Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

The Next Step Toward Autopilot in Combat

04/24/2014

Flying military combat aircraft requires an exceptional amount of decision making in a very short window with lots of distractions. Now, the Defense Department wants the defense industry to build them much better autopilot. The Defense Advanced Projects Research Agency, or DARPA, announced a new program to build an automatic pilot kit to install into military planes.

Lockheed Martin Demonstrates Enhanced Ground Control System and Software for Small Unmanned Aircraft

04/24/2014

Lockheed Martin’s Group 1 family of unmanned aircraft systems is migrating to enhanced automation capabilities using its Kestrel™ “Fly Light” flight control systems and industry-leading mobile Ground Control Station (mGCS) software. The increased automation allows operators to focus on executing the mission, rather than flying various aircraft.

McConnell clears final hurdle to officially become new tanker base

04/23/2014

The U.S. Air Force on Tuesday issued what is called the Final Record of Decision on McConnell Air Force Base and the new KC-46A tankers, a move that officially makes McConnell the main operating base for the new aircraft. "It's literally the last shoe to drop," Kansas Congressman Mike Pompeo told me Tuesday. Of near-term importance, he said, it means the USAF can start spending money to get the base ready for the new tankers.

4 Army units heading to Eastern Europe

04/23/2014

The U.S. military in Europe is sending four company-sized infantry units, a total of about 600 soldiers, to Eastern Europe, the latest effort to reassure NATO allies in light of Russian aggression in Ukraine, a Pentagon official said Tuesday. Four countries — Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia — each will receive a company of paratroopers from the U.S. Army’s 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team based in Vicenza, Italy, said Pentagon spokesman Rear. Adm. John Kirby.

Syrian rebels get SA-16 anti-aircraft missiles after receiving advanced anti-tank weapons

04/23/2014

Syrian rebels have been sighted wielding anti-aircraft weapons in various combat sectors including the Damascus region in the last few days. Just as on April 6, DEBKAfile was the first publication to disclose the arming of Syrian opposition forces with their first US weapons, BGM-71 TOW anti-tank missiles, our military sources now reveal that they have also acquired - and are using - Russian-made 9K310 Igla-1 aka SA-16 anti-tank rockets, which have an operational range of 5.2 km.

'PROVOCATIVE' PUTIN REACTS TO U.S. PRESENCE

04/23/2014

Russian President Vladimir Putin has begun to react to subtle U.S. military deployments in the periphery of Russia. The U.S. has sailed an Aegis anti-ballistic warship into the Black Sea, and the Pentagon announced Tuesday that U.S. troops would be sent for exercises in Eastern Europe to reassure allies on Russia’s border.

China Said to Plan Capital Market Access for Military

04/23/2014

China plans to fold developers of military hardware into listed state-owned companies, people familiar with the matter said, giving them access to capital markets as the country prioritizes high-technology defense capability.The plan would allow military research institutes to be incorporated into state-owned enterprises, said the two people, who asked not to be identified because they weren’t authorized to discuss the plans publicly.

De Gracia: Why America needs more Boeing EA-18G Growlers

04/23/2014

The United States and her Western allies are facing some of the most difficult challenges to national security in modern history. Russia’s annexation of Crimea and rising Chinese tensions in Asia painfully expose how airpower is critical to holding freedom’s line around the world, yet deteriorating fiscal stability means every tax dollar spent must be prioritized on platforms that work and win on the battlefield.

Ukraine to restart anti-terrorist operation as military plane 'hit by gunfire'

04/23/2014

Ukraine's president orders anti-terrorist operation in the east to restart after politician "tortured to death" as defence ministry says Ukrainian military aircraft hit by gunfire while on reconnaissance flight over Slavyansk

Joint Strike Fighters: Government to spend $12 billion on 58 more next-generation F-35s

04/23/2014

Australia will buy 58 more F-35 Joint Strike Fighters (JSF) at a cost of more than $12 billion after the Federal Government gave the go ahead for the purchase yesterday. The extra aircraft will bring Australia's total Joint Strike Fighter force to 72 aircraft, with the first of them to enter service in 2020. The $12.4 billion price tag makes the Joint Strike Fighters Australia's most expensive Defence asset.

Dassault achieves world's first formation flight of combat drone and manned aircraft

04/23/2014

Dassault Aviation announced that last month it came a step closer to making science fiction reality when it conducted a formation flight of the nEUROn unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) with a Rafale fighter and a Falcon 7X business jet. The flight off the coast of the south of France took place on March 20, and for almost two hours the nEUROn kept station with the other planes as they flew over the several hundred kilometers out over the Mediterranean.

pike in Russian military aircraft near Japan ‘abnormal’

04/22/2014

Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera said Sunday there have been an “abnormal” number of flights by Russian military aircraft close to Japanese islands in recent days. The country’s air defense force scrambled fighter jets for seven days in a row through Saturday after spotting Russian military planes flying along the Japanese archipelago, according to the Defense Ministry.

Guard Apaches Less Ready, Must Move To Active Army

04/22/2014

National Guard attack helicopter units just can’t be as battle-ready as full-time regular Army ones, Deputy Secretary of Defense Christine Fox has been telling the Hill. That’s why the Guard should give all its AH-64 Apache gunships to the active-duty force to replace older aircraft lost to budget cuts.

Russia Orders New MiG-29 Jet Fighters To Increase Strike Capability

04/22/2014

The Russian Ministry of Defense has placed an order for its first 16 Mikoyan MiG-29 SMT jet fighters in the “new light tactical version,” Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG said in a statement The fighters were modernized and fitted with improved ability to eliminate air, ground and sea targets with air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles, the statement said.

U.S. Plans to Sell Mexico 18 Black Hawks to Tackle Drug Trade

04/22/2014

The U.S. approved plans to sell Mexico as many as 18 Black Hawk helicopters in a $680 million deal aimed at bolstering efforts to combat drug trafficking. The State Department approved the potential sale of 18 UH-60M Black Hawks made by Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. in an announcement that comes ahead of a planned visit to Mexico this week by U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel.

Polish DM: NATO Must Focus on Historic Mission

04/22/2014

The NATO alliance should focus on its historic mission of deterring Russian aggression in Europe as members wrap up their mission in Afghanistan, Poland’s defense minister said. NATO members need to properly fund their militaries at “the level of defense spending that would guarantee that capabilities would grow and not deteriorate,” Tomasz Siemoniak said during a visit here last week.

German government supports NATO rearmament

04/22/2014

The German government is taking part in the NATO mobilization in Eastern Europe with at least one warship and six combat planes. According to the Ministry of Defence, the vessel “Elba” will head a flotilla of five mine detectors due to depart soon from the port of Kiel in the Baltic Sea.

Future Threats Will Require Much More Than the A-10

04/22/2014

Those fighting to save the A-10 jet fighter are missing the point. The U.S. Air Force is the best in the world at close air support in a permissive environment like Afghanistan, even without the A-10. In the future, elite U.S. forces can do without it as the military continues to chase terrorists across the Middle East and Africa, and the A-10 has even less purpose in any future high-end combat in more contested areas, like China, with rapidly improving air defenses.

Russia, Belarus to Conduct Joint Aircraft and Air Defense Exercises

04/22/2014

More than 150 representatives of the Russian Air Force and their colleagues from Belarus will meet this week to discuss joint exercises and test the integration of the countries’ air forces and air defense systems, a spokesman for the Russian military said Monday. The meeting will take place at the Ashuluk Firing Range in Russia’s southern Astrakhan region from Monday to Friday, with Russian Air Force commander Lt. Gen. Viktor Bondarev overseeing the operations.

Australia sees "regroup" on Malaysian plane search in a few days

04/21/2014

Australia will decide in a few days whether to alter or scale back the search for missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, but will consult all countries involved on any changes, Australia's ambassador to the United States said on Sunday. Kim Beazley told CNN the search countries would "regroup and reconsider" if nothing is found in a section of the Indian Ocean floor now being scanned by a U.S. Navy underwater drone.

Japan defense chief puzzled by Russian military aircraft

04/21/2014

Japan's defense minister said Sunday there have been an “abnormal” number of flights by Russian military aircraft close to Japanese islands in recent days. The country's air defense force scrambled fighter jets for seven days in a row through Saturday after spotting Russian military planes flying along the Japanese archipelago, according to the defense ministry.

Russia sells billions of USD of weapons to Saudi Arabia

04/21/2014

Saudi Arabia will soon sign several contracts to purchase military hardware from Russia. It goes about a major deal to buy various modifications of combat helicopters, T-90C tanks, armored vehicles and anti-aircraft missile systems. The deal approximately totals $2 billion. Saudi Arabia will purchase Mi-171, Mi-35 choppers and T-90C tanks until the end of this year Pravda.Ru reports.

Yankee air museum to honor Vietnam veterans

04/21/2014

The Yankee Air Museum at 47884 D Street in Belleville Mich., intends to honor America’s fallen service members with a tribute and ribbon cutting ceremony for the grand opening of the Vietnam War exhibit. This event will take place on Memorial Day, Monday, May 26 at 9 a.m.

Air Force meets with companies about J-STARS upgrade

04/21/2014

The Air Force met with representatives from 35 companies last week to discuss its plans for replacement of the J-STARS fleet at Robins Air Force Base. According to a release, the meeting was held with about 100 representatives of aircraft and communication companies around the country who were gathered for industry week at Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass.

Russian, Indian scientists begin work on miniature BrahMos missiles

04/21/2014

Scientists from Russia and India have begun to work on a more compact version of the BrahMos supersonic missiles, the BrahMos-M, which will be used by the Indian fifth-generation fighter.