Military Aviation News Archive

Vietnam eyes Western warplanes, patrol aircraft to counter China

06/05/2015

Vietnam is in talks with European and U.S. contractors to buy fighter jets, maritime patrol planes and unarmed drones, sources said, as it looks to beef up its aerial defences in the face of China's growing assertiveness in disputed waters.

Fearful of Putin, Finland Explores NATO Membership

06/05/2015

Last week, Finland's new government announced that it will explore the possibility of NATO membership. While wariness is still evident in Finland's public and membership likely a ways off, the government's clear focus on NATO underscores the serious threat it faces from an aggressive Russia.

UK minister: Coalition airstrikes against ISIS limited by uncertainty

06/05/2015

The British foreign secretary says the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria is not hitting all the terrorist targets it identifies. "We have the capability to mount as many airstrikes as we have targets," Secretary Philip Hammond told Vice News in an interview this week. "The constraints, as I understand it at the moment, is identifying enough targets where we can be absolutely confident there will not be collateral damage or civilian casualties," he said.

Lessons from Las Vegas: Protect your base at all costs

06/05/2015

Ample airspace at the nearby Nevada Test and Training Range makes Nellis Air Force Base attractive for missions such as this, involving aircraft conducting air and ground operations. Col. Richard Boutwell gives local leaders an overview of missions at Nellis and Creech Air Force bases, and the Nevada Test and Training Range.

Is It Time For Finland to Join NATO?

06/05/2015

Last week, Finland's new government announced that they will explore the possibility of NATO membership. While wariness is still evident in Finland's public and membership likely a ways off, the government's clear focus on NATO underscores the serious threat they face from an aggressive Russia. Helsinki's stance makes a full exploration of the benefits of future Alliance membership by its policy makers more crucial than ever.

India Requests ISTAR Aircraft From US

06/05/2015

India has offered to buy two intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) aircraft from Raytheon on a government-to-government basis. The request was made to visiting US Defense Secretary Ash Carter Wednesday, said a Defence Ministry source. Another project which India and the US are discussing, on India's request, is joint development of the GE-414 jet engine for use by India's homemade Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), the source added.

Russia to Produce Successor of Tu-160 Strategic Bomber After 2023

06/05/2015

Russia is planning to resume production of Tu-160 supersonic strategic bombers after 2023, Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov said on Thursday. "According to the current schedule, this will happen sometime after 2023," Borisov, who is on a visit to France, said.

Russian Air Force to Receive Two Il-476 Transport Planes by 2016

06/05/2015

The Il-76MD-90A is a significantly modernized version of Russia's Il-76 Candid transport plane, featuring a fully-digital flight control system, new avionics and engines with improved fuel efficiency systems.

Why the Indian Air Force has a high crash rate

06/04/2015

More than 200 Sukhoi Flankers currently form the core of the Indian Air Force’s strike element, for a planned force of over 272 Su-30 fighter-bombers. India received the initial batch of Sukhois in 2002. The first of these aircraft crashed in 2009, and since then five more have crashed.

Navy Growler Study Complete, Awaiting Pentagon Review

06/04/2015

A study that would determine if the Navy should acquire more Boeing EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft for a wider joint high-end war fighting requirements has been completed, Navy officials told USNI News on Wednesday. The Growler study, now being reviewed as part of a larger electronic warfare evaluation led by Deputy Secretary of Defense Bob Work, was led by the Navy with input from the other services.

Dassault Hopeful of Selling More than 36 Rafale Aircraft to India

06/04/2015

Dassault Aviation Chief Eric Trappier is still hopeful of selling extra Rafale fighter jets to India apart from the 36 aircraft deal negotiated by the French Government, Reuters reported Tuesday. Speaking during the rollout of Dassault’s new business jet Falcon 5X, Eric Trappier said that he has not given up hope of selling more rafale fighters to India.

USAF prefers buying Lockheed Martin’s F-35 fighter, says official

06/04/2015

The US Air Force will prefer buying next-generation aircraft, such as Lockheed Martin's F-35 fighter and a new long-range bomber to strengthen its electronic warfare capability, USAF official has said. Reuters reported, citing Air Combat Command Commander General Herbert Carlisle, that the F-35 combat aircraft offers better electronic warfare capabilities.

IAF trainer jet crashes in Odisha's Mayurbhanj, pilots safe

06/04/2015

An Indian Air Force (IAF) jet crashed in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district on Wednesday, gouging a 10-foot crater in the middle of a paddy field, while the two pilots were injured despite managing to eject. The BAE Systems Hawk advanced trainer aircraft took off on a routine sortie from Kalaikunda air force base in West Bengal, but plummeted to the ground at around 1.30pm after flying for nearly 50 km.

Pakistan and China look to upgrade JF-17

06/04/2015

Pakistan Air Force Chief met top Chinese defence officials as the two countries look to upgrade the jointly produced JF-17 Thunder fighter jet, amid India's move to acquire 36 Rafale warplanes from France. PAF Chief Air Marshal Sohail Aman, who is on a five day visit to China, met Gen Fan Changlong, Vice Chairman of China's Central Military Commission (CMC), the high command of the Chinese military.

Czech Planes to Guard Iceland Instead of Canada Which Is Fighting ISIL

06/04/2015

The Czech Republic is sending five JAS 39 Gripen multirole fighter planes to guard Iceland’s airspace for six weeks instead of Canada, which is involved in the US-led airstrike campaign against ISIL militants, spokesperson for the Czech Ministry of Defense Petr Medek has told RIA Novosti.

With Dam Seizure, Iraq Fears Fight Against ISIL Could Become 'Water War'

06/04/2015

After Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province fell on May 17, reports surfaced earlier this week that IS had seized and closed a dam in the city, cutting off water to pro-government towns and threatening to create a humanitarian crisis.

USAF to Protect Czech, Slovak, Hungarian, Polish Skies – Media

06/04/2015

US fighter jets stationed in Europe could in the foreseeable future be used to safeguard the airspace of the so-called Visegrad 4 countries (Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary), Czech media reported Wednesday.

Russia, Norway Team Up for Joint Exercise in Barents Sea

06/04/2015

Russian and Norwegian rescuers teamed up in the Arctic on Wednesday for a joint exercise of oil spill preparedness and response drills in the Barents Sea, Russia's Defense Ministry announced.

Houthis Pushed Back in Yemen

06/03/2015

The tide of battle in Yemen appears to be turning in favor of the anti-Houthi movement. After a long period of stagnation, Houthi elements and supporters of former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh are being gradually pushed back from a number of active frontlines. Though gains are taking time to materialize, progress is being made in places such as Marib, Taiz and Dali. Anti-Houthi forces pushed beyond the city limits of Dali proper, advancing in the direction of Ibb.

India, US To Sign 10-Year Defence Framework Agreement Today

06/03/2015

India and the United States will sign the 2015 US-India Defence Framework Agreement on Wednesday. The 10-year agreement will include maritime security cooperation, joint military exercises and defence technology development. US secretary of defense Ashton Carter is currently in India on three-day visit. This framework agreement with India entails joint development and manufacture of defence equipment and technology that is expected to help take strategic ties to new heights.

Warton to get £1.7m for weapon research

06/03/2015

Workers at BAE Systems’ Warton plant have been given funding to research a new launcher for the Typhoon. The Ministry of Defence has provided £1.7m of funding to come up with a common weapon launcher for the aircraft that could be capable of carrying multiple weapons and weapon types on one type of attachment point. The project will bring together expertise from BAE Systems as the weapons integration lead for Typhoon and the weapons manufacturers MBDA and Raytheon UK.

ACC commander predicts up to seven-year fight in Iraq, Syria

06/03/2015

At 6 p.m. on a recent evening on a base in southwest Asia, an Air Force F-22 Raptor took off for a strike mission against the Islamic State group in Syria. What the aircraft accomplished before it landed 11 1/2 hours later shows why the aircraft is vital to the U.S. fleet, and why it is now tasked with flying in every strike package that goes north into Syria as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, Gen. Hawk Carlisle, the head of Air Combat Command said Monday.

Nellis-based F-35 fighters debut in simulated combat

06/03/2015

The Air Force’s newest fighter jet, the F-35 Lightning II, is taking a star turn in an ongoing air combat training exercise over the Army Combat Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif. The Air Force has used aircraft equipped with F-35 sensors in past exercises, but this will be the first time that more “operationally representative” aircraft take part, Air Combat Command Gen. Herbert Carlisle said Monday after an Air Force Association event.

New £51M Chinook Helicopter Simulators and Training System for RAF

06/03/2015

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) is investing £51 million in a new synthetic training system developed by Lockheed Martin for the Royal Air Force’s Chinook Mk6 helicopter. Lockheed Martin will design and build a purpose built training facility at RAF Odiham in Hampshire, the home of the Chinook fleet, that will prepare pilots and crew for deployment on operations.

Australia Flies RAAF’s First C-17 Equipped with Advanced Network Access

06/03/2015

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) flew its first Boeing-built C-17A Globemaster III equipped with a new advanced satellite communication (SATCOM) and imagery display system, providing the flight crew and passengers with unprecedented situational awareness.