Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Philippines Scores First New Fighter Jets in a Decade

12/01/2015

The Philippines on Monday received two Korean-made fighter jets as it strengthens its underfunded military in the midst of an escalating territorial dispute with China. The Philippines bought 12 FA-50s from Korea Aerospace Industries for 18.9 billion pesos ($402 million), Reuters reported. The 10 other jets will be delivered in batches through 2017. Weapons for the aircraft will be purchased later.

Upgraded Tu-160M2 Bomber to Get Brand New Weapons Control Systems

12/01/2015

Russia's Tupolev Tu-160M2, a modernized variant of the legendary Tu-160 supersonic strategic bomber, is expected to become "an entirely new aircraft," with all-new components more than doubling its effectiveness. Now, developers involved in the plane's modernization have announced that they will be installing brand new weapons control systems.

Military Strikes Target ISIL Terrorists in Syria, Iraq

11/30/2015

U.S. and coalition military forces have continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Syria and Iraq, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today. Officials reported details of the latest strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports.

Djibouti Base Could Be Start of U.S.-China Military Rivalry in EA

11/30/2015

Chinese leaders plan to build a military base in Djibouti to "extend their reach," the head of the United States Africa Command said last week. The reported comments by Gen David Rodriguez serve to confirm speculation that China intends to buttress its growing economic involvement in Africa with a military presence, which US officials have however been downplayed.

End of an Era: Last Boeing C-17 Military Transport Plane Departs from Long Beach

11/30/2015

Marking the end of an era, the final Boeing C-17 Globemaster III military airlifter will fly one last time over the Long Beach facility where the aircrafts were made. According to a Boeing spokeswoman, the final C-17 prepared to depart from the Long Beach airport Sunday around noon.

Israel: Russian Aircraft Breached Our Airspace

11/30/2015

Israeli defense minister Moshe “Bogey” Ya’alon confirmed Sunday that Russian military aircraft, on at least one occasion, have breached Israeli airspace–without confrontation.

U.S. B-52 Bombers To Sport Long-Range Missiles

11/30/2015

In early November, Lockheed Martin and the United States Armed Forces declared that they had signed a defence contract worth $9.1 million. As part of the deal, Lockheed Martin- the U.S. government’s go-to defence equipment provider- will outfit the B-52 ‘Stratofortress’ bombers with new long-range missiles.

Russia makes airspace violations a regular tactic

11/30/2015

Russia has a long history of violating airspace and territorial waters as a means of applying pressure to achieve political aims. On Tuesday, the Turkish Armed Forces shot down an unidentified bomber, which Russian authorities claimed was a Russian Su-24 fighter jet. The jet had violated Turkey's airspace, according to a radar tracking diagram provided by the Turkish Chief of General Staff.

Russia-Turkey conflict another reason for Justin Trudeau to pull out of Syria: Walkom

11/30/2015

Justin Trudeau’s Liberals say they will carry through on their campaign pledge to “end Canada’s combat mission” in Iraq and Syria. They are defining the word “combat” very carefully. As my colleague Bruce Campion-Smith reported Thursday, the defence department now says that even after Canada pulls back its six fighter jets from the battlefield, it could leave five other military aircraft there.

Indian Air Force Rafale Jets Will Be Made In India, To Give Boost To Tejas Technology

11/30/2015

India's largest-ever military deal is likely to bring in big business for the private sector with the French side looking to set up a production centre for the Rafale fighter aircraft as well as a low-cost executive jet in India, besides sharing vital aircraft technology for the indigenous Tejas project.

Asian arms race: Russia sells its Su-35 ‘Flanker’ to China, Indonesia

11/30/2015

Indonesia, long a regional power, has been seeking a replacement for its antique US F-5 Tiger II fighters. General Agus Supriatnahas told Indonesian media he has signed a deal to buy 12 of the new Russian air superiority fighters instead of US F-16 Fighting Falcons because “the aircraft have more modern technology”.

Forgotten Russian MiG Resurrected as New Chinese 5th Generation Jet?

11/30/2015

The first Russian fifth generation fighter is not the much advertised T-50, which according to plan should begin to arrive into the Russian Military and Space Forces in early 2016, but the almost forgotten project MiG 1.44, which was abandoned in the early 2000s.

President Xi Jinping's overhaul of China's military all part of ruling party's divide-and-rule plan

11/29/2015

Why President Xi Jinping should want a divided military command when he presently has all the benefits of a unified one seems a puzzle at first. The experience of the United States military would certainly not suggest such an initiative. Take the US Navy, which has long absorbed the largest share of US military spending.

Military Strikes Hit ISIL Terrorists in Syria, Iraq

11/29/2015

U.S. and coalition military forces have continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Syria and Iraq, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today. Officials reported details of the latest strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports.

India on the lookout for fighters apart from Rafales

11/29/2015

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is hunting for fighter aircraft apart from the Rafale medium multi-role combat ones and the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) to meet the existing shortage, Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha said after the handing over of Presidential Standards to two Mig-27ML squadrons by President Pranab Mukherjee at Air Force Station Hasimara on Saturday. The IAF would be forming several more squadrons in the next few years, the air chief said.

Japanese Military Scrambles F-15 Jets After Chinese Planes Fly Near Okinawa

11/29/2015

“Six of the Chinese aircrafts flew over open seas between the southern Japanese islands of Okinawa and Miyako, about 1,700 kilometers south-west of Tokyo, on Friday morning, Jiji Press cited Defense Ministry officials as saying,” DPA agency reported. A Chinese air force spokesman told media that several types of planes, including H-6K bombers, a TU-154 information-gathering plane and a Y-8 observation plane were involved in Friday's drill.

Berlin May Send 1,200 Military to Syria to Participate in Air Campaign

11/29/2015

The German armed forces may send up to 1,200 servicemen to enable the country’s Air Force take part in combat missions in Syria, Inspector General of the Bundeswehr Volker Wieker said.

IR Missile-Jamming System Tested on Military Transport Plane

11/28/2015

A defensive laser and imaging system from Elbit Systems Ltd. was successfully implemented on an Airbus C295 military transport plane, jamming IR, ground-to-air, heat-seeking man-portable missiles (MANPADS) during a test flight. Elbit's MUSIC series of directed IR countermeasure (DIRCM) systems was integrated with an IR missile warning system able to detect, acquire, track and jam trial test equipment on the ground during extreme conditions.

Germany to Support Military Campaign Against ISIS After French Appeal

11/28/2015

Germany will join the military campaign against ISIS militants in Syria by deploying Tornado reconnaissance jets, refueling aircraft and a frigate to the region, after a direct appeal from close partner France for Berlin to do more. The decision to commit military personnel and hardware is a shift for Germany, which has resisted such direct involvement in the conflict. It still has no plans to join France, the United States and Russia in conducting air strikes in Syria.

Pakistani JF-17 To Rely On Russian Technology

11/28/2015

The Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) has strongly rejected reports claiming that they are planning to replace the Russian-made engine of JF-17 fighter jet with a new Chinese-made engine. Those reports were mainly from the Chinese media, however, PAC officials have shown their satisfaction with the Russian-made RD-93 engines that are currently in the jets.

First New Fighter Jets to Touch Down in Philippines

11/28/2015

The Philippines has lacked fighter jets for 10 years, but that situation—which has long embarrassed the military here—is set to end Saturday when two Korean-built FA-50 fighters touch down at Clark Air Base north of Manila.

Red Air For Hire: The big business of private air forces

11/28/2015

America is home to three military air forces including the United States Air Force (USAF), United States Naval Air Forces (USN, USMC), and United States Army Aviation (USA). With roots stretching back to the early 20th century, these air arms are well understood by most Americans.

Canadian government could keep military refuelling aircraft, Aurora surveillance planes in war against ISIL

11/28/2015

The Canadian government is leaning towards keeping a military refuelling aircraft and Aurora surveillance planes overseas and allowing them to continue taking part in the war against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. The move would placate coalition allies, particularly the United States, who view the refuelling plane and the surveillance aircraft as valuable contributions to the ongoing air campaign.

In boost for 'Make in India', Dassault may manufacture Rafale fighter aircraft in India

11/28/2015

India's largest-ever military deal is likely to bring in big business for the private sector with the French side looking to set up a production centre for the Rafale fighter aircraft as well as a low-cost executive jet in India, besides sharing vital aircraft technology for the indigenous Tejas project.

UAE Grows Its Military Muscles, Ready to Assert Itself in Middle East

11/28/2015

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) slowly but surely are becoming a force to be reckoned with not only in the Middle East, but well beyond the region, Nafeesa Syeed wrote for Bloomberg.While Saudi Arabia and Iran are scrambling for leadership in the Middle East, the UAE has continued to increase its military power.