Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Airbus Tests Jet's Ability to Fly Farther From Emergency Landing Sites

08/25/2014

Airbus Group intends to ramp up flight tests this week to demonstrate that its newest jet model eventually should be allowed to fly routes taking it as many as seven hours from an emergency landing strip. Slated to be delivered to lead customer Qatar Airways Ltd. by the end of the year, the A350 would have unprecedented regulatory leeway compared with other twin-engine jets on ultralong polar or over-water routes.

U.K. Foreign Secretary Issues Stark Warning on Islamic State

08/25/2014

If the extremist group fighting in Iraq and Syria that calls itself the Islamic State isn't stopped it will eventually seek to carry out an attack on British soil, U.K. Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond warned in an article published on Sunday. Writing in the Sunday Times newspaper, Mr. Hammond said security services estimated some 500 British jihadis had travelled to Syria and Iraq in recent years.

Islamic extremists seize Syrian military base then behead captured Assad soldiers

08/25/2014

Islamic extremists captured a major government military airport in Raqqa, eastern Syria, on Sunday, completing their takeover of the entire province and dealing a humiliating blow to President Bashar Assad. The victory is further evidence that the Islamic State is determined to widen its grip on the region.

US, Norway to Inspect Russia's Air Space

08/25/2014

A group of US and Norwegian aviation inspectors plan to fly over Russia's and Belarus' territory this week under The Treaty on Open Skies, acting head of the Defense Ministry’s National Nuclear Risk Reduction Center told journalists Sunday. "Between August 25 and August 30 of this year, as part of The Treaty on Open Skies, a join mission of the United States and Norway will conduct a flight over the territory of a group of member-states [Belarus and Russia].

Russia to Survey Danish Air Space

08/25/2014

Russia plans to launch a surveillance flight over Denmark's territory this week as part of The Treaty on Open Skies, acting head of the Defense Ministry's National Nuclear Risk Reduction Center told journalists Sunday. "As part of The Treaty on Open Skies, the Russian Federation plans to conduct an observation flight aboard an An-30B, outfitted with digital surveillance equipment above the territory of the Kingdom of Denmark," Ruslan Shishin said.

Iran Downs Israeli Spy Drone Attempting to Penetrate Nuclear Enrichment Site - Reports

08/25/2014

Iranian Revolutionary Guards have downed an Israeli drone that was trying to spy on Iran’s nuclear facility in Nantaz, state news agency ISNA reported Sunday. "The downed aircraft was of the stealth, radar-evasive type and it intended to penetrate the off-limit nuclear area in Natanz... but was targeted by a ground-to-air missile before it managed to enter the area," ISNA quoted a statement by the Revolutionary Guards.

Moscow Dismisses Russia's Alleged Violated of Finnish Air Space - Defense Ministry

08/25/2014

Russia’s Defense Ministry has dismissed allegations that Russian aircraft entered Finnish airspace without permission. “On August 23, 2014 a military transport airplane of naval aviation of the Baltic Fleet was carrying out a scheduled flight en route from airbase Pushkin in Leningrad Region to airbase Chernyakhovsk in Kaliningrad Region. The flight was carried out in strict compliance with the agreed itinerary.

Egypt Denies Involvement in Tripoli Airstrikes – Agency

08/25/2014

Egypt on Sunday denied any link to unclaimed airstrikes that hit military camps in the Libyan capital Tripoli earlier this week, according to Agence France-Presse. "Egypt denies categorically reports and claims that Egyptian military aircraft struck sites held by militias in the Libyan capital Tripoli," the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Ten dead in new air raid on Libyan militia near Tripoli

08/24/2014

An unidentified warplane bombarded militia positions near Tripoli airport overnight, leaving at least 10 people dead, a spokesman for an alliance of Libyan militias said on Saturday. The aircraft targeted an army base to the south of Tripoli and a nearby warehouse, Mohammed al-Ghariani, spokesman for Fajr Libya (Libyan Dawn), said on An-Nabaa television station.

Brazil Exports First M2M-enabled Aircraft for the Military

08/24/2014

Drones are one of the many applications that involves M2M communication technology today. These M2M-enabled aircrafts, also known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), do not have a human pilot aboard and rely mostly on onboard computers that are controlled remotely. As the concept of connected and driverless cars is gradually being adapted, pilot-less aircrafts have long been made a reality.

That US-China Near Miss In The South China Sea Is A Sign Of Things To Come

08/24/2014

This week's reported near collision between a Chinese fighter plane and an American surveillance aircraft in the East China Sea proves that China isn't afraid to strictly enforce its maritime border in the South China Sea, even if it has to risk a confrontation with the world's most powerful military.

U.S. considers air strikes on ISIS targets in Syria, may have to co-ordinate with Assad

08/24/2014

U.S. President Barack Obama is to consider air strikes in Syria in the battle against jihadist terrorists who beheaded an American journalist. Ben Rhodes, Mr. Obama’s deputy national security adviser, said Friday that a strategy to combat the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) needed to deal with both sides of the border in Iraq and Syria.

How a Real Air War Could Demolish ISIS

08/24/2014

With sickening snuff videos and viral postings of mass executions, ISIS has developed the projection of terror way beyond any predecessor. It has also managed to make itself seem more militarily formidable than it actually is. Even though its capacity as a training camp and assignment center for jihadists who can be sent to blow people up in Europe, the U.S. and Asia poses an extreme new danger, this should not be confused with its threat as a land-based army.

Iraq's federal, Kurdish forces wrest Mosul Dam from ISIL

08/24/2014

The high level of co-ordination between Iraq's federal army troops and Peshmerga forces in the Kurdish region has resulted in successful joint operations against the "Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant" (ISIL) in the north of the country, Iraqi military officials said. "One of the fruits of the great co-operation between the Iraqi forces and the Peshmerga was the liberation of the Mosul Dam and the surrounding villages, as well as cities and towns in the mountainous province of Ninawa.

Obama faces decision on military aid for Ukraine

08/24/2014

As Ukraine's standoff with Russia over its support of pro-Russian separatists escalates, President Obama must decide how the USA can prevent the conflict from spinning out of control. While Obama has been quietly letting Germany take the lead on the diplomatic front up until now, what he and his deputies communicate at talks Tuesday between Ukraine, Russia and European leaders in Belarus could play a pivotal role.

Pitch Black 2014 RAAF exercise winds up after a month of simulated combat in our Top End

08/24/2014

The breathtaking and ear-shattering game of darts above the Northern Territory ended Friday after three weeks of intensive action. Today, they’re taking off for home. Up to 110 aircraft from New Zealand, United States, Singapore, Thailand, United Arab Emirates and New Caledonia participated in the swirling battle simulations in Australia’s northern skies with Australia’s RAAF.

Pentagon: China tried to block U.S. military jet in dangerous mid-air intercept

08/23/2014

The Pentagon on Friday blamed China for instigating a dangerous midair encounter with a U.S. military aircraft off its coast, saying that a Chinese fighter jet made several threatening passes during an intercept in international airspace. Rear Adm. John Kirby, the Pentagon press secretary, said the U.S. government filed a formal complaint with China about the near miss between a Chinese J-11 fighter jet and a Navy Poseidon P-8 patrol aircraft 135 miles east of Hainan Island.

China’s Chengdu J-20 Fighter Redesigned Using Stolen F-35 Data

08/23/2014

China has been developing a native fifth-generation stealth aircraft called the Chengdu J-20. This aircraft is expected to compete with the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, which is built by Lockheed Martin Corporation as well as Russia’s T-50. A Chinese entrepreneur was arrested for stealing F-35 and F-22 fighter jets’ design data. The stolen data was meant to help in redesigning the J-20, and has increased the likelihood of F-35 fighter jets to become obsolete even before they became operational.

Ukraine Accuses Russia Of ‘Direct Invasion’ For Sending Aid Trucks Into Rebel-Held Area

08/23/2014

Russia unilaterally sent an aid mission into rebel-held eastern Ukraine on Friday, saying its patience had worn out after a week of delays it blamed on the Ukrainian government, which called the move a “direct invasion.” Trucks ostensibly loaded with water, generators and sleeping bags are intended for civilians in the city of Luhansk, where pro-Russian separatist fighters are besieged by government forces. Shelling of the city has been ongoing for weeks.

Amid U.S. air strikes, Iraq struggles to build own air force

08/23/2014

President Barack Obama told a recent interviewer he did not want the U.S. military to become Iraq's air force. But he may have little choice. Iraq had only a fledgling air force when the United States withdrew in 2011. Washington has agreed to bolster Iraqi air power by selling Baghdad 36 sophisticated F-16 multi-role jet fighters and 24 Apache helicopters.

China’s Hypersonic Aircraft Fails Second Test Launch

08/23/2014

A Chinese hypersonic vehicle designed to deliver nuclear weapons at high speeds failed in its second test launch, the South China Morning Post reported. "It's necessary for China to boost its missile capabilities, because the PLA's [People’s Liberation Army] weapons are weaker than the US' shields, which are deployed everywhere in the world," Xudong Wang, a satellite adviser to China’s central government, was quoted as saying by the South China Morning Post.

Pentagon: Isis is 'beyond anything we've seen' and must be contained

08/22/2014

Senior Pentagon officials described the Islamic State (Isis) militant group as an “apocalyptic” organisation that posed an “imminent threat” on Thursday, yet the highest ranking officer in the US military said that in the short term, it was sufficient for the United States to “contain” the group that has reshaped the map of Iraq and Syria.

The F-35 vs. The VHF Threat

08/22/2014

The heated and ongoing international debate regarding the combat effectiveness of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) in a highly contested environment has led many observers to question the fighter’s survivability in the face of advanced Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) systems and very high frequency (VHF) radars. Yet, few have examined the issue closely using lessons drawn from the only incident in which a stealth aircraft was lost in combat.

GE wants in on new fighter jets

08/22/2014

GE Korea, the local unit of the United States-based General Electric, expressed a keen desire to participate in Korea’s next-generation fighter jet program once it gets off the ground. If Korea chooses GE jet engines, according to Khang Sung-wook, president and chief executive of GE Korea, it will help Korea nurture its aerospace industry since GE remains open to delivering its technological expertise.

Pro-Russian rebels shoot down three Ukrainian aircraft amid heavy fighting

08/22/2014

Pro-Russian rebels have shot down another Ukrainian Air Force's Su-25 Frogfoot fighter aircraft in the Luhansk region. Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council spokesman Andriy Lysenko was quoted by 112.ua as saying: "Today a Su-25 attack aircraft has been shot down while on a combat mission. "The fate of the pilot is unknown yet but hope remains that he will be alright."