Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Japan Approves Record Defense Budget

12/29/2015

The cabinet of Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe approved a record 5.05 trillion yen ($41.4 billion) defense budget for fiscal year 2016/2017 and slightly below the 5.09 trillion yen requested by Japan’s Ministry of Defense (MOD), The Japan Times reports. This marks the fourth consecutive rise in defense spending since Shinzo Abe assumed office in December 2012.

Islamic State retreats in Iraq as military retakes key city

12/29/2015

Iraqi officials said security forces recaptured a second strategic city from Islamic State militants, dealing a blow to the group's military campaign in OPEC's second-biggest oil producer. The reversal in Ramadi, 110 kilometers (68 miles) west of Baghdad, came after U.S. and coalition aircraft stepped up their bombing of Islamic State positions, including four airstrikes near the city on Saturday targeting vehicles, weaponry and tactical staging areas.

Elbit Systems Wins $70 Million Israel Air Force EW Contract

12/29/2015

Elbit Systems Ltd. has been awarded a contract by the Directorate of Production and Procurement of the Israeli Ministry of Defense valued at approximately $70 million for the supply of Electronic Warfare (EW) systems. The systems, developed and manufactured by Elbit Systems EW and SIGINT – Elisra Ltd., are to be delivered over a 5-year period. They will be installed on board all types of Israeli Air Force fighter jets.

MANUFACTURING 16 FIGHTER JETS IN 2015: PAC ACHIEVES HISTORICAL MILESTONE

12/29/2015

Pakistan Aeronau-tical Complex (PAC) on Monday achieved another milestone in the country's aviation history by indigenously manufacturing 16 fighter jets (JF-17 Thunder) during 2015. Ceremony to highlight the hallmark achievement of PAC was clubbed with the formal induction of newly manufactured 16th JF-17 Thunder in the fleet of Pakistan Air Force.

DARPA plans to launch drones from small ships with $93M Northrop Grumman award

12/29/2015

On Dec. 24, the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency announced its award of a $93 million contract to Falls Church-based Northrop Grumman Corp. for the design of an unmanned aerial vehicle that can be launched from destroyers and other small surface ships. This is just days after the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration handed down new rules for recreational owners of commercial drones.

Pakistan in negotiations with US to buy F-16 fighter jets: Air chief

12/29/2015

Pakistan’s air chief marshal Sohail Aman on Monday said that the country was in negotiations with the US to procure the latest F-16 fighter jets and by 2020 it will phase out some of its old combat aircraft, including Mirage. “We are in talks with US defence officials to get some latest F-16s but the deal may take some time,” the Air chief told reporters after the rolling out ceremony of the 16th JF-17 Thunder aircraft at the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) Kamra near Islamabad.

South Korean DAPA, KAI Sign Formal Agreement For KF-X Fighter Aircraft Program

12/29/2015

South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) have formally signed an agreement to develop KF-X fighter aircraft. According to the agreement signed today, DAPA will finance 60 per cent of the 8 trillion won (US$6.9 billion) costs required in the development phase, with KAI to pay 20 per cent, Yonhap news agency reported Monday.

Afghan Air Force to receive additional combat aircraft in 3 weeks: Ghani

12/29/2015

President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani said Monday that the Afghan Air Force (AAF) will receive additional combat aircraft within the next three weeks. In his speech during the inauguration of the new compound of Ministry of Defense, President Ghani thanked India for the delivery of Mi-25 gunships, calling the close-air support for the Afghan forces a critical need durig the current situation.

Aided by U.S. airstrikes, Iraqis take last Ramadi stronghold as Islamic State fighters flee with civilian shields

12/28/2015

Islamic State group fighters pulled out of their last stronghold in Ramadi Sunday, bringing Iraqi federal forces within sight of their biggest victory since last year’s debacle. The elite counterterrorism service was hours away from moving into the former government complex in Ramadi, which the jihadis had fiercely defended for several days, the force’s spokesman said.

TriLateralEx 2015 Final Report: F-22s, Typhoons and Rafales prepare for Future Air Warfare

12/28/2015

The inaugural Trilateral Exercise held Dec. 2-18 at Joint Base Langley-Eustis (JBLE) in Virginia not only represented a visible component of the collaboration between Allies, it also provided the back drop for the leadership of the respective Air Forces to lay out future challenges and direction.

Silent, invisible, deadly: The weapon that could change warfare

12/28/2015

Next month, a new force will awaken in the desert of New Mexico, where the US Defense Department is about to start testing a weapon worthy of Star Wars — a silent, invisible laser that needs just a couple of seconds to burn a hole through targets miles away.

Germany to deploy AWACS to Turkey for NATO mission

12/28/2015

Germany will send Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) military aircraft to Turkey after NATO last week decided to bolster Turkey's air defense, German officials told the Bundestag in Berlin on Sunday.

Air Force Looks Beyond Officers to Boost Drone-Pilot Ranks

12/28/2015

The U.S. military’s increasing demand for drones has forced changes in the Air Force’s “flyboy” culture over the years, plucking pilots out of the cockpit and sending some to high-tech desert trailers to operate remotely piloted aircraft, leaving their proverbial white scarves at home.

Aerospace Deals Come Down to Wire

12/28/2015

The aerospace and defense industry is one of the few sectors to consistently throw up end-of-year surprises as companies look to meet or exceed prior commitments, and 2015 is no exception. The tussle between Airbus Group SE and Boeing Co. has a history of throwing up last-minute aircraft orders, with the European plane maker last year pulling out deals for more than 450 jets in December alone to overtake its rival, an unprecedented haul seldom seen even at air shows.

Air Force ends 2015 with supersonic capability, more capable aircraft

12/28/2015

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) ended 2015 not with a bang, but with the loud full-throated roar as the first of its two Mach 1.5 capable South Korean-made FA-50PHs light-interim fighter aircraft sped through the skies last November 28. The arrival of the two jet aircraft, the first pair out of the 12-plane contract from Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) worth P18.9 billion, highlights the return of supersonic capability to the PAF after an absence of 10 years.

Swedish Company Offers India Collaboration to Manufacture Sea Fighter Jets

12/28/2015

Swedish defence major has offered to collaborate with India on production of sea version of its light combat fighter aircraft Gripen. "We have a great opportunity for technology transfer," Ulf Nilsson, head of Saab's aeronautics division said as he spoke about the naval version of the aircraft and the ongoing project of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to develop the naval version of the LCA Tejas.

India, France May Sign Deal on 36 French Rafale Fighters Sale in January

12/28/2015

India and France are likely to sign a deal for the sale of 36 Rafale fighter aircraft to New Delhi on January 25 during French President Francois Hollande's visit to India, media reported.

Will We See Saudi Troops in Iraq in the New Year?

12/28/2015

Ever since Saudi Arabia announced that it had formed a new 34-nation 'Islamic coalition against terrorism', experts have been debating whether the new alliance will entangle itself in a military operation in Iraq and Syria. Recently, analytical website Iranian Diplomacy posed that very question to regional Iraqi official Ibrahim al-Jinabi.

U.S. reports 17 air strikes against ISIS on Christmas Day

12/27/2015

The United States and its allies conducted 17 air strikes on Christmas Day against ISIS in Iraq and Syria, the coalition leading the operations said in a statement on Saturday. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted five air strikes using attack and remotely piloted aircraft, targeting ISIS militants near Ar Raqqah, Manbij and Mar’a.

China accuses USA of "serious military provocation" over South China Sea overflight

12/27/2015

China has been aggressively asserting its claims to virtually all man-made islands in the South China Sea, reefs and their surrounding seas. The information office of the ministry said the Chinese military kept close surveillance on the bombers' activities and gave it warnings. CCTV's Jim Spellman has a timeline of previous incidents between the two countries in and above the waters off China.

China's Lone Aircraft Carrier Struts Its Stuff

12/27/2015

High-definition video has emerged of China's lone aircraft carrier, CV-16 Liaoning practicing aircraft takeoffs and landings. The video was apparently shot during a visit to the carrier by the head of China's Navy during drills in the Bohai Sea.

Russian airbase in Armenia starts flight inspection of combat helicopters

12/27/2015

Russia’s airbase in the Armenian capital has started implementing flight inspections of Mi-24P helicopter gunships that have been deployed to Erebuni air base in December, a spokesperson for the Southern Military District of Russia’s Armed Forces said Friday, December 25, TASS reports.

Need to know, 2016: More changes for RPA community

12/27/2015

For the first time since World War II, the Air Force is set to get enlisted pilots. Air Combat Command is developing entry requirements for enlisted airmen to fly RQ-4 Global Hawks, remotely piloted aircraft that fly high-altitude reconnaissance missions.

Final Negotiations on Ahead of Rafale Deal

12/27/2015

South Block is abuzz with hectic activities ahead of the signing of the defence deal to buy Rafale fighter jets, with barely a month left for the scheduled visit of French President Francois Hollande to New Delhi. The two countries are expected to sign the deal for 36 Rafale fighter aircraft in fly-away condition during Hollande’s next month visit.

America’s secret war on ISIL: The African military operation you’ll never hear about

12/27/2015

On October 7th, at an “undisclosed location” somewhere in “Southwest Asia,” men wearing different types of camouflage and dun-colored boots gathered before a black backdrop adorned with Arabic script. They were attending a ceremony that mixed solemnity with celebration, the commemoration of a year of combat that left scores of their enemies slain. One of their leaders spoke of comraderie and honor, of forging a family and continuing a legacy.