Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

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.

US-Led Coalition Against ISIL Destroys Explosives Facility

08/21/2015

The US-led coalition against the Islamic State conducted an airstrike on Wednesday and destroyed a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) facility, the Combined Joint Task Force said in a release on Thursday.

Philippine Navy Weaponizes Helicopters to Deploy on Frigates

08/21/2015

The Philippine Navy is preparing to deploy weaponized versions of its AgustaWestland AW109 helicopter on board its Pilar-class frigates, the Navy's director of public affairs said Wednesday. According to Commander Lued Lincuna, the frigates had previously embarked non-weaponized versions of the helicopter for testing, qualification, and crew familiarization, IHS Jane's reported.

Argentina’s Air Force To Be Left Without Jet Fighters

08/21/2015

By the end of November 2015, Argentina’s Air Force will retire its fleet of Mirage fighters, according to the local web portal El Eco; the nation’s air defense will then be mostly entrusted to domestically-produced FMA IA-63 Pampa training and combat aircraft.

Pakistan Will Purchase Four Russian Mi-35M Helicopters

08/21/2015

According to the Russian Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan signed a contract for Russia's Mi-35M transport and attack helicopters. Pakistan will acquire four Russian Mi-35M helicopters, the Russian Embassy in Islamabad said Thursday.

Ukraine shifts closer to open war with recent attacks

08/20/2015

Renewed fighting in Ukraine has claimed the lives of dozens of civilians and soldiers in the past two weeks alone. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin have both called emergency war councils since Aug. 4, as the ceasefire and diplomacy have further broken down. In its recent reports, the Ukrainian military has used the phrase “most shelling in six months” multiple times, and with increasing frequency.

Russia planting new anti-aircraft missiles in Arctic

08/20/2015

Russia is moving new, specially modified air-defense systems that can withstand harsh arctic environments to key areas along its border with Norway and the U.S., the U.S. Army’s Foreign Military Studies Office (FSMO) said in its August report.

Turkey and Azerbaijan to conduct joint aerial military exercise

08/20/2015

Turkey and Azerbaijan will conduct joint air force exercises next week on Saturday. The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry announced that the exercises will include a series of operations such as airstrikes against joint targets. They will feature a variety of military aircraft including Mig-29, F-16 and Su-25 fighters, F-4E bombers, C-130 Hercules transport planes and Mi-35, Mi-17 and Skorski UH-60 attack helicopters.

What is the F-35B and Why is the UK Buying It?

08/20/2015

Over the past few years, the F-35 Lightning II – the fifth-generation, Lockheed Martin wunder-plane set to eventually take over from almost every fighter jet in the US and UK militaries – has received a public relations kicking. It’s expensive – the total cost for the programme so far is an incredible, not-even-hyperbolic trillion dollars.

Israel upgrades F-16Is to cope with missile threat

08/20/2015

Israel is upgrading its Lockheed Martin F-16I combat aircraft with several undisclosed systems in order to cope with the increased threat from surface-launched missiles. A senior air force officer tells Flightglobal that intelligence reports indicate that the enhancement is necessary.“The threats we are facing and will face, according to intelligence assessments, require the installation of new systems," he says.

Generator failure caused drone crash near Africa, investigation finds

08/20/2015

The failure of an onboard electrical generator caused the crash of a drone in February during a mission over Africa, an Air Force investigation announced Wednesday. The Air Force crew in charge of the aircraft intentionally crashed the MQ-9A Reaper over international waters after they were unable to fix the problem Feb. 4, according to the report by the Accident Investigation Board.

Indian Industry Could Lose Out in Revised Rafale Deal

08/20/2015

India’s expanding aerospace industry has expressed regret about the government’s decision to buy 36 Dassault Rafale combat jets directly from France, without an offsets clause. Delhi has committed to signing the inter-government contract by the end of calendar year 2015, AIN has learned from sources close to the negotiations. The tender for 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA), which has now been withdrawn, specified 50 percent offsets as well as licensed production of 108 aircraft.

China's military aircraft walk fine line between copying and 'referencing'

08/20/2015

An internet user recently published a black and white photograph of the "number 2013" prototype of the Chengdu J-20 fighter, which hasn't made an appearance in quite some time, on a test flight, according to Sina's military news web portal. The angle of the photograph suggests that the area of the canard wings are quite large and that the body of the plane is long and thin, which suggests that it will have quite a high-speed cruise capability.

Syrian Army Retakes 16 Villages, Kills Over 300 Rebels in Hama Province

08/20/2015

The Syrian army has retaken 16 villages and killed up to 350 rebels during the ongoing offensive in Syria's central Hama province, a military source said on Wednesday. The Syrian military launched a large-scale offensive on Monday aiming to take back territories captured by a rebel alliance that includes al-Qaeda's Syria affiliate, the Al-Nusra Front.

'Combat Commonwealth': CIS Air Defense Drills Kick Off in Russia

08/19/2015

The first Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) integrated air-defense-system combat-training exercises kicked off near Moscow, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced Tuesday.