Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Turbulence Ahead for Taiwan’s F-16 Upgrade Program?

02/07/2014

Already denied F-16C/D combat aircraft it has sought to acquire for years, Taiwan could now be the unintended victim of “very tough” budgetary decisions by the U.S. Air Force that run the risk of derailing a $5.3 billion retrofit program for the island’s 146 F-16A/B aircraft, according to recent reports that are now being disputed.

The Litening will keep striking

02/07/2014

Targeting pods are now almost a baseline system on combat aircraft. Air forces have realised that such a system is a key tool to accomplish missions as planned – and with the twist of real-time changing operational requirements. When Rafael in Israel first came out with its Litening targeting pod, customers were slow to react. Now, after selling 1,400 Litening pods to 27 customers around the world, the company’s forecast is for demand for another 500 Litening targeting pod in the next 5-7 years.

Rafale fighter deal deferred for 2014-15, no money left: Antony

02/07/2014

Government is looking into the complaints against the procedure to determine the winner of multi-billion dollar combat aircraft deal, Defence Minister AK Antony on Thursday said while admitting that there was no money to sign such a big deal in this fiscal. "There are complaints about the procedure of calculating the Life Cycle Cost and that issue is not yet settled.

Lockheed Martin Receives $60 Million Support Contract for UK Apache Targeting and Pilotage System

02/07/2014

Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] received a $60 million sustainment and support contract from AgustaWestland for the Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor (M-TADS/PNVS) system on the U.K.’s Apache AH Mk-1 aircraft.

Russia Sold $4.7Bln in Arms to India in 2013

02/07/2014

Russia exported $4.78 billion worth of arms and military equipment to India last year, a senior Russian arms industry official said Thursday. “It’s a very good result,” Vyacheslav Dzirkaln, deputy head of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, said at the DefExpo-2014 arms fair in New Delhi.

Saudia signs wide-ranging agreement with Boeing to kickstart civil and defence partnerships

02/07/2014

Saudi Arabian Airlines(Saudia) has signed a collaboration agreement with American manufacturer Boeing that could see it developing partnership activities in the field of defence as well as in its commercial operations.

Israeli pilots punished for storing sensitive data on smartphones

02/06/2014

Two Israeli combat pilots were jailed for five days and 12 others were disciplined for storing operational maps on their smartphones, Israeli Army Radio reported today. Israeli military authorities discovered the security breach after one of the pilots reported he had lost his cellphone and that it contained sensitive data. It was recovered, the report said, and investigators found he had loaded maps, waypoints and other classified documents.

Cut Carriers To Save Subs, Cyber From Sequester, Thinktanks Say

02/06/2014

To be clear, none of the four teams in a recent “budget wargame” simulating the next 10 years chose to scrap all the flattops or even most of them. None of them even stopped building the new Ford-class carriers. Instead they opted to keep the industrial base alive with new production while retiring two, three, or even four of the existing carriers, which would avoid expensive mid-life overhauls like the one the USS George Washington is due to start this year.

Locator beacons for Air Force ejection seats failing at 'unacceptable' rate

02/06/2014

For three days, the family of Capt. Lucas Gruenther waited while rescuers searched for the F-16 pilot in the Adriatic Sea. Gruenther, the chief of flight safety for the 31st Fighter Wing at Aviano Air Base, Italy, had ejected from his F-16 in poor weather off the Italian coast. And while an Italian and American fleet combed the Adriatic, Gruenther’s family gathered together and hoped for good news.

Ottawa to curb military’s role in procurement after costly delays

02/06/2014

The Conservative government is reducing the Department of National Defence’s influence in steering big-ticket military purchases after a string of delays and cost overruns in acquiring hardware for the Canadian Armed Forces.

Red Flag military exercise back in force at Nellis training range

02/06/2014

Royal Air Force Tornado fighter jets joined the chorus of man-made thunder Tuesday as military aircraft from the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom stormed off into a wintry sky toward the Nevada Test and Training Range to kick off another day of Red Flag exercises.

Taranis test flights to inform design of future combat aircraft

02/06/2014

The most advanced aircraft ever built by British engineers has successfully completed its first flights. Taranis, an unmanned aerial combat vehicle designed and built by a team comprising BAE Systems, Qinetiq, GE Aviation, Rolls-Royce, and DE&S, was flown for the first time at an undisclosed test range on Saturday 10th August 2013.

Lockheed Martin Announces Briefing Schedule For Singapore Airshow

02/06/2014

Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) stands ready to support customers with a variety of regional security and commercial services solutions as the aerospace world shifts its focus this week to Asia Pacific. During the Singapore Airshow, the Corporation will highlight its 50-year history in the region and discuss new areas for partnership and collaboration with its valued customers.

Russia-Belarus Union State Increases Defense Spending in 2014

02/06/2014

The Russia-Belarus Union State will allocate 3.2 billion rubles ($91.5 million) in 2014 for joint military, defense industry and security projects, the body’s top official said Wednesday. The supranational entity spent only 1.3 billion rubles on defense and security from a 2.5bln-ruble budget assigned for this purpose last year, State Secretary of the Russia-Belarus Union State Grigory Rapota said.

Russian Combat Jet Trainer to Perform at Singapore Air Show

02/06/2014

Russia’s new Yak-130 combat trainer will take part in demonstration flights at the Singapore Air Show next month, a government agency said Wednesday. According to the Federal Service for Military and Technical Cooperation, Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation will also showcase models of Su-35 and T-50 fighter jets as well as several civilian aircraft: the Sukhoi Superjet 100, MS-21 and Be-200.

Turkey’s new carrier alters eastern Mediterranean energy and security calculus

02/05/2014

In late December 2013, Turkey took a major step in altering the naval balance in the eastern Mediterranean by contracting the construction of a multi-purpose amphibious assault ship that can function as an aircraft carrier, potentially providing Turkey an unprecedented measure of sea control in the region.

BAE set to team up with French on UAVs

02/05/2014

They will be teaming up with the french after a £120m deal was signed by Prime Minister David Cameron and French President, Francois Hollande for a two year unmanned systems feasibility study. France has been researching its own drone-style aircraft and BAE has already produced its Taranis unmanned air vehicle at Warton. It has also been conducting test flights of a Jetstream aircraftwhich can operate without a pilot. Warton is expected to be the centre of the new collaboration.

Inside the F-35: The Challenges

02/05/2014

Since the Pentagon chose the F-35, the program has run into delays, huge extra costs, and lots of concerns about the jets themselves. In 2020, 18 of these new fighter jets will land at the Vermont Air National Guard. Hard to believe but the Pentagon started working on a new fighter jet 17-years ago.

Tejas Set to Begin High-altitude Trials

02/05/2014

The Final Operational Clearance (FOC) campaign of Light Combat Aircraft Tejas is set to gain momentum with the high altitude trials scheduled this week in Leh. Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) Director P S Subramanyam told Express on Tuesday that during the Leh trials, the aircraft engine would be started at lower than -10 degree Celsius.

Turkish-Syrian fighter-jet dogfights reported near border

02/05/2014

Turkey has continued to intercept Syrian warplanes. Officials said Syria and Turkey have engaged in dogfights over their mutual border. They said the confrontations have focused on control of the air space over northern Syria, which contains Al Qaida militias. “The Syrians are increasingly using their air defense systems to threaten Turkish fighter-jets,” an official said.

India, Dassault Rafale Deal Appears Stalled

02/05/2014

Negotiations over the multibillion dollar deal to sell 126 Dassault Rafale jets to India have stalled, according to Indian Defence Ministry sources, who say the sticking point involves issues governing license-production of the jets at state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL).

Russian designers may develop new aircraft carrier by 2023

02/05/2014

The development and construction of a new aircraft carrier for the Russian navy could take about 10 years, a St. Petersburg-based ship design bureau said Monday. Sergei Vlasov, general director of the Nevskoye design bureau, said the overall cost of the ship could range between 100 and 250 billion rubles ($2.8-7.1 billion).

Xi Jinping told Liaoning's captain to get aircraft carrier ship-shape soon

02/05/2014

A Communist Party magazine has revealed concerns expressed by President Xi Jinping during his inspection of China's first aircraft carrier in August. Xi's visit to the ship was widely covered by mainland media, but until yesterday what he discussed with the Liaoning's commander had not been reported.

Airbus Mulls India Assembly for C295 Aircraft in Military Pitch

02/05/2014

Airbus Group NV (AIR), aiming to pitch its C295 plane to the Indian Air Force, said it may set up a local assembly line for the military transport aircraft as it seeks to boost business outside the U.S. and Europe. The planemaker will bid for the Indian contract next month, Christian Scherer, head of marketing and sales at Airbus Defense & Space, said by e-mail. India, the world’s largest arms importer, invited bids last year for 56 transport planes to replace its aging fleet of Avro aircraft.

U.S Air Force Selects Lockheed Martin To Provide Software That Integrates Air Operations & Missile Defense Assets

02/05/2014

Lockheed Martin is developing a software planner that integrates air operations and missile defense systems, giving the Air Force the ability to “see” and better understand dynamic global situations. The U.S. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center awarded Lockheed Martin a contract worth approximately $8 million to provide an air and missile defense planner that will be integrated into the U.S. Air Force Air Operations Center.