Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Airbus to help develop India's light combat aircraft

07/01/2015

European aerspace major Airbus has offered to help develop the Mark II version of IndiaÂ’s light combat aircraft (LCA MkII) and also set up a manufacturing hub in India.Minister of State for Defence Rao Inderjit Singh told India Strategic (www.indiastrategic.in) on the sidelines of the just-concluded Paris Air Show that some preliminary discussions had been held with him by Airbus officials here and that a top level delegation of the conglomerate would be in New Delhi for discussions from July 1

Lockheed Martin’s Legion Pod™ Takes to the Skies

07/01/2015

Lockheed Martin’s Legion Pod recently completed its first flight test, successfully tracking multiple airborne targets while flying on an F-16 in Fort Worth, Texas. Legion Pod was integrated onto the F-16 without making any hardware or software changes to the aircraft. Additional flight tests on the F-16 and F-15C will continue throughout the year.

Russia’s Western Military District to Get Over 20 Attack Choppers by 2016

07/01/2015

The Russian Army will be reinforced with new Mi-28Ns, Mi-26Ts and Mi-8MTV5s equipped with cutting-edge electronics. Over 20 attack helicopters will boost the Russian Armed Forces on the country’s western border by the end of 2015, the senior spokesperson of Russia’s Western Military District said Tuesday.

Russian Tu-160 and PAK DA Strategic Bombers to Use Star Power

07/01/2015

Russian long-range aircraft such as Tu-160 strategic bombers will be equipped with a technologically new system that figures out a plane's coordinates based on the position of the stars. The new ANS-2009 astronavigation system can determine an aircraft's position and speed with high precision.

ISIL Executes Top Official in Mosul for Plotting Coup Against Caliphate

07/01/2015

In a bizarre sign of political infighting within the ranks of the Islamic State terrorist group, reports are emerging that a top official has been executed for plotting an insurrection against ISIL leadership.

RNZAF NH90s practise formation in run-up to Talisman Sabre

06/30/2015

The Royal New Zealand Air Force’s 3 Squadron have practised flying and landing the NH90 helicopters in formation at the Shoalwater Bay Military Training Area in Central Queensland in the run-up to Exercise Talisman Sabre, Australia’s largest warfighting exercise.

PICTURES: RAAF F-18s slam IS militants

06/30/2015

Australia says it has deployed over 400 precision weapons in combat operations against Islamic State (IS) militants in support of the Iraqi military. The weapons have been delivered from two Royal Australian Air Force types, the Boeing F/A-18A Hornet and F/A-1F Super Hornet, says Australia’s Departent of Defence in a statement.

Air Force: Lost Predator was shot down in Syria

06/30/2015

The Air Force has acknowledged that an MQ-1B Predator, lost March 17 during an intelligence flight over Syria, was shot down. While Syria's official news agency at the time claimed the remotely piloted aircraft was shot down, U.S. Defense Department officials only would say the drone was lost, and didn't provide additional information because the incident was under investigation.

Coastguards find debris of Bangladesh Air Force’s F-7 fighter jet, pilot still missing

06/30/2015

The fighter’s pilot Flight Lieutenant Rumman Tahmid Chowdhury is still missing since the crash that occurred during a training run around noon. The joint search and rescue operation, that includes Air Force, Bangladesh Navy and Coast Guard personnel, did not find him until 7:30pm. Rumman Chowdhury is the son of Abdul Qader Chowdhury of Chittagong’s Anwara Upazila. The family lives in Dhaka.

Carpet bombing: Tejas to demonstrate fire power ahead of FOC

06/30/2015

The Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas is all set undertake critical test flights carrying an array of missiles and bombs to complete its scheduled weapon trials. Top sources with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed to this Correspondent that the integration of Russian-made Close Combat Missile (CCM) R-73 has been completed.

Dassault's Deal With India Was Important

06/30/2015

Amid some controversy, India took to the news with a June announcement of the purchase of 36 Rafale fighter jets from France’s Dassault Aviation. It was an important move for the nation, which counts China and Pakistan as border ‘mates’. India, which plans to spend about $100 million on modernizing its defense resources in the next 10 years, has suffered a spate of air fatalities in the past months as a result of an ailing air force.

Georgia to Buy Advanced Air Defense Missiles From France

06/30/2015

On June 15 Georgian Defense Minister Tina Khidasheli signed an agreement with ThalesRaytheonSystems President Gerome Bedel for the purchase of “advanced” air defense systems that will “guarantee the country’s air defense,” Khidasheli said.

Brazil to Buy Russian Pantsir Air Defense Systems in First Half of 2016

06/30/2015

Brazil is apt to purchase Russian Pantsir air defense systems as early as in the first half of 2016, Brazilian Ambassador to Russia Jose Vallim Guerreiro said. “A general decision on the purchase has been made…As far as I know, the deal is expected in the first half of 2016,” Guerreiro told RIA Novosti.

Seoul to decide on aerial tanker bid Tuesday

06/29/2015

South Korea is expected to pick the winner of its 1.4 trillion won ($1.25 billion) project to procure four in-flight refueling tankers at a session of the National Defense Acquisition Program Committee on Tuesday, a procurement official said Sunday.

Military airstrikes continue against ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq

06/29/2015

Coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq June 27. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted 17 airstrikes using attack, bomber, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 10 airstrikes approved by the Iraqi Ministry of Defense using attack, bomber, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL terrorists.

Go big to destroy the Islamic State group

06/29/2015

The announcement this month that 450 additional U.S. trainers and support troops will deploy to Iraq represents a modest step forward in the fight against the Islamic State group. But the move by itself will not turn the tide in a faltering effort. To succeed in the president’s ambition of ultimately destroying the Islamic State — or even to contain its gains or roll them back — a broader and more intensive effort is needed.

Better Defenses Change Nature of Precision Strike Warfare

06/29/2015

Over the past quarter century, precision guided munitions (PGMs) such as laser-guided bombs and cruise missiles have become the weapons of choice for the US military, providing a high degree of accuracy while avoiding widespread collateral damage.

Mini submarine captured on satellite photo of Chinese dockyard

06/29/2015

A SECRET Chinese midget submarine has been spotted in a review of commercial satellite photos, drawing new attention to that nation’s rapidly expanding underwater might. Defence analyst organisation Janes and the Bellingcat open intelligence website have highlighted a 2014 photograph of the Wuchang shipyard in Wuhan, central China.

Last Vulcan bomber tours UK with series of flypasts

06/29/2015

The last airworthy Vulcan bomber is touring the UK with a series of flypasts to mark its final year of flight. Vulcans were designed and built at Woodford Aerodrome, in Chester Road, Stockport, for the Royal Air Force. Over the weekend, the XH558 flew over areas where the aircraft are displayed, such as Barton and Woodford. Making its maiden flight in 1952, the Vulcan acted as a deterrent during the Cold War.

Nearly 6,000 military personnel participate in Northern Edge exercise

06/29/2015

FAIRBANKS — A light haze of forest fire smoke hung over the airstrip at Eielson Air Force Base, but visibility was good as Tech. Sgt. Erica Knight and her crew drove past fighter jets to a neat line of KC-135 Stratotankers.

3 IAF Squadrons to be Phased Out This Year

06/29/2015

The Indian Air Force is focusing on ‘cannibalisation’ to keep the serviceability rates of its dwindling number of jets at a high level. ‘Cannibalisation’ or ‘Christmas tree’ are terms used by the Air Force in which parts of one aircraft are used as spare parts to keep the another running.

Russia to Complete Construction of Airship ‘Atlant’ for Army by 2018

06/29/2015

'Augur RosAeroSystems' is a leading Russian lighter-than-air manufacturer. The company builds big airships and aerostats equipped with high-precision computer equipment and technology. The recent announcement by the company tells of airship 'Atlant' to be ready for the Russian Army by 2018.

Unease at China’s rise in South China Sea

06/28/2015

The U.S. and China are jockeying for power in the South China Sea, deploying sharp words and an expanding fleet of warships, spy planes and fighter jets to protect their interests in a vital maritime domain. Is this regional arms race and increasingly tense diplomatic showdown between the world’s two largest military forces a new Cold War?

Russian military transport aircraft suspected of violating Finnish airspace

06/28/2015

Air Force F-18 Hornet fighters were scrambled Friday afternoon when it is believed that a Russian IL-76 military transport aircraft violated Finnish airspace south of the coast town of Porvoo.

Securing democratic transition a secondary task of Air Defence Forces: Commander

06/28/2015

On 30 June each year, the air defence forces celebrate their annual anniversary. This date coincides with the establishment of the missile shield which countered the Israeli air attacks on Egyptian cities in 1970. 30 June also marks the establishment of the Egyptian air defence system, which is now the shield that protects the country.