Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Most target practice flights piloted by civilians

12/22/2014

Civilians like Matthew LaCourse, who was killed last month when the F-16 he was flying was lost in the Gulf of Mexico, have flown more sorties for the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron this year than active duty military pilots. After initially declining to answer questions about the use of civilians in military airborne missions, Tyndall officials responded to emailed questions.

Navy helicopter crashes in Kuwait training flight

12/22/2014

A U.S. Navy helicopter crashed Sunday morning while on an overland training flight at Camp Buehring in Kuwait. The MH-60S is assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 26, and all six personnel aboard the aircraft survived the crash. Three had minor injuries and received treatment. All have been released.

House panel pulls up MoD for lack of IAF squadrons

12/22/2014

The Standing Committee on Defence has pulled up the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for a “lackadaisical and callous approach” towards “upgradation of Air Force squadrons”, the numbers of which stand at 34 against the sanctioned strength of 42. The MoD on the other hand has blamed “delay in LCA programme” as one of the major reasons for the shortfall in capability building of the IAF, besides the delay in induction of 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA).

Kurds push into Sinjar; Iraqis battle for airport

12/22/2014

Kurdish fighters are pushing their way into the town of Sinjar, backed by U.S.-led coalition airstrikes against Islamic State militants who captured the town last summer. Loud explosions and intense gunbattles were heard from inside the town on Sunday.

SAS hit squad sent to Iraq to hunt down ISIS jihadists after militants 'started learning how to avoid air strikes'

12/21/2014

Up to 60 SAS fighters are heading to Iraq to hunt down Islamic State leaders after militants started learning how to avoid airstrikes, it has been reported. The full squadron of troopers had initially been dispatched to Afghanistan for a separate operation, but have been diverted to battle Isis fanatics.

Ukraine Crisis in Mind, Lithuania Establishes a Rapid Reaction Force

12/21/2014

Maj. Linas Pakutka walked back and forth behind the line of soldiers lying in the snow-crusted field, a row of distant pines forming a jagged horizon in the twilight sky. His command to fire was barely audible in the fierce wind. The assault rifles, German-made G36s, crackled to life, punching invisible holes in a row of targets almost lost in the gloom.

Iran warns its ‘supersonic’ missiles can reach ‘hostile’ aircraft carriers

12/21/2014

A senior member of Iran’s powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) warned on Friday that the Iranian military had the ability to target aircraft carriers using supersonic missiles. “We can easily target hostile aircraft carriers with our supersonic missiles and we have advanced technology that would leave our enemies in awe,” Brig. Gen. Hossein Salami, the IRGC deputy commander, said during a speech carried by the official Iranian news agency IRNA.

Rafale Deal Nosedives in Negotiation Combat

12/21/2014

he much-awaited multi-billion dollar Rafale combat aircraft deal with France has once again run into rough weather. After negotiations of almost three years, it has now hit a ‘deadlock’ with both India and France refusing to concede to the other’s demands. When Rafale was declared the lowest bidder in January 2012, all eyes were on the inking of this deal that was touted as the ‘mother of all defence deals’.

Aussie jets drop more than 100 Iraq bombs

12/20/2014

ustralian combat aircraft operating over Iraq have dropped more than 100 bombs, each striking an Islamic State target. Commander, Air Commodore Steve Roberton, says there is real and direct feedback of the air task group achieving good results in its operations. The group comprises 200 personnel, six Super Hornet combat aircraft, a KC-30 air-to-air refuelling plane and an E-7 Wedgetail airborne early warning and control plane.

Feds buy another C-17 military transport plane

12/20/2014

The Royal Canadian Air Force is getting another C-17 military transport aircraft, bring the fleet total to five. Defence Minister Rob Nicholson announced the purchase in a hanger at CFB Trenton Friday. Nicholson said the C-17 Globemaster III is vital to the armed forces since it can fly long distances and land on short runways. He said it will be used in combat missions, and provide humanitarian aid and disaster relief both at home and overseas.

IAF got 81 Sukhoi planes against 112 due till 2012-13: CAG

12/20/2014

Indian Air Force received 81 Sukhoi-30 MKI aircraft as against 112 due till 2012-13 from state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) because of delay in receipt of technical documents from Russian manufacturer Rosoboronexport (ROE). Due to delayed delivery of the fighter planes, the Defence Ministry recovered liquidated damages of Rs 96.26 crore from HAL, which, however, could not recover the amount from ROE "in the absence of enabling provision" in their contract.

Russia Will Have 55 Stealth Sukhoi T-50 Fighters By 2020, But Are They As Good As The US Stealth Jets?

12/20/2014

Russia’s announcement this week that it will be operating a sizable contingent of its first stealth fighter, the Sukhoi PAK-FA (also known as T-50), by 2020 has intrigued from the defense world. The first deliveries will begin in 2016, and in four years' time the Russians will field 55 of the impressive-looking jet, which resembles closely the American F-22.

Su-30MK2 Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft, Russia

12/20/2014

The Su-30MK2 multi-role fighter aircraft is an improved version of the Su-30MKK, a member of the Su-30 aircraft family. The multi-role variant offers enhanced combat capabilities against aerial, ground and sea-based targets. The aircraft was developed by Sukhoi in 2002 and is manufactured by Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Production Association (KnAAPO). The aircraft are operational with Vietnam, Indonesia, Uganda, Venezuela and China.

US, Australia, Japan Seal F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Programme

12/19/2014

The United States selected Australia and Japan to render maintenance and upgrade of its F-35 Lighting strike fighter based or operating in the Pacific region as part of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter programme or JSF. Australia will be providing heavy air frame maintenance, repair, overhaul and upgrade to F-35 aircraft based in the Southern pacific. Japan will render the same service to aircraft based in the northern Pacific.

German Typhoons not subject to Russian aggression

12/19/2014

The German Air Force (GAF) is not seeing a more confrontational attitude from Russian pilots it is intercepting over the Baltic region, despite concerns being raised by Western leaders of increased aggression over recent weeks. Speaking during a media tour of Amari Air Base, Estonia, on 17 December, the GAF's detachment commander Lieutenant Colonel Gordon Schnitger said that the Russians that his pilots have encountered since they took on the NATO Baltic Air Policing Mission in September.

Netherlands commits to first operational F-35s

12/19/2014

The Netherlands announced on 15 December that it will sign a contract in April 2015 for an initial eight Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters (JSFs). In total the Netherlands is planning to buy 37 F-35s, with the first of the eight initial aircraft expected to enter service in 2019. Full operational capability (FOC) is expected to be attained in 2024 with all aircraft delivered.

Talks on Rafale aircraft deal 'put on fast track', says French Ambassador

12/19/2014

Discussions on the transfer of Rafale fighter jets from France to India have made "good progress'' and are "put on fast track'', the Ambassador of France to India, Francois Richier, has said. According to him, discussions had started in early 2012 and have taken three years due to the "importance and complexity" of the deal.

A-10 attacking Islamic State targets in Iraq

12/19/2014

The aircraft that the Air Force would love to kill is regularly raining death on Islamic State militants, defense officials confirmed. The A-10 Thunderbolt II has been used almost daily since November to attack Islamic State targets in Iraq, officials told Air Force Times. In mid-November, several A-10s from the Indiana Air National Guard's 163rd Fighter Squadron along with about 300 airmen were moved from Afghanistan to Southwest Asia to support airstrikes in Iraq.

Flying ops over Iraq continue at Christmas

12/19/2014

There will be routine operations on Christmas Day, including flying combat missions to drop bombs on IS targets. A large number of Australian defence personnel will be spending Christmas far from home. They'll be in Afghanistan, aboard Australian ships and in Middle East support bases.

Army Details Future Controversial Helicopter Swap With the National Guard

12/19/2014

The U.S. Army is moving ahead with a controversial plan to shift helicopters between the active-duty and National Guard and buying new aircraft without competition, despite ongoing litigation trying to block it. Getting rid of military equipment is never easy. Over decades, planes, tanks and ships become engrained in military bases throughout the country, building vocal and powerful supporters in local communities, Congress and the defense industry.

US-Led Coalition Eliminates Islamic State Senior Leaders: Pentagon

12/19/2014

Numerous senior leaders of the Islamic State (IS) have been destroyed during the US-led coalition airstrikes, Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby stated. “I can confirm that since mid-November, targeted coalition airstrikes successfully killed multiple senior and mid-level leaders within the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant,” Kirby said in a statement published Thursday.

PAF fighter pilots to undergo training in S. Korea

12/18/2014

Expecting initial delivery of FA-50 lead-in fighter jets late next year, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) is sending its fighter pilots to South Korea for a six-month training in handling the brand-new supersonic aircraft. PAF’s Air Defense Wing chief Col. Ernesto Okol said that aside from three fighter pilots, they are also sending 32 support personnel to South Korea in March for the much-needed flight and maintenance transition training.

Air Force Secretary Vows No More Layoffs in 2015

12/18/2014

The U.S. Air Force no longer plans another round of layoffs in fiscal 2015, the service's top civilian said. Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James made the announcement on Tuesday during an online discussion with troops, marking a shift in personnel policy for the service, which had planned on involuntarily separating more airmen to further downsize the active-duty force.

Australian chosen as regional JSF hub

12/18/2014

AUSTRALIA and Japan will both offer regional support hubs for Joint Strike Fighter aircraft in the Asia-Pacific region. Workers at Queensland and NSW air force bases will offer engine and airframe maintenance and upgrade work for the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning advanced combat aircraft. That way they don't need to be sent all the way back to the United States.

Russia to put more aircraft on duty in Belarus

12/18/2014

Russia intends to put more aircraft and helicopters on duty in Belarus, BelTA learned from Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Russia to Belarus Alexander Surikov during the press conference in Minsk on 17 December. The diplomat reminded that Russian jet fighters have been on duty in Belarus since December 2013. “Plans have been made to increase the amount of hardware on duty up to 12 combat aircraft and two trainer aircraft.