Military Aviation News Archive

Beijing Accuses US Destroyer of Violating China’s Territorial Waters

01/31/2016

The patrolling near the Paracel Islands archipelago, conducted by a US Navy destroyer, is unlawful as such action can only be allowed with the permission of the Chinese authorities, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying said.

‘Fatal Blow to Daesh’: Iraqi Army Poised to Liberate Mosul

01/31/2016

The Iraqi Army is all set to liberate the city of Mosul, which has been controlled by Daesh terrorists since June 2014, Iraqi Media News agency reported, citing a senior military commander.

Russian Su-27 jet fighter flies within 20 feet of US surveillance aircraft during 'unsafe and unprofessional' interception over the Black Sea

01/30/2016

A Russian fighter jet 'buzzed' a US surveillance aircraft passing within 20 feet when it intercepted its target over the Black Sea. The Su-27 Flanker passed dangerously close to the Boeing RC-135 which was 30 miles from the Russian coast while flying over international waters. According to US officials, the Russian jet drew alongside the surveillance aircraft before turning away violently and hitting it with the jet blast from its engines.

Russia to Deploy More Su-30 Interceptor Jets in Crimea

01/30/2016

A number of new planes will be added to the squadron of Sukhoi Su-30SM multirole interceptors deployed in Crimea, the Black Sea Fleet Commander, Admiral Alexander Vitko, said on Friday.

France delivers Dassault-built Rafale to Egypt

01/30/2016

France's Dassault Aviation has delivered the second batch of Rafale multirole combat fighters to the Egyptian Air Force (EAF). Three more aircraft were delivered as part of a $5bn deal signed between the company and the Arab Republic of Egypt in February 2015 for the supply of 24 Rafale fighter aircraft. France will also supply an FREMM frigate to Egypt as part of the deal.

OPINION: Dassault excels in balancing act

01/30/2016

“We had the impression the crisis was over and the world was back to recovery.” The downturn in markets that as recently as 2014 were darlings of Dassault, and its rivals in large-cabin business jets, surprised the French firm’s boss Éric Trappier, but it illustrates the fragility of a sector that depends on discretionary spending much more than, say, commercial aviation.

Software flaws will delay combat testing on F-35s by a year

01/30/2016

Tests to determine how Lockheed Martin’s F-35 will perform in combat won’t begin until at least August 2018, a year later than planned, and more than 500 of the fighter jets may be built before the assessment is complete, according to the Pentagon’s test office.

Iran says its drone took ‘beautiful and accurate footage’ of U.S. aircraft carrier and combat units

01/30/2016

Iran flew a drone over a U.S. aircraft carrier and took “precise” photographs of it as part of an ongoing naval drill, state television reported Friday. The U.S. Navy said an unarmed Iranian drone flew near a French and American carrier on Jan. 12, but couldn’t confirm it was the same incident.

U.S. Navy Awards Boeing $2.5 Billion Contract for 20 More P-8A Poseidon Aircraft

01/30/2016

Boeing will further equip the U.S. Navy and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) with maritime patrol capabilities, building 20 more P-8A Poseidon aircraft following a $2.5 billion U.S. Navy order announced yesterday. The contract, for Lot 7 of the total P-8A program of record, includes 16 aircraft for the U.S. Navy and the next four aircraft for the RAAF. The RAAF’s initial four P-8A aircraft were included in the August 2015 Lot 6 contract award.

US Air Force Spending Over $271Mln to Expand Balad Base in Iraq

01/30/2016

The US Air Force has given Sallyport Global Holdings in Virginia a $271.8 million contract to run security and life support operations at Balad Air Base in Iraq over the next year, the Department of Defense announced.

Beijing Plans Aircraft Carrier Patrols in Disputed South China Sea

01/30/2016

The Chinese Navy will likely deploy an aircraft carrier for permanent operations in the South China Sea, where China and other countries in the region are feuding over competing territorial claims, an expert said.

Netherlands to Conduct Airstrikes Against Daesh in East Syria

01/30/2016

Airstrikes against Daesh in Syria will make the fight against the group in Iraq, where the Netherlands is already carrying out attacks, more effective, the government said. "Disrupting supply chains in eastern Syria is crucial," Defense Minister Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert said in a statement published by the government.

Air Force Awards Rolls-Royce 2 Contracts for Super Hercules Work

01/29/2016

Rolls-Royce has been given two firm-fixed-price Air Force delivery orders, each worth more than $70 million, relating to the C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft, the U.S. Department of Defense announced in its Wednesday publication of military contracts.

U.S., South Korea practicing joint air force drills

01/29/2016

The United States and South Korea are conducting a joint drill involving fighter pilots from both air forces in the wake of North Korea's nuclear test. The exercises are ongoing as the United States vowed Thursday to defend another ally, Japan, should a chain of disputed islands claimed by Tokyo and Beijing fall under attack – in a statement that directly warned China against provocations.

Pentagon: Russian Fighter Conducted ‘Unsafe’ Intercept of U.S. Recon Plane Over Black Sea

01/29/2016

A Russian fighter intercepted a U.S. Air Force reconnaissance flight in an “unsafe and unprofessional manner’ in international airspace over the Black Sea, a Pentagon spokeswoman confirmed to USNI News on Thursday. According to the Pentagon, a Russian Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker intercepted a RC-135U Combat Sent “flying a routine route in international airspace over the Black Sea,” read a statement provided to USNI News.

Lawmaker Calls on Obama to Fund A-10, Develop Replacement

01/29/2016

Ahead of President Barack Obama’s budget rollout next week, an influential Air Force pilot-turned lawmaker called on the commander-in-chief and his defense secretary to request full funding for the legacy A-10 until plans for its replacement take shape.

Murphy's Law: America Mysteriously Denies Arab Allies New Aircraft

01/29/2016

For two years the United States has delayed action on a Qatari attempt to buy 36 (and eventually 73) F-15E fighter bombers (for nearly $4 billion) and Kuwaiti efforts to buy 28 F-18E fighters (for $3 billion). The American Department of Defense and State Department approved the deal and there was support in Congress but for reasons unclear the American president refused to approve (or disapprove) the deal or even explain why not.

Received queries for LCA Tejas during Bahrain airshow: HAL chief T Suvarna Raju

01/29/2016

Queries were received about the country's indigenous Light Combat Aircraft Tejas for possible export, during the recently held Bahrain air show, HAL chief T Suvarna Raju today said but refused to identify the interested countries. He also asserted that the first upgraded Tejas with better radar, missiles system, mid-air refueling capability, would be handed over to the force by 2018.

Japan Unveils First Homegrown Stealth Plane

01/29/2016

Japan on Thursday unveiled its first stealth fighter jet, officials said, with the maiden test flight planned for next month. The defense ministry's acquisition agency showed off the domestically developed, radar-dodging X-2 fighter at a regional airport near the central city of Komaki.

Lockheed Martin Partners with Advanced Electronics Company To Open New Sniper ATP Support Center in Saudi Arabia

01/29/2016

Lockheed Martin and Advanced Electronics Company (AEC) recently celebrated the opening of the Sniper® Advanced Targeting Pod (ATP) Expanded Repair Capability center in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This marks the start of operations at the first Sniper ATP support center located outside the United States.

US, Russia Discuss Enhancement of Military Flights Safety Over Syria

01/29/2016

Department of Defense Press Secretary Peter Cook said that the US Department of Defense held a video conference with the Russian Ministry of Defense on ways to further improve safety of military jets operating in Syria.

Recapitalizing JSTARS: the radar

01/28/2016

For more than two decades, the Air Force's Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System has provided valuable intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance to commanders by detecting, locating and tracking enemy ground forces from afar. Identified as the service's fourth largest acquisition priority, the JSTARS weapon system is currently undergoing a major recapitalization - including its radar.

Design review to unlock Sikorsky HH-60W funds

01/28/2016

US air force’s Combat Rescue Helicopter programme is on track to complete a preliminary design review in April that will unlock funds for five more aircraft. Programme officials from the service and Sikorsky say that during 2015 the two sides came to an agreement on more than 1,000 design requirements and 3,000 subsystem specifications through the government’s "system requirements review" process.

High-end, advanced combat training launches during Red Flag 16-1

01/28/2016

Combat air force squadrons from across the world joined Tyndall Air Force Base’s Checkertails at Nellis AFB, Nevada, this week for the joint-training, full-spectrum, readiness exercise, Red Flag 16-1.

4 RSAF fighter aircraft squadrons competing in Hotshot Challenge

01/28/2016

The RSAF Hotshot Challenge is a biennial air-to-surface competition where squadrons undergo several challenges that test skills in areas like basic weaponry, weapon loading, and precision and creative marshalling.