Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

US-India Collaboration on Aircraft Carriers: A Good Idea?

04/24/2015

Yesterday, my colleague Franz-Stefan Gady covered the main takeaways from a new Carnegie Endowment for International Peace report, authored by Ashley Tellis, that calls for, among other things, broader cooperation between the United States and India on developing the latter’s naval capabilities. Specifically, Tellis focuses on carrier aviation and recommends that the United States ensure that India fields a more robust carrier capability than China.

US to Deliver F-35 Fighter Jets to Israel in 2016

04/24/2015

The US government will provide F-35 fighter jets to Israel next year to the country a strategic advantage over its rivals in the Middle East, US Vice President Joe Biden said during a speech celebrating Israeli independence.

How technology has changed intelligence collection

04/23/2015

With the world becoming a more volatile place and certain high-threat environments becoming too dangerous to send personnel, the lack of human intelligence has placed a greater stress on signals intelligence to provide military commanders with greater knowledge of dangerous actors and potential threats.

First Of 13 Japanese Tsunami-Damaged F-2B Fighter Jet Repaired

04/23/2015

Japanese first of 13 F-2B fighter aircraft which suffered damage due to 2011 Tsunami completed repairs, IHS Janes reported Tuesday. The Japanese Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) rolled out the overhauled F-2B fighter aircraft in a ceremony to mark to the completion of repairs by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and Lockheed Martin held at MHI's Komaki South Plant.

India's New Mega Weapon: Nuclear-Armed Supersonic Missiles

04/23/2015

India’s nuclear command has begun receiving fighter jets armed with the country’s most advanced, supersonic cruise missile. According to media reports, India’s Strategic Forces Command (SFC) has begun receiving 42 Su-30MKI air dominance fighters modified to carry air-launched BrahMos supersonic cruise missile. This will significantly enhance the striking power of the air leg of India’s nuclear triad.

U.S. A-10 Thunderbolt Trains With Romanian MiGs, United Against Russia

04/23/2015

In the last 15 years of the Cold War, the American A-10 Thunderbolt and the Soviet-built MiG-21 occupied hangars on either side of the Iron Curtain, waiting to pounce. The lumbering, heavily armed A-10 would have gone after Warsaw Pact tanks and troops; the nimble MiG fighter would have tried to shoot it down. But two decades later, they are taking part in exercises side by side, staged by the U.S. and Romania.

Saudi Arabia Signals Bombs Will Continue to Drop in Yemen

04/23/2015

Saudi Arabia boasted Tuesday that it was winding down its air campaign in Yemen because its forces had destroyed the most powerful weaponry of the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels controlling most of the country. Turns out that Riyadh may have gotten ahead of itself: the Saudi ambassador to Washington said Wednesday that while the number of airstrikes might decrease, the bombardment of Houthi targets would continue until the rebel group halted its military offensive.

Northrop's X-47B reaches major milestone

04/23/2015

This week, the X-47B aircraft developed at Northrop Grumman’s facility in San Diego became the first unmanned vehicle to undergo in-flight refueling. Northrop and Navy officials said Wednesday that the the X-47B successfully maneuvered behind an Omega K-707 tanker and connected to that plane’s refueling system.

JAPAN COAST GUARD SELECTS DASSAULT AVIATION'S FALCON 2000 MARITIME SURVEILLANCE AIRCRAFT AFTER AN INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION

04/23/2015

The Japan Coast Guard (JCG) has selected the Falcon 2000 Maritime Surveillance Aircraft (MSA) proposed by Dassault Aviation to enhance its operational fleet.The Falcon 2000 MSA, based on a Falcon 2000 LXS (range 4000 NM), is designed for a broad range of missions including maritime surveillance, piracy control, drug interdiction, fishery patrol, law enforcement, search and rescue, intelligence and reconnaissance.

Lessons for India: How the 'Mother of All Defense Deals' Crashed and Burned

04/23/2015

India’s decision to procure 36 Dassault Rafale combat jets is an attempt to stop short-term hemorrhaging, but is not a substitute for the urgent need to address both the erosion of the Indian Air Force’s (IAF’s) force strength or gaps in higher defense management that continue to plague the Indian armed forces.

Manned aircraft needed for future Air Force, as Navy moves unmanned

04/23/2015

The Air Force will not follow the Navy into an all-unmanned future strike fleet, as pilots will be needed in the cockpits of most of its combat fleet for the foreseeable future. While the Air Force will increase its reliance on remotely piloted and possibly autonomous aircraft, there will be no replacement for a fighter pilot, Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh said Wednesday.

U.S.: Warships near Yemen create 'options' for dealing with Iranian vessels

04/22/2015

The U.S. said Tuesday that deploying warships to Yemen to monitor nearby Iranian vessels has given America "options" for how it could react to Iran's behavior in the region. The warships are being deployed to monitor ships traveling from Iran that could be trafficking arms to Houthi rebels in Yemen, U.S. officials told CNN, saying the move was also meant to reassure allies in the region.

European tanker exercise points towards combined fleet

04/22/2015

Tanker aircraft from four nations are nearing the completion of a European Defence Agency-backed exercise intended to increase interoperability and co-operation. Being conducted from Eindhoven air base in the Netherlands from 13-24 April, the European Air Refuelling Training (EART) activity is also supporting combat aircraft participating in the multinational Frisian Flag manoeuvres, which are running simultaneously from Leeuwarden air base.

F-35 program advances with training deployment of 10 aircraft

04/22/2015

Personnel at the 56th Fighter Wing at Luke Air Force Base (AFB) – responsible for training F-16 and F-35 fighter pilots and maintainers, qualifying instructors, conducting conversion pilot training, instructing forward air controllers, and deploying mission-ready combat pilots –performed the first F-35 training deployment this month. Luke AFB officials sent 10 F-35 Lightning II aircraft, half the base’s current fleet of F-35 jets, to Nellis AFB, Nevada.

IAF may restructure jet pilot training

04/22/2015

The IAF may be forced to junk its transitional training for rookie fighter pilots because of Hindustan Aeronautics' continuing failure to deliver its Sitara intermediate jet trainer (IJT), which was first sanctioned in 1999 but still cannot stall-and-spin. Stall-and-spin is one of the critical maneuvers used to transform rookie cadets into top-gun fighter pilots in the inherently-dangerous art of combat flying.

AF, Army, coalition partners showcase strategic airlift capabilities

04/22/2015

Members of the 317th Airlift Group from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, flew to Pope Army Airfield April 7, to participate in Combined Joint Operational Access Exercise 15-01. The exercise takes place multiple times each year to certify the Air Force and Army's ability to deploy strategic airlift, contingency and support forces in a large formation airdrop.

Interview: India’s Rafale Deal

04/22/2015

While visiting France in early April, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the acquisition of 36 French Dassault Rafale jets. The announcement capped years of sometimes contentious negotiations, which had intensified since Modi came to power last year.

Selfridge ANGB Personnel, Aircraft Join Fight Against ISIS

04/22/2015

Personnel and aircraft from Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Harrison Township have been deployed to join the fight against ISIS. Maj. Gen. Gregory J. Vadnais, the Adjutant General of the Michigan National Guard, announced Tuesday that approximately 350 airmen and 12 A-10 Thunderbolt II ground attack aircraft from the 127th Wing of the Michigan Air National Guard have been deployed he Middle East as part of Operation Inherent Resolve to help in the fight against ISIS.

Kazakhstan Air Force receives Sukhoi Su-30SM fighter aircraft

04/22/2015

The Kazakhstan Air Force has received four Sukhoi Su-30SM Flanker C fighter aircraft from Irkut Corporation, a part of the Sukhoi Group. The new twin-engine multifunctional two-seat fighters were handed over at Taldykorgan air base in southern Kazakhstan. A maximum speed of 1,320 miles per hour can be achieved by the Su-30SM, meanwhile it has a ceiling of 56,800ft and a range of 1,620 miles. It is built to order at JSC Corporation Irkut.

Russian North Fleet Aviation Holding Anti-Ship Drills in Barents Sea

04/22/2015

Aviation from Russia's Northern Fleet has begun anti-ship military exercises in the Barents Sea beyond the Arctic Circle, the Northern Fleet's press service announced Tuesday. "Today, the crews of anti-ship Ka-27 [Helix] helicopters, Il-38 [May] and Tu-142 [Bear-F] airplanes from the Northern Fleet have begun planned exercises on the search and identification of submarines in the Barents Sea using hydro-acoustic equipment, as well as bombing," the press center said.

Fortress Crimea

04/21/2015

Before Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, the presence of Russian military forces there was strictly defined by a 1997 treaty with Ukraine 1997. The specified that no more than 25,000 Russian military personnel could be present on the peninsula, and only 2,000 of them could be air force and another 2,000 could be marines. Equipment limits also applied. The Russians could have no more than 24 artillery, no more than 142 armored vehicles and 22 military aircraft.

The U.S. Air Force is determined to junk half its best jammers

04/21/2015

The U.S. Air Force is winnowing down its fleet of EC-130H Compass Call electronic attack planes. The 15 high-tech jammers belong to the 55th Electronic Combat Group at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona. But if the flying branch has its way, it will retire seven at the turn of the fiscal year in October, according to the Pentagon's budget request.

Airlines increase pilot hiring, threaten AF retention

04/21/2015

When commercial airlines look at Air Force pilots, they see aviators with upward of 1,500 flying hours and 10 years or more of flying experience. And they want to hire them. As airlines continue to grow and Vietnam-era pilots retire, the airlines will hire about 20,000 pilots over the next 10 years. United, American, Delta and the rest of the world's aviation companies see the Air Force's 13,000 veteran pilots as a ready way to staff their cockpits.

Video of Islamic State capabilities alarms military experts

04/21/2015

The video opens with high-definition footage shot from a drone flying over an oil refinery in central Iraq, but this video isn’t from a multi-million-dollar American drone. It’s from a drone operated by the Islamic State that likely cost a few thousand dollars. And the refinery – Iraq’s largest – is held by government forces, who have been besieged by the militants for the better part of a year.

Pakistan dispatches 8 fighters to escort Xi's plane on state visit

04/21/2015

Pakistan dispatched eight JF-17 Thunder fighter jets to escort Chinese President Xi Jinping's plane Monday when it entered Pakistani air space for a state visit to the country. It is a diplomatic etiquette commonly adopted by countries to escort a foreign leader's plane with fighters during a state visit, aimed at showing the importance attached by them to the visit and paying homage to their distinguished guests.