Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Air Force details proposed aircraft cuts state by state

02/09/2015

The Air Force's fiscal 2016 budget proposal, like the previous budget, calls for eliminating A-10 units across the service while giving new missions to Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve units. The service on Friday released details on how those and other changes would affect bases stateside and overseas.

Air Force General’s Treason Coments Spark Investigation

02/09/2015

A two-star general last month reportedly accused Air Force pilots who tell Congress about successes of the four-decade-old Warthog of committing “treason,” drawing the wrath of senators, defense policy critics and bloggers. The Air Force inspector general’s office has confirmed that an investigation was launched on Jan. 22.

UAE back in the fight against ISIS after Pentagon boosts Iraq capabilities

02/09/2015

In the wake of the brutal execution of a Jordanian pilot who was captured after his plane was forced down over Syria, the resolve of the Arab members of the anti-ISIS coalition seemed to be faltering. The New York Times reported last week that the United Arab Emirates, a resurgent Middle Eastern power and a key regional partner for the United States, suspended strikes against ISIS indefinitely in the wake of the capture of a Jordanian fighter pilot.

Investigators: Human error caused Idaho Guard helo crash

02/09/2015

Military investigators say human error caused an Idaho Army National Guard helicopter to crash during a training mission in November near the Boise airport, leading to the death of two pilots on board. Right before the crash, the pilots were practicing a routine emergency procedure: flying their Apache attack helicopter to safety on a single working engine, Col. Tim Marsano, a Guard spokesman, said in a statement.

India conducts maiden flight of naval prototype 2 of light combat aircraft

02/09/2015

The maiden flight of India's light combat aircraft (LCA) (Navy) Naval Prototype (NP2) was conducted from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Bangalore airport yesterday afternoon. The aircraft, part of Indian Naval Aviation Carrier borne aircraft development programme, took off at 1227 hours yesterday and flew for 35 minutes, an official press release said. The flight was piloted by Captain Shivnath Dahiya, an experienced test pilot from the Indian Navy with the National Flight Test Centre (N

DoD: F-22s escorted Jordanian fighters for airstrikes in Syria

02/08/2015

U.S. Air Force F-22s and F-16CJs escorted Jordanian fighters for recent airstrikes in Syria, the Pentagon said Friday. The American stealth jets are now part of the "standard strike package" used by U.S. and coalition aircraft in the fight against the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq, Pentagon spokesman Army Col. Steve Warren said.

Ground Collision Avoidance System ‘Saves’ First F-16 In Syria

02/07/2015

A U.S. Air Force F-16C believed to be taking part in combat operations against Islamic State (ISIS) forces in Syria has become the first to be officially ‘saved’ from certain impact with the ground by the recently fielded Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System (Auto GCAS).

US, South Korea Strengthen Bonds at Exercise Buddy Wing

02/07/2015

Airmen from the 8th Fighter Wing sharpened combat skills and gained insight from their South Korean air force counterparts during exercise Buddy Wing 15-2 Feb. 3-6, at Daegu Air Base, South Korea. During this iteration of Buddy Wing, 8th FW Airmen deployed to Daegu to train alongside Airmen of the 11th FW, learning how to operate as one force with dissimilar fighter aircraft as they integrated mission planning, briefing, flying and debriefing together.

New search-and-rescue teams moving into Iraq

02/07/2015

The U.S. military is moving additional troops and aircraft into Iraq to prepare for combat search-and-rescue missions, a defense official said Friday. The move comes amid heightened concern about the risks to U.S. and coalition partner pilots flying over Iraq and Syria. Army Col. Steve Warren, a Pentagon spokesman, said some aircraft were recently deployed into northern Iraq as a precaution.

In a first, PM Narendra Modi may fly fighter jet Rafale

02/07/2015

Prime Minister Narendra Modi could be the first Indian Prime Minister to fly in a fighter jet. Hectic talks are under way between the ministry of defence, the Prime Minister’s Office and makers of French Dassault Rafale, which is the major contender for the long awaited Multi Medium Role Combat Aircraft deal worth over Rs 82,000 crore.

Boeing to continue support for US military aircraft

02/07/2015

Boeing has received a contract from the US Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) to continue the provision of support services for US military aircraft. Valued at $223m, the performance-based agreement is the second of two received by the company under a five-year deal agreed in September 2014, and covers support for 11 different aircraft, reducing combat logistics support costs and boosting readiness.

CENTCOM Reports US-Led Coalition Destroys ISIL Positions in Syria, Iraq

02/07/2015

The United States-led coalition against the Islamic State (IS) conducted airstrikes in Syria and Iraq, resulting in destruction of units, a dozen vehicles and several staging locations, the US Central Command said in a statement on Thursday.

Latvian Army Claims NATO Jets Scrambled to Intercept Russian Plane

02/07/2015

The Latvian Army reported Friday that NATO fighter jets were scrambled to intercept a Russian Ilyushin Il-38 maritime patrol aircraft over the Baltic Sea. NATO Baltic Air Policing QRA ITA Typhoon jets on 6 FEB scrambled to intercept RU Armed Forces Il-38 over the Baltic Sea," the Latvian Army tweeted.

A Field Guide to Jordan's Battle Against ISIS

02/06/2015

There are few nations in the Middle East, perhaps aside from Morocco (a bit of prejudice here), that is as blessed with such decent people and respected leadership as Jordan. It is a vulnerable, but stable desert kingdom constantly defying the forces arrayed against it. Jordan's boundless generosity has provided a safe haven for the human tide of refugees that have been thrust upon it from war-ravaged Syria and Iraq.

Kazakhstan to acquire Su-30SM fighters

02/06/2015

Kazakhstan is to acquire the Sukhoi Su-30SM 'Flanker' as it looks to recapitalise its Soviet-era fighter force, the government announced on 4 February. The disclosure was made by the Commander in Chief of the Kazakhstan Air Defence Forces (KADF), Major General Nurlan Ormanbetov, during a visit to the Irkutsk Aviation Plant where the Su-30SM is built.

Here’s What You’ll Find on the Fighter Jet of 2030

02/06/2015

On Monday, President Barack Obama’s budget request for the Pentagon featured more than $5 million dollars for an item tagged “Next Generation Fighter.” If you haven’t heard of it, it’s the plane of the future meant to replace the F/A-18 Super Hornet and EA-18 Growler aircraft by 2030. Much like the future itself, it’s been a source of much speculation but exists only as an idea.

Greek, US training reaffirms rock-solid friendship

02/06/2015

With the White Mountains of Crete as their backdrop, U.S. and Hellenic air forces F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter aircraft soared to great heights and speeds as part of a continuing flying training deployment (FTD) Jan. 16 through Feb. 13 at Souda Bay, Greece.

US moves pilot rescue aircraft closer to Syria battlefield

02/06/2015

The gruesome killing of a Jordanian pilot who had crashed in Islamic State territory laid bare a problem of the U.S.-led coalition: There's no sure way to rescue an airman who's down behind enemy lines. Now, in response, the U.S. has moved search-and-rescue aircraft closer to the battlefield, defense officials said Thursday.

Pilots weigh in on UAE suspending airstrikes against IS

02/05/2015

The fight against the Islamic State group is down one key ally for now: the United Arab Emirates. Officials said Tuesday that the UAE suspended its airstrike efforts in December after Jordanian fighter pilot Lt. Moaz al-Kasasbeh was captured by IS militants, according to the New York Times.

Everything is normal: France on Rafale deal

02/05/2015

Putting a brave face despite the multi-billion dollar Rafale fighter jet contract flowing into rough weather, France on Wednesday claimed that everything is going "normal". Interestingly, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius will not be raising the issue of the much delayed Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) during his three day-visit beginning tomorrow.

Air Force seeks more flight hours to recover from 2013 stand down

02/05/2015

The Air Force is asking for a small increase in its flight hours as it still tries to dig itself out of a readiness hole dating back to a stand down of combat squadrons in 2013. Seventeen combat squadrons were forced to stand down for three months, while additional squadrons faced reduced flying hours as a result of sequestration in 2013. More than 44,000 flying hours were cut.

Kremlin pursues military modernization despite economic woes

02/05/2015

Hundreds of new Russian aircraft, tanks and missiles are rolling off assembly lines. Russian jets roar through European skies under NATO's wary eye. Tens of thousands of troops take part in war games showing off the military's readiness for all-out war.The muscle flexing suggests that Russia's economic woes so far are having no impact on the Kremlin's ambitious military modernization program.

Indian Air Force Still Plagued by Poor Procurement Process

02/05/2015

“The Indian Air Force’s capabilities are continuing to deteriorate, despite the arrival of a government that seems ready to make big acquisition decisions,” summarizes a recently published Jane’s Defence Weekly briefing on the current state of the Indian Air Force (IAF). Among aviation experts, the IAF has been notorious for its high accident rate in its MIG-21 fleet.

MPs urge UK to step up fight against jihadists

02/05/2015

The Defence Select Committee found the UK had carried out 6% of coalition air strikes against the jihadist group and said it was "surprised and deeply concerned" it was not doing more. But it stressed it was not in favour of deploying combat forces to battle IS. The government said military action was just part of "comprehensive" action by the international coalition.

Congress to Obama: Boost aid to Jordan to combat ISIS

02/05/2015

Revolted by ISIS’s brutal execution of a Jordanian pilot by burning him in a cage, a powerful group of Republicans and Democrats on Wednesday called on the Obama administration to boost military aid to the Arab kingdom. All 26 members of the Senate Armed Services Committee wrote the State and Defense departments asking for increased assistance. The US already is giving Amman $1 billion in military and economic assistance this year.