Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Saab pitches Gripen FIGHTER JETS to Malaysia

04/16/2014

Sweden’s Saab Group, which makes the Gripen Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA), has proposed to lease its fighter jets to the Malaysian government with full warfare capabilities and no restriction. Saab’s vice-president and head of Saab Malaysia, Thomas Linden, said the leasing solution is the latest development and it has made similar proposals to Brazil and Switzerland.

Light Combat Aircraft Navy goes super sonic

04/16/2014

Just days before the second anniversary of its maiden flight the naval variant of the Light Combat Aircraft-LCA Navy (NP-1) has successfully completed its first super sonic flight signaling that the aircraft is now able to fly faster than the speed of sound. The Bangalore-based Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) the nodal agency for the development of the LCA said that this feat was achieved in the month of March.

F-35 Fleet Surpasses 15,000 Flying Hours

04/16/2014

The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fleet recently surpassed 15,000 flight hours, marking a major milestone for the program. “Flying 15,000 hours itself demonstrates that the program is maturing, but what I think is even more impressive is the fact that operational F-35s accounted for more than half of those flight hours,” said J.D. McFarlan, Lockheed Martin's vice president for F-35 Test & Verification.

NATO Chief Says Military Response to Situation in Ukraine Not Discussed

04/16/2014

NATO is not discussing a military response to the situation in Ukraine and is counting on political and diplomatic decisions to resolve the crisis, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said Tuesday. "We are not discussing military options. We do believe that the right way forward is to find a political diplomatic solution. However, we're focused militarily on strengthening defense of our allies. That's our core task," Rasmussen said before a meeting with EU defense ministers.

Russian Air Force to Receive 16 New MiG Fighters

04/16/2014

The Russian Defense Ministry has signed a $470 million contract with the MiG corporation for the delivery of 16 advanced MiG-29 SMT fighters, the ministry said Tuesday. The company had earlier confirmed the deal in an interview with RIA Novosti, but did not specify its value.

Australia Looking To Buy 58 More F-35s

04/15/2014

Australia is likely to commit to buying 58 more Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightnings this month, setting aside the alternative of consolidating its combat aircraft squadrons on the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. The decision will increase the country's total commitment to 72 F-35s and expand the Royal Australian Air Force's fast-jet fleet, counting a separate order for 12 EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft as additional to, not part of, the fighter force renewal.

GAO: Boeing tanker program ‘generally on track’

04/15/2014

Boeing’s development of a new aerial-refueling tanker for the U.S. Air Force is “generally on track,” according to a report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office, as it starts a fast-paced flight testing schedule with little margin for delays or other problems. However, the airplane maker could have to pay for projected cost overruns, which the Air Force estimated to be as much as $787 million, according to the report, which was released last week.

Israel set to launch production of wing assemblies for F-35

04/15/2014

Israel has been preparing to produce the first components for the U.S.-origin Joint Strike Fighter. The state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries is working on production lines for the wing assembly of the F-35 fighter-jet. The wing assembly was awarded by Lockheed Martin as part of Israel’s order of 19 fifth-generation combat aircraft over the next four years.

Ukraine crisis: UN meeting told Russia is massing 40,000 troops on the border

04/15/2014

The United Nations Security Council has held an emergency session to discuss the escalating crisis in Ukraine, just hours before a deadline by Kiev for pro-Russian separatists to disarm by Monday morning or face a "full-scale anti-terrorist operation" by its armed forces.The Council began meeting at 8pm (0000 GMT on Monday) at Russia's request after Moscow called Kiev's plans to mobilise the army to put down a rebellion by pro-Russian militants in eastern Ukraine "criminal."

The Year Of The MQ-47C

04/15/2014

Not surprisingly, 2014 will be another big year for the U.S. Navy’s X-47B UCAV (unmanned combat air vehicle). During the last few years this unmanned combat aircraft has successfully carried out numerous tests aboard aircraft carriers. There are two X-47Bs available for this and both are being used. The X-47B made its first catapult launch from an aircraft carrier on May 14th 2013.

US sees 'obvious Russian hand' in Ukraine standoff as militias fortify cities

04/15/2014

Pro-Russian protesters cemented their control of administrative buildings in at least nine cities in the east of Ukraine on Monday, refusing to abide by an order from the central government in Kiev to leave or face being forced out by an “anti-terrorist operation”.

We still can’t afford the F-35

04/15/2014

The troubled F-35 combat aircraft program has turned a corner. At least that’s what program advocates claimed last Tuesday at a hearing before the Airland Subcommittee of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Program head Lt. Col. Christopher Bogdan asserted that “the program is making slow and steady progress on all fronts.”

Tighter Budgets Limit Southeast Asian Plans

04/15/2014

In much of Southeast Asia, budgets are smaller and ambitions more limited compared with neighbors to the north, and many countries are trying to rid themselves of much older equipment. But Singapore and Vietnam are generally better equipped and have more extensive plans.

Denmark Kicks Off Fighter Contest

04/15/2014

Denmark has fired the starting pistol in its contest for a new fighter aircraft, sending out requests for information to four manufacturers. Officials from the New Combat Aircraft Program have sent what they call Requests for Binding Information (RBI) to Boeing for the F/A-18F Super Hornet, to Eurofighter for the Typhoon, to Lockheed Martin for the F-35A and to Saab for the Gripen E, as the country looks to replace its aging fleet of F-16 Fighting Falcons.

Malaysia Potentially Interested In Russian Air Defense Systems

04/15/2014

Malaysia is likely highly interested in acquiring Russia’s latest air defense missile systems, building on existing bilateral military-technical cooperation, Russia’s state arms exporter Rosoboronexport said Monday.

Military: Turkish jet fighters intercept Russian plane over Black Sea

04/14/2014

Turkey has scrambled four F-16 planes to intercept a Russian military plane flying near the Turkish coast over the Black Sea, the military said on Sunday. The Russian IL-20 was flying over international waters on a west-to-east course parallel to the Turkish coast about 15-20 nautical miles off the shores of the Black Sea on Saturday,

Tejas MK2 design phase complete , second Naval Lca Soon : DRDO

04/14/2014

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has said that the country should synergise the competences available to tide over the oft-repeated time and cost overrun concerns. DRDO Director-General (Aero) Dr K Tamilmani told Express in an interview that any Indian initiative would be supported so as to build a robust eco-system.

Growing Muscle: China's Neighbors Gear Up for a Fight

04/14/2014

The Asia-Pacific naval market is heating up, with massive quantities of new ships to boost regional navies in coming years. According to AMI International, a US-based naval analysis firm, Asia-Pacific has already surpassed Europe as the world’s second largest naval market. AMI projects the region will spend $200 billion on new ships and submarines by 2032, making up roughly 25 percent of the global projected new ship market.

Pentagon Debates Policy To Strengthen, Disperse Bases

04/14/2014

The Pentagon is looking at new ways to disperse its forces throughout the Asia-Pacific as military planners explore alternatives to the large US super bases in the region vulnerable to cruise missile strikes. Instead, the Defense Department is reviewing a host of options, including ways to operate combat aircraft in austere locations and strengthening overseas bases.

China Mixing Military Modernization, 'Tailored Coercion'

04/14/2014

China’s military modernization efforts over the past 20 years have been marked by broad efforts, according to an expert, as opposed to focusing on specific services. “So, we see new naval forces, air forces, ground forces and missile forces,” said Dean Cheng, a China military specialist at the Heritage Foundation.

General Atomics ASI Gets $141.4M Air Force Deal

04/12/2014

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. of Poway received a four-year, $141.4 million U.S. Air Force delivery order for work on the Block 50 ground control station for unmanned aircraft. Under the deal, GA-ASI will deliver four ground control stations — two fixed and two mobile — as well as three system integration laboratories. It will also conduct engineering development work on the Block 50 station and provide the Air Force with spares.

South Korea deploys British radar to combat drones from the North

04/12/2014

An advanced British radar system is being deployed by the South Korean military amid fears that North Korea could use unmanned aerial vehicles to launch an attack with biological or chemical weapons. South Korea has purchased 24 long-range radars made by Essex-based Blighter Surveillance Systems and has been testing the equipment for frontline defence and to protect key locations in Seoul.

More Military Displays Set For RAF Cosford Air Show

04/12/2014

Following on from last year’s popular Medical Emergency Response Team (MERT) demonstration, which saw Prince Harry in his first air show appearance, the RAF Chinook and Army Apache will again be at Cosford as part of the planned six-hour flying display. As well as performing their individual displays, they will showcase the combat capabilities of the two helicopters in an exciting joint demonstration with the RAF Regiment.

Out of fuel, out of time and one chance to land

04/12/2014

The aircraft carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower was finally in sight. The pilot of the F/A-18 Super Hornet hurriedly flipped switches and pushed levers. The aviator in the backseat leaned forward, straining to see the flight deck floating in the distance. The jet’s right engine had locked up, its landing gear jammed, the main fuel tank almost empty. At nearly 350 mph, the Super Hornet hurtled over the warm waters of the North Arabian Sea last April.

Russia Begins Transfer of First Warship Back to Ukraine – Source

04/12/2014

Russia has begun the process of transferring the first Ukrainian naval vessel in Crimea back to Ukraine, a source in the Black Sea Fleet Headquarters told RIA Novosti on Friday. “Two Black Sea tugs have begun taking the missile boat from Karantinnaya Bay in Sevastopol,” the source said, referring to Ukraine’s Priluki missile boat.