Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Could Airbus and Boeing collaborate on a fighter?

11/25/2014

Which phrase do you prefer? Many hands make light work or too many cooks in the kitchen? It's a question that some members of NATO might be asking after the statements made by Domingo Ureña Raso, the executive vice president of military aircraft for European aerospace giant Airbus.

Lockheed Martin (LMT): Flying High on Military Orders

11/25/2014

Don’t be swayed by exaggerated concerns that budgetary austerity on Capitol Hill will undermine U.S. defense firms. Every fiscal year, when the political Kabuki theater draws to a close, the Pentagon almost always gets its way in the last act. Regardless, torrid emerging market demand for sophisticated jet fighter aircraft made in the U.S. will more than make up for any procurement shortfalls.

Vanishing IS fighter sparks Iraq air raid

11/25/2014

High over northern Iraq, a crewman in an RAAF Super Hornet was viewing an Islamic State fighter on the aircraft's sophisticated night vision camera when the man suddenly vanished. He had disappeared into a well-concealed cave complex in the side of a hill. And that was the genesis of a major air raid by Australian and coalition aircraft, launched within 24-hours of the initial sighting.

Can’t keep waiting for stealth fighter, India tells Russia

11/25/2014

Ahead of President Vladimir Putin's visit here early next month, India has told Russia to come back with a plan to substantially reduce the delivery timeframe for the stealth fifth-generation fighter aircraft (FGFA) if it wants to seal the futuristic project by next year. The plan till now was that India would begin inducting the stealth fighters only 94 months — at the earliest — after the two countries inked the final design and R&D contract.

UK orders first operational F-35 combat aircraft

11/25/2014

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed for its first four operational Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) aircraft as part of the Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP 8) production lot, it was announced on 21 November. The order marks an initial buy from the MoD's Main Gate 4 acquisition approval process for 14 jets to equip the Royal Air Force's (RAF's) 617 Squadron, which is scheduled to stand-up as the UK's first operational F-35B unit in 2016.

US Conducted 500 Drone Attacks, Killing 3,674 “Suspected” Terrorists

11/25/2014

Since the CIA first used a drone in a targeted killing in 2002, the United States has conducted 500 targeted drone strikes, killing an estimated 3,674 people, including 473 civilians, the Atlantic reported. Drone attacks have become one of the symbols of post 9/11 counter-terrorist strategies.

Dassault silent on report of imminent Rafale sale to Qatar

11/24/2014

France's Dassault Aviation (AVMD.PA) declined comment on Monday on a media report that said France could soon sell at least two dozen Rafale combat jets to Qatar. Europe 1 radio reported France was in "very advanced negotiations" to sell a tranche of at least 24 of the Dassault-built fighters to the Gulf state, which has been seeking a total of 72 warplanes to renew and expand its fleet of French Mirage 2000 jets.

Corps' aviation plan calls for armed Ospreys

11/24/2014

The Marine Corps' most unique aircraft is going to get a bigger punch. A Marine Corps planning document shows that officials want to arm the MV-22B Osprey with more weapons so the aircraft can support the service's new crisis response forces that carry out missions like embassy evacuations. An "enhanced weapon systems is in early development to increase all-axis, stand-off, and precision capabilities," according to the service's recently-released 10-year aviation plan.

Competition heats up for tanker procurement deal

11/24/2014

Competition for Seoul’s project to procure four aerial tankers is heating up as contenders highlight the ways they can help enhance South Korea’s air defense with several months to go until the announcement of the winner. Currently three competitors ? Boeing’s KC-46, Airbus’ A330 MRTT and Israel Aerospace Industries’ B767 MMTT ?

America’s Scorpion Jet Fighter Could Fly in Asia and Africa

11/24/2014

When Textron AirLand first announced the Scorpion—a lightweight surveillance and strike aircraft—last year, it raised a few eyebrows. Now the American company is talking about the first two potential customers for the diminutive jet. Namely, Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates.

Pakistan Looking To Buy China's J-31 Stealth Fighter

11/24/2014

As Tyler Rogoway predicted since the very first blurry images of J-31 hit the internet, China's youngest stealth project was meant for export as much as for PLAAF use. Pakistan is now said to be beyond the initial discussion phase for buying the stealth jet. This comes during a time of increasing tension with India, whose air combat capabilities have ballooned over the last decade.

Four more Lightning II aircraft confirmed for Norfolk’s RAF Marham

11/24/2014

Defence minister Philip Dunne said the deal will “cement the central role of Norfolk in military aviation.” RAF Marham will play a key role in maintaining the new UK fleet, with the planes expected to be in the service for 30 years. Last month it was announced that an agreement in principle had been reached for the four F-35B aircraft. Today’s announcement confirms the official order.

Russian aircraft on rise

11/23/2014

Russia’s increased military presence in the Baltic Sea area, including its air force, has prompted some officials to compare it to the Cold War. Here’s a summary of the most serious incidents reported across the region.

FIGHTING ISIS FROM THE AIR: THE LIGHT ATTACK ALTERNATIVE – ANALYSIS

11/23/2014

With procurement funds steadily shrinking, requirements are markedly informed by budgetary constraints rather than mandated by capability considerations. Consequently, innovative and cost-efficient solutions are increasingly sought and valued. This is particularly true for counterinsurgency operations in low-contested environments in which the enemy possesses only negligible air-defense assets.

The new man at Nato who must stand up to Putin and his tanks

11/23/2014

Outside Nato’s headquarters in Brussels, the national flags of 28 member states fly in a proud circle. Even after decades of defence cuts, these countries still account for 58 per cent of global military spending, giving Nato more firepower than any other alliance on Earth. Yet, if Nato is a giant, it has often seemed a sleeping one — at least since the Cold War ended in a bloodless victory more than two decades ago.

China building massive island big enough for airstrip, report says

11/23/2014

China appears to be flexing its considerable military muscle, building a massive island that could host an airstrip in an area of the South China Sea that has become a source of regional tension over disputed territorial claims. IHS Jane’s said satellite imagery it obtained showed that in the past three months Chinese dredges have created a land mass that is almost the entire length of Fiery Cross Reef in the contested Spratly Islands.

US-Led Airstrikes Against Islamic State Kill Over 900 in Syria: Watchdog

11/23/2014

More than 900 people have been killed by US-led airstrikes against the Islamic State (IS) militant group in two months, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported Saturday. "SOHR documented the death of 910 people since the U.S led coalition started its strikes on Syria in 23/Sep until last night. Including: 52 civilians (8 children, 5 women), killed by coalition air strikes on oil fields and refineries in al-Hasakah and Der-Ezzor countrysides, al-Raqqa, Around Menbej northeast of Aleppo,

Russian Bombers Threaten Guam

11/22/2014

Two Russian strategic bombers circled the U.S. island of Guam last week in what U.S. defense officials say is the latest in a series of nuclear provocations by Moscow. The bombers were identified by air defenses as Tu-95 Bear H nuclear-capable aircraft that circumnavigated the strategic U.S. military outpost on Friday—amid heightened tensions with Moscow regarding a new buildup of Russian forces in and along the border of eastern Ukraine.

Female Fighter Pilot Shares Tips on Getting to the Top

11/22/2014

Since she was a young girl, Carey D. Lohrenz had set her sights on becoming a U.S. Navy pilot. Getting there wasn't easy, but she did, making history as the first woman assigned to fly an F-14 Tomcat fighter. On Thursday, Lohrenz spoke at the Associated Pennsylvania Constructors fall seminar at the Hershey Lodge in Derry Township, where she shared her experiences as well as the lessons she learned during her career as a Navy fighter pilot.

Japan Officially Selects Osprey, Global Hawk, E-2D

11/22/2014

Japan has officially decided to procure the V-22 Osprey for its military tilt-rotor requirement, as well as the Global Hawk unmanned surveillance system and E-2D Hawkeye command and control aircraft. The choice of the Osprey, while widely expected ever since the country laid out a requirement for 17 such aircraft in its National Defense Program Guidelines, released in April, may have political ramifications for the government of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Obama Signs Secret Order Expanding US Combat Role In 2015: Report

11/22/2014

President Obama has signed a secret order authorizing an expanded combat role for U.S. forces in Afghanistan in 2015, according to a report from the New York Times. The order, which was signed in the last few weeks, will allow U.S. forces to carry out combat missions against Taliban fighters who pose a threat to American military personnel or Afghanistan's government. It also allows American fighter jets, bomber aircraft and drones to be deployed in support of Afghan troops on combat missions.

US report warns of cross-strait military imbalance

11/22/2014

Mainland China's ongoing military modernization has continued to shift Taiwan-China military balance in Beijing's favor despite warming cross-strait relations, a U.S. congressional commission report said Thursday. Despite the recent cross-strait rapprochement, “the core sovereignty and security issues between Taiwan and China remain unresolved,” according to the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission's (USCC) annual report to the U.S. Congress.

CF-18 aircraft extension to 2025 will mean extra maintenance costs for RCAF

11/22/2014

I’ve had a number of references on Defence Watch to the CF-18 modernization, which the Conservative government says will keep the fighter aircraft flying until 2025. But a knowledgeable Defence Watch reader and former fighter pilot points out that the upgrade was never intended to expand the actual flying life (ELE) of the CF- 18. It will add various upgrades to the cockpit but it has nothing to extend the actual flying state of the plane. That instead will be done through increased maintenance

Yola: Nigerian Air Force’s Graveyard?

11/22/2014

In less than three months, Nigeria’s military has lost three aircraft around Yola, northeastern part of the country in its war with Boko Haram. The first casualty was the disappearance of an Alpha Jet, with two missing crew members on September 12; followed by two helicopter accidents this month (November) alone. This high rate of accidents can be attributed to either of the two persistent, contributory factors in our military aviation: poorly trained pilots or poor aircraft maintenance.

‘IAF upgrading its combat fleet’

11/22/2014

“The Indian Air Force (IAF) today, with a dedicated service to the nation, is a modern technology-intensive force distinguished by its commitment to excellence and professionalism. Keeping pace with the demands of contemporary advancements, the IAF continues to modernise in a phased manner and today it stands as a credible air power counted amongst the fore-most professional services in the world.”