Military Aviation News Archive

US Plans to Position Drones in North Africa to Combat ISIL in Libya

07/13/2015

The United States has launched negotiations with a number of North African countries to position drones on their territory to monitor the Islamic State's activities in Libya, the Wall Street Journal reported Monday citing undisclosed US officials.

The Chinese Dream and its Military and Economic Ambitions

07/12/2015

“One Belt, One Road” is a concept whereby China spreads an economic network over land and sea that they control. “One Belt” refers to the land that they will potentially dominate and unite from western China to central Asia and Europe. “One Road” refers to the maritime lanes that China plans to control, from the South China Sea to the Indian Ocean, the Arabic Peninsula and the East Coast of Africa.

Lockheed in talks to buy Sikorsky: report

07/12/2015

Lockheed Martin is deep in talks to buy United Technologies’s Sikorsky, maker of the iconic Blackhawk and the White House’s Marine One helicopters, The Wall Street Journal reported late Friday. Citing sources close to the matter, the Journal said the sale could bring more than $8 billion to United Technologies. A deal could be reached in the coming days, it reported.

Russia Working To Resume Tu-160 Nuclear Bomber Production: Report

07/12/2015

Russian authorities are working to relaunch production of the Soviet-era Tupolev Tu-160 "Blackjack" supersonic nuclear bomber, a Russian defense ministry official reportedly said Friday. "We are already working quickly [on the project], we have created a working group, scheduled monthly meetings with the Industry and Trade Ministry on how the work is progressing and appointed chief designers," Deputy Defense Minister Yury Borisov told RIA Novosti, cited by the Moscow Times.

A secret to ISIS success: Shock troops who fight to the death

07/12/2015

Bearded and wearing bright blue bandanas, the Islamic State group’s “special forces” unit gathered around their commander just before they attacked the central Syrian town of al-Sukhna. “Victory or martyrdom,” they screamed, pledging their allegiance to God and vowing never to retreat.

Marines drop first bombs from F-35B in test runs

07/12/2015

Marine pilots recently dropped dozens of live bombs from the F-35B joint strike fighter for the first time, bringing the aircraft a step closer to its long-anticipated rollout. Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 dropped 30 bombs over five days without a hitch in late June near Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona. It was a first for the squadron testing the aircraft's capabilities, and Marines said they can hit targets in little- to no-visibility.

As Rafale talks progress, race for fighter jets begins again

07/12/2015

Even as India and France negotiate a final agreement for direct purchase of 36 Rafale fighter jets, there is a renewed push by the aircraft makers left out in the Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) contest to re-enter the race.

India's LCA Will Miss Another Deadline

07/12/2015

Delayed by more than 15 years, India's homegrown Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mark-1 is ready for critical test flights necessary for its final operational clearance (FOC) at the end of the year, but analysts and Indian Air Force (IAF) officials say that clearance will slip again, to next year.

EXPERTS: TERRORISTS IN SINAI ADOPTING ISIS-STYLE ATTACK STRATEGY

07/12/2015

The July 1st attack in Egypt’s north Sinai has signaled a change in strategy from the previous attacks launched in the region, adopting a strategy used by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria forcused on taking and holding territory. Ansar Bait al-Maqdis, Egypt’s most active militant group in the Sinai, swore allegiance to ISIS in November 2014 becoming Sinai Province. The attempt to fly the ISIS flag in Sheikh Zuweid failed due to the Egyptian Armed Forces repelling the attack, killing over 250

Herc Heads Home: Afghans receive fourth C-130; Robins played close role in planning, maintenance

07/11/2015

A fourth C-130H Hercules was delivered June 20 at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, and its significance can be traced back to planners, program managers, engineers and maintainers at Robins. Prior to its delivery to the Afghan Air Force, it first made a stop here for something quite interesting and unique - the complete separation of the aircraft's nose from its fuselage in March 2014.

ISIS in Afghanistan may be planning attacks on US forces

07/11/2015

Defense officials on Friday said "individuals" in Afghanistan — whom local media identified as Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) militants — were planning attacks on U.S. and coalition forces there, necessitating drone strikes earlier this week. "The strikes were against individuals known to be planning attacks against U.S. and coalition personnel," said a U.S. military spokesman in Afghanistan.

F-35 Nears Combat Readiness As Massive Order Planned

07/11/2015

Lockheed Martin's (NYSE:LMT) F-35 could be deemed ready for combat in the coming weeks, a major milestone for the $400 billion program after a series of development issues, as the Pentagon readies its largest order yet of the stealth fighter.

The F-35 may have big problems fighting at long range

07/11/2015

The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) was supposed to fill multiple roles for the Air Force, Navy, Marines, and US foreign partners. The jet — the most expensive US weapons project of all time — was designed to have aerial combat, close-air support, and long-range-strike capabilities.

The Russian Air Force is falling out of the sky

07/11/2015

The flights began last year. The government of Russian President Vladimir Putin, eager to send a message, began flying nuclear bombers on training missions near the United States and its allies around the world.

Government is rapidly losing out on creating Low Combat Aircraft for India

07/11/2015

The Indian Government is considering to handover project for improved version of 'Tejas' fighter planes to private sector for efficient and time bound execution. Fed up with a string of delays and design flaws, the government wants to rope in a private player for Light Combat Aircraft, or LCA, programme.

Vicious Reasoning: ISIL Kills Thousands of Muslims in the Name of Islam

07/11/2015

The Islamic State’s greatest weakness is that while claiming to defend Muslims, it is most active in killing them, former US State Department Coordinator for Strategic Counterterrorism Communications (CSCC) Alberto Fernandez told Sputnik on Friday.

Japan Wants to Join NATO's Missile Consortium

07/11/2015

The move would mark Tokyo's first introduction to a multinational defense project. The United States is encouraging Japan's inclusion in the missile group, hoping that it will pave the way for similar alliances in Asia, sources told Reuters. The 12-country consortium oversees development and shares the costs of the Sea Sparrow missile, an American-made, advanced ship-borne weapon designed to destroy anti-ship sea-skimming missiles and attack aircraft.

Arms modernization and military transformation in Indonesia

07/10/2015

The recent crash of an Air Force C-130B airlifter was the latest in a long line of fatal accidents involving the country’s military hardware. Between 2006 and 2015, there were a total of 18 accidents or an average of two incidents per year. These have caused huge material losses and most importantly, claimed the lives of well-trained military personnel.

Finland scrambles to intercept Russian military aircraft

07/10/2015

Nordic and Baltic airspace violations by Russian planes intensify regional tensions. It's been revealed that Finland's Air Force scrambled to intercept Russian military aircraft recently after violating the Nordic country's airspace. The Russian IL-76 was travelling west en route from Russia when it entered a kilometer into Finnish territory, border officials said, according to the BBC.

George Washington CSG kicks off Talisman Sabre 15

07/10/2015

Sailors from the George Washington Carrier Strike Group (GWCSG) began their portion of Talisman Sabre 2015 off the north coast of Australia, July 7. Exercise Talisman Sabre is a biennial training activity aimed at improving Australian and U.S. combat readiness and interoperability.

Chinese Aircraft Carrier to Acquire First Battle Group

07/10/2015

Sometime next year, the Liaoning aircraft carrier expects to gain its first aircraft battle group in order to compensate for the limited combat radius of existing fleets, according to Xinhua News Agency. China is looking at various strategies in forming its aircraft carrier battle group, according to the report.

Iraqi militias vow to push Islamic State from Fallujah, site of tough US battle

07/10/2015

Iraq's powerful Shiite militias are vowing to drive Islamic State fighters out of Fallujah, setting off a panic in the city where U.S. Marines saw their bloodiest combat of the war. The militias' campaign to besiege the city 40 miles west of Baghdad comes as Iraq's U.S.-backed regular armed forces are gearing up for a counteroffensive in Ramadi, which fell to the Islamic State two months ago.

First female F-35 pilot completes initial flight

07/10/2015

The first female F-35 pilot has taken flight. Air Force Lt. Col. Christine Mau, deputy commander of the 33rd Fighter Wing Operations group, flew her first flight in an F-35A on May 5 at the pilot training school at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. Mau, previously an F-15E Strike Eagle pilot, completed 14 simulator flights before taking to the skies.

Pentagon Reconsidering Total F-35 Buy, Dunford Says

07/10/2015

Gen. Joseph Dunford, the nominee for chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said he’s willing to rethink the acquisition plan for the most expensive weapons program ever. Much has changed about the Pentagon’s Joint Strike Fighter program in the past 13 years, but one thing has remained steady: the number of F-35s to be bought for the Air Force, Navy and Marines.

Red Tails fighter wing, 1,400 jobs could 'go away'

07/10/2015

If the military doesn't pick the Montgomery-based Air National Guard fighter wing for a jet upgrade, the wing could be no more — potentially eliminating nearly 1,400 jobs and shelving the Red Tails, a squadron that carries with it the name and legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen. "There's a real potential that we could go away," 187th Fighter Wing Commander Randy Efferson said.