Military Aviation News Archive

French Air Force Strikes Terrorist Targets in Iraq's Mosul Overnight

01/15/2016

The French Air Force carried out several airstrikes against terrorist targets in the Iraqi city of Mosul, the French Defense Ministry was quoted as saying by Reuters.

U.S. military may expand ISIS fight beyond Iraq and Syria

01/14/2016

Defense Secretary Ash Carter signaled Wednesday that the U.S. military will expand efforts to target Islamic State militants beyond the group's territory in Iraq and Syria, potentially involving airstrikes and raids in other Islamic countries. “The threat posed by ISIL, and groups like it, is continually evolving, changing focus and shifting location,” Carter said, using an alternative acronym for the Islamic State group.

Export Sales Reported for Sino-Pakistan JF-17 Combat Jet

01/14/2016

Further exports of the Sino-Pakistan JF-17 “Thunder” combat aircraft have been reported, following an initial sale last year, which is now known to be 16 aircraft for Myanmar. According to Pakistan's President Mamnoon Hussain, Azerbaijan and Nigeria are both interested. But a proposed sale to Sri Lanka has been opposed by India, according to unconfirmed reports.

Vietnam's Plan to Deter China With Western Jets

01/14/2016

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.

Air Force delays mothballing A-10 Thunderbolt to combat Islamic State

01/14/2016

The Air Force is delaying plans to retire the A-10 Thunderbolt attack plane due to its usefulness in the campaign against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. Officials say the “Warthog” will still need to be shelved at some point to make room for newer warplanes, but the timeline for its retirement has been thrown off due to increased demand from commanders who now depend on the Warthog to bomb Islamic State targets, Defense One reported, citing unnamed Air Force sources.

Bulgaria Could Have New Combat Aircraft after 3-1/2 Years – Defence Minister

01/14/2016

The Bulgarian Air Force could have its ageing Soviet-made combat aircraft replaced by new multi-role warplanes in the next three to three-and-a half years, Defence Minister Nikolay Nenchev said on Wednesday. The government commission tasked with studying the available options is expected to submit a report by the end of March, Nenchev told bTV broadcaster.

Iran frees U.S. sailors with start of nuclear deal in sight

01/14/2016

Iran freed 10 U.S. sailors on Wednesday, a day after detaining them aboard two U.S. Navy patrol boats in the Gulf, bringing a swift end to an incident that had rattled nerves just before the expected implementation of a landmark nuclear accord.

Boeing Delivers Six Enhanced B-52 Bomber Weapons Bay Launchers

01/14/2016

Six of the U.S. Air Force’s B-52 bombers can now take flight with a greater variety of weapons, thanks to enhanced internal weapons bay launchers delivered by Boeing [NYSE: BA]. The upgraded launchers allow the B-52 to carry GPS-guided or “smart” weapons in the weapons bay for the first time and are ready for use.

China Could Join Russian Anti-Daesh Campaign in Syria

01/14/2016

China is concerned about a growing number of "Chinese-origin" terrorists within Daesh group, which is banned in a range of countries, including Russia and the United States, the newspaper said on Wednesday.

Turkey Conducts Airstrikes Against Kurdish Positions in Northern Iraq

01/14/2016

According to the sources four F-16s and two F-4 combat aircraft were involved in the operation. Turkish warplanes destroyed Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK) shelters and warehouses in the Avasin-Basyan, Gare and Zap camps in northern Iraq. The positions were identified by drones prior to the attack.

Russian Knights Aerobatic Team Ready to Steal Bahrain Air Show

01/14/2016

The Russian aerobatic team Russkiye Vityazi (Russian Knights) on Wednesday completed preparations for a performance at the international air show in Bahrain, the Russian Defense Ministry’s press service said in a statement.

Iran holds 10 U.S. sailors but pledges to release them soon, Pentagon says

01/13/2016

The Iranian military took control of two U.S. Navy vessels and their crew Tuesday after the boats apparently strayed into Iran’s territorial waters, U.S. officials said. The circumstances surrounding the incident, which comes at a volatile moment in U.S.-Iranian relations, remained unclear late Tuesday. Senior U.S. officials said they expected the crew of ten to be released from Iranian custody Wednesday morning.

Korean Air inks big military drone deal

01/12/2016

Korean Air signed a deal late last month with the state-run munitions procurement organization to mass produce a new unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), or drone, for military reconnaissance missions, the top air carrier said on Sunday. The budget for the deal with the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, which will conclude in 2020, totals 400 billion won ($334 million), and Korean Air will receive 230 billion won through 2018 in its initial phase.

Rescue wing retiring aging HC-130s

01/12/2016

With no fanfare other than the fading rumble of its four turbo-prop engines, one of Patrick's well-worn HC-130P/N King aircraft - number 65-00976 - disappeared into the afternoon sky heading into retirement at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base's 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group, the aircraft retirement "bone yard," in Arizona.

Air Force Fighter Jets Will Control Drones

01/12/2016

The Air Force Chief Scientist said F-35 pilots will be able to control a small group of drones flying nearby from the aircraft cockpit in the air, performing sensing, reconnaissance and targeting functions. At the moment, the flight path, sensor payload and weapons disposal of airborne drones such as Air Force Predators and Reapers are coordinated from ground control stations.

Serbia can't modernize army with current budget - analyst

01/12/2016

This is according to military analyst Aleksandar Radic, who spoke for the Beta agency."It is not possible to realize these promises and obviously these are empty stories and intentional deception. These promises have so far mainly come from the Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic, and this time from Chief of General Staff General Dikovic," Radic said, adding that this was "heard the least from the one who should have said it the most - Defense Minister Bratislav Gasic."

Why Sri Lanka Backed Off the Sino-Pakistani JF-17 Thunder

01/12/2016

As Benjamin Baker wrote last week in The Diplomat, the JF-17 Thunder, a low-cost multi-role fighter built collaboratively by China and Pakistan, has run into some problems on the global fighter market. Recently, every time it appears to have locked down a buyer, problem crop up. Malaysia became the latest supposed buyer of the JF-17 to come out publicly and say that there was no finalized deal.

India says closing in on French fighter plane deal

01/12/2016

India and France are close to a deal to buy 36 combat planes from Dassault, India's defence minister said on Monday, after months of wrangling over price and other terms of the sale. French President Francois Hollande is due in New Delhi this month as a guest of honour at a military parade and the two sides are expected to seal the pact for the Rafale fighters either just before he arrives or during the visit.

A Late Holiday Gift: Two Su-35S Jets Enter Service in Russia's Far East

01/12/2016

An air regiment of Russia's Eastern Military District (EMD) will receive its first two Su-35S fighter jets soon, the head of EMD's press service said Monday. "Two new Su-35S 4++ generation jets are due to enter service with the EMD air regiment deployed in Primorsky Territory," Col. Alexander Gordeyev told reporters.

Behind the scenes of a refueling mission at Fairchild AFB

01/11/2016

Fairchild Air Force Base gave a behind the scenes look of its KC-135 refueling tanker for the first time in two years on Friday. They allowed KREM 2 cameras on the plane as they headed out to put fuel in six F-15s in Oregon and one C-17 in Lewis-McChord.

Military strikes continue against ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq

01/11/2016

On Jan. 9, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted 11 strikes using fighter, attack, bomber, and remotely piloted aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 15 strikes coordinated with and in support of the government of Iraq using rocket artillery, fighter, bomber, and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL targets.

Sri Lanka cancels Pakistan jet deal after Indian opposition

01/11/2016

The Sri Lankan government cancelled a deal to buy Pakistani fighter jets after a “diplomatic missive” from India, reports The Indian Express. New Delhi reportedly told Sri Lanka that its current defence requirements meant it did not need the JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft from Pakistan, whilst also sending a negative technical assessment of the aircraft.

Japan's Self-Defense Forces to cover more of South China Sea

01/11/2016

The Defense Ministry and the Self-Defense Forces have decided that Japanese P-3C patrol aircraft returning home from anti-piracy activities off the coast of Somalia will give priority to stopping along the way at bases of countries facing the South China Sea, including the Philippines and Vietnam, according to sources.

Air Force Looks to Double Number of Drone Pilots

01/11/2016

The US Air Force wants to double the number of units flying drones and recruit more pilots to decrease the burden on current crews as demand for the missions soars. The Air Force also recently allowed enlisted airmen to become drone pilots for the first time as the military increasingly uses unmanned aircraft for surveillance, protecting US soldiers on the ground and attacking targets.

Iraq Argues It Does Better Job in Anti-Daesh Air War Than Int’l Coalition

01/11/2016

The prime minister of Iraq claimed this weekend that the country’s air force does a better job striking Daesh across the country than the whole US-led '60+ nation' coalition.