Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Air Force Details Bonuses for Fighter, Drone Pilots

04/08/2015

The Air Force has announced bonuses for select fighter and drone pilots. The categories of pilots eligible for the bonus – which go as high as $225,000, with half of it paid up front in a lump sum – include 11F fighter pilots, 11U remotely piloted aircraft pilots and 11X pilots who agree to move into the 11U specialty for their entire career.

Jordanian military aircraft crashes near Syrian borders

04/07/2015

A Jordanian military training jet crashed on Monday during a training mission in the eastern desert, near city of Mafraq, killing the pilot and his trainee, an army military source was quoted by Petra. The army said the trainee is an Iraqi national, while the pilot is Jordanian. Both died instantly as their plane hit the ground, according to sources.

China Climbs The AWACS Ladder

04/07/2015

Less than two years after being spotted in the air for the first time the new Chinese KJ-500 AWACS (Air Warning And Control System) aircraft has entered service. The KJ-500 AWACS can track over 60 aircraft at ranges of up to 470 kilometers. The KJ-500 aircraft looks more like the American AWACS (with a round radar dome on top) but is smaller and carried by the Y-9 four engine turboprop aircraft (similar to the U.S. C-130).

THAAD Missile Killer Could Boost Army Role In Pacific

04/07/2015

When the Obama Administration announced in January 2012 that the U.S. defense posture would be “rebalanced” to emphasize the Asia-Pacific region, that was not good news for the Army. America’s preeminent land force had largely abandoned the region after the Vietnam War, leaving almost no soldiers stationed west of the International Dateline outside the Korean Peninsula.

Aerial Refueling Test of X-47B Could Occur By End of the Month

04/07/2015

A test to prove an autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) can be refueled in flight could happen by the end of this month, officials with Naval Air Systems Command told USNI News on Monday. The test would pair a Northrop Grumman X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System demonstrator (UCAS-D) with a contracted tanker to prove out software that could allow future unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) to be autonomously aerially refueled (AAR).

Russia eyes Iranian arms deal after Lausanne

04/07/2015

One of the many unanswered questions surrounding the so-called framework agreement on Iran’s nuclear program is whether and how it will limit Russia’s arms trade with Iran, including Moscow’s long-standing interest in selling advanced surface-to-air missiles. In fact, managing the Russian-Iranian military relationship may become increasingly difficult if the negotiating parties reach a final agreement by their self-imposed June deadline.

India draws bottom line for Rafale

04/07/2015

India will not ink the mega $20 billion MMRCA (medium multi-role combat aircraft) project to acquire 126 fighters till France agrees to stick to its original pricing, which led its Rafale fighter to defeat the Eurofighter Typhoon in commercial evaluation over three years ago.

Pakistani defence minister says Saudi seeks fighter planes, ships, troops

04/07/2015

Pakistan's Defence Minister, Khawaja Asif, told the parliament on Monday that Saudi Arabia has sought fighter aircraft, warships and troops as the Saudi-led Arab allies have continued airstrikes against Shiite Houthi rebels in Yemen. "Saudi Arabia has asked for combat planes, warships and soldiers,"Asif, who recently visited Saudi Arabia, said the parliament will decide whether the country should extend military support.

Planes Without Pilots

04/07/2015

Mounting evidence that the co-pilot crashed a Germanwings plane into a French mountain has prompted a global debate about how to better screen crewmembers for mental illness and how to ensure that no one is left alone in the cockpit. But among many aviation experts, the discussion has taken a different turn. How many human pilots, some wonder, are really necessary aboard commercial planes?

U.S. in Western Pacific faces increasing rivalry from China

04/06/2015

Taipei, April 5 (CNA) A report published Saturday by The National Interest, an American conservative bi-monthly international affairs magazine, suggests that backed by its economic might, advances in Chinese armaments are poised to elevate the People's Liberation Army (PLA) into a credible rival to U.S. forces in the Western Pacific theater.

F-35 pilots will wear $400,000 helmets

04/06/2015

The F-35 Lightning II is one of the most complicated weapons systems ever developed, a sleek and stealthy fighter jet years in the making that is often called a flying computer because of its more than 8 million lines of code. The Joint Strike Fighter comes in three versions, including one that is designed to take off and land on an aircraft carrier and another that lands vertically, as if it were a helicopter.

Modi’s France visit gives wings to IAF dream project

04/06/2015

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to France next week will herald a new chapter for the Indian Air Force, as its dream project of having 360 degree ‘eye in sky’ is likely to take off with both countries finalising a deal for procuring two Airbus-330 aircraft to be used as platforms for AWACS-India programme. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), in its meeting held last Saturday, has given a go ahead to the proposal of acquiring the aircraft for Rs 5,113 crore,

No A-10 Warthog for Afghanistan - but Here's the Next Best Thing

04/06/2015

Given their druthers, the Afghans would probably like an air force geared toward close-air support of their troops combating Taliban fighters on the ground. For that role, the A-10 Warthog is by all accounts the best plane for the job. But beggars can't be choosers. Instead of the A-10, the U.S. Air Force will outfit Afghanistan with 20 brand-new A-29 Super Tucano fighter planes from Embraer.

Electronic warfare a growing part of aviation training

04/06/2015

The end of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the Corps' efforts to prepare for a fight against a tech-savvy enemy has prompted Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron 1 to put a greater emphasis on electronic warfare. Two years ago MAWTS-1, a unit that helps develop aviation tactics and deliver new techniques to the fleet, formed a small division dedicated to electronic warfare. One year later, that division became the Spectrum Warfare Department.

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.''