Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

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.

BAE Systems restructures Saudi operations

07/01/2014

BAE Systems is restructuring part of its operations in Saudi Arabia to allow greater local participation as part of a government programme to increase the industrial base of the world’s largest oil producer. The UK-based defence contractor said on Monday that it was creating a holding company with Riyadh Wings Aviation Academy that would control the stakes it owns in three local Saudi businesses.

Raytheon Captures $469 Million in Pentagon Contracts

07/01/2014

On a day in which the Department of Defense awarded 29 separate defense contracts, Raytheon came away the big winner Friday, winning no fewer than six separate awards - and more than half the funds on offer, $469.2 million in all. Raytheon's big win of the day was a $275.4 million contract modification to supply the U.S. Navy with an unspecified number of Standard Missile 6 (SM-6) all-up rounds (AUR refers to live-fire rounds, completely assembled and lacking only wings and fins for guidance).

France confident of Rafale deal as it seeks to boost defence ties

07/01/2014

French foreign minister Laurent Fabius on Monday said he was “pretty optimistic” that the $20 billion (around Rs.1.2 trillion) deal to supply India with 126 Rafale fighter jets would be clinched early—something he said would open the doors for further defence cooperation with India.

Shrinking Army Fights National Guard For Vital Combat Helicopters

07/01/2014

When the Air Force was split off from the Army to form an independent military service after World War Two, airmen got almost all the planes and soldiers got almost all the helicopters. Ever since then, Army Aviation has been about rotorcraft. There are heavily-armed Apache helicopters for killing enemy armored vehicles, agile Black Hawk helicopters for lifting troops into combat areas, and twin-rotor Chinook helicopters that carry larger numbers of soldiers, supplies and equipment.

U.S. Returns To Farnborough Air Show, Russia Retreats

07/01/2014

International political and security developments are casting a shadow on this year’s Farnborough International Airshow. The U.S. and its allies are presenting strong fronts as they draw down forces in Afghanistan. But given the threat of new sanctions and unrest in Ukraine, the Russian military will not bring its aircraft to the show.

Iraq begins receiving Su-25 combat aircraft to fight ISIL

07/01/2014

Iraq has received the first batch of Sukhoi Su-25 'Frogfoot' ground attack aircraft that have been supplied by Russia, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on 29 June. Video footage was released of at least one single-seat Su-25 being offloaded from an Antonov An-124 'Condor' strategic transport aircraft at an undisclosed airbase in Iraq, with the MoD saying that five aircraft had been delivered in all.

Boeing Offers Next-Generation KC-46 Tanker in Republic of Korea Competition

07/01/2014

Boeing today formally offered to the Republic of Korea (ROK) the KC-46, the U.S. Air Force’s next-generation tanker, as Korea prepares to acquire four aircraft for its first tanker squadron. “We’ve been a strategic and industrial partner with the Republic of Korea for more than six decades and remain committed to helping Korea strengthen its defense capabilities and aerospace industry,” said Eric John, president of Boeing Korea.