Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

100th Jet In Final Production; First F-35 Bound For Luke

07/26/2013

The 100th Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, the first aircraft destined for Luke Air Force Base in Glendale, Ariz., has entered the last stage of final assembly. This conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) aircraft, known as AF-41, is scheduled to arrive at the base next year. During final assembly, the aircraft structure is completed, and electrical and hydraulic systems are added.

The Fleet Is Complete: Dyess AFB Receives Final C-130J Super Hercules

07/26/2013

The final Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules (Lockheed Martin aircraft number 5726) designated for the 317th Airlift Group was ferried to Dyess Air Force Base (AFB), Texas, today. Gen.Paul Selva, commander, Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, Ill., flew the aircraft to Dyess AFB from the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics facility here.

Lockheed Martin’s Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod Achieves Operational Flight Status on U.S. Air Force B-52 Bombers

07/26/2013

Lockheed Martin’s Sniper® Advanced Targeting Pod (ATP) has achieved operational flight status on the B-52 bomber. With the addition of the B-52, Sniper ATP is the only targeting pod operational across six U.S. Air Force fighter and bomber aircraft platforms. Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Air Force completed Sniper ATP B-52 site activation at Barksdale Air Force Base, La.

Source: India Considers Buying More Boeing Apaches

07/25/2013

Boeing could snare yet another big order from India as the Indian Army has asked the Defence Ministry to acquire an unspecified number of AH-64D Apache attack helicopters, according to an MoD source. Last year, the Indian Air Force purchased 22 Apaches for US $1.3 billion. Beyond the Indian Army request, a third order of helicopters could be in the offing for India’s planned Mountain Corps.

House approves 2014 defense spending bill

07/25/2013

The House on Wednesday evening overwhelmingly approved a spending bill that would give the Pentagon about $600 billion next year, while narrowly killing a measure that targeted controversial NSA surveillance programs. The chamber’s 2014 defense appropriations bill, approved on a 315-109 vote, includes about $512.5 billion for the Pentagon’s base budget and around $82 billion for overseas operations. The base budget figure is about $3 billion less than the White House requested.

Enhancing South Korean–U.S. Naval Capabilities Is Critical to American Interests

07/25/2013

After two North Korean attacks in 2010, South Korea began to redress its naval shortcomings, but deficiencies remain that could put allied interests at risk during the next military conflict. South Korea needs to strengthen its anti-submarine warfare, amphibious, and C4ISR capabilities. The United States needs to reverse course on its defense budget reductions, which are raising doubts among U.S. allies (and enemies) about the ability of the U.S. to keep its security commitments.

World's only flying 'Mosquito' to perform at Thunder Over Michigan

07/25/2013

A rare British airplane will head into the blue skies Aug. 10-11 over Willow Run Airport in Ypsilanti. It’s one of the featured airplanes at Thunder Over Michigan Air Show, produced by the Yankee Air Museum..

India, France to discuss Rs 80,000 cr worth defence deals

07/25/2013

Deals expected to be worth over Rs 80,000 crore including supply of 126 Rafale combat aircraft are likely to be high on agenda of French Defence Minister Jaen Yves Le Drian during his three-day visit to India from Friday. India and France have been busy in negotiating the 126 combat aircraft deal for which the French combat aircraft was selected last year defeating its five other European and American rivals and over Rs 30,000 crore Maitri surface-to-air missile projects.

NATO Jets Force Airspace Violator to Land in Latvia

07/25/2013

A light aircraft, which briefly violated the airspace of Russia and then Lithuania earlier in the week, was forced down to land by NATO fighter jets in Latvia, the Lithuanian Defense Ministry said. Two Russian Sukhoi Su-27 fighter jets were scrambled after a Cessna aircraft flying over Polish territory toward Gdansk Bay about 50 kilometers away from the Russian border was detected on Monday night.

Russia Scrambles Fighter Jets Over Airspace Violation

07/25/2013

Two Sukhoi Su-27 fighter jets were scrambled earlier this week in response to an alert that Russian airspace over the Baltic Sea had been violated by a small passenger plane, the Defense Ministry said Wednesday. The Russian Aerospace Defense Forces detected an aircraft flying over Polish territory toward Gdansk Bay about 50 kilometers away from the Russian border on Monday night.

Izhmash to Make Missiles With Other Kalashnikov Corp. Firms

07/25/2013

Russia's Izhmash arms factory, manufacturer of the legendary Kalashnikov assault rifle, will produce high-precision antitank missiles in close collaboration with other companies under the umbrella of the future Kalashnikov Corporation, the company said Wednesday. Izhmash has recently won a 13 billion ruble ($400 million) Defense Ministry tender for the production of Vikhr-1 long-range, supersonic antitank missiles in one of its “largest state orders in recent years.”

Alenia Aermacchi delivers first ATR72-600 TMUA to Turkish Navy

07/25/2013

Alenia Aermacchi has delivered the first ATR72-600 TMUA (Turkish Maritime Utility Aircraft) to the Turkish Navy. The first of a total order of eight ATR72s, which consist of two TMUAs and six ATR72-600 TMPA (Turkish Maritime Patrol Aircraft) maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft.

Got the need for speed? US Air Force looking for fighter pilots as interest in career wanes

07/24/2013

It used to be every teen's dream job — speed, adventure, glamor all rolled into one — but the Air Force is struggling to keep fighter pilots in jets at bases across the world. The Pentagon fears there will be a shortfall of up to 700 Top Guns by 2021 if the decline in interest doesn't turn around, and is offering a $225,000 signing bonus future Mavericks eager to suit up.

Turkish Airforce fleet grows with 10 new A400M planes

07/24/2013

Turkish military pilots have tested the A400M military transportation planes which will be added to Turkish Military Force's inventory list in September. The Airbus Military will deliver the first party of ordered ten new generation A400M cargo planes to Turkish Airforce until the end of the September 2013. The A400 cargo has passed many tests successfully and its quality has been approved by pilots who tested them in two different airbases of Turkey.

Aboard America's Doomsday command and control plane

07/24/2013

I've always loved 747s and just about everything about them. But the one I'm on right now, known as the Doomsday plane, has a very different -- and very somber -- purpose than most of Boeing's iconic jumbo jets. Formally known as the National Airborne Operations Center (NAOC), this is an E-4B, the plane that America's military leaders would use as an airborne command and control center in the case of a nuclear war or other very serious conflict.

Angola officially receives Super Tucanos

07/24/2013

The National Air Force of Angola’s training capability has received a major boost with the acceptance of the first three of six Super Tucanos on order, and the delivery of six Cessna 172R trainers. The first three Super Tucanos were accepted during a formal ceremony held in the capital Luanda on July 12. Chief of General Staff General Geraldo Sachipengo Nunda officiated at the event, which was also attended by generals, officers and soldiers.

Israeli defense exports hit record high

07/24/2013

Israel sold some $7.5 billion in defense products in 2012 – a record high – the Defense Ministry revealed on Tuesday, but officials voiced concerns that the coming year could see a slump in sales. Speaking to reporters at the Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv, Brig.-Gen. (res.) Shmaya Avieli, director of Defense Export and Defense Cooperation (known by its Hebrew acronym, “Sibat”), pointed to an ongoing economic downturn as one factor for decreased projected sales.

U.S. Air Force suffers brain drain as Top Guns drop out to fly drones - leaving pilot numbers down by SEVEN HUNDRED

07/24/2013

The U.S. Air Force is struggling to keep its top gun combat pilots as increasing numbers move to the safety of flying attack drones from military bases. Indeed, despite their adrenaline fueled reputations, fighter pilots believe the stresses of actual combat compared to the financial incentives of flying passenger airlines or drones are too much too ignore.

US deploys aircraft carrier USS Truman to Gulf

07/24/2013

The US Navy has deployed the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group to the Gulf region. “The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group is ready to deploy,” Xinhua quoted Rear Adm. Kevin Sweeney, commander of the carrier strike group, as saying in a statement. “We’ve worked very hard over the last several months to maintain our combat readiness following the delay of our deployment in February due to sequestration.”

Syrian Rebels Hope for US Arms in August – Reports

07/24/2013

Rebel forces seeking to overthrow Syrian President Bashar Assad hope to receive arms from the United States as early as next month after two key US congressional committees approved the weapons shipments, according to media reports. “We think August is the date,” The New York Times cited a Syrian opposition leader as saying in an email Monday night.

Russia’s Strategic Missile Forces Start Snap Combat Drills

07/24/2013

Over 2,500 servicemen and 350 weapons systems are involved in snap combat readiness drills for Russia’s Strategic Missile Forces (RVSN), a Defense Ministry spokesman said Tuesday. The drills, involving the headquarters and two missile divisions of the Orenburg Missile Army in Russia’s Urals region, began Monday and are set to run through Saturday, Col. Igor Yegorov said.

Kuwait's Apache teams complete Selex training

07/24/2013

Members of the Kuwait Air Force have just completed a six month training course at the Electronic Warfare Operational Support (EWOS) facility of Selex ES, a Finmeccanica company. The course transferred the essential knowledge and skills that will allow the Kuwait Air Force to get the most out of the Selex ES HIDAS Electronic Warfare (EW) equipment currently installed on the country’s Apache helicopters.

Veteran Marine pilots: Don't retire EA-6B Prowler yet

07/23/2013

Retired Marine pilots who served in the electronic warfare community are challenging the service’s plan to deactivate the EA-6B Prowler in 2019. Premature retirement of the Prowlers will create a capability gap in the Marine Corps, they say, due to delays in production of the F-35B Joint Strike Fighter and the failure to establish a program of record for the development of a large electronic warfare-capable unmanned aircraft.

Tech Lets Soldiers See Through Drones

07/23/2013

During the largest military exercise the U.S. undertakes with any single nation, new tech debuted to give soldiers unprecedented access to drone video feeds. The biennial Exercise Talisman Saber 2013 combines more than 28,000 military personnel from the U.S. and Australia; it began July 15 and is due to finish Aug. 5. The exercise aims to improve combat readiness and cooperation between the two militaries.

Top US General: Here Are America's Military Options In Syria

07/23/2013

On Thursday Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey told a Senate committee that the Obama administration is considering the use of military force in Syria. On the following day, the four-star general provided United States Senate Committee on Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.) with an unclassified letter that details recommendations for U.S. policy options regarding the "potential use of U.S. military force in the Syrian conflict."