Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Tests find cracks in F-35, Pentagon says

01/29/2014

Lockheed Martin Corp.'s F-35 jet developed cracks in testing of the fighter's durability and wasn't sufficiently reliable in training flights last year, the Pentagon's chief tester found. On-ground testing of the Air Force and Marine Corps versions of the fighter revealed "significant findings" of cracks on five occasions in fuselage bulkheads, flanges, stiffeners and engine mounts "that will require mitigation plans and may include redesigning parts and additional weight."

Lockheed Martin Demonstrates Weapons Grade High Power Fiber Laser

01/29/2014

Lockheed Martin has demonstrated a 30-kilowatt electric fiber laser, the highest power ever documented while retaining beam quality and electrical efficiency. The internally funded research and development program culminated in this demonstration, which was achieved by combining many fiber lasers into a single, near-perfect quality beam of light—all while using approximately 50 percent less electricity than alternative solid-state laser technologies.

Lockheed Martin Receives $31 Million U.S. Air Force Contract for Paveway II Plus Laser Guided Bomb Kits

01/29/2014

Lockheed Martin received a $31.1 million contract from the U.S. Air Force for follow-on production of paveway II Plus Laser Guided Bomb (LGB) kits. The contract represents the majority share award of the available fiscal year 2013 funding. Production deliveries under this contract will include computer control groups and air foil groups for GBU-10 and GBU-12 bombs.

Two major projects to replace ageing RAAF jet planes have come under fresh assault from the Pentagon's chief weapons tester

01/28/2014

According to leaked documents the head of the Pentagon's operational test and evaluation office, Michael Gilmore, has raised major concerns about software flaws in the new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and the sensors on board the Boeing P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft. The eight Australian Poseidons to be based at Edinburgh near Adelaide are due in service by 2019 to replace the RAAF's P3C Orion maritime patrol planes.

UTC Weighs Sikorsky's Future

01/28/2014

United Technologies Corp. (UTC) is considering the future of America’s leading helicopter maker, Sikorsky, and whether to sell, spinoff or forge a strategic merger for the manufacturer of the Black Hawk, one of the world’s most popular military helicopters, sources said.

ROK, US curtailing joint military drills

01/28/2014

South Korea and the United States are scaling down their annual joint military exercises, apparently in response to a series of conciliatory moves by North Korea. “The two sides have mapped out an exercise plan that will not feature a super-carrier or strategic bombers,” a government official said Monday, speaking of the upcoming Key Resolve/Foal Eagle drills.

Ayotte Warns US Air Force May Violate Law on A-10

01/28/2014

New Hampshire Republican Sen. Kelly Ayotte is warning the Air Force that any attempt to cut the A-10 in 2014 may violate the law, a clear warning shot at the service as it prepares to release its 2015 budget. Ayotte and her allies inserted language into the 2014 National Defense Authorization act (NDAA) stating the service “may not retire, prepare to retire, or place in storage” any A-10 aircraft during the entirety of calendar year 2014.

Confidence Grows in Australian F-35A Program

01/28/2014

Australia’s program to replace its F/A-18A/B Hornet fleet with F-35A joint strike fighters will achieve a significant milestone in July when the first aircraft rolls off the assembly line, followed by the second four weeks later. On Dec. 13, that first aircraft transitioned from the Electronic Mate and Assembly System to the final assembly line at Fort Worth. It marked the first time the aircraft had stood on its own wheels.

U.S. to sell, lease Apache attack helicopters to Iraqi forces

01/28/2014

Iraq’s embattled government will be allowed to buy and lease Apache attack helicopters to help fight a renewed insurgency after a U.S. lawmaker lifted his long-running objections to the deal, the Pentagon said Monday. The agreement allows Iraq to lease as many as six Apaches this year and purchase another two dozen for delivery over the next three years, officials said.

India has Immense Potential in Aerospace Industry: DRDO

01/28/2014

India has immense potential to become a leader in aerospace industry as the sector is growing at a "faster pace", a senior scientist of Defence Research and Development Organisation said today. "India has achieved quite a lot in the field of aerospace technologies and there are ample opportunities to become a leader in the field so we have a great future as well," Director General (Missiles and Strategic Systems), DRDO, V G Sekaran said here.

Northrop Grumman's Hunter Unmanned Aircraft System Surpasses 100,000 Combat Flight Hours

01/28/2014

Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS), in use with the U.S. Army since 1996, recently surpassed 100,000 combat flight hours in service. The MQ-5B Hunter, which is currently deployed supporting contingency operations across the globe, provides warfighters with state-of-the-art reconnaissance, surveillance, target acquisition (RSTA), communications relay and weapons delivery.

London universities’ £7.4m stake in the arms industry

01/28/2014

London universities have millions of pounds invested in the arms industry, a London Student investigation has found. Ten of the city’s institutions have holdings in defence companies, which critics argue “profit from death”. Figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act suggest their combined stake in the controversial industry exceeds £7.4m.

Russian Arms Exporter Sold $13.2Bln in 2013

01/28/2014

Russia’s state arms exporter Rosoboronexport sold $13.2 billion in weapons and military equipment to foreign buyers last year but expects no short-term growth, its director said in an interview published Monday. “For the next two to three years our main task will be to maintain arms exports at $13 billion, which I do not think we will exceed, since the new types of technology potential buyers are interested in should first be adopted by the Russian army, and only then be exported.”

Jordan military aircraft crashes

01/27/2014

A Jordanian air force plane crashed on Sunday while it was on a training flight due to technical failure, an official army source said. "At 12:20 pm (local time), a Royal Jordanian Air Force plane crashed after encountering a technical problem," the military source told the state-run Jordanian News Agency (PETRA).

Russia releases Defence and Security Report for Q1

01/27/2014

Russia released its Defence and Security Report for 2014’s first quarter on Thursday and said it would continue to acquire new military equipment and professionalize its army. Russia said it would purchase hundreds of warplanes, special mission aircraft and freighters during the next 10 years. Modernization of the country’s air force is expected to be complete by 2020.

Global Hawk Wins in 2015 Request, Sources Say

01/27/2014

The Global Hawk UAV looks to be a big winner in the US Air Force’s fiscal 2015 budget submission, an impressive turn of events for a program the service has spent years attempting to kill. The Global Hawk Block 30 will be funded when President Barack Obama’s budget arrives March 4, said two sources with knowledge of budget discussions.

Afghanistan Exit Is Seen as Peril to Drone Mission

01/27/2014

The risk that President Obama may be forced to pull all American troops out of Afghanistan by the end of the year has set off concerns inside the American intelligence agencies that they could lose their air bases used for drone strikes against Al Qaeda in Pakistan and for responding to a nuclear crisis in the region.

N. Korea slams U.S. for 'military buildup in Asia'

01/27/2014

North Korea blasted the United States Monday for dialing up tension in the Asia-Pacific region with "a military buildup," about a month before the start of an annual Seoul-Washington joint military drill that Pyongyang has railed against as being a war rehearsal against it.

Navy n-submarine, IAF’s C-17 steal the show on Rajpath

01/27/2014

With record attendance and most of the stands brimming with spectators, India on Sunday displayed its military and cultural might at the 65th Republic Day parade on Rajpath. One of the highlights of the 8-kilometre-long march past was the Navy’s nuclear submarines as well as a display that referred to the impending induction of a submarine launched nuclear missile into the strategic forces.

Indonesian firm wins PAF aircraft supply deal

01/27/2014

The Air Force is acquiring two new light lift aircraft from Indonesia to boost the delivery of supplies and personnel to remote areas. Indonesian firm PT Dirgantara Indonesia has won the bidding for the light lift fixed-wing aircraft acquisition project, worth P814 million. The STAR learned that the defense department issued the notice of award for the project early this month.

New Defence Toys Steal the Show at Delhi Parade

01/27/2014

The country’s military prowess and cultural richness was visible in all its splendour in the contingents marching the eight-km stretch from Raisina Hill to Red Fort as India celebrated her 65th Republic Day on Sunday. Thousands of proud spectators braved the winter fog and chill in Delhi to cheer the contingents.

Militants Down Egyptian Helicopter, Killing 5 Soldiers

01/27/2014

Islamist militants shot down an Egyptian military helicopter in the Sinai Peninsula with a surface-to-air missile over the weekend, raising new alarms about the terrorist insurgency that developed there in response to the military takeover last summer.

Braveheart IAF pilot is awarded Shaurya Chakra

01/26/2014

An IAF FIGHTER pilot who brought a stricken Mig-21 Bison back to the base after his aircraft's systems failed by holding a torch in his mouth was awarded Shaurya Chakra on the eve of Republic Day. He also managed to avoid another possible crash after his combat jet was hit by a bird in a separate incident.

DRDO launches high performance computing system 'Dhruva-3'

01/26/2014

India's high performance computing system 'Dhruva-3', designed for solving mission defence research and development critical applications, was launched here today. Avinash Chander, Secretary of Department of Defence Research and Development and Director General of DRDO inaugurated the system at Advanced Numerical Research and Analysis Group (ANURAG) here, a statement from Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) said.

US Military Refocus on Pacific a Work in Progress

01/26/2014

One of the main features of the global defense strategy laid out by President Barack Obama two years ago, shifting the U.S. military's focus from the Middle East to the Asia Pacific region, is meeting significant challenges from China and its rapidly developing military power. But U.S. military officials say American dominance of the Asia Pacific is not diminishing.