Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

How to defeat the Islamic State

06/06/2015

Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter’s recent remarks on the efficacy of Iraq’s army reflect the fact that, despite years of training by thousands of U.S. and coalition forces, the army has not been able to halt Islamic State aggression. What makes anyone think that a few more months of similar training will yield success?

Pentagon chief says new action needed on Russia over Ukraine

06/06/2015

The United States needs to take new steps to respond to the Ukraine conflict because economic sanctions and other Western actions have failed to get Russian President Vladimir Putin to reverse course, Defense Secretary Ash Carter said on Friday. Carter, speaking after conferring with U.S. officials in Europe, said the Pentagon was watching the Ukraine situation very closely and was concerned about "further things happening" after the worst upsurge in fighting in months.

5 differences between Navy and Air Force fighter pilots

06/06/2015

Both the Navy and Air Force fly jets, right? So what’s the difference between fighter pilots from the two branches of service?

Go Ahead, China—Copy Our Crappiest Warplane

06/06/2015

China’s been introducing new high-tech weapons at a breakneck pace as it races to catch up to the U.S. military. And the tanks, ships, planes, and other hardware that Beijing can’t invent on its own, it tends to copy from American, Russian, European, or Israeli designs.

US Deploys B-52 Strategic Bombers for Military Exercises in Baltic Region

06/06/2015

Three B-52 strategic bombers deployed to Europe on Friday to participate in military exercises with NATO partners in the Baltic region and Poland, the US Strategic Command said in a statement. The deployment also provides opportunities to “synchronize strategic activities and capabilities with allies and partners” in the US European Command.

PLA VTOL fighter could turn reefs into 'unsinkable carriers'

06/05/2015

China is planning to continue developing its short-range vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) fighter, according to Russian state-owned news agency Sputnik International, cited by the military news web portal of China's state-run Reference News. Given the cost of the project, there is seemingly an important strategic decision behind it, according to the report.

Kuwait in Talks with Italy to Buy Eurofighter Typhoon Combat Jets

06/05/2015

The Italian and Kuwaiti governments have begun negotiations over the sale of Eurofighter Typhoon combat jets, as the Middle East country seeks to follow neighbors in modernizing its air force, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Vietnam eyes Western warplanes, patrol aircraft to counter China

06/05/2015

Vietnam is in talks with European and U.S. contractors to buy fighter jets, maritime patrol planes and unarmed drones, sources said, as it looks to beef up its aerial defences in the face of China's growing assertiveness in disputed waters.

Fearful of Putin, Finland Explores NATO Membership

06/05/2015

Last week, Finland's new government announced that it will explore the possibility of NATO membership. While wariness is still evident in Finland's public and membership likely a ways off, the government's clear focus on NATO underscores the serious threat it faces from an aggressive Russia.

UK minister: Coalition airstrikes against ISIS limited by uncertainty

06/05/2015

The British foreign secretary says the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria is not hitting all the terrorist targets it identifies. "We have the capability to mount as many airstrikes as we have targets," Secretary Philip Hammond told Vice News in an interview this week. "The constraints, as I understand it at the moment, is identifying enough targets where we can be absolutely confident there will not be collateral damage or civilian casualties," he said.

Lessons from Las Vegas: Protect your base at all costs

06/05/2015

Ample airspace at the nearby Nevada Test and Training Range makes Nellis Air Force Base attractive for missions such as this, involving aircraft conducting air and ground operations. Col. Richard Boutwell gives local leaders an overview of missions at Nellis and Creech Air Force bases, and the Nevada Test and Training Range.

Is It Time For Finland to Join NATO?

06/05/2015

Last week, Finland's new government announced that they will explore the possibility of NATO membership. While wariness is still evident in Finland's public and membership likely a ways off, the government's clear focus on NATO underscores the serious threat they face from an aggressive Russia. Helsinki's stance makes a full exploration of the benefits of future Alliance membership by its policy makers more crucial than ever.

India Requests ISTAR Aircraft From US

06/05/2015

India has offered to buy two intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) aircraft from Raytheon on a government-to-government basis. The request was made to visiting US Defense Secretary Ash Carter Wednesday, said a Defence Ministry source. Another project which India and the US are discussing, on India's request, is joint development of the GE-414 jet engine for use by India's homemade Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), the source added.

Russia to Produce Successor of Tu-160 Strategic Bomber After 2023

06/05/2015

Russia is planning to resume production of Tu-160 supersonic strategic bombers after 2023, Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov said on Thursday. "According to the current schedule, this will happen sometime after 2023," Borisov, who is on a visit to France, said.

Russian Air Force to Receive Two Il-476 Transport Planes by 2016

06/05/2015

The Il-76MD-90A is a significantly modernized version of Russia's Il-76 Candid transport plane, featuring a fully-digital flight control system, new avionics and engines with improved fuel efficiency systems.

Why the Indian Air Force has a high crash rate

06/04/2015

More than 200 Sukhoi Flankers currently form the core of the Indian Air Force’s strike element, for a planned force of over 272 Su-30 fighter-bombers. India received the initial batch of Sukhois in 2002. The first of these aircraft crashed in 2009, and since then five more have crashed.

Navy Growler Study Complete, Awaiting Pentagon Review

06/04/2015

A study that would determine if the Navy should acquire more Boeing EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft for a wider joint high-end war fighting requirements has been completed, Navy officials told USNI News on Wednesday. The Growler study, now being reviewed as part of a larger electronic warfare evaluation led by Deputy Secretary of Defense Bob Work, was led by the Navy with input from the other services.

Dassault Hopeful of Selling More than 36 Rafale Aircraft to India

06/04/2015

Dassault Aviation Chief Eric Trappier is still hopeful of selling extra Rafale fighter jets to India apart from the 36 aircraft deal negotiated by the French Government, Reuters reported Tuesday. Speaking during the rollout of Dassault’s new business jet Falcon 5X, Eric Trappier said that he has not given up hope of selling more rafale fighters to India.

USAF prefers buying Lockheed Martin’s F-35 fighter, says official

06/04/2015

The US Air Force will prefer buying next-generation aircraft, such as Lockheed Martin's F-35 fighter and a new long-range bomber to strengthen its electronic warfare capability, USAF official has said. Reuters reported, citing Air Combat Command Commander General Herbert Carlisle, that the F-35 combat aircraft offers better electronic warfare capabilities.

IAF trainer jet crashes in Odisha's Mayurbhanj, pilots safe

06/04/2015

An Indian Air Force (IAF) jet crashed in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district on Wednesday, gouging a 10-foot crater in the middle of a paddy field, while the two pilots were injured despite managing to eject. The BAE Systems Hawk advanced trainer aircraft took off on a routine sortie from Kalaikunda air force base in West Bengal, but plummeted to the ground at around 1.30pm after flying for nearly 50 km.

Pakistan and China look to upgrade JF-17

06/04/2015

Pakistan Air Force Chief met top Chinese defence officials as the two countries look to upgrade the jointly produced JF-17 Thunder fighter jet, amid India's move to acquire 36 Rafale warplanes from France. PAF Chief Air Marshal Sohail Aman, who is on a five day visit to China, met Gen Fan Changlong, Vice Chairman of China's Central Military Commission (CMC), the high command of the Chinese military.

Czech Planes to Guard Iceland Instead of Canada Which Is Fighting ISIL

06/04/2015

The Czech Republic is sending five JAS 39 Gripen multirole fighter planes to guard Iceland’s airspace for six weeks instead of Canada, which is involved in the US-led airstrike campaign against ISIL militants, spokesperson for the Czech Ministry of Defense Petr Medek has told RIA Novosti.

With Dam Seizure, Iraq Fears Fight Against ISIL Could Become 'Water War'

06/04/2015

After Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province fell on May 17, reports surfaced earlier this week that IS had seized and closed a dam in the city, cutting off water to pro-government towns and threatening to create a humanitarian crisis.

USAF to Protect Czech, Slovak, Hungarian, Polish Skies – Media

06/04/2015

US fighter jets stationed in Europe could in the foreseeable future be used to safeguard the airspace of the so-called Visegrad 4 countries (Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary), Czech media reported Wednesday.

Russia, Norway Team Up for Joint Exercise in Barents Sea

06/04/2015

Russian and Norwegian rescuers teamed up in the Arctic on Wednesday for a joint exercise of oil spill preparedness and response drills in the Barents Sea, Russia's Defense Ministry announced.