Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

India to Induct French Rafale Fighters to Air Force in Two Years

04/12/2015

India will induct French Rafale fighters to the Indian Air Force (IAF) within two years, Indian Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar said Saturday. On Friday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said during his visit to Paris that India will buy 36 French Rafale jet fighters under “fly-away” condition.

Russian Fighter Jet Nearly Collides with U.S. Spy Jet Over Europe

04/11/2015

A Russia Su-27 jet fighter flew dangerously close and nearly collided with a U.S. reconnaissance aircraft this week in the latest aerial provocation by Moscow, defense officials revealed to the Washington Free Beacon. The Su-27 conducted the close-in intercept of an RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft in international airspace over the Baltic Sea on Tuesday, said officials. The incident prompted a diplomatic protest.

India to Buy 36 Rafale Fighter Jets From Dassault Aviation

04/11/2015

India has agreed to acquire 36 Rafale fighter jets from Dassault Aviation SA, marking another victory in France’s push to compete with American-made combat planes. The deal, announced during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first visit to Paris on Friday, aims to wrap up more than three years of protracted negotiations between India’s government and Dassault Aviation. French officials said both sides were still negotiating the final details of the acquisition, including the final price.

French Air Force tests terrain-following capability on single-seat Rafale

04/11/2015

The French Air Force and Navy are evaluating a terrain-following capability for single-seat variants of the Rafale multi-role combat aircraft. The new flight control mode has been developed by the air force's military aircraft test center (CEAM) and the navy's naval aviation flight trials detachment (Det CEPA). After integration into the aircraft, the new feature will enable the aircraft to fly at high-speed and low-level over the ground or sea.

AF's unfunded list includes aircraft modernization, more Reapers

04/11/2015

The Air Force has released its full breakdown of unfunded priorities for 2016, with aircraft repairs and modernization making up most of the bill, including even funds for some aircraft the service is attempting to retire. The services on March 27 provided a cost breakdown of programs that didn't make their budget requests, which lawmakers can attempt to include in the defense authorization bill.budget request includes programs deemed more important than those in the unfunded list.

Ospreys Replace Last Marine Squadron of Sea Knight 'Phrogs'

04/11/2015

MV-22 Ospreys replaced the Marines' last squadron of CH-46E helicopters Thursday, officially ending the Sea Knight's 50-year run as the troop and supply transport workhorse of the Corps. Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 164 received the first Sea Knights assigned to the West Coast in early 1965 and introduced the medium-lift helicopter to combat in Vietnam in 1966. Parts of the squadron also flew missions in the evacuation of Saigon, making it the first in and last out of the Southeast Asian co

Beijing, With an Eye on the South China Sea, Adds Patrol Ships

04/11/2015

China is rapidly building coast guard ships, the vessels that China most commonly uses for patrols in the South China Sea, and in the last three years has increased the number of ships in that category 25 percent, a new report by the United States Navy says. China has the world’s largest coast guard fleet, with more such ships than its neighbors Japan, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines combined, the report shows.

Lessons Learned From the Battle of Tikrit

04/11/2015

The retaking of Tikrit from Islamic State elements provided many lessons for Baghdad, especially when it comes to continuing the fight against the militant group. Tikrit was the first battle that brought the full spectrum of anti-Islamic State forces into the same space. In addition to the Sunni tribal elements, Shiite militias and Iranian advisers supporting Iraqi security forces at the behest of Baghdad, U.S.-led coalition aircraft carried out precision bombing missions.

Argentine Ambassador Hauled Into Foreign Office To Explain Threats Over Falklands Oil And Gas

04/11/2015

The Argentine ambassador has been hauled into the British Foreign Office to explain a threat by Buenos Aires to prosecute any British company that drills for oil and gas off the Falkland Islands. Bellicose President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner made the threat in a speech to mark the 33rd anniversary of the Falklands conflict, promising legal action against any British company that drilled in the waters surrounding the disputed islands.

Air Force's Secret "Gorgon Stare" Program Leaves Terrorists Nowhere To Hide

04/11/2015

In Greek mythology, Gorgons were creatures whose terrible visages could turn men to stone with a single glance. The Air Force’s Gorgon Stare sensor system can’t do that, but its unrelenting gaze is turning thousands of terrorists into targets who can no longer elude U.S. weapons. The service almost never discloses details about operations in Afghanistan and elsewhere using the drone-mounted system, but insiders say Gorgon Stare has become the number-one reconnaissance asset.

Armchair killers: life as a drone pilot

04/11/2015

Its nickname is Predator Porn, and Paul Rolfe used to watch it 12 hours a day. Sometimes it was horrific, sometimes it was life affirming; mostly it was just dull. But whenever fellow soldiers at his airbase in Nevada wandered past the "live feeds" from his console, he'd notice how their eyes would wander to the screen and have trouble looking away.

US, Russian War Games Rekindle Cold War Tensions

04/10/2015

Russia is so close that the F-16 fighter pilots can see it on the horizon as they swoop down over a training range in Estonia in the biggest ever show of U.S. air power in the Baltic countries. The simulated bombs release smoke on impact, but the M-61 cannon fires live ammunition, rattling the aircraft with a deafening tremor and shattering targets on the ground.

S. Korea, U.S. kick off large-scale air defense drill

04/10/2015

The South Korean and U.S. Air Forces launched a large-scale, regular aerial exercise on Friday to boost combined defense capabilities. The biannual Max Thunder joint maneuver, set to take place in South Korean airspace through April 24, will "involve around 100 aircraft and 1,400 service personnel from the allies to display and hone our best combined air defense capabilities," the Air Force headquarters said in a release.

Spain Blows Off Billions on Unjustified Military Purchases – Think Tank

04/10/2015

Since 2008, when the economic crisis in Spain began, the Spanish government has spent 130 billion euros ($139.76 billion) on military purposes, according to the Center’s estimates. "There is no danger to Spain's security that require such investments, no attacks from other countries," Ortega said.

Typhoons execute precision bombing

04/10/2015

The Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) is using its new Typhoon jets for the first time in the bombing campaign against the Houthi rebels in Yemen. “The Typhoon aircraft is an amazing plane,” said Monther M. Tayeb, spokesman for BAE Systems, one of the manufacturers. Tayeb said the aircraft “combines a proven, agile airframe built from excellent materials with the latest sensor, control and weapons systems, thus delivering the optimum combat capability.”

Lockheed risks losing $40 million over F-35 software that’s late

04/10/2015

Lockheed Martin could lose up to $40 million because it’s late delivering fully functioning software for the first F-35 fighters due to be declared combat-ready, according to the Pentagon. The money is part of $100 million that the Pentagon’s program office has held out as incentives for Lockheed, the contractor on the $391.1 billion F-35 program, to complete three successive versions of software needed to give the jet increasingly advanced combat capabilities.

In the crosshairs of this A-10 pilot: the Islamic State

04/10/2015

The Department of Defense daily releases a list of U.S. and coalition airstrikes conducted in the previous 24 hours against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) forces across war-torn Iraq and Syria. Periodically, a news outlet will use the strike data to weigh the effort by the United States and allies in trying to use air power alone, plus training of indigenous forces, to destroy radical Muslims spreading violence and fear.

Croatia to keep combat aircraft, confirms Kiowa acquisition

04/10/2015

Croatia has confirmed that it will retain a combat fixed-wing fleet, which will include restarting a programme for the replacement of its aging Mikoyan MiG-21 bisD/UMD aircraft. The Croatian state defence council - chaired by President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic - confirmed the decision, and the ministry of defence is believed to be “already evaluating three possible options” to replace its MiG-21 fleet.

Russia to Conduct All-Encompassing Combat Readiness Checks - Putin

04/10/2015

This year’s snap combat readiness checks will involve all types of troops from all Russian military districts, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday. Over 3,500 military drills were held in Russia in 2015, with many large-scale drills yet to be conducted, Putin added.

Russian Military Relocates Su-35s to Primorsky Territory for Drill

04/10/2015

Sukhoi Su-35 (Flanker-E) supermaneuverable multirole fighters have been relocated from the Khabarovsk Territory to the Primorsky Territory to take part in the tactical flight training, involving fighter jets and assault aviation, Russia's Ministry of Defense said.

NORAD: Jets need upgrades now to protect against cruise missiles

04/09/2015

The commander in charge of homeland defense signed an order to upgrade his F-16s with a specific threat in mind: cruise missiles headed into the U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command earlier this year issued an urgent operational need request for new active electronically scanned array radar for F-16s tasked with protecting the homeland. The service is moving quickly on the request, with the goal of installing the systems first on F-16s tasked with protecting the National Capital Region.

Navy Outfitting More Seahawks with Digital Rocket Launchers

04/09/2015

After integrating “smart” rocket launchers on MH-60S helicopters last year, the U.S. Navy now is equipping the MH-60R with the same modernized capability, Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) announced in an April 7 release.

Navy Prepares Amphibs for F-35B’s First Deployment in 2018

04/09/2015

The Navy and Marine Corps are preparing their amphibious assault ships for the F-35B Joint Strike Fighter’s first ever deployment slated for 2018. The Marine Corps short-take-off-and-landing variant of the Joint Strike Fighter, the F-35B, will be the first ever fifth-generation aircraft to deploy. The Navy is working to prepare the flight decks, sensors and weapons systems on board several amphibs are ready in 2018, service leaders told reporters April 7.

Forget F-16s for Taiwan: It's All About A2/AD

04/09/2015

The time has come for the United States to consider ending the sale of upgrades for F-16 fighter aircraft to Taiwan and instead shift military sales and cooperation to emphasize anti-access capabilities and concepts of operation.

U.S. Marines vow tough review of F-35 combat readiness

04/09/2015

The U.S. Marine Corps plans to carry out a tough, separate "inspection" before declaring the first squadron of 10 Lockheed Martin Corp F-35 fighter jets ready for initial combat use, the Marine Corps' top aviator said on Wednesday. Deputy Commandant for Aviation Lieutenant General Jon Davis told Reuters he was keeping close tabs on 13 items required to approve combat use of the jets, now ready after years of delays and cost overruns.