Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Military alters training to deal with budget woes

11/25/2013

The skies above Shaw Air Force Base in central South Carolina and the fields across Fort Campbell on the Tennessee-Kentucky line have been a bit quieter in recent months. Budget cuts to the military have forced installations around the country to alter training exercises and daily routines to save money. For airmen and pilots, that means fewer flights. For soldiers and Marines, it means fewer drills or a delay in them until a deployment nears.

Getting a buzz from US plane

11/25/2013

A low-flying American military aircraft spooked animals and excited plane spotters as it buzzed the Nelson region over the weekend, and two more flights are scheduled over the next two days. Woodstock farmer Fay Baker said she saw a large khaki-coloured aircraft following the course of the Motueka River about 10.30am yesterday.

China Announces 'Air Defense Zone' Over East China Sea Islands Amid Japan Dispute

11/24/2013

In a move that could further inflame a territorial dispute between Japan and China, the latter on Saturday announced an “air defense identification zone” over a cluster of islands in the East China Sea that are controlled by Tokyo but also claimed by Beijing. The state-run Xinhua agency published a map and coordinates of the region, which it identified as “the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone,” along with a set of defense ministry rules governing it.

Will China’s New Stealth Drone Fly From Aircraft Carriers?

11/24/2013

China conducted the maiden test flight for its first stealth combat drone, state media reported on Friday. The reports said that the Lijian or Sharp Sword took off from an undisclosed location in southwest China on Thursday at 1 PM and flew for about 20 minutes. Images of a Sharp Sword prototype first appeared online back in May. At the time, state media referred to it as “China’s UFO-like stealth drone.”

Russia to Deliver Fighter Jets to South African Country

11/24/2013

Russia’s state arms export monopoly said Friday that it will deliver 12 Su-30K fighter jets to a nation in southern Africa. In the wake of a visit by a high level Russian delegation earlier this year, it was widely reported in Russian media that Moscow had agreed to supply 18 of the jets to Angola.

Russia to Sell $5Bln Worth of Helicopters to Mideast, Africa

11/24/2013

Russia’s state arms exporter said Friday that it currently has $5 billion worth of outstanding orders for helicopters with countries in the Middle East and North Africa. The exporter’s overall contract portfolio exceeded $38 billion as of November 1.

S. Korea to buy 40 stealth fighter jets, 20 combat planes from 2018

11/23/2013

South Korea will purchase 40 Lockheed Martin F-35A stealth fighter jets and an additional 20 combat planes from the United States starting in 2018, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said Friday. "The F-35A will be used as a strategic weapon to gain a competitive edge and defeat the enemy in the early stage of war," Joint Chief of Staff spokesman Eom Hyo Sik was quoted as saying by Yonhap News Agency following a statement made by North Korea earlier in the day.

Airbus’ military arm wows potential buyers at Dubai Airshow

11/22/2013

With a wingspan of 41.5 metres and 45 metres wide, the Airbus Military A400M Atlas airlifter is second in size only to the Boeing C-17. The A400M took the stage at its first international airshow as the European defence manufacturer looked to build on the one-third market share it currently enjoys in global heavy-lift transport orders, according to Reuters. The National photographer Christopher Pike took to the air for a trip in the French behemoth.

US envoy confirms upcoming massive Israel-US air drill

11/22/2013

The US, Greek, Polish and Italian air forces will participate in an Israeli Air Force combat exercise later this month, American Ambassador Dan Shapiro confirmed. The Times of Israel reported earlier this month that this will be the largest international air drill ever held in Israel, and it comes amid high tensions over Iran’s nuclear program.

Maker of V-22 Osprey encouraged by foreign interest

11/22/2013

The head of Bell Helicopter said on Tuesday he was encouraged by foreign interest in the V-22 tilt-rotor aircraft that his company builds with Boeing Co, but Bell may face additional layoffs if not enough orders emerge. John Garrison, president and chief executive of Bell Helicopter, a unit of Textron Inc, said the U.S. Marine Corps' use of the V-22 to provide disaster relief in the Philippines illustrated the capabilities of the aircraft, which can fly as fast as a plane but land like a helicop

Marine Ospreys Proving Their Worth in Philippines

11/22/2013

Flying over a village that had been slammed by Typhoon Haiyan, Osprey crew chief Sgt. William Kaker saw a big Philippines flag staked out on the ground with a sign that read "God Help Us." The crew marked the area for a supply drop. "We have gone to some rural areas looking for open fields to get into," said Kaker, 28, of Murfreesboro, Tenn. "We don't see anybody at first, but by the time we land, people come out by the hundreds out of nowhere."

BAE share price: UK defence contractor signs deal with Brazilian Air Force

11/22/2013

BAE Systems (LON:BA) has finalised an industrial cooperation deal with the Brazilian Air Force as part of a supply deal with Embraer, the UK’s flagship defence contractor has announced. BAE’s share price has fallen one percent in early morning trading in London today.

AF special operations group key to aid effort after Typhoon Haiyan

11/22/2013

he Air Force's 353rd Special Operations Group opened a third airfield in Borongan, Republic of the Philippines Nov. 18, to facilitate a more efficient distribution of relief supplies to outlying areas as part of Operation Damayan. The group has opened airstrips at Ormoc, Guiuan and Borongan on Samar Island, located among the Philippines' central islands.

Saudi Arabia's Global Arms Shopping Spree

11/22/2013

Saudi Arabia has emerged as the biggest foreign customer for German arms, buying nearly a quarter of Germany's total weapons sales. It's part of an emerging pattern of weapons purchases by Saudi Arabia and its neighbor, the United Arab Emirates. Saudi Arabia was the world's 10th-largest weapons importer in 2008-2012 (the Emirates was No. 9). And Saudi Arabia is expected to be among the top five for 2013-17 "due to major outstanding orders.

U.S. Air Forces Central Command Public Affairs

11/22/2013

Air Force officials quickly made the decision Nov. 20 to move, or launch, Department of Defense aircraft from the 2013 Dubai Airshow here due to forecasted high winds and lightning with pending sandstorms and thunderstorms, Nov. 21. "Moving aircraft is the absolute right call," said Lt. Col. Mark Harris, airshow maintenance boss deployed from the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing and a Hickoryville, N.C., native.

China’s first stealth combat drone takes maiden flight - reports

11/22/2013

The first Chinese stealth unmanned combat drone conducted a successful maiden flight Thursday, according to accounts by Chinese media and photos taken from a popular Chinese military website. Lijian, or “sharp sword” in English, aced its first test flight in southwest China, making the People’s Republic of China the fourth nation to successfully fly a stealth unmanned aerial vehicle.

Armenia Says It's Ready to Host Russian Combat Helicopters

11/22/2013

Armenia will allocate additional space at the Erebuni air base to host a Russian helicopter squadron being formed to strengthen the Russian air contingent in the former Soviet state, Armenia’s deputy defense minister said Thursday. Russia’s 3624th Air Base at Erebuni Airport in Yerevan currently hosts at least 16 MiG-29 Fulcrum fighter jets operating under air defense agreements concluded between the members of the Commonwealth of Independent States.

Camp Grayling lands $7 million flight simulator for helicopter pilots

11/21/2013

Camp Grayling unveiled a $7 million investment that will allow Black Hawk helicopter pilots from across the country and from other nations to complete simulated flight training. The Transportable Black Hawk Operations Simulator (T-BOS), is located at the Grayling Army Airfield. Col. Erich Randall, garrison commander for Camp Grayling, said the flight simulator cost $7 million and the building it is housed in cost $750,000.

Members only: Europe opens ‘drone club’ to compete with US, Israel

11/21/2013

France, Germany and other European countries on Tuesday announced the creation of a "drone users club" to go head-to-head against US- and Israeli-made pilotless aerial vehicles that now dominate the skies. At a time when aerial-vehicles are radically altering the modern battlefield, Europe finds itself playing catch up in the race to develop what it calls Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) pilotless aircraft.

Embedded in the Philippines: Report from a helo aid mission

11/21/2013

Filipinos began to appear, pointing and waving, as the MH-60 Seahawk circled over a village looking for a safe place to land. Loaded out with relief supplies, the chopper with the Navy’s Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 12, based aboard George Washington, was headed to hard-hit areas.

S. Korea set to decide on purchase of Lockheed F-35As

11/21/2013

South Korea is expected to decide this week to purchase Lockheed Martin's F-35A stealth fighters without opening bidding for its new fighter jet program, sources familiar with the matter said Thursday. The Joint Chiefs of Staff will hold a meeting of top commanders on Friday to confirm the required operational capability, the number of jets and the delivery schedule for the acquisition program, which will be more favorable conditions for the F-35 with advanced radar-evading capabilities.

War Over the Warthogs

11/21/2013

It’s old, it’s slow, it’s ugly, and—unlike a Swiss army knife—the Air’s Force’s A-10 Thunderbolt II can only do one thing: help grunts on the ground. So think of it as the military equivalent of Grandma’s tarnished turkey-carving knife that only comes out at Thanksgiving. It does a fine job on the old bird, but can a cash-strapped Air Force afford to keep the A-10 flying when its sole mission is to save the lives of U.S. troops in trouble?

SAAB remains confident on securing fighter jets contract

11/21/2013

Swedish jet maker SAAB remains optimistic of securing an order for its Gripen fighter jets from the Malaysian government, which has now delayed plans to phase out the ageing fleet of 18 Russian-made MIG-29 of the Royal Malaysian Air Force. The replacement plan, worth billions, was deferred by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Razak as the country focuses on trimming its fiscal deficit.

New plane uses super speed to combat 21st century threats

11/21/2013

Lockheed Martin’s Advanced Development Programs division revealed to Aviation Week last week plans for a hypersonic spy aircraft that could reach speeds up to six times the speed of sound. The hypersonic intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft, known as the SR-72, is twice as fast as its predecessor, the SR-71 Blackbird. It can penetrate high altitudes, allowing the SR-72 to survive where other advanced aircraft and unmanned vehicles may not.

Boeing to Finmeccanica Await Middle East Combat Plane Selections

11/21/2013

Boeing Co., the world’s largest aircraft maker, and European rivals are awaiting a slew of combat-plane purchases from prospective Middle East buyers as they aim to secure the future of jet production lines. Kuwait may decide next year about a purchase of as many as 40 jets, Giuseppe Giordo, head of Finmeccanica SpA’s Alenia Aermacchi unit that leads the Typhoon campaign for the Eurofighter joint venture, said in an interview at the Dubai Air Show.