Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Latvia hosts Baltic forces regional training event

05/31/2014

Paratroopers with 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, participated in a regional training event at the Military Base in Adazi, Latvia, May 27-28, involving forces from across the Baltic nations. The purpose of the event was a NATO fixed-wing, live-fire exercise focusing on close-combat attack and close-air support. The Latvian National Defense Force hosts the military event every year in late spring.

Boeing, Saab See Surveillance Plane Demand Rising Across Asia

05/31/2014

Boeing Co., the second-biggest defense contractor in the U.S., and Saab AB expect demand for maritime and aerial surveillance systems to grow in Asia as territorial disputes intensify. Demand for maritime patrol craft and affiliated equipment in the Asia-Pacific region is expected to grow steadily for the foreseeable future, Chris Chadwick, head of Boeing’s defense business, said yesterday in Singapore.

Military changing rules for Civil Reserve Air Fleet program

05/31/2014

Rule changes for commercial airlines that supplement military aircraft in the rapid transport of troops and supplies are on the way. The U.S. Air Force said the upcoming changes to the Civil Reserve Air Fleet program are the result of a review and industry-military consultations, meant "to ensure the nation's capability to rapidly airlift service members and military supplies around the world at a reasonable cost to taxpayers."

'Pivot' Pledge Wearing Thin on Hagel Trip as China Rises

05/31/2014

President Barack Obama’s emphasis this week on restricting the use of the military abroad risks an unintended consequence: deepening concern about fading U.S. engagement among Asian nations locked in disputes with China. Obama’s defense chief, Chuck Hagel, leads the U.S. delegation to an annual security conference in Singapore that started today, two days after Obama said the armed forces can’t be the “primary component of our leadership.”

Strong Air Force presence at Air Capability Demonstration

05/31/2014

The South African Air Force held its first Air Capability Demonstration (ACD) of the year at the Roodewal weapons range outside Polokwane in Limpopo this week, and put on an impressive show that included Rooivalk attack helicopters and seven Gripen fighters.

JSF the only way to fly into future

05/31/2014

The government recently announced it was stumping up more than $12 billion to buy 58 F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters (in addition to the 14 already approved). Many voices were raised in protest. Some asked how the government could find that much money at a time when it was proclaiming the need for parsimony elsewhere. Others questioned whether the F-35 was the right aircraft to buy.

Three military aircraft involved in near miss over Scottish islands

05/31/2014

A pair of French nuclear strike jets were involved in a near miss with a third military aircraft over Scotland. The Mirage 2000 jets flew within 200ft of a BN2T Defender flying 30 nautical miles north east of Islay in the Inner Hebrides. The incident was investigated by the UK Airprox Board, which reports on near misses in UK airspace.

ROKAF Receives Additional C-130J Super Hercules Aircraft

05/31/2014

Two additional C-130J Super Hercules aircraft operated by the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) ferried from the Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] facility here today. These C-130Js will join the ROKAF’s other two Super Hercules aircraft, which were delivered in March. ROKAF aircrews also currently operate a fleet of C-130H legacy aircraft.

Russian Paratroopers Receive Newest Verba Shoulder-Fired Missiles

05/31/2014

The Russian Airborne Forces have started receiving the newest Verba man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS) equipped with an automated fire control system that has no foreign rival, military spokesman Yevgeny Meshkov said Friday. "The surface to air-missile regiment of the Ivankvsky Airborne Forces division is the first to have started receiving and studying the modern system of air defense battle," Meshkov said.

Hagel to raise China disputes in meeting

05/30/2014

Days after the U.S. and China traded new accusations of cyberspying, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Thursday he will press the same issues in a face-to-face meeting with a top military officer from Beijing this weekend. Hagel said he also plans to raise many of the territorial disputes that have raised tempers in the Asia Pacific region and talk about "where we think China is overplaying its hand and presenting new challenges and new tensions to this area."

New Indian Regime Will Sign Long-Delayed Deals

05/30/2014

A lack of decision-making on large Indian defense procurement deals in the past two years is expected to end with the swearing-in of the new government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Changes in procurement and offset policies are also expected. Major projects that are in the final stage of processing and require a signature for conclusion include the 126-aircraft medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) won by Dassault Aviation’s Rafale.

RAAF chief justifies $12b jet 'investment'

05/30/2014

In anti-budget rallies, protesters have loudly demanded the government spend more money on health, welfare and education and not $12 billion on new jet fighters. So how does RAAF chief Air Marshal Geoff Brown respond to that one? 'Security is one of the fundamental responsibilities of government. The unfortunate thing with defence is that the debt that you actually owe the future needs to be paid today,' he said.

Pakistan, China Conclude Shaheen-III Air Exercise

05/30/2014

China and Pakistan concluded the three-week-long Shaheen-III air exercise on Wednesday. The exercise was the third installment of the Shaheen (Falcon) series of bilateral exercises between the two countries’ air forces, according to Defense News. The exercise is intended to boost cooperation between China and Pakistan and is a source of valuable experience for pilots on both sides. The exercise is “multi-dimensional” and involves operations in “near real [scenarios].”

Aircraft makers press harder as Ottawa reviews fighter-jet purchase

05/30/2014

Companies vying to build Canada’s new fighter jets are cranking up their sales pitches, but they’ll be waiting a while longer to learn whether the Harper government intends to hold a full competition – or stick with the troubled F-35 program. A decision is still pending, and no timeline is imminent on when that decision might be forthcoming, Public Works Minister Diane Finley told a gathering of defence contractors Thursday.

China’s military base in PH territory must absolutely be blocked

05/30/2014

Push has now come to shove. Emboldened by the lack of military resistance in occupying Philippine islands and with her fishing and navy boats sailing at will in our waters, China’s military leaders have now initiated a bold land reclamation military base project in Mabini Reef (Fiery Cross Reef). Location: about 150 miles from Palawan and within the Philippines 200 miles Exclusive Economic Zone as defined by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS).

Large-scale military operation involving artillery weapons underway in Slavyansk, Kramatorsk - media

05/30/2014

A large-scale military operation involving artillery weapons and combat aircraft has been launched in Slavyansk and Kramatorsk, Donetsk's OstroV news website reported on Thursday, citing its sources and eyewitnesses. "A large-scale "anti-terrorist" operation has begun in Slavyansk and Kramatorsk.

Pentagon proves 4th- to 5th-gen combat aircraft comms

05/30/2014

A new communications capability enables fifth-generation combat aircraft to share information with fourth-generation aircraft, prime contractor Northrop Grumman announced on 27 May. The Joint Capability Technology Demonstration (JCTD) programme, known as the Jetpack JCTD, allows the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter to communicate directly and securely with fourth-generation combat aircraft such as the F-15, F-16, and F-18.

F-35 Achieves Three Major Flight Test Milestones On Same Day

05/30/2014

In three separate flight tests on May 27, Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] F-35 Lightning II aircraft demonstrated air-to-air combat capability, completed the first flight test with the next level software load and accomplished a landing at the maximum test speed and drop rate.

Russia May Begin Constructing Advanced Military Drones in 2014 – Defense Ministry

05/30/2014

Russia may begin to develop advanced unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UAV) with longer flight endurance in 2014, Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov told reporters Thursday. "We are ready to consider starting a development work this year with plans to complete it and move on to the official tests or experimental military use of future devices in 2017," Borisov said.

Ukraine army helicopter 'shot down' near Sloviansk

05/29/2014

Pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine have shot down a military helicopter near the flashpoint city of Sloviansk, reports say. The aircraft was reportedly hit after offloading soldiers at a military base. Sloviansk has seen fierce fighting between separatists and government forces in recent weeks.

Selfridge's A-10s saved from budget axe

05/29/2014

The House overwhelmingly backed a $601 billion defense bill recently that ignores cuts proposed by the Pentagon and spares the A-10 aircraft fleet, including those stationed at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Harrison Township, from elimination during the 2015 fiscal year. The campaign to save the A-10s benefited from a spending authorization bill that spares a wide array of planes, ships and military bases in an election-year nod to hometown interests.

A New Customer for the F-35B Joint Strike Fighter?

05/29/2014

Defense watchers have been surprised by recent suggestions emerging from the Abbott Government that Australia could consider acquiring the Lockheed-Martin F-35B Joint Strike Fighter to complement the 72 F-35A JSFs already ordered.

Norway discloses JSM cost increase ahead of vote

05/29/2014

Norway is set to shoulder the full costs of development and integration activities for the Joint Strike Missile (JSM) programme after failing to secure a partner to share weapon integration on the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF).

Qatar nears exclusive talks on buying Rafale fighter: Report

05/29/2014

Qatar could firm up its interest in buying French Rafale fighter planes when its new Emir, Sheikh Tamim Ben Hamad Al Thani visits Paris on June 23, the La Tribune financial website reported Wednesday. The contract is of vital importance to the Dassault Aviation group which builds the plane and to the French government.

War Machine Investments For The New World Order

05/29/2014

As Russian support for pro-Kremlin forces inside Ukraine persists and China continues to show aggression toward its neighbors in the Pacific, it’s becoming clear that the sun will never entirely set on traditional threats. Even in a post-9/11 world countries will continue to square off against one another militarily.