Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

C-145A Skytruck Light Twin-Engine Aircraft, United States of America

06/27/2014

The C-145A Skytruck is a light cargo and troop transport aircraft designed and manufactured for the US Air Force (USAF). The aircraft is primarily used to assist Aviation Foreign Internal Defence (AvFID) missions of the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC). The C-145As were deployed to support theatre special operations commands in Afghanistan and eastern Africa. The Air Force Special Operations Warfare Center operates up to ten C-145A Skytrucks.

The Afghan air force might be coming to Georgia

06/27/2014

If you’re a resident of Georgia there’s a strong chance that sometime next year an Afghan pilot trainee could be flying over your head. Moody Air Force Base, Ga., was selected as the most likely option for the new Afghan pilot training location, the Air Force announced in a news release. Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, and Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., are also being considered as potential sites, but Moody is preferred.

Obama asks for authorization to provide direct military training to Syrian rebels

06/27/2014

The Obama administration asked Congress on Thursday to authorize $500 million in direct U.S. military training and equipment for Syrian opposition fighters, a move that could significantly escalate U.S. involvement in Syria’s civil war. Money for the assistance, which would expand a CIA covert training program, is included in a $65.8?billion request for the Pentagon’s Overseas Contingency Operations, or OCO.

Sukhoi-30MKI is India’s fallback fighter

06/27/2014

The drawn out drama over the signing of the Rafale jet fighter contract means the Indian Air Force (IAF) will rely on its heavy hitter, the Sukhoi-30MKI, to boost its dwindling fighter fleet. The 25-ton Su-30 – NATO reporting name Flanker – is the IAF’s elite fighter-bomber. Filling its low-end fighter needs will be the locally developed Tejas II light combat aircraft, while the Rafale is meant to straddle the middle tier as an intermediate fighter.

Sikorsky Aircraft in Stratford awarded $1.2 billion contract for combat rescue helicopters

06/27/2014

The U.S. Air Force has awarded a $1.28 billion contract to Sikorsky Aircraft for the first of what could be an order of 112 combat rescue helicopters. Thursday’s contract award to Sikorsky is the first step in what could be a $7.9 billion deal for up 112 helicopters.

Why Myanmar's plan to acquire fighter jets from China, Pakistan should worry India

06/27/2014

There is a pressing need for the new Indian government to engage with Myanmar at the highest levels as Pakistan and China are all set to enlarge their strategic footprints in Myanmar by selling fighter aircraft to that country. Myanmar government is planning to procure an unspecified number of JF-17 Thunder multi-role combat aircraft. JF-17 is the joint project of Pakistan Air Force, Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) and Chengdu Aerospace Corporation (CAC) of China.

France likely to push for early fighter aircraft deal with India

06/27/2014

France is likely to seek an early clinching of a $20 billion (around Rs.1.2 trillion) deal to sell India 126 fighter aircraft during the visit of foreign minister Laurent Fabius to New Delhi early next week, people close to the development said on Thursday. Both sides are to sign 15-16 preliminary pacts to cement cooperation in higher education during Fabius’ three-day visit.

Russia to Substitute 95% of Ukrainian Defense Imports

06/27/2014

Russian Defense Ministry is planning to substitute 95 percent of imports from Ukraine, Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov said Tuesday. “The work is on schedule. The whole process of import substitution will carry on as planned, and by the end of the specified period, dependence on supplies from Ukraine will be decreased by 95 percent,” Borisov said during a visit to an aircraft factory in Russia’s Far East.

Syrian War Planes Strike ISIS Targets in Iraq, US Says

06/25/2014

Military aircraft that conducted air strikes against ISIS military targets in western Iraq are believed to have been from Syria’s air force, a U.S. official told ABC News. Such air strikes would be a regional escalation of the conflict inside Iraq where the Islamic militants have taken over cities in northern and western Iraq and threatened the stability of the Iraqi government.

Iran returns military aircraft to Iraq after 20 years

06/25/2014

A spokesman for the Office of the Adjutant General of the Iraqi armed forces has said that his country has returned 130 military aircraft to Iraq, which were held in Iran for more than 20 years. General Qassim Atta explained in a televised press statement that the Iranian authorities have equipped the aircraft with "sophisticated weapons". "The planes," said Atta, "will participate in the battles against ISIS to liberate the city of Mosul from its control."

FIRST EVER ALL AFGHAN AIR CREW C-130 FLIGHT: THE TAKE-OFF AND RETURN

06/25/2014

The Afghan Air Force hit a huge milestone by completing the first ever all Afghan air crew C-130 flight June 16, 2014 in Kabul, Afghanistan. Their mission consisted of cargo, CASEVAC and PAX transport. The Afghan Air Force has been working hard the last 11 months with U.S. Air Advisors from the 538th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron accomplishing this flight goal eight months ahead of schedule.

Russian air force holds snap drills in Central, Far Eastern districts

06/25/2014

Russian air forces conducted snap drills in the Central and Far Eastern military districts, the Russian Defense Ministry said Tuesday. MiG-31MB interceptors from Volga, Urals and Siberia airbases, strategic bombers TU-95 and TU-22 took part in the drills in the Central Russia.

Air Force secretary says avoiding spending cuts ‘No. 1 concern’

06/25/2014

On her first official visit to Nellis Air Force Base, Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James said Monday she will stress to her colleagues in Washington what she heard from local airmen: Don’t let automatic budget cuts under sequestration happen again.

Five Indian weapons that China should fear: report

06/25/2014

Kyle Mizokami, a defense expert from San Francisco, wrote about five pieces of Indian military equipment which could pose a threat to the People's Liberation Army on the battlefield in a recent article for the Washington-based National Interest magazine. This follows another two articles by Mizokami on five American and five Japanese weapons China should fear,

JSF Fire Looks Like ‘Isolated Event’; F-35Bs Should Fly Tomorrow

06/25/2014

The fire that struck an Air Force F-35A as it took of from Eglin Air Force Base should have limited operational effect on the Joint Strike Fighter program if initial conclusions by program officials are accurate. The Air Force has paused its aircrafts’ flights. The Navy did not. The Marines also “paused” and are expected to get back into the air tomorrow.

How Arming Today's Weak States Has Led To Arming Insurgencies, Like ISIS

06/25/2014

With the ISIS forces entering the outer region of Baghdad, the move towards Iraq’s capital lead to a lot of equipment being captured by those forces. This new and advanced equipment will likely play an important role in future battles. It is important to look at some of the tanks and artillery that might become key players on the battlefield in various conflicts around the world.

India contemplates weapons export to friendly nations

06/25/2014

India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) said it can export combat aircraft and missiles at a much lower production cost than other countries, including China. DRDO chief Avinash Chander told Press Trust of India that the agency has suggested a 'single window clearance' for time-bound sale of arms to friendly foreign nations.

Burma to Purchase Chinese-Pakistani JF-17 Fighter Jets

06/25/2014

Myanmar will purchase the Sino-Pakistan jointly produced JF-17 Thunder multirole fighter aircraft, according to local news reports. According to the Burma Times, Myanmar is looking to purchase a license to domestically produce the J-17 aircraft, which is called the FC-1 Xiaolong in China. If the report is accurate, it would make Myanmar the first foreign purchaser of the jet.

Could Saudi Arabia Be the Next ISIS Conquest?

06/24/2014

ISIS is continuing its blitz-like offensive in Iraq, conquering more and more territory. With its sights set on Baghdad and the Shiite shrine cities, the prospect of the capital falling to the terrorist group is causing international panic. And Iraq’s neighbors, particularly Saudi Arabia, could be the next trophy in ISIS’ expanding cabinet.

France wins Qatar tram deal, discusses Rafale jets

06/24/2014

French conglomerates Alstom and Vinci signed a 2 billion euro ($2.72 billion) deal with Qatar on Monday to build a tram system in the future Lusail City, while the two countries also discussed a possible defence contract. The deal, which will see the light rail system starting to operate in 2018-20, was signed in front of journalists during a visit to Paris by Qatar's emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.

Iraq's Air Force

06/24/2014

In all the pontificating on what now should be done (and what should have been done previously) in Iraq, one subject oddly never seems to be on the table. I find this a bit strange, because it really should be a subject worthy of debate -- if only to add to the finger-pointing about what could have been done to avoid the current situation. From hawks to isolationists, though, nobody seems to ever bring up the possibility of Iraqis performing their own airstrikes.

Taking a Flight on a Ilyushin IL-76TD – It’s Awesome

06/24/2014

What’s better than flying on an IL-76MD like I did in North Korea? Flying on an IL-76TD somewhere outside of the most restrictive, hostile-to-photographers country on Earth, obviously. So, you probably want to know what an MD does differently than a TD. Letters and a lack of observer’s post/tail gunner in the rear area under the tail. For a civilian IL-76TD, it is faired over.

Estimated cost of fixes to F-35 fleet declines again

06/24/2014

The projected cost to upgrade F-35 jets built by Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth has declined by about $920 million, or 36 percent, in less than two years, according to the Pentagon’s latest analysis. The estimate for improvements and corrections for planes already built or planned in the first 10 contracts to be awarded through 2016 has dropped to about $1.65 billion from $2.57 billion projected in September 2012, the Pentagon said in an annual assessment to Congress.

Australia reveals interest in F-35B

06/24/2014

Australian defence chiefs have told a hearing of the Senate’s Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation committee that Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s coalition government is considering whether to acquire a number of short take-off and vertical landing Lockheed Martin F-35Bs.

Lear Jet crashes after colliding mid-air with Typhoon combat plane over Germany

06/24/2014

A Lear Jet with two people on board has crashed after colliding mid-air with a German Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon over Olsberg, in Germany. The Learjet was a target plane operated by the “Gesellschaft für Flugzieldarstellung” (GFD), a civilian company cooperating with the German Air Force for air targeting exercises. The Eurofighter involved in the collision was operating with another aircraft of the same type within a Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) training.