Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

F-16s and Indian acrimony

02/27/2016

The growling in Indian stomachs started last year when in May the US handed over to Pakistan a chunk of used military hardware; over 14 combat aircraft, 59 military trainer jets and 374 armoured personnel carriers. The pronouncement of selling eight more F-16s by the Obama administration, in an attempt to shore up the two countries’ relationship despite Washington’s reservations about Pakistan’s growing nuclear arsenal, was like sprinkling salt on Indian injuries.

Hypersonic missiles could be operational in 2020s, general says

02/27/2016

Speaking at the Air Force Association Air Warfare Symposium in Orlando, Florida., Masiello described the efforts the service is undertaking to develop engines that could travel at or above the widely accepted hypersonic range of Mach 5.

US Air Mobility Command readying for KC-46A introduction

02/26/2016

The head of US Air Mobility Command says he is not overly concerned about the Boeing KC-46A’s eight-month development delay and legacy KC-10 and KC-135 aerial tankers won’t start retiring until the next-generation tanker is ready for combat.

Tejas LSP-3 flies with new Cobham quartz radome

02/26/2016

India’s Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas achieved yet anothermilestone ahead of the Final Operational Clearance (FOC) on Wednesday. Sources confirmed to 'Mathrubhumi' on Thursday that the Limited Series Production (LSP-3) variant of Tejas had its first flight fitted with the new quartz radome from Cobham.

The Italian Air Force T-346 Master debuts as Aggressor during NATO Tactical Leadership Programme

02/26/2016

From Feb. 4 to 12, two T-346As (Italian Air Force designation for the AleniaAermacchi* M346 “Master”) belonging to the 61° Stormo (Wing) based at Lecce Galatina airport, Italy, deployed to Albacete airbase, Spain, to take part in the TLP (Tactical Leadership Programme) in the “Aggressors” role. The Italian Masters had already successfully undertaken such task at Grosseto airbase in May 2015.

The U.S. Extends Its Drone War Deeper Into Africa With Secretive Base

02/26/2016

AROUA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, proclaimed the sign on the concrete and glass terminal building. The designation was something of a misnomer, because only three or four planes land each week in this sleepy outpost in northern Cameroon, near the Nigerian border, all of them domestic flights. The schedule of the flights tends to be unpredictable.

Air Force general: We've flown the wings off the A-10

02/26/2016

Despite its venerable service to the Air Force, the A-10 is nearing the end of its lifespan, a top general said Thursday. “We have literally flown the wings off it,” said Maj. Gen. Thomas Deale, the director of operations for Air Combat Command and a former A-10 pilot. The Air Force has made several attempts to retire the plane and shift its resources and maintenance crews over to the fifth-gen F-35 — efforts that have repeatedly been shot down by Congress.

Countering China’s aircraft carriers

02/26/2016

When the next U.S. president takes office in 11 months he or she will be confronted with China’s four stationary and one mobile aircraft carriers in the South China Sea. As the Obama administration is likely to continue its failed legal and diplomatic strategy for responding to China, it is necessary for the next president to now consider a far more robust strategy.

Saudi Arabia Deploys Combat Aircraft to Turkey

02/26/2016

It’s clear that the recently adopted ceasefire threatens the Turkish and Saudi interests in Syria significantly. Both countries support a wide range of Islamic militant groups including Al Nusra Front, which was designated as a terrorist organization by the UNSC.

Canadian Fighter Jets and Personnel to Deploy in Romania for Training

02/26/2016

Canada will send about 100 Air Force personnel and four F-18 Hornet fighter jets to train with the Romanian military, Canada’s Defense Ministry announced in a press release. "This exercise continues to build on the strong relationship between Canada and Romania, an important NATO ally, strengthening our mutual confidence in using common NATO procedures," the release quoted Canadian Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan as saying on Thursday.

U.S. Air Force Awards Lockheed Martin JASSM Contract for Additional Polish Air Force Integration

02/26/2016

Lockheed Martin recently received a $7.9 million Foreign Military Sales contract from the U.S. Air Force to support additional integration of the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM®) onto the Polish Air Force F-16C/D aircraft. This second contract for Poland includes support for a broad range of certification and flight activity. Integrated logistics support and program and technical oversight will conclude in 2018. Poland became JASSM’s third international customer in September 2015.

Russia hopes to sign Algerian Su-34 deal this year

02/25/2016

Russia hopes to sign a contract for Su-34 strike aircraft with Algeria later this year, with talks at an advanced stage, according to a Russian military-diplomatic source speaking at the Singapore Airshow. “The related talks are ongoing and they have reached an advanced stage. The contract has yet to be signed,” a high-ranking military-diplomatic source told Russia’s TASS news agency.

OVER FORTY YEARS AND STILL CUTTING-EDGE: THE STORY OF TORNADO

02/25/2016

Rushing across the sky with supersonic speed. Capable of all-weather, low-level, high-speed penetration into enemy territories. Designed to replace a whole range of existing air force fleets of its time. Tornado: a nation-uniting miracle of engineering.

Cope North 16 Pacific partners sharpen air combat skills

02/25/2016

Pilots from the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, Japan Air Self-Defense Force and Royal Australian Air Force conducted a large force employment here Feb. 18-26 as part of exercise Cope North 16. The exercise began with humanitarian assistance and disaster relief training Feb. 14, followed by an LFE exercise that shifted the focus to air-combat tactics.

The Military’s Airborne Target Tracker Is Getting an Upgrade

02/25/2016

After 30 years, the U.S. Air Force’s eyes behind enemy lines, called JSTARS or Joint Stars (Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System), is finally getting an upgrade. Contracts are expected to be awarded this year for industry to update the system with new technology and a replacement aircraft. It’s been a long wait for JSTARS, which uses airborne radar to monitor targets on the ground—particularly moving vehicles—and relay the data to allied forces below.

Navy Pondering Helicopter Future After MH-60 Seahawk

02/25/2016

The Pentagon’s Joint Multirole (JMR) investigation into a new generation of helicopters is highlighting the differences between what the Army and Navy need in terms of vertical lift aircraft, Navy and industry said last week.

Mountain Home tests to help determine if F-35s are ready for combat

02/25/2016

Flying the next generation F-35A Joint Strike Fighter jet is like stepping out of a Toyota Camry into a Lamborghini, a U.S. Air Force pilot told reporters Wednesday. “That’s as close as I can give you as an example,” Maj. Chris White said. When you take off, it gives you a shove into the back of the pilot’s seat, he said.

Australia to increase defence spending by $26bn amid rising regional tensions

02/25/2016

Australia will increase its annual defence spending by $26bn over the next decade amid concerns about the increasing pace of military modernisation to its north, regional tensions and the continuing threat of terrorism.

US Navy to Boost Presence in Disputed South China Sea Region

02/25/2016

As tensions escalate in the South China Sea, the US plans to increase its freedom-of-navigation (FON) operations through Chinese waters. Last October, the Pentagon conducted its first FON in the South China Sea, sending the USS Lassen within the 12-mile territorial limit of Beijing’s artificial islands in the Spratly archipelago. The move elicited outrage from Chinese officials.

Russian Military Shares Syria Operational Data With US Defense Attache

02/25/2016

The Russian Defense Ministry on Wednesday handed a map depicting the current operational situation in Syria to the US defense attache in Moscow, the ministry's press service said.

Brazil looks to sell its basic trainers to IAF

02/24/2016

Brazil’s Embraer company will be showcasing its basic trainer A-29 ‘Super Tucano’ at the forthcoming DefExpo in Goa for the first time. Keeping in mind that the Super Tucano’s role will not be limited to training alone, the company has equipped the A-29 (the Super Tucano version for the Brazilian Air Force) with systems designed not only to comply with basic requirements, but also to keep pace with the continual changes taking place in the aircraft’s potential operating theatres.

India will open all combat roles in military to women: Pranab Mukherjee

02/24/2016

Women will finally be allowed to serve in fighter streams of all armed forces in the country. Four months after the government approved the induction of women into the combat stream of the Indian Air Force (IAF), President Pranab Mukherjee said, “In the future, my government will induct women in all fighter streams of our armed forces.” The announcement was made on Tuesday during his address to the joint sitting of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.

China’s not-so-wonderful weapons

02/24/2016

For the past 15 or 20 years, China been engaged in a concerted effort to modernize and upgrade its military. To be sure, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in 2016 is a much more formidable fighting force than it was in 1996. It has — as the result of a concerted, multi-decade effort, backed up by a rapidly expanding defense budget – crafted a new military force increasingly more capable of projecting power across the modern battlespace, particularly at sea, in outer space, and in cyberspace.

Trial F-35A deployment smooths path for first combat squadron

02/24/2016

Six F-35A of 31st Test Evaluation Squadron have deployed to Mountain Home AFB in Idaho this month for an “operational deployment test” that will clear the way for 10 operational jets from the first combat-coded squadron, which will follow this summer.

Smoky Mountain Air Show announces lineup of aerial acts

02/24/2016

Organizers of the Smoky Mountain Air Show, featuring the Navy's Blue Angels, on Tuesday announced the rest of the lineup for the April 16-17 show. Besides the Navy's renowned demonstration team, the acts at McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base will include Greg Koontz Airshows, Younkin Airshows, Aeroshell Acrobatic Team, Commemorative Air Force's Dixie Wing WW II warbirds and Jacquie B Airshows.