Military Aviation News Archive

Combat Alert: New Aircraft Carriers to Increase China’s Striking Power

08/09/2015

The new carrier fleet will significantly expand the capabilities of the People’s Republic of China for the protection of its interests beyond its borders, experts said, referring to the disputed territories in the South China Sea.

Russian PAK FA Fifth Generation Fighter Performs Spin Maneuver (VIDEO)

08/09/2015

The newest Russian jet fighter was caught on camera smoothly performing the famous spin maneuver. The video published by the TV channel Zvezda shows a PAK FA prototype easily decelerate to 0 kmh and perform a spin without a flaw.

Coalition, Not ISIL, Dictates Pace of Operations

08/08/2015

The current situation in Iraq and Syria clearly indicates that the coalition, and not ISIL, now dictates the pace of operations, a U.S. Central Command spokesman said today during a telephonic press conference with Pentagon reporters.

Berlin To Spend Billions of Euros Upgrading Military Hardware

08/08/2015

The German military is to invest billions of euros to fix recurring problems with its aircraft, helicopters and other military equipment, an official said on Friday. "We will invest up to €6 billion ($6.5 billion) in the next seven to eight years to obtain improvements in these areas," a defense ministry spokesman told AFP.

Beechcraft celebrates 900th T-6 trainer aircraft

08/08/2015

Beechcraft Defense Co. LLC on Friday announced a milestone delivery of its 900th T-6 military training aircraft. No. 900 was handed over Friday at Beechcraft’s Wichita headquarters to the U.S. Navy Air Wing 5 out of Whiting Field in Milton, Fla.

Russia Creates New Air Force And Missile Defense Units In East To Monitor Threats In Pacific Ocean And Sea of Japan

08/08/2015

The Russian military released details of a new Air Force and air defense unit Friday that will be based in the Far East of the country and operate in the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan, according to Col. Alexander Gordeye, press-secretary for the regional command. Both units will add to the increased militarization of the general Asia-Pacific region after China and the United States have both established a significant military presence there over the last two years.

Getting an advanced radar on the homeland F-16s

08/08/2015

Once upon a time in America, competition was the source for swift innovation and best value. Yet today’s Air Force is attempting to destroy a once vibrant market with a sole-source award of an F-16 advanced radar for the homeland defense mission. Worse yet, their already latent action uses mission urgency as a fallacious justification to bypass acquisition polices and common sense.

India-US Sikorsky S-70B Helicopter Deal Stalled Amid Price Issues

08/08/2015

India rejected a proposal by US defense company Sikorsky Aircraft to increase the price of a delivery contract for S-70B multirole naval helicopters, Indian Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar said in the Indian Parliament on Friday.

War of Words Breaks Out Over India and UK Air Battles

08/08/2015

A war of words has broken out over a series of 'friendly' war games between the UK’s Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Indian Air Force (IAF), whose Russian-made aircraft reportedly beat the RAF 12-nil in mock battles over the skies of Britain.

T-50 PAK FA 5th Generation Jet Fighter’s Main Secret Revealed

08/08/2015

Despite a number of technical details and specs about the Russian Sukhoi PAK FA (also known as the T-50) fighter jet being known to the general public, the main mystery surrounding the newest aircraft still remains to be unraveled.

Russia and India in Talks on Military Hardware Joint Production

08/08/2015

Russia and India are exploring the possibility of exporting and cooperatively manufacturing Russian helicopters and other military hardware, Indian Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar said Friday.

Afghan military helicopter crash kills all 17 on board

08/07/2015

An Afghan military helicopter crashed, killing all 17 people on board on Thursday, officials said, in a blow for a fledgling air force whose resources have been stretched since the withdrawal of most international troops last year. The Taliban, mounting a growing insurgency, said it shot down the helicopter in the southern province of Zabul, but a government official blamed a technical failure and said there had been no gunfire.

Analysis: Boom time beckons for Iranian air force, with sanctions set to be lifted

08/07/2015

Just weeks after Iran agreed in Vienna a deal limiting its ability to manufacture a nuclear bomb, the Iranian air force is already positioning itself to revamp its ageing inventory, all but crippled by 36 years of international sanctions, reports Gareth Jennings .

Taiwan's Armed Forces Geared up for Military Display in July

08/07/2015

The armed forces held a rehearsal in mid-June in preparation for a military display next month to mark the 70th anniversary of the Republic of China's 1945 victory over Japan in the Second Sino-Japanese War, a part of World War II in which Japan and the other axis powers were defeated.

China’s Expert Fighter Designer Knows Jets, Avoids America’s Mistakes

08/07/2015

What sets Yang Wei apart from his Western counterparts? Robert Beckhusen points to his commitment to “parallel development.” It’s an approach that incorporates previously flawed solutions into new hardware so that China can build fighter aircraft cheaply and quickly.

Report: China set to provide Iran with fighter jets in $1 billion deal

08/07/2015

Iran is beginning to reap the fruits of its nuclear deal with the world powers. According to a report in the Taiwanese press, China is set to provide the Islamic Republic with 24 J-10 fighter jets. In exchange, Iran will permit China access to its largest oil field for the next 20 years. The total estimated value of the deal is $1 billion.

Lockheed Martin Delivers Latest C-5M Super Galaxy Early

08/07/2015

Lockheed Martin delivered another C-5M Super Galaxy to the U. S. Air Force on Aug. 5. A Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) aircrew ferried the aircraft from the Lockheed Martin facility here to Travis Air Force Base, in Fairfield, California, where it will be permanently based. It will be the 12th Super Galaxy assigned to Travis.

US-Led Coalition Launches 27 Airstrikes Against ISIL in Syria, Iraq

08/07/2015

The coalition has carried out more than 5600 airstrikes in its air campaign against the Islamic State. “In Syria, coalition military forces conducted 11 airstrikes using fighter, fighter-attack and remotely piloted aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 16 airstrikes coordinated with the Government of Iraq using attack, fighter-attack, bomber and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL targets.”

Japan Offers Philippines Aircraft to Spy on Disputed South China Sea Waters

08/07/2015

While the talks are still in the preliminary phases, the Japanese government is interested in donating three Beechcraft TC-90 King Air planes to the Philippines. Used by Tokyo to train military pilots, Manila could outfit the TC-90s with surface and air surveillance radar which allow it to conduct patrols over the South China Sea.

Fifth Generation Super Weapons to Significantly Increase China’s Air Power

08/07/2015

Since 2008, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has worked to design and manufacture fifth generation jet plain design concepts, both for its own use and to sell on a global scale. The Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group (J-20) and the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (J-31) are subsidiaries of the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC). These two companies have been working on the designs of the super jets.

First US Turkish-Based Drone Strike Hits Targets in Syria

08/07/2015

A US drone hit an unspecified ISIL target in northern Syria on Monday, as revealed by the Pentagon spokesperson Navy Capt. Jeff Davis Wednesday. The official said the use of Turkish-based airpower will “put coalition aircraft significantly closer on the map to where these potential targets are.”

Indian Air Force's Top Guns Score Wins in the UK

08/06/2015

In some of the most intense international air combat exercises ever featuring the Indian Air Force, IAF pilots flying Sukhoi Su-30 MKI fighters had a resounding 12-0 scoreline in their favour against Royal Air Force Typhoon jets in Within Visual Range (WVR) dogfighting operations.

Fiery Cross Reef: Why China's New South China Sea Airstrip Matters

08/06/2015

Although China is not the first state to build an airstrip in the South China Sea, it is the first state to employ island-building technologies to transform a contested maritime feature into a military base that extends the reach of offensive military capabilities. Other countries have worked to project power to contested South China Sea features; with the airstrip on Fiery Cross Reef, China has worked to project power from them.

No time for rest as F-35 roadshow rolls past Marine Corps IOC

08/06/2015

The US Marine Corps says its first combat F-35 squadron is “ready for battle,” but after 14 years of development marked by cost increases and delays, it is time for the combat jet to prove it is as advanced, stealthy and lethal as advertised. The fifth-generation fighter, conceived in the mid-1990s, has travelled a long, long road to reach initial operational capability, arriving five years behind the original target.

New shot for the MiG-35 in India

08/06/2015

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is finalizing a new tender for purchase of medium-sized multirole fighters. The tender’s main condition is that the supplier consents to the aircraft being assembled in India. The main issue to watch will be whether the Russian MiG-35 can out-manoeuvre its French competitor, the Rafale fighter, this time around.