Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Hunt on to pick top brain to head India’s Tejas programme

06/28/2015

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has begun the hunt for identifying a new man to head Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA). This follows the impending retirement of PS Subramanyam, one of the longest serving bosses of ADA, on June 30. A Distinguished Scientist, Subramanyam is currently the Programme Director (Combat Aircraft) & Director ADA. He was made the head of ADA in 2005.

Pilots slow and fast arrive in Battle Creek next week

06/28/2015

Battle Creek will host some of the slowest and some of the fastest aircraft pilots in the world this week. The 2015 Battle Creek Field of Flight Air Show and Balloon Festival begins Wednesday and continues through Sunday at W.K. Kellogg Airport with some of the best pilots in balloons and airplanes.

Human Rights or Cash? Swedish Arms Exports Shows Differences With US, UK

06/28/2015

Sweden's parliament has recommended cutting arms exports to countries that it considers to be undemocratic as part of plans to emphasize the importance of human rights issues in relation to trade. The moves have highlighted the differences between Sweden and other western countries on the issue.

Russian Military Deny Violation of Estonian Airspace by An-26 Plane

06/28/2015

A Russian Antonov An-26 military transport plane did not violate Estonian airspace while carrying out a planned flight from Russia's exclave of Kalinigrad to St. Petersburg on June 22, the Russian Defense Ministry said Friday.

Prominent ISIL Commander Killed in Iraq by US-Led Coalition Airstrike

06/28/2015

One of the most famous commanders of the Islamic State jihadist group in Mosul Abdullah Hourani was killed Saturday by an airstrike by US-led international coalition, Iraqi TV Channel al-Samaria reported.

China angered at Senate bill on Taiwan military cooperation

06/26/2015

Under the Taiwan Relations Act, enacted in 1979 when Washington severed formal ties with the island in favor of recognizing the People's Republic of China in Beijing, the United States is obligated to help Taiwan defend itself. The Senate bill, passed last week, says that Taiwan "should be encouraged to participate in exercises that include realistic air-to-air combat training", as well as advanced training for its ground forces, attack helicopters and surveillance aircraft.

NATO: Risk of return to heavy fighting in Ukraine

06/26/2015

Russian President Vladimir Putin isn't finished using his military in eastern Ukraine, the top U.S. military commander for NATO said Thursday as the U.S. and its allies outlined additional support for Kiev, including aid in defusing roadside bombs. U.S. Gen. Philip Breedlove, NATO's supreme allied commander, said there continues to be a constant flow of ammunition and other military supplies from Russia across the border to Ukraine, and a well-trained and ready Russian force.

Boeing's new CEO has some tough decisions to make

06/26/2015

One week after logging new aircraft orders worth $50.2 billion at the Paris Air Show, Boeing—the world’s largest airplane manufacturer—is tapping new leadership to help the company keep pace with spiking demand.

GAO report blasts Air Force justification for A-10 retirement

06/26/2015

The Air Force based its plan to retire the A-10 on an inaccurate projection of cost savings, and will run into a capability gap associated with providing close air support, the Government Accountability Office said in a report released Thursday. The GAO's report punches holes in the Air Force's justification for its controversial decision to retire the attack jet, saying planners did not "fully assess" the cost savings associated with the A-10 divestment.

Japan to the South China Sea

06/26/2015

China has notched another gain in its inadvertent campaign to expand defense cooperation among its nervous neighbors. In a Journal interview published Thursday, Japan’s top military commander said Japanese forces may join U.S. troops in patrolling the South China Sea, where China has been aggressively staking territorial claims around crucial international waterways.

Marine KC-130J Hercules Provide Power for Northern Edge 2015

06/26/2015

High above the Gulf of Alaska and Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex (JPARC), dozens of fighter jets engage in lengthy and complex joint combat missions for Northern Edge 2015. At one precise moment, two Navy F/A-18F Super Hornets break engagement toward the welcoming sight of a KC-130J Hercules, operated by Marine Air Fueling Transport Squadron (VMGR) 152, based in Iwakuni, Japan.

5-month RAAF fighter combat course wraps up with dawn strike

06/26/2015

Exercise Aces North was the final four weeks of the five-month fighter combat instructor course, and was conducted out of bases in Tindal and Darwin. As part of the dawn strike exercise the aircraft will be simulating the fight off the coast and landing at Williamtown.

Iraqi pilot flew military plane that crashed in Arizona

06/26/2015

An Iraqi pilot who has been training in the United States for four years crashed in southern Arizona while flying an F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft, a spokesman for the Iraqi defense minister said Thursday. "We have no word yet on his fate or the reason behind the crash," Brig. Gen. Tahseen Ibrahim told The Associated Press. "We are in contact with the Americans to get more details."

Russia to Deploy S-400 Air Defense Systems Near Western Borders by End 2015

06/26/2015

Russia's Western Military District will receive an unspecified number of advanced S-400 Triumf and Pantsir-S air defense systems by the end of 2015, the district's spokesman, Col. Oleg Kochetkov, said Thursday. "Modern S-400 Triumf long-range air defense systems and Pantsir-S gun-missile air defense systems will be put in service with air defense units of the Western Military District by the end of this year," Kochetkov said.

New Lavi trainer better prepares IAF cadets for Hezbollah, Iran

06/24/2015

Dozens of Israel Air Force cadets will receive their officer’s ranks on Tuesday at Hatzerim Air Force Base, in a ceremony that occurs every year – though this year’s new pilots are different. These members of the 170th IAF training course are the first to have trained on the M-346 Master training jet, which is dubbed the Lavi (Hebrew for Lion) in the IAF.

Done-pilots shortage poses problem for Air Force

06/24/2015

The pilots sit in dimly lit, air-conditioned trailers, each staring at glowing video and data screens and toggling a joystick that controls an armed drone flying somewhere in the world. With more than 100 Predator and Reaper drones aloft every day, this sun-scorched desert outpost is the hub of America’s growing drone fleet around the globe.

First Ski Jump For F-35B Lightning II

06/24/2015

The F-35B Lightning II has successfully completed its first ski jump test at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in the US state of Maryland. The ramp used was built in England however, at a cost of £2 million, by Stockport-based defence engineering company WFEL - who normally specialise in building rapidly deployable bridging systems.

Pentagon Missing Target on Air Weapon Investments

06/24/2015

U.S. military power often is measured by the number of combat aircraft and ships in the inventory. While the United States has by far the largest air force and navy, that size advantage could eventually be negated by enemy air defenses and electronic warfare technologies that are now available in the open market.

UK defence spending 'an impossible mess'

06/24/2015

Ministry of Defence spending on equipment has become “an impossible mess” because of the involvement of only a few prime contractors and British delusions that it is still a major power, according to a report published on Wednesday. The 207-page document, edited by the Conservative MP Bernard Jenkin and entitled Defence Acquisition for the Twenty-First Century, says that spending is not in line with Britain’s new slimmed down defence budgets.

Bulgarian cabinet could face new fighter jet proposal

06/24/2015

If Bulgarian Defence Minister Nikolai Nenchev keeps to his stated intention, the scheduled cabinet meeting on June 24 could see a proposal tabled on the long-standing issue of the country acquiring new military fighter jets.

Boeing Completes Two-Decade Build Out of C-17 Training Network

06/24/2015

Boeing has delivered the 28th C-17 Globemaster III aircrew training simulator to the U.S. Air Force, completing the services’ goal of a national system for C-17 training. Boeing completed the first of these centers in 1992 at Charleston Air Force Base, Charleston, S.C., including one aircrew simulator during the program’s beginnings. Since then, the company and Air Force have established these facilities in 14 U.S. locations and three international locations.

Mid-East, Europe Majorities Support US-Led War Against Islamic State - Poll

06/24/2015

The US-led Coalition of some 60 nations has carried out airstrikes against the Islamic State positions in Iraq since August 2014, and expanded the attacks to include targets in Syria in September 2014, albeit without the approval of the Syrian government.

Anti-ISIL Coalition Carries Out 17 Airstrikes in Iraq, Syria - CENTCOM

06/24/2015

Three airstrikes hit Islamic State positions near the Syrian town of Tal Abyad, where the US-led coalition has been providing support to a coalition of Syrian Kurdish forces of the YPG, Assyrian Christians and the Free Syrian Army group Burkan al-Firat.

Airbus’ A400M Airlifter Rises Again at Paris Air Show

06/23/2015

Airbus’ troubled A400M airlifter, the proposed replacement for a generation of Hercules type military logistics and transport aircraft, made a triumphant return to the world’s skies last week at the Paris Air show, following a deadly crash in May. Airbus-owned MSN006 performed an impressive flying display at Le Bourget last week, and a French Armée de l’Air aircraft on static display was the subject of much interest.

Predator crashes in Iraq

06/23/2015

An MQ-1 Predator crashed Monday morning local time in Southeastern Iraq, according to U.S. Air Forces, Central Command. The drone was flying a combat mission when it went down, AFCENT announced in a brief news release on Monday. There are no reports so far that civilians were injured or property damaged at the crash site.