Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Swarms of fighter jets mark 40 years of Red Flag at Nellis

02/05/2015

A pair of B-2 Spirit stealth bombers followed by swarms of U.S. Air Force Raptors, Falcons, Eagles and Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter jets roared through the skies over Nellis Air Force Base on Tuesday. They headed out for a historic Red Flag air combat exercise to mark 40 years since the base began hosting them at the end of the Vietnam War.

Boeing Receives Contract to Modernize B-52 with Digital Communications

02/05/2015

The B-52 Stratofortress bomber was built during the Cold War, but its digital capabilities have entered the 21st century thanks to Boeing’s ongoing Combat Network Communications Technology (CONECT) upgrade. On Jan. 28, the U.S. Air Force awarded Boeing a full rate production contract to deliver 10 CONECT kits that modernize communication systems for the B-52 bombers today and into the future.

Jordan Vows Revenge for ISIS Burning of Pilot

02/04/2015

Jordan said Tuesday that it would hang several jihadist prisoners in reaction to a video showing Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) fighters burning alive captured Jordanian pilot Moaz al-Kasasbeh. Jordan’s government has reportedly scheduled the executions of several jihadist prisoners in response to the killing. One of those reportedly slated for execution is Sajida al-Rishawi, the prisoner ISIS had demanded to be released in exchange for al-Kasasbeh’s release.

Air Force increases combat air patrols for Reaper pilots

02/03/2015

The Air Force plans to increase the number of combat air patrols that MQ-9 Reaper pilots fly. The Air Force's fiscal 2016 budget would fund 60 MQ-9 combat air patrols in a 24-hour period, an increase from 55, said Air Force spokeswoman Vicki Stein. MQ-1 Predator pilots would be funded to fly five combat air patrols, for a total of 65 combat air patrols per day.

Air Force Proposes Big Increases for New Aircraft Purchases in 2016

02/03/2015

The Obama administration’s fiscal year 2016 budget proposal for the Air Force includes continued purchases of F-35 fighters, transport aircraft and a large increase in research and development funding for the long-range strike bomber. Among the four services, the Air Force had the largest plus-up with some $16 billion more than the 2015 enacted level. Maj. Gen. James Martin, Air Force deputy assistant secretary of budget, said that is because the demand for what the service provides is growing.

RUSSIAN BOMBER OVER CHANNEL WAS CARRYING NUKES

02/02/2015

Tensions between Russia and the UK have heightened after it was revealed that the Russian bomber intercepted by RAF fighter jets was carrying a nuclear missile designed to destroy Trident submarines. The TU-95 aircraft were spotted on long range radar flying down from Scotland towards the English Channel, where they were close to entering British airspace, the Sunday Express report.

MacDill could actually gain from military cutbacks

02/02/2015

U.S. Rep. David Jolly, BRAC is not a four-letter word. OK, so it’s not really a word, just another military acronym. But to Jolly, BRAC is still not in the category of those four-letter words you won’t find in these pages. BRAC, which officially stands for the Base Closure and Realignment Commission (I guess BCRC is just too hard to say), is being pushed by the White House and Pentagon, which are looking to cut spending even as they are increasing it.

The Kurds Are Close to Mosul—And in No Hurry to Get There

02/02/2015

In the first 24 hours of the Kurds’ latest offensive there were 16 coalition air strikes. Peshmerga fighters attacked from positions near Mosul Dam, taking Islamic State by surprise and cutting their supply lines. Now the Kurds are close to the militants’ stronghold in the city of Mosul.

New Apache confounded the enemy in combat, commander says

02/02/2015

Lt. Col. John Davis said the enemy in Afghanistan had gotten used to the Apache AH-64D. The enemy knew roughly how long the Apache would take to get there, how long it could engage, when it would have to leave for fuel and when it might come back. The first battalion commander to deploy the new Apache AH-64E Guardian in combat said that's why the new model managed to scare a confused enemy.

Kuban Military Aviation Base to Get 25 New Yak-130 Training Planes in 2015

02/02/2015

The Zhukovsky and Gagarin Air Force Academy in Armavir, Krasnodar is set to receive five new Yakovlev Yak-130 light attack training aircraft this week, with twenty more to be delivered before the year is out, Rossiyskaya Gazeta reports. The completed planes, which have been undergoing testing in the Irkutsk region in Siberia at the Irkut Corporation plant, are set to make their long journey across the country this week.

Ireland drawn into New Cold War as Putin flexes muscles

02/01/2015

A diplomatic spat erupted as the Government warned it was “absolutely unacceptable” that the two Tupolev 95s were in Irish-controlled airspace for five hours without notifying the Irish authorities. The planes were flying with their transponders switched off – meaning they could not be ‘seen’ by civilian aircraft as they passed through the busy airspace, where around 1,800 planes a day travel.

Chadian jets bomb Nigerian town in anti-Boko Haram raid

02/01/2015

Chadian aircraft on Saturday bombed the Nigerian town of Gamboru in a raid targeting extremist group Boko Haram, security sources said, as regional efforts to combat the Islamists intensified. An initial raid was carried out around midday by two fighter jets on the town in Nigeria's far northeast along the Cameroon border, sources from Chad and Cameroon said on condition of anonymity.

Philippines Military Plane Crashes During Training, Killing Two Pilots

02/01/2015

The Philippines air force said Saturday that one of its light planes, which is manufactured in Italy, crashed in the sea during a training mission. Two pilots were killed in the crash, according to The Associated Press (AP). The single-prop SF-260FH which crashed, was a trainer aircraft, according to GMA News, which cited Air Force spokesman Lt. Col. Ernesto Canaya.

U.S. vs. Russia – Military Might

02/01/2015

The historical relationship between the United States and Russia can hardly be described as rosey. The two countries are inextricably linked due to the Cold War era, with the world’s two modern superpowers having enjoyed an extremely suspicious relationship with one another for decades during the 20th century.

Shake, rattle, boom: Red Flag military exercises commence once again

02/01/2015

People in southwest Utah may once again experience loud booms and rumbles across the region as the U.S. Air Force and invited allied forces take part in Red Flag military training exercises. Called Red Flag, the combat trainings started Monday and continue though Feb. 13.

Marine Division Tactics Course takes off

01/31/2015

Marines with Marine Fighter Attack Squadrons 115, 122 and 312 as well as Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadrons 533 and 224 are participating in the Marine Division Tactics Course aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, Jan. 12 to Feb. 6. The MDTC provides groundside and airborne instruction in doctrine, tactics and weapons considerations to F/A-18 Hornet aircrew and Marine air intercept controllers.

US spokesman: Gunman in fatal Afghan attack was in uniform

01/31/2015

The killing of three American aircraft mechanics at the Kabul airport was done by a man in an Afghan uniform who was killed at the scene of the shooting, the Pentagon said Friday. Rear Adm. John Kirby, the Pentagon press secretary, said the mechanics were Defense Department contractors, but the circumstances of the attack are under investigation.

Air Force names 2-star to lead F-35 Integration Office

01/31/2015

With the initial operating capability date of the F-35 Lightning II quickly approaching, the Air Force appointed Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Harrigian as the director of a larger Air Force F-35 Integration Office, Feb. 1. In addition to gaining new leadership, the F-35 Integration Office will also grow from a staff of four to 12 and be collocated with Air Force acquisition fighter program element monitors and liaison officers from the major commands.

Lawmaker, an A-10 vet, aims to protect Warthog

01/31/2015

One of the newest lawmakers on Capitol Hill is a former A-10 driver, and she is wasting no time protecting her former aircraft. Rep. Martha McSally, a freshman Republican from Arizona, on Jan. 29 sent a letter to President Obama and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel urging them not to seek to retire the A-10 in their fiscal 2016 budget request, expected to be unveiled Feb. 2.

Put the Pentagon On a Real Budget

01/31/2015

It's budget season again, which means it's time for another round of budget gimmicks on the part of the Pentagon. The Obama administration's new Pentagon budget proposal exceeds the budget caps established in current law by $34 billion. That's a hefty sum even by Pentagon standards.

New RAAF jets to be able to shoot back

01/30/2015

Aircraft maker Lockheed Martin says there is no technical problem with aircraft's 25mm gun, although its computer software isn't yet complete and it hasn't been fully tested on the aircraft.By the time these advanced aircraft enter operational service with the RAAF in 2020, the gun will be fully functional.

Congressional commission releases new plan to overhaul military pay and retirement

01/30/2015

A congressionally mandated commission on Thursday called for an overhaul of the military’s compensation and retirement system, recommending changes so that future service members will contribute to their own retirements and could choose private-sector healthcare plans. A long-awaited report from the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission made 15 recommendations that members said would increase the financial options troops have without reducing their overall compensation.

Navy issues aircraft maintenance, logistics task order to DynCorp International

01/30/2015

Nearly four dozen aircraft of the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center in Nevada are to receive logistics and maintenance support from DynCorp International. The task order received for the services has a performance period of one year and carries a maximum value of $44.5 million.

Airbus Shakes Up Its Military Aircraft Unit

01/30/2015

Faced with mounting criticism from European governments over production problems with its newest military transport plane, the Airbus Group on Thursday announced a management shake-up at its military aircraft unit and promised a restructuring of the business to address what it said were “unacceptable” delivery delays.

Light Combat Aircraft Tejas achieves rare technological breakthrough

01/29/2015

The Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas has achieved a rare technological breakthrough with three consecutive start ups of its engine in extreme sub-zero temperatures of Ladakh region in Jammu and Kashmir.