Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

U.S. Military Proposes Challenge to China Sea Claims

05/13/2015

The U.S. military is considering using aircraft and Navy ships to directly contest Chinese territorial claims to a chain of rapidly expanding artificial islands, U.S. officials said, in a move that would raise the stakes in a regional showdown over who controls disputed waters in the South China Sea.

Weak crown complicating sale of Czech combat planes to Iraq

05/13/2015

The weak Czech crown is complicating the sale of the Czech L-159 combat aircraft to Iraq as the state wants Penta, the owner of the mediating firm, to pay it 100 million crowns more than originally, daily Hospodarske noviny (HN) writes yesterday. The ministry agreed on the sale of 15 L-159 planes to Iraq with the Aero Vodochody aircraft maker for 750 million crowns last August.

NATO Holds Aerial Drill in Czech Republic

05/13/2015

The exercise, codenamed Lion Effort, marks a decade that Gripen fighter jets have been used to guard Czech airspace, Radio Prague said in a broadcast. In 2009 and 2011, similar exercises were held in Hungary and Sweden. The Czech air force sent L-159 light combat planes, Mi-24 assault helicopters, Mi-171 multipurpose helicopters and C-295 CASA transport aircraft to take part in live flying training.

Scale of UK attacks on Islamic State in Iraq revealed

05/12/2015

British aircraft and unmanned drones have attacked Islamic State targets in Iraq with more than 200 bombs and missiles in military operations that have been largely ignored, a Guardian analysis has shown. The air strikes, which began in the autumn, have been undertaken by the RAF’s oldest bombers – Tornado GR4s and its newest weapon – the remotely piloted Reaper.

A Moroccan war plane shot down in Yemen – Official

05/12/2015

A Moroccan F-16 aircraft participating in the “Operation Decisive Storm” of the Arab coalition was shot down on Sunday by Houthi rebels in Yemen, the Moroccan Royal Armed Forces (FAR) report said Monday. According to a statement issued by the press service of the Inspectorate General of the RAF, a F16 warplane which is part of the Royal Armed Forces squadron put at the disposal of the Saudi-led coalition to restore legitimacy in Yemen, has been reported missing since Sunday.

US Approves New Deal for Singapore’s F-16 Upgrades

05/12/2015

Last week, the U.S. State Department approved the potential sale of components and logistical support for Singapore’s F-16 Block 52 upgrade program in a deal worth around $130 million. The approval was part of several deals that the State Department cleared for U.S. allies and partners in the Middle East and the Asia Pacific.

Former UK Defense Chief Slams F-35 as ‘White Elephant’

05/12/2015

The United Kingdom’s former defense chief is using some colorful language to criticize the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Nick Harvey, who served as armed forces minister from 2010 to 2012, recently said of the fifth-generation stealth fighter jet, “You could argue it was already one of the biggest white elephants in history a long time ago,” according to an article by The Independent, a national newspaper based in London.

A Navy Pilot’s Death Reflects the Everyday Hazards of the Job

05/12/2015

All the Navy recovered after Lt. Nathan Poloski’s fighter jet collided in midair with another Navy jet on a training mission in the western Pacific in September were his flight helmet and a few bits of debris. The 26-year-old pilot, who was deployed aboard the aircraft carrier Carl Vinson, died one month before the ship steamed into the Persian Gulf and began launching combat missions against the Islamic State.

Watch Russia’s Biggest Ever Victory Day Parade through Combat Aircraft’s GoPro cameras

05/12/2015

The following clip was aired by Zevda, the Russian TV network owned by the Russian Ministry of Defence. Filmed with GoPro cameras inside and/or outside Russian Air Force Yak-130s, Mi-28s, Ka-52s, Su-27s, Su-34s, Su-25s and Mig-29s the footage shows the biggest ever Victory Day parade over Red Square, on May 9, from a privileged point of view.

Thailand, Romania Select Lockheed Martin’s Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod for F-16 Fleets

05/12/2015

The Romanian Air Force (RoAF) and Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) recently selected Lockheed Martin’s (NYSE: LMT) Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod (ATP) for their F-16 fleets, becoming the 18th and 19th international customers to receive this advanced sensor capability. Lockheed Martin will integrate and field Sniper ATPs on existing RoAF and RTAF aircraft and provide initial sustainment support. Pod deliveries began in early 2015 to meet operational need requirements.

US Carrier Strike Group Conducts Exercises With Malaysia in South China Sea

05/12/2015

The exercise allowed both Malaysian and US naval forces to track a live target that was threat representative, the release explained, adding that the United States was impressed with the capabilities of the Royal Malaysian Navy.

US to Station Special Operations Aircraft at Japanese Air Base - DoD

05/12/2015

The Defense Department also said these aircraft will maximize interoperability, enhance operational cooperation, and promote stronger defense relations with the Japan Self-Defense Forces. The CV-22 Osprey is a tilt-rotor aircraft combing vertical takeoff, hover and vertical landing qualities of a helicopter with the long-range, fuel efficiency and speed characteristics of a turboprop aircraft.

Taliban releases video of SAM-7; says it hit Pakistan army chopper

05/11/2015

Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan on Sunday released a video of its militants holding a Shoulder Launch Missile, which the militant group claimed to have used in downing a Pakistan military helicopter killing ambassadors of the Philippines and Norway and five others in the PoK. A video released by a jihadist media forum shows at least four masked militants with the surface-to-air missile (SAM-7 B) allegedly used in hitting the Mi-17 that crashed in Naltar valley of Gilgit-Baltisitan in PoK.

Surge in Jet Purchases Reshuffles Market

05/11/2015

In the span of just a few weeks, a flurry of orders has reset the global fighter market. First came the Feb. 13 announcement that Egypt would become the first foreign customer for the Dassault Rafale. Then on April 10, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi placed an order for 36 Rafales for his nation. A week later, the United Arab Emirates said it was restarting talks with Dassault about the Rafale, and by the end of April, Qatar has declared its intention to buy the French fighter.

A Turkish-Saudi Military Offensive on Syria?

05/11/2015

On June 22, 2012, a Turkish RF-4E military reconnaissance aircraft took off from an air base in eastern Turkey. It flew at low altitude, as most spy planes do, and violated Syrian airspace before it was hit - most likely - by a missile fired from a Syrian- or Russian-operated air defense system. Two Turkish pilots were killed. Their bodies were later recovered from the Mediterranean Sea with help from a US ship.

Spain finds black boxes of crashed military aircraft

05/11/2015

Spain said on Sunday it had found the two black boxes from the crashed Airbus A400M military aircraft that plowed into a field north of Seville airport in its maiden test flight on Saturday, killing four of the six test crew. The black boxes had been handed over to investigators, the government said in a statement. Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy late on Saturday asked for maximum transparency from Airbus during the investigation into the cause of the crash.

Siil / Steadfast Javelin kicks off in Estonia

05/11/2015

The largest mobilisation exercise Siil/Steadfast Javelin is currently underway in Estonia after the country restored its armed forces two decades ago. Siil/Steadfast Javelin involving over 7, 000 of reserve forces and in total 13, 000 troops from Estonia and Allied countries kicked off in locations all over Estonia this week and runs from May 4 to 15. "I was pleased to see the enthusiasm among the reservists, service members, Home Guard and Allied forces when inspecting the troops.

Reports of paralyzed Taipei sim inaccurate

05/11/2015

The Defense Ministry yesterday stated that recent media reports reporting that Chinese military forces paralyzed the capital Taipei within two days during simulations during the annual Han Kuang series of military exercises were inaccurate. In a noon press release, the Defense Ministry reported that the “Han Kuang Number 31” exercises which ran for five days and four nights between May 4 and 8 concluded with all training exercises completed as planned.

Affordable $20 million fighter planes

05/11/2015

The Textron Scorpion costs $20 million, still not exactly a bargain by most people's standards, but a fifth of the cost of the F-35. It suggests that not every advanced defence project has to necessarily come in years late and billions over budget – and points to a new twist in not only the future of fighter-jet design, but also in more humanitarian roles that a budget jet could carry out.

Moroccan warplane in Saudi coalition goes missing over Yemen

05/11/2015

A Moroccan F-16 warplane taking part in the Saudi Arabian-led coalition fighting in Yemen went missing on Sunday, the Moroccan Royal Armed Forces said in a statement. Backed by the United States, a Saudi-led coalition has been conducting air strikes against the Houthis and army units loyal to ex-president Ali Abdullah Saleh since March 26 with the aim of restoring the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.

Russian Aerospace Defense to Get New Radars, Shed Older Models

05/11/2015

Russian Aerospace Defense Forces (VKO) plan to cut the number of radar units produced for the air defense of Moscow and the Central region four times, however VKO will boost the production of new generation air defense systems, VKO spokesperson Alexei Zototukhin told RIA Novosti.

Airbus A400M Transport Plane Crashes in Spain

05/10/2015

An Airbus Group NV military transport plane crashed near Seville, southern Spain, killing four of the people on board, the Spanish government said Saturday. A government official in Seville said the aircraft was carrying six people and crashed in a field about a mile north of Seville’s airport, catching fire upon impact. Two people were sent to the hospital with very serious injuries, she said.

Thales welcomes Rafale omnirole combat aircraft by Qatar Air Force

05/10/2015

The official signing ceremony for the acquisition of 24 Rafale aircraft was held today in Doha, in the presence of the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the President of the French Republic, François Hollande, Dassault Aviation Chairman and CEO, Eric Trappier and Thales charirman and CEO, Patrice Caine.

REPORT: US TRANSFERS COMBAT AIRCRAFTS, TRAINER JETS, ARMORED CARRIERS TO PAKISTAN

05/10/2015

The United States transferred weapons to Pakistan that were used by American forces in Afghanistan and Iraq, including 14 combat aircrafts, 59 military trainer jets, and 374 armored personnel carriers, according to the Congressional Research Service (CRS).

Brazil to Send Inquiry About Russian Pantsir-S1 Missile Systems' Purchase

05/10/2015

Brazil will send an official inquiry about the potential purchase of the Russian Pantsir-S1 missile system, Brazilian Minister of Defense Jaques Wagner told Sputnik. On Saturday, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said that the waiting list for the purchase of the Pantsir-S1 system is formed until 2019.