Military Aviation News Archive

US Awards Bell Helicopter $85Mln to Upgrade Navy, Pakistan Weapons Systems

08/18/2015

The Department of Defense awarded a contract worth more than $85 million to Textron’s Bell Helicopter division to develop updates for weapons systems for the US and Pakistani helicopter fleets, the US Navy said in a press release.

Saudi Arabia Needs Mistrals for Power Projection in Middle East

08/18/2015

Saudi Arabia has been on a course to boost its military capabilities focusing lately on its naval forces and the possible purchase of the two Mistrals originally built for Russia by France could be central to these efforts.

Libya Calls for Airstrikes to Save Country from Islamic State

08/18/2015

Amid peace talks in Geneva aimed at stabilizing Libya, the civil war between the official government in the east and its rival group in the west continues to rage in the North African country.

40 militants killed in NWA airstrikes

08/17/2015

Pakistan Army aircraft swung into action and pounded hideouts in North Waziristan, killing 40 terrorists, hours after Punjab home minister was killed in a suicide attack on Sunday. Forty terrorists were killed and several injured in bombardment by fighter jets in Shawal area Sunday afternoon, ISPR said . Several other militants were injured in the aerial operation, it said.

China, Russia set for naval assertion in Sea of Japan

08/17/2015

China and Russia are stepping up their military collaboration by holding another round of naval exercises, this time in the Sea of Japan, following recent measures adopted by Tokyo that could deepen its military ties with Washington. On Saturday, the Chinese navy dispatched seven Chinese warships for the Sea of Japan. They will join the Russian Navy’s 16 surface ships, two submarines, 12 naval aircraft, nine amphibious vehicles and 200 marines.

The most advanced F-16 ever IN Super Viper Could Get Another Shot with the Indian Air Force

08/17/2015

The United States has extended an offer to India to jointly produce a line of fighter jets to both enhance military ties as well as provide for India’s frontline fighter fleet shortage. This comes right after the Indian government announced that the MMRCA (Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft) deal, originally signed with France’s Dassault Aviation, was, for all intents and purposes, over.

PAF gets 10 new choppers, awaits delivery of more

08/17/2015

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) will receive on Monday 10 new helicopters as part of its modernization program. The eight Bell-412EP and two AW-109E helicopters will be turned over to the PAF in a ceremony led by Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin.

Pentagon to Add Drone Flights

08/17/2015

The Pentagon plans to sharply expand the number of U.S. drone flights over the next four years, giving military commanders access to more intelligence and greater firepower to keep up with a sprouting number of global hot spots, a senior defense official said.

Experts say Chinese J-10s fighter jet would benefit Iran

08/17/2015

The China-made J-10 multi-role fighter jet is a suitable choice for Iran if the Middle East power decides to upgrade its aging military aircraft fleet, Chinese aviation experts said. "Once the sanctions against Iran are completely lifted, the country will definitely renovate its civilian and military aircraft fleets. The J-10 is a good option for the Iranians because it can fulfil all operations they want to conduct," said Wang Ya'nan, deputy editor-in-chief of Aerospace Knowledge magazine.

China's Newest Long-Range Heavy Bomber Should Unnerve US

08/17/2015

The H-6K boasting nuclear strike capabilities made its maiden flight in 2007 and entered service with the People's Liberation Army some two years later. At least two regiments of the Chinese Air Force are believed to be operating the H-6Ks at the moment.

Joint US, Italian Mission to Perform Observation Flight Over Russia

08/17/2015

he representatives of the United States and Italy will perform the observation flights over Russia from August 17 to 22, under the international Treaty on Open Skies, said Sergey Ryzhkov, the head of the Russian Defense Ministry's National Center for Nuclear Risk Reduction.

US F-22 Raptors are providing crucial situational awareness over Syria

08/16/2015

Although they were not conceived to play this kind of role, F-22 Raptors have emerged as some of the U.S.-led Coalition’s most reliable combat assets in supporting coalition planes during air strikes in Syria and Iraq. At the beginning of July, U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor jets had flown only 204 sorties out of 44,000 launched by the U.S.-lead coalition against ISIS in Syria and Iraq.

Boko Haram: Nigerian Air Force commences fresh air strike over Sambisa forest

08/16/2015

The Nigerian Military, in its resolution to incapacitate and further degrade the fighting spirit of Boko Haram Terrorist Group, has carried out several bombings and air strike missions in Sambisa Forest, the spokesperson for the Nigerian Air Force, Dele Alonge, has said.

US Offers Fighter Jets, Aircraft Carrier Technology to India

08/16/2015

US has offered to help India manufacture fighter jets and aircraft carrier. "I see no reason why the US and India can't produce fighter aircraft together, US ambassador to India, Richard Verma said at the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi Friday. “Both countries have established a new aircraft carrier working group to support India’s indigenous program. The first meeting of the group took place this week,” Verma said referring to the recent visit to New Delhi by Defense Minister Ashton C

NATO's Central European Members: A Tale of Shady Deals, Reckless Spending

08/16/2015

NATO might look uniform from the outside but take a closer look at some states in the 28-member bloc and you could see a picture of broken promises, shady arms deals, reckless spending and mismanagement.

Aviation Complex: What Russian Air Force Wants to Fly in XXI Century

08/16/2015

The term ‘Promising Aviation Complex’ has been used to describe the ongoing massive project. In order to get basic information about the project, below is a list of some of the major aviation complexes functioning in Russia currently.

Libya Appeals to World Powers to Unite in Fight against ISIL

08/16/2015

While Libyan troops clash with ISIL militants in attempts to take control of the city of Sirte in the south of Libya, state authorities are urging world powers to unite in the battle against the jihadist group and carry out airstrikes on its positions across the country.

China air force conducts west Pacific drill

08/15/2015

The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force conducted a drill involving "multiple types of aircraft" in the western Pacific on Friday, a military spokesperson said. PLA aircraft flew over the western Pacific via the Bashi Channel and returned on the same day, reaching 1,000 km beyond the First Island Chain, spokesperson Shen Jinke said at a news briefing.

Eyeing Russia, the Air Force Sends More A-10 Warthogs to Europe

08/15/2015

The Air Force didn’t help its long-standing argument that the A-10 Thunderbolt II attack jet should be retired when the service announced this week it would deploy more of the aircraft to Europe this fall. The 23rd Wing at Moody Air Force Base in Georgia announced it will send 12 attack planes and crews to Central and Eastern European to bolster NATO’s “Operation Atlantic Resolve,” an ongoing show of military might meant to deter Russian aggression in the region.

Australian pilots begin missions over Syria, flying American Reaper drones

08/15/2015

RAAF pilots are poised to begin flying deadly American Reaper drones over Syria, taking for the first time Australia's involvement in the fight against the so-called Islamic State from Iraq into the more complex neighbouring country. A Defence spokesman has told Fairfax Media that five RAAF personnel are embedded with the United States Air Force's 432nd Operations Group, which flies armed MQ-9 Reaper drones.

F-35B Declared Combat Ready, but More Development Remains

08/15/2015

The last day of July was momentous for the Marine Corps as it declared that a squadron of F-35B joint strike fighters was ready for combat. It was the first of the joint strike fighter models to reach initial operating capability.

America’s new trillion-dollar fighter jet under fire again

08/15/2015

It’s tough being the world’s most expensive weapon system. Years behind schedule and billions over-budget, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program has had to absorb its fair share of critiques. Over the past several years, it’s been described as too complex, too reliant on high-tech sensors and software, and—at $400 billion for development and procurement—far too costly.

Israel And Jordan Stepping Up Military, Defense Cooperation? Israeli And Jordanian Aircraft Fly in Tandem To US

08/15/2015

Have Jordan and Israel finally overcome decades of poor diplomatic relations? Military observers are speculating about a new era of relations between the two countries after Israeli air force fuel tankers escorted Jordanian fighter jets across the Atlantic Ocean earlier this week to participate in military exercises in the western United States, an American website devoted to military aviation news reports.

Nigerian Air Force steps up battle against Boko Haram, deploys more combat aircraft

08/15/2015

In a renewed drive to crush the fighting will of the Boko Haram terrorist group, the Nigerian Air Force says it has deployed additional combat platforms to North East Nigeria in support of the ongoing counter-insurgency operation codenamed ‘Operation Lafiya Dole’. The spokesperson for the Air Force, Dele Alonge, an Air Commodore, said in a statement Thursday that the new deployment came on the heel of the recent visit of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar.

Russia's Key Position as India's Weaponry Supplier 'Indisputable'

08/15/2015

Russia remains the primary supplier of arms to India despite reports that the country is no longer the leading weapons supplier, Russian Ambassador to India Alexander Kadakin told Sputnik on Friday.