Military Aviation News Archive

Greece, US to Discuss Construction of NATO Air Base in Aegean Sea – Athens

05/17/2015

Greek Defense Minister Panos Kammenos and US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter will discuss Athens' proposal to construct a NATO air base in the Aegean Sea during a meeting next week, the Greek Defense Ministry said.

Turkish jets shoot down Syria aircraft

05/16/2015

Turkish military jets shot down a Syrian aircraft after it violated Turkey's airspace on Saturday, media reported. It was not immediately clear what kind of aircraft was shot down. Turkey's NTV news channel said it came down in Syrian territory. A Turkish military official confirmed that two F-16 fighters flying out of the Incirlik base in southern Turkey had opened fire, but was unable to give any details about the target.

RAF jets scrambled to intercept Russian bombers

05/16/2015

A number of RAF jets have been scrambled to intercept two Russian long-range bombers off northern Scotland, the latest in a series of provocative operations by the country's air force. As tensions between Nato and Russia have worsened over the Ukraine crisis, Moscow has significantly increased the number of military flights probing Nato airspace. The number of interceptions over the Baltic States trebled last year and Nato members including Britain have stepped up air policing support.

NATO chief says Turkey to lead rapid response force

05/16/2015

Speaking to reporters after a two-day summit of foreign ministers of NATO countries in the southern city of Antalya on Thursday, Stoltenberg said he welcomed Turkey's decision to take part in forming a spearhead unit as part of the high readiness force. Allies decided to enhance the NATO Response Force (NRF) in 2014 by creating a “spearhead force” within it, known as the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF).

What if the World’s Most Expensive Fighter Planes Can’t Defeat Our Enemies?

05/16/2015

Take the new F-22 fighter. It’s the most expensive fighter in the air today, but as a recent story in The National Interest by long-time United States Naval Institute writer Dave Majumdar points out, even its missiles will have a hard time getting past the ability of Russia’s truly fearsome Su-35S Flanker E to jam radars and other sensors.

Australia considering hosting US Air Force airplanes, military analyst says

05/16/2015

A top military analyst believes Australia and the US may be holding discussions about hosting the supersonic B1 bomber in northern Australia, where it could threaten Chinese ships menacing US allies in the South China Sea. The Pentagon on Friday was forced to contradict one of its own top officials who said the US would be "placing additional Air Force assets in Australia … including B-1 bombers and surveillance aircraft".

U.S., China set for high-stakes rivalry in skies above South China Sea

05/16/2015

When the U.S. navy sent a littoral combat ship on its first patrol of the disputed Spratly islands in the South China Sea during the past week, it was watching the skies as well. The USS Fort Worth, one of the most modern ships in the U.S. navy, dispatched a reconnaissance drone and a Seahawk helicopter to patrol the airspace, according to a little-noticed statement on the navy's website.

U.S. 'expedites' weapons shipments to Iraq in wake of ISIS advances

05/16/2015

The U.S. is "expediting" weapons shipments to Iraq in light of the ISIS advances in Ramadi, Vice President Joe Biden told Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi in a telephone call on Friday. The announcement from the White House comes on the heels of a flurry of new airstrikes against ISIS, also known as ISIL, as Iraqi forces desperately try to hold the key city, the capital of the key Anbar province.

No sign of survivors amid wreckage of U.S. Marine chopper in Nepal

05/16/2015

The wreckage of a Marine helicopter from Camp Pendleton missing in Nepal since Tuesday has been found and there are no apparent survivors, the U.S. military said Friday. Six Marines and two Nepalese soldiers were aboard the UH-1Y Huey when it disappeared while on a relief mission after a pair of earthquakes in the mountainous nation.

Russia Close to Signing Arms Deals in Latin America

05/16/2015

According to deputy director from the Russian Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, Russia plans to sign a number of contracts with countries in Latin America this year on the purchases of arms and military equipment.

US-Led Coalition Launches 24 Airstrikes Against ISIL in Syria, Iraq

05/16/2015

The US-led Coalition comprises some 60 nations that began carrying out airstrikes against Islamic State targets in Iraq in August 2014, and expanded the air campaign to Syria in September 2014, albeit without the approval of the Syrian government. In Syria, the Coalition struck the militants’ fighting positions, light vehicles, tanks and tactical units.

Raytheon successfully tests APG-79 (V) X AESA radar

05/14/2015

Raytheon has successfully completed the flight test of its APG-79(V) X AESA radar system, demonstrating the functions required to extend the combat relevance of F/A-18C/D Hornet aircraft for 15 to 20 years. The Hornet fleets, upgraded with new APG-79V(X) radar, will benefit from extended detection ranges, simultaneous air-to-air and air-to-ground capabilities, production of high-resolution synthetic aperture radar (SAR) mapping and better reliability.

JSTARS Recap moves to next phase

05/14/2015

A senior Department of Defense official signed a key acquisition memo May 7 that will allow the Joint STARS Recapitalization program office here to begin awarding contracts. Frank Kendall, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, signed a Materiel Development Decision Acquisition Decision Memo officially ushering the program into the Materiel Solution Analysis phase.

Why the Indonesian air force wants the Su-35

05/14/2015

The Indonesian air force wants to replace its outdated American built F-5 fighters with the brand new Russian Su-35 Super Flanker, but the country’s political leadership is unable to act quickly because the U.S. is pitching in with its F-16 and F-18 jets. The Indonesians operate both American F-16s and Russian made Flankers – five Su-27s and 11 Su-30s. How Russian aircraft ended up in the air force of an American ally is interesting.

Fighter jets and machine gun fire in the South China Sea

05/14/2015

I was never told where I would be taken to. The only instructions I received was to arrive on time in the morning in front of the McDonald’s in Subang Airport. And so I was there on time. Several Americans were there, a few in military garb and the rest in civilian clothes. They greeted me and said that we will be boarding a United States Navy C-2 Greyhound aircraft.

Congressman, Former SEAL Pushing to Keep Helicopter Combat Squadrons in Navy Budget

05/14/2015

The defense authorization bill the House will debate this week includes a provision from a congressman and retired Navy SEAL that prevents the Navy from disestablishing Helicopter Sea Combat Squadrons 84 and 85. These U.S. Navy Reserve squadrons use the HH-60H Rescue Hawk helicopter and are responsible for training SEALs. HSC-84 is based at Chambers Field at Naval Station Norfolk, Va., and HSC-85 is based at Naval Air Station North Island, Calif.

Inside the Royal Australian Air Force school preparing fighter pilots for likely combat against Islamic State

05/14/2015

Among the trainee fighter pilots of the Royal Australian Air Force's (RAAF) Introductory Fighter School is a Qantas captain who has taken leave without pay and a former Australian Army soldier. Another is from Melbourne and a fourth from country Western Australia. "It's a dream they've been chasing for quite a while," Squadron Leader Grant Taylor said, standing on the tarmac at RAAF Base Darwin as the trainees prepared their jets for takeoff. "A lot of the pressure is self-induced," he said.

China developing new STOVL fighter for Navy, similar to America's F 35B aircraft

05/14/2015

Seeking to boost its maritime firepower, Beijing has announced that it is developing a new naval fighter that will be able to operate from amphibious warships and would be able to land vertically, similar to the F 35 B fifth generation aircraft. This is the third, new generation fighter program being under taken by China in the last five years, with the J 20 and J 31 being the others.

CENTCOM Does Not Confirm Reports About ISIL Deputy Leader Killing

05/14/2015

The Iraqi Ministry of Defense announced on its website on Wednesday that, according to critical intelligence information, the second-ranking ISIL leader Abu Alaa al-Afri was killed during an airstrike led by the international coalition forces. The Ministry claimed that the killing occurred during a gathering at a mosque.

India Approves Purchase of Some 200 Russian Kamov Helicopters – Reports

05/14/2015

The contract is worth around $467 million, the newspaper said. The project, alongside other major long-pending contracts, has been cleared by the defense acquisitions council chaired by Indian Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar. The helicopters will reportedly be assembled in India.

Airbus A400M Stays on Ground Across Europe After Crash

05/13/2015

Air forces across Europe suspended flights of the Airbus Group NV A400M and shares of the planemaker slumped after one of the military transport aircraft crashed near Seville, Spain, killing four people. Britain’s Royal Air Force and Germany’s Luftwaffe both said they’d pause operations until more information is available on the cause of the crash, which a German media report suggested may have been engine failure.

How Turkish army put boots on Syrian ground

05/13/2015

In a recent act of heroism, the Turkish military headquarters proudly announced that its howitzers (with 40 km firing range) shelled a Syrian missile battery. Even more heroically than that, at the weekend, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu’s military convoy, protected by helicopters and armored vehicles, stepped foot deep into the Syrian soil: 253 meters from the Turkish side. They were paying a visit to the tomb of Süleyman Sah, the grandfather of the founder of the Ottoman Empire.

Governors to Congress: Don't make cuts to National Guard

05/13/2015

The nation's governors on Tuesday urged Congress to reject any personnel or equipment cuts from the Army National Guard, as lawmakers craft the defense bill that authorizes spending and activities in 2016. "The nation’s governors call on Congress to maintain Army National Guard (ARNG) aircraft, personnel and force structure," said a statement by the National Governors Association (NGA), which represents all governors.

How we destroyed Boko Haram with new aircrafts — ?Nigerian Air Force?

05/13/2015

The Nigerian Air Force has said the acquisition of new aircrafts has helped the military in the fight against Boko Haram terrorists in the Northeastern part of Nigeria. Speaking in Abuja at the 51st anniversary of the Nigerian Air Force, the Chief of Air Staff, Adesola Amosun, said the force has recorded giant strides in the past one year which has led to the successful onslaught against terrorists in the Northeast.

Estonia stages biggest military exercise in country's history amid fears of Russian 'aggression'

05/13/2015

The Estonian reservist usually works in a car showroom, but Raido Reinsalu has spent the past week manning a battery of howitzers in his country’s pine forests. The 24-year-old sergeant is one of 13,000 soldiers mobilised by Estonia for the biggest military exercise in the nation’s history, joined by another 1,000 Nato troops from the US and Europe, including Britain.