Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Ukraine Appeals to NATO for Assistance

03/02/2014

Ukraine appealed for assistance from NATO on Saturday, asking it to use all possible measures to ensure its territorial integrity and protect its people. The call came hours after Russia’s parliament approved the deployment of military forces in Ukraine, in response to what Moscow claims is the threat being leveled against its servicemen and Russian citizens in the southern Crimea Peninsula.

Obama Warns Russia Against Crimea Incursion

03/02/2014

US President Barack Obama signaled his administration’s alarm Friday at indications of military movements by Russian troops inside Ukraine’s region of Crimea and warned Moscow that there would be costs for any armed intervention. International media earlier in the day reported Russian troops entering Crimea, and soldiers identified as being with the Russian armed forces stationed on the peninsula blockaded at least one airport, which nonetheless appeared to still be operating.

Airbus and Turkey dispute over A400M military aircraft

03/01/2014

Turkey continues to be embroiled in a dispute with aircraft manufacturer Airbus over an order of A400M airlifter military transport planes. Turkey's Undersecretary for Defense implied that the conditions of the contract had not been met; the aircraft received for acceptance tests by Turkey's defense did not reportedly meet the agreed criteria.

THE AUSSIE WEDGETAIL AND AIR BATTLE MANAGEMENT IN RED FLAG 2014

03/01/2014

Second Line of Defense is currently visiting the Pacific and soon will visit the Wedgetail squadron, which currently operates from RAAF Base Williamtown, near Newcastle, New South Wales. During the exercise AWACS and Wedgetail played the core command and control role and F-22s in Alaska (which includes one flown by an Aussie exchange pilot) worked effectively with Wedgetail.

Will Russia invade Ukraine?

03/01/2014

Could Russia intervene militarily in Crimea to safeguard its strategic interests? Or, to put the question a different way, has Russia already intervened? Nobody yet knows the identities of the armed men who seized control of Simferopol airport. But their equipment, their vehicles and their behaviour all signal that this is a trained military unit, not a rag-tag group of pro-Russian loyalists.

Ukraine Crisis: Russia Bolsters ongoing Military Drill with 80 Combat Helicopters amid Crimea Tensions

03/01/2014

Russia is bolstering the ongoing army drill in the Western Military district which began after a surprise order by President Vladimir Putin with 80 more combat helicopters amid rising tensions in Ukraine's Crimea region. Mil Mi-24 and Mi-8 helicopters are being redeployed from their bases to the emergency airfields, flying up to 500kms.

Russia Plans $55.3Bln Expenditure On Aerospace Defense by 2020

03/01/2014

Russia’s military will invest 2 trillion rubles ($55.3 billion) in building up its aerospace defense weapons over the next six years, defense officials said Friday. Deputy Defense Minister Yury Borisov said the goal is to spend the funds on developing the Aerospace Defense Forces, or VKO, by 2020 to make sure they were capable of combating existing and future types of air and space attacks.

The Future of China's Expeditionary Operations

02/28/2014

Felix Seidler of the Center for International Maritime Security says China’s top maritime priorities will remain in the East and South China Seas. Nevertheless, extended expeditionary ambitions are real. However, more assertive Chinese behavior on blue-waters does not mean that great power conflict is inevitable. Coming East Asia Summits may be a forum for finding solutions.

Air Force reviewing whether it can afford Sikorsky's $6.8 billion copter deal

02/28/2014

U.S. Air Force Secretary Debra James says she’s reviewing whether the service can afford a contract for combat-rescue helicopters that drew only one bid, raising questions about whether a unit of United Technologies Corp. will receive a multibillion-dollar award this year.

Come clean on ties with Agusta: India to Dassault

02/28/2014

With the defence ministry all set to blacklist Agusta-Westland-Finmeccanica for the VVIP helicopter bribery scandal, it has asked French aircraft manufacturer Dassault to clarify whether the Anglo-Italian chopper company was supplying parts for its Rafale medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) slated to be acquired by India at the cost of $20 billion.

India’s ageing war machine could grind to a halt, govt. warned

02/28/2014

Frustrated by long delays in replacing their growing stockpile of obsolescent equipment, India’s three armed service chiefs have been warning the government that procurement delays are compromising the country’s war preparedness, military sources have told The Hindu. The government, the sources said, was told the Air Force’s combat jet fleet would soon begin shrinking dangerously, even as the Army was short of tanks and artillery.

Russia raises military clout with reforms after Georgian war

02/28/2014

Refitting Soviet-era warships, fielding new aircraft and tanks and seeking new overseas bases, the Russian military that now has troops on alert amidst a crisis in Ukraine is more potent than the force which briefly fought Georgia six years ago. Moscow is seriously investing in building its clout. Since 2008, it has raised military spending by almost a third and drastically reformed both the armed forces and defense industry to tackle post-Cold War decay.

China boosting cooperation with Russia in key technology of bombers, transport trainers

02/27/2014

The aviation industry of Jiangxi Province developed very swiftly in 2013. AVIC Jiangxi Hongdu Aviation Industry Group is actively boosting its cooperation with Russia in the key technology of bombers and transport trainers, according to information from the website of the Commission of Science, Technology, and Industry for National Defense.

Hawaii Air National Guard ready to host largest ever aerial war games

02/27/2014

Every week, skilled pilots with the Hawaii Air National Guard suit up for air to air combat drills in the most advanced stealth fighter jet in the world, the F-22. It's all to stay sharp, so that in the event there's a threat in Hawaii's skies, or anywhere in the world, they're able to take-off at a moment's notice.

Airbus CEO Says Turkish Delay in Taking A400M Threatens Ramp-Up

02/27/2014

Chief Executive Officer Tom Enders said he’s frustrated by Turkey’s failure to accept delivery of the third production A400M airlifter, even though two planes are flying successfully with French forces. Enders said today that his company is “still bargaining” over the delivery process with Turkey, which has 10 A400Ms on order and is one of seven so-called core customers that signed up for the military transport plane almost 11 years ago.

Airbus Vows to Fly With Own Wings

02/27/2014

Airbus Group, emboldened by strong financial results and an order backlog extending well into the next decade, is turning its back on its longtime European supporters. Driving the shift in attitude toward the governments of France, Germany, Spain and the U.K. is the overhaul of Airbus's governance last year. But a shift in the commercial aircraft market is also at play, said Chief Executive Tom Enders.

Congress prepares to defend districts from defense cuts

02/27/2014

The Pentagon's plans to do away with 1970s-era A-10 "Warthog" attack planes will have a ripple effect in places like Knob Noster, Missouri - a small town in the shadow of Whiteman Air Force Base. It could mean fewer reservists flocking to places like the Panther Steakhouse and the EconoLodge after a weekend spent working with planes designed to fight wars against Soviet tanks. In Knob Noster, population 2,709, it makes a big difference when those people spend that cash.

Russia orders war games in show of force over Ukraine, US warns against intervention

02/27/2014

Russia ordered 150,000 troops to test their combat readiness Wednesday in a show of force that prompted a blunt warning from the United States that any military intervention in Ukraine would be a "grave mistake." Vladimir Putin's announcement of huge new war games came as Ukraine's protest leaders named a millionaire former banker to head a new government after the pro-Russian president went into hiding.

Two Alaska military bases are finalists for F-35s

02/27/2014

The U.S. Air Force announced Tuesday that Eielson Air Force Base and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson are on the short list of potential hosts for 48 new F-35 fighter jets, according to Alaska’s Congressional delegation. Site survey teams from the Air Force will examine the five sites in the coming weeks before selecting “two or three as preferred and reasonable alternative bases” later this spring, according to a press release from U.S. Sen. Mark Begich, D-Alaska.

Third and Fourth Royal Australian Navy MH-60R Helicopters Complete Production, Begin Training

02/27/2014

The third and fourth MH-60R “Romeo” helicopters take flight from the Lockheed Martin facility in Owego, N.Y., to join the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) first pair of helicopters training at Jacksonville Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Florida.

Russia's Air Force to Get New Flight Simulators

02/27/2014

The Russian Air Force will receive nearly 20 new flight simulators later this year for training fighter and ground-attack crews, a military spokesperson said Wednesday. Training simulators allow crews to practice maneuvers in conditions as close as possible to actual flight, including group formations and combat exercises.

Mystery Stealth aircraft spotted in UK. A cancelled Black Project being revived?

02/26/2014

The following footage was shot on Feb. 18, near BAE Systems facilities at Warton, in Lancashire, England. The aircraft being moved is probably a full size model of the BAE Replica, a British stealth aircraft model developed by BAE in the 1990s and used for radar testing before its associated program, the FOAS (Future Offensive Air System), was cancelled in 2005.

Japan eyes arms exports to secure sea lanes under new rules

02/26/2014

Japan will allow the export of arms to countries located along sea lanes to ensure the safe delivery of oil and other natural resources, while bolstering Japan’s defense cooperation with the United States by providing repair work for U.S. military aircraft overseas, according to a draft of new principles on arms exports.

Why The F-35 Is Essential For Canada

02/26/2014

Last week Defence Watch ran a three part series on why the F-35 wasn’t the right aircraft for Canada. This week Defence Watch runs a three part series on why the F-35 is essential for Canada. The article is written by Edward Wu, who is based in Vancouver. He answered the Defence Watch request to pen a defence of the F-35. He noted that he is not associated with any defence or aerospace contractors, nor any political parties or government.

122nd Fighter Wing, Senators react to proposed cuts

02/26/2014

The 122nd Fighter Wing and local Congressmen are reacting to Monday’s proposed cuts to the U.S. military. One major change is eliminating A-10 combat jets flown by Fort Wayne’s Air National Guard Base. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel proposed eliminating the A-10 aircraft, U-2 spy planes, shrinking the army to its smallest size in 74 years and reducing some military benefits. This would save about $75 billion over the next two years.