Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Northrop technology on nEUROn UCAV

03/09/2016

Northrop Grumman, together with Saab Aerosystems, has supplied the attitude and heading reference system (AHRS) for the nEUROn unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) demonstrator, it was announced on 7 March. The nEUROn has now completed over 100 test flights in Sweden, Italy and France.

Mohana, Bhawana & Avani: Meet IAF's first women trainee fighter pilots

03/09/2016

ndian Air Force (IAF) will soon get its first women fighter pilot. IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha announced that the force's fighter stream will no longer be a male domain from June 18, 2016 when the first batch of women fighter pilot trainees is commissioned into the force.

Weapons online: F-35A training syllabus advances ahead of IOC

03/09/2016

Two F-35A Lightning II aircraft assigned to the 33rd Fighter Wing here successfully employed two laser-guided bombs Thursday morning at a nearby range, advancing the Air Force’s F-35A training syllabus ahead of F-35A Initial Operational Capability.

B-52 bombers to take on ISIS

03/09/2016

American B-52 bombers are “ready and able” to strike ISIS targets in Iraq and Syria, a top Air Force official confirmed Monday. The air campaign against ISIS is “taking a toll on our aircraft, our readiness and our airmen” but the “venerable B-52 … remains ready and able to meet combatant commander requirements,” Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James said during a Pentagon press briefing.

Albania Is Auctioning Off Soviet-Era Fighter Jets Starting at $9,000

03/09/2016

It’s tough to find a good deal on a fighter jet these days. But if you’re willing to put a little time and money into a restoration project, the formerly communist republic of Albania has a deal for you.

Italians, Turks fly the competitive skies of Las Vegas

03/09/2016

Flying in Eurofighter Typhoons and F-16 jets, pilots from the Italian and Turkish air forces joined their U.S. partners in a Red Flag air combat training exercise Tuesday, roaring into partially cloudy skies north of Nellis Air Force Base. For the Italian Air Force, it’s the first time its fighter pilots and aircraft have flown in Red Flag’s 41-year history, officials said. It also marks the longest overseas deployment for the Typhoon detachment commanded by Col. Marco Bertoli.

Lockheed Seeks to Save Troubled F-35 With Exaggerated Job Claims

03/09/2016

It's a time-tested ploy. When a weapons system can't be justified based on cost, capabilities, and need, the manufacturer touts how many jobs the program will create. So it is with Lockheed Martin and its troubled F-35 combat aircraft.

Russia Threatens Invasion If North Korea Nuclear Rhetoric Continues

03/09/2016

North Korea’s provocative nuclear rhetoric has gotten so bad even the Kremlin has come out against the hermit kingdom, warning continued nuclear threats could justify an invasion. The warning was issued in the form of a written statement from the Russian foreign ministry. It follows North Korea’s threat it would engage in a “preemptive and offensive nuclear strike” in reaction to the start of joint U.S.-South Korean war games Monday.

Boeing and Paramount to Collaborate on Light Multi-role Aircraft

03/09/2016

Boeing and the Paramount Group, the South Africa-based global defense and aerospace business, have expanded their 2014 agreement to cooperate on an advanced mission system for a variant of the Advanced, High Performance, Reconnaissance, Light Aircraft (AHRLAC).

US-French Mission to Hold Observation Flight Over Russia

03/09/2016

Russia's National Nuclear Risk Reduction Center acting chief Ruslan Shishin said that the US and French experts will conduct an observational flight over Russia under the Treaty on Open Skies on March 9-13.

The most lethal combat aircraft in the world just got more capable

03/08/2016

On Mar. 1, 2016 the 90th Fighter Squadron (FS) belonging to the 3rd Wing stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska officially became the first combat-operational Raptor unit to equip an F-22 with the AIM-9X Sidewinder.

As T-X Competition Looms, Air Force Expects Requirements To Hold Steady

03/08/2016

Despite speculation that parameters for the Air Force's T-X trainer are still up in the air, top officials say there will be no more changes to the program requirements. The Air Force’s requirements for 350 T-X jets to replace the service’s aging T-38 trainer fleet are pretty much set, according to Brig. Gen. Andrew Croft, director of plans, programs, requirements and assessments for Air Education and Training Command. Although a formal request for proposals will not be released until later this

Afghan Air Force receives light attack aircraft in Mazar-e-Sharif

03/08/2016

The Afghan Air Force (AAF) in northern Balkh province of Afghanistan has received two A-29 Super Tucano light attack aircraft as part of NATO’s efforts to bolster the capabilities of the Afghan forces in fight against terrorism. The light attack aircraft have been deployed in Mazar-e-Sharif city, the provincial capital of northern Balkh province, amid deteriorating security situation in northern parts of the country.

Lockheed prepping Advanced EOTS and Legion Pod for flight tests

03/08/2016

The company will complete design and construction of the next evolution of the air-to-air and air-to-ground targeting device this year for carriage on a surrogate Sabreliner test aircraft. Separately, Lockheed will fly the Legion infrared search-and-track (IRST) pod on a Boeing F-15C in the coming months as the US Air Force looks to fill a long-standing "capability gap” related to passive infrared detection of airborne threats.

The Implications of China’s Military Reforms

03/08/2016

Since the second half of 2015, there has been considerable speculation about China’s rumored military reforms. Speculation became especially intense after Chinese President Xi Jinping announced a plan at the September 3 military parade in Beijing to cut 300,000 troops.

India approves purchase of two Phalcon Warning System form Israel

03/08/2016

The Indian Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has reportedly approved the purchase of two more Phalcon Airborne Early Warning and Control Systems (AWACS) in defence sales, totalling approximately $3bn, from Israel. Under the terms of the tripartite agreement with Israel and Russia, the Israeli-made Phalcon radars will be mounted on Russian IL-76 aircraft, reported The Hindu.

Last But Not Least: China's 2nd Aircraft Carrier Will Be More Sophisticated

03/08/2016

China is building a second aircraft carrier; its enhanced design will allow the vessel to carry more fighter jets as well as an early warning patrol aircraft, an anti-submarine warplane and several helicopters, according to a spokesman for the Chinese People's Liberation Army's Navy.

Russian Su-25SM Crews Start Training on Flight Simulator

03/08/2016

The pilots of an attack aviation regiment based in Russia's Krasnodar region have commenced special training sessions using a flight simulator which offers them the opportunity to step inside the virtual cockpit of the Su-25SM attack aircraft, according to the press service of the Russian Southern Military District.

The Russian Replacement Rivet Joint

03/08/2016

Since 2010 Russia has finally been able to replace many of its Cold War era electronic warfare aircraft with modern equipment. The Cold War era aircraft was based on military versions of the four engine turboprop Il-10 airliner. The most visible of these was the 66 ton Il-38, which was the Russian answer to the American P-3 anti-submarine aircraft. Like the Americans and other Western nations the Russians replaced the four engine Cold War era aircraft with more modern twin engine jet airliners.

Kadena’s MC-130J Commando II Special OPS planes conduct the type’s first five-ship formation flight in PACAF

03/07/2016

On Feb. 17, 2016 the 17th Special Operations Squadron (SOS) of the 353rd Special Operations Group (SOG) from Kadena Air Base, conducted a unit-wide training exercise during which its aircrews performed the first five-ship MC-130J Commando II formation flight in Pacific region.

US Contemplates Deployment of B-52 Long Range Strategic Bombers in Syria “against ISIS”

03/07/2016

The US is considering deploying its massive Boeing B-52 Stratofortress long-range strategic bomber against Islamic State, a report citing US Air Force officials says. The aircraft is capable of simultaneously dropping 32 tons of bombs.

B-1 bombers get a breather after 11-year deployment rotation for upgrades and crew retraining

03/07/2016

The planes and personnel at Ellsworth Air Force Base are getting a break after 11 years of continual B-1 bomber jet deployments. Members of an Ellsworth squadron finished a six-month deployment in January, and for the first time since 2005, no other B-1s from Ellsworth or Dyess Air Force Base in Texas flew out to the U.S. Central Command’s Area of Responsibility to replace the returning squadron.

France, Egypt in joint military exercise

03/07/2016

The “Ramses 2016” military and naval exercise is being held off the coast of the Mediterranean city of Alexandria and are expected to last for several days, the army said on its Facebook page. Paris announced the manoeuvres Tuesday saying the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, which is being used to launch air strikes on the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq, would also take part.

China Raises 2016 Defense Spending by 7.6%

03/07/2016

China will raise its defense spending by 7.6 percent this year, a budget report to the country’s Communist-controlled parliament showed on Saturday, a smaller increase than past years as it seeks a more efficient military. It was the “lowest defense budget increase in six years”, the official news agency Xinhua said, adding it came “in the wake of rising economic headwinds and last year’s massive drawdown of service people”.

Exclusive Look at the Fight Against ISIS From Aboard the USS Harry S. Truman

03/07/2016

In an ABC News exclusive, "This Week" co-anchor Martha Raddatz went aboard the USS Harry S. Truman, the Navy’s massive aircraft carrier which is home to more than 5,000 sailors, armed with hundreds of precision guided weapons, and is at the heart of the fight against ISIS.