Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

REPORT: US TRANSFERS COMBAT AIRCRAFTS, TRAINER JETS, ARMORED CARRIERS TO PAKISTAN

05/10/2015

The United States transferred weapons to Pakistan that were used by American forces in Afghanistan and Iraq, including 14 combat aircrafts, 59 military trainer jets, and 374 armored personnel carriers, according to the Congressional Research Service (CRS).

Brazil to Send Inquiry About Russian Pantsir-S1 Missile Systems' Purchase

05/10/2015

Brazil will send an official inquiry about the potential purchase of the Russian Pantsir-S1 missile system, Brazilian Minister of Defense Jaques Wagner told Sputnik. On Saturday, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said that the waiting list for the purchase of the Pantsir-S1 system is formed until 2019.

Ka-52 Alligator Attack Helicopter

05/10/2015

The Ka-52 Alligator (Hokum B) is a Russian all-weather attack helicopter, which can be used both in reconnaissance and combat missions. The helicopter was designed to be capable of destroying tanks, armored and non-armored ground targets, as well as enemy troops and helicopters.

Amid Boeing Co Kuwait F/A-18 Deal, Analysts Still Question Jet’s Future Performance

05/09/2015

Yesterday, Boeing Co announced that it is in talks with Kuwait to get new orders of its F/A-18 super hornets, which will keep the production running till fiscal year 2019. Boeing was of the opinion that after getting the order, the future of its military aircraft will be safe.

North Korea test-fires underwater ballistic missile

05/09/2015

North Korea has successfully test-fired a newly developed underwater ballistic missile which it describes as a "world-level strategic weapon", the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported early Saturday. Leader Kim Jong-Un gave the order to test-fire the missile and watched as it was launched from an attack submarine, the news agency said.

Australia begins work on $1.5bn new air combat capability facilities project

05/09/2015

The Australian Defence Minister Kevin Andrews has announced the start of construction of the new air combat capability facilities at the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Williamtown. Marked by turning of the first sod, construction of the new facilities is being carried out as part of a $1.5bn project that will provide facilities for the F-35A Lightning II - Joint Strike Fighter at ten bases across the country.

What Have 9 Months of Airstrikes Against ISIS Achieved?

05/09/2015

Today marks the nine month anniversary since the start of the U.S.-led air campaign, later named Operation Inherent Resolve, against the self-declared Islamic State (IS) in Iraq and Syria. The air war, which Secretary of State John Kerry then described as definitively not a war, but rather “a heightened level of counterterrorism operation,” shows no sign of ending.

Pentagon: China Expands Island Building

05/09/2015

China has started building artificial islands in the South China Sea at a greater rate than ever to boost its territorial claims in the area, a U.S. Defense Department senior official said Friday. The official said China had reclaimed 800 hectares (2,000 acres) at five different sites, three-quarters of it since the beginning of 2015, indicating that the speed of reclamation has picked up dramatically.

Drones Will Airdrop Relief Supplies To Combat Zones In Syria

05/09/2015

Drones-like sharks and William Shatner-are often misunderstood by the public. Many associate the autonomous fliers with warfare and creepy government spies. But drones can be heroic, dropping life-saving supplies to civilians in combat zones. That's what U.S. Air Force member/Stanford PhD student Mark Jacobsen wants to do with his crowdfunding effort, the Syria Airlift Project.

Report outlines FY 2001-FY 2014 Pakistan FMS deals

05/09/2015

The U.S. Congressional Research Service reports that Pakistan has signed $5.4 billion in Foreign Military Sales contracts from fiscal 2001 to fiscal 2014. Procurement of F-16 aircraft and related equipment account for more than half of the sum. "Major U.S. arms sales and grants to Pakistan since 2001 have included numerous items useful for counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations, along with a number of "big ticket" platforms more suited to conventional warfare."

Two civilians killed as MiG-27 crashes; Pilot safe

05/09/2015

A MiG-27 aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed near Alipurdwar in West Bengal on Friday evening killing two civilians on the ground even as the pilot ejected safely. The aircraft had taken off from the Hasimara air base in Jalpaiguri district. The crash happened at 8.30pm about 10 minutes after it went airborne, an IAF official in New Delhi said.

Government's Auditor Faults Tejas Light Combat Aircraft Project, Says it Fails to Meet Air Force's Needs

05/09/2015

India's Tejas Light Combat Aircraft project, in the works for over three decades, came under severe criticism from the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) on Friday, which said the Mark-I version has several shortcomings and does not meet IAF specifications. Not only that, Indian Air Force (IAF) would be "constrained" to induct the fighter LCA without availability of a trainer model, thereby "adversely impacting pilot training", the audit body said in a report tabled in Parliament.

Pakistan helicopter crash kills foreign envoys

05/08/2015

It crashed during an emergency landing in the Gilgit-Baltistan territory. The wives of the Indonesian and Malaysian envoys and two Pakistani pilots also died. They were to attend the opening of a tourism project. The Pakistani Taliban (TTP) said they were behind the attack, but there is no confirmation of the claim.

ndia Outlines New Carrier Ambitions

05/08/2015

The Indian Navy will present a report on the configuration options for the second indigenous Indian Aircraft Carrier (IAC-2) to the Ministry of Defense next month. At a recent seminar on the country’s naval aviation, it became clear that the vessel will likely be in the 65,000 ton class. It could be equipped with American aircraft – or a combination that might include the naval version of the French Rafale fighter.

On the 'Prowl'

05/08/2015

The old EA-6B Prowler taxied slowly down the main runway at the Monroe County Airport on Tuesday afternoon beneath two arcing plumes of water shooting out from firetrucks stationed on each side. Then a rainbow appeared. Naval Flight Officer Matthew Wickersham had just landed the aircraft for the final time. It had served since 1991 in combat, and in training missions at Whidbey Island in Washington state. The EA-6B received an official military water salute at the end of its last flight.

The Russian Air Force's 5 Most Deadly Weapons of War

05/08/2015

In 1990, the air forces of the Soviet Union consisted of over ten thousand aircraft, excluding those operated by the Soviet Army (mostly helicopters). This included not only the Soviet Air Force proper, divided between Frontal Aviation, Long Range Aviation, and Military Transport, but also the Soviet Air Defense Command, and Soviet Naval Aviation.

France offers India 36 fly-away Rafale fighter jets at same rate as to own air

05/08/2015

France is offering India 36 Rafale fighter jets in fly-away condition at the same price which it pays to French defence major Dassault Aviation to equip its own air force, defence sources said. They added that this means that the cost per aircraft will be much lower than the price that was being worked out under the Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) tender, which also involved transfer of technology.

Angola To Receive Upgraded Sukhoi Combat Aircraft

05/08/2015

Angola is set to be become the third operator of the Sukhoi Su-30 series twin-seat fighter jets in Africa, following Algeria and Uganda. Six former Indian air force Su-30K (mod) aircraft are due for delivery in the second half of this year. Originally destined for the Belarus air force, they have undergone a major overhaul and repair program at the Aircraft Repair Plant no. 558 in Baranovichi, Belarus, arranged by Sukhoi.

US Navy also purchases four new P-8A trainers

05/08/2015

Boeing will provide the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) with a complete training system for the P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft under a contract that also includes the sale of four P-8A training systems for the U.S. Navy. This combined domestic and foreign military sale further strengthens the growing partnership between the U.S. Navy and the RAAF on the P-8 program.

US Approves $130 Million Upgrade to Singapore’s F-16 Fighter Jet Fleet

05/08/2015

The US State Department approved a $130 million deal for an upgrade of Singapore’s F-16 fighter jet fleet, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said in a statement on Thursday. "The proposed upgrade improves both the capabilities and reliability of the Republic of Singapore Air Force’s (RSAF) aging fleet of F-16s," DSCA said.

China Warns Philippines Military to Stay Away from Disputed Territory

05/08/2015

China has warned Philippine military planes six times to leave disputed areas of the South China Sea and may be “testing the waters” to see if it can establish a no-fly zone in the region, senior Philippine military officials said.

Finland to Join 100 Plane NATO Exercises in Northern Scandinavia

05/08/2015

Finnish Air Force F-18 Hornet fighters are set to participate in an exercise known as Arctic Challenge, a twelve day, nine country exercise involving nearly 100 planes, set to begin May 25, the Finnish Broadcasting Company (YLE) reported.

Pentagon considered stopping intercepts of Russian aircraft

05/07/2015

The Pentagon considered, and then rejected, the idea of stopping routine intercepts of Russian military aircraft flying off the coast of Alaska, because the U.S. intercept flights appeared to have limited deterrent or intelligence value, according to two U.S. defense officials. While the Russian military flights, usually bomber aircraft, were entering a U.S. "air defense identification zone," they were not entering U.S. airspace.

Airbus aims for new A400M military plane sale this year -executive

05/07/2015

irbus aims to strike a new sales deal for its A400M military aircraft this year and hopes it will bolster interest in the delay-plagued transporter, a senior executive from its defence division said. Several buyers, including Turkey and Germany, have expressed frustration at repeated delays in deliveries of the heavy cargo and troop carrier, Europe's largest defence project.

Reports attribute airstrikes in Sudan to Israel

05/07/2015

Foreign warplanes struck a number of targets in the Khartoum area in central Sudan overnight Tuesday, the London-based news outlet al-Araby al-Jadeed reported. Several Arab media outlets attributed the airstrikes to Israel, which did not comment on the reports.