Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Iraqi Kurdish Fighters Cross Border With Turkey, Move Toward Kobani

10/29/2014

Trucks with heavy armament to help the Syrian Kurdish self-defense forces against the Islamic State (IS) militant group on Tuesday left the capital of the Kurdistan region of Iraq, Erbil and now moving toward the Syrian city of Kobani via Turkey. “Peshmerga have crossed the Turkish border and in few hours they will be in Kobani,” leader of the Syrian self-defense forces Saleh Muslim was quoted by the CNN Turk TV channel as saying.

Saab and Brazil Sign Contract for Gripen NG

10/28/2014

Defence and security company Saab has signed a contract with the Brazilian Federal Government (Ministry of Defense through the Aeronautics Command, COMAER) covering the development and production of 36 Gripen NG fighter aircraft for the Brazilian Air Force. The total order value is approximately SEK 39.3 billion. Saab and COMAER have also signed an Industrial Co-operation contract to deliver substantial technology transfer from Saab to Brazilian industry.

The A-7 Corsair II Finally Takes Its Last Flight After 49 Years

10/28/2014

Last week, defense journalist Giovonni Colla spent some time in Greece at Araxos Air Base to capture what would be a bittersweet moment in the history of combat aviation – the retirement of the humble, but incredibly effective, Ling-Temco-Vought A-7 Corsair II. Though it's better known as the SLUF. Or Short Little Ugly Fucker.

America’s 60 Year-Old Nuclear Bomber Might Finally Get a New Engine

10/28/2014

For decades, the Pentagon has been toying with the idea of upgrading the B-52 bomber, first built in the mid-1950s. Will they finally get around to it, this time? The U.S. Air Force is taking a serious look at overhauling the nearly 60 year-old B-52 bomber—including a new engine for the ancient plane. The question is not whether it makes sense, but why it hasn’t been done before.

HAL Nashik completes upgrade of first IAF Su-30 MKI aircraft

10/28/2014

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has successfully completed the upgrade of first Su-30MKI multi-role combat aircraft at its facility in Nashik, Maharashtra, India. The company test pilots will now fly the aircraft to validate its performance before handing it over to the Indian Air Force (IAF) next month, as reported by Business Standard.

DOD and Lockheed Martin Announce Principle Agreement on Purchase of F-35s

10/28/2014

The U.S. Department of Defense and Lockheed Martin have reached an agreement in principle for the production of 43 F-35 Lightning II aircraft. Officials anticipate the Low-Rate Initial Production lot 8 (LRIP 8) contract to be finalized in the coming weeks. The contract is for fiscal year 2014 with deliveries beginning in 2016.

Boeing Delivers 300th CH-47F Chinook to U.S. Army Ahead of Schedule

10/28/2014

Boeing this month delivered to the U.S. Army, 75 days ahead of schedule, the 300th CH-47F Chinook helicopter. “This marks another benchmark for the CH-47F program,” said Lt. Col. Michael Hauenstein, the Army’s CH-47F product manager, Office of the Project Manager, Cargo Helicopters. “More importantly, we have met this benchmark ahead of schedule, within cost, and produced an aircraft that performs as required worldwide.

Russia Sold $9.8 Billion in Arms, Military Equipment in 2014: Official

10/28/2014

Since the beginning of 2014, Russia has sold $9.8-billion in arms and military equipment abroad, the deputy director of Russia’s Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation said Tuesday. “According to the figures for October of this year, Russia has exported arms and military equipment totaling $9.8 billion,” Anatoly Punchuk, who is heading the Russian delegation at the Euronaval-2014 exhibition in Paris, told RIA Novosti.

US Assessing Claims That Islamic State Militants Possess MANPADS: US Department of State

10/28/2014

The Unites States is examining the claims that Islamic State (IS) militants could possess modern anti-aircraft missile systems that can down passenger jets, Spokesperson for the US Department of State Jen Psaki said. According to German media reports, the German foreign intelligence agency BND reportedly briefed the country's parliament at the end of last week on the new threat coming from the violent IS grouping.

Pentagon Confirms IS Has Limited Anti-Aircraft Weaponry

10/28/2014

The US Department of Defense confirmed that the Islamic State (IS) has limited anti-aircraft weaponry in its arsenal, Commander Elissa Smith at the Office of the Secretary of Defense told RIA Novosti on Monday. “We can confirm ISIL [IS] has limited anti-aircraft artillery capability, mostly used in a ground combat role.

ISIS may have beheaded first WOMAN Muslim warrior

10/27/2014

THE scourge of ISIS — a female Kurdish warrior who was credited with killing 100 jihadists — may have herself died in the desperate battle to prevent the city of Kobani falling into extremist hands. But her sisters-in-arms fight on. The young woman, known only by the pseudonym ‘Rehana’, became world famous after a picture of her flashing a “V” for victory sign went viral on social media.

Britain's 13-year war in Afghanistan comes to an end

10/27/2014

The soldiers snapped to attention and a Union flag was lowered towards the parched desert sand. With this brief ceremony, Britain’s 13-year war in Afghanistan came to an end. Only a few score soldiers were on parade, the music was piped American marching tunes and the whole occasion was conducted under the hovering protection afforded by Apache attack helicopters.

Pacific Powers Build Capability, Warily Eye Neighbor Countries

10/27/2014

Ninety percent of the world’s trade flows by sea and the majority of that through narrow, vulnerable straits such as Malacca, Singapore and Taiwan. This has forced the Asia-Pacific region to outspend all other nations, except the US, in procurement of ships and submarines. The dangers are real. Taiwan Adm. Chen Yeong-kang said regional territorial disputes could disrupt sea lines of communication (SLOC) in the region.

The Russian Air Force Base In Belarus: Getting The Facts Straight

10/27/2014

Last week Chief of the Russian Air Force Viktor Bondarev announced that a Russian airbase would be established in Babruysk in 2016. An article from the Moscow Times on expanding the Russian air force presence abroad, subsequently reprinted in the Guardian, painted a rather dramatic, yet not entirely correct picture.

Fueling the fight over Afghanistan

10/27/2014

As the pilots of 1st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, “Task Force Wolfpack,” 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, continue their high tempo of flight hours in their area of operation, fuelers from Echo Company, 1st ARB operate 24 hours a day to support the continuous refuel missions to maintain the CAB’s air presence in the battlefield.

Japan holds separate military drills with Russia, U.S.

10/27/2014

Japan began exercises Monday with the U.S. Army in Hokkaido, a day after it started naval maneuvers with Russia 800 km away off the coast of Vladivostok. The drills illustrate the balance Prime Minister Shinzo Abe must strike between his attempts to mend relations with Russia and the need to bolster his country’s alliance with the United States as a backstop to a more assertive China in the region.

MMRCA an Absolute Necessity

10/27/2014

Bharat Karnad’s article, “Impending MMRCA Waste”, published in The New Indian Express on October 3 is a clear attempt to keep the MMRCA (medium multi-role combat aircraft) pot boiling—it warrants a response only to sensitise the environment of the truth, just as the learned professor tries to undermine it with his needless ranting on the MMRCA.

Islamic State militants now pose a threat to aircraft

10/27/2014

From the battlefield near Baiji, an Islamic State jihadist fired a heat-seeking missile and blew an Iraqi army Mi-35M attack helicopter out of the sky this month, killing its two crew members. Days later, the Islamic State released a chilling series of images from a video purporting to capture the attack in northern Iraq: a jihadist hiding behind a wall with a Chinese-made missile launcher balanced on his shoulder.

China tests new generation of military aircraft: Report

10/27/2014

China is testing a new generation of military aircraft which includes the country's first and most advanced stealth fighter believed to form the backbone of its air force. The photos of fourth-generation stealth fighter J20, Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AEW&CS) aircraft KJ-500 and Y-20 large military transporter, reportedly conducting tests flights, were published on a popular military forum, Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported.

India halts Su-30 flights after latest crash

10/26/2014

The Indian air force has temporarily suspended flying on its entire fleet of an estimated 200 Sukhoi Su-30MKIs, following an uncommanded ejection involving the type on 21 October. “Flying of the Su-30 fleet has been temporarily suspended. The Court of Inquiry is in progress and certain specific checks are being conducted on the aircraft,” says India's defence ministry.

MoD to speed up Typhoon upgrade for Iraq campaign

10/26/2014

The Ministry of Defence is speeding up plans to upgrade the RAF’s Typhoon jets with precision missiles in case they are one day needed to bomb Isil fighters in Iraq. Defence sources said Britain’s role in the unexpected campaign against Islamist militants had exposed a shortage of ground attack jets which will only get worse as the RAF’s ageing Tornado planes retire.

Why India needs to rethink the Rafale deal

10/26/2014

Russian Ambassador in New Delhi Alexander Kadakin claims Chinese Sukhoi Flankers will swat the Rafale like mosquitoes, but what’s more worrying is India is willing to spend $30 billion on a stop-gap aircraft. Fighter planes fall into two categories – the hunters and the hunted. The French are pitching their Rafale as the dogfight duke that is the crème de la crème of jet fighters.

India chooses Israel over US for $525 mln missile deal

10/26/2014

India has chosen to buy anti-tank guided missiles from Israel, rejecting a rival US offer, as the right-wing government clears projects worth $13.1 billion to modernise its ageing military, official sources said on Sunday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government will buy 8,356 Spike missiles and 321 launchers from Israel in a deal worth 32 billion rupees ($525 million), defence ministry sources told AFP.

Defense-spending cuts stir fear

10/26/2014

With Russia asserting itself in Ukraine and the Baltic States and the U.S. and its allies embroiled in conflict against Islamic State militants, there is mounting concern among defense analysts that the U.S. and western Europe should not continue to reduce defense spending. Unless President Barack Obama and Congress abruptly reverse course, the U.S. defense budget is scheduled to absorb automatic reductions, known as the sequester.

China’s newest stealth fighter could fly at Zuhai Airshow next month

10/26/2014

The upcoming Zuhai airshow taking place in China next month will provide an opportunity to get first impressions of the new stealth jets and modernized fighter aircraft currently under development or recently delivered to the People's Republic of China Army, Air Force, Navy.