Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Military Strikes Continue Against ISIL in Syria, Iraq

03/28/2016

U.S. and coalition military forces have continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Syria and Iraq, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today. Officials reported details of the latest strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports.

UK plans to buy 9 PA-8 military aircraft from Boeing

03/28/2016

The United States government approved a sale of nine PA-8 military aircraft by Boeing to the UK, bringing the $3.2 billion sale a step closer to closure. The United States government made an announcement of the deal, which will be structured as a government-to-government sale, though the delivery date wasn't mentioned in the official statement.

Advising The Afghan Air Force – Analysis

03/28/2016

Successful advising requires skill in a broad range of competencies that includes political-military relations, operations, and acquisitions. Advising the Afghan air force’s airlift mission seeks to strengthen the legitimacy of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan as part of the counterinsurgency strategy of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).

BRAHMOS, the crucial tactical trump of India

03/28/2016

As the flagship defence partnership programme between India and Russia, BRAHMOS has charted a highly successful trajectory in a very short span of time. The world’s best supersonic cruise missile has proved its versatility as a multi-platform, multi-mission, multi-target weapon capable of knocking down the adversary in the modern-day complex battlefields.

Gulfstream Competing for U.S. Air Force Special-Missions Contract

03/28/2016

It's not the largest - nor the most talked-about - aspect of Gulfstream's business. But, since 1967, when the U.S. Navy selected the Gulfstream G-I as the standard weapons system and navigational trainer for its A-6 crews, the Savannah business jet manufacturer has been recognized as the definitive choice for smaller-platform special-missions aircraft.

Nigerian Air Force to expand platforms

03/28/2016

The Nigerian Air Force, NAF, has announced a planned expansion of its platforms in North-Eastern Nigeria towards speedy response in counter-insurgency operations. The Chief of Air Staff, Sadiq Abubakar, who stated this while on a visit to military formations and traditional institutions in Borno State announced that “the NAF is exploring the possibility of expanding the Air Force group in the North-East to ensure the total restoration of peace is achieved in the shortest time possible."

Putting the Pegasus through its paces

03/28/2016

As the Air Force gets ready for the arrival of its newest aerial refueling and strategic military transport aircraft, a diverse group of Airmen is working hard to make sure the KC-46A Pegasus is ready to meet the service’s needs. Lt. Col. John Mikal is one of them. Mikal, a reservist KC-135 Stratotanker instructor pilot assigned to the 370th Flight Test Squadron, is also a KC-46 test pilot and member of the team that’s putting the Pegasus through a series of critical pre-production tests.

In deep with the submarine hunters

03/28/2016

West London’s suburbs aren’t what most people would consider the natural home for a company that’s a world leader in sonar technology. But miles from the sea on an industrial estate in Greenford is the base of Ultra Electronics, the FTSE 250 business to which the Western world’s navies turn when they want to hunt submarines.

New Kid on the Block: China Set to Globally Build Up its Arms Exports

03/28/2016

China is the world’s largest arms exporter, after the US and Russia. At the same, Chinese arms producers are still in pursuit of their niche in the global market.

Russian Campaign in Syria Exposes 'Minor Problems' With Newest Su Jets

03/28/2016

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the operation involved Su-34 bombers and Su-35S multirole jet fighters. Malfunctions were detected in the flight control system and engines of the aircraft, the sources told RNS news agency. They added that the malfunctions were "not critical" and had no impact on the course of the campaign.

Coming soon to the South China Sea: Beijing’s best weapons of war

03/26/2016

The People’s Republic of China continues to up the ante in the South China Sea. Various reports, including my own, suggest Beijing has now likely placed anti-ship missiles on Woody Island, a disputed island in this important body of water. This is on top of various other escalatory military deployments including advanced radar platforms, fighter aircraft, anti-aircraft batteries and various other systems that indicate China is seeking to expand its offensive and defensive military footprint.

EUROFIGHTER CONTINUES PROGRESS IN EXPANDING ITS WEAPONS PORTFOLIO

03/26/2016

Progress is being made in adding Brimstone to the strike package, and given Brimstone’s performance in the Middle East, that is a good thing. Brimstone has demonstrated its capability as a premier close proximity strike weapon against multiple targets.

Speed Up Defence Procurement Process

03/26/2016

The Indian Air Force (IAF) recently admitted that it could not fight simultaneously on two fronts. This is not the first time it has expressed this view. In 2009, it had told the government it did not have the capacity to do so. Of course, it did not mean that the IAF would remain a mute spectator on one front while fighting on the other. It was merely the IAF’s way of reminding the government of the urgent need to strengthen its fleet of aircraft.

Medics transform C-17 into trauma center for presidential visit

03/26/2016

While the world watched President Barack Obama extend a hand of friendship to Cuba’s leader Raul Castro and the Cuban people March 20, Air Force medics from the 59th Medical Wing stood ready to provide life-saving care.

Can the Pentagon Pull a Branding Refresh on the Troubled F-35?

03/26/2016

As the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter inches toward Air Force combat readiness later this year, the Pentagon will take the troubled combat jet on a 14-stop tour around the world in an effort to boost the F-35’s flagging brand image.

“Even though we will lose CAS capacity, we are retiring the A-10 anyway” U.S. Air Force says

03/25/2016

As reported by DefenseNews.com, the service has recently revealed the number of A-10s that will be retired each year before the type is completely withdrawn from service in 2022. The plan call for the retirement of 49 planes or 2 squadrons in fiscal year (FY) 2018. This will be followed by 49 aircraft in FY2019, 64 in FY2020, and 96 in FY2021.

Defence Officials Talk about the MiG Refurbishment Scandal

03/25/2016

"The investigation about the refurbishment of Croatian MiGs in Ukraine is not a step towards the abolishment of the Croatian Air Force combat aircraft capability. If we determine that someone was guilty of what happened, they will not be spared", said Defence Minister Josip Buljevic in his first public comments on the scandal which has hit the Croatian Air Force in the last few days, reports tportal.hr on March 24, 2016.

Air Force F-16s fly the most sorties against ISIS, B-1s drop most bombs

03/25/2016

The Air Force has flown more than half of the 87,000 coalition sorties over Iraq and Syria since the air campaign against the Islamic State militant group began, striking key locations and assets about 25 times a day, Lt. Gen. John Raymond told reporters Thursday.

Iraq says it's launched offensive to recapture IS-held Mosul

03/25/2016

The Iraqi military backed by U.S.-led coalition aircraft on Thursday launched a long-awaited operation to recapture the northern city of Mosul from Islamic State militants, a military spokesman said. In the push, Iraqi forces retook several villages on the outskirts of the town of Makhmour, east of Mosul, early in the morning on Thursday and hoisted the Iraqi flag there, according to the spokesman for the Joint Military Command, Brig. Gen. Yahya Rasool.

Russia's special forces officer killed in Syria: Interfax

03/25/2016

A Russian special forces officer has been killed in a combat operation near Palmyra in Syria, Interfax news agency reported on Thursday, citing a Russian military source in Syria. "While performing a special task to direct Russian air strikes onto terrorist targets, a Russian special forces officer was killed," Interfax quoted a source at Russia's Khmeimim air base in Syria's Latakia province as saying.

Japan Gets Serious About Building Its Own Stealth Fighter

03/25/2016

In an effort to keep pace with China’s growing air power, Japan has long sought to upgrade its aging fleet of U.S.-designed F-15J fighter jets. But with the U.S. refusing to sell its Asian ally new F-22 Raptors and persistent problems dogging Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, Japan has reportedly opened talks with Western contractors about collaborating on a new stealth fighter.

THE U.S. AIR FORCE AND STEALTH: STUCK ON DENIAL PART I

03/25/2016

In the early morning of January 17, 1991, 10 F-117 Nighthawks slipped through the air over Iraq. The aircraft, designed for a Soviet threat in Europe, were perfectly suited for penetrating Iraqi airspace, which relied almost entirely on Soviet air defense systems. The F-117 was designed to be as stealthy as possible: Its faceted shape reflected radar waves away, the exhaust was baffled and mixed with cool air, and the aircraft was painted a non-reflective black.

Japan Seeks Sixth Generation Fighter Jet to Dominate Beijing’s J-20

03/25/2016

This week, Japan opened talks with US defense contractors Lockheed Martin and Boeing to discuss a sixth-generation fighter aircraft. The move comes as Tokyo seeks to repel the expansion of China’s influence as Beijing takes a more aggressive regional posture.

US Navy Begins Annual Military Exercise With South Korean Naval Forces

03/25/2016

Three US Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers operated with approximately 10 Republic of Korea Navy ships for seven days off the coast of the ROK peninsula, according to the US Navy press release.

Pakistan should select the CAIC Z-10 attack helicopter

03/24/2016

The appearance of the Changhe Aircraft Industries Corporation (CAIC) Z-10 Thunderbolt attack helicopter at the 2016 Pakistan Day Parade was interesting. It was the first instance where the Pakistan Army had brought the Z-10 to the public’s attention. As far as the average Pakistani is now concerned, the Z-10 is as much a part of the armed forces as the JF-17 Thunder and Karakoram Eagle airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft.