Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Thailand, Romania Select Lockheed Martin’s Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod for F-16 Fleets

05/12/2015

The Romanian Air Force (RoAF) and Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) recently selected Lockheed Martin’s (NYSE: LMT) Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod (ATP) for their F-16 fleets, becoming the 18th and 19th international customers to receive this advanced sensor capability. Lockheed Martin will integrate and field Sniper ATPs on existing RoAF and RTAF aircraft and provide initial sustainment support. Pod deliveries began in early 2015 to meet operational need requirements.

US Carrier Strike Group Conducts Exercises With Malaysia in South China Sea

05/12/2015

The exercise allowed both Malaysian and US naval forces to track a live target that was threat representative, the release explained, adding that the United States was impressed with the capabilities of the Royal Malaysian Navy.

US to Station Special Operations Aircraft at Japanese Air Base - DoD

05/12/2015

The Defense Department also said these aircraft will maximize interoperability, enhance operational cooperation, and promote stronger defense relations with the Japan Self-Defense Forces. The CV-22 Osprey is a tilt-rotor aircraft combing vertical takeoff, hover and vertical landing qualities of a helicopter with the long-range, fuel efficiency and speed characteristics of a turboprop aircraft.

Taliban releases video of SAM-7; says it hit Pakistan army chopper

05/11/2015

Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan on Sunday released a video of its militants holding a Shoulder Launch Missile, which the militant group claimed to have used in downing a Pakistan military helicopter killing ambassadors of the Philippines and Norway and five others in the PoK. A video released by a jihadist media forum shows at least four masked militants with the surface-to-air missile (SAM-7 B) allegedly used in hitting the Mi-17 that crashed in Naltar valley of Gilgit-Baltisitan in PoK.

Surge in Jet Purchases Reshuffles Market

05/11/2015

In the span of just a few weeks, a flurry of orders has reset the global fighter market. First came the Feb. 13 announcement that Egypt would become the first foreign customer for the Dassault Rafale. Then on April 10, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi placed an order for 36 Rafales for his nation. A week later, the United Arab Emirates said it was restarting talks with Dassault about the Rafale, and by the end of April, Qatar has declared its intention to buy the French fighter.

A Turkish-Saudi Military Offensive on Syria?

05/11/2015

On June 22, 2012, a Turkish RF-4E military reconnaissance aircraft took off from an air base in eastern Turkey. It flew at low altitude, as most spy planes do, and violated Syrian airspace before it was hit - most likely - by a missile fired from a Syrian- or Russian-operated air defense system. Two Turkish pilots were killed. Their bodies were later recovered from the Mediterranean Sea with help from a US ship.

Spain finds black boxes of crashed military aircraft

05/11/2015

Spain said on Sunday it had found the two black boxes from the crashed Airbus A400M military aircraft that plowed into a field north of Seville airport in its maiden test flight on Saturday, killing four of the six test crew. The black boxes had been handed over to investigators, the government said in a statement. Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy late on Saturday asked for maximum transparency from Airbus during the investigation into the cause of the crash.

Siil / Steadfast Javelin kicks off in Estonia

05/11/2015

The largest mobilisation exercise Siil/Steadfast Javelin is currently underway in Estonia after the country restored its armed forces two decades ago. Siil/Steadfast Javelin involving over 7, 000 of reserve forces and in total 13, 000 troops from Estonia and Allied countries kicked off in locations all over Estonia this week and runs from May 4 to 15. "I was pleased to see the enthusiasm among the reservists, service members, Home Guard and Allied forces when inspecting the troops.

Reports of paralyzed Taipei sim inaccurate

05/11/2015

The Defense Ministry yesterday stated that recent media reports reporting that Chinese military forces paralyzed the capital Taipei within two days during simulations during the annual Han Kuang series of military exercises were inaccurate. In a noon press release, the Defense Ministry reported that the “Han Kuang Number 31” exercises which ran for five days and four nights between May 4 and 8 concluded with all training exercises completed as planned.

Affordable $20 million fighter planes

05/11/2015

The Textron Scorpion costs $20 million, still not exactly a bargain by most people's standards, but a fifth of the cost of the F-35. It suggests that not every advanced defence project has to necessarily come in years late and billions over budget – and points to a new twist in not only the future of fighter-jet design, but also in more humanitarian roles that a budget jet could carry out.

Moroccan warplane in Saudi coalition goes missing over Yemen

05/11/2015

A Moroccan F-16 warplane taking part in the Saudi Arabian-led coalition fighting in Yemen went missing on Sunday, the Moroccan Royal Armed Forces said in a statement. Backed by the United States, a Saudi-led coalition has been conducting air strikes against the Houthis and army units loyal to ex-president Ali Abdullah Saleh since March 26 with the aim of restoring the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.

Russian Aerospace Defense to Get New Radars, Shed Older Models

05/11/2015

Russian Aerospace Defense Forces (VKO) plan to cut the number of radar units produced for the air defense of Moscow and the Central region four times, however VKO will boost the production of new generation air defense systems, VKO spokesperson Alexei Zototukhin told RIA Novosti.

Airbus A400M Transport Plane Crashes in Spain

05/10/2015

An Airbus Group NV military transport plane crashed near Seville, southern Spain, killing four of the people on board, the Spanish government said Saturday. A government official in Seville said the aircraft was carrying six people and crashed in a field about a mile north of Seville’s airport, catching fire upon impact. Two people were sent to the hospital with very serious injuries, she said.

Thales welcomes Rafale omnirole combat aircraft by Qatar Air Force

05/10/2015

The official signing ceremony for the acquisition of 24 Rafale aircraft was held today in Doha, in the presence of the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the President of the French Republic, François Hollande, Dassault Aviation Chairman and CEO, Eric Trappier and Thales charirman and CEO, Patrice Caine.

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.