Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Predator crashes in Iraq

06/23/2015

An MQ-1 Predator crashed Monday morning local time in Southeastern Iraq, according to U.S. Air Forces, Central Command. The drone was flying a combat mission when it went down, AFCENT announced in a brief news release on Monday. There are no reports so far that civilians were injured or property damaged at the crash site.

As Navy Missions Pile Up, So Does Jet Maintenance

06/23/2015

The Navy's fighter jet fleet has been flown hard during nearly 15 years of conflict in the Middle East. And with the next-generation fighter years from being operational, the service's F/A-18 Super Hornets and legacy Hornets must continue flying far longer than originally planned.

Who Is the Biggest Aggressor in the South China Sea?

06/23/2015

Greg Austin recently wrote in The Diplomat that Vietnam occupied 24 features in the South China Sea in 1996 and has “increased [this number] from 30 to 48 in the last six years” as if these figures were facts. I doubt there is any plausibility to his claim. It would be more accurate to point out that Vietnam occupied most of these features in the 1970s after reunification. Whether Vietnam has doubled the number of its features since then is highly unlikely.

Paris Air Show 2015 military aviation roundup

06/23/2015

Here are details of military orders and announcements made during the Paris Air Show last week. Lockheed Martin and Terma signed an agreement on June 15 to collaborate on the F-35 ‘Lightning II’ Joint Strike Fighter as long as the aircraft is selected. The Danish firm received $300mn in related business since joining the programme in 2000.

Indian Fighter Jets to Fire World's Fastest Cruise Missile

06/23/2015

Indian fighter jets will soon be equipped with the world’s fastest cruise missile. According to Indian news outlets, New Delhi India recently developed a modification for its Sukhoi Su-30 MKI fighter airplane that will allow it to carry the Indo-Russian BrahMos supersonic cruise missile.

Sri Lanka first to buy Pakistani fighter JF-17 - report

06/23/2015

Sri Lanka will become the first foreign country to acquire Pakistan's multi-role combat aircraft JF-17 Thunder, and the Pakistan Air Force will begin delivery of the fighter to Sri Lanka from 2017, a report said. A Taiwan based news website, 'Want China Times' quoting a report in Pakistan-based 92NewsHD said Sri Lanka will become the first foreign country to acquire the JF-17 Thunder, otherwise known as the FC-1 Xiaolong or "Fierce Dragon,".

Pentagon: China Aims to Unseat US as King of the Skies

06/23/2015

The United States sees China as a serious threat to its military superiority in air and space, so the Pentagon is seeking new technologies and systems to keep America ahead of its rival, the US deputy defense secretary said.

US Approves $69Mln Sale of Radar-Destroying Missiles to Australia

06/23/2015

The US State Department has approved a $69 million sale to Australia of air-to-ground missiles designed to destroy enemy radar with little input from the pilot, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said in a statement on Monday.

U.S. military seeking ways to knock drones from the sky

06/22/2015

For years the United States has enjoyed almost exclusive use of armed drones, using them to strike enemies remotely and with impunity. But with adversaries — including ISIS — catching up on the technology, the Pentagon is now playing defense, trying to come up with ways to knock the pilotless aircraft out of the sky.

Quora Question: Why Do Other Countries Allow the U.S. to Have So Many Military Bases Abroad?

06/22/2015

Every base supports either a specific security goal or overall regional stability. Some were acquired after conflict, such as the ones in Germany, Italy and Japan. Some were gained in support of allies in conflict, such as the ones in England and Korea. Most are simply there to reduce that tyranny of distance. But all have been considered important enough to spend significant treasure in securing, building, manning and supporting.

U.S., Japan Join Philippines in South China Sea Military Drills

06/22/2015

The U.S. and Japan are conducting separate military drills with the Philippines near disputed islands in the South China Sea, signaling support for the country as China builds out reclaimed reefs in the waters. The annual CARAT Philippines joint exercise begins Monday off Palawan island and will run until June 26, according to U.S. Navy spokesman Arlo Abrahamson.

India Proposes To Simplify Offset Process

06/22/2015

A policy move being considered by the Indian Ministry of Defence could help overseas defense companies meet their offset obligations and close defense contracts being held up by uncompleted offset documents, an MoD source said. An internal MoD committee has recommend that defense contracts not be delayed merely on grounds of incomplete offset documents if the company is working to fulfill the offset obligations during the execution of the defense project.

Only 40% of French Military Aircraft Deemed Operational

06/22/2015

More than half of French military aircraft, including fighter jets and transport planes, are incapable of fulfilling their missions due to their poor technical state, French media reported, citing data obtained from the Ministry of Defense through a parliamentary inquiry.

UK Extends Air Patrol Missions in Baltic Region Over Tensions With Russia

06/22/2015

Britain will extend its air patrol missions over the Baltic and continue to provide the NATO rapid reaction force with personnel in coming years, Defense Secretary Michael Fallon said Sunday.

Squeaky Clean? Swedish ‘Neutrality’ Won’t Stop Successful Arms Export

06/22/2015

When it comes to exporting arms to other countries, Sweden is a true "arms peddler extraordinaire," Politico.eu reported. Swedish Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist is about to strike an arms deal with India, selling its JAS Gripen fighter jets to the Asian giant, something which France, one of the world's top arms exporters, found very hard to accomplish.

Russia's Su-35 Fighter: A Trump Card Up Beijing's Sleeve in South China Sea

06/22/2015

Russia's Sukhoi Su-35 super-maneuverable multirole fighters will most likely become China's trump card in its longstanding geopolitical game in the South China Sea, US journalist Zachary Keck noted.

Russian Security Official: Ukrainian Military Experts to Fly Over Russia

06/22/2015

Ukrainian military experts will fly over the territory of Russia under the Treaty on Open Skies on June 22-26, head of Russia's National Nuclear Risk Reduction Center Sergei Ryzhkov has announced.

Battle to win £2bn deal to replace Britain's Nimrod spy planes

06/21/2015

Defence groups call for a fair fight in race to land expected contract to replace Nimrod jets that were controversially scrapped Defence companies are lining up to offer a replacement for the Nimrod maritime patrol aircraft, with the Government expected to announce a deal for a new fleet of jets by the end of the year.

Falklands CAN defend: UK troops in anti-aircraft test amid more Argentine aggression

06/21/2015

The live-fire training exercise will see Royal Marines target laser-controlled drones, called Banshees, simulating incoming attack aircraft as they deploy the High Velocity Missile systems next month. Though the HMV is usually tested in Telby, Wales, military sources told the Sunday Express that the decision to mount the exercise in the South Atlantic was to “demonstrate combat capability” and show that the UK could deploy high readiness troops.

Marine Ospreys reassure allies amid Russian saber-rattling

06/21/2015

The Marine Corps' MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor recently completed its first deployment to Romania as part of a multinational training exercise with European allies. The aircraft's deployment sent a strong message about U.S. commitment in Eastern Europe, calming allies as they work to counter Russian saber-rattling, said Brig. Gen. Norm Cooling, the deputy commander of Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa.

Marine Corps proves F-35B’s capability at sea, looks to future

06/21/2015

The Marine Corps F-35B operational test (OT-1) successfully concluded aboard U.S. Navy amphibious ship the USS Wasp (LHD-1). Setting off from Norfolk, Va., on May 18, USS Wasp cut an arc between 50 and 100 miles off the coast of Virginia and North Carolina, as Marine Corps pilots safely conducted 100 short takeoff and vertical landing sorties from the ship.

As Navy missions pile up, so does jet maintenance

06/21/2015

The Navy's fighter jet fleet has been flown hard during nearly 15 years of conflict in the Middle East. And with the next-generation fighter years from being operational, the service's F/A-18 Super Hornets and legacy Hornets must continue flying far longer than originally planned.

Ukraine’s Antonov Upgrades An-26 Aircraft for Combat Operation in Donbass

06/21/2015

Ukraine's Antonov aircraft manufacturer has completed the first stage of upgrading An-26 (Curl) transport aircraft for the country’s Defense Ministry, the company said in a statement. The upgraded aircraft would be the first one to be dispatched for special operations against independence supporters in eastern Ukraine. A total of 14 aircraft will be modernized, the company specified.

Russia’s MiG to Develop Fifth-Generation Jet Fighter

06/21/2015

MiG aircraft-making company will develop a fifth-generation light jet fighter, company CEO Sergei Korotkov said during the 2015 Le Bourget Airshow. "Such a plane has not been ordered yet. But we continue to work on it. We know that there is a broad worldwide market for this type of aircraft," Korotkov said.

Hitting Everything That Flies: New Russian MANPAD Verba Knows No Equals

06/21/2015

The brand new Russian man-portable air-defense system (MANPAD) Verba, presented at the ARMY-2015 exhibition in the Moscow Region, has unique characteristics that make it the best in the world, TVZvezda reported.