Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

India Sends Letters to 8 States Over Italian-Made Chopper Deal Probe

05/06/2016

India has sent letters of request to eight countries in relation to a corruption probe into the process of procuring helicopters from an Italian producer, AgustaWestland, for the Indian Air Force, Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup said Thursday.

WATCH: Russian High-Tech Aircraft Conducting Flights in Syria (VIDEO)

05/06/2016

The Russian Defense Ministry published a video of the Russian Aerospace Forces conducting flights in Syria on its official YouTube channel. The video shows the incredible Su-25 fighter jet, Mi-8 transport-combat helicopter, Su-35s, the Su-24M and fighter-bomber Su-34.

Algeria to test Su-35 fighter ahead of possible acquisition

05/05/2016

The Algerian Air Force has asked to evaluate the Sukhoi Su-35 multi-role fighter jet in preparation for the possible acquisition of at least 10 of the aircraft at a cost of up to $900 million, a Russian defence industrial source has revealed.

USAF to automate MQ-9 takeoffs and landings

05/05/2016

The US Air Force is pressing forward with a General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9 Reaper upgrade that would allow the widely fielded armed aircraft to takeoff and land automatically.

Kratos breaking into the unmanned combat air vehicle market

05/05/2016

Kratos Defense is gaining ground in the unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) market traditionally dominated by the world’s largest defence firms and privately-held General Atomics Aeronautical Systems in the USA, having captured at least one significant classified contract and most recently winning a place on the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) “Gremlins” project.

The U.S. Air Force's Next Super Weapon: Lethal Lasers?

05/05/2016

The Air Force plans to arm its fleet of drones and fighter jets with high-tech laser weapons able to incinerate enemy targets from the sky, service officials said. Aircraft-launched laser weapons could eventually be engineered for a wide range of potential uses, including air-to-air combat, close air support, counter-UAS(drone), counter-boat, ground attack and even missile defense, officials said.

Finland May Turn to Drones To Supplement Combat Aircraft

05/05/2016

Finland’s center-right government’s tightening grip on public spending could result in the acquisition of fewer combat aircraft in the Finnish Air Forces’ (FAF) HX Fighter Replacement Program (HX-FRP). Such a path to procurement strengthens the possibility that economic and affordability factors could see Finland acquire a fleet of combat drone aircraft to supplement the FAF’s operational needs and support its overall capability.

Indian Navy to Replace Sea Harriers with Russian MiG-29K

05/05/2016

The Indian Navy will induct a new squadron of MiG-29Ks in a ceremony scheduled to take place on May 11 in the southern state of Goa. The Russian fighter aircraft is replacing the obsolete British Sea Harriers which served the Indian Navy since 1983, and were placed aboard the INS Viraat warship, which is also being decommissioned.

Russian Su-25 Fighter Jets Return Home From Airbase in Syria

05/05/2016

About 30 aircraft of Russia’s Air Force were withdrawn from the territory of Syria, leaving just enough forces in the country for the necessary fight against terrorist groups, according to the official representative of the Russian Defense Ministry, Major-General Igor Konashenkov.

Lavrov: Russia May Consider Iran's Request on Buying Tanks, Military Jets

05/05/2016

Russia will consider a potential request from Iran on acquiring Russian tanks, armored personnel carriers and combat aircraft, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told Sputnik.

Russian Defense Ministry Receives New Batch of Mi-17 Helicopters

05/05/2016

A new batch of Mil Mi-8/17 transport helicopters has been supplied by the Russian Helicopters company under a Defense Ministry contract, it was announced in a corporate press release Wednesday.

Muscle Flexing? Poland Set to Stock Up on US Apache Choppers

05/05/2016

Poland’s Defense Ministry plans to buy 24 Boeing AH-64 Apache helicopters under its ongoing tender to purchase new combat helicopters for the country’s Air Force, according to local business daily Dziennik Gazeta Prawna.

Lithuania reports five Russian aircraft intercepted by NATO in last week

05/04/2016

NATO scrambled its fighter jets conducting the Air Policing Mission five times to intercept military aircraft of the Russian Federation in international airspace over the Baltic Sea from April 25 to April 30, reports Lithuania's National Defence Ministry.

Japan to Provide Military Aircraft to Philippines

05/04/2016

Japan will lease military aircraft to the Philippines in another sign of deepening security ties between the two former foes to counter Beijing's increasing regional influence. The agreement was made Monday afternoon during telephone talks between Japan's Defense Minister Gen Nakatani and his Philippine counterpart Voltaire Gazmin, the ministry said.

Textron demonstrates VTOL Aerosonde as it snags US Army Shadow contract

05/04/2016

Textron Systems says it has successfully demonstrated a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) with its Aerosonde unmanned air vehicle using the hybrid quadcopter technology that it is pursuing along with Latitude Engineering and Cloud Cap Technology.

The U.S. Army’s Lethal High-Speed Helicopters of the Future

05/04/2016

The Army is preparing for the first official flights of two high-tech, next-generation aircraft now being designed with a wide range of abilities to include flying faster, flying farther without needing to refuel, operating in high-hot conditions and having an ability to both reach high speeds and hover like a helicopter.

Lockheed Martin (LMT) Receives $1.27 Billion Contract For F-35 Lightning II Aircraft

05/04/2016

Lockheed Martin Corp. has been awarded a $1.27 billion contract to deliver F-35 Lightning II aircraft, the U.S. Department of Defense announced Monday. The Marine Corps will receive six F-35B aircraft, Air Force will get three F-35As and the Navy will take the delivery of four F-35Cs.

India Crafts Naval Technology Plan

05/04/2016

The Indian Navy has finalized a plan to acquire 100 cutting-edge technologies in the next 15 years to build its war-fighting capabilities, but how realistic that will be is a million-dollar question. The 15-year prospective plan unveiled last month calls for acquiring a range of futuristic technologies.

Why advocates say 174 is the magic number for future B-21 bomber purchases

05/04/2016

Congress recently included language in draft defense spending authorization legislation that would nudge the U.S. Air Force to consider upping its future orders of B-21 Long-Range Strike Bombers. Independent experts say the Pentagon should rethink its planned purchase of 100 bombers and potentially double them.

The Marines Are Running Out of Fighter Jets

05/04/2016

The U.S. Marine Corps has got an air force problem. Its current fleet of fighter jets, purchased from the 1980s to the mid-1990s, is in poor repair. And a new fleet of of vertical-launching F-35 stealth fighters that the Marines have been waiting years to put into action is coming on-line too slowly to keep up flying units’ strength.

Parliamentary Panel Expresses 'Displeasure' Over Delay In Rafale Deal

05/04/2016

As negotiations between India and France for the sale of 36 Rafale jet fighters are on, a parliamentary panel today expressed its displeasure over the non-conclusion of the deal. Parliament's standing committee for the defence ministry said in its report: "The committee are unhappy to note that although a considerable time has elapsed, negotiations with France on Rafale (fighter aircraft) could not be taken to a logical end."

Pakistan to Abandon F-16 Purchase Plans Unless US Subsidizes Deal

05/04/2016

As part of a deal valued at $699 million, Washington agreed to sell Islamabad up to eight Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter jets, in addition to radar and other equipment. Much of the cost would be covered by the US government’s Foreign Military Financing fund, with Pakistan paying some $270 million.

The South China Sea and Beijing’s Rebuttal: US Stennis Aircraft Carrier Denied Entry to Hong Kong

05/03/2016

Beijing denied a US aircraft carrier permission to make a port call in Hong Kong, a US consulate official says, a rejection that comes amid escalating tensions in the South China Sea. The Chinese Foreign Ministry told the US on Thursday night the visit by the USS John C. Stennis would not be allowed, said the official, who requested anonymity.

‘Deep Targets’: On the Ground With British, US Drone Forces Targeting ISIS

05/03/2016

Framed by a matted khaki sky, a Royal Air Force MQ-9 Reaper drone armed with four Hellfire missiles and two GBU-12 laser-guided bombs takes off from this undisclosed location. The unmanned aircraft is on its way to Iraq or Syria as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the coalition air war against the Islamic State, the terrorist army also known as ISIS. There is a 16.1 percent chance the Reaper will return to this base with fewer rockets and bombs, according to RAF data.

Prestigious fighter pilot critical of showdown between F-35 and A-10

05/03/2016

While critics of the F-35 welcome a showdown with the purpose-built ground-attack A-10, US fighter pilot Lt. Colonel Joshua Wood doesn’t share the same enthusiasm. As commander of the US Air Force’s 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron — a division tasked with developing new tactics for frontline fighters — Lt. Wood believes the showdown would not deliver any reasonable insights as results could be skewed.