Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Saudi Arabia goes to war

02/29/2016

Saudi Arabia's recent actions have caused a great deal of anxiety within its region. On 4 February, a military spokesman suggested that Saudi Arabia was ready to send troops ground troops to fight ISIS in Syria. A week later Saudi Arabia announced that it will send combat aircraft and soldiers to Turkey to participate in the US-led coalition against ISIS.

Decision to delay F-35 buy "incredibly difficult," Air Force general says

02/29/2016

Delaying the purchase of five F-35 joint strike fighters was “an incredibly difficult decision,” but one the Air Force had to make due to budget constraints, a top general said Thursday. “When we looked at readiness and our ability to win today’s fight, and then our ability to continue to procure F-35s at the current rate, we just ran out of money,” said Gen. Hawk Carlisle, the head of Air Combat Command.

Budget 2016: Depleting squadrons tell you why IAF needs an empathetic finance minister in Jaitley

02/29/2016

Compared to its two sister services (Indian Army and Indian Navy), the Indian Air Force, the world’s fifth largest, is not only the most capital intensive but also the most dependent on foreign supplies. Whether it is fighter planes or transport fleets or mid-air refuellers or trainers or helicopters, the IAF buys everything from foreign vendors. Our indigenously produced fighter aircraft, Tejas (LCA) is yet to get Final Operational Clearance to be inducted inducted into the IAF.

Five Russian Weapons Which Made Their Deadly Debut in Syria

02/29/2016

Russia's ongoing airborne campaign in Syria wouldn’t have been such a game changer without the help of some of the country’s most sophisticated weapons.

This Map Visualizes China's Growing Military Capabilities In The South China Sea

02/28/2016

This awesome interactive map shows China’s emerging area denial and anti-access military capabilities in the South China Sea. It is useful in visually tracking China’s progress towards creating an overlapping field of control over a vast majority of the area.

The Key To The Baltics

02/28/2016

One reason the Russians have combat troops in Syria is because this gives Russia a chance to put its post-Cold War military to the test. What the Russians are preparing for is the possibility of clashes between Russian and NATO forces in Eastern Europe. Both NATO and Russia are not sure how their respective post-Cold War forces would do against each other. Most East European nations are preparing for the worst and paying close attention to whatever Russia does in Ukraine and Syria.

Russia’s Military Operations in Syria. Quiet Work Behind the Scenes

02/28/2016

When asked about Russian operations in Syria, most people would immediately mention the Russian fighter-bombers, attack aircraft, combat helicopters, and cruise missile volleys. Few would mention the quiet work behind the scenes that was performed by a large group of highly dedicated professionals who helped transform the Syrian military that was on the brink of defeat, into a force that could once again begin liberating Syria’s territory. Without denying the importance of the air campaign.

AUSTRALIAN KC-30A REFUELS USAF C-17 OVER EDWARDS AFB

02/28/2016

Remember the USAF’s new Airbus tanker? It has been seen recently over the skies of Edward Air Force base. It did not just go away after being sidelined by the Boeing protest via the GAO route several years ago, it has become a staple of several allied air forces.

CH-47 Chinook, AH-64 Apache to be inducted in forces soon: Manohar Parrikar

02/28/2016

In a bid to strengthen country's defence forces, the Defence Ministry has issued an order worth Rs 22,000 crores for purchase of helicopters, CH-47 Chinook and AH-64 Apache, which will be inducted in the forces soon. "The ministry has already issued an order for purchase of 15 Chinook Helicopters and 21 Apache helicopters which will soon be inducted in the forces," Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said.

Future Air Force fighter planes will be controlling many advanced combat UAV and jam resistant smart missiles

02/27/2016

A new manned fighter will be defined in an era when unmanned air vehicles are ubiquitous and unmanned combat air vehicles are a reality. UCAVs will not replace manned aircraft but will influence the design of the next fighters by relieving them of some missions, such as suppression/destruction of enemy air defenses or stand-in electronic attack. One argument for the Navy’s RAQ-25 carrier-based air refueling system is that it can extend both the range and life of the strike-fighter force.

Air Force Unveils New Stealth Bomber, Looks Just Like Old Stealth Bomber

02/27/2016

The U.S. Air Force has revealed the designation and shape of its new stealth bomber. The big, radar-evading warplane—the successor to the Air Force's iconic B-2 stealth bomber—has been designated B-21. And based on the single computer-generated image the flying branch has released, the B-21 looks a lot like ... well, the B-2 from 30 years ago.

Pentagon starts aggressive cyberwar against IS

02/27/2016

Not long after Defense Secretary Ash Carter prodded his cyber commanders to be more aggressive in the fight against Islamic State, the U.S. ramped up its offensive cyberattacks on the militant group. According to several U.S. officials, the attacks are targeting the group’s abilities to use social media and the Internet to recruit fighters and inspire followers, U.S. officials told The Associated Press.

Saudi, UAE military equipment arrive in Turkey

02/27/2016

Saudi and UAE military aircraft have arrived at the Incirlik airbase in southern Turkey. Turkish authorities announced Thursday that Saudi warplanes set to be used in the fight against ISIS would shortly arrive in the country. The planes are to be stationed at the Incirlik base, which is already hosting US, British and French war planes taking part in the strikes against IS fighters in Syria.

Finmeccanica commences final assembly of Poland's M-346 aircraft

02/27/2016

Finmeccanica has commenced the final assembly of the Polish Air Force's first two Aermacchi M-346 advanced / lead-in fighter trainer aircraft at its Aircraft Division facility in Venegono Superiore, Varese, Italy. The development is part of a contract secured by the company from the Polish Ministry of Defence (MoD) to supply eight aircraft and associated logistic support.

China makes big inroads into African defence market

02/27/2016

China is making increasing inroads into the African defence market with up to two-thirds of militaries on the continent now using its equipment. According to data in the latest annual edition of The Military Balance, produced by the London based International Institute of Security Studies (IISS), and a report this week from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), a rapid rise in Chinese military transfers to the continent has been underway since 2005.

Sanity Temporarily Prevails: A-10 Thunderbolt Retirement Plan Postponed Until 2022

02/27/2016

The U.S. Air Force has given up on trying to retire the A-10 Thunderbolt ground attack aircraft at least until 2022 and likely well beyond, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter told the House Appropriations Committee on Thursday.

F-16s and Indian acrimony

02/27/2016

The growling in Indian stomachs started last year when in May the US handed over to Pakistan a chunk of used military hardware; over 14 combat aircraft, 59 military trainer jets and 374 armoured personnel carriers. The pronouncement of selling eight more F-16s by the Obama administration, in an attempt to shore up the two countries’ relationship despite Washington’s reservations about Pakistan’s growing nuclear arsenal, was like sprinkling salt on Indian injuries.

Hypersonic missiles could be operational in 2020s, general says

02/27/2016

Speaking at the Air Force Association Air Warfare Symposium in Orlando, Florida., Masiello described the efforts the service is undertaking to develop engines that could travel at or above the widely accepted hypersonic range of Mach 5.

US Air Mobility Command readying for KC-46A introduction

02/26/2016

The head of US Air Mobility Command says he is not overly concerned about the Boeing KC-46A’s eight-month development delay and legacy KC-10 and KC-135 aerial tankers won’t start retiring until the next-generation tanker is ready for combat.

Tejas LSP-3 flies with new Cobham quartz radome

02/26/2016

India’s Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas achieved yet anothermilestone ahead of the Final Operational Clearance (FOC) on Wednesday. Sources confirmed to 'Mathrubhumi' on Thursday that the Limited Series Production (LSP-3) variant of Tejas had its first flight fitted with the new quartz radome from Cobham.

The Italian Air Force T-346 Master debuts as Aggressor during NATO Tactical Leadership Programme

02/26/2016

From Feb. 4 to 12, two T-346As (Italian Air Force designation for the AleniaAermacchi* M346 “Master”) belonging to the 61° Stormo (Wing) based at Lecce Galatina airport, Italy, deployed to Albacete airbase, Spain, to take part in the TLP (Tactical Leadership Programme) in the “Aggressors” role. The Italian Masters had already successfully undertaken such task at Grosseto airbase in May 2015.

The U.S. Extends Its Drone War Deeper Into Africa With Secretive Base

02/26/2016

AROUA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, proclaimed the sign on the concrete and glass terminal building. The designation was something of a misnomer, because only three or four planes land each week in this sleepy outpost in northern Cameroon, near the Nigerian border, all of them domestic flights. The schedule of the flights tends to be unpredictable.

Air Force general: We've flown the wings off the A-10

02/26/2016

Despite its venerable service to the Air Force, the A-10 is nearing the end of its lifespan, a top general said Thursday. “We have literally flown the wings off it,” said Maj. Gen. Thomas Deale, the director of operations for Air Combat Command and a former A-10 pilot. The Air Force has made several attempts to retire the plane and shift its resources and maintenance crews over to the fifth-gen F-35 — efforts that have repeatedly been shot down by Congress.

Countering China’s aircraft carriers

02/26/2016

When the next U.S. president takes office in 11 months he or she will be confronted with China’s four stationary and one mobile aircraft carriers in the South China Sea. As the Obama administration is likely to continue its failed legal and diplomatic strategy for responding to China, it is necessary for the next president to now consider a far more robust strategy.

Saudi Arabia Deploys Combat Aircraft to Turkey

02/26/2016

It’s clear that the recently adopted ceasefire threatens the Turkish and Saudi interests in Syria significantly. Both countries support a wide range of Islamic militant groups including Al Nusra Front, which was designated as a terrorist organization by the UNSC.