Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Air Force Range Infrastructure Study Underway

12/25/2014

The Air Force began a major study into the future of its test-range infrastructure, one which could decide how the service runs its live-flight testing for the next 20 years. Ed Chupein, chief for Air Force ranges, airspace and operations sustainment, told Defense News that a review is underway to provide Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh with options on how to revitalize the training infrastructure.

Sad and Hopeful Tales of Extinct Air Forces

12/25/2014

Air power is tough. All the world’s air forces work hard to maintain old warplanes and acquire expensive new ones and still fund adequate training—all in the context of national strategy and air power doctrine that can be complex, confusing, even self-defeating.So it should come as no surprise that, sometimes, countries fail to do air power right—or at all.

US think tank proposes shake-up of Taiwan defense

12/25/2014

" Fears of war between Taiwan and China have eased in recent years, but the growing gap in their military capabilities has prompted a U.S. think tank to lay out a radical new approach in how Taiwan could defend itself if China invaded, relying less on conventional forces and more on guerrilla-style tactics and cyberwarfare.

'Ukrainian military worker' claims one of his country's fighter jets shot down MH17 after confusing the passenger plane for Russian air force

12/25/2014

A Ukrainian military base employee has made the sensational claim that a one his country's own air force planes shot down Malaysian flight MH17 killing all 298 on board. The unnamed employee claimed to a Moscow newspaper that a Ukrainian air force Su-25 combat jet took off from an airbase in eastern Dnipropetrovsk carrying air-to-air missiles - and returned without them - on the day the Boeing 777 was shot out of the sky.

Russia Plans to Deliver New Aircraft to Belarus Air Base: Defense Minister

12/25/2014

Russia will increase the number of airplanes and helicopters at its base to be opened in Belarus, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Tuesday during a meeting with his Belarusian counterpart Andrei Ravkov. “I’m ready to continue our discussion of cooperation on a practical basis today. This is in regard to the S-300 [anti-aircraft missile system], as well as the creation and basing of [our] aviation in Belarus by increasing the number of airplanes and helicopters.

Islamic State did not shoot down Jordan plane, says US

12/25/2014

The plane was lost in IS territory on Wednesday morning, and the pilot has been captured. IS militants said that they shot down the plane with a heat-seeking missile. However, the US says "evidence clearly indicates" that this is not true. Jordan is one of four Arab states in a US-led coalition that has launched air strikes on IS targets in Syria.

IS captures Jordanian pilot after warplane crashes in Syria

12/24/2014

The jihadist group claimed it had shot down the jet with a heat-seeking missile near the city of Raqqa. It published photographs showing the pilot, who has been named as Flight Lieutenant Moaz Youssef al-Kasasbeh. This is the first US-led coalition aircraft to be lost on IS territory since air strikes began in September. Jordan is one of four Arab states which have bombed targets in Syria.

D-models return to flight after longeron repair

12/24/2014

Air Force officials removed 82 two-seat F-16D Fighting Falcons from flight earlier this summer after discovering cracks along the canopy sill longeron between the front and rear pilot seats. The longeron is a major structural component that carries significant loads during dynamic flight operations of the F-16. Of these 82 aircraft, 32 belong to the 56th Fighter Wing.

Raytheon wins $491.5M for air-combat missiles

12/24/2014

Tucson-based Raytheon Missile Systems has won a contract worth nearly half a billion dollars to supply advanced air-combat missiles, in a deal that involves sales to South Korea, Oman, Singapore and Thailand. The $491.5 million Air Force contract includes production of an undisclosed number of Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles and other AMRAAM system items, including a captive air-training missile, computer reprogramming equipment and an airborne instrumentation unit.

Military involvement escalates as US helps Iraq face Islamic State threat

12/24/2014

During the first half of 2014, a militant group calling itself the Islamic State overran large swathes of Iraq. Much of the Iraqi army, which the U.S. spent many years and billions of dollars training and equipping, collapsed. Alarmed at the deteriorating situation, the Obama administration in June began deploying hundreds of security personnel to Iraq to protect U.S. personnel and facilities. The Pentagon also stepped up its intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance flights over the country

Joint Chiefs warn: 'We can't do more with less'

12/23/2014

The nation's top military officer praised the troops on Monday in his annual holiday message while pressuring Congress to accept the “hard choices” he says are needed under a tightened budget. "The Joint Chiefs and I remain concerned that we still lack support for the reforms necessary to ensure that you are combat ready and to preserve military options for our nation," Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in a video.

SEIZING THE ASUW INITIATIVE WITH LAND BASED PATROL AIRCRAFT

12/23/2014

Recent months have found uniformed officers and naval strategists writing and speaking about regaining the ability of U.S. Navy (USN) ships to conduct offensive anti-surface warfare (ASuW). The discussion has been lively and featured many authors and many different approaches. Some solutions are incremental, such as fielding more capable long-range weapons in existing launch systems.

Russia’s long-range aviation marking centenary jubilee

12/23/2014

Russia’s long-range (fighter-bomber) aviation is marking the centenary anniversary since its foundation on Tuesday. Gala functions devoted to the jubilee will be held in all the branches and units of the Air Force, its official spokesman Igor Klimov told reporters. “Long-range aviation is a crucial component element of Russia’s forces of nuclear deterrence,” Colonel Klimov said.

A look at the first Air National Guard unit destined to transition from the F-16 to the F-35

12/23/2014

The 134th Fighter Squadron of the Vermont ANG (Air National Guard) based at Burlington, VT, is well known as ” The Green Mountain Boys.” his ANG squadron, flying 18 F-16C/D Block 30s is part of the 158th Fighter Wing, and will be the first ANG group to operate the F-35.

Iraqi Air Force, In Combat Debut, Assists Peshmerga, Coalition In Mission To Push ISIS Back From Mount Sinjar

12/23/2014

The U.S. State Department said Monday Iraqi air power helped the Kurdish peshmerga and U.S.-led coalition forces push back the Islamic State group from Mount Sinjar. The offensive on the mountain marks the first time the Iraqi air force contributed to a high-profile offensive against the Sunni militant group. Previously, only the U.S.-led coalition air forces, as well as some Iranian jets, had carried out strikes against ISIS.

Airbus Helicopters delivers aircraft to Spanish military

12/23/2014

The Spanish military has received the first three of 46 Spanish-assembled utility and combat helicopters under separate contracts given to Airbus Helicopters. The aircraft officially delivered by the company were two Tiger attack helicopters in the HAD-E version and one NH90 GSPA, a Spanish-version tactical transport.

Need to know, 2015: Major changes in aviation

12/23/2014

One of the biggest changes in Marine Corps aviation in years will happen in 2015, and it promises to not only change the way that anyone in a flight suit operates, but how anyone with boots on the ground receives support from the air. Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron 22 will relocate from Marine Corps Air Station, Jacksonville, North Carolina, to Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona.

Eroding combat plane strength compromising national security: Panel

12/23/2014

National security is being "compromised" with a "fast-eroding" combat aircraft squadron strength of the Indian Air Force vis-a-vis the neighbouring countries, leading to a "very grim" situation, a parliamentary panel said on Monday. "With regard to existing squadron strength, it is learnt that we are down to 25 squadrons today even though the authorisation is for 42 combat squadrons.

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd Named Partner in Russia-India Helicopter Deal

12/23/2014

India's state-owned aerospace and defense giant Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will be one of the major partners in the Russia-India helicopter deal, the spokesperson for the Russian Embassy in India told Sputnik Monday. "India has told us that the one major partner will be Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

Deal for high altitude UAVs likely

12/22/2014

India and the U.S. are negotiating a deal for the purchase of high altitude, long endurance (HALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV). An agreement or announcement to this effect is likely when U.S. President Barack Obama visits India as the chief guest for the Republic Day ceremony next month, sources informed The Hindu.

India-Russia talks on to finalise copter deal

12/22/2014

Following the in-principle agreement reached by India and Russia for the production of Russian helicopters in India, both sides are carrying out discussions to work out the details to quickly conclude a deal. Initially the helicopters will be used to cater to the requirements of the Indian armed forces and only after that will exports happen, Russian embassy officials told The Hindu.

Video shows A-10 Thunderbolts and C-17 Globemasters in action over Nevada Test & Training Range

12/22/2014

The footage in this post shows A-10 Thunderbolt and C-17 Globemaster aircraft in action over Keno Airfield on the Nevada Test & Traning Range during JFE (Joint Forcible Entry Exercise) 14B on Dec. 6, 2014. Featuring some 100 aircraft, JFE is a US Air Force Weapons School large-scale air mobility exercise with the aim to test the ability of the participants in the weapons school courses to plan and execute complex air operations.

President's budget grounds eight C-17s at Joint Base Charleston

12/22/2014

One of the four C-17 flying units assigned to Joint Base Charleston is being grounded, along with another in Washington state, the Air Force announced. The decision was based on the President Barack Obama's defense budget for fiscal year 2015, according to a statement from the Air Mobility Command.

Serbia Lacks Money To Purchase New Equipment For Its Army

12/22/2014

Serbian army will spend 55 billion dinars (452 million euros) next year, which is 5 billion less than this year – it is provided by the draft state budget for 2015. Three billion dinars, intended for new weapons and equipment, will be sufficient only for smaller purchases. There will be no money for the purchase of radars, aircrafts, air defense systems or other modern systems.

Canada increases global reach with new military transporter

12/22/2014

Canada's defense minister announced Friday the addition of a fifth military transport jumbo jet to its fleet, as the nation continues expanding its combat and humanitarian reach around the world. Its four existing Globemaster III C17 aircrafts were purchased in 2008-2009 and have been used recently in Canadian and allied airlifts in Afghanistan, the Arctic, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Lithuania, Mali, Sierra Leone and Ukraine.