Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Aircraft Stories: The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (Part I)

05/29/2014

How big is the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter? By one set of measures, it is three times bigger than the Eisenhower Interstate Highway System, ten times bigger than either the Apollo Project or the International Space Station or Hurricane Katrina, or one hundred times bigger than the Panama Canal.

Russian Naval Aviation Monitoring NATO Warships in Black Sea – Source

05/29/2014

Naval wings of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet have resumed training flights over neutral waters of the sea to monitor the activity of NATO warships, a source in the Russian navy's headquarters said Wednesday. “During the flights, combat training is carried out to provide surface image coverage in the neutral waters of the Black Sea,” the source said. These flights, performed mainly by Su-24 attack aircraft, allow monitoring of NATO warship maneuvers, which have increased in activity in recent months.

Impressive Videos of the Ukrainian Air Strikes on Donetsk

05/28/2014

On May 26, Ukrainian Armed Forces launched a military operation to regain control over the international airport in the eastern city of Donetsk. The operation saw the involvement of Mi-24 gunship helicopters and Mig-29 Fulcrum and Su-25 Frogfoot jets. It all started early on Monday morning, when forces belonging to the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (pro-Russia separatists) occupied the airport.

U.K. Ministry of Defence Deploys BAE Systems' Missile Warning System to Protect Troops

05/28/2014

The U.K. Ministry of Defence (MoD) awarded BAE Systems a $28 million (£16.7 million) contract for the third-generation (Gen3) configuration of its Common Missile Warning System (CMWS). This contract, which represents the first direct commercial sale of BAE Systems’ Gen3 CMWS technology, will enable the U.K. military to provide its aircrews with the latest CMWS survivability equipment.

Sino-Pak Shaheen III Air Exercise Commences in Pakistan

05/28/2014

China and Pakistan commenced their third installment in the Shaheen (Falcon) series of bilateral exercises here over the weekend, according to a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) spokesman. Shaheen III is described as a multi-dimensional joint exercise aimed at boosting cooperation and imparting knowledge gained through flying/combat experience conducted in a near real scenario, allowing participants to familiarize themselves with the latest concepts and practices.

U.S. Plays Relationship Therapist in Gulf

05/28/2014

Here's a question that's been nagging me for a while: Why don’t the Arab states that provide so many weapons, and so much funding, to the Syrian opposition, and that also demand greater U.S. intervention in the Syrian civil war, just intervene themselves? The countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council, in particular, both vociferously support opposition to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and are very well armed.

US sends assault ship with 1,000 Marines near Libya, asks Americans to 'depart immediately'

05/28/2014

The US is sending 1,000 Marines in an amphibious assault ship to Libya's coast as a “precautionary” move should the US embassy require evacuation, a US official said. Security concerns also led the US to suggest Americans in Libya "depart immediately." Adding to tensions, gunmen attacked the Tripoli home of Libya’s new prime minister, Ahmed Maiteeq, on Tuesday. Businessman Maiteeq, 42, and his family escaped harm, according to AFP.

Chinese and Japanese Aircrafts: Close Encounter over Disputed Islands

05/28/2014

During Chinese-Russian maritime exercises, Japanese aircraft entered the disputed air zone. The Chinese and Japanese aircrafts had a close encounter for as much as dozens of meters. Japan and China blamed each other for the dangerous acts. Foreign media commented that this is a dangerous escalation over the disputed Diaoyu Islands between China and Japan.

Combat Hammer 2014: Boosting RPA strike proficiency

05/28/2014

The role of modern aerial warfare has drastically changed since it was first used on a large scale in World War I. The advent of precision-guided munitions has aided in providing strike capabilities to combatant commanders while helping to reduce or even eliminate unnecessary suffering.

Indian Fighter Jet Crashes in Jammu and Kashmir, Killing Pilot

05/28/2014

A Soviet-era fighter jet of the Indian Air Force crashed Tuesday morning, killing its pilot and raising fresh questions about the MiG-21 aircraft that has been involved with many fatal accidents in India. On Tuesday morning one of India’s MiG-21 Bisons took off for a training sortie from an air force base in Srinagar in the state of Jammu and Kashmir then crashed about 10 kilometers short of another air force base in the northern state, an air force official said.

Russian, Chinese Paratroopers to Exchange Skills in Beijing

05/28/2014

A delegation of Russian airborne forces has arrived in Beijing to exchange skills and knowledge with their Chinese colleagues, a Russian Defense Ministry spokesperson said Tuesday. "During the visit, the Russian military delegation will familiarize itself with the training and resources facilities of the school of China's People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF)," said Yevgeny Meshkov, a representative of the ministry's press service.

Deliveries of Russian MiG Fighters to Syria Maintain Arms Balance in Region – Internal Opposition

05/28/2014

A contract for the supply of Russian MiG fighters to Syria serves to strike a balance of arms and maintain peace in the region, a top leader of Syria’s Popular Front for Change and Liberation told RIA Novosti. "The Soviet Union has always supplied weapons to Syria. Thus, some balance in the region was maintained to help us keep the peace, so I think that the contract is part of this historical strategy," one of the Popular Front’s leaders Qadri Jamil explained.

Vietnam boat sinks after collision with Chinese vessel

05/27/2014

A Vietnamese fishing boat has sunk after it collided with a Chinese vessel near a controversial oil rig in the South China Sea, amid tensions between the two nations. Both countries are blaming the other for the incident. Vietnam's coast guard said the boat was encircled by 40 Chinese vessels before it was rammed, reports said. But Chinese state media outlet Xinhua said Vietnam's boat collided with its vessel after "engaging in harassment".

Ukraine unrest: Clash at Donetsk airport 'kills dozens'

05/27/2014

At least 30 pro-Russia separatists have been killed so far in fighting at the airport in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk, insurgents say. Armed separatists tried to take over the airport on Monday. A BBC team near the airport on Tuesday said sporadic gunfire continued, though one Ukrainian military spokesman said it now controlled the facility.

The Ukrainian Scenario Is Being Tested In Belarus - Belarus Security Digest

05/27/2014

Currently, the beginning of a project of modernisation for 10 fighters MiG-29 has been confirmed. It will affect the systems of control, their aiming and tracking systems and their armaments. The airplanes will improve their ability to hit ground targets. The modernisation of the heavy Su-27 is planned to happen the end of the first stage of the modernisation project. However, no specifics are available yet.

Russian Sokhoi PAK FA stealth fighter superior to U.S. F-22 Raptor in many important ways

05/27/2014

Russia’s new fifth-generation Sukhoi PAK FA -50 fighter jet performed its first demonstration flight at MAKS-2011 international air and space show in the town of Zhukovsky, near Moscow. According to all reports the Sukhou PAK preformed admirably. Spectators marveled as two T-50 jets appeared in the sky above Zhukovsky at 16:00 o’clock yesterday.

Air-to-air missiles with a range of 100 kilometers and even longer

05/27/2014

When I asked Yossi Druker, EVP and Head of the Air Superiority Systems Division at Rafael, if the age of air-to-air missiles has ended, he provided me with a direct answer of the type that leaves no room for doubts: “No one has launched an ICBM in decades. Does that mean that they are no longer necessary?” Well, it appears that despite the fact that air-to-air combat encounters are a rare occurrence in the world’s skies, military organizations still acquire advanced air-to-air missiles.

House of Representatives Rejects Cost Savings Supported by Pentagon

05/27/2014

The federal government must spend less money. The federal budget needs to be trimmed. That’s what Republicans, and even some Democrats, have demanded year after year, insisting it is time to spend fewer tax dollars. So what happens when the Department of Defense—which has been raking in half of trillion dollars a year—offers up multiple ways to cut its budget? Congress votes to put the money back.

Why Can’t America’s Newest Stealth Jet Land Like It’s Supposed To?

05/27/2014

There are big air shows in the UK this summer. The British public may be a little disappointed, however. The F-35B Joint Strike Fighter—the stealth jet that’s supposed to be able to take off and land vertically, like a helicopter—will be on display for the first time outside the U.S. But it won’t emulate the vertical landings that the Harrier family has made routine since the Beatles were playing dodgy nightclubs in Hamburg.

The History Of Drone Technology

05/27/2014

Drones, also known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), are pilotless and non-crewed aircraft that are capable of flight either by remote control or through the use of on-board computers. Other names for these types of aircraft are remotely piloted vehicle (RPV), remotely piloted aircraft (RPA), and remotely operated aircraft (ROA).

Ukrainian troops, separatists battle at Donetsk airport

05/27/2014

Intense fighting broke out in eastern Ukraine on Monday when government air and ground forces attacked pro-Russian separatist gunmen who had seized an airport terminal. The clashes between Ukraine's Army and separatists in Donetsk have caused some casualties, according to a statement posted on the official website of the city's mayor, which also advised residents to stay in their homes.

Military Aircraft Take-off and Land on Highway Strip

05/26/2014

Military aircraft successfully took-off and landed on a highway strip in central China on the morning of May 25, 2014, according to a post from the official Weibo account of Jiefangjun Bao (People's Liberation Army Daily). Fighter planes, helicopters and transport aircraft participated in the military drill.

China and Japan trade blame over fighter jets

05/26/2014

Japan and China have traded accusations after China scrambled fighter jets when Japanese military aircraft entered an air defence zone declared by Beijing over the East China Sea. China's defence ministry said on Sunday that two Japanese planes entered the defence zone the previous day during a joint military drill with the Chinese and Russian navies.

Japan in Depth / GSDF reshuffles troops to defend remote isles

05/26/2014

The Ground Self-Defense Force is hurrying to reorganize its deployment of personnel, to enhance its defense of remote islands against China’s increasing military strength. Though the GSDF is conducting its first large-scale landing drill in the Amami islands of Kagoshima Prefecture, there are many problems facing the reorganization plan that has just begun.

Prince William to Take Job as Air Ambulance Pilot

05/26/2014

The heir apparent to the throne, Prince William is set to become an air ambulance pilot rather than take on full-time royal commitments. After stepping down as an RAF search-and-rescue pilot over a year ago, the prince is said to have a "day job" with the East Anglian air ambulance service near his country home at Anmer Hall in Sandringham.