Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Angola To Receive Upgraded Sukhoi Combat Aircraft

05/08/2015

Angola is set to be become the third operator of the Sukhoi Su-30 series twin-seat fighter jets in Africa, following Algeria and Uganda. Six former Indian air force Su-30K (mod) aircraft are due for delivery in the second half of this year. Originally destined for the Belarus air force, they have undergone a major overhaul and repair program at the Aircraft Repair Plant no. 558 in Baranovichi, Belarus, arranged by Sukhoi.

US Navy also purchases four new P-8A trainers

05/08/2015

Boeing will provide the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) with a complete training system for the P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft under a contract that also includes the sale of four P-8A training systems for the U.S. Navy. This combined domestic and foreign military sale further strengthens the growing partnership between the U.S. Navy and the RAAF on the P-8 program.

US Approves $130 Million Upgrade to Singapore’s F-16 Fighter Jet Fleet

05/08/2015

The US State Department approved a $130 million deal for an upgrade of Singapore’s F-16 fighter jet fleet, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said in a statement on Thursday. "The proposed upgrade improves both the capabilities and reliability of the Republic of Singapore Air Force’s (RSAF) aging fleet of F-16s," DSCA said.

China Warns Philippines Military to Stay Away from Disputed Territory

05/08/2015

China has warned Philippine military planes six times to leave disputed areas of the South China Sea and may be “testing the waters” to see if it can establish a no-fly zone in the region, senior Philippine military officials said.

Finland to Join 100 Plane NATO Exercises in Northern Scandinavia

05/08/2015

Finnish Air Force F-18 Hornet fighters are set to participate in an exercise known as Arctic Challenge, a twelve day, nine country exercise involving nearly 100 planes, set to begin May 25, the Finnish Broadcasting Company (YLE) reported.

Pentagon considered stopping intercepts of Russian aircraft

05/07/2015

The Pentagon considered, and then rejected, the idea of stopping routine intercepts of Russian military aircraft flying off the coast of Alaska, because the U.S. intercept flights appeared to have limited deterrent or intelligence value, according to two U.S. defense officials. While the Russian military flights, usually bomber aircraft, were entering a U.S. "air defense identification zone," they were not entering U.S. airspace.

Airbus aims for new A400M military plane sale this year -executive

05/07/2015

irbus aims to strike a new sales deal for its A400M military aircraft this year and hopes it will bolster interest in the delay-plagued transporter, a senior executive from its defence division said. Several buyers, including Turkey and Germany, have expressed frustration at repeated delays in deliveries of the heavy cargo and troop carrier, Europe's largest defence project.

Reports attribute airstrikes in Sudan to Israel

05/07/2015

Foreign warplanes struck a number of targets in the Khartoum area in central Sudan overnight Tuesday, the London-based news outlet al-Araby al-Jadeed reported. Several Arab media outlets attributed the airstrikes to Israel, which did not comment on the reports.

French courtship of Gulf monarchies is risky: experts

05/07/2015

Hungry for defence deals, France has cosied up to the Gulf monarchies, winning several billion-euro contracts in the process, but its strategy of backing one side in the region's Sunni-Shia power struggle is risky, say experts.

Congress Should Stop Playing Games With the Pentagon Budget

05/07/2015

Ever since the Budget Control Act of 2011 placed caps on the Pentagon's base budget, Congress and the Obama administration have been using creative accounting to evade them. But this year's House Armed Services Committee (HASC) version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) set a new standard for budget gimmickry.

Air Force announces first female F-35 pilot

05/07/2015

The Air Force announced Wednesday it has crossed a new milestone for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter this week — its first female pilot. Lt. Col. Christine Mau, deputy commander of the 33rd Fighter Wing Operations, completed her first training flight in the fifth-generation fighter jet Tuesday, according to an official Air Force report.

India's Tejas and China's Xiaolong fighters compared

05/07/2015

An article in Sina's Chinese-language military news web portal compared the abilities of India's HAL Tejas Light Combat Aircraft and the FC-1 Xiaolong/JF-17 Thunder developed jointly by China and Pakistan. Overview of the Aircraft

Parliamentary panel concerned that Sukhoi-30 fighters have no protective shelters

05/07/2015

The Parliamentary Committee on Defence has noted with concern that the frontline combat aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF), Sukhoi-30MKI, do not have protection of hardened shelters in air bases which would save them from direct hits of bombs in the event of a war.

US arms Pakistan with 14 combat aircrafts, 59 trainer jets, 374 armoured carriers

05/07/2015

The US has handed over to Pakistan 14 combat aircraft, 59 military trainer jets and 374 armoured personnel carriers, which were earlier used by American forces in Afghanistan and Iraq. As the US withdraws its forces from neighbouring Afghanistan, the major defence articles have been transferred to Pakistan under its 'Excessive Defence Article' category, an internal Congressional report has said.

France offers 25% discount to India on purchase of 36 Rafale jets

05/06/2015

France agreed to a 25% discount on its earlier offer to clinch the deal for an off the-shelf purchase of 36 Rafale aircraft during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Paris last month. This will be the base on which further negotiations will take place on Wednesday. The ballpark cost per aircraft as per Dassault's winning bid for the 126 MMRCA programme — the old, nowscrapped, Rafale deal — came to about $300 million, taking into account the estimates of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL).

Saudis’ UK-made war jets outnumber RAF’s

05/06/2015

Saudi Arabia has twice as many British-made warplanes at its disposal for its bombing campaign in Yemen than those that are available for the entire Royal Air Force, The Telegraph can disclose. British-made Tornado GR4 ground attack fighters and Eurofighter Typhoons are playing a central role in the Royal Saudi Air Force’s bombing campaign against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.

US arms Pak with combat aircraft, trainer jets

05/06/2015

As the US withdraws its forces from neighbouring Afghanistan, the Obama administration has armed Pakistan with 14 combat aircraft, 59 military trainer jets and 374 armoured personnel carriers, an internal Congressional report has said. The major defence articles have been transferred to Pakistan under its 'Excessive Defence Article' category, which are mostly from its war combat zones of Afghanistan and Iraq.

Australia Accepts New Boeing CH-47F Chinook Aircraft

05/06/2015

At a ceremony yesterday at Royal Australian Air Force Base Townsville in northern Queensland, Australia commissioned their first two Boeing CH-47F Chinook advanced configuration aircraft. It’s a major milestone in the updating of the Australian Army’s cargo helicopter fleet.

US Approves Multimillion Air-to-Air Missile Sale to Indonesia and Malaysia

05/06/2015

The United States has approved a proposed $47 million sale of air-to-air Sidewinder missiles and associated parts to Indonesia, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said in a statement. DSCA explained that the sale will reduce Indonesia’s reliance on the United States to intervene in Southeast Asia to maintain stability, while improving Indonesia’s interoperability with the United States.

US Approves $3Bln Osprey Aircraft Sale to Japan

05/06/2015

The United States has approved a possible military sale of 17 Osprey aircraft and associated parts and equipment to Japan in a $3 billion defense deal with the island country, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said on Tuesday.

UK Royal Air Force Set to Guard Baltic Airspace

05/06/2015

UK Royal Air Force pilots and four Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft took over the NATO Baltic Air Policing mission from their Spanish colleagues at an airbase near Tallinn on Tuesday, the Estonian Defense Forces reported. Their Spanish partners had been patrolling the skies there since January 2.

All You Need is Su-35: China Should Buy Russian Fighter Jets – Media

05/06/2015

China will have to purchase Sukhoi Su-35 (Flanker-E) supermaneuverable multirole fighter jets despite the fact that Beijing is developing its own fourth generation aircraft, according to the Want China Times website.

Russian Arms Exporter Plans to Expand Deliveries to Turkey

05/06/2015

Russian-Turkish technological cooperation will continue in joint projects to include short-range missile defense systems, tactical digital communications, orbital space systems, as well as various military and marine equipment.

U.S. Special Ops wants to add a laser cannon to its new 'Ghostrider' gunship

05/05/2015

Much like the husky A-10 Warthog, the Air Force's combat-chiseled AC-130 gunships can claim legendary status among soldiers, aviators, historians and politicians. Steady-flying turboprop aircraft like the Spectre, Spooky, and Stinger II gunships are continually on patrol around the globe, ready to rain down fiery spit and fury at a moment's notice in support of American and coalition ground troops.

Legendary pilot observes final mission of OH-58 helicopter

05/05/2015

The Army’s OH-58 helicopter is retiring from service this year. As the Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk used this classic war bird a final time for rotational unit support in April, a big fan of the aircraft was invited to observe one of its final missions. That fan is retired Lt. Col. Hugh L. Mills, also known as “Darkhorse 1-6,” whose legacy was born over the muddy deltas and thick jungles of Vietnam in 1969.