Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

US Plans To Deploy More Osprey Military Aircraft In Okinawa

05/01/2013

The United States plans to deploy later this year a dozen more Osprey military aircraft to Japan's Okinawa prefecture which hosts two major U.S. airbases. In spite of protests from residents, the U.S. military had already deployed a fleet of 12 Osprey aircraft at its Futenma Air Station in Okinawa, Japan's southernmost island.

MV-22B Ospreys make historic flight, ready to support crisis response force

05/01/2013

Six MV-22B Ospreys and two KC-130J’s flew from Marine Corps Air Station, New River, N.C., to Moron De La Frontera, Spain, April 27, completing the longest and largest transatlantic flight of any Osprey squadron to date. Their mission; crisis response. Major Anthony Krockel, the executive officer assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365, said it took a lot of planning and preparation and approximately 15 hours to cross the Atlantic.

USAFE fighter squadrons affected by sequestration

05/01/2013

Nearly half of the fighter squadrons in U.S. Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa halted flying operations three weeks ago. The action was a result of the reduction of flying hours Air Force-wide -- one impact of the current sequestration-related budget challenges affecting the Defense Department. When factoring in ongoing and anticipated deployments, there is limited ability to respond to operational requirements across two combatant commands.

Syria Is No Libya

05/01/2013

"Whether the military effect would produce the kind of outcome that not just members of Congress but all of us would desire — which is an end to the violence, some kind of political reconciliation among the parties and a stable Syria — that's the reason I've been cautious, is the right word, about the application of the military instrument of power, because it's not clear to me that it would produce that outcome," Dempsey said at a lunch with reporters.

Russia bans passenger flights over Syria

05/01/2013

RUSSIA'S air transport agency on has banned all Russian civilian planes from flying through Syrian air space after the crew of a Russian passenger jet reported coming under threat over the war-torn country. The federal agency Rosaviation said the ban on flights over Syria went into force on Monday and will remain until further notice.

Army introduces improved aircraft for modern war fighter

05/01/2013

The Army unveiled the OH-58F Kiowa Warrior during it's first flight at Redstone Arsenal. Redstone employees and civilian contractors spent the past 4 years re-manufacturing and assembling the first modified versions of the helicopter. "Both of these aircraft were actually assembled up in Meridianville and we've seen an influx of about 30 million dollars into the local economy over the years in support of this program" says Armed Scout Helicopter Project Manager Col. Robert Grigsby.

As combat role eases, aircraft crashes are biggest killer of U.S. troops in Afghanistan

05/01/2013

With the combat role of U.S. troops in Afghanistan tapering off, aircraft accidents emerged as the biggest killer of U.S. troops here during the first four months of the year. Since Jan. 1, 13 service members have been killed in five crashes. U.S. troop deaths remain at their lowest levels here in recent years. The number so far this year, 33 through Tuesday, is the lowest at this point since 2008.

Boeing Rolls Out 1st F-15SA for Royal Saudi Air Force

05/01/2013

Boeing today rolled out the F-15SA, ushering in a new era in fighter aircraft capability and affordability for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The F-15SA, the newest variant of the combat-proven F-15, provides improved performance and increased survivability at a lower life-cycle cost. The aircraft has two additional wing stations for increased payload and capability.

Thailand receives more Gripen fighters

04/30/2013

Sweden's Defense Export Agency FMV has delivered three more Saab JAS 39 Gripens to Thailand, bringing Thailand's Gripen fleet to nine. Three additional Gripen fighters are to be delivered to the Thai air force this year, completing the procurement process. Thailand first ordered six of the multirole fighter in 2008. The deal included a Saab 340 AEW and a Saab 340 for transport and training. Comprehensive logistic support, pilot and technician were also part of the package.

Germany Backs Away From The Eurotrash

04/30/2013

Germany appears to have lost its enthusiasm for European made military helicopters and is cutting its order for Tiger gunships from 80 to 57 and NH90 transports from 122 to 82. Germany has lad a lot of problems with both of these helicopters during the last decade. Besides, Germany has better uses for the money, like bailing out the many European nations having financial problems.

4 Airmen killed in MC-12 crash in Afghanistan

04/30/2013

The Department of Defense announced April 28 the deaths of four airmen who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died April 27, near Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, in the crash of an MC-12 aircraft. The cause of the crash is under investigation, however initial reporting indicates there was no enemy activity in the area at the time of the crash.

NATO: Seven dead in Afghan plane crash

04/30/2013

A civilian cargo plane crashed shortly after take-off at a huge US-run airbase in Afghanistan on Monday, killing all seven crew members on board, officials said. Rescue teams rushed to the scene after the plane smashed into the ground inside the boundaries of Bagram airfield, a key transport hub for US-led military operations in Afghanistan.

Factbox: Western forces in the Gulf

04/30/2013

The United States and some Western allies deploy weaponry and other military equipment in the energy-rich Gulf to provide security to Gulf Arab states at short notice. Here is a list of equipment currently deployed, according to research institutions, mostly at bases shared with host states.

Serbia May Buy Russian MiG Fighter Jets, Defense Minister Says

04/30/2013

Serbia is considering the purchase of Russian-made MIG-29 combat aircraft and radars, Defense Minister Aleksandar Vucic said. “We are considering such a purchase for financial reasons,” even as Serbia has “excellent relations” with NATO, Vucic told reporters during a visit to neighboring Croatia. The Blic newspaper reported last week that the Balkan country may spend $150 million on six new jets to improve its air defense.

Two missiles target Russian passenger plane over Syria

04/30/2013

UNIDENTIFIED assailants reportedly fired two land-to-air missiles at a Russian passenger plane carrying over 150 people when it flew over Syria Monday, the Interfax news agency reported, citing an informed source in Moscow. However, with technical support from Russia, Syria has bolstered its air defences, posing a threat to United States (U.S.) aircraft if America decides to intervene in the war, an American official was quoted by Agence France Presse (AFP) as saying Monday.

'IAF needs 39 squadrons for 2-front war scenario, has only 34'

04/30/2013

The IAF will require 39 combat aircraft units to meet the challenge of fighting a war simultaneously on the Pakistan and China fronts but it has only 34 squadrons, a Parliamentary panel has been informed. In its report, the Standing Committee on Defence has also come down heavily on the government for allocating only Rs 2,000 crore to the IAF for new modernisation schemes whereas Rs 15,000 crore is required only for the Rafale combat jet deal.

France aims to keep firepower while cutting military

04/30/2013

France, which launched an armed intervention in Mali earlier this year, has declared its determination to sustain its punch as a leading military power, despite making fresh cuts to its defence forces. Juggling severe budgetary pressures with its longstanding strategic ambitions, President François Hollande’s socialist government on Monday laid out plans to retain the country’s nuclear deterrent as well as preserve its ability to project significant force beyond its borders.

Iraq to Receive Final Three C-130Js

04/30/2013

The Iraqi Air Force (IQAF) is set to receive its final three Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules airlifters. Aircraft number 5721 was the first of these aircraft to be ferried from Lockheed Martin’s production facility here on April 23, 2013. All three C-130Js were ferried to U.S. Air Force bases prior to delivery to the IQAF.

National Defence expected to lose some F-35s before all 65 delivered: Report

04/29/2013

National Defence scientists predicted in 2011 that the military would have almost certainly lost several of its brand-new F-35 stealth fighters before all 65 were even delivered, Postmedia News has learned. In December 2011, the Defence Department’s research arm, Defence Research and Development Canada, published a report in which it said “that the probability of having 63 or more (F-35s) remaining at this time (when the last one is delivered) is approximately 54 per cent.”

China military planes flew close to disputed isles: report

04/29/2013

Chinese military planes, mostly fighter jets, made more than 40 flights close to Tokyo-controlled islands at the centre of a territorial dispute on a single day this week, a press report said Saturday. The flights took place on Tuesday, when eight Chinese marine surveillance ships entered the 12-nautical-mile territorial zone off the islands in the East China Sea, which Japan calls the Senkakus and China calls the Diaoyus, the Sankei Shimbun newspaper reported.

Dozens of Air Shows Cancel Without Military Jets

04/29/2013

Dozens of air shows that draw tens of thousands of people and generate millions of dollars for local economies have been cancelled this year after the military grounded its jet and demonstration teams because of automatic federal budget cuts.

The shape of wings to come?

04/29/2013

At Lockheed Martin’s giant Fort Worth, Texas, plant, they’re building a warplane billed as a game changer for air forces of the U.S. and key allies like Canada. Critics say it’s overhyped, overpriced and underwhelming. The Free Press’s John Lund visited the plant to take a closer look.

New Calls for Syria Response

04/29/2013

Lawmakers pressed the Obama administration to intervene in Syria's civil war, citing the regime's alleged chemical-weapons use, as the White House weighed its response against a sobering fact: Damascus has developed a world class air-defense system.

Sequestration cuts are deep

04/28/2013

Regarding “Fort Gordon events could become casualty of sequestration” (April 20): Canceled fireworks and fairs are visible reminders of the ravages of sequestration. Yet these cuts are having an even more damaging but unseen effect on our economy and our national security – like termites eating through a house’s structure.

NATO Plane Crashes In Afghanistan, Killing 4

04/28/2013

A NATO plane crash in southern Afghanistan killed four international troops on Saturday, the same day the Taliban announced its spring offensive and said it will target military and diplomatic sites with suicide bombers and infiltrate enemy forces to conduct deadly insider attacks.