Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

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.

Australia needs to 'show spine' over Joint Strike Fighter says expert

03/07/2016

When it comes to the Joint Strike Fighter jet, our most expensive defence acquisition yet, Australia is either a nation of rich optimists or fools, according to the man who until recently was the head of test and evaluation for the Australian Defence Force.

The Performance of Russia’s Aerospace Forces in Syria, … “Took NATO by Surprise”

03/07/2016

If the Russian Aerospace Forces’ performance took NATO by surprise, it is because earlier Russian operations did not suggest that level of ability. Russian aviation took serious losses in the 2008 conflict with Georgia: 7 aircraft shot down including a Tu-22M bomber, 4 damaged, or one loss per each 17 combat missions. There was practically no new aircraft procurement since 1994. Russian aircrews flew far fewer hours than their NATO counterparts.

Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier to head for Mediterranean in summer — source

03/06/2016

Russia's heavy aircraft carrier - Admiral Kuznetsov - in summer may go to the Mediterranean Sea, a high-ranking official at the Russian Navy told TASS on Saturday. "This summer, we plan the Admiral Kuznetsov's campaign in the Mediterranean Sea, where it will lead the Navy group in that region," the source said. Right now, the aircraft carrier is at Murmansk’s 35th Shipyard, where specialists prepare it for the long-distance campaign.

NEXT F-35S ACROSS THE ATLANTIC: DUTCH F-35S TO FLY FROM EDWARDS TO THE NETHERLANDS

03/06/2016

A Dutch F-35A Lightning II will touch down on home soil for the first time for environmental compatibility trials this spring according to a Royal Netherlands Air Force release. The F-35 will conduct several low-altitude circuits, take-offs, and landings at both Leeuwarden Air Base and Volkel Air Base, where the aircraft will eventually be based. The RNLAF plans to replace its legacy F-16A/B fleet with a minimum of 37 F-35s, split between the two bases.

Parade marks end of CF-18 mission in Iraq and Syria

03/06/2016

The Canadian Forces officially marked what it is calling the “transitioning of the Air Task Force-Iraq mission” during a parade Saturday in Kuwait. That transitioning is the end of the CF-18 combat mission.

Could there be a clash between Israel and Egypt?

03/06/2016

A few days ago a Russian state-owned aircraft manufacturer announced the sale of 50 MiG- 29 fighters to a North African country, most likely Egypt. On mid-February a senior Israeli defense official said, regarding Israel’s need to assimilate the F-35 joint strike fighter, that although there is peace with Egypt the latter focuses on Israel. Therefore Israel “must be ready for every possible scenario and every radical strategic shift, because we have no other choice.”

France, UK To Invest £1.5 Billion in Combat Drone

03/06/2016

UK Prime Minister David Cameron last week announced a plan with France to invest more than £1.5 billion (US $2.1 billion) to build a prototype combat drone, signaling a further step by the two European partners to stay in the military top tier on a bilateral basis. “Today we have agreed to jointly invest £1.5 billion to develop the next generation of a combat air system,” Cameron said at a March 3 joint press conference with French President François Hollande, at Amiens, northern France.

As Syria truce holds, time to assess the damage

03/05/2016

The United States and Russian Federation must make Syria's cessation of hostilities work or else it may become necessary to delay the resumption of peace talks, U.N. Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura told Reuters on Tuesday. Without progress on the cessation of hostilities and on access for humanitarian aid, de Mistura said he could "slightly" postpone the next round of peace talks, which has been pencilled in for Monday, March 7.

Israel, GCC: United Only by a Mistrust in the U.S.

03/05/2016

The U.S. balance-of-power strategy in the Middle East is approaching a potential pitfall. A number of crucial arms contracts for the sale of U.S. weaponry to several Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states are at risk of falling through because of Israeli opposition. The United States' final decision on whether to sign will anger one of two sides, Israel or the GCC, and both already harbor misgivings about continued U.S. support.

India mulling manufacturing second line of fighter jets: IAF

03/05/2016

India is mulling manufacturing one more line of fighter aircraft to replenish its dwindling fleet and a decision in this regard is likely to be taken in a year's time, Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha said today. The Chief of Air Staff said the second line of fighter jets will be in addition to light combat aircraft Tejas and 36 Rafale planes that India will procure from France.

Video: Saudi Air Force Deploys in Support of Turkey’s Ground Invasion of Syria

03/05/2016

Following the announcement by the Saudi Defense Ministry on Saturday February 14th that the kingdom intended to commit both air and ground forces to the fight against ISIS in Syria, the first four Royal Saudi Airforce F-15S strike fighters arrived at Incirlik air base on Friday February 26th. These jets were immediately proceeded by approximately thirty officers and men and supporting equipment aboard two C-130 transports.

Here's what I've learned so far dogfighting in the F-35: a JSF pilot's first-hand account

03/05/2016

As we reported last year, the debate between F-35 supporters and critics became more harsh in July 2015, when War Is Boring got their hands on a brief according to which the JSF was outclassed by a two-seat F-16D Block 40 (one of the aircraft the US Air Force intends to replace with the Lightning II) in mock aerial combat.

How China is transforming its military

03/05/2016

Even though China says its military is growing at a relatively modest pace of about 7 percent this year, it is clear that the country is marching toward a top-to-bottom expansion and modernization of its forces. Here's a look at how it's been changing: