Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

China Wants to Develop a New Long-Range Strategic Bomber

07/13/2015

China needs to develop a new long-range strike bomber capable of attacking targets farther out in the Pacific. This is the principal conclusion of a meeting of Chinese military officials, according to AFP citing a full-page China Daily article published last Tuesday as its source.

Military airstrikes continue against ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq

07/13/2015

On July 11, coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted 16 airstrikes using bomber, fighter-attack and remotely piloted aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 11 airstrikes approved by the Iraqi Ministry of Defense using attack, fighter-attack and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL targets.

Op Tempo, Sustainment Flaws Hit Russian Air Force

07/13/2015

Russia's Air Force is falling from the sky. As the Kremlin continues to assert its air power in a bid to intimidate NATO allies in Europe and North America, its mostly Soviet-built aircraft are being pushed to their limits — a fact experts point to when attempting to explain the loss of five aircraft of different designs in just the past month.

AgustaWestland celebrates 100 years of aircraft manufacturing in the U.K.

07/13/2015

Finmeccanica-AgustaWestland on July 12 celebrated the centenary of the formation of the Westland Aircraft Works in Yeovil and the many aeronautical achievements that have been made during 100 years of continuous aircraft manufacturing on the site. Established in 1915 Westland has produced many famous fixed wing aircraft designs such as the Whirlwind, Welkin, Wapiti, Lysander before focussing on helicopter production and later on its own designs such as the Lynx and AW101.

Japanese Air Force plane lands twice at Mumbai airport

07/13/2015

Mumbai airport played host to a new guest recently. A Japanese Air Force aircraft made stops twice in the last week during its anti-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia, in the Horn of Africa, a peninsula in the north-east of the continent. The airplane landed in Mumbai to refuel as well as to allow its crew to rest.

European Clout Expands in South Korea

07/13/2015

European defense clout is expanding in South Korea, which has long been regarded as a second home turf for American weapon systems. In a sign of growing popularity of European weapons here, Airbus has clinched back-to-back arms acquisition deals for helicopters and in-flight refueling tankers.

Security officials say Saudi-led airstrikes, ground fighting rage on in Yemen despite truce

07/13/2015

Airstrikes by the Saudi-led coalition targeting Shiite rebels and their allies struck several Yemeni cities on Sunday, with combat raging near the strategic Bab el-Mandeb strait despite a declared truce, military and security officials said. Some 500 troops loyal to exiled President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, along with allied militias, were pushing to take areas near the strait, the officials said.

Defence review: 'Spend more' on SAS and drones

07/13/2015

The prime minister has asked them to look at increasing funding for special forces as part of the strategic defence and security review. They have also been urged to consider new spy aircraft, including drones. The priorities were set out after last week's Budget pledged to spend 2% of national wealth on defence until 2020.

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.