Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

US Military Aircraft Goes Down in Hawaii, Emergency Crews Respond

05/18/2015

A downed aircraft at Bellows Air Force Station in Windward Oahu suffered a “hard landing” to which firefighters and emergency crews were called to respond. An MV-22 Osprey from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit experienced a "hard landing" while conducting training at the Marine Corps Training Area at Bellows, the military announced.

Military airstrikes continue against ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq

05/17/2015

Coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq between 8 a.m., May 15, and 8 a.m., May 16, local time. In Syria, coalition military forces conducted six airstrikes using bomber and fighter aircraft. Separately in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 15 airstrikes approved by the Iraqi Ministry of Defense using attack, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL terrorists.

China Making Some Missiles More Powerful

05/17/2015

After decades of maintaining a minimal nuclear force, China has re-engineered many of its long-range ballistic missiles to carry multiple warheads, a step that federal officials and policy analysts say appears designed to give pause to the United States as it prepares to deploy more robust missile defenses in the Pacific.

France, Standing Up to Russia

05/17/2015

Some interesting international intrigue has been playing out in Europe. Russia’s the bad guy; the hero, improbably, is France. Early last year, as you may remember, Russia invaded and annexed Crimea, and ginned up a separatist movement in Ukraine’s east. Ever since, it has supported those separatists financially, with arms, and, sometimes, in battle.

PACOM: Eight Sets of Remains Found at Marine Huey Crash Site in Nepal

05/17/2015

U.S. and Nepalese teams found eight sets of remains as they resumed recovery efforts Saturday of the UH-1Y Huey helicopter that crashed in Nepal on Tuesday, presumably killing the six Marines and two Nepalese soldiers aboard. Eight separate sets of remains have been discovered since the recovery effort began, according to a Joint Task Force 505 statement May 16. They have yet to be positively identified. Additionally, the cause of the mishap has not been determined.

Female aviator breaking ground in Afghanistan

05/17/2015

When Capt. Lisa Becker deployed to Afghanistan, she didn't expect to fly Mi-17 helicopters alongside Afghan pilots. "It's an opportunity that I didn't know I'd have," said Becker. "It's very fulfilling to be able to have that mentorship role." Becker is believed to be the first American female soldier to be rated to fly the Russian-made helicopter. She also is the first female Aviation Foreign Internal Defense/Special Operations Forces aviator to serve with the Special Mission Wing in Afghanista

Talks on Rafale to begin soon

05/17/2015

A committee headed by Air Marshal S.B.P. Sinha is all set to begin government-to-government negotiations with France for procurement of Rafale fighter jets for the Indian Air Force, and the multi-billion dollar deal will be finalised as early as possible, Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said on Saturday.

Top Islamic State official killed in Syria commando raid

05/17/2015

U.S. special operations forces carried out a raid into eastern Syria early Saturday, killing a senior leader of the Islamic State and about a dozen militant fighters, capturing the leader’s wife and freeing an 18-year-old woman apparently being held as a slave, Pentagon officials said. Two dozen Delta Force commandos entered Syria aboard Black Hawk helicopters and V-22 Ospreys and killed the militant leader, known as Abu Sayyaf.

Greece, US to Discuss Construction of NATO Air Base in Aegean Sea – Athens

05/17/2015

Greek Defense Minister Panos Kammenos and US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter will discuss Athens' proposal to construct a NATO air base in the Aegean Sea during a meeting next week, the Greek Defense Ministry said.

Turkish jets shoot down Syria aircraft

05/16/2015

Turkish military jets shot down a Syrian aircraft after it violated Turkey's airspace on Saturday, media reported. It was not immediately clear what kind of aircraft was shot down. Turkey's NTV news channel said it came down in Syrian territory. A Turkish military official confirmed that two F-16 fighters flying out of the Incirlik base in southern Turkey had opened fire, but was unable to give any details about the target.

RAF jets scrambled to intercept Russian bombers

05/16/2015

A number of RAF jets have been scrambled to intercept two Russian long-range bombers off northern Scotland, the latest in a series of provocative operations by the country's air force. As tensions between Nato and Russia have worsened over the Ukraine crisis, Moscow has significantly increased the number of military flights probing Nato airspace. The number of interceptions over the Baltic States trebled last year and Nato members including Britain have stepped up air policing support.

NATO chief says Turkey to lead rapid response force

05/16/2015

Speaking to reporters after a two-day summit of foreign ministers of NATO countries in the southern city of Antalya on Thursday, Stoltenberg said he welcomed Turkey's decision to take part in forming a spearhead unit as part of the high readiness force. Allies decided to enhance the NATO Response Force (NRF) in 2014 by creating a “spearhead force” within it, known as the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF).

What if the World’s Most Expensive Fighter Planes Can’t Defeat Our Enemies?

05/16/2015

Take the new F-22 fighter. It’s the most expensive fighter in the air today, but as a recent story in The National Interest by long-time United States Naval Institute writer Dave Majumdar points out, even its missiles will have a hard time getting past the ability of Russia’s truly fearsome Su-35S Flanker E to jam radars and other sensors.

Australia considering hosting US Air Force airplanes, military analyst says

05/16/2015

A top military analyst believes Australia and the US may be holding discussions about hosting the supersonic B1 bomber in northern Australia, where it could threaten Chinese ships menacing US allies in the South China Sea. The Pentagon on Friday was forced to contradict one of its own top officials who said the US would be "placing additional Air Force assets in Australia … including B-1 bombers and surveillance aircraft".

U.S., China set for high-stakes rivalry in skies above South China Sea

05/16/2015

When the U.S. navy sent a littoral combat ship on its first patrol of the disputed Spratly islands in the South China Sea during the past week, it was watching the skies as well. The USS Fort Worth, one of the most modern ships in the U.S. navy, dispatched a reconnaissance drone and a Seahawk helicopter to patrol the airspace, according to a little-noticed statement on the navy's website.

U.S. 'expedites' weapons shipments to Iraq in wake of ISIS advances

05/16/2015

The U.S. is "expediting" weapons shipments to Iraq in light of the ISIS advances in Ramadi, Vice President Joe Biden told Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi in a telephone call on Friday. The announcement from the White House comes on the heels of a flurry of new airstrikes against ISIS, also known as ISIL, as Iraqi forces desperately try to hold the key city, the capital of the key Anbar province.

No sign of survivors amid wreckage of U.S. Marine chopper in Nepal

05/16/2015

The wreckage of a Marine helicopter from Camp Pendleton missing in Nepal since Tuesday has been found and there are no apparent survivors, the U.S. military said Friday. Six Marines and two Nepalese soldiers were aboard the UH-1Y Huey when it disappeared while on a relief mission after a pair of earthquakes in the mountainous nation.

Russia Close to Signing Arms Deals in Latin America

05/16/2015

According to deputy director from the Russian Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, Russia plans to sign a number of contracts with countries in Latin America this year on the purchases of arms and military equipment.

US-Led Coalition Launches 24 Airstrikes Against ISIL in Syria, Iraq

05/16/2015

The US-led Coalition comprises some 60 nations that began carrying out airstrikes against Islamic State targets in Iraq in August 2014, and expanded the air campaign to Syria in September 2014, albeit without the approval of the Syrian government. In Syria, the Coalition struck the militants’ fighting positions, light vehicles, tanks and tactical units.

Raytheon successfully tests APG-79 (V) X AESA radar

05/14/2015

Raytheon has successfully completed the flight test of its APG-79(V) X AESA radar system, demonstrating the functions required to extend the combat relevance of F/A-18C/D Hornet aircraft for 15 to 20 years. The Hornet fleets, upgraded with new APG-79V(X) radar, will benefit from extended detection ranges, simultaneous air-to-air and air-to-ground capabilities, production of high-resolution synthetic aperture radar (SAR) mapping and better reliability.

JSTARS Recap moves to next phase

05/14/2015

A senior Department of Defense official signed a key acquisition memo May 7 that will allow the Joint STARS Recapitalization program office here to begin awarding contracts. Frank Kendall, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, signed a Materiel Development Decision Acquisition Decision Memo officially ushering the program into the Materiel Solution Analysis phase.

Why the Indonesian air force wants the Su-35

05/14/2015

The Indonesian air force wants to replace its outdated American built F-5 fighters with the brand new Russian Su-35 Super Flanker, but the country’s political leadership is unable to act quickly because the U.S. is pitching in with its F-16 and F-18 jets. The Indonesians operate both American F-16s and Russian made Flankers – five Su-27s and 11 Su-30s. How Russian aircraft ended up in the air force of an American ally is interesting.

Fighter jets and machine gun fire in the South China Sea

05/14/2015

I was never told where I would be taken to. The only instructions I received was to arrive on time in the morning in front of the McDonald’s in Subang Airport. And so I was there on time. Several Americans were there, a few in military garb and the rest in civilian clothes. They greeted me and said that we will be boarding a United States Navy C-2 Greyhound aircraft.

Congressman, Former SEAL Pushing to Keep Helicopter Combat Squadrons in Navy Budget

05/14/2015

The defense authorization bill the House will debate this week includes a provision from a congressman and retired Navy SEAL that prevents the Navy from disestablishing Helicopter Sea Combat Squadrons 84 and 85. These U.S. Navy Reserve squadrons use the HH-60H Rescue Hawk helicopter and are responsible for training SEALs. HSC-84 is based at Chambers Field at Naval Station Norfolk, Va., and HSC-85 is based at Naval Air Station North Island, Calif.

Inside the Royal Australian Air Force school preparing fighter pilots for likely combat against Islamic State

05/14/2015

Among the trainee fighter pilots of the Royal Australian Air Force's (RAAF) Introductory Fighter School is a Qantas captain who has taken leave without pay and a former Australian Army soldier. Another is from Melbourne and a fourth from country Western Australia. "It's a dream they've been chasing for quite a while," Squadron Leader Grant Taylor said, standing on the tarmac at RAAF Base Darwin as the trainees prepared their jets for takeoff. "A lot of the pressure is self-induced," he said.