Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Why the military uses 'blimps'

10/31/2015

On Wednesday, many watched in amazement as a "blimp" broke loose from its mooring outside Aberdeen, Maryland. Dragging a 6,000-foot steel mooring cable -- which caused local power outages as it made contact with power lines -- and escorted by circling F-16s aircraft that cleared civilian aircraft flight paths, the balloon finally deflated and came to rest 100 miles north in a wooded area near Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania.

What US Troops in Syria Will and Won't Do

10/31/2015

The 50 or so U.S. Special Operations Forces being sent to northeast Syria will not be advising Syrian rebels on the front lines engaging in combat or conducting special operations raids, a Defense Department official said today. Instead they will work at a rebel headquarters far from enemy lines to see what more help the U.S. can provide them in the fight against ISIS.

This Fighter Might Replace Indonesia's Aging F-5 Fighters (Hint: Not the Su-35)

10/31/2015

Indonesia is currently in the process of updating a part of its eclectic mix of military aircraft. The three platforms which represent Jakarta’s most formidable airborne capability are the U.S. General Dynamics (GD) F-16, Russian Sukhoi-27, and Sukhoi-30MK. The Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) reflects the country’s recent history international relations, operating a mixed bag of Russian, U.S., Brazilian, and European aircraft.

EUCOM: More fighter jets to Turkey, more heavy Army gear moving east

10/31/2015

Coming shifts in the U.S. military's footprint in Europe will include sending warplanes and support troops into Turkey to help fight Islamic State militants and moving more heavy Army equipment into Eastern Europe to deter Russian aggression, the top U.S. commander in the region said Friday.

Russia Southern Military District Receives Over 10 New Aircraft in October

10/31/2015

The 4th Air Force and Air Defense Forces Command of Russia's Southern Military District has received more than 10 new aircraft and helicopters, the Defense Ministry said in a statement issued on Friday.

Russian Baltic Fleet Naval Aviation Holds Air Combat Drills

10/31/2015

Russia's Baltic Sea Fleet Naval Aviation carried out air combat exercises during night flights, the Defense Ministry said in a statement released on Friday. "Within the unannounced combat readiness inspection of the air defense and naval aviation formations of the Baltic Fleet in the Kaliningrad Region, crews of Su-27 fighters and Su-24M bombers performed night training flights," the statement reads.

Venezuela to Spend $480Mln on Russian Sukhoi Jet Upgrade

10/31/2015

Last month, Maduro announced that Venezuela would purchase at least 12 Sukhoi fighter jets from Russia. "The president [Nicolas Maduro] just authorized [the payment] of $480 million so that the service life of our Sukhoi planes… so they could continue to fulfill or give protection to the Venezuelan airspace," the minister said on Thursday.

Shot down helicopter in Libya triggers fighting west of Tripoli

10/30/2015

Several military commanders from Libya’s self-styled government in Tripoli have been killed after their helicopter was shot down by another of the country’s armed factions, triggering clashes west of the capital. Libya is caught up in a conflict between that government and a second, internationally recognised one in the east, and the shooting comes as the UN pursues fragile negotiations between them to form a unity administration.

China calls on Japan to stop 'hampering' military flights

10/30/2015

China on Thursday called on Japan to stop "hampering" flights by Chinese military aircraft, after Japan said its scrambled fighter jets to prevent possible incursions by Chinese planes a record high number of times in the summer. Japan jets scrambled 117 times from July to September, up from 103 in the same period of last year, although it was lower than the all-time high of 164 times recorded in the final quarter of 2014.

Grounded: Taiwan’s US-Made Attack Helicopter Fleet is Rusting Away

10/30/2015

The Republic of China Army is currently investigating the grounding of the majority of its AH-64E Apache “Guardian” attack helicopters purchased from the United States, Taipei Times reports. The aircraft’s manufacturer Boeing has also dispatched a special task force to help identify the cause of the technical difficulties, which could be due to Taiwan’s “wet and high humidity climate.

Raptors fly the Big Easy Skies

10/30/2015

No sooner did Tyndall’s F-22 Raptors return from a successful mission in Europe, they took off again for an exercise in the Mardi Gras City. Over the past two weeks, 220 Tyndall Airmen participated in exercise Southern Strike at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base, Belle Chasse, La., just outside of New Orleans. The mock deployment gave F-22 pilots the chance to fly with F-15 Eagles, F-16 Fighting Falcons, F-18 Hornets, T-38 Talons, F-35 Lightning II’s and B-1 Lancer’s.

What India is Buying to Guard Against Chinese Missile Attacks

10/30/2015

Ahead of the visit of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar to Russia tomorrow, the decks have been cleared for the acquisition of what is widely considered the world's most advanced anti-ballistic missile system - the S-400.

BAE downgraded on doubts over Typhoon orders from Saudia Arabia

10/30/2015

Defence giant BAE Systems is unlikely to sell more Typhoon jets to Saudia Arabia because of political tensions with the UK, according to Credit Suisse. The impact of not landing a deal to sell more to the supersonic fighters has resulted in the broker downgrading the FTSE 100 business from “outperform” to “neutral” and cutting its target price from 590p to 460p.

RAAF tanker pushes the envelope to rescue crippled US Hornet over Iraq

10/30/2015

AN Australian air force tanker jet has come to the rescue of a US F/A-18 Hornet experiencing difficulties over northern Iraq. The RAAF KC-30A tanker was diverted to refuel the United States Marine Corps fighter after it experienced engine troubles during a combat mission against the Islamic State.

Russia's Lethal Su-35 Fighter vs. China's J-11: Who Wins?

10/30/2015

While the Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker series was originally developed in the Soviet Union to counter the American F-15 Eagle air superiority fighter, the design has evolved beyond what its designers might have imagined. Variations of the Flanker are not just built in Russia; China has its own knock-offs.

Cubic Successfully Demonstrates Live Flight of Encrypted P5 Combat Training System

10/30/2015

Cubic Global Defense (CGD), a business unit of Cubic Corporation (NYSE: CUB), today announced the completion of its first live flight demonstration of the Cubic Miniature Encryptor (CME) in Lakeland, Florida with partner Draken International, operator of the largest privately-owned fleet of ex-military aircraft.

US Fighter Jets Scramble After Russian Warplanes Approach USS Ronald Reagan In Korean Peninsula

10/30/2015

Russian bombers came within one nautical mile of the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan earlier this week off Korea, prompting the nuclear-powered vessel to scramble fighter jets, a 7th Fleet spokeswoman told Stars and Stripes Thursday. The giant Tupolev bomber aircraft, also known as the Bear, flew as low as 500 feet as it approached the Reagan, which had been conducting scheduled maneuvers with the South Korean navy.

China's Next Super Weapon: Is Beijing Developing Its Own Su-34 Fullback?

10/29/2015

China appears to have started testing a new “indigenous” combat aircraft derived from the Russian Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker family. The aircraft would be the latest in a series of Chinese fighters that are unlicensed copies of Russian jets. If a photo—posted on the Chinese internet site Weibo yesterday—is genuine, the new Chinese aircraft appears to be similar in concept to the Sukhoi Su-34 Fullback.

Canada still bombing ISIL in lead-up to new government policy

10/29/2015

Canadian military aircraft continue to fly missions in Iraq and Syria and have bombed Islamic State forces on at least three separate occasions since the federal election, despite the fact prime minister-designate Justin Trudeau wants to end the combat mission.

Inside the Ring: Russian military flights over Iraq questioned

10/29/2015

Iraq’s government has told the United States that it will not permit Russian military forces to conduct air and missile strikes inside the country. But Baghdad is allowing Russian military aircraft to overfly its territory to resupply its forces, despite a request from the United States to deny the flights.

China Deploys Supersonic Trainer Aircraft for Pilot Training

10/29/2015

Modernising its airforce at a rapid pace, China has introduced a third-generation supersonic trainer aircraft to its military flight schools to shorten pilots' training time and prepare them for advanced fighter jets. People's Liberation Army Air Force Aviation University deployed an undisclosed number of JL-9 Mountain Eagle two-seater trainer jets this month and has started to use them to train students, PLA Air Force's Daily, the official organ of the Chinese military, reported.

The LRS-B and its impact on aircraft, engine, and parts manufacturing

10/29/2015

Northrop Grumman won the U.S. Air Force’s Long Range Strike Bomber (LRS-B) contract, beating out a joint bid by Lockheed Martin and Boeing. Under the contract, which may exceed $55 billion over its lifetime, Northrop will build the Air Forces’ next-generation stealth bomber, greatly bolstering the company’s position as a defense aircraft manufacturer, while throwing doubt over Boeing’s position.

Turkey to gift 34 light fighter aircraft to Pakistan

10/29/2015

Turkey will provide 34 T-37 aircraft and their spare parts to Pakistan free of cost under a landmark defence cooperation agreement signed between the two countries in Ankara on Wednesday. Turkish defence ministry spokesman Narita Farhan told media that the T-37 is a jet trainer light combat aircraft and Turkey, on Pakistan’s desire, extended a fleet of 34 aircraft along with spare parts to Pakistan.

U.S. Air Force Awards Lockheed Martin Majority Share of Paveway II Plus Laser Guided Bomb Contract

10/29/2015

Lockheed Martin received a $76 million contract from the U.S. Air Force for follow-on production of PavewayTM II Plus Laser Guided Bomb (LGB) kits. The contract represents the majority share of fiscal year 2015 funding, as well as 100 percent of available funding for Foreign Military Sales. Deliveries will begin in the second quarter of 2016 and include the guidance and tail assemblies for GBU-10 and GBU-12 LGBs.

US Urges Europe to Relocate Forces to Incirlik to Fight ISIL in Syria

10/29/2015

The United States is inviting its European partners to relocate military forces to the Incirlik air base in Turkey to bolster anti-Islamic State operations in Syria, US head of the Global Anti-ISIL Coalition Gen. John Allen said on Wednesday.