Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Pentagon Plans for Cuts to Drone Budgets

01/03/2014

The Pentagon didn’t expect to see the major budget cuts the U.S. military has received over the past two years that has forced Pentagon leaders to update planning documents such as the Unmanned Systems Integrated Roadmap. The 2013 update released right before the New Year takes into account those cuts while also emphasizing the need to keep up with advances by countries like China and Iran in the drone market.

IAF strikes Gaza in response to rocket fire

01/03/2014

Israeli jets bombed targets in the northern Gaza Strip Thursday night, hours after a rocket launched from Gaza landed in the Negev Regional Council. There were no immediate reports of injuries. The IDF confirmed it struck the Gaza Strip in response to the rocket fire earlier in the evening, which caused no injuries or damage.

Bluedrop Completes Purchase of Atlantis Systems, Establishing Bluedrop As One of Canada’s Largest Military Training Firms

01/03/2014

Bluedrop Performance Learning Inc. (“Bluedrop”) and Atlantis Systems Corp. (“Atlantis”) jointly announced today that they have completed the previously announced plan of arrangement (the “Arrangement”) pursuant to which Bluedrop, through its wholly-owned subsidiary 8682259 Canada Inc., acquired all of the common shares of Atlantis (“Atlantis Shares”) for aggregate cash consideration of C$1,000,000 or approximately C$0.0276 for each Atlantis Share.

Syrian defense systems put Turkish F-16 jets under radar lock: General Staff

01/03/2014

Syrian air missile batteries put two Turkish F-16 jets conducting a sortie in the southern province of Hatay along the border under a radar lock, the Turkish General Staff said in a statement Jan. 2. The Turkish jets were deployed to the border area after a Syrian military aircraft approached Turkish airspace, the statement said. It added that the Syrian SU-24 changed its route to the opposite direction at five nautical miles from Turkish airspace.

Military drones set to get stronger chemical weapons and could soon make their OWN decisions during missions

01/03/2014

Drones that can choose to deviate from a set mission and hunt in ‘swarms’ could be patrolling skies within the next 25 years, according to a new roadmap. Unmanned aircraft carrying stronger chemical weapons could also be on the horizon, the U.S. Department of Defence (DoD) revealed in its Unmanned Systems Integrated Roadmap.

Tyndall to Receive Combat Deployable F-22s January 6

01/03/2014

Tyndall Air Force Base will receive the first of 24 F-22 Raptors Jan. 6 as part of the new combat mission. The five aircraft arriving are a part of the 95th Fighter Squadron, which re-activated in October 2013. The squadron's mission is "to project unrivaled combat power in support of national military objectives and combatant commander requirements through strategic application of 5th generation air dominance fighter aircraft and personnel."

BAE share price: Company strikes $1 billion deal to upgrade South Korean F-16 jets

01/03/2014

BAE Systems has finalised a deal with the US government to upgrade more than 130 South Korean F16 fighter jets under a contract worth an estimated $1 billion (£602.7 million). The UK-based defence, aerospace and security group, which last month lost out on a potential £6 billion deal to provide Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft to the United Arab Emirates (BAE share price tumbles on double blow from the Middle East) now hopes to secure orders for F16 upgrades in other countries.

Czech government approves deal to offload excess fighter jets

01/03/2014

For much of the last decade the Czech army has been touting its excess L-159 fighter and trainer aircraft for sale to foreign armies or companies. During that time the planes have been wrapped in protective covers in hangers and accumulating ever growing storage costs met by the Ministry of Defense.

The future of the military is robots building robots

01/03/2014

From the B-2 bomber to the M1 Abrams tank, the United States has for decades developed, built, and fielded the most advanced and capable weapon systems in the world. That's changing because of declining budgets, emerging technologies, and global competition from rising powers like China. Today, for the first time in recent history, the Pentagon is in danger of losing its vast technological advantages over potential adversaries.

China's military presence is growing. Does a superpower collision loom?

01/02/2014

Generally speaking, Japanese bureaucrats are not much given to exaggeration. So when a senior government insider in Tokyo, speaking off the record, recently compared the deteriorating security situation in East Asia to Europe in the 1930s amid the rise of fascism, it was time to sit up and take notice.

Syrian Warplanes Bomb Hills Inside Lebanon

01/02/2014

Syrian warplanes bombed on Wednesday a barren range of Lebanese hills used by Syrian rebels and refugees to cross between the two countries, wounding at least 10 Syrians who were rushed to hospital in a nearby Lebanese town, Beirut's state-run National News Agency said.

Market Report, "Saudi Arabia Defence & Security Report Q1 2014", Published

01/02/2014

BMI's report examines the trends witnessed in the country's current and future defence procurement across its armed forces. The report's general conclusion is that Saudi Arabia will continue to invest heavily in defence procurement, giving it military superiority over most of its neighbours in what will remain a volatile region.

Report: Mechanical malfunction led to Aug. bomber crash

01/02/2014

An Air Force report says a mechanical malfunction that started a fuel leak caused the crash of an Ellsworth Air Force Base B-1B bomber during an August training exercise over southeastern Montana. The report released by the Air Combat Command Accident Investigation Board concluded that about 7,000 pounds of fuel leaked into the aircraft and was ignited by hot ductwork, leading to a series of detonations in the plane.

India cancels €560m AgustaWestland helicopter order

01/02/2014

India has cancelled a €560m contract to buy high-end helicopters from AgustaWestland, a subsidiary of Finmeccanica, in move that underlines the unpredictability of one of the world’s biggest defence markets. Sitanshu Kar, a ministry spokesman, said the agreement had been “terminated with immediate effect” because of “integrity-related issues” in a contract that had been dogged by allegations of corruption.

Israeli Air Force Develops ‘Waze’ Technology for Fighter Pilots

01/02/2014

The Israel Air Force’s Horizon Unit, responsible for the development of encrypted content, is developing ‘Waze’ technology for pilots, similar to the popular app that provides users with real time traffic updates, Israeli daily Walla reported on Wednesday. The unit is currently working on a series of groundbreaking technologies that have garnered praise from hi tech companies both in Israel and around the world.

China completes maiden voyage of first aircraft carrier, tests combat system

01/02/2014

Chinese state media say the country's first aircraft carrier has successfully completed tests and training programs on its maiden voyage. The Liaoning returned to port Wednesday after a 37-day voyage in the South China Sea. The official Xinhua News Agency says the aircraft carrier tested its combat system and conducted a formation practice and "attained the anticipated objectives."

Year in review: Air Force Times' top stories from 2013

01/01/2014

In one of its last acts in December, the Senate confirmed Deborah Lee James as the new Air Force secretary. Nominated in August to replace Michael Donley, who retired in June, James was in limbo after Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., placed a hold on her confirmation for more than two months — due to published reports that the Air Force wants to phase out the A-10 aircraft to save money.

Cadet Research Seeks to End Aircraft Bird Strikes

01/01/2014

Bird strikes cost more than $700 million in damage annually to both military and commercial airplanes - putting both lives and property at risk. But a group of cadets at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo., are working on ways to scare birds away from the aircraft, particularly during take-offs and landings; when the majority of bird strikes occur.

Military drone pilot tells what it's like to engage in warfare day-after-day

01/01/2014

Drones are on our minds in Central New York because of Monday's news about Syracuse's selection as one of six locations in the United States to conduct research on the problem of keeping unmanned aircraft out of the way of commercial air traffic. For several years, military drones have operated out of Fort Drum near Watertown and Hancock Field in Mattydale. They've also drawn the attention of drone protesters.

JF-17 Thunder variant may be popular among developing nations

01/01/2014

The JF-17 Block-II — the upgrade version of the JF-17 Thunder or Xiaolong fighter jet co-designed by China and Pakistan — is likely to be a very popular combat aircraft among developing nations, according to the Diplomat, an online current affairs magazine based in Tokyo.

North Dakota Pitches Itself As a Utopia for Drones

01/01/2014

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration on Monday named six sites dedicated to the research and testing of unmanned aerial systems, or drones. Earlier this year, it received 25 proposals from 24 states looking to cash in on what could be a growing industry in the coming years, once the federal government has developed a legal framework for pilotless airplanes.

Shenyang designing bomber version of J-31 stealth fighter

01/01/2014

A bomber version of the Shenyang J-31, China's second fifth-generation stealth fighter, is likely to be designed by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation in the near future to meet the demands of the People's Liberation Army Air Force, the Beijing-based Sina Military Network reported on Dec. 30.

India Awards $1B Contract for 6 More C-130Js

01/01/2014

Top brass in the Indian Army and Air Force expressed shock over the Defence Ministry’s decision to award a $1 billion repeat contract on Dec. 27 for six additional C-130J Hercules transport aircraft, saying the military has many more pressing purchases to tackle.

Top 10 Achievements and Developments of Indian Military in 2013

01/01/2014

India lies in a dangerous neighbourhood with two hostile countries, which have gone to war against it in the past. However, there has been a change in the dynamics and the economics of the Asian region that has seen the rise of China, which can now challenge not just India but even the US, along with intimidating other countries in the area.

U.S. Army seeks bigger Pacific role

12/31/2013

Approaching from the Hawaii coast, the mosquito-shaped helicopter buzzed around the guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Erie twice before swooping toward the landing pad. The U.S. Navy crew on the deck crouched, the helmeted faces betraying more than routine concern as the aircraft, flown by a pilot who had never before alighted upon a ship, hovered just off the tarmac and then set down with a thud.