Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Egypt seizes large cache of anti-aircraft weapons from Sudan, Libya

08/08/2014

The Egyptian military has captured a large cache of anti-aircraft weapons delivered by convoys from Sudan and Libya. On Aug. 5, five policemen and four suspected insurgents were killed in a battle on the Matrouh highway, the usual convoy route along the Mediterranean coast. The sources said the insurgents attacked two security checkpoints on Matrouh.

Obama Said to Back Airdrops for Iraqis

08/08/2014

United States military aircraft on Thursday dropped food and water to thousands of Iraqis beseiged by Islamic militants on a mountain top in norther Iraq, according to a senior Pentagon official. The military made the announcement after the planes had delivered the supplies and left the area. President Obama was scheduled to discuss the mission in a televised address Thursday night.

Russian nuclear-capable bombers 'tested' US air defences 16 times in last 10 days

08/08/2014

Russian strategic nuclear bombers and other military aircraft entered US air defense identification zones (ADIZs) at least 16 times over the past ten days, American defense officials confirmed on Thursday. “Over the past week, NORAD has visually identified Russian aircraft operating in and around the US air defense identification zones,” said Maj. Beth Smith, spokeswoman for US Northern Command and the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).

Federal government scraps plans to buy four new spy planes

08/08/2014

The federal government is scrapping plans to purchase as many as four new manned spy planes for domestic and international surveillance missions. The Department of National Defence notified military contractors on Tuesday that Ottawa is no longer considering purchasing the new planes, citing “security and technical feasibility” reasons.

France renews Sahel commitment

08/08/2014

Nearly two years after an international intervention against jihadists in Mali, France officially launched a successor operation on August 1st, dubbed Operation Barkhane. The goal is to combat terrorism in the Sahel-Saharan region. A total of 3,000 French soldiers will be deployed in five partner countries, the "G5 of the Sahel": Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Chad.

Air Force names Eielson as preferred location for F-35s

08/08/2014

The U.S. Air Force announced Eielson Air Force Base is its preferred location for two new squadrons of F-35 fighters Aug. 7, less than a year after the base avoided losing an F-16 squadron. “Today, Alaska is a huge winner in this, but so is the nation because there is no question about our military readiness in Alaska,” Sen. Mark Begich said at a press conference held in Anchorage immediately following the announcement.

ISIL advance in Iraq prompts U.S. to suspend deliveries of F-16s, Apaches

08/08/2014

The United States has suspended the delivery of military aircraft to Iraq. Officials said the administration of President Barack Obama has rebuffed Iraqi requests for the combat aircraft after concluding that the Iraqi military was not capable of securing these platforms amid the advance of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. The officials said the F-16s no longer had a home with the ISIL siege on the Iraq Air Force base at Balad.

ISAF Suspends Afghan Mission Following Killing of US General - Reports

08/08/2014

The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan has suspended its cooperation with the Afghan National Army (ANA) at various military facilities after the killing of a US major general, Der Spiegel reported Thursday. ISAF commander Joseph Dunford suspended the Afghan military support mission by ordering on Tuesday all international instructors and military consultants to remain in their camps until Friday, while the incident is being investigated.

Unrest prevails as NATO moves in

08/07/2014

Recent events have cast the Baltic States in a new light, as a barrier between Russia and the West. NATO, especially U.S. involvement, has shown the world the strategic importance of Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, as well as Poland. NATO training exercises are being conducted in response to both the crisis in Ukraine, as well as the increasing Russian presence in the Baltic Sea region.

Kuwait receives first KC-130J tanker

08/07/2014

Lockheed Martin has delivered its first of three KC-130J tanker/transports to the Kuwait air force, providing the service with a new air-to-air refuelling capability. Carrying the registration KAF 326, the short-fuselage aircraft will be followed by another two contained within a production order signed in 2010. These are to be handed over before the end of this year, according to Flightglobal’s Ascend Fleets database.

Alenia completes first phase of Typhoon and Storm Shadow integration trials

08/07/2014

Alenia Aermacchi has completed the first phase of integration tests of the Storm Shadow missile into the Typhoon multi-role combat aircraft. Working in collaboration with Cassidian and BAE Systems, the company evaluated various aspects of aeromechanical missile integration into the aircraft, at its facility at Decimomannu Air Base in Sardinia, Italy. The tests started in December last year with instrumented production aircraft 2 (IPA2).

Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant Produces Landmark 850th Helicopter

08/07/2014

Russian Helicopters, a subsidiary of Oboronprom, part of State Corporation Rostec, is pleased to announce that Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant (UUAP) has produced its 850th Mi-171-series helicopter. The landmark aircraft was a Mi-171A1 built for Brazilian commercial operator Atlas Taxi Aereo. The Mi-171A1 is one of the latest commercial models of the world-famous Mi-8/17 series.

Israel should face arms embargo, former government minister says

08/07/2014

An arms embargo should be imposed on Israel, the former international development secretary Andrew Mitchell has said , as he warned that the level of misery and carnage in Gaza was likely to poison the remaining goodwill in the region for generations. Mitchell also said on Wednesday that UN schools in Gaza should not have been targeted for attacks since they were places of sanctuary.

Hagel cites well-grounded concerns that Russia could invade Ukraine

08/07/2014

Rising concerns that Moscow is poised to launch an invasion into Ukraine are well-grounded because Russian troops are continuing to mass along the volatile border between the two countries, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Wednesday. “There is no question that Russia continues to build up on the border.

Market For Indian Defense Industry Opens Wide

08/07/2014

India’s government officially opened up the defense industry to foreign investors Wednesday, allowing defense contractors from abroad to own up to 49% instead of 26% of Indian military equipment makers. The plan was first announced in the July 10 budget by new finance minister, Arun Jaitley. The cabinet approval is all the proposal needed to become a national policy.

Boeing Delivers 15th Production P-8A Poseidon to U.S. Navy

08/07/2014

The 15th P-8A Poseidon built by Boeing [NYSE: BA] arrives at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Fla., where it will help expand the U.S. Navy’s long-range maritime patrol capabilities. The aircraft, delivered on schedule July 31st, joined the other Poseidon aircraft being used to train Navy crews in preparation for deployment.

Boeing Awarded $250 Million Contract to Modernize NATO AWACS Fleet

08/07/2014

Boeing has received a contract from NATO worth approximately $250 million to install digital flight decks and avionics on 13 of the alliance’s Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft, which are based on the Boeing 707 commercial airplane. The new technology ensures compliance with current and future air traffic control and navigation requirements, giving the aircraft broader access to airspace around the world.

Iraq Backs Kurdish Fight Against Jihadists

08/06/2014

Iraq's government sent its air force on Monday to back Kurdish forces struggling to blunt a jihadist advance, an extraordinary move that reflects alarm over the insurgents' brash new offensive against Kurds in both Iraq and Syria. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's authorization of air support came after the Kurdish forces, known as Peshmerga, lost a string of towns over the weekend to the militant group, which calls itself Islamic State.

Ukraine army positioning to move on rebels in Donetsk

08/06/2014

The Ukrainian military on Monday appeared to be readying a long-awaited major assault on the rebel stronghold of Donetsk, warning civilians to leave as troops tightened their ring around the city amid heavy fighting. Extra evacuation corridors were set up for cars bearing white flags, said Andriy Lysenko, a military spokesman. The Donetsk city government posted the corridor routes on its Web page.

Air Force Works to Extend Life of C-130 Fleet

08/06/2014

The USAF is working to extend the service life of its fleet of C-130 combat delivery aircraft by replacing center wing boxes on some of the planes and adding new avionics, electronics and instrumentation, service officials told Military?.com. The modernization effort encompasses maintenance and technological improvements to the older C-130 H-model planes as well at the more modern C-130J aircraft, said Col. Robert Toth, division chief for special operations, rescue and trainer programs.

UK to Review Arms Sales to Israel

08/06/2014

No matter it is ceasefire or war time, the British government has decided to take a call on reviewing arms sales to Israel. The Downing Street has ordered a review of all the export licences in the aftermath of the Gaza assault that killed 1,700 Palestinians. An official spokesman of the PM's office confirmed that the government is getting ready to review all the export licences to Israel.

US OKs sale of C-130 planes to Phl

08/06/2014

The United States (US) State Department has approved the sale of two C-130 planes to the Philippines in a move seen to boost the strategic partnership between the two countries. The package has an estimated cost of $61 million or roughly P2.67 billion and would include equipment, parts, training and three-year logistical support, a statement by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said.

Japanese whitepaper highlights industrial role of F-35A

08/06/2014

Japan’s annual defence whitepaper underlines the importance Tokyo places on the industrial participation aspects of the Lockheed Martin F-35A programme, and casts a wary eye on airpower developments in China. The whitepaper, produced annually by the Ministry of Defense, touches on all aspects of Tokyo’s security situation, from the disruptive potential of non-state actors to challenges posed by major powers, namely China.

Russian Air Force Gets New Batch of Su-30M2 Fighters

08/06/2014

Russia’s aircraft maker Sukhoi has delivered another batch of its multirole fighters Su-30M2 to the country's Air Force, according to the company’s press office. “Under the state arms procurement program, the Sukhoi company handed over a batch of multirole fighter jets Su-30M2,” it said Tuesday in a press release.

War Games and Military Maneuvers: EU, US intensifies Confrontation with Russia

08/06/2014

The US and European Union are stepping up their campaign against Russia as the Ukrainian army intensifies its attack on the civilian population in the east of the country, unleashing a humanitarian catastrophe. Meanwhile, in leading political and military circles there is increasing talk of a direct military engagement with Russia.