Military Aviation News Archive

Turkish Air Force Raises Alert Level After Alleged Airspace Violation

02/01/2016

The Turkish Air Force has declared an 'orange alert' at key bases after an alleged violation of the country’s airspace by a Russian fighter jet, Anadolu news agency reported, citing military sources in Ankara.

Syrian civil war: Could Turkey be gambling on an invasion?

01/31/2016

A month before Turkey shot down a Russian bomber which it accused of entering its airspace, Russian military intelligence had warned President Vladimir Putin that this was the Turkish plan. Diplomats familiar with the events say that Putin dismissed the warning, probably because he did not believe that Turkey would risk provoking Russia into deeper military engagement in the Syrian war.

Military Strikes Target ISIL in Syria, Iraq

01/31/2016

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.

Turkey Summons Russian Envoy Over Latest Airspace Violation

01/31/2016

Turkey summoned Russia’s ambassador after it said a Russian military aircraft flew into the country’s airspace, two months after a similar incident strained relations between the nations. The Sukhoi Su-34 strike fighter entered Turkish airspace at 11:46 a.m. local time on Friday, even after warnings from Turkish radar units, according to a statement on the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs website. Russia’s envoy to Ankara was called to the ministry within hours.

Despite military build-up, China struggles with warplane engine technology

01/31/2016

China has built a potent military machine over the past 30 years but is struggling to develop advanced engines that would allow its warplanes to match Western fighters in combat, foreign and Chinese industry sources said. The country’s engine technology lags that of United Technologies unit Pratt & Whitney, General Electric and Rolls-Royce, said Douglas Barrie, senior fellow for military aerospace at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London.

Top Gun in Iran? Don't be scared of the Islamic Republic's F-14s

01/31/2016

You remember Top Gun, the movie about Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer playing volleyball. There was that sexy airplane too, the Grumman F-14 Tomcat: A twin engine, swing wing, carrier-borne fighter built to chase off the Russkies. What you may not remember is that we sold Tomcats to Iran. As you can see from the video above, they're still flying today. Sort of.

NATO chief urges Russia not to violate NATO airspace again

01/31/2016

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg urged Russia on Saturday to "take all necessary measures" to ensure NATO airspace was not violated again, after Turkey said a Russian warplane had entered its airspace on Friday despite radar warnings.

Turkey says Russian jet violated its airspace again, warns of consequences

01/31/2016

Turkey warned of consequences on Saturday after saying a Russian SU-34 jet had violated its airspace despite warnings, once more stoking tensions between two countries involved in Syria's war, but Russia denied that there had been any incursion. In a similar incident in November, Turkey shot down a Russian warplane flying a sortie over Syria that it said had violated its airspace, triggering a diplomatic rupture in which Russia imposed economic sanctions.

Beijing Accuses US Destroyer of Violating China’s Territorial Waters

01/31/2016

The patrolling near the Paracel Islands archipelago, conducted by a US Navy destroyer, is unlawful as such action can only be allowed with the permission of the Chinese authorities, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying said.

‘Fatal Blow to Daesh’: Iraqi Army Poised to Liberate Mosul

01/31/2016

The Iraqi Army is all set to liberate the city of Mosul, which has been controlled by Daesh terrorists since June 2014, Iraqi Media News agency reported, citing a senior military commander.

Russian Su-27 jet fighter flies within 20 feet of US surveillance aircraft during 'unsafe and unprofessional' interception over the Black Sea

01/30/2016

A Russian fighter jet 'buzzed' a US surveillance aircraft passing within 20 feet when it intercepted its target over the Black Sea. The Su-27 Flanker passed dangerously close to the Boeing RC-135 which was 30 miles from the Russian coast while flying over international waters. According to US officials, the Russian jet drew alongside the surveillance aircraft before turning away violently and hitting it with the jet blast from its engines.

Russia to Deploy More Su-30 Interceptor Jets in Crimea

01/30/2016

A number of new planes will be added to the squadron of Sukhoi Su-30SM multirole interceptors deployed in Crimea, the Black Sea Fleet Commander, Admiral Alexander Vitko, said on Friday.

France delivers Dassault-built Rafale to Egypt

01/30/2016

France's Dassault Aviation has delivered the second batch of Rafale multirole combat fighters to the Egyptian Air Force (EAF). Three more aircraft were delivered as part of a $5bn deal signed between the company and the Arab Republic of Egypt in February 2015 for the supply of 24 Rafale fighter aircraft. France will also supply an FREMM frigate to Egypt as part of the deal.

OPINION: Dassault excels in balancing act

01/30/2016

“We had the impression the crisis was over and the world was back to recovery.” The downturn in markets that as recently as 2014 were darlings of Dassault, and its rivals in large-cabin business jets, surprised the French firm’s boss Éric Trappier, but it illustrates the fragility of a sector that depends on discretionary spending much more than, say, commercial aviation.

Software flaws will delay combat testing on F-35s by a year

01/30/2016

Tests to determine how Lockheed Martin’s F-35 will perform in combat won’t begin until at least August 2018, a year later than planned, and more than 500 of the fighter jets may be built before the assessment is complete, according to the Pentagon’s test office.

Iran says its drone took ‘beautiful and accurate footage’ of U.S. aircraft carrier and combat units

01/30/2016

Iran flew a drone over a U.S. aircraft carrier and took “precise” photographs of it as part of an ongoing naval drill, state television reported Friday. The U.S. Navy said an unarmed Iranian drone flew near a French and American carrier on Jan. 12, but couldn’t confirm it was the same incident.

U.S. Navy Awards Boeing $2.5 Billion Contract for 20 More P-8A Poseidon Aircraft

01/30/2016

Boeing will further equip the U.S. Navy and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) with maritime patrol capabilities, building 20 more P-8A Poseidon aircraft following a $2.5 billion U.S. Navy order announced yesterday. The contract, for Lot 7 of the total P-8A program of record, includes 16 aircraft for the U.S. Navy and the next four aircraft for the RAAF. The RAAF’s initial four P-8A aircraft were included in the August 2015 Lot 6 contract award.

US Air Force Spending Over $271Mln to Expand Balad Base in Iraq

01/30/2016

The US Air Force has given Sallyport Global Holdings in Virginia a $271.8 million contract to run security and life support operations at Balad Air Base in Iraq over the next year, the Department of Defense announced.

Beijing Plans Aircraft Carrier Patrols in Disputed South China Sea

01/30/2016

The Chinese Navy will likely deploy an aircraft carrier for permanent operations in the South China Sea, where China and other countries in the region are feuding over competing territorial claims, an expert said.

Netherlands to Conduct Airstrikes Against Daesh in East Syria

01/30/2016

Airstrikes against Daesh in Syria will make the fight against the group in Iraq, where the Netherlands is already carrying out attacks, more effective, the government said. "Disrupting supply chains in eastern Syria is crucial," Defense Minister Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert said in a statement published by the government.

Air Force Awards Rolls-Royce 2 Contracts for Super Hercules Work

01/29/2016

Rolls-Royce has been given two firm-fixed-price Air Force delivery orders, each worth more than $70 million, relating to the C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft, the U.S. Department of Defense announced in its Wednesday publication of military contracts.

U.S., South Korea practicing joint air force drills

01/29/2016

The United States and South Korea are conducting a joint drill involving fighter pilots from both air forces in the wake of North Korea's nuclear test. The exercises are ongoing as the United States vowed Thursday to defend another ally, Japan, should a chain of disputed islands claimed by Tokyo and Beijing fall under attack – in a statement that directly warned China against provocations.

Pentagon: Russian Fighter Conducted ‘Unsafe’ Intercept of U.S. Recon Plane Over Black Sea

01/29/2016

A Russian fighter intercepted a U.S. Air Force reconnaissance flight in an “unsafe and unprofessional manner’ in international airspace over the Black Sea, a Pentagon spokeswoman confirmed to USNI News on Thursday. According to the Pentagon, a Russian Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker intercepted a RC-135U Combat Sent “flying a routine route in international airspace over the Black Sea,” read a statement provided to USNI News.

Lawmaker Calls on Obama to Fund A-10, Develop Replacement

01/29/2016

Ahead of President Barack Obama’s budget rollout next week, an influential Air Force pilot-turned lawmaker called on the commander-in-chief and his defense secretary to request full funding for the legacy A-10 until plans for its replacement take shape.

Murphy's Law: America Mysteriously Denies Arab Allies New Aircraft

01/29/2016

For two years the United States has delayed action on a Qatari attempt to buy 36 (and eventually 73) F-15E fighter bombers (for nearly $4 billion) and Kuwaiti efforts to buy 28 F-18E fighters (for $3 billion). The American Department of Defense and State Department approved the deal and there was support in Congress but for reasons unclear the American president refused to approve (or disapprove) the deal or even explain why not.