Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

China's second aircraft carrier 'to have military focus'

01/04/2016

China's second aircraft carrier, which is now under construction, will focus on military operations rather than training and technological experiments, according to a senior military researcher. "This carrier will have different missions than those for the Liaoning (the country's first aircraft carrier)," Senior Captain Zhang Junshe with the People's Liberation Army Naval Military Studies Research Institute told the official PLA Daily on Friday.

South Sudan army admits acquisition of surface-to-air missiles

01/03/2016

The Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), an official army of South Sudan, has admitted to have recently acquired supplies of shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles brought through the neighboring countries of Kenya and Uganda, prompting United States government to warn its citizens of danger to fly in South Sudan.

Canada’s military needs better focus and funding: Editorial

01/03/2016

Canada has never been a big spender on the military, outside of wartime. And that’s not likely to change on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s cash-strapped watch. In its first throne speech the Trudeau government promised to review the country’s defence capabilities and “invest in building a leaner, more agile, better-equipped military.” At the same time the government has signaled it intends to hold the line on defence spending.

Vietnam Protests as China Lands Civilian Aircraft on Newly Constructed Spratly Airstrip

01/03/2016

The status of China’s artificial islands in the disputed Spratly archipelago in the South China Sea hit a new milestone on Saturday. China landed a civilian aircraft on Fiery Cross Reef, drawing a sharp reaction from the Vietnamese government.

RAF bomb raids in Syria dismissed as 'non-event'

01/03/2016

Britain's controversial air campaign in Syria has been branded a “non-event” after it emerged that the Air Force has carried out only one attack on the country in the last four weeks. Since MPs voted for war over Syria on 1 December, more than a month ago, RAF Tornados and Typhoons have mounted only three strike missions – all in the first five days of the operation.

RAF Reapers In Iraq

01/03/2016

In late 2015 Britain revealed that their Reaper UAVs in Iraq had carried out over 230 missile attacks since November 2014 and killed at least 300 Islamic terrorists. The Reapers have flown many more reconnaissance and surveillance missions. While Britain is quite pleased with the performance of their American built Reapers they have also begun using a British made Watchkeeper UAV as well.

Pathankot terror attack: Pre-positioned Crack counter militant troops, NSG minimized damage

01/03/2016

Crack counter militant troops and a NSG team prepositioned at the Pathankot air base in anticipation of an attack contained the terror strike, minimizing damage to the installation as well as preventing them from entering the technical area that houses fighter aircraft and choppers.

Navy to shutdown combat-tested spec ops helicopter squadron

01/03/2016

After more than a year in limbo, the Navy has decided to shutdown one of its two dedicated special operations helicopter squadrons, in a money-saving reorganization to retain the service's spec ops expertise. In March, the Navy will shutter Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 84 in Norfolk, which, along with HSC-85, has flown a decade of shadowy missions in war zones with aging helicopters.

Canadian fighter jets in the Middle East kept busy at the start of 2016

01/03/2016

Canadian fighter jets taking part in the air campaign against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant have had a busy start to 2016. The Canadian Forces says two CF-18 Hornets took to the skies on New Year's Day to attack ISIL fighting positions in Ramadi in support of Iraqi security forces.

Two Kurdish Peshmerga Brigades to Be Armed and Trained by US in January

01/03/2016

raqi Kurdistan military officials have announced that two brigades of Kurdish armed forces, known as Pesmerga, will undergo reorganization and armament by the US in mid-January.

Aerospace firms eye pilot training even as Liberals unsure of new fighter jet

01/02/2016

The Canadian government is setting the stage for a multibillion-dollar training program for its military pilots that will see them receive instruction not just on basic skills but also on flying a new fighter jet and other future aircraft.

France to buy four Lockheed C130 military transport planes

01/02/2016

France said on Friday it would buy four C130 Hercules military transport planes from U.S. weapons maker Lockheed-Martin due to problems with European planemaker Airbus's A400M. A Defense Ministry source had said in May that France had penciled several hundreds of millions of euros into its latest defense budget for the possible purchase of those four planes and would make a decision by year-end.

China’s second aircraft carrier to copy a dated Soviet-era design as naval hardware demands increase

01/02/2016

China’s first home-made aircraft carrier will be a copy of a Soviet-era vessel with some refinements, with the navy rushing to ramp up its combat capacity as maritime tensions rise in the region, according to analysts. The defence ministry confirmed on Wednesday that the country’s second aircraft carrier was under construction in the port of Dalian.

Government planning to export Light Combat Aircraft Tejas, to take part in Bahrain Airshow

01/02/2016

India's Light Combat Aircraft Tejas will take part in Bahrain International Airshow this month to explore export potential in what will be the first time the indigenously developed plane will fly outside the Indian air space. Besides the fighter and naval version of Tejas, India will also showcase state-of-the-art airborne platforms and associated sensors and communication systems designed and developed by DRDO.

U.S. Government, Lockheed Martin Announce C-130J Super Hercules Multiyear II Contract

01/02/2016

Lockheed Martin will deliver 78 C-130J Super Hercules to the U.S. government through a C-130J Multiyear II contract, which was announced by the U.S. government on Dec. 30, 2015. Yesterday, the Department of Defense announced the award of more than $1 billion in funding for the first 32 aircraft of the Multiyear contract. The overall contract, worth $5.3 billion, provides Super Hercules aircraft to the U.S. Air Force (30 MC-130Js, 13 HC-130Js and 29 C-130J-30s) and the U.S.M.C. (six KC-130Js).

Indian Air Base Under Attack, Four Dead Including 2 Servicemen

01/02/2016

Two of the attackers have been killed, The Times of India said early on Saturday. The attack started at 03:30 a. m. local time on Saturday, according to NDTV. An official car was used to launch the attack, NDTV said citing authorities.

Adapt and Overcome: New Russian Interceptor to Replace MiG-31

01/02/2016

Despite being one of the fastest combat aircraft in the world, the Mikoyan MiG-31 (NATO reporting name: Foxhound) supersonic interceptor went out of production in 1994. However, as Russia still requires this type of aircraft to protect its sizeable airspace, the Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG is already working on a new combat aircraft which will eventually replace the old reliable Foxhound.

Brand New: Russia's Advanced Mi-38 Helicopter to Hit Production in 2016

01/02/2016

Russia has successfully completed testing of the newest multi-purpose Mi-38 helicopter. The Federal Air Transport Agency has issued a certificate of compliance with the requirements of the Mi-38 aircraft standards. This means that the helicopter will launch into production in 2016.

Russian Pilots Perform Over 4,000 Flights Aboard New Su-30SM in 2015

01/02/2016

The flight crew of Russia’s Eastern Military District (EMD) air regiment carried out over 4,000 flights aboard the advanced Su-30SM Flanker jets this year, the head of EMD’s press service said Thursday.

RAF Lossiemouth jets tackle terrorists in Syria

12/31/2015

Jets from RAF Lossiemouth have played a key role in strikes over Syria and Iraq during the Christmas period, the Ministry of Defence has revealed. Six Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft deployed from the Moray base to take part in action against the Islamic State terrorist group have been integral to several fruitful missions.

Need to know, 2016: Air Force budget outlook

12/31/2015

The Air Force is expected to submit its fiscal 2017 budget in February, said Air Force spokeswoman Maj. Melissa Milner. Lawmakers recently reached a bipartisan agreement that set federal spending limits for fiscal 2016 and 2017, but Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James has said that the agreement provides $17 billion less than the Defense Department needs in fiscal 2017.

These are the Navy jets that just started striking the Islamic State

12/31/2015

After steaming across the Atlantic and following a close call with an Iranian training exercise in the Straits of Hormuz, the aircraft carrier the U.S.S. Harry S. Truman arrived in the Persian Gulf earlier this week and began combat operations against the Islamic State. The carrier, along with its accompanying strike group of destroyers, frigates and submarines, fills a strategic capability gap that had been left open when the carrier the U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt departed the region in October.

Pakistan pushes for JF-17 fighter aircraft sale to Sri Lanka - report

12/31/2015

Pakistan is pushing hard to secure an agreement in principle with Sri Lanka to sell its multi-role combat aircraft JF-17 Thunder to the island nation, according to a UK-based defense publication. Following the first export deal for its JF-17 multirole fighter to Myanmar, Pakistan is expected to be pushing hard for a follow-up agreement with Sri Lanka that would mark an important step in further extending its defense co-operation footprint in the Indian Ocean region.

Multi-Million Pound Hercules Contract Supports RAF Fleet

12/31/2015

A £369 million contract to support the Royal Air Force’s (RAF) fleet of C-130 Hercules transport aircraft has been awarded to three companies by the Ministry of Defence (MoD). The deal will see Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group, Lockheed Martin and Rolls-Royce, who jointly deliver the Hercules Integrated Operational Support (HIOS), provide continued support for the C-130J fleet until 2022.

Northrop Grumman Wins Japan Order for Hawkeye Surveillance Aircraft

12/31/2015

The US Department of Defense announced the winner of $286 million US Navy contract for the production and delivery of an E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft to Japan.