Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

More Marines, aircraft head to devastated Philippines

11/12/2013

The number of Marines and sailors deployed to assist with the humanitarian crisis in the Philippines tripled to 270 following Friday’s Super Typhoon Haiyan, which officials now believe killed 10,000 or more people and left hundreds of thousands homeless. About 180 Marines and sailors left Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Japan, on Monday, for the Philippines aboard four MV-22B Ospreys and three KC-130J Hercules, according to a Marine Corps news release.

Ukraine, Thailand discuss cooperation in military aircraft production

11/12/2013

Ukraine and Thailand are considering the possibility of establishing military and technical cooperation in the area of the procurement, maintenance, and joint development of aircraft. Representatives of the two countries discussed the prospects for extending bilateral cooperation at the international exhibition Defense & Security 2013, which was held in Bangkok on November 4-7, according to the press service of the Ukroboronprom State Concern on Monday, Interfax-Ukraine reports.

C-17 pilot reaches 10,000 flight hours

11/12/2013

On Oct. 20, in the late afternoon heat of southern Afghanistan, U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Stephen Clements and his C-17 Globemaster III crew set off on a milestone flight. Clements logged his 10,000 hours behind the controls of a military aircraft while assisting U.S. military forces with their drawdown from Afghanistan by redeploying U.S. Army IAV Strykers through one of the area of responsibilities multi-modal hubs.

Rafale delays force IAF to extend MiG service lives

11/12/2013

Continuing delays by India's Ministry of Defence (MoD) in finalising its procurement of 126 Dassault Rafale fighter aircraft is forcing the Indian Air Force (IAF) to extend the operational life of several of its ageing platforms well beyond their retirement date. Official sources said IAF commanders meeting in New Delhi on 22 October for their biannual conference discussed various strategies to keep older assets like upgraded MiG-21 Bison ('Fishbed-L') fighters operational until 2022-24.

AF Units Join Air Defense Mission in Iceland

11/12/2013

The final members of the 48th Air Expeditionary Group arrived at Keflavik International Airport, Iceland, Nov. 4, to conduct air surveillance and policing missions. The group, which is made up of U.S. Air Force and other North Atlantic Treaty Organization personnel, is a specialized team prepared to ensure Iceland's air sovereignty. Their air policing encompasses radar surveillance and identification of objects in the airspace, unit officials said.

US mobilizes military to help typhoon-hit Philippines

11/11/2013

The United States has mobilized an array of military personnel and equipment to the Philippines in the wake of killer Typhoon “Yolanda” (international name: Haiyan), the Pentagon said Sunday. An assessment team was on the ground to gauge the support needed following the superstorm that may have killed more than 10,000 people, Colonel Brad Bartelt, a US Marine Corps spokesman, said in a statement.

Despite Tensions, US-GCC Military Relations Strong

11/11/2013

Despite frustration over US policies in Egypt, Syria and growing negotiations with Iran, military relations between the US and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) remain strong with nations poised to continue buying billions in hardware, officials and analysts said. “No one in the region wants to have a bad relationship with the US; no one, and everything [American officials] want, we want,” one Arabian Gulf source said.

US Bid Delays Qatar Jet Competition

11/11/2013

Qatar’s plans to select a fighter as the basis for a six-fold increase in its combat jet power have been delayed by a US request to extend the deadline for submission of request for proposals (RfP), according to executives familiar with the requirement. Meanwhile, with politicians, senior military officers and industry leaders coming to the Dubai Airshow, which starts Nov. 17, speculation continues as to whether the United Arab Emirates’ procurement intentions will become clearer this month.

Navy tests drone’s ability to integrate with aircraft carrier environment

11/11/2013

The Navy says tests have demonstrated a drone’s ability to integrate with the environment of an aircraft carrier. The X-47B unmanned combat air system demonstrator was tested Saturday and Sunday during flight operations aboard the U.S. Theodore Roosevelt. The Navy says in a news release that touch and go maneuvers generated data characterizing the environment in close proximity of the carrier’s flight deck.

Dubai Airshow: Al Fursan and the Red Arrows confirmed

11/11/2013

The UAE's aerobatic team the Al Fursan and the legendary Red Arrows team, will thrill the crowds with their flying displays at Skyview at the Dubai Airshow which takes place from 18 to 21 November 2013, from 12 – 6pm at Dubai World Central (DWC), Jebel Ali, Dubai.

Indonesian army chopper crash claims 13 lives

11/10/2013

Thirteen people died when an Indonesian army helicopter carrying construction workers to build a military outpost crashed in the jungles of Borneo and burst into flames Saturday. The helicopter was carrying 19 crew and construction workers, as well as building materials, en route to the outpost in Malinau district, North Kalimantan province, near the Malaysian border.

Seoul Sees More Weapons Sales to Thailand

11/10/2013

South Korea is looking to sell more weapons systems, including warships and aircraft, to Thailand, which is pushing to modernize its armed forces to meet security challenges. Following a contract with Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) for a 3,700-ton frigate, the Royal Thai Navy plans to procure one more frigate built by the South Korean shipyard, according to officials. The contract for the first frigate was signed in August. The deal was valued around $470 million, the highest we

Senate Intelligence Committee Quietly Approves Plan To Step Up Drones Oversight

11/10/2013

The U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee has quietly approved a plan to step up both public and internal government oversight of the use of armed drones to kill suspected militants overseas, including American citizens.

Tejas trials Fast-tracked to meet deadline

11/10/2013

Defence scientists, engineers and pilots attached to India’s Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas programme are on a war footing to ensure that the fighter doesn’t miss the December deadline for its Initial Operational Clearance (IOC-2). Three aircraft - LSP-3, LSP-5, LSP-8 - from the Tejas flight-line are currently undertaking weapon trials in Jamnagar. The Russian-made R73-E missile will be fired during the ongoing trials.

India rises as world's biggest weapons buyer

11/10/2013

With nations, including the US and UK, effecting defence budget cuts, India will emerge as the world’s biggest market for weapons over the next two decades. And vying for a share of the pie will be Russian, American, Israeli, French and British firms.

Romania - Weapons, Equipment, and Support for F-16 Block 15 MLU Aircraft

11/10/2013

The U.S. Department of Defense'sDefense Security Cooperation Agency issued the following news release: The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress today of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Romania of weapons, equipment, and support for 12 F-16 MLU Block 15 for an estimated cost of $457 million.

Newest Aircraft Carrier USS Gerald R. Ford Launched

11/10/2013

50 years after commissioning the first nuclear powered aircraft carrier (CVN-65 USS Enterprise), the US Navy christened today the first ship of the third generation of nuclear powered carriers. Larger and much more advanced version of the $13 billion ‘floating airport’, the new Ford class is designed to carry naval air power well into the 22nd century.

Norway Taps AgustaWestland Copter for SAR Role

11/09/2013

Norway has selected AgustaWestland to supply new search-and-rescue helicopters in a deal that could be worth more than €1 billion and include more than 16 AW101 helicopters. An announcement on a Norwegian government website on Nov. 8 stated that Norway had “decided to commence final negotiations with the company AgustaWestland Ltd. for the delivery of new search and rescue helicopters to replace the current Sea King.”

In Turnaround, Iraq's Maliki Seeks US Assistance

11/09/2013

Nearly two years ago, the U.S. pulled its last troops out of Iraq. Since then Iraqis have seen the dramatic resurgence of al-Qaida in Iraq (AQI) and unprecedented sectarian violence that left more than 1,000 dead last month alone. Earlier this month, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki visited the White House and pressed President Barack Obama for increased military and intelligence assistance he says is necessary to combat the forces threatening his government.

F-15SE Makes Sense for South Korea, Says Former General

11/09/2013

South Korea’s air force would be best served in the near term by a mix of fighters that includes an advanced version of Boeing’s F-15, according to retired U.S. Air Force general and former chief of staff Ronald Fogleman. The F-15 would provide needed combat capability to counter the threat posed by North Korea right away, whereas Lockheed Martin’s F-35 will lack full combat capability until around 2020 when its Block 3F software is installed and tested, he said.

Three More Global Hawks To Be Built For USAF

11/09/2013

The U.S. Air Force has awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) a $114 million advance procurement contract in preparation to build three more high-flying RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and associated sensors. The combat-proven intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft allows military commanders to receive high-resolution imagery, survey vast geographic regions and pinpoint targets on the ground.

Pressing Japan on No-War Pledge

11/09/2013

After the end of World War II, the Japanese constitution, written in part by the United States for the defeated Japanese nation, rejected war as a solution for conflict. The Preamble to the Japanese constitution recognized the Japanese government’s brutal actions in Asia during World War II.

AF units join air defense mission in Iceland

11/09/2013

The final members of the 48th Air Expeditionary Group arrived at Keflavik International Airport, Iceland, Nov. 4, to conduct air surveillance and policing missions. The group, which is made up of U.S. Air Force and other North Atlantic Treaty Organization personnel, is a specialized team prepared to ensure Iceland's air sovereignty. Their air policing encompasses radar surveillance and identification of objects in the airspace, unit officials said.

Dubai Airshow Preview: Let the sow begin

11/09/2013

Is it a plane? Is it a chopper? Is it a bomber? It’s a tilt-rotor. More significantly, it is a game changer in the theatre of war and humanitarian missions which Boeing hopes the UAE and Qatar would sign up for as one of its first international customers. The V-22 Osprey is a multi-role combat and transport aircraft that not only its makers but also US service commanders say has revolutionised defence aviation.

Is the famed MiG-29 too unsafe for combat duty?

11/09/2013

The crash of a multi-role twin engine MiG-29 fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force, approximately 5 km from Jamnagar air station, between Amran and Vasai villages, on Friday morning has raised an alarm in the defence establishment here. This is because a MiG-29 aircraft had crashed on June 25 this year at Khambhalia taluka of Jamnagar district, while another also of Jamnagar air station had crashed in the Gulf of Kutch in 2008.