Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Nigeria: U.S.$2.1 Billion Arms Procurement Deal - Blame Not Yakassai, Blame the System

01/18/2016

One domestic issue with many foreign policy implications currently generating much national and international interest is that of $2.1 billion arms procurement deal. Under the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GEJ) administration, the $2.1 billion was earmarked to purchase arms for the prosecution of the anti-Boko Haram war.

Money Ballast Keeps Rafales on Runway

01/18/2016

With barely a week left for the arrival of French President Francois Hollande in the national capital, a crucial deal to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets from France has hit turbulence. Nine months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced in Paris India’s plans to buy the fighter aircraft directly from the French government, officials of the finance wing of the Ministry of Defence are worried about the high costs of the warplanes, which has turned out to be the way above their calculations.

Search for missing Marines continues following helicopter crash off Oahu

01/18/2016

The ongoing search for 12 Marines who are missing after two helicopters crashed off Hawaii entered the third day with no plans Sunday to call off or suspend the massive effort, the Coast Guard said. While high surf complicated the mission for rescuers on the water, a green laser off Haleiwa Beach Park on Saturday night struck a Coast Guard plane, forcing crew members to alter search patterns.

Airstrike Era Over, Time for Local Ground Ops in Iraq - Canada Def. Chief

01/18/2016

The Canadian minister of defense has openly favored a ground operation against Daesh instead of airstrike-only campaigns. But Canada’s army has a more important job to do at home: engage more women and minorities into the military service. Someone else will have to do the dirty job in the Middle East in the end, most likely.

Formidable Boost: China to Produce Cutting-Edge Aircraft

01/18/2016

The fifth-generation J-20 stealth fighter and the Y-20 heavy-lifting transport plane are about to enter the initial production stage, the observers said. Wang Ya'nan, deputy editor-in-chief of Aerospace Knowledge magazine, said the newest J-20 prototype must be tested to inspect technical changes designers made to it based on test results from earlier prototypes.

Russia Moves Closer to Building New Aircraft Carrier

01/18/2016

Currently, Russia has only one aircraft carrier in service – the Admiral Kuznetsov. It was built in the Ukrainian SSR, at the Nikolayev shipyards. After the USSR collapsed in 1991, Russia lost access to the facilities which built all Soviet aircraft carriers. As a result, Moscow was forced to create its own aircraft carrier industrial base.

Russia to deploy Ka-52 attack helicopters to Syria to protect Latakia air base

01/16/2016

Russian Kamov Ka-52 (NATO reporting name “Hokum-B”) helicopters would be about to deploy to Syria according to a source who talked to ITAR-TASS.vThe attack choppers will be used to protect the Russian Task Force deployed to Hmeymim airbase, near Latakia, as well as to conduct CSAR (Combat Search And Rescue) missions as the one launched to rescue the two pilots who ejected from the Su-24 Fencer shot down by a Turkish Air Force F-16 in November 2015.

TEXTRON AIRLAND’S SCORPION: A SMART GAMBLE

01/16/2016

For starters, the subsonic, twin-engine jet costs $20 million, and operating costs dial in at around $3,000 per flight hour, according to a BBC report by Russell Hotten. For comparison, the efficient A-10 Thunderbolt II, otherwise known as the “Warthog,” costs an initial $19 million and operational costs are estimated at $17,716 per flight hour, though these numbers will vary based on year and modifications.

The US Thinks China May Have Stolen Military Robot Designs

01/16/2016

The federal government wants to know if hacked trade secrets are aiding the rise of an army of Chinese androids. At least one China-backed cyberspy operation reportedly snared robotics research from QinetiQ, a Pentagon contractor and the supposed inspiration for gadget-maker “Q” in the James Bond movie franchise.

Future of Croatian Air Force In Question Due to Lack of Funds

01/16/2016

Government and military leaders should make a decision this year about the fate of the Croatian Air Force combat aircraft. In April last year, the National Defence Council decided to retain combat air force capabilities and acquire Western-type aircraft. However, in the meantime, the government and military leadership have reportedly changed their minds.

Military aircraft collide off Oahu; search on for survivors

01/16/2016

Two Marine Corps helicopters carrying six crew members each collided and went down off the Hawaiian island of Oahu while on a nighttime training mission, and rescuers searched choppy waters Friday where debris had been sighted, military officials said. There was no immediate word on the fate of those aboard or what caused the accident.

Italy Sends Fighter Aircraft to Birgi Base Amid Concerns Over Libya

01/16/2016

Italy’s Defense Ministry has ordered the deployment of four AMX fighter aircraft and one Predator drone to its Birgi base near Trapani, Sicily, amid concerns over the situation in Libya, the General Staff said.

Afghanistan Receives Four Light Attack Aircraft From US

01/16/2016

The turboprop aircraft can fire guided rockets, Dawlat Waziri told the Pajhwok Afghan News agency. The jets would help bolster the Afghan Air Force, he added. A-29 Super Tucano, manufactured by Brazilian Embraer aerospace company, is able to carry out advanced training, border surveillance and internal security missions.

War Games Continue: Philippines to Allow US to Use Eight Military Bases

01/16/2016

The Philippines will offer the US military use of eight bases, a military spokesman said Wednesday after the country's Supreme Court supported a security agreement with Washington; the deal was implemented following the onset of rising tensions with China.

Russian Weapons to Maintain Balance of Power in Balkans

01/16/2016

Serbia eyes buying Russian-made Tor, Pantsir, and Buk air defense systems as well as MiG-29 jet fighters, in response to Croatia’s plans to purchase US-made MGM-140 ATACMS tactical missiles.

France to Send Second Batch of Weapons to Lebanon in April

01/16/2016

Lebanon is due to receive the second arms shipment from France in April, a year after Paris sent the first batch of weapons to Beirut, local media reported Friday.

Selfridge aircraft look safe in next Pentagon budget

01/15/2016

A defense publication reported this week that the Pentagon is preparing to formally delay its long-standing proposal to retire the nation’s fleet of A10 Warthog attack planes, which includes the dozen or so flying out of Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Macomb County.

Vietnam’s plan to deter China with western warplane purchases

01/15/2016

Vietnam is negotiating with American and European manufacturers to purchase new warplanes—including fighters, maritime patrol aircraft and unmanned aircraft. The move comes as part of Hanoi’s strategy to lessen its dependence on Russian hardware and to counter China’s growing power.

New Pentagon Contract Signals Lockheed Martin's C-130 Airlifter Is Headed For 100 Years of Service

01/15/2016

The Department of Defense disclosed on December 30 that it has ordered 32 more C-130J Super Hercules airlifters from Lockheed Martin, the first installment of a multiyear contract for 78 of the four-engine turboprops that will ultimately be worth $5.3 billion.

Why India's Deal For 36 Rafale Fighter Jets Is Still Being Negotiated

01/15/2016

With just days to go before French President Francois Hollande arrives in India, a crucial deal for Delhi to buy 36 French-built Rafale warplanes has not yet been decided. Speaking to Reuters today, the French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said that the deal remains evasive, underscoring the considerable differences between negotiators for both sides, nearly nine months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Paris and announced the plans to buy the fighter jets directly from French.

Japan's stealth plane set for maiden flight in February

01/15/2016

The first Japan-made stealth plane will take to the skies in its maiden flight over central Japan next month. The experimental aircraft is designed as a testbed for the stealth technology planned to be incorporated into the next-generation fighter jet for the Air Self-Defense Force. The combat aircraft will be replacing the ASDF's F-2 fighter jets in fiscal 2028 at the earliest, if all goes according to plan.

Russia Unveils Agreement With Syria on Deployment of Combat Air Group

01/15/2016

The Russian government on Thursday posted on its legal information portal the full text of the agreement with Damascus on the deployment of the Russian combat air group in Syria.

Boeing to Help U.S. Air Force Keep T-38 Trainers Flying Through 2026

01/15/2016

Boeing, which has maintained and supported the U.S. Air Force T-38 Talon trainer fleet for 16 years, will do that for another ten years through a new contract worth up to $855 million. The company will work on avionics, cockpit displays, control panels, and communications systems for 456 of the aircraft as well as upgrading 37 aircrew training devices.

NATO Aircraft May Be Allowed to Patrol Bulgarian Airspace

01/15/2016

The Bulgarian parliament approved amendments to the defense legislation in the first reading on Thursday, allowing NATO member countries to participate in patrolling the country's airspace, local media reported.

Russian Su-30SM Multirole Fighters to Master Intercepting Air Targets

01/15/2016

Russian Air Force will practice intercepting targets with advanced Su-30SM multirole fighters, capable of air-to-air and air-to-ground strikes and equipped with a wide variety of precision-guided munitions.