Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Syria villagers drive out Islamic State jihadists

08/03/2014

Four days of fighting left nine IS fighters, three tribesmen and five civilians dead, UK-based Syrian opposition activists say. The jihadists' actions in the Ashara area had bred resentment locally, another activist based in Turkey said. In neighbouring Iraq, IS fighters fought Kurdish forces at Zumar. IS is dedicated to building an Islamist state in Syria and Iraq.

These Reports Signal The Beginning Of The End For ISIS In Iraq

08/03/2014

Residents of Iraq's second-largest city, which has been under the control of ISIS since early June, have reportedly started clashing with militants, Tim Arango reports for The New York Times. They're chafing under the brutal rule of an organization too extreme even for Al Qaeda. But ISIS's assault on the region's cultural heritage has been particular cause for local alienation from the group.

K-MAX cargo drone home from Afghanistan, headed to storage

08/03/2014

The Marines’ unmanned cargo chopper is headed for storage now that its time in combat is over. The K-MAX, a 6,000-pound aircraft built by Lockheed Martin, has returned home, the company announced July 24. Since 2011, the Marines used two of the drone helicopters to move gear and supplies around the combat zone in Afghanistan, carrying more than 4.5 million pounds of cargo and conducting thousands of delivery missions, according to a Lockheed release.

Royal Jordanian ‘suspends Baghdad flights’ over security fears

08/03/2014

Jordan’s national carrier on Saturday suspended flights to the Iraqi capital for security reasons, an airline official said. “Royal Jordanian suspended its flights to Baghdad today because of the security situation,” said the source, speaking on condition of anonymity. The airline was closely monitoring developments in Iraq and may extend the suspension of flights, added the source.

Modified UAVs raise concerns for infantry

08/03/2014

The next big threat to American forces might be a flying IED. Officials are worried that proliferation of drone and improvised bomb technology means something as amateurish and cheap as a remote control plane could be turned into a low-tech but deadly weapon.

Russian Jets Fly Over Ukraine as Probe Continues

08/03/2014

Russian jets were flying over its former Soviet Union states as international monitors started their investigation on the downed Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 in eastern Ukraine. Lithuania's Defense Ministry said a Russian aircraft was recorded "flying without a pre-agreed schedule" in waters near Estonia on Friday by NATO jets stationed in Lithuanian air base, Bloomberg reported, quoting its spokeswoman Viktorija Cieminyte.

Russian Navy unveils counterpart to American P-8 Poseidon aircraft

08/03/2014

The anti-submarine Ilyushin Il-38 aircraft is based on a model that has demonstrated its effectiveness for decades. The modernized plane has a sophisticated targeting system and will significantly increase the combat capability of Russia’s Northern Fleet.

JAS 39 Gripen will meet Air Force’s multirole combat aircraft needs

08/03/2014

“And after the F/A-50s, we are hoping that we will soon acquire our first modern fighter aircraft,” Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin in earlier report. It is also known that coming 12 FA-50 Philippine version will act as the country’s trainer and main fighter jets for the meantime, until PAF pilots have gained enough experience in flying supersonic jets and enough budget to acquire more capable and sophisticated aircraft.

Michigan National Guard to conduct Operation Northern Strike

08/02/2014

Aircraft from more than a dozen military units will be operating in northern Michigan over the next several weeks as part of a major training exercise organized by the Michigan National Guard. More than 5,000 Soldiers, Airmen and Sailors will participate in the third annual Operation Northern Strike exercise, based primarily at the Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center and the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center.

Sunk Costs: New Carriers Commit UK To Buy Escorts & F-35Bs, Says 1st Sea Lord

08/02/2014

65,000-ton ships are hard to turn around, and they can drag a lot else in their wake. That’s the $10.4 billion (£6.2 billion) bet the Royal Navy has placed on its controversial program to build two new aircraft carriers. While a third smaller than American nuclear carriers, the ships’ costs have grown so much that the British government is considering temporarily mothballing the second ship, HMS Prince of Wales, as soon as it’s complete.

First F-35B fighter takeoff and landing performed at Beaufort air station

08/02/2014

One of the newest fighter jets performed its first short takeoff and vertical landing, Friday, at the Marine Corps Air Station in Beaufort. The landing was executed by Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501’s (VMFAT-501) second F-35B to transfer to the Lowcountry since the squadron relocated from Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. earlier this month.

More air confrontations likely as China's Top Guns see elevated role

08/02/2014

China showed off newfound fighter-jet skills in 2011 with video suspiciously similar to a "Top Gun" clip. Now, the 1986 blockbuster has another parallel as Chinese pilots emulate Tom Cruise's character in fly-bys of rivals. Although not quite the scene with Cruise in an inverted-jet encounter, Chinese aircraft buzzed Japanese planes near disputed East China Sea islands in May and June in two of the neighbors' closest brushes since World War II.

IAF's Jaguar combat aircraft crashes near Bhuj, pilot ejected safely

08/02/2014

A Jaguar combat aircraft of Indian Air Force today crashed near Bibber village in Kutch district while on a routine sortie from Bhuj air base but the pilot ejected safely. "A Jaguar fighter jet which had taken off from Bhuj air base for a routine sortie crashed near Bibber village, which is 30 kms from the base," an IAF official said. "The pilot ejected safely and is not hurt in the mishap," he said.

Combat Aviation Alerted at Russian Far East Airfields – Russian Defense Ministry

08/02/2014

Eastern Military District combat aviation crews at airfields in the Far East were unexpectedly alerted, Aleksander Gordeyev, the head of the Eastern Military District, said Friday. “Pilots and crews of Su-24, Su-25, Su-27, Su-30CM aircraft and the new Su-35 fighter, as well as an engineering team and support units, were alerted at four airfields,” Gordeyev said.

Overuse made North’s planes crash, officials say

08/01/2014

A series of North Korean MIG fighter jets have recently crashed during flight training, Seoul officials said, presumably because of Kim Jong-un’s ambitions to boost his air force’s combat capability by using the old aircraft. According to officials in the South Korean military, three North Korean MIG-19 fighter jets crashed between June and July during training exercises, apparently due to defects in their engines.

CH-53E Super Stallion transports troops, cargo

08/01/2014

The CH-53E Super Stallion served as the workhorse of the Marine Corps for more than 30 years; the three-engine helicopter is a heavy lift powerhouse. No aircraft in the Department of Defense can compare to the CH-53E Super Stallion, said Capt. Peter Neirheim, an instructor pilot with Marine Heavy Helicopter Training Squadron 302 and Virginia Beach, Va., native.

Does America’s $400 Billion Stealth Jet Need Another Engine?

08/01/2014

The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter—the cornerstone of America’s future tactical air fleet—will survive its failure to show up at two major international air shows, at Fairford and Farnborough in Britain, this month. It was a good thing in that it showed that the U.S. and British military airworthiness experts had the authority and common sense to put safety first.

Russia’s Strategic Pakistan Play

08/01/2014

Russia’s decision to go ahead with the sale of Mi-35 attack helicopters to Pakistan, even in the face of official Indian concerns, is being seen by some quarters as evidence of a “major” regional re-alignment in the wake of the American drawdown in Afghanistan. In fact, the Russia-Pakistan dialogue for regional integration has been underway for some time now and beyond security cooperation.

iPad-Generation Pilots Will Unlock F-35 Capabilities

08/01/2014

Far from the PR fighting fields of Farnborough, the US Marine Corps is preparing for asurge in the combat capability of the Navy-Marine air/ground expeditionary force. The first squadron destined for initial operational capability (IOC) of the F-35B is the “Green Knights” of VMFA-121 at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma. The aviators and maintainers of this storied squadron are working to bring the first F-35B squadron into service next year, along with MAWTS-1.

USAF strategy seeks more 'agile' acquisitions

08/01/2014

The US Air Force (USAF) wants to create a more "agile" acquisition system better suited to the rapidly shifting technology landscape, among other changes meant to help the service address looming budget constraints, top officials said on 30 July. Citing a new 30-year strategy document unveiled at a Pentagon press briefing.

BAE Looks to Saudi Arabia to Bolster Order Book

08/01/2014

BAE Systems PLC said on Thursday that it expects to win Saudi Arabian deals to bolsters its international order book this year as it pursues new buyers for the Typhoon combat jet to sustain production that is otherwise due to run out in early 2018. "We are pretty active on some very vibrant campaigns," Chief Executive Ian King told reporters. The company is targeting orders for about 100 more of the twin-engine fighter planes. "We are not lacking opportunities," Mr King added.

China’s Tom Cruise-Emulating Top Guns See Profile Rise

08/01/2014

China showed off newfound fighter-jet skills in 2011 with video suspiciously similar to a “Top Gun” clip. Now, the 1986 blockbuster has another parallel as Chinese pilots emulate Tom Cruise’s character in fly-bys of rivals. While not quite the scene with Cruise in an inverted-jet encounter, Chinese aircraft buzzed Japanese planes near disputed East China Sea islands in May and June in two of the neighbors’ closest brushes since World War II.

China, US, Australia to Hold First Joint Military Drills

08/01/2014

The armed forces of China, Australia and the United States will conduct their first joint military drills in October, China’s Xinhua official news agency reported Thursday. Exercise Kowari, a joint military exercise involving the three armies, will take place in Australia, a spokesman for China’s Ministry of National Defense Geng Yansheng said during a regular press briefing on Thursday, Xinhua reported.

US Negotiating New Military Base in Uzbekistan

08/01/2014

The United States is in negotiations to open a new military base in southern Uzbekistan that would bring $1 billion to the Uzbek budget annually, uzmetronom.com reported Wednesday. “According to experts familiar with the situation, the main goal of a high-ranking American visitor, with the ranking of general, is to attain Uzbekistan’s consent to deploy an American contingent and military equipment, including aviation, in the Uzbek city of Termez.

Teen found dead in the wheel-well of an American military cargo plane

07/31/2014

The US Department of Defence has confirmed that the body of a teenage stowaway was found in the wheel-well of a military cargo plane. The plane had flown around Africa and then back to Germany, meaning that the DoD cannot confirm how long the body had been there, Pentagon Press Secretary Navy Rear Admiral John Kirby said.