Military Aviation News Archive

Turkish Generals Visit Border After Attack by Syrian Warplanes

09/10/2013

The commander of Turkey’s Land Forces inspected troops at the border with Syria, hours after combat aircraft attacked nearby Syrian communities, the state-run Anatolia news agency said.

China and Pakistan Begin Biannual Air Exercise Shaheen 2

09/10/2013

China and Pakistan last week began a three-week air exercise titled Shaheen 2 (Falcon 2) in Hetian Prefecture of China’s northwestern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The exercise, which lasts until Sept. 22, is the second in a series of such exercises, the first of which was held in Pakistan in March 2011.

Lockheed Martin Completes First LRASM Air-Launch Flight Test

09/10/2013

Lockheed Martin recently completed a successful first flight test of the Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) in support of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the Office of Naval Research (ONR) program.

Bell Helicopter and Lockheed Martin Team on V-280 Valor

09/10/2013

Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), and Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) will work as a team on the Bell V-280 Valor™, making Lockheed Martin the first of Bell Helicopter’s V-280 program tier one team members. Additional team members will be announced in the coming months.

UN Chief Backs Russian Push for Syrian Chemical Weapons Transfer

09/10/2013

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Monday backed a proposal from Moscow for Syria to place its stocks of chemical weapons under international control, in a bid to avert US-led military strikes on the war-torn Middle Eastern country.

Chinese bombers prompt Japan to scramble fighter jets

09/09/2013

Japan’s Defense Ministry said Sunday two Chinese H-6 bombers flew round trip from the East China Sea to the Pacific Ocean without violating Japanese airspace the same day after overflying waters between Okinawa islands.

British jets in Cyprus scrambled to chase after Syrian planes that crossed into international airspace

09/09/2013

Two RAF jets were scrambled from their base in Cyprus to urgently investigate Syrian planes that had crossed into international airspace, it has emerged. The Ministry of Defence confirmed that unidentified planes legally crossed into Cypriot skies from the east of the country last Monday. But it is understood the behaviour of the aircraft raised suspicions at RAF Akrotiri, less than 200 miles from Syria, prompting the rapid response.

'Huey' still relevant - DND official

09/09/2013

Despite flying for 53 years, the Bell UH-1 "Huey" helicopter will still be effective for another 20 years, according to DND undersecretary for finance, munitions, installation and material Fernando Manalo. Manalo also said that the "Huey", which the Philippines has around 21 flyable models at present, is the best aircraft for peacekeeping and disaster relief missions due to its reputation as easy aircraft to fly and maintain.

95 Air Force planes ‘beyond repair’

09/09/2013

A total of 95 air assets of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) can no longer be used, outnumbering the aircraft still in operation. Air Force Vice Commander Maj. Gen. Raul Dimatatac said out of the 265 air assets they have, 95 are “beyond economic repair” while 71 are operational. The rest are recoverable or serviceable, which means that they have to undergo repairs to be of use.

Airmen help build Afghan air force

09/09/2013

With most — if not all — NATO troops slated to leave Afghanistan by the end of 2014, air advisers are helping to build a small cadre of Afghan pilots to take on the mission of moving wounded security forces.

What is Syrian Arab Army military capability?

09/09/2013

Despite two years of conflict and significant defections among the rank and file, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) remains a capable military. Before the civil war, the SAA claimed to field 220,000 men under arms and, perhaps, up to 350,000 reservists. Today, active personnel stood at a little over 125,000, of whom no more than 80,000 were considered by the regime to be loyal. Another 250,000 paramilitary personnel, including the dreaded “Shabihah” militias, were also available.

Syria: MPs could get another vote on military intervention, says William Hague

09/09/2013

MPs could be given another chance to vote on military intervention in Syria, William Hague has said, as it emerged two RAF jets scrambled to intercept "suspicious" Syrian aircraft over Cyprus. The Foreign Secretary said a second vote would only be possible if the Government secured support from Labour.

Russian Military Inspectors to Fly Over France

09/09/2013

Russian military inspectors will begin monitoring flights over France starting on Monday under the international Open Skies Treaty, a Russian Defense Ministry official said. Experts from Russia will be conducting flights on board of an Antonov An-30B aircraft between September 9 and 13, said Ruslan Shishin, acting head of the ministry’s National Nuclear Risk Reduction Center.

Typhoon blasts through 200,000 hour milestone

09/09/2013

Eurofighter Typhoon has now achieved more than 200,000 flying hours since the entry-into-service of its worldwide fleet. Eurofighter Jagdflugzeug GmbH confirmed the milestone today adding that, with 719 aircraft on contract, 571 aircraft ordered and 378 aircraft delivered, the programme has “never looked stronger”.

The USAF Stands Like A Rock

09/08/2013

The U.S. Air Force continues to come up short in its effort to supply enough pilots for its growing UAV fleet. Currently the air force has about 1,300 operators for its 280 large UAVs (about half of them Predators, nearly 40 percent Reapers, and the rest Global Hawks). UAV operators are now nearly nine percent of all air force pilots, triple the percentage in 2008.

Long Beach Boeing to deliver final C-17 to U.S. Air Force, ending two-decade relationship

09/08/2013

Lynne Jungers has been thinking about this moment for the last two years. The longtime Boeing Co. customer relations manager — who has seen former President Bill Clinton, the late Bob Hope and dozens of dignitaries visit the C-17 Globemaster III at its East Long Beach assembly plant — is bracing herself for Thursday, when Boeing will hand over its 223rd and final C-17 to the U.S. Air Force.

China to Get Russian Su-35 Jets in 2014 – Rosoboronexport

09/08/2013

Moscow and Beijing expect to seal the deal on the sale of Russian Su-35 fighter jets to China in 2014, a senior official at the Russian arms exports monopoly said Saturday. “Talks are ongoing, but the deal is unlikely to be sealed before the year’s end. The signing will most likely take place next year,” said Viktor Komardin, deputy head of the state-run Rosoboronexport.

Syrian Air Defense System Is Very Efficient – Russian Military Source

09/07/2013

Syria’s air defense forces are nearly sure to be capable of intercepting any enemy aircraft and about half of the Tomahawk missiles that might violate its airspace, a military source said on Thursday.“The Syrian air defense system is very efficient, as it was built in the image and likeness of the air defense system existing in the Soviet Union.

U.S. Navy: cost of Syria strikes would not be ‘extraordinary’

09/07/2013

The cost of possible military strikes against Syria would not be “extraordinary,” the U.S. Navy chief said Thursday, downplaying the potential price tag of the operation. Admiral Jonathan Greenert’s comments appeared to confirm a rough estimate from Pentagon chief Chuck Hagel on Wednesday, who told lawmakers the punitive strikes would likely cost “tens of millions” of dollars.

Greenert Details Potential Fiscal 2014 Aircraft, Ship Cuts

09/07/2013

Unless Congress changes the nation’s financial course, the U.S. Navy will be forced to make some drastic cuts in aircraft and ship numbers to accommodate a loss of about $14 billion due to sequestration and other budgetary issues, says Adm. Jonathan Greenert, chief of naval operations.

Photo: V-22 Conducts First Test As Aerial Refueling Tanker On F-18- More Tests Planned

09/07/2013

The Bell Boeing V-22 Program, a strategic alliance between Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. and Boeing [NYSE: BA], has successfully completed an initial test of the V-22 Osprey performing as an aerial refueling tanker. Adding this capability to the tiltrotor aircraft would further advance its versatility in combat, humanitarian and ship-based operations.

Experts' comparative analysis of performance between J-15 and U.S. F-18

09/07/2013

The J-15 belongs to the 4th generation of conventional shipboard aircraft, which also includes the U.S. navy's F/A-18C/D "Hornet" and F/A-18E/F "Super Hornet", the French "Rafale M", and the Russian Mig-29K which is also used by the Indian navy.

Iraqi leader to press U.S. for more arms deals

09/07/2013

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, battling with an al-Qaida insurgency and political unrest, is scheduled to visit Washington this month to activate a defense cooperation agreement and push for stepped-up arms sales, including Boeing AH-64 Apache attack helicopters. Maliki may find President Barack Obama and the Pentagon somewhat preoccupied with the Syrian conflict and the question of whether to strike at the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad, which Maliki supports to some degree.

Iraq requests combat UAVs from U.S.

09/07/2013

Iraq has submitted a shopping list of U.S. military equipment that included its first unmanned aerial vehicles. Officials said Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki has relayed a request for advanced UAVs from the United States. The officials said the unspecified UAVs were meant for long-range reconnaissance missions in an effort to improve border and internal security.

Typhoon jets built by BAE Systems in Lancashire hit the target on the scales

09/07/2013

The first Tranche Three Typhoon next-generation fighter jet has been weighed-in to confirm that it meets design standards, pushing the programme a step closer to completion. The aircraft, British single seat number 116, had its measurements recorded using a highly-sophisticated set of hydraulic scales at the company’s military aircraft in Warton.