Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Afghan Air Force receives first four A-29 attack aircraft

01/26/2016

The U.S. Air Force delivered four A-29 Super Tucano airplanes to the Afghan Air Force Jan. 15 at Hamid Karzai International Airport here. Eight combat-ready attack pilots and a handful of maintainers graduated Dec. 17, 2015, and have returned to Afghanistan after a year of training at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, with the 81st Fighter Squadron. These pilots are the first of 30 who will be trained by the 81st FS in the next three years.

Philippines joining Cope North for first time on Guam next month

01/26/2016

The Philippines will take part for the first time in Cope North, a large-scale air exercise with the U.S. and four other nations in the western Pacific. Philippine airmen will join more than 1,800 personnel from the U.S., Japan, Australia, South Korea and New Zealand for the exercise, which runs Feb. 10-26 out of Andersen Air Force Base, Guam.

Dassault to work with India to build on new Rafale agreement

01/26/2016

Dassault says it will “go step by step” to securing further Rafale orders from India after prime minister Narendra Modi signed an agreement on 25 January with his French counterpart to purchase 36 of the type.

Bahrain debut for export-ready Tejas fighter

01/26/2016

Speaking at the Bahrain International Air Show on 22 January, Dr S Christopher, director general of New Delhi’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), noted the Make in India policy also extends to seeking international sales of its equipment. “Our aim is to ensure we have a quality product – not just for indigenous requirements, but also for export,” he says.

Defense Ministry Releases Video of Bombers Pounding Daesh Positions (VIDEO)

01/26/2016

The Russian Defense Ministry has released fresh footage from its combat operation in Syria, publishing a video showing combat sorties of Tu-22M3 long-range bombers against terrorist targets.

India, Russia Slash Fifth Gen Fighter Jet Development Costs by 40%

01/26/2016

India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd and Russia’s Sukhoi negotiators cut the costs of Fifth-Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) project joint project from $12 billion to $8 billion.

Philippine Supreme Court approves military deal with US

01/25/2016

The Philippines Supreme Court on Tuesday declared constitutional a security deal with the United States, allowing an increased US military presence in the former USA colony as tension rises in the South China Sea. Aquino negotiated the accord to help the Philippines improve its military capabilities and draw the United States closer, partly to counter a fast-expanding Chinese presence in disputed parts of the South China Sea.

Russian 5G fighter to go into serial production in 2017 – top brass

01/25/2016

The final primary batch of PAK-FA fighter jets is almost complete and tests will be finished in 2016, top military officials told the media. The Russian Air Force hopes to start regular production of the new 5G jets soon, with the first planes coming in 2017.

Indian, Russian negotiators agree on FGFA development

01/25/2016

The Indian Air Force (IAF), once an ardent backer of the proposed Indo-Russian fifth generation fighter aircraft (FGFA), has for the last two years sharply attacked the project. Critics say the FGFA is on the back burner to clear the way for the French Rafale fighter.

What's on François Hollande's Agenda in India?

01/25/2016

On Sunday, French President Hollande began a three-day state visit to India. Hollande’s visit will address a broad bilateral agenda, covering collaboration on defense, counter-terrorism, clean energy, and economic ties. Notably, Hollande will be the guest of honor at India’s Republic Day celebrations on January 26. India hosts an annual military parade in New Delhi for Republic Day and has in recent years featured foreign heads of state and government to emphasize growing strategic ties.

Despite Decades of Stealth, Sticking Points Bedevil F-35 Jet

01/25/2016

One of the earliest stealth weapons on record was a stone used by the young Israelite David to kill the Philistine giant Goliath. In the biblical account, David shunned the conventional armaments of his time: sword, helmet, armor. Instead, he went forth with a slingshot and a few stones, kept undetected in a pouch. As any schoolchild knows, one well-aimed fling was all it took to put Goliath down for good. The big guy never saw it coming.

Kurds Repel Massive Daesh Attack Near Mosul, Terrorists Take Severe Losses

01/25/2016

While awaiting as the Iraqi army gets prepared for the liberation of Mosul, the Kurdish armed militia Peshmerga spent their time in recurrent skirmishes with Daesh fighters who dared to come too close to their outposts. Pilots from the US-led coalition provided air support or, to omit the vague military slang, attacked terrorists from above.

Russia’s Strategic Bomber PAK DA May Take off Earlier than Expected

01/25/2016

The prototype PAK DA may hit the skies before 2021, the chief added. “Work on the PAK DA is coming along and the pace is suiting us. The challenge remains to raise the prototype into air by 2021, but if all continues at the current pace, it will take off even earlier,” Bondarev said.

China Moving Toward Reaching Deal With Djibouti on Building Military Base

01/25/2016

China and Djibouti have “reached consensus” regarding the construction of logistical facilities in the African state. The deal that has been hinted at for months has finally been confirmed.

China's Progress in Developing Hypersonic Weapons Unsettles Pentagon

01/25/2016

Although Beijing has repeatedly stated that its efforts to modernize its military are aimed strictly at boosting China's defense capabilities, US military officials never miss an opportunity to present these developments as an alarming trend.

Report: Russia Seeks Airbase in Northeast Syria

01/24/2016

While Russia already has military facilities in northwestern Syria, in the Latakia Province, the Russian military is believed to be doing some preliminary scouting in northeastern Syria’s Hasakeh Province, with an eye toward setting up a separate airfield in that area. US officials are saying Russia has dispatched personnel to an airfield in Qamishli and are believed to be trying to figure out if they want that site.

Military strikes continue against ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq

01/24/2016

On Jan. 22, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted four strikes using fighter and attack aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 20 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using attack, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL targets.

UAE Eyes Moving Mirage Fighters to Iraq's Kurdish Areas, Procuring Rafales

01/24/2016

The United Arab Emirates is awaiting final assurances from France and the Iraqi government to sell its fleet of Dassault Mirage 2000-9s before completing their deal for 60 Rafale fighters, Defense News has learned.

Organic But Unpredictable Anti-Aircraft Systems

01/24/2016

An increasingly common problem for commercial and military aircraft is bird strikes. This is especially true of Africa where there are larger populations of birds and small land animals. Military air bases, which tend to be in remote areas, are even more exposed to the possibility of bird strikes or animals unexpectedly moving onto air strips. There have been some clever solutions to this problem.

RAF fighter jets not fitted with safety systems to prevent civilian collisions despite Government pledge

01/24/2016

The majority of Britain’s fighter jets have not been fitted with safety systems that would help prevent a catastrophic mid-air collision with a passenger plane, despite the Government pledging to install them almost 20 years ago, The Independent on Sunday can reveal.

Canada’s ISIS mission has cost close to $300 million

01/24/2016

Canada’s military mission against Islamic State extremists has cost close to $300 million so far, the Star has learned. The first six months of the mission, which began in October 2014, actually came in under original estimates at $70 million — some $52 million less than defence planners had originally projected, defence department spokesperson Daniel Le Bouthillier told the Star.

Russia to Sell Egypt 46 Alligator Helicopters

01/24/2016

To equip the French-made Mistral-class ships, Egypt is buying 46 Russian Ka-52 Alligator reconnaissance and combat helicopters, Austrian online newspaper Die Presse reported.

Russian PAK FA Dazzles at Bahrain International Airshow

01/24/2016

The King of Bahrain visited the hangars of various foreign companies during the Bahrain International Airshow-2016, including hangars of ‘Sukhoi’, ‘Rosoboronexport’ and holding ‘Helicopters of Russia’.

PAF commissions 3rd C-295 transport aircraft

01/23/2016

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) formally commissioned its third and last Airbus Military C-295 medium transport aircraft during ceremonies at Clark Air Base in Angeles City, Pampanga last Jan. 20. PAF spokesperson Col. Enrico Canaya said on Friday the ceremony was led by Air Logistic Command head Major Gen. Isagani Silva. Canaya said the third C-295 transport aircraft arrived at Clark Air Base last Dec. 11.

US general says B-52 overflight caught North Korea’s attention

01/23/2016

North Korea did not shrug off the recent overflight of a 55-year-old B-52H bomber near Seoul that was escorted by US and South Korean combat jets, according to vice chairmen of the US joint chiefs of staff Gen Paul Selva.