Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

US Navy to Boost Presence in Disputed South China Sea Region

02/25/2016

As tensions escalate in the South China Sea, the US plans to increase its freedom-of-navigation (FON) operations through Chinese waters. Last October, the Pentagon conducted its first FON in the South China Sea, sending the USS Lassen within the 12-mile territorial limit of Beijing’s artificial islands in the Spratly archipelago. The move elicited outrage from Chinese officials.

Russian Military Shares Syria Operational Data With US Defense Attache

02/25/2016

The Russian Defense Ministry on Wednesday handed a map depicting the current operational situation in Syria to the US defense attache in Moscow, the ministry's press service said.

Brazil looks to sell its basic trainers to IAF

02/24/2016

Brazil’s Embraer company will be showcasing its basic trainer A-29 ‘Super Tucano’ at the forthcoming DefExpo in Goa for the first time. Keeping in mind that the Super Tucano’s role will not be limited to training alone, the company has equipped the A-29 (the Super Tucano version for the Brazilian Air Force) with systems designed not only to comply with basic requirements, but also to keep pace with the continual changes taking place in the aircraft’s potential operating theatres.

India will open all combat roles in military to women: Pranab Mukherjee

02/24/2016

Women will finally be allowed to serve in fighter streams of all armed forces in the country. Four months after the government approved the induction of women into the combat stream of the Indian Air Force (IAF), President Pranab Mukherjee said, “In the future, my government will induct women in all fighter streams of our armed forces.” The announcement was made on Tuesday during his address to the joint sitting of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.

China’s not-so-wonderful weapons

02/24/2016

For the past 15 or 20 years, China been engaged in a concerted effort to modernize and upgrade its military. To be sure, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in 2016 is a much more formidable fighting force than it was in 1996. It has — as the result of a concerted, multi-decade effort, backed up by a rapidly expanding defense budget – crafted a new military force increasingly more capable of projecting power across the modern battlespace, particularly at sea, in outer space, and in cyberspace.

Trial F-35A deployment smooths path for first combat squadron

02/24/2016

Six F-35A of 31st Test Evaluation Squadron have deployed to Mountain Home AFB in Idaho this month for an “operational deployment test” that will clear the way for 10 operational jets from the first combat-coded squadron, which will follow this summer.

Smoky Mountain Air Show announces lineup of aerial acts

02/24/2016

Organizers of the Smoky Mountain Air Show, featuring the Navy's Blue Angels, on Tuesday announced the rest of the lineup for the April 16-17 show. Besides the Navy's renowned demonstration team, the acts at McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base will include Greg Koontz Airshows, Younkin Airshows, Aeroshell Acrobatic Team, Commemorative Air Force's Dixie Wing WW II warbirds and Jacquie B Airshows.

Questions Linger Over Russia’s Endgame in Syria, Ukraine and Europe

02/24/2016

The partial truce that Russia and the United States have thrashed out in Syria capped something of a foreign policy trifecta for President Vladimir V. Putin, with the Kremlin strong-arming itself into a pivotal role in the Middle East, Ukraine floundering and the European Union developing cracks like a badly glazed pot.

TAQNIA Aeronautics and Sikorsky Sign Agreement to Explore Helicopter Business Opportunities in Saudi Arabia

02/24/2016

Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company (NYSE: LMT) today signed an agreement with Taqnia Aeronautics to jointly explore helicopter production opportunities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The new agreement outlines the investment, technology and skills needed to establish production jobs for Saudi citizens, and could lead to direct involvement in the assembly of Sikorsky S-70 BLACK HAWK helicopters in the Kingdom.

Gaining Momentum: ‘Chinese Weapons Doing Reasonably Well’ on Global Market

02/24/2016

China has almost doubled its weapons exports over the past five years, a military think tank said on Monday. According to a new report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, China’s arms imports have shrunk by twenty five percent from 2011 to 2015.

Russian Aerospace Forces Equipment Renewed by Over 50% - Deputy Commander

02/24/2016

Equipment of the Russian Aerospace Forces has been renewed by more than a half, the forces deputy commander, Lt. Gen. Andrey Yudin, said Tuesday. "We are rearming with modern multi-purpose aircraft, in particular here in the south of Russia, with Su-30SM, Su-35S, new helicopters. In general, the aviation fleet has been seriously renewed and can successfully perform any tasks," Yudin told reporters at the Armavir aviation school in southwestern Russia.

Bullish Saab Sets Rollout Date For Gripen E

02/23/2016

Saab will roll out the first Gripen E version at Linkoping, Sweden on May 18, said Richard Smith, the company’s head of marketing and sales for the combat aircraft. In a bullish briefing at the Singapore Airshow last week, Smith said that thanks to the 60 new-build E/F jets for Sweden, plus the Brazilian Gripen order and other surveillance and submarine programs, the Swedish company’s backlog was at an all-time high of $13.5 billion.

Air force, DRDO, pleased with Tejas performance at Bahrain

02/23/2016

In a milestone for India’s Tejas light-combat aircraft (LCA), two Tejas fighters travelled from India to performed aerobatics at the Bahrain International Air Show (BIAS-2016) from January 21-23. Business Standard has obtained the first official account of this first international outing, where the Tejas impressed global aerospace experts, taking an important first step towards export in the future.

Raytheon Announces Bid for USAF T-X Trainer Competition

02/23/2016

Raytheon on Monday officially announced it is teaming with Italian aerospace company Finmeccanica and CAE to offer the T-100 for the US Air Force T-X advanced trainer competition, a move first reported by Defense News last week.

US Dominates Arms Trade as Asia, Mid-East Boost Imports

02/23/2016

The global transfer of major arms has risen in recent years, with the United States increasing its dominance of the trade while the flow of weaponry to Africa, Asia and the Middle East has increased, a new study published Monday showed.

F-16 sales to Pakistan to address specific counter-terrorism: US Envoy

02/23/2016

US Ambassador to India Richard Verma on Monday reiterated that Washington's decision to sell F-16 combat aircraft to Pakistan was to help it fight terrorism. “Our security partnership with Pakistan was made clear,” Verma said while answering questions after delivering a lecture on “Indo-US strategic partnership: Present status and future trends”

Report: U.S. aircraft carriers’ ‘unchallenged primacy may be coming to a close’

02/23/2016

The United States’ aircraft carriers have always been an almost untouchable deterrent, steel behemoths capable of projecting the full weight of the U.S. military wherever they deploy. Yet while many militaries could never hope to match the U.S. carrier fleet in size and strength, countries such as China, Iran and Russia have spent recent years adjusting their forces and fielding equipment designed to counter one of the United States’ greatest military strengths.

As Libya mission intensifies, Italy OKs U.S. to fly armed drone missions

02/23/2016

The Italian government recently cleared the way for expanded U.S. drone operations from an air base in Sicily, giving the American military more options for tracking — and potentially targeting — Islamic State militants and their spread across North Africa.

HAL, BAE Eye Joint Venture for Hawk, Jaguar Work

02/23/2016

BAE Systems and India's state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) are considering establishing a joint venture to co-produce variants of the Hawk trainer, upgrade the Jaguar aircraft and establish a partnership focused on logistics and producing spares in India.

Iran, Russia Negotiating ‘Next Generation' S-300 Missile Systems' Supplies

02/23/2016

Earlier, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu paid an official visit to Tehran to meet with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and the Iranian Defense Minister Hossein Dehghani. Representatives of both countries discussed, among others, the sale of S-300 missile systems, Iranian news agency IRNA reported.

Daesh Using Civilians as Human Shields Against Advancing Syrian Army

02/23/2016

Daesh terrorists are going door-to-door in Raqqa and in the surrounding villages looking for civilians to be used a human shields against the Syrian army and popular forces moving in from Aleppo and Hama provinces, Iran’s Fars news agency wrote on Sunday.

Military strikes continue against ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq

02/22/2016

On Feb. 20, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted 18 strikes using attack, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL targets. Additionally in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 20 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using rocket artillery and fighter, attack, and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL targets.

Navy Commander: South China Sea Not a US-Versus-China Battle

02/22/2016

The commander of the U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet said Monday that he is wary of the situation in the South China Sea being painted as a battle between the United States and China, but added the presence of a Chinese missile system on a disputed island will not stop the U.S. military from flying over the region.

Cope North Exercise Showcases Top Military Warplanes

02/22/2016

When this base opened its gates to the public Feb. 20 for a chance to see dozens of aircraft and support vehicles displayed near the airfield, cars lined up for several miles waiting to get inside. It's rare that top military aircraft from America, Australia and Japan would be gathered in one spot; rarer still that the public would get an up-close look. But Cope North, a Pacific Air Forces-sponsored two-week exercise running through Feb. 26, provided the opportunity for this open house.

Russia’s Air Campaign in Syria Has Changed the Course of History

02/22/2016

When the Russian aircraft first arrived at Hmeimim, the war was going badly for the Syrian government. The terrorists were able to make major advances during the prior months, and were close to threatening Damascus itself. Syrian forces were demoralized by their setbacks and suffering from shortages of equipment and ammunition.