Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Russia Moves Air Defense System Within Miles Of Turkish Border

11/26/2015

President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday ordered state-of-the art air defense missile systems to be deployed at a Russian air base in Syria following the downing of one of its warplanes by Turkey, a move that raised the threat of a military confrontation between the NATO member and Moscow.

Rafale deal to be signed on eve of Hollande’s India visit

11/26/2015

India and France are set to sign the deal for 36 Rafale fighter aircraft on the eve of French President François Hollande’s visit to India for the Republic Day celebrations. The draft contract, which envisages supply of the first fighter within 36 months of signing the deal, has been finalised.

Britain offers France use of airbase in Cyprus to support air war on ISIS in Syria

11/26/2015

In the wake of the Paris terror attacks, Britain has offered France the use of its airbase in Cyprus, strategically located on the island in the eastern Mediterranean Sea off Syria, to support air strikes on ISIS. Primarily, the base is going to act as a reserve diversion airfield for the jets operating from the French nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle that has been operating in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, from where it launched the first raids against ISIS earlier this week

Moscow, Ankara Should Resolve Dispute, Join Anti-ISIL Efforts - Spanish FM

11/26/2015

Turkey and Russia should resolve the Su-24 downing crisis and join their efforts in countering Islamic State militants, Spain's Foreign Minister Jose Garcia-Margallo said Wednesday. On Tuesday, a Russian Su-24 combat aircraft crashed in Syria while carrying out precision strikes against terrorists. Moscow said it was downed by an air-to-air missile, fired from a Turkish F-16 fighter in response to alleged violation of Turkish airspace.

Missing Russian jet pilot 'alive and well'

11/26/2015

The pilot is "alive and well" at a Russian air base in Syria, it says. His co-pilot and a marine involved in a rescue were killed. Turkey said the jet had strayed into its airspace but Russian President Vladimir Putin says the plane was flying over Syrian territory. It is not clear what has happened to the body of the other pilot, who was killed by gunfire as he parachuted from his burning plane.

4 dead in U.S. Army helicopter crash at Fort Hood

11/25/2015

Four crew members on an Army helicopter died when it crashed at Fort Hood, the Texas base's press office said. The UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter went down sometime after 5:49 p.m. Monday in the northeastern part of the Fort Hood Range. Emergency crews conducted "an extensive search" that ended with the discovery of the four deceased crew members.

Islamic State Plans Suicide Aircraft Strikes in Iraq

11/25/2015

Islamic State terrorists are seeking experts to repair captured military aircraft for future use in suicide attacks against U.S. and allied forces in Iraq. The terrorist group that occupies large areas of Iraq and Syria has two Russian-made Sukhoi aircraft and three Russian helicopters that it plans to use in the attacks, according to a recent report in a London-based Arabic language news outlet.

The Russians Are Coming? Cypriots Want Russian Military Base

11/25/2015

Marius Fotiu, head of the organization, pointed out that Cyprus is the closest EU member-state to Syria so the probability of terrorist attacks in the country is extremely high. Activists asked Anastasiades to “invite units of Russian Aerospace Forces and Navy to Cyprus territory,” according to Izvestia newspaper.

UK Chooses Boeing P-8 for MPA Without Competition

11/25/2015

The UK will acquire nine Boeing P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) after a Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) that restored a capability that was eliminated in a similar review five years ago. That previous decision was controversial, and so is this one, because the P-8 has been chosen without a competition. The new SDSR was otherwise unremarkable, with a slight increase in defense spending confirmed, after an 8 percent cut in real terms from 2010-15.

Marium Mukhtiar, Pakistani female fighter pilot, dies in crash

11/25/2015

Marium Mukhtiar was on a routine training mission when her plane met an "in-flight emergency" over Mianwali district, the air force said. She and her co-pilot ejected. She later died from her injuries in hospital. Flying Officer Mukhtiar was one of a small number of women to work as fighter pilots in Pakistan, and the first to die on operational service.

Pakistan to Stick With Russian Engine for JF-17 Fighter Jet

11/25/2015

Pakistan will not replace the JF-17’s Russian-made Klimov/Sarkisov RD-93 power plant with a new Chinese engine in the foreseeable future despite Chinese reports to the contrary, IHS Jane’s Defense Weekly reveals. “We are completely satisfied with this Russian-made engine,” a representative of Pakistan Aeronautical Complex recently told IHS Jane’s Defense Weekly. The JF-17 Thunder combat aircraft was jointly developed by the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex and Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation.

Air Force’s 2 FA-50 fighter trainer jets to arrive in PH Nov. 27

11/25/2015

Two FA-50 lead-in fighter trainer jets will be arriving in the country on Friday as part of the Philippine Air Force’s efforts to modernize its aircraft. The aircraft will land for the first time on Philippine soil at Clark Air Base, officially becoming property of the PAF. The two jets are the first of the PAF’s 12 newly ordered fighter jets from the Korea Aerospace Industries worth P18.9 billion.

Russia Deploys Maritime Air Defense After Jet Shot Down Over Syria

11/25/2015

Moscow will deploy a warship off the Syrian coast near Latakia to strengthen the defense of its air base there, the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces announced on Tuesday after Turkish warplanes shot down a Russian strike aircraft.

Russia May Use Electronic Jamming Systems to Protect Its Pilots in Syria

11/25/2015

Russia will have to resort to electronic warfare in Syria to protect its pilots and prevent incidents similar to the downing of Russia’s Su-24 jet on Tuesday, according to Lieutenant-General Evgeny Buzhinsky; they will include both ground-based systems and equipment installed on special aircraft.

Military Plane Shot Down Near Syria Border, Turkey Says

11/24/2015

Turkish fighter jets shot down a military plane close to the border with Syria on Tuesday after it violated Turkey’s airspace, the military said. The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed that one of its jets, a Sukhoi SU-24, had crashed in Syria but said it had been downed “presumably as a result of shelling from the ground,” according to the Russian news agency Interfax.

Argentina cancels acquisition of Kfir jets at last minute

11/24/2015

Argentine Defense Minister Agustin Rossi recently cancelled, at the last minute, an agreement his government signed to buy 14 Kfir C10 combat planes for $360 million. The Kfir was manufactured by Israeli Aircraft Industries (IAI) from the mid-1970s to the middle of the 1980s, and was sold to a number of foreign air forces and was even in use by the US Navy for a short period.

Britain To Buy P-8s, Reaffirms Full F-35 Buy; Doubling Special Forces Spending

11/24/2015

The British have released their Strategic Defense Review, declaring they will plug the gaping hole in their anti-submarine warfare capablities by buying nine P-8s from Boeing and showing considerable confidence in Lockheed Martin’s F-35 as they pledge to buy more earlier.

David Cameron is repairing the holes in Britain's defences

11/24/2015

The Government’s announcement that it is to spend £178 billion on re-equipping the Armed Forces with new kit is an important first step towards rebuilding Britain’s military credibility. After the disastrous cuts that followed the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR), which resulted in vital capabilities such our aircraft carrier strike capability being scrapped, David Cameron’s announcement in the Telegraph that he is committing billions of pounds in extra funding to defense.

Russian aircraft destroy terrorist oil refinery in Syria — Defense Ministry

11/24/2015

Aircraft of the Russian aviation group in Syria over the past two days have destroyed a major oil depot and an oil refinery of terrorists in the vicinity of Raqqa, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov said on Monday. "Russian bombers, taking off from the Hmeimim airbase were flying on combat missions to destroy tank truck convoys and oil refineries in the areas of oilfields in the north and east of Syria," the spokesman said.

How Canadian Forces might train anti-ISIL fighters

11/24/2015

Canada’s options for a ground-training mission in Iraq range from putting regular forces into the country helping instruct troops to overseeing the creation of a Kurdish special forces unit to battle the Islamic State.

China Finally Signs for Sukhoi Su-35 Warplanes

11/24/2015

China has finally been confirmed as the first export customer for the Sukhoi Su-35 combat aircraft, with an order for 24 worth an estimated $2 billion. The deal was sealed at a meeting on November 17 between Russian president Vladimir Putin and Xu Qiliang, vice chairman of China’s Central Military Commission. The Chinese guest came to Moscow for 20th session of the Russian-Chinese Intergovernmental Commission on Military-Technical Cooperation.

Indonesia joining South Korea's fighter aircraft program

11/24/2015

Indonesia is to participate in South Korea's KF-X program to develop a new jet fighter by the year 2025, South Korean newspapers report. Korea Aerospace Industries, chosen by the government as prime contractor for the fighter program, signed a preliminary contract Sunday with the Indonesian government through which Jakarta would provide 20 percent – about $1.5 billion -- of the project's cost, The Korea Herald reported.

Russia to Begin New Su-35 Communication Equipment Supplies to China in 2016

11/24/2015

According to Russia’s United Instrument Manufacturing Corporation press service, UIMC will begin supplying China with state-of-the-art communication systems for its newly purchased jet fighters next year.

Russia Begins Securing Iranian Skies With S-300 Missile Deliveries

11/24/2015

On November 9, Russia signed a new contract with Iran on the delivery of "about 300" S-300 air defense systems, according to Russia’s state technologies corporation Roster. The delivery of Russian-made missiles is expected to be completed by the end of 2015, Iranian Defense Minister Brig. Gen. Hossein Dehqan said on November 10.

Israeli Jets Target Hamas in the Gaza Strip

11/24/2015

The airstrikes were confirmed by an Israeli military statement released on Monday, according to the Jerusalem Post. "The IDF views Hamas as being the party responsible for what takes place in the Gaza Strip," the statement said. The Israeli military also added that it "will continue to act with severity to keep the calm in southern communities."