Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Raytheon awarded $163 million AMRAAM contract

07/04/2014

Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) was awarded a $163,223,113 fixed-price/fixed-price-incentive/cost-plus-incentive contract for Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) Program Support and Sustainment (PSAS). The PSAS contract provides sustaining engineering, program management, contractor logistics support and accomplishes the diminishing manufacturing sources and material shortage tasks of extending the life of the AMRAAM Central Processing Unit.

Army Begins Adding Drones to Aviation Brigades

07/04/2014

The U.S. Army has started equipping aviation brigades with drones as it retires aging reconnaissance helicopters and pushes to further integrate unmanned technology amid budget cuts. Combat aviation brigades at Fort Bliss, Texas, and Fort Carson, Colorado, are expected to finish divesting OH-58 Kiowa Warrior scout helicopters and adding RQ-7 Shadow unmanned aerial systems later this year, according to Col. Thomas von Eschenbach.

Attrition: Bad News Never Gets Old

07/04/2014

The mass media recently made much of a study of American UAV accident reports. These revealed that since 2001 there have been 194 major accidents (an incident causing more than two milliondollars’ worth of damage, which usually, but not always, means the UAV was too badly damaged to be repaired) since 2001. That’s about 15 a year. This is old news to people in the military of those who read military aviation publications regularly.

U.S. Military Sees Iraq Incapable of Uprooting Islamic Militants

07/04/2014

Iraq's military is incapable of mounting an offensive against Sunni militants who have seized large sections of the country, the top U.S. general said Thursday, suggesting the U.S. might have to play a larger role in helping Iraqis defeat the regional threat. Initial assessments from U.S. military teams in Iraq have found that the country's military can defend Baghdad, but wouldn't be able to uproot the extremist group known as Islamic State, which is consolidating control across the Middle East

German defence minister backs 'European armed drone'

07/04/2014

Procurement of so-called fighter drones to protect German armed forces remains controversial, but Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen has finally disclosed her plans for the aircraft: The German military should receive drones, she said, but these can only be deployed with parliamentary approval. EurActiv Germany reports.

All Iranian Su-25 Frogfoot attack planes have just deployed to Iraq

07/03/2014

On Jul. 1, all the seven operational Su-25 Frogfoot attack planes operated by the Pasdaran (informal name of the IRGC – the Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution) have completed their deployment to Imam Ali Airbase where they will join the ex-Russian Air Force Su-25s already delivered to Iraq in the air war against ISIS (Al Qaeda-linked Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant).

Iraq receives first Mi-28NE attack helos alongside additional Mi-35Ms

07/03/2014

Iraq has taken delivery of its first batch of Mil Mi-28NE 'Havoc' (Night Hunter) attack helicopters, as well as additional Mil Mi-35M 'Hind' assault helicopters, Russian state media announced on 2 July. The first three Mi-28NE helicopters and four new Mi-35M helicopters arrived in-country aboard Antonov An-124 'Condor' transport aircraft, a military-diplomatic source reportedly told the ITAR-TASS news agency.

Why Iraq's Military Was So Vulnerable — and How it Can Bounce Back

07/03/2014

It's still not clear where the 750 US troops now deployed to Iraq are going to be, or what they're going to be doing. On Tuesday, however, Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters that one of their most important tasks will be to assess whether Iraq's military and police are up to protecting their territory and/or taking back the parts of the country overrun by hardline Sunni militants.

U.S. Air Force issues report about MQ-9 Reaper crash into Lake Ontario

07/03/2014

The crash occurred approximately 35 miles southwest of Fort Drum, New York according to an Air Combat Command Accident Investigation Board report released today. The mishap aircraft and mishap aircrew were assigned to the 17 4th Attack Wing, Hancock Field Air National Guard Base, New York. The aircraft, valued at $10.6 million, was destroyed on impact; there was no damage to private property.

Iraq receives additional Su-25 jets, purportedly from Iran

07/03/2014

The Iraqi Air Force (IqAF) has reportedly received from Iran a number of Sukhoi Su-25 'Frogfoot' ground-attack aircraft to augment those already supplied by Russia. A video and statement posted on the Iraqi Ministry of Defence (MoD) website on 1 July announced that a second batch of five jets had arrived "over the skies of Baghdad" to join the five aircraft that came from Russia aboard an Antonov An-124 'Condor' cargo aircraft on 29 June.

Pentagon denies 'mission creep' in Iraq as new U.S. troop presence reaches 650

07/03/2014

The Pentagon insisted Tuesday that there is "no mission creep” in Iraq despite the rising number of U.S. troops in the embattled country with more on the way. Rear Adm. John Kirby, the Pentagon press secretary, confirmed that 650 American troops were on the ground in Iraq, all of them dispatched by President Barack Obama since June 16.

US Navy puts combat, EA, C2 aircraft on contract

07/03/2014

The US Navy (USN) has awarded billions of dollars in contracts for US and Australian Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornets and EA-18G Growlers, as well as for US Northrop Grumman E-2D Advanced Hawkeyes, the Pentagon announced on 30 June. A USD1.94 billion fixed-price-incentive-fee contract was signed for the full-rate production of 11 Lot 38 F/A-18E aircraft and 21 EA-18G aircraft for the USN and 12 EA-18Gs for Australia, the Pentagon said.

Boeing, U.S. Navy Expand P-8A Maritime Patrol Fleet with 14th Delivery

07/03/2014

Boeing recently helped expand the U.S. Navy’s maritime patrol capabilities with delivery of the 14th P-8A Poseidon aircraft. The P-8A, delivered on schedule, is now with its squadron at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Fla. Boeing will deliver seven more of the maritime patrol aircraft this year.

Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner and P-8A Poseidon to Make First Airshow Appearances at Farnborough

07/03/2014

Boeing today confirmed that the new 787-9 Dreamliner and the P-8A Poseidon will participate for the first time in flying displays at the Farnborough International Airshow, which runs July 14-20. This year's airshow marks the 40th anniversary of Boeing's participation at Farnborough.

Armed UAVs now operating in Iraq

07/02/2014

The US Air Force has begun conducting armed unmanned air vehicle (UAV) operations over Baghdad, to protect advisers deployed to aid in the fight against insurgent militants in Iraq. The UAVs are flying alongside armed manned aircraft, Pentagon press secretary Rear Adm John Kirby said in a statement on 30 June, and have been deployed to escort US military advisers who have entered the country to help the Iraqi government counter the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIS) terrorist movement.

VIDEO: How Martin-Baker rises above the rest

07/02/2014

Almost 70 years ago, a pioneering British company performed the first test of an innovation which was to transform the cockpit of the jet fighter, and has since saved the lives of thousands of pilots. Carried out on 24 July 1946, the milestone was the first in-flight use of an ejection seat. Conducted from the rear cockpit of a Gloster Meteor flying at 278kt (515km/h) and 8,000ft, the test subject was not a fighter pilot, but volunteer Bernard Lynch, who worked for Martin-Baker as a fitter.

Japan split as nation mulls end of pacifism

07/02/2014

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's timing was impeccable: July 1 marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of Japan's Self-Defense Forces (SDF), the de-fanged fighting force that has protected the country since its creation from the ashes of post-World War II Japan. Following the announcement, it is also the day that, some would argue, the name ceased to have any meaning.

Contract for China's import of Su-35 fighters 'to be signed soon'

07/02/2014

Vladimir S Mikhaylov, the former commander of the Russian Air Force and director of the Moscow-based United Aircraft Corporation's Military Aviation Programs Directorate, told Russia's Radio RSN on June 28 that China is about to sign a contract to import Sukhoi Su-35 fourth-generation fighters from Russia.

France proposes 1 bln euro credit line for India projects

07/02/2014

France has proposed to give India a 1 billion euro ($1.4 billion) credit line to fund sustainable infrastructure and urban development projects, Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said on Tuesday. The credit line would be available over three years and would be delivered through the French Development Agency, Fabius, who began his India visit on Monday, told reporters in New Delhi.

Ukraine renews air and artillery attacks against separatists

07/02/2014

Violence in Ukraine escalated sharply Tuesday, as artillery shells and airstrikes pierced the relative calm of a 10-day ceasefire hours after President Petro Poroshenko allowed it to expire. Both sides appeared to be readying for a protracted battle after days in which the fighting diminished but did not disappear.

Future iffy for military planes based in NJ

07/02/2014

The big gray aircraft that wheel above the Pine Barrens played a critical role for America in Iraq and Afghanistan, fueling the air bridge for troops and equipment, stretching halfway around the globe. But the KC-10 Extender air refueling tankers at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst may be in danger of early retirement. The jets and the thousands of New Jersey jobs they support are in a squeeze between tightening budgets and the time lapse for bringing on the Air Force's next-generation tankers,

The F-35 Flies Amid Europe’s Mature Aeronautics Market

07/02/2014

The F-35 Lightning II European debut in July will be welcome, but it remains the Punch and Judy program of the defense aerospace sector, with boosters and detractors taking turns to bash each other’s argument as to the project’s value — or lack thereof.

Another C-5M Goes West

07/02/2014

A U.S. Air Force crew ferried the 20th C-5M Super Galaxy to Travis Air Force Base, California, from the Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] facilities here on June 30. Travis’ second Super Galaxy, Aircraft 85-0010 was delivered 28 days ahead of the contracted schedule. A total of 52 Super Galaxy aircraft are scheduled to be delivered to the Air Force.

Iraq to Get 5-10 Russian Su-25 Attack Aircraft by September

07/02/2014

Iraq is to receive from five to ten Russian Su-25 ground attack aircraft by September, Russian Ambassador to Baghdad Ilya Morgunov said Tuesday. "From five to ten [planes] will be delivered by the end of the summer,” Morgunov said. “The contracts [for military hardware], signed in 2013, are being implemented according to schedule.”

Russian arms likely used against Ukrainian aircraft

07/01/2014

Pro-Russian separatists likely used weapons supplied by Moscow to shoot down Ukrainian aircraft in recent weeks, NATO's top commander General Philip Breedlove said Monday. Russia was maintaining a large troop presence near Ukraine's border and had provided anti-aircraft weapons and other hardware to the rebels, Breedlove told a Pentagon news conference.