Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

U.S. spending bill adds $1.46 billion for military to buy 15 Boeing jets

12/10/2014

A spending bill agreed by lawmakers from the U.S. House and Senate provides $554.2 billion in funding for the U.S. military in fiscal 2015, including $1.46 billion for 15 EA-18G electronic attack jets built by Boeing Co. A summary of the $1.1 trillion "omnibus" bill released late Tuesday said the base appropriation for the Pentagon would be $490.2 billion, with $64 billion in additional war funding.

Over Rs 2,263 crore spent on Sukhoi-30 plane maintenance in 3 years

12/10/2014

India has spent over Rs 2,263 crore for the repair and maintenance of country's frontline fighter aircraft Sukhoi-30 since 2011, the government told Rajya Sabha. In a written reply, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said Rs 834.76 crore was spent in 2013-14 while Rs 877.84 crore was spent for the purpose in 2012-13. The government had spent Rs 551.35 crore in 2011-12.

Opinion: U.S. Carrier Force is a Cost Effective National Security Asset

12/10/2014

“What kind of navy do Americans want?” columnist George F. Will asked in an August Washington Post commentary. “The answer will determine whether U.S. power can, in [Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan] Greenert’s formulation, ‘be where it matters, when it matters.’”

PLA aircraft could threaten Guam, says analyst

12/10/2014

Just as China-Japan relations had begun warming up, Japan reported on Dec. 6 that five Chinese military aircraft were observed flying over an area between Okinawa's main island of Okinawa and Miyako island. The five aircraft are believed to have been capable of posing a threat to Guam, according to a military expert.

ANALYSIS: World air forces fighting on many fronts

12/10/2014

After a more than decade-long involvement in Afghanistan, the air wings of multiple nations had expected some respite from years of combat activity by late 2014, as the NATO-led mission completes its transition of control to the authorities in Kabul. World events do not tend to follow such established military plans, however, and the end of the conflict with the Taliban has instead overlapped with a resurgence of violence and renewed coalition involvement in the Middle East.

NATO Formally Ends Afghanistan Mission: US Defense Department

12/10/2014

NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Joint Command mission in Afghanistan has officially ended, the US Department of Defense has announced. "As the Afghan National Security Forces have become increasingly capable, we shift our focus from combat operations to building [Afghan] systems and processes to ensure long-term sustainability," ISAF commander, Army Gen. John F. Campbell, said Monday as quoted by the US Department of Defense.

Double Deuce: Two MC-130Js Delivered to U.S. Air Force

12/10/2014

U.S. Air Force crews ferried two MC-130J Commando II aircraft assigned to Air Force Special Operations Command from the Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] Aeronautics facility located here, on Dec. 5. These aircraft will be operated by the 352nd Special Operations Group and will be based at Royal Air Force Mildenhall England.

China Is Diminishing The US's Air Power Superiority

12/09/2014

The US Air Force’s air power superiority over China is rapidly diminishing in light of rapid Chinese modernization of fighter jets, cargo planes and stealth aircraft, according to a recently released Congressional review. The 2014 US-China Economic and Security Review Commission recommends that Congress appoint an outside panel of experts to assess the US-Chinese military balance and make recommendations regarding U.S. military plans and budgets, among other things.

Video: The V-22 Osprey aircraft can now be armed with rockets

12/09/2014

The V-22 Osprey aircraft has been used by U.S. troops in combat situations for years, including the failed effort Saturday to rescue two hostages from militants in Yemen. But the Osprey has always been considered lightly armed compared to most other military helicopters, with a machine gun mounted to its rear door typically its only heavy weapon.

Top Guns: The Most Lethal Air Forces on the Planet

12/09/2014

Qualifying the five most powerful air forces in the world is certainly a difficult and challenging proposition. There are large, well-trained and well-equipped air forces that are obvious candidates for such a list. Then there are less-obvious candidates—like Russia. The Russian Air Force, while plane-for-plane older than many air forces, has numbers, the ubiquity of the largest country by size on Earth, a modernization plan and nuclear weapons.

Combat Veterans Explain How ISIS Became A Lethal Force

12/08/2014

In this excerpt from The ISIS Solution: How Unconventional Thinking And Special Operations Can Eliminate Radical Islam, Army Ranger Jack Murphy, Navy SEAL Brandon Webb, and Recon Marine Peter Nealen, reveal the effective tactics ISIS exploits in ground warfare. ISIS has kept its field forces light. While it has captured plenty of Syrian and Iraqi armored vehicles in recent months (many of the Iraqi vehicles US-supplied), there have been few if any reports of them actually being used in frontline

Nigeria: Terrorism - FG Intercepts Weapons-Laden Russian Plane

12/08/2014

The Federal Government last night ordered the detention of a Russian cargo plane impounded in Kano for conveying arms and combat helicopters. The cargo aircraft, which was carrying two attack helicopters and consignments of weapons, was seized yesterday morning at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) when it made a technical landing to refuel.

France to Russia: No Aircraft Carriers for You!

12/08/2014

In 2008, Russian tanks crossed their southern border, invading and crushing the military forces of the tiny Republic of Georgia. Georgia's U.S. and European allies raised feeble objections to Russia's incursion - but little more. In fact, just two years after Russia's "short, victorious war" in Georgia, French defense contractor DCNS happily announced the signing of a $1.7 billion contract to sell the Russian Navy a pair of 16,500-ton Mistral-class amphibious warfare ships.

Haftar to be appointed Libyan military commander-in-chief: minister

12/08/2014

Libya’s Tobruk parliament is set to officially appoint Gen. Khalifa Haftar as commander-in-chief of Libya’s armed forces, a Libyan minister told Asharq Al-Awsat on Saturday. Haftar, commander of the Libyan National Army group, only recently accepted the authority of premier Abdullah Al-Thani government, and had previously unilaterally announced the dissolution of the former Libyan government and the launch of “Operation Dignity."

Russian Jets Run Off By NATO Fighter Planes Over Baltic — Three Reported Incidents In Single Day

12/08/2014

Russian jets flying over the Baltic Sea dangerously close to the border of NATO ally Latvia were intercepted and run off by NATO fighter planes in three separate incidents reported by Latvia’s military Sunday. The encounters were just the latest in what has been a record number of confrontations in the skies between Russian and NATO aircraft this year.

Pakistan aiming for jet boost to defence exports

12/08/2014

A revamped version of Pakistan’s JF-17 jet fighter took centre stage at a defence exhibition in Karachi this week as the restive nuclear-armed state looks to boost its role as a military exporter on the world stage. Pakistan’s large, well-funded military has long been a major importer of defence equipment, particularly from key ally China.

Russian Inspectors to Conduct Observation Flight Over US

12/08/2014

Russian inspectors will conduct an observation flight over the United States under the Treaty on Open Skies, head of Russia's National Nuclear Risk Reduction Center has announced. "Within the framework of the international Treaty on Open Skies a group of Russian inspectors plans to conduct an observation flight on a Russian Tupolev Tu-154M-LK-1 observation aircraft over the territory of the United States," Sergei Ryzhkov said.

Israel Conducts Airstrikes on Damascus Int'l Airport: Source

12/08/2014

The Israeli Air Force have conducted several airstrikes on Syria's Damascus International Airport, targeting an arms depot, a source in Syrian army's Joint Staff told Sputnik on Sunday. "The Israeli Air Force have conducted airstrikes on an arms depot, which caused huge blasts near the [Damascus] International Airport," the source said in a phone conversation.

Estonian Military Says Russian Air Force Planes Flying Over Baltic Sea

12/07/2014

Estonian military has observed a number of Russian military aircraft flying over the Baltic Sea in the international airspace, the general staff of Estonia’s defense forces said Saturday. “Today, a lot of Russian Air Force planes flying to [Russia's] Kaliningrad region have been observed in the international airspace over the Baltic Sea. The group of aircraft comprised of different planes, including strategic bombers,” the statement said.

Infrared search/track system gets production okay

12/07/2014

The Navy’s infrared search and track (IRST) system received Milestone C acquisition approval Dec. 2, authorizing low-rate initial production (LRIP) of the sensor pod. Approved by Vice Admiral Paul Grosklags, Principal Military Deputy for the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development and Acquisition), LRIP authorization provides the Navy’s IRST program with the six pods needed to achieve future initial operational capability (IOC).

Fire Scout Helo Deployments Intensify

12/07/2014

An entirely new level of activity is taking place right now with the US Navy’s Fire Scout unmanned helicopter program — for the first time, Fire Scout will be at sea on at least four ships at the same time — and they’ll be different kinds of ships, and both aircraft variants will be active.

Canada rules out Syria airstrikes

12/07/2014

Canada has no plans to follow its neighbor the United States in expanding airstrikes against the Islamic State group into Syria, the country's top diplomat said Saturday during a visit to the Middle East. In an interview with The Associated Press, Foreign Minister John Baird said Canada has a responsibility to contribute to the U.S.-led bombing campaign in part because the Islamic State group has attracted Canadian fighters to its ranks.

India and Russia signed Inter-Governmental Agreement for developing Multi Role Fighter Aircraft

12/07/2014

India and Russia signed an Inter-Governmental Agreement for designing, developing and producing the Multi Role Fighter Aircraft. The announcement was made by Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on 5 December 2014 during the parliamentary session. Moreover, Indian Fighter aircraft MIG 21 is being phased out and aircrafts MIG 29 are being procured from Russia. With the fifth generation stealth technology, the aircraft strikes would be high as they cannot be immediately detected by radar.

The Pentagon’s 2016 Budget Will Focus on the Pacific

12/06/2014

The Pentagon’s 2016 budget proposal will focus investments heavily on pivoting the military to the Pacific and continuing security operations in the Middle East, according to defense officials and experts. That means continued investments in high-end weapons, including the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and Air Force’s new Long-Range Strike Bomber.

America’s Toughest, Ugliest Warplane Is Going Back Into Battle

12/06/2014

For more than 30 years, the A-10 Thunderbolt II—better known as the Warthog because it’s so ugly—has performed a crucial role: attacking hostile targets that threaten troops on the ground, a task called close air support. The plane, designed for the Cold War, is old. It’s slow. And it’s about as sophisticated as a hammer. But it is heavily armored and wickedly armed, making it a ruthlessly effective weapon.