Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Time for India to have its own Medium Combat Aircraft

02/16/2015

The question of what airplanes the Indian Air Force will be flying in 2030 is not easy to answer. The important factor is how the Indian economy grows in the next decade which determines how much money is spent on defense. And even when there is money to spend, previous Governments had the lazy attitude that “lets just buy it from another country”. At least Narendra Modi is the first Prime Minister to push “Make in India” even for defence purchases.

Militants are only casualties in suicide attack on air base

02/15/2015

Islamic State fighters led a suicide attack on an air base where U.S. and coalition troops are training Iraqi forces after taking a nearby town, the first territorial gain by the militant group in months, the Pentagon said Friday. Most of the Islamic State fighters died in the attack, killed either by Iraqi government forces or by detonating their suicide vests, said Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby, the Pentagon spokesman.

Putin accused of putting Russia on war footing

02/15/2015

VLADIMIR PUTIN has been accused of putting the Russian economy on a “war footing” as the Kremlin spends billions of pounds a year on nuclear submarines, combat jets, supersized drones and ballistic missiles. Admiral Lord West of Spithead, a former head of the Royal Navy, said Russia’s rearmament of its military forces was “extremely worrying”. It would be “madness” if Britain slashed defence spending after the next election, he added.

World events make A-10 more crucial than ever, backers say

02/15/2015

As Congress takes up the fiscal year 2016 defense budget, supporters of the A-10 Thunderbolt II jet say world events show the combat-proven “Warthog” is needed now more than ever. There’s no telling whether that argument helps save the A-10 — a mainstay mission of Tucson’s Davis-Monthan Air Force Base — from its proposed retirement amid an expected pitched battle over the Pentagon budget.

DoD study: Army aviation plan saves money, less risky

02/15/2015

A Defense Department study of the Army's controversial Aviation Restructuring Initiative found the service's plan saves more money and presents less "risk" compared with the National Guard's proposed alternative, according to findings obtained by Army Times. The study by DoD's Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation office found:

Women in combat: a global comparison

02/15/2015

Women in the military: a worldwide sampling

U.S.: Iraqi forces repel attack on al-Asad air base

02/14/2015

Eight Islamic State fighters were killed when they attacked an air base where U.S. and coalition forces are training Iraqi forces. Army Col. Steve Warren, a Pentagon spokesman, said that initial reports Friday showed that all of the IS attackers were killed by Iraqi troops at or inside a gate to al-Asad air base in the western province of Anbar.

The Real Reason Egypt Is Buying Fighter Jets From France

02/14/2015

After twenty years of searching, France has finally found a buyer for its Rafale fighter jet. President Francois Hollande announced on Thursday that Egypt will buy 24 aircraft as part of a deal reportedly valued at 5.2 billion euros ($5.9 billion), and his Defense Minister is heading to Cairo on Monday to sign the agreement.

ISIS is now dangerously close to a base where US Marines are training Iraqi soldiers

02/13/2015

Islamic State insurgents took control on Thursday of most of the western Iraqi town of al-Baghdadi, threatening an air base where U.S. Marines are training Iraqi troops, officials said. Al-Baghdadi, about 85 km (50 miles) northwest of Ramadi in Anbar province, had been besieged for months by the radical Sunni Islamist militants who captured vast swathes of Iraq's north and west last year.

US Sends A-10 Thunderbolt II Aircraft To Germany, Just As Ukraine Ceasefire Signed

02/13/2015

As a new ceasefire for eastern Ukraine was signed on Thursday, in an attempt to halt the worsening conflict between the Ukrainian government and pro-Russian rebels, the United States is sending to Europe a warplane that was designed during the Cold War for one purpose: to destroy Russian tanks in Europe.

Reform Pentagon Acquisition By Slowing Down the F-35

02/13/2015

Sen. John McCain, and Ashton Carter, the incoming next defense secretary, agree on one thing – the need for acquisition reform at the Pentagon. They should start by looking at the F-35 program. McCain, in his opening remarks at Carter’s confirmation hearing last week, provided a litany of examples of major programs that had incurred huge cost overruns, from a new aircraft carrier to the F-35 combat aircraft. His basic message was that if the Pentagon doesn’t change the way it buys weapons.

Chinese Military May Not Be the Juggernaut Some Assert It Is

02/13/2015

Washington can sometimes seem like a bunker, where assorted think tanks regularly lob hand grenades detailing what’s wrong with every nook and cranny of the U.S. military. This week, for a change, one got tossed outlining the fundamental weaknesses of the Chinese military. This is a big deal. Ever since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the prospect of a rising Chinese military has been cited as the justification for all sorts of U.S. weaponry.

F-22's role, impact in Inherent Resolve increasing

02/13/2015

The Air Force's most advanced fighter has been in battle against the Islamic State group for about five months, and has performed well enough to now be an anchor of airstrike sorties. The F-22 flew its first combat mission in September, striking an Islamic State headquarters building in Syria. Since then, the F-22 has flown as part of strike packages in most of the combat sorties as part of Operation Inherent Resolve in both Iraq and Syria.

Light Combat Aircraft-Tejas Star Attraction at Aero India Show in Bengaluru

02/13/2015

Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will showcase its indigenous products including Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) and Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)-Tejas in Bengaluru at the 10th edition of Aero India show, scheduled for February 18-22. HAL would also be showcasing its technical competence built over the years, the company in a release said.

Behind enemy lines, time is of essence when pilots go down

02/12/2015

When Jordanian air force pilot Maaz Al Kassasbeh ejected from his F-16 above ISIL-controlled Raqqa last December, his chances of evading capture — and thus of survival — began to diminish rapidly after an hour. Combat search and rescue veterans call this the “golden hour” after a pilot is downed behind enemy lines, when the chances for rescue and surviving injuries are greatest. But in truth, the Jordanian airman probably had even less time.

Marines, community brace for war authorization

02/12/2015

President Obama is requesting a three-year commitment for air and some ground forces to flush out Islamic State forces. What that means for Cherry Point air station, home to the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, remains to be seen. Cherry Point Public Information Officer Mike Barton said, “As a general rule, it would not be appropriate for us to speculate on how presidential and congressional level decisions would affect Cherry Point.

Boeing revamps defense arm as bomber decision looms

02/12/2015

Boeing Co. is restructuring the way it designs weapons and other systems for the Pentagon, just as the giant aerospace and defense company finalizes its pitch for what many analysts view as the most important U.S. military contact in 14 years. The company BA, -0.01% is still smarting with problems uncovered last year in building new aerial refueling tankers for the U.S. Air Force that triggered a $425 million pretax charge and could leave it nursing a loss for the initial stage of the program.

U-2 Pilot Blazes Trail

02/12/2015

As a child, Air Force Lt. Col. Merryl Tengesdal imagined flying among the stars, thousands of miles above the Earth’s surface. Today, she is one of eight female pilots ever to fly the U-2 high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft and the only black female pilot in U-2 history. A Bronx, New York, native, Tengesdal also is the 9th Reconnaissance Wing inspector general, and she was recently was selected for promotion to colonel.

LCA is poster plane of Modi's Make-in-India campaign

02/12/2015

It's delayed and incomplete, but light combat aircraft (LCA) Tejas is still the most popular indigenous defence product after the Agni missile series. It will lead the Indian defence fraternity's 'Make-in-India' campaign at the five-day Aero India, entering its 10th edition. For the first time, its makers will be able to boast that their customer, Indian Air Force, has accepted it. LCA will fly in formation during the customary flypast, presided over by PM Modi, defence minister Manohar Parrika

Egypt To Acquire Rafale Combat Jets

02/12/2015

A first export contract for the Dassault Rafale combat jet appears imminent, but it is not with India, where negotiations have dragged on for three years. Instead, according to multiple reports in French media this week, Egypt will acquire 24 aircraft. The deal will be part of a $6 billion package that also includes a French frigate and an MBDA air defense missile system.

F-35 Pilots Test Aircraft in Extreme Sub-Zero Conditions

02/12/2015

F-35 test pilots are starting the aircraft's engine and simulating takeoffs in extreme cold temperatures with special arctic gear as a way to prepare the stealth fighter to perform in combat. The testing, which will finish up at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., in March, assesses the ability of the aircraft to start up, launch afterburners and even function in short-takeoff-and-landing, or STOVL, mode -- in extreme arctic temperatures, F-35 test pilot Cmdr. Tony "Brick" Wilson said.

New fighter plane engine to be upgraded

02/12/2015

Developers of the fifth generation fighter aircraft AMCA (that is just off the drawing board) are looking out for a global aero-engine manufacturer with whom they can upgrade and co-develop the fighter’s engine. They bank on the discussions they have slated with two manufacturers during next week’s Aero India - General Electric of US and Klimo of Russia - a top military scientist said on Wednesday.

Russian fighter aircraft crashes near Volgograd as Moscow suspends operation of all Su-24 models

02/12/2015

A Russian fighter jet Su-24 crashed near Volgograd prompting Moscow to suspend operations of all aircraft of the same model, as the fate of the pilots remains unknown. The tactical bomber crashed about 7km away from the runway in Russia's southern city of Volgograd near the Marinovka airport. An investigation has been initiated into the incident as Moscow has ordered that all the twin-engine frontline bomber be grounded.

Obama is about to send his war powers request to Congress

02/11/2015

The White House was ready to share with lawmakers Tuesday its plan to seek authority for the use of military force against the Islamic State group, setting up the first war vote in Congress in 13 years. Presidential counsel Neil Eggleston was set to address the Senate Democrats' luncheon, the day before President Barack Obama is expected to formally unveil his proposed authorization, a Democratic official revealed.

Russia to Develop New Attack Drone

02/11/2015

Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov recently announced that a new long-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) will soon be made in Russia, according to Sputnik News. The article further notes that this new drone will be able to conduct reconnaissance missions and also be capable of attacking targets. “We are finalizing research and development work related to the drones that will solve an array of tactical, operational and strategic tasks,” the deputy defense minister elaborates.