Military Aviation News Archive

US Tested Soviet MiG Fighters at Mysterious Area 51

10/31/2013

The United States covertly tested Soviet MiG fighter planes at the mysterious Area 51 site in the Nevada desert in the 1960s, including one plane secretly obtained by Israel, according to declassified US government documents published this week.

Upgrades for fighters

10/30/2013

Each maintainer loves his jet the most, and for the maintainers of the 4th Fighter Wing, it’s the Strike Eagle. “It’s the most called upon jet in the Air Force,” said Staff Sgt. Trever Edwards, a dedicated crew chief with the 4th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Seymour-Johnson Air Force Base, N.C. “It’s reliable; it gets the pilots home safe. ... It’s the most efficient and best airplane. It’s the most combat capable jet that the Air Force has.”

Marines Brush Off DoD IG Criticisms Of V-22 Readiness Reporting

10/30/2013

The Marines say the V-22 tilt rotor aircraft has deployed and flown “with properly trained and equipped combat ready Marines and mission capable aircraft” over the last six years. That statement stands in stark contrast to the findings of a classified Pentagon Inspector General’s report released late Friday afternoon. In an unclassified summary, the IG said:

Networking, UAVs Drive Turkey's Effort to Control Battlefield

10/30/2013

Turkey plans to manage combat communications among multiple networked platforms to give commanders the most comprehensive picture possible of the battlefield. In the overall picture, the military command here wants to see full integration, with various assets effectively talking to each other, and allowing commanders to benefit from an all-electronic warfare management system.

Why A Boeing-Lockheed Martin Long Range Strike Bomber Team Will Be Hard To Beat

10/30/2013

Last week Boeing and Lockheed Martin announced they would form a team to compete for the Long Range Strike Bomber (LRS-B), the first new heavy bomber that the Air Force has developed in 30 years. Boeing will be the prime contractor, while Lockheed is described as the “primary teammate.” The announcement sets up a David versus Goliath fight between the two aerospace giants and Northrop Grumman, the only other credible bidder for the program.

Faster induction of fighters new IAF chief’s priority

10/30/2013

Air Marshal Arup Raha, who will take over as IAF chief from Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne on December 31, has his task cut out. His topmost priority will have to be faster induction of new fighters, grappling as IAF is with just 34 fighter squadrons when at least 44 are needed for "effective dissuasive deterrence'' against China and Pakistan.

Another ‘J’ For The Rock

10/30/2013

Another C-130J Super Hercules airlifter designated for assignment to the 314th Airlift Wing (Air Education and Training Command) at Little Rock Air Force Base (AFB), Ark., was ferried to the base today from the Lockheed Martin facility here.

Lockheed Martin Receives $113 Million Contract for U.S. Air Force Helicopter Search and Rescue Training Simulators

10/30/2013

Lockheed Martin received a $113 million contract from the U.S. Air Force to design, develop, field and sustain aircrew training devices for HH-60G Pave Hawk search and rescue helicopters.

Russian Military Helicopter Crashes in Moscow, Two Injured

10/30/2013

A Russian military helicopter crashed Tuesday afternoon in a district on the edge of Moscow, injuring the two pilots on board. A law enforcement official told RIA Novosti the ejection seats on the twin-seat Kamov KA-52 Alligator attack helicopter activated inadvertently, sending it crashing to the ground near the Vykhino-Zhulebino district in southeast Moscow.

Russia Showcases New Helicopter in South Korea

10/30/2013

Russian Helicopters, the country’s leading rotorcraft manufacturer, said Tuesday that it was presenting its newest addition to the legendary Mi-8/17 family at an international airshow in South Korea. The company said it was showcasing the new chopper, the Mi-171A2, at the Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition, which runs till Sunday.

Russia tries to lure Egypt as a new ally in bid to boost military presence

10/29/2013

Russia is hoping to capitalize on the current difficulties America is experiencing in its relations in the Middle East, beginning with efforts to launch greater cooperation with Egypt that could result in Moscow gaining access to the country's Mediterranean ports.

EADS : Increased operational capabilities for Eurofighter Typhoon

10/29/2013

Cassidian, the defence division of EADS, has successfully finalized its flight testing of the Eurofighter Typhoon Phase 1 Enhancements (P1E) programme. After an intensive test programme of this First Batch of Enhancements on Instrumented Production Aircraft 4 and 7, this enhancement is confirmed to deliver a robust simultaneous multi-/swing-role capability to the Nations' Air Forces. It will be ready for the customers by the end of 2013.

BAE eyes green light for S. Korea's F-16 upgrade by year-end

10/29/2013

BAE Systems Inc. expects the South Korean and U.S. governments to sign a letter of acceptance later this year to authorize the foreign military sale (FMS) of an F-16 upgrade program for the South Korean Air Force, a company executive said Tuesday.

Air Marshal Arup Raha named next IAF chief

10/29/2013

The government on Tuesday announced that Air Marshal Arup Raha will take over as the next chief of the Indian Air Force after Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne retires on December 31, 2013. Commissioned into the IAF in December 1974 in the "Fighter Stream", Air Marshal Raha is currently posted as the IAF vice-chief.

Russian Tu-160 Strategic Bombers Land in Venezuela

10/29/2013

Two Russian Tupolev Tu-160 Blackjack strategic bombers on Monday flew from an airbase in southwestern Russia and landed in Venezuela, the Russian Defense Ministry said. The nuclear-capable bombers, which took off from the Engels airbase in the Volga region, “flew over the Caribbean, the eastern Pacific and along the southwestern coast of the North American continent, and landed at Maiquetia airfield in Venezuela,” the ministry said in a statement.

New Sukhoi T-50 Fighter Jet Prototype Joins Testing Program

10/29/2013

A fifth flying prototype of Russia’s future T-50 fighter jet has flown for the first time at a manufacturing plant in Russia’s Far East, the Sukhoi aircraft maker said. The 50-minute flight at the Gagarin factory in Komsomolsk-on-Amur has successfully tested the aircraft's overall performance, including its stability in the air and the work of its engines.

Russian Military Inspectors to Fly Over United States

10/29/2013

Russian military inspectors will begin monitoring flights over the United States starting Sunday under the international Open Skies Treaty, a Russian Defense Ministry official said. Experts from Russia will be conducting flights on board of a Tupolev Tu-154M Lk-1 aircraft between October 27 and November 4, Sergei Ryzhkov, the head of the ministry’s National Nuclear Risk Reduction Center, said.

P-3 Operators gather at Conference

10/29/2013

Lockheed Martin is co-hosting the 2013 P-3 International Operators Support Conference (IOSC) here, October 28-31. This year’s co-hosts are Blue Aerospace and Kellstrom Defense Aerospace, Inc., both Lockheed Martin authorized P-3 distributors supporting the P-3 and CP-140.

Lockheed Martin Receives $33 Million Production Contract for U.S. Marine Corps Targeting System

10/29/2013

Lockheed Martin received a $33.9 million follow-on production contract from the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), Crane Division, for the Target Sight System (TSS), the fire control system for the U.S. Marine Corps’ AH-1Z Cobra attack helicopter. TSS’ advanced sensors provide pilots with enhanced capabilities to acquire, track and designate targets. TSS Lot 10 deliveries will be complete in December 2015.

America’s “Pivot to Asia” Threatens China: US Stages Show of Naval Force in South China Sea War Games

10/28/2013

On October 25, the US Nimitz class aircraft carrier USS George Washington entered Manila Bay. At the head of Carrier Strike Group Five, the aircraft carrier had spent the past week sailing the disputed waters of the South China Sea, visiting various regional claimants.

X-47B unmanned aircraft now on display at the National Naval Aviation Museum

10/28/2013

As part of the National Naval Aviation Museum’s 50th anniversary, the Museum is proud to present the Navy’s latest in aerospace technology, a full-scale mock-up of Northrop Grumman’s X-47B unmanned combat air system. The X-47B was originally scheduled to be part of the Museum’s 50th anniversary which was postponed due to the government shutdown.

Seoul aerospace exhibition to showcase latest weaponry

10/28/2013

The Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition (ADEX) will open this week to showcase cutting-edge defense and satellite technologies to defense contractors and military officials across the globe, organizers said Monday.

South Korean Research Center Unveils Radar Absorbing ‘Stealth Paint’

10/28/2013

A radar-absorbing paint developed by the Korea Maritime and Ocean University’s Stealth Technology Center could provide camouflage of surface naval vessels, military aircraft and combat vehicles Yonhap News reports. The new ‘stealth paint’ was unveiled by the university laboratory during the Navy Week event held in the southeastern port city of Busan last week.

Raytheon completes initial delivery of IFF transponders for the Republic of Korea's newest utility military helicopters

10/28/2013

Raytheon Company has completed the first delivery of APX-119 Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) transponders for the Republic of Korea Army's Surion helicopter, the utility helicopter built by Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. The IFF transponders provide military aircraft with a secure combat identification capability to reduce fratricide and enhance situational awareness, in addition to providing safe access to civilian airspace.

Turkish FM: No tension over Russian aircraft near Turkey's airspace

10/27/2013

The incident over the Black Sea on Wednesday in which Turkish F-16 jets pursued a Russian military aircraft flying near Turkish airspace must not be assessed as a sign of tension between the countries, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on Saturday, Anadolu Agency reported.