Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Australia Boosts Defense Spending

06/02/2014

Australia’s new defense budget boosts spending by 6 percent over last year and forecasts movement on a number of large acquisition programs, including vehicles and helicopters. The government of Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott delivered its budget on May 13, the first since the Liberal-National Party coalition was elected in September.

From humble roots, Nellis takes flight

06/02/2014

The words “Nellis Air Force Base” and “Las Vegas” are synonymous in aviation circles. At least that’s been the case since May 1, 1950, when the former Army-airfield-turned-Air Force base in the northern Las Vegas Valley was renamed Nellis Air Force Base in honor of 1st Lt. William Harrell Nellis. He was a young officer from Southern Nevada who was killed Dec. 27, 1944, while fighting in the skies over Europe during World War II.

IAF's fighter fleet needs immediate replenishment

06/02/2014

As soon as the euphoria subsides and the new government at the Centre settles down to business, it will have to take some expeditious decisions so far as acquisitions for the defence forces are concerned. One decision that has to be taken immediately is on how to replenish fighter aircraft squadrons. According to highly placed sources in the Indian Air Force (IAF), the country is fast running out of fighter aircraft and this is a matter of great concern.

Israel has quadrupled its air-strike capacity over the past eight years

06/01/2014

“I believe our capabilities are only second to the United States, from both an offensive and defensive standpoint” General Eshel told the audience at the Israel conference of National Security, in April 2014. IAF commander said, referring to a significant leap in capabilities over the past two years. The commander said he has based his assessment on an evaluation of IDF abilities and conversations with officials from foreign militaries.

Ukrainian Forces Resume Attacks, Bombings

06/01/2014

Ukrainian forces resumed bombings today in the outskirts of the administrative city of Donetsk, in the country´s southeastern region, with heavy artillery and harassment of the National Guard squads. Combats were registered from daybreak today near the locality of Joroshevo and the area of the international airport, Rossia 24 channel reported.

The MQ-16 Lawn Dart

06/01/2014

There is an effort underway to develop a UAV version of the F-16. This would be based on the QF-16, the remotely controlled target version of the F-16. The air force is already in the process of converting 210 retired F-16s to QF-16s and it was noted that with a little extra work the QF-16 could be turned into a combat UAV for dangerous missions like SEAD (suppression of enemy defenses) or attacking ground targets guarded by heavy air defenses.

7 Things The Marines Have To Do To Make The F-35B Worth The Huge Cost

06/01/2014

After years of passing more conventional capabilities by, I think it is time for the Marine Corps, and the "Gator Navy" for that matter, to get serious about getting the very most out of their extremely expensive and controversial F-35B force. At $150 million a pop, they need to be more than nicer Harriers.

French airforce contingent arrives in India for 'Garuda-5'

06/01/2014

Four French Rafale fighter aircraft and a contingent of about 70 French airforce personnel on Saturday landed at Jodhpur airbase to participate in the 10-day long joint air exercise "Garuda-5". The air exercise, expected to be attended by Defence Minister Arun Jaitley, will kick start at the Jodhpur airbase on June 2.

Russian Fighters for China Still On Hold

06/01/2014

Russian industry officials are denying media reports that Beijing and Moscow are finalizing a deal on the sale of advanced Russian fighters and surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) to China. Widely reported by other media outlets, Hong Kong-based Phoenix TV announced that the head of Sukhoi, Mikhail Pogosyan, confirmed that a deal with China to procure Su-35S fighters and S-400 SAMs was close to concluding.

Could Combat Drones Be a Turning Point for The Boeing Company's Defense Business?

06/01/2014

Today, Boeing's UAV offerings come primarily from the company's subsidiary Insitu, which it acquired outright in 2008 for about $100 million after partnering with the younger company to develop and market the ScanEagle drone.

Latvia hosts Baltic forces regional training event

05/31/2014

Paratroopers with 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, participated in a regional training event at the Military Base in Adazi, Latvia, May 27-28, involving forces from across the Baltic nations. The purpose of the event was a NATO fixed-wing, live-fire exercise focusing on close-combat attack and close-air support. The Latvian National Defense Force hosts the military event every year in late spring.

Boeing, Saab See Surveillance Plane Demand Rising Across Asia

05/31/2014

Boeing Co., the second-biggest defense contractor in the U.S., and Saab AB expect demand for maritime and aerial surveillance systems to grow in Asia as territorial disputes intensify. Demand for maritime patrol craft and affiliated equipment in the Asia-Pacific region is expected to grow steadily for the foreseeable future, Chris Chadwick, head of Boeing’s defense business, said yesterday in Singapore.

Military changing rules for Civil Reserve Air Fleet program

05/31/2014

Rule changes for commercial airlines that supplement military aircraft in the rapid transport of troops and supplies are on the way. The U.S. Air Force said the upcoming changes to the Civil Reserve Air Fleet program are the result of a review and industry-military consultations, meant "to ensure the nation's capability to rapidly airlift service members and military supplies around the world at a reasonable cost to taxpayers."

'Pivot' Pledge Wearing Thin on Hagel Trip as China Rises

05/31/2014

President Barack Obama’s emphasis this week on restricting the use of the military abroad risks an unintended consequence: deepening concern about fading U.S. engagement among Asian nations locked in disputes with China. Obama’s defense chief, Chuck Hagel, leads the U.S. delegation to an annual security conference in Singapore that started today, two days after Obama said the armed forces can’t be the “primary component of our leadership.”

Strong Air Force presence at Air Capability Demonstration

05/31/2014

The South African Air Force held its first Air Capability Demonstration (ACD) of the year at the Roodewal weapons range outside Polokwane in Limpopo this week, and put on an impressive show that included Rooivalk attack helicopters and seven Gripen fighters.

JSF the only way to fly into future

05/31/2014

The government recently announced it was stumping up more than $12 billion to buy 58 F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters (in addition to the 14 already approved). Many voices were raised in protest. Some asked how the government could find that much money at a time when it was proclaiming the need for parsimony elsewhere. Others questioned whether the F-35 was the right aircraft to buy.

Three military aircraft involved in near miss over Scottish islands

05/31/2014

A pair of French nuclear strike jets were involved in a near miss with a third military aircraft over Scotland. The Mirage 2000 jets flew within 200ft of a BN2T Defender flying 30 nautical miles north east of Islay in the Inner Hebrides. The incident was investigated by the UK Airprox Board, which reports on near misses in UK airspace.

ROKAF Receives Additional C-130J Super Hercules Aircraft

05/31/2014

Two additional C-130J Super Hercules aircraft operated by the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) ferried from the Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] facility here today. These C-130Js will join the ROKAF’s other two Super Hercules aircraft, which were delivered in March. ROKAF aircrews also currently operate a fleet of C-130H legacy aircraft.

Russian Paratroopers Receive Newest Verba Shoulder-Fired Missiles

05/31/2014

The Russian Airborne Forces have started receiving the newest Verba man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS) equipped with an automated fire control system that has no foreign rival, military spokesman Yevgeny Meshkov said Friday. "The surface to air-missile regiment of the Ivankvsky Airborne Forces division is the first to have started receiving and studying the modern system of air defense battle," Meshkov said.

Hagel to raise China disputes in meeting

05/30/2014

Days after the U.S. and China traded new accusations of cyberspying, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Thursday he will press the same issues in a face-to-face meeting with a top military officer from Beijing this weekend. Hagel said he also plans to raise many of the territorial disputes that have raised tempers in the Asia Pacific region and talk about "where we think China is overplaying its hand and presenting new challenges and new tensions to this area."

New Indian Regime Will Sign Long-Delayed Deals

05/30/2014

A lack of decision-making on large Indian defense procurement deals in the past two years is expected to end with the swearing-in of the new government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Changes in procurement and offset policies are also expected. Major projects that are in the final stage of processing and require a signature for conclusion include the 126-aircraft medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) won by Dassault Aviation’s Rafale.

RAAF chief justifies $12b jet 'investment'

05/30/2014

In anti-budget rallies, protesters have loudly demanded the government spend more money on health, welfare and education and not $12 billion on new jet fighters. So how does RAAF chief Air Marshal Geoff Brown respond to that one? 'Security is one of the fundamental responsibilities of government. The unfortunate thing with defence is that the debt that you actually owe the future needs to be paid today,' he said.

Pakistan, China Conclude Shaheen-III Air Exercise

05/30/2014

China and Pakistan concluded the three-week-long Shaheen-III air exercise on Wednesday. The exercise was the third installment of the Shaheen (Falcon) series of bilateral exercises between the two countries’ air forces, according to Defense News. The exercise is intended to boost cooperation between China and Pakistan and is a source of valuable experience for pilots on both sides. The exercise is “multi-dimensional” and involves operations in “near real [scenarios].”

Aircraft makers press harder as Ottawa reviews fighter-jet purchase

05/30/2014

Companies vying to build Canada’s new fighter jets are cranking up their sales pitches, but they’ll be waiting a while longer to learn whether the Harper government intends to hold a full competition – or stick with the troubled F-35 program. A decision is still pending, and no timeline is imminent on when that decision might be forthcoming, Public Works Minister Diane Finley told a gathering of defence contractors Thursday.

China’s military base in PH territory must absolutely be blocked

05/30/2014

Push has now come to shove. Emboldened by the lack of military resistance in occupying Philippine islands and with her fishing and navy boats sailing at will in our waters, China’s military leaders have now initiated a bold land reclamation military base project in Mabini Reef (Fiery Cross Reef). Location: about 150 miles from Palawan and within the Philippines 200 miles Exclusive Economic Zone as defined by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS).