Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

North Korea Reports Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Engine Test

04/09/2016

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un issued an order to conduct on Saturday the "jet test of a new type high-power engine of inter-continental ballistic rocket and personally came to the Sohae Space Center to guide the test," North Korea’s Central News Agency (KCNA) said as quoted by South Korea’s Yonhap news agency on Saturday.

US, India Look Into Co-Production of Fighter Aircraft

04/09/2016

US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter said that a team from the US Department of Defense is holding negotiations in India on potential co-production of fighter jets.

Algeria Increases Order of Russian-made Mi-28 Helos to 42

04/09/2016

The Algerian Air Force (AAF) has ramped up its order of Russian-made Mi-28NE "Night Hunter" attack helicopters from the eight initially reported in January to 42, the Russian-language newspaper RIA-Novosti reported.

Australia Buys New Precision-Guided Glide Bomb for F-35

04/08/2016

The U.S. State Department has approved the possible sale of nearly 3,000 GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bombs and associated equipment, training, and support to Australia, according to a Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) news release. The sale is still subject to approval by U.S. Congress before it can proceed.

Israel Aerospace begins producing F-35 C4 systems

04/08/2016

Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. (IAI) is beginning production of the Command, Control, Communications and Computing (C4) systems developed for the Adir - F-35I, Israel's variant of the Fifth Generation Fighter F-35. The company recently completed system definition, prototyping and testing phases.

Air Force moving forward with possible A-10 replacement, general says

04/08/2016

The Air Force is taking a key step toward developing a dedicated close-air support plane to replace the A-10 "Warthog," a top general said Thursday. “My requirements guys are in the process of building a draft-requirements document for a follow-on CAS airplane,” Lt. Gen. Mike Holmes, the deputy chief of staff for strategic plans and requirements, said. “It’s interesting work that at some point we’ll be able to talk [about] with you a little bit more.”

REDISCOVERING LOW ALTITUDE: GETTING PAST THE AIR FORCE’S OVERCOMMITMENT TO STEALTH

04/08/2016

Once upon a time, aircraft avoided radar detection by flying low, sometimes ridiculously low. The benefits were obvious; the Earth is a lumpy sphere, and low altitude provides both cover and concealment. No sensor, be it radar, visual, infrared, or electronic surveillance, can see through a hill. The appearance of an aircraft at low level is often a surprise, and aircraft traversing gaps in terrain at high speed are fleeting targets at best.

F-35 fighter centres to create 300 jobs at RAF Marham in Norfolk

04/08/2016

Due to open in 2018, three new buildings on the site with provide training facilities for pilots and ground crews for the UK's first F-35 Lightning II fighter II aircraft. Work on building the three facilities will start this month. The project is being funded by the Ministry of Defence.

How Israel Wants To Soup Up Its Fleet Of F-35s

04/08/2016

Israel has done amazing things with their imported U.S. fighter aircraft, innovating and tailoring their capabilities to meet their unique needs. They want to continue this legacy with the F-35. Part of this initiative now includes the ability to externally modify their new stealth jets with the addition of conformal fuel tanks.

Egypt and France to Sign €1 billion Arms Deal

04/08/2016

Egypt and France plan to sign several agreements this month to purchase some €1 billion of weaponry. The agreement includes the sale of fighter aircraft, navy vessels and a military satellite communication system.

Vietnam Demands China Remove $1 Billion Oil Rig Amid Sovereignty Row

04/08/2016

Beijing’s relations with former regional allies continue to deteriorate as Chinese regime steadfastly continues development efforts throughout the South China Sea.

Carter Likely to Meet 'Cautious' India in Upcoming Defense Visit

04/08/2016

As US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter prepares for a visit to India next week, analysts warn the Indian Government to steer clear of any agreement likely to hamper relations with China.

Royal Australian Air Force Deploys To Red Flag 16-1

04/07/2016

The Sun rises over the land Down-Under, morning dew accumulated from the night before evaporates from the warmth of the golden glow permeating from the east as light ushers forth a new day in Spring. As members from the RAAF leave their loved ones at home ahead of a new day for one of the best jobs in the world, their concentration is transfixed ahead of them they are eager to accomplish the tasks set, ready for one of the biggest exercises the RAAF have ever participated in.

Watch a F-35 fighter jet drop a guided warhead: Weapon is able to destroy targets while steering clear of anti-aircraft guns

04/07/2016

Hailed as the most expensive weapon in history, costing an estimated $400 billion to develop so far, the Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jet can dogfight, drop bombs and spy on emery territory. While the US' plane is eight years late and recently had problem with its radar system, a video shows it dropping a particular type of laser-guided bomb for the first time.

Overall US military aircraft exports strong in 2015

04/07/2016

Despite trouble locking in combat jet sales in 2015, concerns about an erosion in US military exports because of the American government’s burdensome and often sluggish approvals process might be overstated.

Stand guarantee for tech transfer, US told

04/07/2016

India has asked the United States to stand guarantee for transfer of technology, if any US-based company bids for the fighter jet programme under the “Make in India” initiative. This was part of the two-day talks held between the defence policy groups of the two countries in the run-up to the meeting between Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and his US counterpart Ashton Carter. The two leaders will meet for delegation-level talks on April 12 in New Delhi. Carter will arrive in Goa on April 10.

F-16s surge during two-day drill at Misawa

04/07/2016

Airmen with the 35th Fighter Wing conducted a two-day surge exercise April 4-5 with F-16 Fighting Falcons at Misawa Air Base. "During surge operations, we're validating our wing's ability to generate (aircraft) in a simulated combat scenario," said Capt. Josh Plocinski, the 14th Fighter Squadron chief of standardization and evaluation.

Why Super Hornet trumps Rafale

04/07/2016

I wrote previously on the need to revisit the decision to procure 126 units of the Rafale at Rs 1,000 crore a piece for India’s multi-role combat aircraft requirement and was happy to see that this was done by the Defence Ministry led ably by Manohar Parrikar. Instead of that large acquisition, Prime Minister Modi announced on his recent visit to France that a smaller number of aircraft (36) would be purchased, at a significantly lower price.

Discovery Air Defence Participates in Dissimilar Air Combat Training Exercise in Canary Islands

04/07/2016

Discovery Air Defence Services Inc. ("DA Defence"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Discovery Air Inc., recently deployed aircraft from Wittmundhafen, Germany to participate in the annual Dissimilar Air Combat Training ("DACT") exercise hosted by the Spanish Air Force at Gando Air Base, Canary Islands.

NATO to Work With Islamic Coalition to Counter Daesh

04/07/2016

NATO intends to cooperate with the Islamic Coalition against the Daesh terror group, the alliance’s Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in a speech at the Atlantic Council in Washington, DC. "If the question is whether we [NATO] are going to work together with the Islamic Coalition to counter ISIL [Daesh or Islamic State], then the answer is — yes," Stoltenberg stated on Wednesday. "I welcome that Islamic Countries are going together to fight ISIL."

Belarus to Receive 4 Russian Yak-130 Jets, S-300 Battalion in 2016

04/07/2016

Commander of the Belarusian Air Force Maj. Gen. said that Belarus will receive the fourth and final battalion of S-300 air defense systems as well as another four Yak-130 combat trainers in 2016.

Indonesia to Deploy Missile System on South China Sea Island

04/07/2016

Nearly $5 trillion in trade passes annually through the highly contested region of the the South China Sea. China lays claim to most of the area, but there are conflicting claims by Vietnam, Brunei, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

Pilot captured after Syrian warplane shot down by Islamist rebels near Alleppo

04/06/2016

The pilot of a Syrian warplane shot down by rebels south of Aleppo has been captured, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has said. The plane was hit by a surface-to-air missile and caught fire before falling in the Talat al-Iss highland, according to the group. The aircraft, reportedly a Su-22, had been on a reconnaissance mission, Syria's military confirmed.

F-16 crews soar in South Korean exercise

04/06/2016

F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots from the 80th Fighter Squadron practiced combined flying operations March 28-31 alongside counterparts from the South Korean air force’s 19th Fighter Wing at Jungwon Air Base during Buddy Wing 16-3. Buddy Wing training, conducted multiple times a year, polishes the ability of South Korean and U.S. pilots to train and operate as a combined force.

India keen on US’s F/A-18 jet offer

04/06/2016

The Indian defence establishment is showing "increasing interest" in the American offer to supply F/A-18 "Super Hornet" fighters to IAF under the Make in India programme, even as US defence secretary Ash Carter is all set to come visiting from April 10 to 12 to further crank up the bilateral strategic partnership.