Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

US, Estonian Inspectors to Conduct Observation Flight Over Russia

04/06/2015

American and Estonian specialists will fly over the territory of Russia and Belarus under the Treaty on Open Skies on April 6-11, head of Russia's National Nuclear Risk Reduction Center Sergei Ryzhkov has announced. "Within the framework of the international Treaty on Open Skies a US mission with the participation of Estonian representatives plans to conduct an observation flight over the territory of a group of participating states, the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation.

Arab Coalition Pounding Houthi-Held Ports, Airfield in Yemen

04/06/2015

The Saudi-led Arab coalition continued on Sunday to pound Houthi rebels' positions in two strategic port towns in western and southern Yemen, military sources told Sputnik. One airstrike "targeted al-Salif port in al-Hudayda province in western Yemen, and al-Hudayda military airport, despite it being bombed several days ago," a military official said.

The Last C-17 Is Arabian

04/05/2015

The UAE (United Arab Emirates) is buying another two American C-17 air transports for $310 million each. The 290 ton C-17 is an intercontinental transport that the UAE uses to move commercial as well as military cargo. The UAE already has six and ordered the first four in 2009. These latest C-17s for the UAE may be the last ones ordered, with total production ending at 279.

AG-600 likely a military transport plane for Chinese troops in Pacific

04/05/2015

The AG-600 amphibious flying boat, the largest seaplane in the world, designed by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China, can potentially be used as for military transport across the Pacific, according to Vasily Kashin an analyst from Moscow's Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies, according to Sputnik News.

HAL Records Over Rs 15k Cr Turnover

04/05/2015

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) registered its highest ever profit in the financial year 2014-15. According to a release issued here, the public sector undertaking recorded a turnover of Rs 15,480 crore (provisional) in 2014-15, as against Rs 15,128 crore achieved in FY 2013-14. “Our performance is in line with the MoU signed with the Ministry of Defence and we expect an ‘Excellent’ rating for FY 2014-15.

'We are close' to attacks in Syria: Canuck commander

04/05/2015

If there are vacant seats in the mess tent for Easter supper in the desert of Kuwait, it will be for a very good reason. Easter celebrations for our Canadian military personnel in Kuwait may not last long. They are a little busy right now preparing for the newly expanded mandate of Canada’s Operation Impact mission. Targets in Iraq have been on the receiving end of Canadian bombs for six months. ISIS controlled entities in Syria could soon be next. Very soon in fact.

US jet landings ‘a beautiful surprise’: analysts

04/05/2015

Despite speculation that the emergency landing of two US Marine Corps McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornets at a Taiwanese air force base on Wednesday was a “political message” being sent by the Pentagon to Beijing, some Taiwanese analysts found the theory far-fetched. It was an “unintended incident,” said Alexander Huang, an assistant professor at Tamkang University’s Graduate Institute of International Affairs and Strategic Studies.

Guard F-15 Training Unit Lands in Europe for Atlantic Resolve Mission

04/05/2015

One day, the Air National Guard’s F-15C pilots were providing air defense for the United States. The next, they were jetting off to Europe to help deter Russian aggression. The Florida- and Oregon-based guard units touched down on the Continent earlier this week to take part in the U.S. military’s Operation Atlantic Resolve. The unit will stay at the Netherland’s Leeuwarden Air Base for about a month, where it will conduct training with the Dutch air force, before moving on to Bulgaria.

Russian Armed Forces Carry Out Field-Testing of Maneuverable S-400 Missile

04/05/2015

The Russian military has carried out successful field testing of a new rocket with maneuverability capability for the S-400 surface-to-air air defense system, Aerospace Defense Forces told Russian Radio on Saturday.

Russia Deploys Air Defense Systems in Arctic

04/05/2015

Deputy head of Russian Aerospace Defence Forces said that Russia has already deployed air defense missile and artillery weapon systems Pantsir and plans to place MiG-31 interceptor aircraft in the Arctic region.

Tunisian Foreign Minister: plane that entered airspace belongs to Haftar's forces

04/04/2015

Tunisian Foreign Minister Taieb Baccouche said the Libyan military plane that penetrated into Tunisian airspace on Wednesday belongs to Khalifa Haftar's forces. Baccouche said during a news conference in Tunis on Thursday: "The plane is a MiG-23 military aircraft model and it belongs to the Army of General Haftar and came to fight the forces of Fajr Libya (Libya Dawn), which belongs to the leadership of the General National Congress (GNC) held in Tripoli, on our borders.''

Panel: ISIS, Al Qaeda Franchising Efforts Changed the Face of Terrorism

04/04/2015

Creating franchises among groups claiming affiliation with al Qaeda or the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) is among the biggest change in international terrorism, two leading experts told the Atlantic Council on Thursday.

Saudi air campaign fails to halt rebel advance in Yemen

04/04/2015

A Saudi-led air campaign has failed to halt the advance of Iranian-backed rebels in Yemen, where growing violence is plunging the country deeper into chaos and further undermining the U.S.-backed government. Houthi rebels continued to advance toward the port city of Aden, where forces loyal to President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi are attempting to make a stand. Friday, the Arab coalition dropped weapons and supplies for the first time to forces battling Houthis around Aden.

War Buddies: US to Refuel Saudi Jets Used in Yemen Airstrikes

04/04/2015

As the Saudi-led bombing campaign against Houthi forces in Yemen continue, the US is standing by one of its key allies in the Middle East. On Thursday, a senior military official said that American tankers will begin refueling Saudi warplanes.

U.S. Deploys Twelve A-10s to Romania to Deter Russian Aggression

04/03/2015

The U.S. has deployed 12 A-10 Warthog planes to Romania as part of a theater-security effort to counter Russian aggression in Ukraine – all while debate over whether to retire the close-air support platform rages on in Congress and the Pentagon. "The 354th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron forward deployed 12 A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft and approximately 200 Airmen and support equipment from Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany to Campia Turzii, Romania over the weekend.

The politics of restoring Egypt’s military aid

04/03/2015

On Tuesday, President Obama called Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi and conveyed news of long-brewing decisions in the Obama administration regarding U.S. military aid to Egypt – including the release of some long-withheld arms that Egypt desperately wants.

Navy to Conduct First Aerial Refueling of X-47B Carrier Drone

04/03/2015

The Navy plans to perform an aerial refueling for the first time on its carrier-launched demonstrator drone aircraft, the X-47B, within the next few weeks, service officials said. The refueling, to take place at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Md., will have the X-47B link up with an Omega air refueling tanker, Navy officials told Military.com. Omega is a contractor that works with the Defense Department.

Tough Choices For DoD On Long Range Strike Bomber

04/03/2015

When the Pentagon picks the winner of the Long Range Strike Bomber (LRSB) contest in the next few months, it faces an interesting choice. It could give Lockheed Martin — which is doing the design work for the Boeing-Lockheed team — almost all of the country’s advanced stealth design work. Or it could maintain the status quo, in which the entire stealth bomber fleet is made by Northrop Grumman.

Tehran and West Agree on Parameters of Deal for Iran’s Nuclear Program

04/03/2015

Iran and six world powers agreed to a path that would block Tehran from developing nuclear weapons, but key points left unresolved in the marathon negotiations and fierce regional and U.S. political opposition suggested major hurdles remain to reaching a final deal. Officials laid out on Thursday what amounted to goals for a deal by the end of June that would place constraints and controls on Iran’s nuclear work for up to 25 years, with severe limits for the first decade.

US Air Force Demonstrates Reaper Drone Strike Capability

04/03/2015

After an exercise in the Gulf of Mexico, the US Air Force said that an armed Reaper drone demonstrated that it can hit maritime targets in coordination with other aircrafts, including A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, F-16 Fighting Falcons and F-35A Lightning IIs.

US Fighter Jets Send Message to China With ‘Emergency’ Landing in Taiwan

04/03/2015

The landing of two US fighter jets on Taiwan on Wednesday has angered China’s Foreign Ministry. While the Pentagon says the planes suffered mechanical trouble while flying a routine training exercise, others see it as a political message, warning China to slow its growing influence.

Updated Ka-27 Helicopter to Join Russian Navy in 2015

04/03/2015

A batch of Kamov Ka-27 ship-based antisubmarine warfare helicopters will be repaired and upgraded by the Russian Helicopters Holding Company, with the first updated units slated to enter service already before the end of this year, the company press service said Thursday.

Russia Slams NATO Military Buildup in Europe as 'Unprecedentedly Dangerous'

04/03/2015

NATO military buildup in Eastern Europe is an unprecedentedly dangerous move, which violates all existing agreements, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Thursday. "NATO buildup on the Eastern flank, or in the so-called 'front-line countries,' is an unprecedentedly dangerous step that violates all agreements, including the Russia-NATO Founding Act, which is still in force," the ministry's spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said at a news briefing.

China Reveals New Long-Range Bombers

04/02/2015

China has released pictures of an unnamed “new-type of bomber”, along with an announcement that it has carried out its first military drills in the airspace above the Western Pacific Ocean. According to a statement on the Chinese Ministry of Defence website, the drills took place over the Bashi Canal, which is between a Taiwanese island and a Philippines island.

Analysis: Yemen ground operation carries major risks

04/02/2015

Saudi Arabia and its allies plan an ambitious ground offensive on multiple fronts in Yemen. It may be inevitable if they want to defeat Iranian-backed Shiite rebels but it also carries enormous risks, from the inhospitable, mountainous terrain and a possible guerrilla war to al-Qaida militants waiting in the wings.