Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Protect the X-47B to safeguard innovation

04/26/2015

Last week, the Navy made aviation history for the second time in two years by accomplishing yet another first for unmanned aircraft: a fully autonomous aerial refueling. This comes on the heels of the Navy's historic landing of a fully autonomous unmanned aircraft, the X-47B, on an aircraft carrier in 2013. To capitalize on these successes, the Navy plans to next retire the unmanned aircraft - built by Northrop Grumman - and stick them in a museum.

The Cost Of Staying In The Air

04/26/2015

One of the major differences between military aircraft is the amount of money it costs to keep them operational. This is usually given in cost per flight hour (for fuels, spare parts and maintenance) or annual operating costs (including upgrades). The following data is for 2014.

IAF to get four more Tejas by end of this fiscal: National Aerospace Laboratories

04/26/2015

The Indian Air Force is likely to get four more indigenously made light combat aircraft Tejas by the end of the current financial year from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, National Aerospace Laboratories' Director Shyam Chetty said here today. "The four aircraft may adhere to international standards on end-to-end accuracy," Chetty said, adding, further research was on to meet the parameters stipulated by the IAF.

Best Friends Forever: Pakistan to Receive 110 Fighter Jets From China

04/26/2015

Friendship between China and Pakistan continues to strengthen as Beijing promised to deliver another 50 fighter jets to its southern neighbor over the next three years, a top Chinese official said, according to the Express Tribute.

Why Does Putin Need an Aircraft Supercarrier?

04/25/2015

Why is Russia planning on building an aircraft supercarrier in the next decade? The answer may seem self-evident: Russia wants to challenge the United States as a global power. One of the United States’s chief tools of projecting its power is its fleet of aircraft supercarriers: 11 ships with a capacity of more than 70 aircraft. Carriers have participated in nearly every U.S. armed conflict since World War II and have proven time and time again to be strategic military tools.

Islamic State shoots down regime aircraft near key military airport in Syria

04/25/2015

The Islamic State shot down a regime aircraft near a key military airport in southern Syria on Friday, with pro-IS Twitter accounts saying the jihadist group had captured the pilot, a monitor said. The plane went down east of Khalkhalah airport, the only air base in Sweida province, a stronghold of the Druze minority that has largely avoided the bloodshed of Syria's war, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Fairford Air Tattoo 2015: French Air Force's spectacular Ramex Delta team confirmed

04/25/2015

One of the most spectacular fast jet displays on the European circuit is promised for this summer's Royal International Air Tattoo. The French Air Force's Ramex Delta team of two Dassault Mirage 2000N strike aircraft is set to provide a dramatic and noisy role demonstration at the Air Tattoo, which takes place at RAF Fairford in the Cotswolds, on July 17 to 19.

The purchase of Rafale fighters points to India's failed defence indigenisation plans

04/25/2015

In all the confusion that hangs over the Modi government's decision to procure 36 Rafale fighters 'off the shelf', we need to focus on the real issues. First, the imperative of plugging the shortages in the Indian Air Force (IAF)'s combat strength. Second, to once again kickstart the decades-old effort to develop a fighter of our own.

Confrontation avoided? Iranian ships and U.S. aircraft carrier both turn away from Yemen

04/25/2015

Tensions off the coast of Yemen between the United States and Iran appear to be dissipating, with a fleet of Iranian ships possibly carrying weapons for Yemeni rebels and a U.S. aircraft carrier both turning away from the region, Pentagon officials said Friday.

Top 10 5th generation fighter jets of the world

04/25/2015

The next generation fighter planes are also regarded as fifth generation fighter jets. All top fighter aircraft with the state of the art technology are enlisted in a classification list followed mainly by the United States. The aircraft have unique features like stealth, low probability of intercept radar (LPIR), high performance airframes, advanced avionics features, and highly integrated computer systems capable of networking with other elements.

Second A-10 unit deployed in ISIS fight

04/24/2015

A dozen A-10 attack jets have been deployed to the Middle East in the fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, the Air Force announced this week. The deployment of 350 airmen and the 12 "Warthogs" come as Congress and the Pentagon battle over whether to retire the popular aircraft, which provides close air support for troops in combat.

Rise of robotic killing machines has a cautious world talking

04/24/2015

They’re called lethal autonomous weapons, or LAWs, and their military mission would be to seek out, identify and kill a human target independent of human control. Human decision would not be in the loop, and the only button a military commander would push would be the “on” button. In military terms, it’s called “fire and forget.”

First RAAF pilots qualifies on F-35

04/24/2015

SQUADRON Leader Andrew Jackson, 37, started out flying elderly Macchi jet trainers, then graduated to the RAAF's classic Hornets and Super Hornets. Since January, he's been learning to fly the advanced new F-35, making his first flight in January and now qualifying to fly F-35s and also to instruct new RAAF F-35 pilots.

Indo-French naval exercise begins off Goa coast

04/24/2015

An Indo-French naval exercise VARUNA15 began on April 23 off the coast of Goa with the aim of further strengthening Indo-French cooperation and coordination, and also strengthening bilateral ties between the two nations, the Indian Navy said in a press release. India's latest aircraft carrier INS Viraat will for the first time join the French Navy in the naval exercises. French nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle will be participating in the exercise.

Last MC-130P Combat Shadows in the Pacific retire

04/24/2015

The 17th Special Operations Squadron sent off the final two MC-130P Combat Shadows in the Pacific Air Forces to retire on April 15. The 17th SOS highlighted the beginning of the MC-130P Combat Shadow retirement with one final formation flight on Oct. 16, 2014, at Kadena Air Base, but now they have sent their last ones to the “boneyard” at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona.

A-10 suffers 'catastrophic' engine failure in Iraq

04/24/2015

An A-10 deployed in the fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) suffered a "non-combat" engine failure and had to divert to Al Asad Air Base in Iraq, according to an Air Force report. The jet’s number-one engine suffered catastrophic damage during a routine refueling mission, and the pilot was able to safely land the aircraft at the air base in central Iraq, said the report Wednesday.

The U.S. Navy Needs to Radically Reassess How It Projects Power

04/24/2015

A battle of the hawks is raging on Capitol Hill. Defense hawks say the nation’s security will be endangered if the caps imposed under the 2011 Budget Control Act aren’t lifted, allowing for more defense spending. Fiscal hawks assert with equal vehemence that the nation’s long-term economic health — the foundation for all government activities, including defense — will be permanently harmed if burgeoning deficits and debts are not addressed.

US-India Collaboration on Aircraft Carriers: A Good Idea?

04/24/2015

Yesterday, my colleague Franz-Stefan Gady covered the main takeaways from a new Carnegie Endowment for International Peace report, authored by Ashley Tellis, that calls for, among other things, broader cooperation between the United States and India on developing the latter’s naval capabilities. Specifically, Tellis focuses on carrier aviation and recommends that the United States ensure that India fields a more robust carrier capability than China.

US to Deliver F-35 Fighter Jets to Israel in 2016

04/24/2015

The US government will provide F-35 fighter jets to Israel next year to the country a strategic advantage over its rivals in the Middle East, US Vice President Joe Biden said during a speech celebrating Israeli independence.

How technology has changed intelligence collection

04/23/2015

With the world becoming a more volatile place and certain high-threat environments becoming too dangerous to send personnel, the lack of human intelligence has placed a greater stress on signals intelligence to provide military commanders with greater knowledge of dangerous actors and potential threats.

First Of 13 Japanese Tsunami-Damaged F-2B Fighter Jet Repaired

04/23/2015

Japanese first of 13 F-2B fighter aircraft which suffered damage due to 2011 Tsunami completed repairs, IHS Janes reported Tuesday. The Japanese Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) rolled out the overhauled F-2B fighter aircraft in a ceremony to mark to the completion of repairs by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and Lockheed Martin held at MHI's Komaki South Plant.

India's New Mega Weapon: Nuclear-Armed Supersonic Missiles

04/23/2015

India’s nuclear command has begun receiving fighter jets armed with the country’s most advanced, supersonic cruise missile. According to media reports, India’s Strategic Forces Command (SFC) has begun receiving 42 Su-30MKI air dominance fighters modified to carry air-launched BrahMos supersonic cruise missile. This will significantly enhance the striking power of the air leg of India’s nuclear triad.

U.S. A-10 Thunderbolt Trains With Romanian MiGs, United Against Russia

04/23/2015

In the last 15 years of the Cold War, the American A-10 Thunderbolt and the Soviet-built MiG-21 occupied hangars on either side of the Iron Curtain, waiting to pounce. The lumbering, heavily armed A-10 would have gone after Warsaw Pact tanks and troops; the nimble MiG fighter would have tried to shoot it down. But two decades later, they are taking part in exercises side by side, staged by the U.S. and Romania.

Saudi Arabia Signals Bombs Will Continue to Drop in Yemen

04/23/2015

Saudi Arabia boasted Tuesday that it was winding down its air campaign in Yemen because its forces had destroyed the most powerful weaponry of the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels controlling most of the country. Turns out that Riyadh may have gotten ahead of itself: the Saudi ambassador to Washington said Wednesday that while the number of airstrikes might decrease, the bombardment of Houthi targets would continue until the rebel group halted its military offensive.

Northrop's X-47B reaches major milestone

04/23/2015

This week, the X-47B aircraft developed at Northrop Grumman’s facility in San Diego became the first unmanned vehicle to undergo in-flight refueling. Northrop and Navy officials said Wednesday that the the X-47B successfully maneuvered behind an Omega K-707 tanker and connected to that plane’s refueling system.