Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Russian MiG-31s Perform Unique Non-Stop Flight With Three Aerial Refuelings

08/02/2015

Russian MiG-31 interceptor jet pilots performed a unique six-hour non-stop flight with three air refueling operations, head of the press service of the Russian Central Military District, Col. Yaroslav Roshchupkin, said Saturday. "The pilots from the Central Military District devoted the unique flight of MiG-31BM interceptor jets to today's opening of the International Army Games," Roshchupkin said in a statement.

New generation gunship arrives at Hurlburt

07/31/2015

The first Air Force Special Operations Command AC-130J gunship made a historic entrance aboard Hurlburt Field on Wednesday — complete with a flyover and taxi underneath a fire truck water arch. The gunship, a heavily-armed, ground-attack aircraft, is one of the Air Force’s most advanced weapons. It’s known for its ability to shoot a large amount of cannon fire at night, as it’s equipped with smart bombs.

Iraqi helicopter pilots training in Czech Republic

07/31/2015

Thirty-one Iraqi helicopter pilots are being trained in the Czech Republic, the Defense Ministry's spokesman Petr Medek told the Czech News Agency today. Medek said the training of the helicopter pilots is organized by the LOM Praha state firm. The Defense Ministry corrected its original information after Aero Vodochody that will resell 15 L-159 aircraft from the Czech military stock to Iraq dismissed the information about 31 pilots of L-159 planes.

Former Langley Fighter Squadron Reactivated as F-22 Training Partner

07/31/2015

The "Ironmen" will be back flying at Langley Air Force Base next month. The 71st Fighter Squadron will be re-activated under a slightly different name -- the 71st Fighter Training Squadron -- during a ceremony Aug. 21, according to a statement from the base.

Nato fighter jets intercept Russian aircraft

07/31/2015

Fighter jets from Nato’s Baltic air policing mission have scrambled to intercept 22 Russian aircraft in multiple formations over the past week, including two of the largest interceptions over eastern Europe since tensions with Moscow began to rise 18 months ago.

Lockheed Martin Delivers 29th C-5M Super Galaxy

07/31/2015

Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) delivered the 29th C-5M Super Galaxy to the U. S. Air Force on July 28. A Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) aircrew ferried the aircraft from the Lockheed Martin facility here to Stewart Air National Guard Base, New York, where it will undergo internal paint restoration. Once paint restoration is completed, the aircraft will then be flown to Travis Air Force Base, California, where it will be permanently based. It will be the eleventh Super Galaxy assigned to

Well That’s Embarrassing: Israel May Be Indirectly Giving Weapons to Iran

07/31/2015

Israel has repeatedly expressed its opposition to the Iran nuclear deal, citing fears of an attack. But Tel Aviv may be inadvertently supplying Tehran with its own military technology, thanks to a deal between Tehran and the Chinese government.

Serbia to Buy Military Helicopters From Russia, Germany

07/31/2015

Serbia will buy four military helicopters from Russia and Germany in the near future, the country’s Defense Minister Bratislav Gasic said Thursday. "We are approaching the final stage of the purchase of two Russian and two German military helicopters. The first delivery [of the helicopters] is expected soon," Gasic said in an interview with Tanjug news agency.

US to Deliver Eight F-16 Fighter Jets to Egypt as Part of Military Support

07/31/2015

The United States will deliver eight F-16 Block 52 aircraft to Cairo, as a part of its commitment to upgrade Egypt’s military might in light of current terrorist threats, the US Embassy in Cairo said Thursday.

Indian Officer Says India Will Keep Buying Russian Weapons

07/31/2015

India has no intention to stop purchasing Russian arms, an Officer of the Mechanised Infantry Regiment of the Indian Army, Lt. Col. Vivek Suryakant Badve, said Thursday. "I would rather disagree," Badve told RIA Novosti, commenting on an opinion voiced by some experts that India will gradually stop buying Russian armament, replacing it with weapons of domestic production and purchasing with other countries.

Marines’ New Stealth Fighter Jets to Be Operational in Days

07/30/2015

The Marines’ long-awaited F-35B Lightning II fighters, stealthy jets that can take off vertically from assault ships, are days away from being operational. The respected magazine Aviation Week & Space Technology said Marine Corps Commandant Joseph Dunford is expected to declare “initial operational capability” by the end of this month. The first operational squadron, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121, is based in Yuma.

Nigerian Air Force Closes Boko Haram Fuel Routes

07/30/2015

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has said that its fighter pilots have blocked and seized fuel route of the deadly Boko Haram sect along the nation’s borderline with Cameroon. Dele Alonge, the spokesperson of NAF, in a statement issued on July 29, Wednesday, said patrols along the Nigeria-Cameroon boundaries “have greatly strained the supply efforts of the BHT (Boko Haram terrorists)”.

RAAF receives new Boeing fighter jet

07/30/2015

The Royal Australian Air Force has taken delivery of its first EA-18G Growler, one of twelve it it will acquire under an agreement with the U.S. Navy. Australia is the first country outside the U.S to obtain the fighter jets, which are a derivative of the F/A-18 Super Hornet. Boeing, the maker of the EA-18Gs, says they're the only aircraft in production which provide tactical jamming and electronic protection.

Russia To Hold International Air Force Competition 'Aviadarts' Featuring Military Scenarios

07/30/2015

Russia, China and two other nations will participate in an air force competition next month that will include more than 50 aviation crews, the Russian Defense Ministry said Wednesday. The competition, which will occur as part of a larger Russian-operated international military competition, will unfold amid growing Western concern about Russia’s military activity.

F-16 Fighting Falcon

07/30/2015

The South Dakota Air National Guard is providing two F-16 Fighting Falcon static displays for the airshow. The aircraft are assigned to the 175th Fighter Squadron, part of the 114th Fighter Wing at Joe Foss Field in Sioux Falls.

Former Langley fighter squadron reactivated as F-22 training partner

07/30/2015

The "Ironmen" will be back flying at Langley Air Force Base next month. The 71st Fighter Squadron will be re-activated under a slightly different name — the 71st Fighter Training Squadron — during a ceremony Aug. 21, according to a statement from the base.

Boeing Unveils First Royal Australian Air Force Growler

07/30/2015

Boeing [NYSE: BA] and the U.S. Navy today extended advanced airborne electronic attack (AEA) capability to a key U.S. ally, presenting the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) with its first EA-18G Growler. Australia is the first country other than the U.S. to obtain this aircraft.

Tu-160M2 to Have New Avionics That Will Increase Its Effectiveness Twofold

07/30/2015

In addition to a new engine, Russia’s elite Tupolev Tu-160M2 strategic bomber (“White Swan”) is capable of carrying cruise and nuclear missiles and will receive cutting-edge avionics, said Vladimir Mikheev, the adviser of the deputy head of Russia’s Radio-Electronic Technologies Concern (RETC), according to Rossiyskaya Gazeta.

Reports of Taliban Leader Mullah Omar’s Death Credible - White House

07/30/2015

Washington believes the reports claiming the leader of the Taliban wing in Afghanistan, Mullah Omar, was dead are trustworthy, White House spokesperson Eric Schultz said in a briefing on Tuesday.

US, Turkey Struggle to Define Syrian 'Moderates' for Proposed 'Safe Zone'

07/30/2015

The United States and Turkey have yet to identify a group of "moderate insurgents" capable of leading an operation to clear Islamic State (IS) militants from a stretch of territory along the Turkey-Syria border.

Argentina turns away from Xiaolong purchase

07/29/2015

Argentina has decided to give up trying to purchase the JF-17 Thunder, a multirole fighter known as the FC-1 Xiaolong jointly developed by China and Pakistan, reports the Shanghai-based Guancha Syndicate.

Air Force Secretary Acknowledges Wide Range of Problems with F-35

07/29/2015

Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James has admitted to a wide range of past and present problems with the F-35 while maintaining that the fifth-general will eventually guarantee the U.S. continued air supremacy over rivals. "The biggest lesson I have learned from the F-35 is never again should we be flying an aircraft while we're building it," James said at the Aspen Security Forum in Colorado last week.

BAE Systems at risk of missing target as it fights for orders

07/29/2015

High quality global journalism requires investment. Please share this article with others using the link below, do not cut & paste the article. See our Ts&Cs and Copyright Policy for more detail. Email [email protected] to buy additional rights.

Lockheed F-35’s Reliability Found Wanting in Shipboard Testing

07/29/2015

The Marine Corps’ version of Lockheed Martin Corp.’s F-35 fighter demonstrated poor reliability in a 12-day exercise at sea, according to the U.S. military’s top testing officer. Six F-35Bs, the most complex version of the Pentagon’s costliest weapons system, were available for flights only half of the time needed, Michael Gilmore, the Defense Department’s director of operational testing, said in a memo obtained by Bloomberg News.

India’s Rafale Fighter Jets May Face Further Delays

07/29/2015

After last month’s announcement that India’s Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) program is encountering further delays, with final operational clearance postponed to March 2016 (See: “Surprise: India’s New Fighter Jet Faces More Delays”), the Indian Air Force (IAF) may experience an additional setback in increasing its number of operational combat squadrons.