Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Australia to send two aircraft to South Sudan

12/27/2013

Australia will deploy two military aircraft to South Sudan for United Nations efforts to restore peace to the world's youngest nation. Acting Prime Minister Warren Truss announced on Thursday that Australia had agreed to a UN request for support to transport personnel and equipment to the war-torn country.

Report: Israel Passes U.S. Military Technology to China

12/26/2013

Secret U.S. missile and electro-optics technology was transferred to China recently by Israel, prompting anger from the U.S. and causing a senior Israeli defense official to resign. The head of defense exports for the Israeli Defense Ministry resigned after a U.S. investigation concluded that technology, including a miniature refrigeration system manufactured by Ricor and used for missiles and in electro-optic equipment, was sent to China, according to the Israeli newspaper Maariv.

Selfridge A-10s targeted again

12/26/2013

A little more than a year after Macomb County and regional leaders beat back an attempt to substantially cut the number of A-10 aircraft stationed at Selfridge Air National Guard Base – the Air Force is again gunning for the odd-looking planes known as “Warthogs” – this time pushing to eliminate the entire U.S. fleet. The Air Force hopes to retire all 326 A-10 Thunderbolts, including the 18 planes stationed at the Harrison Township base.

South Sudan unrest: Australia pledges military aircraft to boost UN force

12/26/2013

Australia will provide two military aircraft to move United Nations forces into South Sudan and possibly help with evacuations, but is yet to consider providing any other assistance. The acting prime minister, Warren Truss, made the announcement as he reaffirmed calls for Australians to try to access commercial flights to leave the country after fighting broke out in Africa’s newest country.

Dassault carrying out gap analysis of HAL's capabilities

12/26/2013

Preparing to supply 126 Rafale combat aircraft to India, French firm Dassault Aviation is carrying out gap analysis of aerospace PSU HAL's fighter plane production capabilities to recommend upgrades. Dassault Aviation and HAL have to work together to produce 108 Rafale fighter planes in India as part of the contract to supply 126 Medium-Multi-role Combat Aircraft (M-MRCA) to the Indian Air Force.

Russian Military Plans to Order More Yak-130 Combat Trainers

12/26/2013

The Russian air force is planning to order an additional batch of new Yak-130 combat trainers because demand for the aircraft is growing, the air force’s top commander said Wednesday. The current contract with Russia’s Irkut aircraft corporation stipulates the delivery of 55 Yak-130s to the air force. A total of 42 aircraft have been delivered so far.

Over 360 killed in Syrian army airstrikes on Aleppo - activists

12/25/2013

Syrian warplanes have killed at least 15 people in Aleppo, raising the death toll to over 360 during the past 10 days of bombings, activists said. The opposition says it will not attend the Geneva-2 peace talks if the regime continues to launch air raids.

Japan’s new military thinking amid dispute with China

12/25/2013

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe minces no words about his intention to revise the country’s pacifist constitution, while boosting military forces amid growing tensions with China over disputed islands in the East China Sea. “It is my career goal. For what purpose did I become a politician? I definitely want to carry through with it,” the premier told public broadcaster NHK on Sunday.

Greece uses Patriots to put four Turkish F-4’s under radar-lock: General Staff

12/25/2013

Greek Patriot air defense units “harassed” four Turkish F-4 military aircrafts by putting them under radar-lock while they were flying in international airspace over the Aegean Sea, the Turkish General Staff said in a statement on their website Dec. 24. Military sources told daily Hürriyet the Greek military used Patriots defense units for the first time against Turkish military aircraft, as they previously resorted to military planes.

Israeli warplanes strike Hamas base in Gaza

12/25/2013

The Israeli military says it has carried out an air strike in the Gaza Strip in response to the deadly shooting of an Israeli civilian who was working along the border fence. The shooting prompted Israel to warn it would respond “forcefully”.

Chinese Military Utility Helo Makes First Flight

12/25/2013

A Chinese military utility helicopter roughly equivalent to the Sikorsky H-60 made its first flight on Dec. 23, state media report. The helicopter, with the unconfirmed designation Z-20, is a 10-metric-ton (22,000 lb.) aircraft suitable for operation from high-altitude fields, China Central Television says. For almost three decades, China has relied on 24 UH-60 Black Hawks bought in the 1980s for such operations.

Pratt & Whitney extends $231.46M deal with military to repair jet engines

12/25/2013

The U.S. Air Force has signed a contract with Pratt & Whitney to have the aerospace company provide maintenance and repair of F119 jet engines through the end of next year. The contract was announced Monday by members of Connecticut’s legislative delegation in Washington. The deal, which is worth $231.46 million, is an extension of an existing contract between the Air Force and the company, which makes and maintains jet engine.

Hurlburt Osprey aircraft attacked in Sudan on evacuation mission

12/25/2013

Three U.S. aircraft from Hurlburt field were attacked while performing a mission in South Sudan on Saturday, according to a news release from U.S. Africa Command. Three CV-22 Ospreys, tiltrotor aircraft that can function as both airplanes and helicopters, were hit by small arms fire while attempting to evacuate U.S. citizens from the town of Bor, the release said.

Conterfeit component chaos

12/25/2013

Aerospace and defense engineers and executives, like the militaries they serve, face adversaries. Certainly, these enemies are of a different nature than those faced by warfighters, but their effect can be just as incapacitating and severe. Military officials facing tight budgets are opting to extend the life of currently fielded aerospace and defense platforms on the ground, at sea, and in the air. In some cases, lifespans are even being doubled.

US rescue operation in S. Sudan to test post-Benghazi Marine reaction force

12/25/2013

A reaction force of 150 Marines is poised to enter South Sudan to help protect US Embassy personnel and, if needed, to evacuate the roughly 100 Americans who remain in the country, Pentagon officials say. The hope is that the US troops can help beef up security amid growing fears of civil war breaking out in the country.

Swedish Government Looks to Add Value to Gripen-E Sale Talks

12/25/2013

The Swedish government is working on a joint strategy with Saab to extend the Gripen-E combat fighter offer to Brazil to include a radically up-scaled industrial dimension that would see Brazil become the primary production base for future Gripen-E sales to South America and Africa through a joint venture development and profit sharing partnership with Embraer.

France sets sights on Gulf market after losing Brazilian fighter jet contract

12/24/2013

Paris has turned its sights to potential defense markets in the Gulf in the hope of selling its Rafale fighter jets. This follows the failure of French aircraft manufacturer Dassault, which builds the Rafale, to secure a multi-billion-dollar contract to sell the aircraft to Brazil. French President Francois Hollande, who visited Brazil recently, said in Brussels on Friday that he had expected the outcome “for several months,” but that he hoped the Rafale would be bought by other countries.

US Repositions Troops Closer to South Sudan

12/24/2013

The U.S. was moving regional troops and aircraft closer to South Sudan as a precaution should they be needed for more evacuations of diplomatic and aid personnel, Pentagon officials said Monday. Army Gen. David Rodriguez, head of the Africa Command (AFRICOM), had ordered the "repositioning of forces in the region to give himself maximum flexibility" to respond as the crisis in Sudan threatens to spiral into civil war, said Army Col. Steve Warren, a Pentagon spokesman.

Chengdu Aircraft Industry designing more advanced J-10C fighter

12/24/2013

The J-10B — the upgrade version of China's J-10 fighter — recently entered service with the People's Liberation Army, with its designer Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group already developing the more advanced J-10C, reports the Hong Kong-based Phoenix Television.

Why 'fifth gen' helps me sleep at night

12/24/2013

In his book 'Australian security in the Asian century', Dr Sanu Kainikara outlines what can only be termed a 'challenging' security environment for this nation in coming decades. A regional arms race, growing demand for resources, and the pressures of exploding population levels will all contribute. It is therefore no wonder that the Australian Defence Force is undertaking comprehensive upgrades, designed to retain a strong tactical advantage. A big part of this is the adoption of 'fifth generat

BAE Systems secures $1bn contract to upgrade South Korean fighter jets

12/24/2013

BAE Systems has secured a $1bn (£611m) contract to upgrade South Korea's fleet of F16 fighter jets, in a fillip for the UK arms manufacturer after it lost out on a much more lucrative deal with the United Arab Emirates.

Sweet Sixteen

12/24/2013

Lockheed Martin delivered its 16th C-5M Super Galaxy to the U.S. Air Force from its facilities here today. U.S. Air Force aircrews ferried aircraft tail number 87-0036 to Dover Air Force Base, Del. It is the fourth C-5M delivery in 32 days and the sixth for 2013.

Syrian regime warplanes pound Aleppo

12/23/2013

Syrian aircraft pummeled opposition areas in the northern city of Aleppo Sunday, killing at least 32 people and extending the government’s furious aerial bombardment of the rebel-held half of the divided city to an eighth consecutive day.

Did NSA Spying On Brazil Allow Gripen To Win A Fighter Aircraft Contract And Cost Boeing Billions of Dollars?

12/23/2013

As Defence Watch readers know Brazil recently selected the Gripen fighter jet built by Saab as its new military aircraft. The contract is worth $4.5 billion. Brazil’s air force was told of the government’s decision by President Dilma Rousseff just 24 hours before the public announcement last week.

South Sudanese rebels blamed for attack on US military aircraft

12/23/2013

Three US military aircraft attempting to evacuate American citizens from a remote region of South Sudan came under fire as gun battles raged between the country's military and rebel militia. Four US service personnel were wounded in the attack. The aircraft were hit on Saturday while preparing to land in Bor, the capital of Jonglei state – scene of some of the nation's worst violence over the past week.