Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

US, Philippines Announce Locations Covered by Defense Pact

03/20/2016

The US and the Philippines announced Friday five locations where American forces will have access under a new defense pact, including one facing disputed islands in the South China Sea. The announcement came at strategic talks in Washington, where the allies reiterated their opposition to the militarization of outposts in those waters, where six Asian governments have competing claims.

Military Strikes Continue Against ISIL in Syria, Iraq

03/20/2016

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

Airstrikes kill 39 civilians in ISIS stronghold in Syria

03/20/2016

Air strikes killed at least 39 civilians on Saturday in Raqa, the Islamic State group's main stronghold in Syria, a monitoring group said. At least five children and seven women were among the dead, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The raids came a day after 16 civilians were killed in strikes on the same city.

Be the 'Wolf'

03/20/2016

There are three meetings I attend every week, and they're the most important meetings in my current job. The first is wing stand-up, held three days a week, where we cover the status of our aircrew, pararescuemen, all 81 combat aircraft, the airfield, communications and logistics. Our mission is simple - deliver precise combat power from the air - and stand-up sets the tone. This, my most important meeting, lasts about 20 minutes, except when we fold in weekly intelligence updates.

US Uses Vintage Planes From Vietnam War Era Against Daesh

03/20/2016

The United States military authorities claim that old OV-10 Bronco battle-planes may prove to be more effective and cheap than modern F-15 and F-35 aircrafts.

Russian Air Force Su-25 Frogfoot attack aircraft dropped 6,000 (mostly unguided) bombs over Syria

03/20/2016

On Mar. 16, the Russian Aerospace Forces (RuAF) welcomed the return of their Sukhoi Su-25 attack aircraft from Hmeymim airfield, in Syria, to their home base in the Krasnodar region. As reported by the Tass News Agency, during the ceremony, Alexander Galkin, the Russia’s Southern Military District commander, said the Frogfoots flew more than 1,600 sorties and dropped around 6,000 bombs since when Russian aircraft began missions against terrorists in Syria on Sep. 15, 2015.

Japan-Qatar Ties Help Fund Rafale Order

03/20/2016

Japanese banks drew on close commercial ties to Qatar when they lent funds that helped Doha pay last year’s down payment for Rafale fighter jets and missiles worth €6.3 billion ($6.8 billion), financial specialists said. A bank loan to Qatar, a nation rich in oil and gas reserves, signaled an economic shift for the Arabian Gulf nation and its strong business ties to Japanese lenders and construction companies.

Arctic Version of Mi-8AMTSh Helicopter Joins Russian Air Force

03/20/2016

The first Mi-8AMTSh-VA helicopter, adapted for freezing Arctic weather conditions, has been delivered to the Russian Armed Forces by the Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant in southeastern Russia, Zvezda TV reported on Friday.

These images might just be the clearest signs of China's expansion in the disputed South China Sea

03/19/2016

Over the past decade, China has pursued an extensive and far reaching campaign of dredging and creating man-made islands within the South China Sea. These pursuits have put China at odds with Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia, and large sections of the international community including the US. One of the main areas that China's expansion has focused on has been the Spratly Island chain close to the Philippines.

Skunk Works pushes investment in F-22 and F-35 over new aircraft

03/19/2016

Lockheed Martin has warned against rushing into a sixth-generation fighter programme without first boosting F-35 Lightning II numbers and implementing a “robust” modernisation programme to keep fifth-generation F-22s and F-35s capable against new counter-air threats.

This Tiny Island Shelters a History of Human Rights Abuse

03/19/2016

In the middle of the Indian Ocean lies a relatively unknown island by the name of Diego Garcia. It’s home to one of America’s most important military bases—and a history of human rights abuse. The island was confiscated in 1966 from the local population of Chagossians in secret deals between the governments of the U.S. and U.K., resulting in the forced displacement of more than 2,000.

Navy: 8 sailors aboard USS Eisenhower injured when cable breaks during E-2C Hawkeye landing

03/19/2016

Eight sailors working on the flight deck of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower were injured Friday when a cable used to catch a landing aircraft’s tailhook broke, according to the Navy. Four of the sailors were flown by helicopter to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital with injuries that weren’t life-threatening, while two were taken to Portsmouth Naval Medical Center. Norfolk General has the only Level 1 trauma center in the region and handles the most severe injuries.

Singapore, Thailand and US conclude trilateral air exercise

03/19/2016

A trilateral air exercise conducted by the air forces of Singapore, Thailand and the United States ended on Friday (Mar 18) at Korat Air Base in Thailand, Singapore’s Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) said. Exercise Cope Tiger, the 22nd in its series, was conducted in two phases – a command post exercise at Changi Naval Base in Singapore from Dec 8 to 11, 2015, and a flying training exercise conducted at Korat Air Base in Thailand from Mar 7 to 18.

BLACK KNIGHTS FLY BEAK-TO-BEAK WITH JAPANESE AVIATORS

03/19/2016

Marines with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314 executed dissimilar air combat training and bilateral tactical mission training during the Komatsu Aviation Training Relocation exercise at Komatsu AB, Japan, March 7-18, 2016. Komatsu ATR is a dissimilar air combat training exercise allowing pilots with diverse aircraft to simulate aerial warfare and execute basic fighter maneuvers,.

Russia conducted strikes in Syria this week after all: US military

03/19/2016

Russia did carry out air strikes in Syria this week, a US military spokesman said on Friday, hours after asserting the opposite. "While we've seen no Russian air strikes in the northern areas of Syria this week, it appears the Russians have conducted some air strikes after all in southern Syria in the vicinity of Palmyra in support of the Syrian regime," US Central Command spokesman Colonel Patrick Ryder told AFP.

US contradicts Russian claim of 25 Syria airstrikes

03/19/2016

Russia has withdrawn most of its strike aircraft from Syria, the US military said on Friday, adding that it was now entirely carrying out strikes in support of Syrian government forces “via artillery systems” instead of aircraft.

Russia to Supply President-S Aircraft Defense Systems to Egypt in Weeks

03/19/2016

The deliveries of Russia's advanced President-S onboard defense systems (ODS) to Egypt will begin in "coming days," a senior Radio-Electronic Technologies Concern (KRET) executive said Friday.

PAF’s new jets to join Balikatan

03/18/2016

The Philippine Air Force’s brand-new supersonic fighters will be taking part in this year’s “Balikatan” military training exercise with the United States. PAF spokesperson Col. Enrico Canaya said the two recently acquired FA-50 lead-in fighter jets from South Korea would be put through aerial maneuvers during the bilateral exercise in April. “This is definitely a good opportunity for us to enhance our training, especially with our American counterparts. This is a good development,” Canaya said T

Verdict pending on fate of Vietnam-era light attack plane

03/18/2016

The U.S. military is considering whether a Vietnam-era propeller-driven airplane could be useful in the fight against the Islamic State, after what appeared to be a successful trial run last year. Two OV-10 Broncos were deployed for barely three months last summer and fall as part of the international coalition battling Islamic State militants in the region, according to the U.S. Central Command.

Lockheed Martin, Making Money the Old-Fashioned Way

03/18/2016

Lockheed Martin held its annual media day this week, and CEO Marillyn Hewson assured those attending that the company was financially sound and poised to lead the industry in developing the next generation of military technology, from military lasers to hypersonic weapons. But the bulk of the company’s revenues rely on old-fashioned techniques — buying up other companies, profiting from the sale of big-ticket weapons systems, and pushing foreign sales.

Vladimir Putin Calls Syria Operation a Success and Says It’ll Lead to Peace

03/18/2016

President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia said on Thursday that his country’s more than five-month military operation in Syria had been a success, with the upper hand on the battlefield returned to the Syrian government and with President Bashar al-Assad ready to make the compromises necessary for a peaceful settlement.

Camouflage color scheme works: F/A-18F Nearly Disappears in Rainbow Canyon!

03/17/2016

A unique U.S. Navy F/A-18F bearing a brown camouflage scheme has likely had many question why a US Navy Strike Fighter would be such a color. A recent pass by the “Rhino” deep through “Rainbow Canyon” should put those questions to rest as the jet almost disappears as it races through the canyon at a very low level.

22 die in Ecuador military plane crash

03/17/2016

A military aircraft crashed in the Ecuadorian eastern province of Pastaza, killing all 22 people on board, military authorities said. The accident occurred at around 2:30 pm local time(1930 GMT), when the soldiers were to conduct a parachuting exercise, the Defense Ministry of Ecuador said in a statement.

Software enables modern weapons integration into older military aircraft

03/17/2016

Raytheon engineers have developed a software solution for integrating of new weapons into older aircraft. The software can be implemented across various platforms and current bomb rack systems.

Son of Blackbird: Hypersonic warplane will DOUBLE speed record to strike anywhere, anytime

03/17/2016

Defence giant Lockheed Martin claims to have made a major breakthrough in its bid to perfect the SR-72 – dubbed the "Son of Blackbird". The firm claims to have developed a prototype capable of reaching Mach 6 – six times the speed of sound. The current airspeed record of Mach 3.5 is held by Lockheed's SR-71 Blackbird – seen as the "father" of the new superplane.