Military Aviation News Archive

Overall US military aircraft exports strong in 2015

04/07/2016

Despite trouble locking in combat jet sales in 2015, concerns about an erosion in US military exports because of the American government’s burdensome and often sluggish approvals process might be overstated.

Stand guarantee for tech transfer, US told

04/07/2016

India has asked the United States to stand guarantee for transfer of technology, if any US-based company bids for the fighter jet programme under the “Make in India” initiative. This was part of the two-day talks held between the defence policy groups of the two countries in the run-up to the meeting between Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and his US counterpart Ashton Carter. The two leaders will meet for delegation-level talks on April 12 in New Delhi. Carter will arrive in Goa on April 10.

F-16s surge during two-day drill at Misawa

04/07/2016

Airmen with the 35th Fighter Wing conducted a two-day surge exercise April 4-5 with F-16 Fighting Falcons at Misawa Air Base. "During surge operations, we're validating our wing's ability to generate (aircraft) in a simulated combat scenario," said Capt. Josh Plocinski, the 14th Fighter Squadron chief of standardization and evaluation.

Why Super Hornet trumps Rafale

04/07/2016

I wrote previously on the need to revisit the decision to procure 126 units of the Rafale at Rs 1,000 crore a piece for India’s multi-role combat aircraft requirement and was happy to see that this was done by the Defence Ministry led ably by Manohar Parrikar. Instead of that large acquisition, Prime Minister Modi announced on his recent visit to France that a smaller number of aircraft (36) would be purchased, at a significantly lower price.

Discovery Air Defence Participates in Dissimilar Air Combat Training Exercise in Canary Islands

04/07/2016

Discovery Air Defence Services Inc. ("DA Defence"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Discovery Air Inc., recently deployed aircraft from Wittmundhafen, Germany to participate in the annual Dissimilar Air Combat Training ("DACT") exercise hosted by the Spanish Air Force at Gando Air Base, Canary Islands.

NATO to Work With Islamic Coalition to Counter Daesh

04/07/2016

NATO intends to cooperate with the Islamic Coalition against the Daesh terror group, the alliance’s Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in a speech at the Atlantic Council in Washington, DC. "If the question is whether we [NATO] are going to work together with the Islamic Coalition to counter ISIL [Daesh or Islamic State], then the answer is — yes," Stoltenberg stated on Wednesday. "I welcome that Islamic Countries are going together to fight ISIL."

Belarus to Receive 4 Russian Yak-130 Jets, S-300 Battalion in 2016

04/07/2016

Commander of the Belarusian Air Force Maj. Gen. said that Belarus will receive the fourth and final battalion of S-300 air defense systems as well as another four Yak-130 combat trainers in 2016.

Indonesia to Deploy Missile System on South China Sea Island

04/07/2016

Nearly $5 trillion in trade passes annually through the highly contested region of the the South China Sea. China lays claim to most of the area, but there are conflicting claims by Vietnam, Brunei, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

Pilot captured after Syrian warplane shot down by Islamist rebels near Alleppo

04/06/2016

The pilot of a Syrian warplane shot down by rebels south of Aleppo has been captured, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has said. The plane was hit by a surface-to-air missile and caught fire before falling in the Talat al-Iss highland, according to the group. The aircraft, reportedly a Su-22, had been on a reconnaissance mission, Syria's military confirmed.

F-16 crews soar in South Korean exercise

04/06/2016

F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots from the 80th Fighter Squadron practiced combined flying operations March 28-31 alongside counterparts from the South Korean air force’s 19th Fighter Wing at Jungwon Air Base during Buddy Wing 16-3. Buddy Wing training, conducted multiple times a year, polishes the ability of South Korean and U.S. pilots to train and operate as a combined force.

India keen on US’s F/A-18 jet offer

04/06/2016

The Indian defence establishment is showing "increasing interest" in the American offer to supply F/A-18 "Super Hornet" fighters to IAF under the Make in India programme, even as US defence secretary Ash Carter is all set to come visiting from April 10 to 12 to further crank up the bilateral strategic partnership.

Air Force wants more temporary airfields in Eastern Europe, general says

04/06/2016

The Air Force is hoping to remedy its lack of infrastructure in Europe with more modular, small-scale bases and runways, the head of U.S. Air Forces Europe said Tuesday. Gen. Frank Gorenc explained that base restructuring under the European Infrastructure Consolidation initiative, which led to the pending closures of RAF Mildenhall, Alconbury and Molesworth, and 12 other installations across Europe, has prompted the Air Force to increase its missions with NATO partners using alternative sites a

Finmeccanica Signs Deal to Sell Kuwait 28 Eurofighter Typhoons

04/06/2016

Italian aerospace and defense supplier Finmeccanica SpA on Tuesday said it has signed a contract with Kuwait for the sale of 28 Eurofighter Typhoon combat jets as the Middle East country follows its neighbors in modernizing its air force.

Ankara Bombs PKK Targets in Northern Iraq

04/06/2016

As Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan continues his brutal crackdown on Kurdish communities in the country’s southeast, Ankara has also stepped up its efforts abroad. On Tuesday, officials confirmed that the Turkey’s military carried out airstrikes against PKK militants in northern Iraq.

Seoul Claims North Korea Capable of Launching Mid-Range Nuclear Missile

04/06/2016

Amid North Korea’s recent push to improve its nuclear capabilities, South Korean officials claim that Pyongyang can mount a nuclear warhead on a medium-range missile.

Russia Faces High Demand for Su-34, Su-35 Jets After Success in Syria

04/06/2016

Indonesia, India and Malaysia have expressed interest in buying Russian-made Su-34 and Su-35 jets. Su-34 jet fighters/bombers were deployed to Syria from the first day of the operation. They destroyed terrorist infrastructure facilities and command points. Su-35s were deployed to Syria later. They provided protection for the striking force.

Russia Could Start Delivering S-400s to China by Year-End - Source

04/06/2016

S-400 is by far Russia's most advanced surface-to-air missile system that has a range of 248 miles and is capable of tracking and destroying all existing aerial targets, including ballistic and cruise missiles.

Lockheed Martin Mini-Missile Takes Flight in New Demonstration

04/06/2016

A Lockheed Martin-built Miniature Hit-to-Kill (MHTK) interceptor was successfully launched from a Multi-Mission Launcher (MML) in an engineering demonstration on April 4 at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico.

Israeli Military Aircraft into Lebanon Denounced

04/05/2016

Lebanese authorities denounced today that four Israeli combat aircraft overflew regions in the Beqaa Valley and around the Anti-Lebanon Mountains, at the border with Syria, at medium altitude. Although they did not give details, the sources quoted by the official news agency NNA said the four violations of the air space followed other disrespectful actions against the sovereignty of this Arab country by Israel, especially in southern border towns.

Russia's Mi-28N helicopter's combat debut is Syria

04/05/2016

Russian Mi-28N ('Havoc-B') attack helicopter has made its combat debut in Syria, according to the footage provided by Russia`s Ministry of Defense (MoD). The footage shows the usage of at least one Mi-28N helicopter in fighting against the Islamic State terrorists near the city of Palmyra (Homs province).

F-35I C4 software enters production

04/05/2016

The command, control, communications and computer (C4) system is being developed by Israel Aerospace Industries’ Lahav division, which announced on 3 April it had completed the system definition, prototyping and testing phases ahead of production.

Bulgaria Approves $1.4B Fighter Jet, Vessel Acquisition Programs

04/05/2016

The Bulgarian government has approved three programs to acquire new fighter jets, modernize the country’s Mikoyan MiG-29 aircraft and purchase new patrol vessels, worth a total of 2.42 billion leva (US $1.4 billion), reports local news agency Novinite.

US, Philippines Launch Wargames As China Issues Warning

04/05/2016

The United States and the Philippines began this year’s iteration of their annual war games on Monday as China issued a pointed warning about outside interference in the ongoing South China Sea disputes. Some 8,000 U.S. and Philippine will participate in the Balikatan exercises, which will run from April 4 to April 15. Australian troops will also participate in Balikatan this year, while several countries sent observers.

Calls for calm after third day of fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh

04/05/2016

Armenia’s president has warned that renewed fighting in the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh could spiral into all-out war after a third day of fighting. “A further escalation of military action could lead to unpredictable and irreversible consequences, right up to a full-scale war,” President Serzh Sarksyan said in a speech opening a meeting with foreign ambassadors in the Armenian capital Yerevan.

US military gives go ahead to 'Gremlin' drones: Swarms of craft will overwhelm enemy defenses and conduct missions too dangerous for manned aircraft

04/05/2016

They were the mischievous creatures blamed for causing mechanical failures and faults on aircraft during World War Two and later the destructive monsters in a hit film franchise. So Gremlins might not seem like the first choice for a fleet of robotic aircraft being developed by the US military. But the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has given the go ahead for four firms to begin building the craft.