Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Should Future Fighter Be Like A Bomber? Groundbreaking CSBA Study

04/09/2015

America’s next war plane may look much more like a stealthy long-range bomber than a sleek, fast and maneuverable fighter. That’s the conclusion of a wide-ranging study by the respected Center for Budgetary and Strategic Assessments. Breaking Defense obtained a copy of the report from a source not affiliated with CSBA.

US Air Force Desperately Needs Modernization – Air Force Secretary

04/09/2015

The US Air Force desperately needs modernization: the American military air fleet is the smallest the United States has ever had since 1947, while its aircraft are the oldest that they have ever been, the US Air Force Secretary revealed.

US Admiral: Russian Bombers Send a Message, We Do the Same

04/09/2015

A United States military commander said Russia has increased the number of flights by its long-range bomber fleet to demonstrate its status as a world power – a tactic American forces also use for precisely the same reason.

Canada Conducts First Airstrike on ISIL Militants in Syria - Minister

04/09/2015

The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) has conducted its first airstrike on the positions of the Islamic State militant group in Syria, Canadian Defense Minister Jason Kenney said Wednesday.

Pakistan seeks Viper attack helos, Hellfire missiles

04/08/2015

The U.S. State Department has given the nod to Pakistan's possible acquisition of attack helicopters and missiles from the United States. The possible sale through the Foreign Military Sales program would be for 15 AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters and 1,000 AGM-114 R Hellfire II missiles in containers for an estimated $952 million.

Canada Floats Tender To Purchase New Search and Rescue Aircraft To Replace Ageing Buffalo: Airbus Says It Is “Excited”

04/08/2015

The Canadian government has floated tenders to purchase new search and rescue planes for the forces. The new aircraft will be replace the ageing fleet of "Buffalo" search planes. Besides Buffalo, the air force also uses the older H-model variant of the C-130 Hercules cargo planes. The new tender will bring aircraft that will replace both.

Turkey looks to speed up trainer aircraft initiatives

04/08/2015

The crash of three military aircraft in late February and early March have prompted Turkey’s defense procurement officials to accelerate their efforts to choose a conceptual trainer aircraft, a program that should progress in tandem with a plan to build an indigenous Turkish fighter jet. Turkish officials said the twin crashes were a forceful reminder of a pressing need “to go faster” in selecting a fighter aircraft model based on which Turkey would also build a trainer.

Saudis to foot the bill for refueling in Yemen fight

04/08/2015

Air Force tankers are standing by to provide fuel for Saudi Arabian pilots as they combat extremists in Yemen, but the U.S. won't foot the bill. The Saudi government requested U.S. tanker support for their fighter pilots, and the U.S. agreed as long as the Saudis reimburse the gas bill, Pentagon spokesman Army Col. Steve Warren said Tuesday. The tankers are standing by, but have not launched for a refueling sortie yet.

Largest Kadena flying exercise successfully completed

04/08/2015

Kadena Air Base pulled off their most aggressive exercise to date with Forceful Tiger off the coast of Okinawa, April 1. Forceful Tiger was a large force exercise (LFE) designed to demonstrate the 18th Wing's combat capabilities to defend Okinawa and had more participation from the 909th Air Refueling Squadron than ever before.

GE seeks to supply engines for KF-X program

04/08/2015

General Electric (GE) wants to supply state-of-the-art aircraft engines for Korea's next-generation indigenous fighter jet program. The world's leading infrastructure and technology firm plans to offer Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), a preferred bidder for the Korean Fighter experimental (KF-X) program, to use its F414-GE-400 engine.

Russia, Indonesia begin talks on Sukhoi Su-35 deliveries

04/08/2015

Indonesia has taken an interest in buying Russia's brand new multirole fighter jet Sukhoi Su-35, United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) head Yuri Slyusar told Interfax in Ho Chi Minh City on Tuesday. "Indonesian colleagues are interested in buying this plane. The negotiations are at their beginning," Slyusar said.

Our military forces face a long struggle to even stay in service

04/08/2015

British service chiefs are girding themselves for a post-election battle over defence spending. With UK and Nato forces cut so low that many feel they are now unable to mount an effective response to mounting global challenges, the contest over resources will be intense.

Air Force Details Bonuses for Fighter, Drone Pilots

04/08/2015

The Air Force has announced bonuses for select fighter and drone pilots. The categories of pilots eligible for the bonus – which go as high as $225,000, with half of it paid up front in a lump sum – include 11F fighter pilots, 11U remotely piloted aircraft pilots and 11X pilots who agree to move into the 11U specialty for their entire career.

Jordanian military aircraft crashes near Syrian borders

04/07/2015

A Jordanian military training jet crashed on Monday during a training mission in the eastern desert, near city of Mafraq, killing the pilot and his trainee, an army military source was quoted by Petra. The army said the trainee is an Iraqi national, while the pilot is Jordanian. Both died instantly as their plane hit the ground, according to sources.

China Climbs The AWACS Ladder

04/07/2015

Less than two years after being spotted in the air for the first time the new Chinese KJ-500 AWACS (Air Warning And Control System) aircraft has entered service. The KJ-500 AWACS can track over 60 aircraft at ranges of up to 470 kilometers. The KJ-500 aircraft looks more like the American AWACS (with a round radar dome on top) but is smaller and carried by the Y-9 four engine turboprop aircraft (similar to the U.S. C-130).

THAAD Missile Killer Could Boost Army Role In Pacific

04/07/2015

When the Obama Administration announced in January 2012 that the U.S. defense posture would be “rebalanced” to emphasize the Asia-Pacific region, that was not good news for the Army. America’s preeminent land force had largely abandoned the region after the Vietnam War, leaving almost no soldiers stationed west of the International Dateline outside the Korean Peninsula.

Aerial Refueling Test of X-47B Could Occur By End of the Month

04/07/2015

A test to prove an autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) can be refueled in flight could happen by the end of this month, officials with Naval Air Systems Command told USNI News on Monday. The test would pair a Northrop Grumman X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System demonstrator (UCAS-D) with a contracted tanker to prove out software that could allow future unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) to be autonomously aerially refueled (AAR).

Russia eyes Iranian arms deal after Lausanne

04/07/2015

One of the many unanswered questions surrounding the so-called framework agreement on Iran’s nuclear program is whether and how it will limit Russia’s arms trade with Iran, including Moscow’s long-standing interest in selling advanced surface-to-air missiles. In fact, managing the Russian-Iranian military relationship may become increasingly difficult if the negotiating parties reach a final agreement by their self-imposed June deadline.

India draws bottom line for Rafale

04/07/2015

India will not ink the mega $20 billion MMRCA (medium multi-role combat aircraft) project to acquire 126 fighters till France agrees to stick to its original pricing, which led its Rafale fighter to defeat the Eurofighter Typhoon in commercial evaluation over three years ago.

Pakistani defence minister says Saudi seeks fighter planes, ships, troops

04/07/2015

Pakistan's Defence Minister, Khawaja Asif, told the parliament on Monday that Saudi Arabia has sought fighter aircraft, warships and troops as the Saudi-led Arab allies have continued airstrikes against Shiite Houthi rebels in Yemen. "Saudi Arabia has asked for combat planes, warships and soldiers,"Asif, who recently visited Saudi Arabia, said the parliament will decide whether the country should extend military support.

Planes Without Pilots

04/07/2015

Mounting evidence that the co-pilot crashed a Germanwings plane into a French mountain has prompted a global debate about how to better screen crewmembers for mental illness and how to ensure that no one is left alone in the cockpit. But among many aviation experts, the discussion has taken a different turn. How many human pilots, some wonder, are really necessary aboard commercial planes?

U.S. in Western Pacific faces increasing rivalry from China

04/06/2015

Taipei, April 5 (CNA) A report published Saturday by The National Interest, an American conservative bi-monthly international affairs magazine, suggests that backed by its economic might, advances in Chinese armaments are poised to elevate the People's Liberation Army (PLA) into a credible rival to U.S. forces in the Western Pacific theater.

F-35 pilots will wear $400,000 helmets

04/06/2015

The F-35 Lightning II is one of the most complicated weapons systems ever developed, a sleek and stealthy fighter jet years in the making that is often called a flying computer because of its more than 8 million lines of code. The Joint Strike Fighter comes in three versions, including one that is designed to take off and land on an aircraft carrier and another that lands vertically, as if it were a helicopter.

Modi’s France visit gives wings to IAF dream project

04/06/2015

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to France next week will herald a new chapter for the Indian Air Force, as its dream project of having 360 degree ‘eye in sky’ is likely to take off with both countries finalising a deal for procuring two Airbus-330 aircraft to be used as platforms for AWACS-India programme. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), in its meeting held last Saturday, has given a go ahead to the proposal of acquiring the aircraft for Rs 5,113 crore,

No A-10 Warthog for Afghanistan - but Here's the Next Best Thing

04/06/2015

Given their druthers, the Afghans would probably like an air force geared toward close-air support of their troops combating Taliban fighters on the ground. For that role, the A-10 Warthog is by all accounts the best plane for the job. But beggars can't be choosers. Instead of the A-10, the U.S. Air Force will outfit Afghanistan with 20 brand-new A-29 Super Tucano fighter planes from Embraer.