Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Azerbaijan to buy Russian Yak-130 combat trainers

07/30/2014

Azerbaijani military pilots has already conducted flights on the aircrafts, got thoroughly acquainted with technical and tactical instructions Baku. Rashad Suleymanov – APA. Russia is planning to export Yak-130 (NATO code: Mitten) combat aircrafts to Azerbaijan. Irkut company, the manufacturer of the aircrafts, told APA in this regard. The Russian side has made a presentation of the aircraft for the Azerbaijani Armed Forces.

General: Air Force already looking ahead to 6th-generation fighter plane

07/30/2014

Even before the Air Force’s new F-35 “fifth-generation” fighter jet is combat-ready, the service is looking ahead to what comes next. At an Air Force Association breakfast Tuesday, Gen. Michael Hostage, the head of Air Combat Command, said studies are underway to come up with a concept for a sixth-generation fighter plane. The aircraft could be completely different than any of its predecessors, Hostage said at the meeting in Arlington, Virginia. “It isn’t necessarily another single-seat fighter.

Aero Finally Shifts Surplus L-159 Jets

07/30/2014

Czech airframer Aero Vodochody has confirmed two customers for most, possibly all, of the L-159 advanced light combat aircraft (ALCA) that were surplus to Czech air force requirements. American tactical flight support contractor Draken International will acquire up to 28 aircraft, redesignated L-159E. Meanwhile, a deal with Iraq finally reached the contract stage last month, an Aero Vodochody spokesman told AIN at the Farnborough Air Show.

Boeing Delivers First U.S. Army Multiyear II Configured Chinook

07/30/2014

Boeing today delivered the first multiyear II configured CH-47F Chinook helicopter to the U.S. Army one month ahead of schedule. The delivery was celebrated in a ceremony at the production facility in Ridley Township, Pa. “This delivery is an example of teamwork and commitment to the troops in the field,” said Col. Rob Barrie, project manager, Cargo Helicopter Office, accepting the aircraft for the U.S. Army.

Tunisia requests 12 Black Hawk helicopters

07/30/2014

The US State Department has approved the sale of 12 Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters to Tunisia. The Tunisians have also ordered 30 T700-GE-701D Engines (24 installed and 6 spares), 26 Embedded Global Positioning Systems/Inertial Navigation Systems, 24 M134 7.62mm Machine Guns, integration of Precision Guided Rocket System capability to permit launch of laser-guided variants of 2.75 rockets.

Brazil orders Airbus C295 search and rescue aircraft

07/29/2014

Brazil has signed a contract with Airbus Defence and Space for the acquisition of three Airbus C295 search and rescue (SAR) aircraft, according to a news release from the company. The three aircraft will progressively be delivered to the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) from the end of this year under the terms of an agreement which also includes a five-year Full In Service Support (FISS) contract.

China needs 400 Y-20 cargo planes for military transport: report

07/29/2014

The People's Liberation Army will need at least 400 Y-20 cargo planes produced by the Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation in order to catch up with the force projection capabilities of the United States, Russia and India, according to a report published by the National Defense University of China cited in the party-run People's Daily.

The children were playing in the street with toy guns. The air strikes were tragically real

07/29/2014

A day which began with high hopes of peace ended in appalling bloodshed with 24 dead and the ominous prospect of a widening conflict. Ten children were killed in an air strike in Gaza City, while, across the border, nine Israelis were killed in separate incidents. The children were hit by a missile while playing in the Beach refugee camp, adding to the already extraordinarily high numbers of young victims in this war.

F-15s needed in Europe to respond to Russia, Lakenheath commander says

07/29/2014

This is not the time to talk about reducing the number of F-15 fighter jets in Europe, given the situation in Ukraine, according to the new commander of the 48th Fighter Wing, which flies the only F15s in Europe. “What an exciting time to be in Europe and an exciting time to be at NATO, what an exciting time to be around this wing,” said Col. Robert Novotny, an F-15 pilot, who has been on the job for less than a week. “You know we have a lot of challenges, we really do.”

Thales Helmet Sight To Be Sole-Source on Airbus Helicopters

07/29/2014

Thales announced that its Scorpion helmet-mounted sight and display system (HMSD) had been selected for all new weapons systems sales and upgrades by Airbus Helicopters. The unusual sole-source selection had been made “following a full and open competition,” Thales said. The Airbus Helicopters military product line that could be sold with the HMSD consists of seven helicopters, including the Tiger attack helicopter and the Cougar transport/combat SAR machine.

Grob Offers New Cockpits; Wins Mexico Order for G 120TP

07/29/2014

Grob Aircraft revealed another military customer for the G 120TP turboprop trainer. The Mexican air force has ordered 25 and optioned another 15 in a deal worth about $110 million including ground-based training aids. Indonesia, Argentina and Kenya previously selected the German-built aircraft. Powered by a Rolls-Royce 250-17B turboprop, the G 120TP is fitted with lightweight Martin Baker Mk17 ejection seats, and HOTAS controls.

IAF LCA squadron awaits first aircraft after fresh delay

07/29/2014

More than seven months after it was cleared for being flown by IAF pilots, the entry of the first LCA Tejas in its newly-raised squadron in Bangalore is still awaited as the project has been delayed yet again. IAF has raised its 45 Squadron at Bangalore for allowing its pilots to fly the aircraft and was supposed to induct the first Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) in March this year.

Russia’s Air Force to receive over 260 new aircraft in 2014 — deputy defense minister

07/29/2014

Russia’s Air Force will this year receive over 260 new aircraft, a senior defense official said Monday. “Over the past year, the Russian Air Force got more than 200 aircraft. This year, there will be many more of them - over 260; some 80 will be upgraded,” Russian First Deputy Defense Minister, Army General Arkady Bakhin, told journalists.

Gaza Truce Crumbling Leads Obama to Seek Full Combat Halt

07/28/2014

Israel renewed its offensive in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip after Palestinian rockets tore through a fledgling truce, prompting U.S. President Barack Obama to call for an immediate end to the fighting. Shortly after the Israeli military campaign resumed yesterday, Hamas offered to go back to a previous United Nations-backed cease-fire agreement that took effect July 25.

Fighter jet crashes in southern Russia, killing pilot

07/28/2014

A fighter jet of the Russian Air Force crashed in southwestern Russia on Sunday morning, killing the pilot after he disobeyed an order to eject, military officials said, blaming the accident on a technical fault. There were no casualties on the ground. The accident happened at about 9:20 a.m. local time on Sunday when the Mikoyan MiG-29 fighter jet went down in a steppe about 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) northeast of the port city of Astrakhan.

Kiev attacks on rebels near MH17 site risks alliance with West

07/28/2014

The war and the Australians have come to Donetsk. As the town empties, forces loyal to the central government in Kiev on Sunday stepped up a ferocious new round of attacks on separatist rebels – forcing Canberra’s first substantive MH17 investigative team to abort what would have been its first day at the sprawling crash site.

MIDDLE EAST MILITARY BUILD-UP

07/28/2014

After more than 14 years of continuous war in Afghanistan and Iraq, not to mention supporting insurgencies in Egypt, Libya, Yemen, and Syria, the U.S. departs in a zero sum game that has cost tens of thousands of lives, trillions of dollars and leaves the Middle-East totally destabilizedwith conflict everywhere. To make matters worse and seemingly incomprehensible, evidence suggests the U.S. and its partners are planning for war against Iran.

New HMDS Helmet for F-35 Fighter Pilots Can See Right through the Jet

07/28/2014

The Gen III Helmet Mounted Display System (HMDS) developed for the U.S. F-35 Lightning II fifth generation stealth fighter lets American combat pilots see more of the sky than ever before. Its technology can even allow a fighter pilot to see an enemy aircraft flying below his jet or hidden from his view by the fuselage or wall of his supersonic fighter.

In Photos: The World's Largest Naval Exercise, RIMPAC 2014

07/28/2014

VICE News is out at the world's largest international naval exercise, Rim of the Pacific 2014, more commonly known as RIMPAC 2014, shooting footage for upcoming episodes of War Games. Like you'd pretty much expect from a major international naval exercise, a lot of the activity and training is related to stuff that ships do with and relation to each other.

This New MiG-29 Fighter Jet Video Is Absolutely Marvelous

07/28/2014

From Foxtrot Alpha: A few months back Mike Ballaban posted one of the coolest combat aircraft videos of the year, called 'Fulcrum Drivers,' that put us right into the cockpit of the mighty MiG-29 during some jaw dropping maneuvers. Well now the Fulcrum and its master are back for 'Fulcrum Drivers II.'

Hamas announces new 24-hour Gaza ceasefire with Israel

07/27/2014

Palestinian militant group Hamas has announced a 24-hour ceasefire after Israel ended its own truce amid continuing rocket fire from Gaza. All Palestinian militant factions would stop firing from 11:00 GMT, Hamas said. But Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said Hamas had already violated its own ceasefire and "Israel will do what it must do to defend its people".

Dutch experts cancel Ukraine crash site trip

07/27/2014

Dutch experts have cancelled plans to head to the site of the downed Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in eastern Ukraine, international officials say. Fighting between pro-Russia separatists and government troops in the area has prevented access to the site, they add. Earlier, Malaysia said it had struck a deal with the rebels to allow international police at the site.

Gaza crisis: Toll of operations in Gaza

07/27/2014

The number of civilians caught up in Israel's Operation Protective Edge offensive has raised international concern and condemnation. During the three weeks since air strikes against Hamas in Gaza began, more than 800 people have been killed on both sides. The UN says the vast majority of Palestinian deaths are civilian. But figures from previous operations in the densely populated Gaza Strip over the last six years show it is not the first time civilians have paid a heavy price.

Israel Extends Cease-Fire in Gaza, a U.N. Request Rejected by Hamas

07/27/2014

Under intense diplomatic pressure, Israeli leaders decided late Saturday to extend a halt to hostilities in the Gaza Strip through midnight Sunday, but said their troops would maintain defensive positions and continue to ferret out tunnels from Gaza into Israeli territory. Hamas, the militant Palestinian faction that dominates Gaza, rejected the extension of the temporary cease-fire requested by the United Nations, after renewing rocket fire on Israel on Saturday evening.

Ukraine Disaster in Search of an Investigation

07/27/2014

The rescue workers have left, and their tents are gone. The peppermint-striped plastic cordon flutters uselessly in the breeze. Farmers are harvesting wheat in a field where bodies had lain. Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was blown out of the sky one week ago on Thursday, deepening tensions between Russia and the West and thrusting at least 10 countries whose citizens were on board into the middle of a war between Ukraine's government and pro-Russian rebels.