Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

2 killed when F-16, Cessna collide in midair over S.C.

07/08/2015

Two people in a small Cessna were killed after an F-16 fighter jet collided with the civilian plane in a "very rare" crash in South Carolina on Tuesday morning. The Cessna was destroyed and both people aboard were killed in the crash, National Transportation Safety Board spokesman Peter Knudson told USA TODAY.

US-Jordan Defense Bill Strong Message of Support to Middle East - Lawmaker

07/08/2015

The passage of the US-Jordan defense bill that will enhance cooperation between the two countries in fighting Islamic State terrorists shows Washington’s commitment to the Middle Eastern security, US Congressman and Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Ed Royce said in a statement.

First US Drone Strikes Against ISIL in Afghanistan Kill Nearly 50

07/08/2015

The first of two strikes was carried out at noon Monday in Nangarhar province's Achin district, on the border with Pakistan, killing 12 militants, according the provincial governor's spokesman, Ahmad Zia Adulzai. A short time later, US officials acting on reports that indicated the fighters were moving to a new location conducted a second strike in the same district, leaving 37 militants dead.

Russian bomber crashes, killing both pilots in 5th recent crash involving military aircraft

07/07/2015

A Russian military aircraft crashed Monday while taking off on a nighttime training flight and both pilots were killed, the Defense Ministry said. It was the fifth accident involving a Russian military aircraft in the past month, but the first with fatalities. The Su-24 bomber crashed while taking off from an airfield in the Khabarovsk region in Russia's Far East at 9:35 p.m. local time, the ministry said in a statement.

Lockheed Martin ready to build 94 F-35 combat jets in $920.4 million contract

07/07/2015

The U.S. military is placing orders worth nearly a billion dollars with Lockheed Martin Corp. to prepare for building 94 F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter combat jets. The order involves conventional and vertical takeoff and landing versions, as well as carrier versions.

Israel’s Ties to Syria’s Rebels Provoke Mob Violence in the Golan

07/07/2015

When an ambulance rolled through Druze villages near the Israeli-Syrian border last month, it was met by an angry mob of stone-throwing protesters shouting that they’d been betrayed by Israel. Surrounding the emergency vehicle, they claimed that Israel’s government is giving medical treatment to Islamist fighters who are now threatening to kill their Druze brethren in Syria. The mob opened up the doors of the ambulance and dragged out the two patients inside, killing one of them.

Airbus Helicopters joint venture with Mahindra Defense in India

07/07/2015

Airbus Helicopters and India's Mahindra Defense have agreed to form a joint venture to produce helicopters in the country to meet local military needs. Airbus and Mahindra Defense, a subsidiary of the Mahindra Group, said the two companies will not enter discussions to finalize the joint venture which will act as the prime contractor for India's military helicopter tenders.

Iraqi Air Force Jet Accidentally Bombs Baghdad, Killing 7

07/07/2015

An Iraqi fighter jet accidentally dropped a bomb on a Baghdad residential neighborhood on Monday, killing seven people, government officials said. The Russian-made Sukhoi jet was returning from a mission against Islamic State targets in western Iraq at the time, Interior Ministry spokesman Brig. Gen. Saad Maan said. The bomb, which had failed to release from the aircraft earlier in the flight, detached as it flew over the neighborhood, he said.

China's J-10B Fighter Aircraft To Enter Export Market

07/07/2015

China could possibly export its J-10B fighter to Pakistan, Asia, Latin America and Africa. Russia has agreed for a deal to sell its advanced AL31FN engines which will be fitted to the J-10B, Kanwa defense review reported Sunday adding that the first batch of the engines is expected this year.

Russia, Pakistan Negotiating on Military Mi-35 Helicopters Deal

07/07/2015

Russia is holding the talks with Pakistan on the sale of the combat Mi-35 helicopters to Islamabad, Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters Monday. "Currently, negotiations are underway to supply Islamabad with a consignment of Mi-35 military transport helicopters, which will be used for the counter-terrorism operations in the north-west of the country," Ushakov said.

US Jets Scramble to Intercept Russian Bombers off States’ West Coast

07/07/2015

At 10:30 on the morning of July 4, the US Air Force launched two F-22 fighter jets to intercept a pair of Tu-95 Bear long-range bombers off the coast of Alaska. According to NORAD, the aircraft were within the Air Defense Identification Zone, but were over 100 miles from US airspace. Half an hour later, NORAD detected two more Tu-95’s flying off the coast of California. A pair of F-15s were scrambled, but again, the aircraft were hundreds of miles from US airspace.

Russian Investigative Committee to Probe Su-24M Jet Crash

07/07/2015

A criminal case has been open for alleged violations of flights rules which led to a Monday crash of a Russian Su-24M Fencer supersonic attack jet in Russia's eastern Khabarovsk region, a representative of the Military Investigation Department of the Eastern Military District of Russian Armed Forces said Tuesday.

Reconsidering Australia’s Iraq role in fighting Islamic Jihad

07/06/2015

Last month, US President Barack Obama announced the dispatch of 450 US military “trainers” to Anbar, adding to the 3000 US non-combat soldiers already in Iraq. Despite admitting that he does not yet have “a complete strategy” for countering Islamic State, Mr Obama has insisted he will not reconsider the tactics currently being used. Understandably, he remains resolutely opposed to deploying troops to fight on the ground.

HAL production under lens after Hawk trainer crash

07/06/2015

Production quality of the country's only aircraft manufacturer, defence PSU Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL), is once again under the scanner after the crash of a Hawk advanced jet trainer (AJT) last month. Sources said "quill-shaft failure" in the engine has emerged as the prime reason behind the crash of the twin-seat Hawk AJT, which went down in Odisha while on a training sortie from the Kalaikunda airbase in West Bengal on June 3. Fortunately, the two pilots managed to eject safely.

First Tejas Mark II engine to arrive in September

07/06/2015

The plan to develop a more powerful, modernised version of the current Tejas fighter is getting a welcome boost. In September, US engine-maker General Electric (GE) plans to deliver the first F-414INS6 engine (hereafter F-414), which will power the Tejas Mark II.

IAF combats lowest fighter strength

07/06/2015

Continuous warnings over the past decade as regards the alleged tardy pace of induction of new fighter jets into the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the resultant loss of “combative edge” are now ringing true. By the end of this year, the IAF would be at its lowest combat strength in more than a decade, a source said.

US-led Coalition Conducts Largest Attack on ISIL Held Syrian City

07/06/2015

The recent airstrikes conducted by US-led coalition have severely constricted the Islamic State militant's freedom of movement. US-led coalition forces said they accomplished a series of 16 airstrikes on Saturday on Islamic State militants in the Syrian city of Raqa.

Egypt foiled IS in Sinai

07/05/2015

President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, wearing battle dress for the first time in over a year, said Saturday that Egypt had foiled an attempt by the Islamic State group to seize territory and set up an extremist state with its recent assault on the military in the troubled northeastern part of the Sinai Peninsula.

NZ defence teams in Darwin for warfighting exercise

07/05/2015

More than 600 New Zealand defence personnel are taking part in a warfighting exercise with Australia and the United States. The NZDF has deployed two ships, four aircraft including two NH90 helicopters, 22 Light Armoured Vehicles and 23 other military vehicles for the exercise. "Over the next three weeks, we will be training with key partners, Australia and the United States, in a challenging multi-national environment," said Colonel Glenn King, Senior National Officer (SNO) for the NZDF contin

IAF seeks 80 fighters, not 36

07/05/2015

The Indian Air Force has told the government it needs at least 80 aircraft of the capabilities of the Rafale to make up for the shortfall in its fighter jet squadrons. In April this year, during a visit to Paris, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced that the air force would go for an outright purchase of 36 Rafale fighter aircraft, made by French firm Dassault Aviation.

Tests of Extended Range Missiles for S-400 Almost Finished

07/05/2015

Official tests of extended range missiles for advanced S-400 Triumf air defense systems are in the final stage, the head of the Russian Air Force's anti-aircraft missile troops said Saturday. "The official tests of this missile are in the final stage. I think that in the near future they will be successfully completed," Maj. Gen. Sergey Babakov told the Russian News Service radio.

Saab receives order to provide spare parts for Sweden’s Gripen E aircraft

07/04/2015

The Swedish Defence Material Administration (FMV) has contracted Saab to deliver spare parts for Gripen E multirole combat aircraft. The new development is valued at SEK250m ($30.02m). It is part of a framework agreement signed between Saab and FMV in February 2013 for development work on the JAS 39 Gripen E.

Sabre rattling, or preparing for war?

07/04/2015

After the Vietnam War, I served in West Germany in the 1970s and 1980s before the Berlin Wall came down and the Soviet Union and its Warsaw Pact dissolved. Back then there were fearful thoughts about massive Soviet armor and infantry units coming across the border in Central Europe in overwhelming numbers.

The ‘new’ type of war that finally has the Pentagon’s attention

07/04/2015

The Pentagon is increasingly concerned about how to combat “hybrid warfare,” the combination of stealth invasion, local proxy forces and international propaganda that Russia used to annex Crimea and destabilize eastern Ukraine, U.S. officials said. Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on Thursday released the 2015 National Military Strategy, in which he cited Russia’s actions in Ukraine and said “hybrid conflicts” will persist well into the future.

Russian warplanes not invited to Royal International Air Tattoo

07/04/2015

RUSSIAN aircraft have not been invited to the prestigious Royal International Air Tattoo this year amid rising tensions with NATO countries. Vladimir Putin’s warplanes are not welcome at the world’s biggest military airshow following flashpoints in the skies and eastern Europe. The event has a reputation for showcasing aircraft from Russia, including the Yakovlev Yak-130, a state-of-the-art combat jet.