Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Final combat mission for legendary naval aircraft

11/15/2014

Friday marked the final landing for the U.S. Navy's EA-6B Prowler. Squadron VAQ-134 landed back at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island before noon, after flying cross country from the aircraft carrier George H.W. Bush. The squadron, also known as the "Garudas," completed 104 combat missions over Afghanistan and was called upon to support operations against ISIS, flying another 109 combat missions according to the Navy.

‘One or two’ military-like planes near MH17 before crash, claims Russian expert

11/15/2014

Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was not alone when it crashed last July, according to new radar data released by a Russian air safety consultancy. Referring to readings taken by a radar station located in Rostove, near the Ukranian border, CEO of Aviation Safety consultancy Sergey Melnichenko told Russian daily Moskovsky Komsomolets that there were one or two planes in the air close to the Boeing 777 aircraft when it crashed in eastern Ukraine.

Airbus Might Face Higher Costs on Delayed Military Transport Plane

11/15/2014

The Airbus Group warned Friday that the costs associated with a much-delayed military transport plane could increase after the European aerospace giant failed to meet a deadline for equipping the aircraft with combat capabilities. Airbus said the latest production snag involving the A400M Atlas cargo plane — which cost 20 billion euros, or $25 billion, to develop — risked adding to the €4 billion in added expenses that the group has already absorbed since 2006.

Pentagon Concerned Over Russia's Military Presence Near Gulf of Mexico

11/15/2014

The US Department of Defense is concerned over Russia's increasing military presence near the gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean, said US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel. "Well, the very aggressive Russian behavior over the last few months is a concern," Hagel said Friday at the Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, as stated on the department's official website.

China-Pakistan fighter jet nears first foreign deal

11/14/2014

An unidentified Middle Eastern country is in “advanced” talks to make the first foreign purchase of a fighter jet jointly developed by Pakistan and China. The joint sales team from the Pakistan Air Force and China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation also known as CATIC, are in advanced talks with 10 other countries to sell the JF-17 Thunder, said PAF Air Commodore Khalid Mahmood, who heads sales and marketing for the fighter jet.

Algerian 'Foxbat' fighter lost in training accident

11/14/2014

An Algerian Air Force MiG-25 'Foxbat' combat aircraft crashed during a training exercise on 11 November, national media reported. The single-seat Soviet-era fighter came down near a live-fire range at Hassi Bahbah in the north of the country, the Algerian Press Service reported the National Defence Ministry as saying. The pilot ejected safely and was recovered shortly after.

F-35C exceeds 100 catapults, arrestments during first week at sea

11/14/2014

The carrier variant of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II combat aircraft has completed more than 100 catapult launches and arrested landings during its first two weeks of sea trials, pilots and officials told reporters aboard the USS Nimitz (CVN 68) on 13 November. The two C-model test aircraft on board Nimitz , CF-03 and CF-05, have already satisfied 95% of the threshold requirements for the first of three rounds of sea-based Development Testing I (DT-I), according to US Navy.

National Guard low-altitude F-15 jets fly over Boston

11/14/2014

A group of F-15 fighter jets flew over eastern and southeastern Massachusetts today as part of a planned training and media mission, officials said. The 104th Fighter Wing of the Massachusetts Air National Guard had planned to fly five of its F-15 Eagle fighter jets from its Westfield base to Hanscom Air Force Base, where the flyover was scheduled begin at about 8:10 a.m., said Lieutenant Colonel James Sahady, spokesman for the Massachusetts National Guard.

Canadian military having difficulty finding targets in Iraq

11/14/2014

Two weeks into Canada’s six-month mission in Iraq, the Canadian Forces is having a hard time finding Islamic State targets to destroy. Col. Daniel Constable, the mission’s commander in Kuwait, acknowledged the problem Thursday as he provided more details about a Canadian airstrike Tuesday that destroyed an ISIL artillery piece and killed an unknown number of militants.

Grounded Fighter Jets, Sukhoi-30s, to Be Back in Use Next Week

11/14/2014

India's frontline combat aircraft Sukhoi-30 fleet, which was grounded after a crash near Pune, will be back in air "within a week's time", said Air Force Chief Arup Raha today. He also said that the findings of a Court of Inquiry into the crash are being finalised. This is the longest period that the Russian-made aircraft has been grounded since 2009 when its operation was suspended for nearly three weeks following an accident.

Indian Air Force hopes Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft deal would be inked 'sooner than later'

11/14/2014

The Indian Air Force on Friday expressed hope that the multi-billion contract for 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) would be inked "sooner than later", saying the project is "very important" for it to replace some of the obsolete fleet under its command. "MMRCA deal is very important for which which we have been stating right from the beginning. Everybody knows, government knows, the public knows (that it is) to replace some of our obsolete fleet which have served the nation well.

Lockheed Martin Delivers the 200th Romeo Helicopter to the U.S. Navy

11/14/2014

The U.S. Navy received its 200th submarine-hunting MH-60R “Romeo” helicopter from Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] following a patch signing with Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron Seven-Two (HSM-72). The cornerstone of the U.S. Navy’s anti-surface and anti-submarine operations, MH-60R helicopters have flown more than 250,000 hours in operation with the Fleet, providing increased surveillance and situational awareness.

US Fighter Jets Begin Exercises Over Estonia: Estonian Defense Forces

11/14/2014

Two US Air Force F-16 fighter jets are scheduled to start military drills in Estonian airspace Thursday, the country's Defense Forces announced. For two days, the American fighters and Estonian air traffic controllers will conduct flights in Harju County in the northern part of the county, according to a statement published Wednesday on the website of the Estonian Defense Forces.

Drones Detachment Will Be Stationed in Russia's Far East: Defense Ministry

11/14/2014

A detachment of UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) will be introduced in Russia's Chukotka Autonomous Area, the country's Eastern Military District (EMD) representative Alexander Gordeev told journalists Thursday. "The detachment will be stationed at one of the airfields near the city of Anadyr," Gordeev said. It is planned that airfield-based UAVs and mobile systems will make up part of the detachment's service. Only contract servicemen will be operating the drones.

Ukraine crisis escalates as Russian forces pour across border

11/13/2014

Russian troops and heavy weaponry, including tanks, artillery and anti-aircraft systems, have streamed across the border into Ukraine in recent days, U.S. Defense Department and military officials confirmed Wednesday to NBC News. The exact number of Russian troops and vehicles now operating within eastern Ukraine remains unclear.

Gripen Abides

11/13/2014

Sweden recently announced another export customer for its JAS 39E Gripen jet fighter. This time it was Brazil, which ordered 36 aircraft. This is the largest export order so far. Most of the other five export customers received only 14 aircraft, and often on lease, not purchase. Brazil is buying the Gripens for $150 million each (including spares, training and support). The Brazil sale might still be cancelled, but that appears unlikely.

Modi Policy Step Opens India Military Maintenance Market

11/13/2014

A deadly Indian naval accident last week underscored the nation’s need for the upkeep of military hardware, a requirement that’s seen stoking opportunities for private companies following an easing of defense rules. A little-publicized change in June scrapped a rule that forced private companies to obtain permits before seeking military maintenance work.

Russian bomber patrols to reach Gulf of Mexico

11/13/2014

Russia's long-range bombers will conduct regular patrol missions from the Arctic Ocean to the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico, the military said Wednesday, a show of muscle reflecting tensions with the West over Ukraine. A statement from Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu came as NATO's chief commander accused Moscow of sending new troops and tanks into Ukraine — a claim quickly rejected by Russia.

The Pentagon Wants to Build Massive Flying Motherships for Drones

11/13/2014

The Pentagon's most famous mad scientists have started asking around to see if anyone has any bright ideas about how to launch and recover drones from other aircraft in flight. The recent announcement by DARPA — the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency — has resulted in a little cascade of nerdgasms shivering across the internet, particularly by those who are just a little too into The Avengers because of the movie's ginormous flying-ship-helicopter-base-carrier thing.

National Guard plans low-altitude F-15 flyover

11/13/2014

A group of F-15 fighter jets will be flying over eastern and southeastern Massachusetts on Thursday as part of a planned training and media mission, officials said. The 104th Fighter Wing of the Massachusetts Air National Guard will fly five of its F-15 Eagle fighter jets from its Westfield base to Hanscom Air Force Base, where the flyover will begin at about 8:10 a.m., said Lieutenant Colonel James Sahady, spokesman for the Massachusetts National Guard.

Canadian military aircraft have conducted 62 sorties over Iraq

11/13/2014

As of 1500 (Eastern Standard Time) 11 November 2014, Canada’s Air Task Force-Iraq conducted 62 sorties, according to the Canadian Forces. CF-188 Hornet fighters conducted 42 sorties, CC-150T Polaris aerial refueller conducted nine sorties, delivering some 418,000 pounds of fuel to coalition aircraft; and CP-140 Aurora aircraft conducted 11 reconnaissance missions.

Pentagon Signs $306Mln Drone Deal: Northrop Grumman Corporation

11/13/2014

The US Department of Defense signed a $306 million contract to continue logistics and sustainment services for the RQ-4 Global Hawk, an advanced intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance unmanned aircraft, defense contractor Northrop Grumman has said. "The new agreement continues an existing contract for Global Hawk maintenance, inventory management, parts procurement and other tasks necessary to ensure the availability of the Global Hawk unmanned aircraft system.

Russia Refused S-300 Missiles Sale to Iran Because of Pressure From West

11/13/2014

Russia's decision to refuse supply of S-300 (SA-10 Grumble) surface-to-air missile defense systems to Iran was made under pressure from Western countries, Iranian ambassador to Russia Mehdi Sanaei stated Wednesday. "Attempts of Russia or Iran to enter into relations with the West have always had a bad impact on our Russian-Iranian relations. An example of this is the situation with the supply of the S-300s and the imposition of sanctions," Sanaei said at Russia's Civic Chamber session.

Karabakh Military Helicopter Shot Down by Azerbaijan Forces

11/13/2014

The press service of Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Defense stated that it was “a Mi-24 helicopter belonging to the Republic of Armenia’s armed forces,” and that it “made an attempt to attack Azerbaijani positions.” According to a statement issued by the ministry, the helicopter was shot down in the vicinity of the village of Chemengly in the Agdam district of Azerbaijan, and crashed in territory controlled by Azerbaijani forces. Azerbaijani forces were deployed to secure the crash site.

White House details new $5.6B war request, billions for O&M

11/12/2014

The White House's new $5.6 billion request for additional funding to fight the military advances of the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria contains specific provisions that begin to detail the scope of the missions launched so far and how expensive it will be to station US ground troops in Iraq in the coming months.