s close ally Manila faces growing pressure from Beijing in the South China Sea. The US Pacific Command said the USS John C. Stennis and USS Ronald Reagan, among the world’s largest warships, began conducting air defense drills, sea surveillance, and long range strikes on Saturday.

AH64 Apache, world’s most advanced multi-role helicopter gets ‘Made in India’ link

06/19/2016

Leading aerospace company Boeing and Tata Advanced Systems (TASL) have joined hands to set up a facility in Hyderabad to co-produce helicopter fuselages and other aerostructures. The JV, named Tata Boeing Aerospace Limited (TBAL), has been established for producing Boeing AH-64 Apache helicopter fuselages and other aerostructures besides pursuing integrated systems in aerospace.

Images suggest that Russia cluster-bombed US-backed Syrian fighters

06/19/2016

Russian airstrikes targeted the base of U.S.-backed Syrian fighters near the Jordanian border this past week, according to U.S. defense officials, prompting the most aggressive response from the Pentagon since Russia began its air campaign over Syria last year.

Drones with radiation detectors designed for nuclear emergencies

06/19/2016

They resemble miniature Reaper drones, but the nimbler Sandstorm’s mission will veer sharply from its weapons-laden cousin as the Department of Energy explores using unmanned aircraft to respond to nuclear emergencies.

Budget Caps Latest Excuse to Retire A-10 Aircraft: Advocates

06/19/2016

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh and the man who would succeed him, Vice Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein, both said this week that automatic spending caps are what spurred the service’s decision to push for the retirement of the plane.

RSAF participates in air combat exercise with US, Japan Air Forces

06/19/2016

The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) participated in the United States Air Force (USAF)-hosted Exercise Red Flag - Alaska, held from Jun 1 to 17, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) announced on Saturday (Jun 18).

Female fighter pilots raring to take up combat mission

06/19/2016

“We want to be part of the country’s future combat missions and make our parents proud,” said the three female fighter pilots, beaming with pride. The trio entered the annals of history on Saturday as they were commissioned into the Indian Air Force (IAF) in the presence of Defence minister Manohar Parrikar at the Air Force Academy in Dundigal here on Saturday.

Pilots, crews practice combat skills at Red Flag Alaska

06/19/2016

Airmen are testing their mettle at Red Flag Alaska 2016, a series of four Pacific Air Forces training exercises held at Eielson Air Force Base and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, that bring together pilots from across the U.S. military and allied nations. The second of the four exercises ended June 17, with the next portion scheduled to begin August 4.

South China Sea Mission: Advanced U.S. Attack Jets Arrive In Philippines

06/18/2016

As the international court at The Hague grapples with the Philippines’ case brought against China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea, and while Beijing and Washington trade verbal jabs almost daily over the issue, the U.S. Navy has sent four fighter aircraft, E/A-18G Growler airborne electronic attack planes and 120 support personnel, to the Philippines to help train the country’s forces and patrol its airspace and sea lanes, the U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet said in a statement on Thursday.

North Korea Steals U.S. Fighter Blueprints

06/18/2016

North Korean hackers reportedly infiltrated a computer network belonging to a South Korean aerospace firm’s computer network and made off with blueprints for the F-15 Eagle—the American-designed jet fighter that forms the backbone of the U.S. and South Korean air forces. But don’t panic quite yet. There’s not much Pyongyang’s engineers can actually do with the blueprints.

Argentina negotiates with France for Mirage aircraft

06/18/2016

Argentina is reportedly negotiating with France to purchase F-1 Mirage fighter aircraft. The talks also involve the possible purchase of engines to power 20 Argentinian Pucaras aircraft that are currently grounded. "The transaction provides excellent value, and under very favorable conditions," Defense Minister Julio Martinez told La Nacion during a visit to France. "The Argentine Air Force cannot do without supersonic aircraft. Our pilots must be able to train in modern aircraft."

Russia's New PAK-FA Stealth Fighter Might Have a Fatal Flaw (or Two)

06/18/2016

United Aircraft Corporation is gearing up to start serial production of the Sukhoi T-50 PAK-FA fifth-generation stealth fighter according to Russian media reports. The eighth prototype T-50—which is nearly compliant with Moscow’s requirements for a next-generation fighter—is set to make its first flight on June 20.

Indigenous HTT-40 trainer aircraft makes inaugural flight

06/18/2016

India's indigenous basic trainer aircraft, Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40 (HTT-40), on Friday made its inaugural flight here in the presence of defence minister Manohar Parrikar. The two-seater aircraft designed and developed by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited was flown by Group Captain C Subramaniam and Group Captain Venugopal for about 10 to 15 minutes at the HAL airport here.

Spain's first A400M leaves paintshop

06/18/2016

Spain’s first A400M tactical transport has been painted at Airbus Defence & Space’s San Pablo final assembly site in Seville, as the manufacturer conducts preparations for its debut flight within the coming weeks.

Navy EA-18G Aircraft Support Maritime Domain Awareness in Philippines

06/17/2016

The U.S. Seventh Fleet has sent a detachment of EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft to the Philippines for training and for maritime domain awareness missions. Four EA-18Gs assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 138, an expeditionary unit deployed to Japan to support Seventh Fleet, flew June 15 to Clark Air Base on the island of Luzon for exercises with the Philippine Air Force (PAF).

Israeli Fighter Pilots Head to US for F-35 Training

06/17/2016

Israel’s first cadre of F-35 pilots are headed next month to the United States to begin simulator and ground-based training on the new stealth fighter, the first two of which are scheduled to arrive here by the end of the year.

A wait too long: IAF to get first squadron of Tejas in July

06/17/2016

After a wait of over three decades, the IAF will finally get its hands on the first squadron of indigenous Tejas next month with the delivery of the fourth Light Combat Aircraft. However, the first squadron will be made of up of just four Tejas aircraft, in stark contrast to at least 16 aircraft that usually makes up for one squadron globally.

Amended bill may open door for upgrade of A-10 aircraft wings

06/17/2016

Defense contractors could submit bids by next week on a new contract to supply more than 100 sets of new A-10 aircraft wings, with help from a new $100 million that cleared the House on Thursday. An amended version of the U.S. Department of Defense appropriations bill for fiscal 2017 passed the House 282-138, largely along party lines, with a new appropriation to supply wing upgrades to the A-10 fleet at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Harrison Township and elsewhere.

DARPA picks Lockheed, Raytheon for swarming UAS tests

06/17/2016

Lockheed Martin and Raytheon have been awarded contracts by the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) for the next phase of a project to develop collaborative control technology for unmanned air systems.