Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Iran Could Receive Russian S-300 Systems by 2016

08/24/2015

Iran could receive S-300 missile defense systems from Russia by the end of 2015, country's Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan said. No new agreement between Iran and Russia was reached on the issue, but only a complement was added to the previous deal, because some changes were introduced in some parts of the S-300 systems, which increases its costs, the minister was quoted by Iran's ISNA news agency as saying.

Iran and Russia will cooperate in the “joint designing and manufacturing” of combat aircraft, the Islamic Republic’s defense minister announced on Saturday

08/24/2015

Briefing reporters in Tehran, Brigadier General Hossein Dehghan said Russia had agreed to cooperate with Iran after learning about the Islamic Republic’s capabilities, Tasnim news agency reported. “In the field of (manufacturing) fighter jets, we will not develop such cooperation with any country other than Russia,” General Dehghan emphasized.

Islamic State has Damascus in its crosshairs

08/23/2015

The terror group’s advance on Syria’s capital is slow but relentless; one major incident, such as the fall of a base or a strike against a key figure, could bring about the collapse of Assad’s military system.

Russia Seeks Middle East Deals at MAKS Air Show

08/23/2015

Political upheaval over the last year has created a radically different business, political and security environment for this week's biennial International Aviation and Space Salon (MAKS) compared with the 2013 exhibit. Russian defense firms under Western sanctions imposed for Moscow's annexation of Crimea last year have effectively cut the industry off from Western credit and customers.

India’s MMRCA: Implications for Russia

08/23/2015

The serial drama of the MMRCA tender; for purchase and licensed production of 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft; reached an intermediate junction. During a visit in April 2015 to France by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, an announcement was made about the signing of an ‘agreement in principle’ on direct purchase of 36 fighter jets by the Rafale Company which, in 2013, was declared the formal winner of the MMRCA Tender.

Israeli War Jet Shot Down Over Syria - Media

08/23/2015

The Israeli fighter jet was targeted over the city of Al-Quneitra on Friday, Iran’s Fars news agency reported on Saturday. Israel regularly violates the Syrian airspace and launches missile attacks against the country. On Friday, the Israeli Air Force resumed airstrikes on Western Syria, targeting a government army base at Khan Al-Sheih in Damascus province and another in the al-Quneitra province after a six-hour halt in attacks that followed their multiple air raids over the Golan Heights.

Unknown Surveillance Drone Shot Down in Western Iran

08/23/2015

Iran’s air defense shot down an unknown drone on a surveillance mission, which had crossed the country’s western borders, Iranian media reported on Saturday.

What Do Russia-China Joint Naval Drills Really Mean?

08/23/2015

The Sino-Russian joint naval exercises started in the Sea of Japan. The drills include 25 ships, 15 aircrafts, 8 helicopters, and 400 marines. The theme of the exercises is joint protection of routes.

S Korea, US Scramble Air Power in Show of Force Against N Korea

08/23/2015

Eight South Korean and US fighter jets took to the South Korean skies on Saturday, simulating bombings of enemy targets as tensions shot up on the peninsula after North Korea fired shells on Thursday in protest of Seoul’s anti-North loudspeaker broadcasts.

No MiG-31s for Damascus: Russia Denies Sending Interceptors to Syria

08/23/2015

Russia has not sent Mikoyan MiG-31 supersonic interceptors to Syria and does not intend to operate the aircraft in the war-torn country, CEO of Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG Sergei Korotkov stated refuting recent rumors.

Pentagon’s New Asia-Pacific Strategy Addresses China’s Island Building

08/22/2015

The Pentagon released a new maritime security strategy for the Asia-Pacific region Aug. 21 that criticizes China’s aggressive claims to sovereignty over most of the South and Southeast China Seas and declares that the US “will continue to fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows.”

Source: Contract signed with Egypt for delivery of MiG-29 fighters

08/22/2015

Russia and Egypt have signed an intergovernmental contract for the delivery of Mikoyan MiG-29 fighters, a source in the MiG Corporation told Interfax-AVN on August 21. "A contract has been signed with Egypt at an intergovernmental level, and we will be next," the source said.

Holes in Australia’s weapon capability need to be filled

08/22/2015

The war scenario that we were required to analyse was that a major power, with significant naval assets including an aircraft carrier, had invaded and established a considerable military force presence in north Western Australia. Due to the size of our coastline and our limited logistic ability, we were unable to prevent the successful hostile establishment of a bridgehead.

Reactivated 71st Fighter Training Squadron at Langley acts as adversary for pilots

08/22/2015

When P.E. MacAllister uncovered the flag of the Air Force's 71st Fighter Training Squadron, he uncovered the flag of a unit he helped establish in World War II — a unit that had been inactivated five years ago.

China Accused of Designing PLA Aircraft by Copying, 'Referencing' Other Countries’ Fighters

08/22/2015

China has been accused by some countries of designing its military aircraft by copying the fighters of other countries, after an Internet user published a black and white photograph of the "number 2013" prototype of the Chengdu J-20, China's first stealth fighter on a test flight, Sina's military news Web portal reported.

US-Led Coalition Launches 33 Airstrikes Against ISIL in Syria, Iraq

08/22/2015

In Syria, the airstrikes struck ISIL tactical units, infrastructure, a sniper position and weapons. “Attack, bomber, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft conducted 10 airstrikes in Syria… 23 airstrikes in Iraq, coordinated with the Iraqi government,” the release read on Friday.

WATCH: F-35 Tests Its Dogfighting Gun Hidden in Stealth Port

08/22/2015

With nearly $400 billion spent on developing the F-35, the next-generation fighter jet which is still not entirely combat-ready, the Pentagon has touted the aircraft’s high-tech weapons systems. Equipped with stealth technology and electronic warfare capabilities, the military is also considering laser weapons, as well as a mysterious pod-mounted cyberattack system.

US Military Airstrike Kills IS Second-in-Command - White House

08/22/2015

Islamic State second-in-command Fadhil Ahmad al-Hayali was killed on Tuesday by a US airstrike in Iraq, White House National Security Council spokesperson Ned Price said in a statement on Friday.

Pentagon: China Reclaimed More Land in Disputed Spratlys Than We Thought

08/22/2015

China’s construction of artificial islands in the South China Sea sent Washington into a panic. But according to a new Pentagon report, the US now believes the land reclamation project to be even larger than initially predicted.

Unresolved Issues In Su-30MKI Could Impact “Super Sukhoi” Upgrade Talks

08/21/2015

A plan to upgrade Indian Air Force (IAF) Su-30MKI aircraft to the “Super Sukhoi” configuration may be delayed owing to unresolved issues with the Su-30MKI aircraft. Russia’s Rosoboronexport and Irkut Corp. had proposed in 2011 to equip the Su-30MKI with an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, improved weapons and stealth characteristics to bring it close to the level of a fifth-generation fighter aircraft.

After Mi-35 Deal, Pakistan Could Be Eyeing Russian Yak-130 Trainers

08/21/2015

Pakistan could be showing an interest in the Yak-130 trainer of Russia after concluding a deal to purchase four Mi-17 Hind helicopters. The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) does not have a modern combat trainer though it operates advanced aircraft such as the American F-16, and the Pakistani-Chinese JF-17.

Israel insists on in-country F-35 MRO activities

08/21/2015

Israel insists it will undertake the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) of its on-order fleet of Lockheed Martin F-35 combat aircraft, going against the airframer’s strategy of creating regional sustainment centres for the Joint Strike Fighter. "We have made it clear that the maintenance of the aircraft including depot-level [work] will be done in our bases," a senior Israeli air force officer tells Flightglobal.

Russia's Admiral Kuznetsov Aircraft Carrier is Back in Service!

08/21/2015

The Russian Navy's only aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov, undergoing three months of refit and repair work at a floating dock in Russia's northwest region of Murmansk, is getting set to head back to its Northern Fleet base, Navy spokesman and Captain 2nd Rank Andrei Luzik told Russian media on Thursday.

US seeks greater RAAF role in Syria

08/21/2015

The formal US request for expanded air cover, including enhanced intelligence-gathering, support for US and coalition fighter planes in Syrian air space and the potential for Australian airstrikes, was sent to the Australian embassy in Washington DC yesterday.

North Korea Prepares to Bring Troops to Full Combat Readiness - Reports

08/21/2015

Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, has ordered the country’s army to bring the troops to full combat readiness following the Thursday exchange of fire between North and South Korea, the Yonhap News Agency reports.