Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Greece Might Allow Russia to Use its Military Bases –Greek Defense Analyst

04/15/2015

In an interview for Russia's RIA Novosti, Greek defense analyst Ilias Iliopoulos noted that in the interests of closer military-technical cooperation with Russia, Greece could allow the country to use of its military bases, and that this possibility may well be discussed during the Greek Defense Minister's visit to Moscow later this week.

Israel May Send Arms to Ukraine if Russia Delivers S-300 to Iran – Reports

04/15/2015

Israel may start sending arms to Ukraine in response to Russia’s decision to lift its five-year embargo on the delivery of the S-300 missile system to Iran, NRG reports Tuesday, citing unnamed Israeli military source. According to NRG, Israeli government has not made any decisions yet on sending weapons to Ukraine.

Russian Fighter Pilots Hold Air Combat Drills Over Kamchatka Peninsula

04/15/2015

Russian MiG-31 (Foxhound) interceptor jet pilots have held air combat exercises over the Kamchatka Peninsula, the Russian Defense Ministry's Eastern Military District's press service said Tuesday. "The task of destroying a simulated enemy was complicated with poor weather conditions that are currently in Kamchatka," the press service said.

Don’t Write Taiwan’s Air Force Off Just Yet

04/14/2015

Taiwan’s defence planners are in a precarious position. Modernization of the PLA has irreversibly tilted the qualitative edge towards Beijing, and Taiwan lacks the wherewithal to engage in an arms race with its powerful neighbour, who happens to claim Taiwan as part of its territory. Perhaps the only way out is to redirect efforts towards asymmetrical platforms: Taiwan needs to mount anti-access/area-denial (A2AD) capability on its own.

Russia Flexes Missile Diplomacy With Iran

04/14/2015

Russia’s potential delivery of anti-aircraft S-300 missile systems to Iran has long been shrouded in controversy and contradictions. But with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decree allowing shipments of these high-precision systems to Tehran, will Moscow finally make good on these deliveries? Public statements from Russian officials suggest Moscow is serious about supplying this hardware to Iran after Putin’s April 13 decree lifting an earlier ban on these shipments.

Eastern Europe is boosting military budgets, but US is still the big spender

04/14/2015

Russia and its Nato neighbours in the Baltic have agreed dramatic increases in their military budgets, in marked contrast to countries that are further west and away from potential conflict zones, according to a report published by a leading think tank. Spending on arms will rise this year by 60% in Russia, by 50% in Lithuania, by nearly 20% in Poland, and by nearly 15% in Latvia, says the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Sipri.

Iraqi leader arrives in Washington at turning point in ISIL battle

04/14/2015

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi is visiting Washington Tuesday at a crucial moment in the war against the Islamic State. The recapture of the Sunni city of Tikrit, north of Baghdad, has brought the war to an inflection point, and two major questions now loom for military officials: Where should the counter-offensive go next and what more do the Iraqis need from Washington to press it?

Pilot sheds light on Operation Inherent Resolve

04/14/2015

The Department of Defense daily releases a list of U.S. and coalition airstrikes conducted in the previous 24 hours against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) forces across war-torn Iraq and Syria. Periodically a news outlet will use the strike data to weigh the effort by the United States and allies in trying to use air power alone, plus training of indigenous forces, to destroy radical Muslims spreading violence and fear.

Naval aviation progress comes in fits, starts

04/14/2015

The Navy is in the midst of sweeping changes in aviation, particularly in the future carrier air wing. As engineers continue to develop the F-35C Lightning II, the carrier variant of the stealth aircraft that has suffered repeated delays, service officials are trying to ensure an adequate number of F/A-18 Hornets and Super Hornets are available to operate at sea.

Parrikar hints old Rafale deal dead; all future purchases govt-to-govt

04/14/2015

The defence minister indicated on Monday a $25-billion Indian tender for buying 126 advanced combat aircraft had virtually been scrapped, with New Delhi stressing any future deal for Rafale fighter jets would be through direct negotiations with the French government.

Pentagon Claims ISIL Loses up to 30% of Iraqi Territory to US-Led Coalition

04/14/2015

The Islamic State (ISIL) terrorist group has lost up to 30 percent of its territory in Iraq to US-led coalition forces, the US Department of Defense (DoD) announced in a statement. “Some 25 percent to 30 percent of Iraqi territory has been taken back from Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant [ISIL] terrorist group control by coalition forces,” Army Col. Steve Warren said in the DoD statement on Monday.

US Protests 'Unsafe, Unprofessional' Russian Interception of US Recon Plane

04/14/2015

The Pentagon issued an official complaint Sunday over a Russian SU-27 fighter's interception of a US RC-135U reconnaissance plane over the Baltic Sea, citing the plane's "unsafe and unprofessional maneuvers" in close proximity to the spy plane, AP has reported.

Ukrainian Crisis Prompts European Countries to Boost Military Spending

04/14/2015

The political and military crisis in Ukraine prompted European countries to increase their military spending, an arms watchdog said Monday. "The Ukraine crisis has fundamentally altered the security situation in Europe, but so far the impact on military spending is mostly apparent in countries bordering Russia.

Iraq: The Lessons Of History Ignored

04/13/2015

Prime minister Abadi made it very clear that he had requested American air power to be used at Tikrit to support Iraqi Army units attacking the city. Abadi said he did this even though Iran told him that the Iranian supported Shia militias, which comprised most of the manpower attacking Tikrit, would withdraw. Abadi was not happy with how the Shia militias were taking all the credit for the advance on Tikrit but were unable to advance into the city center.

It's time to shed fears attached to India's defence sector

04/13/2015

The mega deal with Rafaele is the first landmark in the Make In India plan for the defence sector, and promises to put into throttle investments and expansion of small and large industry to produce parts and tech that needs to go with it. It's a contract for 36 ready-to-fly fourth generation aircraft and 90 that will be built in India.

Turkey Receives Last Upgraded F-16

04/13/2015

The Turkish Air Force received the last of a batch of F-16 fighter jets which underwent a comprehensive upgrade program. Speaking at a ceremony here at the corporate headquarters of Tusas Turkish Aerospace Industries, Turkey's chief procurement official Ismail Demir said the upgrade program substantially boosted Turkey's air combat power. "We are not dreamers, but we have dreams" Demir said, referring to Turkey's own efforts to design, develop and produce an indigenous fighter jet.

War against ISIS shows limits of drones

04/13/2015

Why not just send in the drones? That seems the easy solution against the Islamic State, which has the capacity to shoot down jet aircraft and is vicious enough to burn captured pilots alive. Yet as of March 31, only a handful of the more than 5,500 airstrikes carried out by the US and allies against ISIS were conducted by remote-control drones. Whatever Hollywood may tell you, the drone revolution is still in its infancy.

Izumo Drives Japanese Naval Buildup

04/13/2015

Last month's commissioning of the Japanese helicopter carrier Izumo spearheads the buildup of Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) antisubmarine capabilities, analysts said. Defense Minister Gen Nakatani led the March 25 commissioning of the 248-meter, 24,000-ton helicopter carrier, Japan's largest postwar naval vessel, capable of carrying seven Mitsubishi-built SH-60K antisubmarine warfare (ASW) helicopters and seven AgustaWestland MCM-101 mine countermeasure helicopters.

Base officials say Aurora crews prepared as anti-ISIL mission extended

04/13/2015

To date approximately 50 people based at 19 Wing Comox have participated in Canada's contribution to the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in the Middle East, including air crews, maintenance, logistics and support workers.

Sensors and longer range weapons means speed and dogfighting don't matter and the future could be a Thunderbird 2 like modular battleplane

04/13/2015

A 76 page report by the Center for Budgetary and Strategic Assessments Trends in Air-to-air combat : Implications for future air superiority by John Stillion indicates that dogfighting jet capability no longer matters. Trends from the database of air combat since 1965 show the rise of long range missiles and a steep decline in dog-fighting. Of the 33 U.S. kills in the 1991 Persian Gulf war, only four involved any maneuvering at all.

Katie Higgins, first female Blue Angels pilot, takes to the sky in C-130 ‘Fat Albert’

04/13/2015

U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Katie Higgins is the first female pilot in the team’s 69-year history. Katie reported to Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, Florida, for aviation indoctrination in November 2009. She completed primary flight training in the T-6B Texan II at NAS Whiting Field, Florida, and completed intermediate and advanced training in the T-44 Pegasus while assigned to Training Squadron 31 (VT-31) at NAS Corpus Christi, Texas. She received her wings of gold in October 2011.

U.S. military refueling Saudi planes for Yemen airstrikes

04/12/2015

The U.S. military has begun air-refueling operations for the Saudi-led coalition conducting airstrikes in Yemen, the Pentagon said Wednesday, signaling a deepening of American support for the Arab air campaign. The Pentagon also said the United States would expedite delivery of ammunition to the Saudis and other members of the coalition who are bombing targets in Yemen. The expedited ammunition has not been delivered yet but will include bombs and guidance systems.

Israeli Drone Maker Has $6 Billion Backlog and a Red-Hot Stock

04/12/2015

U.S. military spending may be flat, but that’s not proving to be much of a problem for Israeli defense company Elbit Systems Ltd. That’s because the company, while long dependent on the U.S. for much of its sales, has been shifting its focus to faster growing markets in Asia and Latin America. Elbit said last month that demand from those regions helped push up its backlog of orders to $6.3 billion at year-end, an 8 percent jump from 2013.

Russian aces practice advanced aerial combat maneuvers at the sea range of Zolotaya dolina

04/12/2015

Recently Eastern Russian Ministry of Defense fighter and attack aviation pilots of advanced Su-35 fighter aircraft practiced firing “air to air” missiles at special thermal targets meant to simulate the heat signatures of an enemy aircraft. “These are advance dog fighting techniques”, said one Russian pilot who wished not to be identified in this report.

Sitting near a nuclear tripwire, Estonia's president urges Nato to send troops to defend his country

04/12/2015

The most sensitive border in Europe lies 130 miles east of Estonia’s elegant presidential palace. Elsewhere, the threat posed by Russia might seem academic or even alarmist, but for President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, the possibility of Estonia becoming the epicentre of the world’s next crisis is very real. As the smallest Baltic state – and the one possessing the longest frontier with Russia – Estonia is arguably the most exposed country in Europe.