Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

DARPA carries out full PCAS prototype demo using MV-22

04/17/2015

The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) tested a prototype of the Persistent Close Air Support (PCAS) system for the first time during the US Marine Corps’ Talon Reach exercise. A full-system PCAS was tested during the exercise in March in an effort to demonstrate the system’s ability to share real-time situational awareness data between air and ground.

GOP lawmaker works to save A-10 in defense bill

04/17/2015

Rep. Martha McSally (R-Ariz.) says lawmakers are working on a measure in the annual defense policy bill to keep the A-10 attack jet flying. “It’s best to be in the chairman’s mark because then it’s paid for. That’s what we’re working on,” the retired Air Force colonel and former A-10 fighter pilot said Thursday during an interview with The Hill.

This photo of X-47B combat drone taking fuel from tanker proves we are one step closer to unmanned aerial refueling

04/17/2015

On Apr. 16, “Salty Dog 502?, one of the two Unmanned Carrier Air Vehicle demonstrator (UCAS-D) aircraft of the X-47B program performed autonomous aerial refueling (AAR) test, plugging the in-flight refueling (IFR) probe into the hose of a Omega Air tanker off the coast of Maryland.

Saab, Embraer formalize deal for Brazil's fighter program

04/17/2015

Saab of Sweden and Embraer of Brazil have formalized their partnership to supply Gripen NG fighters for Brazil's F-X2 air force project. The agreement signed earlier this week follows a previous Memorandum of Understanding on management of the F-X2 project for the Brazilian Air Force and the transfer of Gripen technology.

NEURON European Stealth combat drone has started operational tests in Italy

04/17/2015

The first example of the nEUROn UCAV (Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle), the full-scale technology demonstrator developed by France, Italy, Sweden, Spain, Switzerland and Greece, has started a new testing phase in Sardinia.

SECNAV: F-35C should be Navy's last manned strike jet

04/17/2015

The operational use of the carrier-based joint strike fighter could mark the beginning of the end of the Navy's manned bombing sorties, if the Navy secretary gets his way. The F-35C "should be, and almost certainly will be, the last manned strike fighter aircraft the Department of the Navy will ever buy or fly," Navy Secretary Ray Mabus said in a speech Wednesday at the annual Sea-Air-Space Exposition outside Washington, D.C. Fighter jocks would still be needed for dogfighting.

Fighter jet makers eye Indian riches after scaled-back French deal

04/17/2015

Foreign fighter jet makers see a multi-billion dollar opportunity in India's decision to scale back purchases of high-end aircraft from France, which may free up cash in the world's largest arms importer to buy a new fleet of mid-range planes. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced last week that India would buy 36 French Rafale jets for an estimated $4.3 billion (2.88 billion pounds), in effect ending talks on a larger deal for 126 planes that would have sucked up some $20 billion.

Venezuela Has Its Eye on Russia as Arms Supplier

04/17/2015

“Right now we have no arms delivery contracts with Russia, but we are considering such a possibility and deciding exactly which types of Russian-made military hardware we really need,” Brigadier-General Rafael Jose Nunez said. He also mentioned the “high probability” of the Latin American country signing contracts with Russia on repairing and upgrading weapons previously purchased from Moscow.

Iran Expects Deliveries of Russian S-300 Missiles by Year End

04/17/2015

Tehran is expecting to finalize an agreement on deliveries of Russian S-300 air defense systems within a month to ensure the implementation of the 2010 contract by the end of 2015, Iranian Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan said Thursday.

Libya Dawn apparently refurbishing MiG-25s

04/16/2015

The Libya Dawn militia group appears to be making a number of MiG-25 aircraft operational, with satellite imagery showing two of the aircraft moved to an air base in Misrata. Google Earth satellite imagery from 31 January showed one MiG-25 parked at the base but imagery taken on 28 February showed three. Earlier this month a photo surfaced showing people apparently working on a two-seat MiG-25PU.

F-35 simulator touches down in Israel

04/16/2015

The first simulator for the Israeli Air Force's most advanced jets – the F-35 – arrived in the Jewish State recently and was unveiled on Wednesday at an airbase in the Negev as part of the preparations for the advanced warplane's expected delivery in 20 months. The simulator will integrate with the rest of the air force's preparations ahead of the establishment of the first squadron for the stealth fighter, codenamed Adir in Hebrew.

Swiss Air Force to scrap ten faulty fighter planes

04/16/2015

Cracks were also discovered in another six F-5 planes,which will be repaired between now and the first quarter of 2016, the department said. A fissure in the supporting structure of one of the air force’s F-5E Tiger planes was first noticed in 2014. A larger crack was noted in the airframe of a second plane in January 2015 leading to a detailed examination of all the 36 F-5 Tiger aircraft that were flying regularly.

TAI hands over last upgraded F-16 aircraft to Turkish Air Force

04/16/2015

Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) has handed over the final upgraded F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft to the Turkish Air Force during a ceremony at its facility in Ankara. In April 2005, the Turkish and US Governments signed an initial letter of offer and acceptance (LOA) for upgrade of 163 Turkish F-16 fighter aircraft under the $1.1bn Peace Onyx III (PO-III) programme, as reported by IHS Jane's.

Islamic State takes 3 Iraqi villages

04/16/2015

Two weeks after a critical victory at Tikrit, where a combination of U.S. airstrikes, government troops and Shiite Muslim militias overwhelmed an Islamic State force that had held the city for nearly a year, the Iraqi government faced a new challenge Wednesday, a sign of how much remains to be done to defeat the militants.

‘Sloppy’ Russian Fighter Pilot Nearly Collides With U.S. Spy Plane

04/16/2015

On April 7, a Russian fighter jet nearly collided with a U.S. Air Force spy plane over the Baltic Sea. The actions of the Russian aviator—which the Pentagon later called “sloppy”—underscore increasing tensions in Europe between the two countries. When the incident occurred, the RC-135U Combat Sent was flying over the Baltic near—and possibly snooping on—the Russian-controlled enclave of Kaliningrad.

First Yak-130 aircraft delivered to Belarusian army

04/16/2015

The first combat and training aircraft Yak-130 for the Belarusian army has been delivered to the city of Lida, representatives of the Belarusian Defense Ministry told BelTA. The aircraft was delivered in a disassembled form by an IL-76 cargo aircraft. It will be assembled by Russian specialists later on. These aircraft will improve flight personnel training capacity right up to training how to fly prospective fifth-generation aircraft, explained the Defense Ministry.

Japan Scrambling Jets at Historic Rate to Deter Russian Planes

04/16/2015

Japan's air force said Wednesday that jet fighter scrambles have reached a level not seen since the height of the Cold War three decades ago as Russian bombers probe its northern skies and Chinese combat aircraft intrude into its southern air space. In the year ending March 31, Japanese fighters scrambled 944 times, 16 percent more than the same period the previous year, the country's Self Defense Force said.

Indian Rethink Is Leading To a Smaller Rafale Deal

04/16/2015

The new Indian government’s decision ‘in principle’ to buy 36 Rafale combat aircraft direct from the Dassault production line in France, announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 10, appears to spell the end of the medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) acquisition process. Speaking on Indian television two days later, defense minister Manohar Parrikar acknowledged that the protracted delay in closing the MMRCA deal.

Boeing-Built CH-147F Maintenance Training Center Opens in Canada

04/16/2015

In 2013 and 2014, The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) took delivery of 15 new Boeing-built CH-147F Chinook helicopters, among the most capable and advanced variants of the legendary Chinook family. Now, the RCAF and Boeing have unveiled an equally advanced training facility for those helicopters.

U.K. scrambles jets after Russian bombers spotted near British airspace

04/15/2015

Britain's Ministry of Defense said Typhoon fighter jets were launched after two Russian military planes were spotted flying close to British airspace. "Royal Air Force Quick Reaction Alert Typhoon fighter aircraft were launched today, from RAF Lossiemouth after Russian aircraft were identified flying close to UK airspace," the ministry said in a statement given to CBS News. "The Russian planes were escorted by the RAF until they were out of the UK area of interest.

Is the West losing its edge on defence?

04/15/2015

They wax lyrical about the decline of their own forces, explain the growth of those of their challengers, and worry about the long term consequences for stability in many parts of the world. "What we have seen in the last two decades is a form of physical and moral disarmament… we're in a very dangerous place," said General Sir Richard Shirreff, number two in Nato's military structure until last summer.

For LCA Tejas, it’s now about months, not decades

04/15/2015

India's defence R&D establishment will have to fire on all cylinders to fast-track the meandering Tejas light combat aircraft, which is still not fully operational or combat ready, if it does not want the Narendra Modi government to critically re-examine the entire project. The Tejas project, in fact, may even get some competition in the light-weight fighter category.

VMA-223 conducts air-to-air training above Florida Keys

04/15/2015

Marines with Marine Attack Squadron 223 traveled to Key West, Fla. to conduct air-to-air training March 18 through April 12. The squadron conducted the training to hone their skills to provide offensive air support, armed reconnaissance, and air defense for the Marine Air-Ground Task Force.

Rafale deal has many positives

04/15/2015

Prime Minister Modi’s move in Paris to offer a fresh deal to acquire 36 Rafale jets, buried the original contract for purchasing 126 of these next generation fighters. With one stroke, the Modi government has killed many birds. First, the purchase of new aircraft will settle, for the time being, the IAF’s anxiety over dwindling fighter strength.

Using Composite Material Samples, NRL Scientists Predict Aspects of F/A-18 Performance

04/15/2015

The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) has built a robot to pull, bend, and twist samples of the composite materials used to build F/A-18s and other aircraft. Dr. John Michopoulos leads the project. With a machine that can, as he says, "Measure so much more than anybody else," and some very advanced math, he can "create a theory that is consistent with all these experiments that we made, and works for all scales.