Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Budget Cuts To Keep U.S Jets Grounded At Paris Air Show

06/13/2013

The U.S defense automatic budget cuts called Sequestration has affected the way U.S military is representing itself in Paris Air Show. Sequestration and a need for careful spending has meant that show organizers are expecting around 10 U.S defense officials, compared with 29 two years ago.

France sees first Rafale jet deliveries to India by 2016

06/13/2013

France expects to make its first deliveries of Rafale warplanes to India by 2016 or 2017, French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian was quoted as saying by financial daily Les Echos.

F-16s may stay in Jordan after exercise

06/13/2013

The U.S. is sending F-16s to Jordan for an exercise, but they could stay longer to safeguard Jordan from violence in neighboring Syria. The planes will take part in the upcoming exercise, Eager Lion, which runs until June 20, said Defense Department spokesman Air Force Lt. Col. Jack Miller. The U.S. also is sending a Patriot missile battery from Fort Hood, Texas.

Israel exports military equipment to Pakistan: report

06/13/2013

Israel has exported military equipment, including hi-tech gear used in combat jets, over the past five years to Pakistan and Arab countries with which it has no diplomatic relations, according to a media report on Tuesday.

UAS are the eye of the battlefield

06/13/2013

Unmanned Aircraft Systems — previously referred to as unmanned aerial vehicles or remotely operated aircraft/vehicles — come in a variety of shapes and sizes; providing aerial surveillance and security for service members and coalition forces throughout Afghanistan.

Interview with Oleg Demchenko, President, IRKUT Corp About The Yak-130 Combat Trainers And Other Programs

06/13/2013

Interview with Oleg Demchenko, President, IRKUT Corp About The Yak-130 Combat Trainers And Other Programs.

Pakistan Female Fighter Pilot Wins Battle of Sexes

06/13/2013

With an olive green head scarf poking out from her helmet, Ayesha Farooq flashes a cheeky grin when asked if it is lonely being the only war-ready female fighter pilot in the Islamic republic of Pakistan. Farooq, from Punjab province's historic city of Bahawalpur, is one of 19 women who have become pilots in the Pakistan Air Force over the last decade - there are five other female fighter pilots, but they have yet to take the final tests to qualify for combat.

Finland Accuses Russia of Airspace Violation

06/13/2013

Two Russian military aircraft are suspected of having violated Finland’s airspace, the Finnish Defense Ministry said in a statement Wednesday. The incident took place Tuesday morning over the Gulf of Finland, the ministry said on its website. The report did not identify the Russian aircraft, saying only that F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets of the Finnish Air Force were dispatched in order to identify the invaders.

Navy to Buy 99 Ospreys in $6.5 Billion Order

06/12/2013

The Navy has reached a $6.5 billion deal with a joint venture of Textron Inc.‘s Bell Helicopter unit and Boeing Co. for 99 V-22 Ospreys that likely cements the long-term future of the tilt-rotor aircraft as part of the military’s air inventory.

ISPR says Israel not arming Pakistan with hi-tech gear

06/12/2013

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Tuesday categorically rejected a news report appeared in a section of media which read that Pakistan bought defence equipment from Israel. Earlier, a media report said Israel had exported military equipment, including hi-tech gear used in combat jets over the past five years to Pakistan and Arab countries with which it has no diplomatic relations.

BAE says Asian, Mideast jet demand to offset Western cuts

06/12/2013

Sales of combat aircraft in the Middle East and Asia will more than compensate for cutbacks in U.S. and European spending, Britain's BAE Systems forecast on Tuesday. Europe's largest defence contractor said international markets outside its U.S. and European heartlands would grow to account for around half of turnover at its military air and information unit by 2016, up from around a quarter now.

Britain refused Israel military equipment for fear it would add to 'internal repression'

06/12/2013

Britain refused to provide Israel with certain types of military equipment in recent years out of fears there was a “risk of their use for internal repression” and a “risk of contributing to internal tensions or conflict in the recipient country.” The equipment, Britain worried, might also damage “regional stability” or be transferred from Israel due to the “risk of diversion or re-export to undesirable end-users.”

BAE Sees South Korea Typhoon Choice Leading Other Bids

06/12/2013

BAE Systems Plc, Europe’s largest defense company, said South Korea is poised to decide whether to buy Eurofighter Typhoon combat planes, in one of the biggest decisions since the jet lost tenders in India and Japan. South Korea may buy as many as 36 Typhoons in the next two months, Peter Anstiss, BAE’s business development director for military aircraft, told reporters today.

Pak says Indian fighter jets enter its airspace

06/12/2013

Pakistan today said it had scrambled warplanes after two Indian jets allegedly entered three nautical miles into the country's airspace over Punjab province. Officials said the incident occurred over Pakpattan district, 200 km from Lahore, the capital of Punjab. They alleged the jets remained in Pakistani airspace for about two minutes.

Lockheed Martin Releases Paris Air Show 2013 Media Briefing Schedule

06/12/2013

Lockheed Martin will offer several briefings for journalists at the 2013 Paris Air Show. These events will underscore Lockheed Martin's position as the world’s leading global security company and a trusted partner for governments around the world, delivering innovative and affordable technology to customers in more than 50 countries.

Lockheed Martin Real-Time Intelligence Support Provides Battlespace View to U.S. Air Force Aerial War Games

06/12/2013

Lockheed Martin teams provided exploitation of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities at a level never before achieved during Red Flag, the U.S. Air Force premiere aerial warfare exercise. During the exercise, live imagery from manned and unmanned aircraft was disseminated in near real-time to the Distributed Common Ground Station Imagery (DCGS-I) mobile test bed.

Boeing Transfers 1st C-17 to Indian Air Force

06/12/2013

The Indian Air Force (IAF) flew its first Boeing [NYSE: BA] C-17 Globemaster III to India today, becoming the newest operator of the leading airlifter. "The C-17 will equip the Indian Air Force with amongst the world's most advanced humanitarian and strategic capabilities," said Air Vice Marshal SRK Nair, Assistant Chief of Air Staff Operations (Transport and Helicopters). "We have looked forward to this day when our Indian Air Force flies the first C-17 to its new home in India."

Boeing Receives US Army Contract for Up to 215 Chinook Helicopters

06/12/2013

In an agreement that will save the U.S. government more than $800 million, the Army and Boeing [NYSE:BA] have signed a $4 billion multi-year contract for 177 CH-47F Chinook helicopters, with the Army holding options that could increase its total buy to 215 aircraft. Deliveries from the agreement, which is a cost-effective alternative to annually contracting for the aircraft, begin in 2015.

Netanyahu: Israel prepared for any scenario in 'new, volatile Middle East'

06/11/2013

Citing “very volatile” conditions on the northern border with Syria and throughout the region, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserted on Monday that the most basic principle guiding Israel is that “whoever hurts Israel, or threatens to hurt it, will get hurt.”

NATO forces repel bold Taliban attack

06/11/2013

Seven Taliban fighters with rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns launched a rare assault on NATO’s operational headquarters at the military section of Kabul’s international airport on Monday. All seven militants were killed. Their failed attack showed that despite an asphyxiating security blanket around the capital, Afghanistan’s insurgency is far from defeated after nearly 12 years of war, and militants can still menace the capital.

France Rallies Around Reaper

06/11/2013

France is apparently not pleased with the performance of its locally developed Harfang UAV and is buying two American RQ-9 Reapers, with the intention getting more and standardizing on this proven UAV design. Currently two Harfang UAVs are present in Mali (operating from neighboring Niger) and some American RQ-9s are helping out as well.

Finland Looks East Again

06/11/2013

Finland has opened a potentially significant dialogue with Russia with the goal of identifying avenues for industrial cooperation. Apart from the potential for weapons purchases and sales, future cooperation could increase Finland’s involvement in providing subcontracting capacity to Russia’s military modernization programs.

Flying colours of Air Command's 50-year celebrations

06/11/2013

The year-long golden jubilee celebrations of Central Air Command, Allahabad came to a close on Monday. In the ceremony held at Air Force Station Bamrauli, Governor B L Joshi released the 'First day cover' of Central Air Command. Earlier in the day, Air Marshal J Chauhan Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Central Air Command laid a wreath at War Memorial to pay tributes to air warriors of CAC who laid down their lives for the nation.

Bell, Boeing to get order for 99 more V-22 Ospreys

06/11/2013

The U.S. Navy plans to sign this week a five-year contract valued just under $6.5 billion to buy 99 new V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft built by Boeing Co and Bell Helicopter, a unit of Textron Inc, the program's manager said in an interview on Monday. Marine Corps Colonel Gregory Masiello said the multiyear contract, the second one signed for the program, covers the period from fiscal year 2013 through 2017 and includes options for 22 additional aircraft.

Airmen Own the Night During Joint-Service Training

06/11/2013

A joint-coalition team led by the 451st Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron peers into a dark, moonless sky in preparation for a nighttime helicopter sling load mission. All of their other senses are heightened to compensate for the reduced visibility as a UH-60 Black Hawk flown by Soldiers of the 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade approaches the site.