Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Sweden recognizes state of Palestine

10/30/2014

Sweden recognized a state of Palestine on Thursday, describing the decision as a crucial step it hopes will lead the way for others. "In the light of the international law analysis, we see no reason to delay this decision," Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom said. She said the decision was made based on the fact that the state "met the criteria of international law."

Talks on Russian Su-35 Fighter Deliveries to Beijing Ongoing, Contract Being Clarified

10/30/2014

Moscow and Beijing are continuing talks on the delivery of Su-35 Flanker multirole fighters to China and the contract is currently being clarified, the deputy general manager of Russia’s arms export company said Wednesday. “Russia and China are continuing negotiations on the Su-35 and the process of agreeing the documents is ongoing.

Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 Investigators Now Believe That Military Aircraft Involved In Downing Over Ukraine

10/29/2014

Three and half months after Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crashed in the Donetsk region of Ukraine, Dutch prosecutors investigating the tragedy now believe the aircraft may have been shot down by another aircraft, according to a senior prosecutor in a German media interview. Since the downing of the aircraft on July 17 this year, Russian officials have repeatedly said that they have radar imagery proving that the Boeing 777 was in fact shot down by Ukrainian military aircraft.

Shenyang makes progress on J-15 fleet

10/29/2014

New photos that have appeared on Chinese aviation websites suggest that mass production of the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) J-15 carrier-based multirole fighter is gathering pace. Two new J-15 aircraft, numbered 104 and 105, are ready for delivery by SAC to the People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force (PLANAF). The new additions take the total of known J-15 aircraft to 11, including prototypes.

CF-18s set to launch against jihadists

10/29/2014

The soldier commanding CF-18 fighter jets and other aircraft deployed to the Middle East says these forces are "on target" to launch operations against Islamic State jihadists by Saturday. "That means we have all the support in place, plus the command and control capacity to have the ability to conduct national targeting, to validate targets," said Lt.-Gen. Jon Vance, the decorated Afghan veteran who took over Canadian Joint Operations Command in September.

Who needs to down the FGFA?

10/29/2014

There is a buzz in the air about New Delhi’s intentions of shooting down the 2007 agreement with Moscow for the joint development of fifth generation fighter aircraft (FGFA) or at least put it on the hold to generate the funds for financing the Rafale deal with France. Under the estimated $20-30 billion mother-of-the-deals for the acquisition of 126 medium multirole combat aircraft (MMRCA).

Tata, Airbus to jointly bid for making transport planes for IAF

10/29/2014

Giving a big push to its defence business, Tata Advanced Systems (TASL) has teamed up with Airbus Defence and Space, a division of Airbus Group, to bid for Indian Air Force's transport aircraft replacement programme. If awarded the contract, the combine will manufacture and supply C295 transport aircraft to replace the IAF's Avro planes, the two companies announced on Tuesday.

F-35C makes first landing at Oceana

10/29/2014

Navy pilots got their first look Tuesday at the aircraft that only the youngest among them might get to fly within the next decade. The F-35C Joint Strike Fighter made its debut at Naval Air Station Oceana. It was followed here from Eglin Air Force Base in Florida by an F/A-18 Hornet, the jet it is supposed to replace.

Contract for more of RAF Marham’s Lightning II aircraft to be signed in the coming weeks

10/29/2014

A deal for new jets to operate from RAF Marham has moved a step closer, with the Government poised to sign a contract in the coming weeks. The Ministry of Defence said yesterday that it had reached an agreement in principle for the first batch of the Lightning II stealth combat aircraft, which will operate from the Royal Navy’s new aircraft carriers, as well as the Norfolk base.

German Typhoons have intercepted 7 Russian Air Force combat planes over the Baltic Sea today

10/29/2014

According to the Latvian military, on Oct. 28, the German Air Force Eurofighter jets on QRA (Quick Reaction Alert) at Amari, Estonia, to provide NATO Baltic Air Policing were scrambled to intercept seven Russian Air Force planes flying in international airspace over the Baltic Sea. The German interceptors identified the Russian planes as a large package, made of attack planes and escort, which included 2x MiG-31 Foxhound, 2x Su-34 Fullback, 1x Su-27 Flanker and 2x Su-24 Fencer jets.

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.