Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Future Air Force fighter planes will be controlling many advanced combat UAV and jam resistant smart missiles

02/27/2016

A new manned fighter will be defined in an era when unmanned air vehicles are ubiquitous and unmanned combat air vehicles are a reality. UCAVs will not replace manned aircraft but will influence the design of the next fighters by relieving them of some missions, such as suppression/destruction of enemy air defenses or stand-in electronic attack. One argument for the Navy’s RAQ-25 carrier-based air refueling system is that it can extend both the range and life of the strike-fighter force.

Air Force Unveils New Stealth Bomber, Looks Just Like Old Stealth Bomber

02/27/2016

The U.S. Air Force has revealed the designation and shape of its new stealth bomber. The big, radar-evading warplane—the successor to the Air Force's iconic B-2 stealth bomber—has been designated B-21. And based on the single computer-generated image the flying branch has released, the B-21 looks a lot like ... well, the B-2 from 30 years ago.

Pentagon starts aggressive cyberwar against IS

02/27/2016

Not long after Defense Secretary Ash Carter prodded his cyber commanders to be more aggressive in the fight against Islamic State, the U.S. ramped up its offensive cyberattacks on the militant group. According to several U.S. officials, the attacks are targeting the group’s abilities to use social media and the Internet to recruit fighters and inspire followers, U.S. officials told The Associated Press.

Saudi, UAE military equipment arrive in Turkey

02/27/2016

Saudi and UAE military aircraft have arrived at the Incirlik airbase in southern Turkey. Turkish authorities announced Thursday that Saudi warplanes set to be used in the fight against ISIS would shortly arrive in the country. The planes are to be stationed at the Incirlik base, which is already hosting US, British and French war planes taking part in the strikes against IS fighters in Syria.

Finmeccanica commences final assembly of Poland's M-346 aircraft

02/27/2016

Finmeccanica has commenced the final assembly of the Polish Air Force's first two Aermacchi M-346 advanced / lead-in fighter trainer aircraft at its Aircraft Division facility in Venegono Superiore, Varese, Italy. The development is part of a contract secured by the company from the Polish Ministry of Defence (MoD) to supply eight aircraft and associated logistic support.

China makes big inroads into African defence market

02/27/2016

China is making increasing inroads into the African defence market with up to two-thirds of militaries on the continent now using its equipment. According to data in the latest annual edition of The Military Balance, produced by the London based International Institute of Security Studies (IISS), and a report this week from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), a rapid rise in Chinese military transfers to the continent has been underway since 2005.

Sanity Temporarily Prevails: A-10 Thunderbolt Retirement Plan Postponed Until 2022

02/27/2016

The U.S. Air Force has given up on trying to retire the A-10 Thunderbolt ground attack aircraft at least until 2022 and likely well beyond, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter told the House Appropriations Committee on Thursday.

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.