Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

American IRST Finally Catches Up

03/17/2014

On February 11th the U.S. Navy had its first flight test of a new IRST (Infa-Red Search & Track) pod. IRST uses a high resolution infrared (heat sensing) radar to positively spot and identify a potential aerial target This is done by comparing what IRST sees to 3-D models of known aircraft stored in the pod computer. This is similar to the ATFLIR (Advanced Targeting Forward Looking Infrared) pods used to spot surface targets.

Planned changes at D-M go beyond A-10 cuts

03/17/2014

Phasing out the A-10 attack aircraft could cost Tucson 2,000 jobs — and that’s just one of many changes in store for Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, the proposed 2015 Air Force budget shows. If Congress approves the cuts, D-M would see ongoing — though, in some cases, diminished — missions including electronic warfare and unmanned aircraft operations.

Philippines closes deal to buy 12 fighter-trainer planes

03/17/2014

Philippine President Benigno Aquino on Sunday said the Philippines has inked a deal to buy 12 fighter-trainer planes to beef up its territorial defense operation. Speaking at the Philippine Military Academy in Baguio City, Aquino also said that bidding for the procurement of two twin-engine naval antisubmarine helicopters "is also set to begin."

Ukraine cobbles together an army as fears of a Russian invasion grow

03/16/2014

Ukraine really needs an answer to the Russian military amassing just over its border. So it’s government is scrambling to pull together an instant army, drawing on whoever is available — students, computer geeks, restaurateurs, aging veterans. “This is our land and our spirit is stronger. We’re prepared to die for our country, we’ve already proved that. The Russians have nothing to die for here,” says Viktor Pandzhakidze, who said he wishes he could volunteer.

The case for speeding up India's domestic fifth generation fighter projects

03/16/2014

The Indian Air Force's (IAF) quest for its first fifth generation fighter has been running into the usual back and forth with the Russians as well as domestic discord with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). It seems on top of the reported delays, the Russians are also hiking the costs associated with the Fifth generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) project.

Fighter Friday, part 1: Typhoon

03/16/2014

I’d been planning to prompt some discussion on The DEW Line earlier in the week about the Eurofighter programme, to coincide with a feature article of mine which appeared as the cover story for the latest issue of Flight International, but a four-day trip to Sweden means it’s now a Friday Fighter topic instead.

Series of Errors by Malaysia Mounts, Complicating the Task of Finding Flight 370

03/16/2014

The radar blip that was Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 did a wide U-turn over the Gulf of Thailand and then began moving inexorably past at least three military radar arrays as it traversed northern Malaysia, even flying high over one of the country’s biggest cities before heading out over the Strait of Malacca.

Luke Air Force Base Receives First F-35A Lightning II

03/16/2014

Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., March 14, 2014 - The first Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II assigned to the 56th Fighter Wing was officially delivered during a ceremony attended by dignitaries and hundreds of local civic leaders, wing military and civilian members here today. The F-35A Conventional Takeoff and Landing variant, known as LF 5030, is the first of 144 F-35As scheduled for delivery to the base.

Russia Sends 4 Strategic Bombers on 24-Hour Arctic Patrol

03/16/2014

Russia has dispatched four Tu-95MS strategic bombers on a 24-hour patrol over the Arctic Ocean, Air Force commander Lt. Gen. Viktor Bondarev said Friday. Bondarev said the four aircraft left their home base at the Ukrainka airbase in Russia’s Far East late on Thursday to carry out a 12-hour non-stop combat patrol mission over the Arctic.

Oman C-130s to get integrated avionics upgrade

03/16/2014

The LynxOS-178 real-time operating system (RTOS) will be used in the Rockwell Collins Flight2 avionics management system, for the Royal Air Force of Oman's C-130 upgrade program. The Rockwell Collins Flight2 avionics system will provide the Royal Air Force of Oman C-130 aircraft with unrestricted access to global airspace by meeting Communication, Navigation, Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) airspace requirements that are currently identified.

Dassault Holds Out Hope For Canada Jet Order

03/14/2014

Dassault Aviation said on Thursday it is ready to rebid for a multibillion-dollar Canadian combat-aircraft contract if Ottawa backs out of a plan to buy U.S.-made F-35 combat aircraft to replace the country's aging fleet of F-18 fighter jets. The Canadian government needs to start replacing the F-18s by 2017 which would imply an initial order by this year.

Pentagon North Korea Report for 2013: Unimpressive Hardware, Focus on Cyber Attacks

03/14/2014

The U.S. Department of Defense released its annual report on the state of North Korea’s military earlier this month. The short 22-page document paints a picture of a North Korean military that is slowly atrophying under a lack of funding. Nevertheless, the report begins by acknowledging that North Korea “remains one of the United States’ most critical security challenges.”

Russia Sends 6 Fighter Jets to Belarus

03/14/2014

Six Russian Su-27 fighter jets and three military transport planes with ground support personnel arrived Thursday at an airbase in Belarus to boost the airspace defenses of the two countries' Union State, the Russian Defense Ministry said.The ministry said the aircraft from the Western military district have been deployed to the Babruysk airbase in line with a bilateral agreement on the joint protection of the Union State's airspace.

Harper to outline details of combat mission Friday

03/13/2014

Prime Minister Stephen Harper will provide details on Friday of an expanded military contribution to battle militants in northern Iraq. A spokesman for Harper says the prime minister will also talk about ongoing humanitarian support

Czech Republic Signs New Lease Deal for Gripen Fighters

03/13/2014

Sweden's Defence and Security Export Agency said Wednesday the Czech Republic has approved an agreement to lease 14 Gripen fighter aircraft until at least 2026, opening the way to potential new maintenance contracts for the aircraft's manufacturer, Swedish defense group Saab AB.

The F-16 training mission has arrived at Holloman Air Force Base

03/13/2014

More than 300 members of Team Holloman from in and around the Tularosa Basin and the Sacramento Mountains gathered to witness the future of the 49th Wing as the 54th Fighter Group was officially welcomed to the base in an activation ceremony here March 11.

The case for speeding up India’s domestic fifth generation fighter

03/13/2014

The Indian Air Force's (IAF) quest for its first fifth generation fighter has been running into the usual back and forth with the Russians as well as domestic discord with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) . It seems on top of the reported delays, the Russians are also hiking the costs associated with the Fifth generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) project.

NATO sends 2 surveillance planes to Ukraine border

03/13/2014

NATO deployed two surveillance aircraft Wednesday to monitor Ukraine's air space and Black Sea ship movements as Russia consolidated its military buildup in Crimea. NATO headquarters spokesman Lt. Col. Jay Janzen said one aircraft based in England would observe Russian air and sea movements from Polish air space, while the other based in Germany would fly over Romania.

Cutbacks mean Selfridge A-10s may be traded for tanker planes

03/13/2014

The future of Selfridge Air National Guard Base took a dramatic turn Wednesday as a new Air Force plan called for the elimination of the A-10 aircraft at the Harrison Township facility in exchange for the addition of KC-135 mid-air refueling planes. The proposal would retire the base’s 18 A-10 Thunderbolts in fiscal year 2017 and then mitigate the damage to Selfridge’s viability by doubling the number of KC-135 tankers to 16.

Ukraine accuses Russia of military buildup

03/13/2014

Ukraine accused Russia on Wednesday of conducting a large military buildup near the countries’ border that raises the threat of an invasion, but Moscow denied that. Andriy Parubiy, secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, told reporters in Kiev that Russia has deployed more than 80,000 troops, up to 270 tanks and 140 combat planes close to the border, creating the “threat of a full-scale invasion from various directions.”

LONGBOW International Receives $96 Million Support Contract for U.K. Apache Fire Control Systems

03/13/2014

LONGBOW International, a joint venture of Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, received a $96 million contract in 2013 from AgustaWestland to support LONGBOW Fire Control Radars on U.K. Apache AH Mk.1 aircraft. The five-year contract includes engineering services, integrated logistics support and an in-country repair capability.

Belarus Seeks to Host More Russian Jets Amid Ukraine Crisis

03/13/2014

Belarus will ask Russia to deploy up to 15 additional combat aircraft on its territory in response to increased NATO military activity along the country’s borders, President Alexander Lukashenko said Wednesday. NATO has begun military exercises in Poland near the borders with Belarus and Ukraine amid the current political standoff between Russia and the West over the fate of Ukraine’s Crimea region.

US Begins Navy Drills in Black Sea Near Crimea

03/13/2014

A US navy destroyer began joint exercises Wednesday with Romanian and Bulgarian warships in the Black Sea, about 130 miles from Crimea, the Reuters news agency reported. The mission was cited by the White House last week as a sign of the United States’ commitment to the region amid ongoing turmoil in Ukraine – which also borders the Black Sea – that threatens to split the country apart.

Turkey, Airbus Clash Over A400M Delivery

03/12/2014

Turkey, a partner in the multinational A400M airlifter consortium, is wrangling with the group over disputed technical snags blocking acceptance of its first aircraft. Turkey received its first A400M late last year. But it has not yet given its official acceptance, citing technical failures, which has deeply annoyed consortium members.

Russian Arms to Egypt Threaten to Undermine U.S. in Mideast

03/12/2014

Russia, which is at loggerheads with Washington over the spreading political crisis in Ukraine, is threatening to undermine a longstanding military relationship between the United States and one of its traditional allies in the Middle East: Egypt. A photograph of Russian President Vladimir Putin shaking hands with Egypt's de facto leader Field Marshal Abdel Fateh Al Sisi was flashed across newspapers and TV screens in the Arab world last month.