Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

NATO: very much alive at 65

08/30/2014

When the leaders of the North Atlantic alliance wrapped up their Chicago summit two years ago and started preparing for their 65th anniversary meeting in 2014, they could have asked John Travolta to provide the soundtrack, “Stayin’ Alive.” At that point the alliance looked like a Cold War organization in search of a mission two decades after the fall of the Berlin Wall and collapse of the Soviet Union. And all the while, it expanded its membership to the east, closer to Russia.

Identity of pilot killed in military plane crash released

08/30/2014

Following the fatal crash of a 104th Fighter Wing F-15C aircraft in the remote mountains near Deerfield Valley, Va. the family has asked that the unit share with the public the name of the pilot who was fatally injured Wednesday. Lt. Col. Morris Fontenot Jr. served with the 104th Fighter Wing as the full-time Wing Inspector General, responsible for the implementation of the Air Force Inspection System and as an F-15 instructor pilot with more than 2,300 flight hours.

Ukraine Accuses Russia of Invasion, West to Consider Sanctions

08/30/2014

Kiev and its Western backers accused Moscow of sending Russian troops and armor to fight alongside rebels in eastern Ukraine, dimming hopes for a diplomatic solution to the crisis and prompting the U.S. and Europe to threaten new sanctions. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko convened an emergency meeting of his security chiefs Thursday and vowed that "Ukraine can defend itself."

How to fly a Gripen fighter jet with the FT

08/30/2014

How did I get into this? I’m in the cockpit of a fighter jet flying over Sweden and the pilot has apparently handed the aircraft over to me. At Mach 1.2 – that’s 1,500kph. When Saab test pilot Hans Einerth calmly says “Your controls”, I assume he is joking. “You want me to grab the joystick?” Yes, he replies, so casually that he sounds more like a father urging his toddler to let go of the handrail and slip down a playground slide than a man relinquishing control of a $50m Gripen fighter jet.

Unmanned Aircraft Partnership Reaches Major Milestone

08/30/2014

A team of research students and staff from Warsaw University of Technology have successfully demonstrated the first phase of flight test and integration of unmanned aircraft platforms with an autonomous mission control system. The demonstration marks a significant milestone in a partnership between the university and Lockheed Martin that began earlier this year.

Seven NATO Countries to Create New Response Force over Ukrainian Crisis - Reports

08/30/2014

Seven NATO's member states plan to create new response force of at least 10,000 soldiers in order to strengthen the alliance's defense capabilities in light of the escalating Ukrainian crisis, Financial Times wrote. Britain will lead the forces from Denmark, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Norway and the Netherlands, with Canada potentially joining in. The new NATO Response Force (NRF) will include air and naval units, as well as ground troops, according to FT.

Sweden Raises Military Alert over Ukrainian Crisis - Reports

08/30/2014

Sweden increased the alert of its military forces due to the escalating crisis in Ukraine, Reuters reported citing the country's armed forces. "Given the serious nature of the development in Ukraine, the Swedish military is responding by among other things a higher alert status for the General Staff at headquarters and intensified intelligence gathering," the agency quoted Forsvarsmakten, Sweden’s military authority, as saying in a statement Friday.

Norway Sends Tanks to Latvian-Russian Border - Reports

08/30/2014

Norway is sending a tank battalion to the Latvian-Russian border for two-months drills, VG newspaper reported. The drills are Norway's response to NATO's request to support the allies in light of the growing activity in the Baltics and are Oslo's contribution to calm the allies, Norway's Defense Minister Ine Eriksen Søreide said in the Friday interview with the paper. He underlined that only excercises were in plan.

Russia, India to Continue Joint Air Force Drills in November - Moscow

08/30/2014

The second phase of joint Russian-Indian Air Force exercise “Aviaindra-2014” is set to take place in India in November, deputy chief of the Russian Air Force's General Staff, Aleksandr Lyapkin, told reporters Friday. “The second phase of the exercise will take place in India after the end of monsoon season, on November 10-21. The location isn't known yet, this will become clear in October, when planning is finished,” Lyapkin said.

India to Take Part in Aviadarts-2015 Flight Skills Competition

08/30/2014

India has confirmed its participation in the Aviadarts flight-skills competition hosted by Russia, Deputy Chief of the Main Staff of Russian Air Force Major General Alexander Lyapkin told RIA Novosti. “In 2015, another flight skills competition will take place, and an Indian crew plans to take part in it. As you can remember, this year China and Belarus participated in the contest,” Lyapkin said.

China Seeks to Protect South China Sea Submarine Gateway

08/29/2014

China’s efforts to protect its submarine gateway to the South China Sea could broaden from standoffs with U.S. military planes to announcing an air defense identification zone, according to two retired army officers. China could seek to restrict the air space around Hainan Island as the U.S. routinely runs surveillance flights in the area, retired Colonel Yue Gang said. The move would mirror a zone China set up in November over portions of the East China Sea disputed with Japan.

Ukraine Accuses Russia of Invasion, West to Consider Sanctions

08/29/2014

Kiev and its Western backers accused Moscow of sending Russian troops and armor to fight alongside rebels in eastern Ukraine, dimming hopes for a diplomatic solution to the crisis and prompting the U.S. and Europe to threaten new sanctions. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko convened an emergency meeting of his security chiefs Thursday and vowed that "Ukraine can defend itself."

It's Time for the Saudis to Stand Up

08/29/2014

Now is the time for Saudi Arabia to man up. There is broad agreement that the black-clad savages of the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham pose a profound threat first to neighboring Arab regimes and only then to Europe and the United States. Yet amid the debate over how a reluctant U.S. or timid Europe should respond, there is no discussion of what Saudi Arabia should do. This is a remarkable omission that ought to shame the Saudis.

Czechs closer to selling subsonic fighter jets to Iraq

08/29/2014

The Czech Republic moved a step closer to completing a deal to sell 12 subsonic fighter planes to Iraq after the Defence Ministry and plane maker Aero Vodochody agreed on conditions, defence officials said on Thursday. The Czech army has a surplus of the L-159 fighters, made by Aero and used as training or light combat aircraft, and has been looking for a buyer. In July, the Czechs signed a contract to sell 14 L-159 planes to U.S. company Draken International.

How are F-15 and other fighter pilots trained and equipped to survive after ejecting from their aircraft?

08/29/2014

U.S. Air Force Air National Guard Maj. Matthew Mutti said that if the pilot whose F-15C jet crashed in Virginia on Wednesday ejected, that pilot is trained, if not equipped, to survive in the wild. Every Air Force member who flies goes through an extensive 19-day survival, evasion, resistance and escape, or SERE, course taught at Fairchild Air Force Base in Washington State.

Military Terminology: Combat air patrol

08/29/2014

In case you haven't noticed, the military enjoys its abbreviations. That's especially true of the flying forces, which seemingly speak in nothing but shorthand. While we will endeavor to explain as many of those phrases as possible in this series, today, we'll focus on one of the most common types – the combat air patrol, or CAP.

Military equipped for Iraq mission

08/29/2014

If combat aircraft are sent, they would probably be six of the RAAF’s 24 Super Hornet fighter-bombers. They would need to be escorted to the Middle East by a flying tanker, possibly one of the RAAF’s KC-30s. If the RAAF tankers are not ready for such a mission, the Hornets could be refuelled by a US tanker based on the island of Diego Garcia or by a contacted civilian tanker.

Boeing to Highlight Combat Helicopters and KC-46 Tanker at MSPO Exhibition in Poland

08/29/2014

Boeing will participate in the annual MSPO International Defence Industry exhibition in Kielce, Poland, which runs Sept. 1-4. The company will highlight several of its defense products and services including the AH-64 Apache and AH-6i combat helicopters, the KC-46A Pegasus aerial refueling tanker, and unmanned aerial systems such as the ScanEagle, among other programs.

'Russian troops deployed' in Ukraine - Poroshenko

08/28/2014

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has cancelled a visit to Turkey, citing "Russian troop deployments" in the east of the country. Mr Poroshenko said his place was in Kiev in view of a sharp deterioration in the situation in Donetsk region.

U.S. Top Guns in Darwin Dog-Fight Drills as China Tensions Rise

08/28/2014

In Australia’s remote top end U.S. fighter pilots are engaged in combat drills, while Marines sip beers at night in pubs in the tropical city of Darwin. Thousands of kilometers to the north, the U.S. finds itself in increasingly real standoffs with China’s air force. “The planes are noisy but they’re just a part of life,” said Rachael Molloy, 24, who sells crocodile skin whips at the evening beach markets in Darwin, which plays host to the 22-day exercises where jets roar overhead until late at

B-2 Spirits depart Andersen following routine deployment

08/28/2014

Three B-2 Spirits redeployed to the continental U.S. following a deployment here as part of U.S. Pacific Command's continuous bomber presence in the Indo-Asia-Pacific Region. The bombers, and approximately 200 support Airmen, assigned to the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri deployed here, Aug. 6, to improve combat readiness and ensure regional stability.

Australia signs up to join US in air strikes on Iraq

08/28/2014

Australia has signalled its willingness to contribute Super Hornets to US-led air strikes in Iraq, with the defence force “at a high state of readiness”. The defence minister, David Johnston, said Australia was yet to be approached to provide assistance other than humanitarian relief, but would continue to talk to the US about steps to preserve civilian life from the threat posed by the Islamic State (Isis).

Navy to deploy MiG 29Ks in Vishakhapatnam; move aimed to strengthen eastern coast

08/28/2014

India is planning to deploy the MiG-29K naval combat aircraft in Vishakhapatnam to strengthen the security of the country's eastern coast. The MiG 29Ks are being deployed in INS Degha near Vishakhapatnam and would be also stationed on the INS Vikrant or the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier being built at Kochi, Navy spokesperson Captain D K Sharma said.

F-15 jet crashes in Western Virginia

08/28/2014

An F-15C fighter jet from the Massachusetts Air National Guard crashed in Augusta County near Deerfield Wednesday morning around 9 a.m. "Air Force and civilian first responders are responding to the scene," Army Col. Steve Warren said. At a news conference in Westfield, Massachusetts, Col. James Keefe of the 104th Fighter Wing of the Massachusetts Air National Guard said that the missing pilot is an experienced flyer. He said the plane was on its way to New Orleans to have a radar installed.

Global Hawk Aircraft Exceed 100,000 Combat Hours

08/28/2014

Air Force and Navy unmanned aircraft built by the Northrop Grumman San Diego division have surpassed 100,000 hours of service in combat and operational support, the company announced Wednesday. The Global Hawk aircraft are part of Northrop Grumman’s high altitude long endurance, or HALE series. The 100,000 total hours milestone was exceeded in September 2013.