Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Air Force budget would cut airmen, add planes

04/12/2013

The Air Force wants to shed 2,640 airmen next year, according to the service’s 2014 budget request laid out Wednesday at the Pentagon. The plan would cut 1,860 billets from the active-duty force, 480 from the Air Force Reserve and 300 from the National Guard. As with all budget requests, the plan must be approved by Congress, and that process frequently involves extensive changes.

In Russia Everything Is For Sale

04/12/2013

After more than a year of haggling over the details, Russia has agreed to sell China 24 Su-35 fighters. The big obstacle to this sale was the Chinese inability to assure Russia that the new Russian technology in these aircraft would not be stolen by Chinese aviation firms. Apparently a mutually agreeable compromise was worked out.

Brazil's Fair Shows the Latest in War Products from Around the World

04/12/2013

Delegations from 65 countries some of them including Defense ministers were in Rio, Brazil, for the opening of the International Defense and Security Fair, (LAAD), the largest show of military equipment in Latin America. The almost 30.000 visitors expected at the Riocentro convention center for the ninth edition of LAAD, among which 300 official delegates will be able to appreciate the latest products and systems at the stands representing 700 companies from 48 countries.

Elbit Showcases at AAAA

04/12/2013

Elbit Systems of America, LLC is presenting an array of cutting edge solutions designed to enhance the capabilities of the Aviation Soldier during the Army Aviation Association of America (AAAA) 2013 Annual Professional Forum and Exposition. The exhibition is taking place at the Fort Worth Convention Center in Fort Worth, Texas, April 10-12, 2013. Elbit Systems of America welcomes visitors to booth #1121 during exhibit hours.

Russian Air Force Approves New Bomber Design – Commander

04/12/2013

The Russian Air Force has approved the conceptual design and specification of its future PAK-DA strategic bomber, paving the way for development of components for the aircraft, Air Force Commander Lt. Gen. Viktor Bondarev said Thursday. “The development of the aircraft is going as planned. The outline of its design and characteristics has been approved and all relevant documents have been signed allowing the industry to start the development of systems for this plane.

Russia to Field MiG-31 Replacement by 2020 - Commander

04/12/2013

The Russian Air Force is hoping to receive a new long-range fighter-interceptor by 2020 and retire its existing fleet of MiG-31 interceptors by 2028, Air Force Commander Lt. Gen. Viktor Bondarev said on Thursday. “We have started development of a new aircraft of this type and I think we can develop this plane before the state armament program ends in 2020,” Bondarev said at a meeting with Russian lawmakers. “The new plane should replace the existing fleet by 2028,” he said.

Chinook Upgrade Makes For Easier Switch Between Hauling Passengers, Cargo

04/11/2013

Upgrades to the Army's CH-47 Chinook will give crews the capability to reconfigure the helicopter in flight to haul cargo or passengers, saving critical turnover time for one of the service's longtime workhorses. Each aircraft in the Army fleet of more than 400 twin-rotor Chinooks can haul 13 tons of cargo or up to 32 passengers. "There is no other helicopter in the Army inventory that can carry anywhere near that weight," said Lt. Col. Joe Hoecherl, product manager for CH-47 Modernization.

Can We Have Our Harpoons Back Please Sir

04/11/2013

In the U.S. Navy there have long been disputes between the aviation community (the folks who operate the aircraft carriers), the submarine community, and the surface warfare (all the armed surface ships) community. One of the quieter ones has been about the best way to destroy enemy ships.

Proposed weapons programs cuts in White House budget

04/11/2013

The fiscal 2014 U.S. budget plan sent to Congress by the White House on Wednesday proposes to cancel or cut several Pentagon weapons programs. The proposals must be approved by Congress, which has often reversed the administration's plans in past years, including on some of the cancellations proposed again in 2014.

U.S. Considers Supplying Syrian Rebels With Combat Equipment

04/11/2013

Secretary of State John Kerry met with leaders of the Syrian opposition Wednesday during a conference of the Group of Eight (G-8) foreign ministers in London, Bloomberg reported. Kerry indicated that the U.S. will give more aid to the rebels attempting to oust President Bashar al-Assad.

S. Korea selects Mississippi combat radar technology for fighter jets

04/11/2013

South Korea is using combat radar technology produced in Mississippi to upgrade its fighter aircraft, according to a release from U.S. Senator Thad Cochran’s office. On Wednesday, the Republic of Korea Air Force selected the Active Electronic Scanned Array (AESA) radars produced at a Raytheon facility in Forest to upgrade the radar capabilities of 134 of its KF-16 fighters.

UN peacekeeping forces need more teeth: Expert

04/11/2013

Helicopters and combat aircraft are what the United Nations needs most from the UAE in its peacekeeping missions. According to Richard Gowan, associate director for Crisis Diplomacy and Peace Operations at the New York University Centre on International Cooperation, USA, the UAE should help the UN’s international peacekeeping missions with what it lacks and not with what it already has.

Paris Air Show to feature Su-35 and Yak-130

04/11/2013

Russian manufacturers will get a chance to display its latest advancements in aviation at the 50th Paris Air Show, which will be held on June 17-23. The show at Le Bourget will feature 27 national pavilions and at least 110 aircraft, among them the Su-35 and the Yak-130. The official spokesman for the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), Boris Krylov, said: “The UAC will present two combat aircraft in Paris: the Yak-130, produced by the Irkut corporation, and Sukhoi's Su-35.

Malaysia Looks To Refresh Fighter Force

04/11/2013

Western fighter jet manufacturers attended the 12th Langkawi Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) exhibition in Malaysia, anticipating the launch of that country’s delayed Multi-Role Combat Aircraft program, but recent conflict has refocused attention on intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, particularly maritime surveillance.

US Military Hit by Budget Cuts, But North Korea Defense Intact - Hagel

04/11/2013

The US military has been hard hit by sweeping budget cuts, but has not lost its capacity to stand up to an attack by North Korea, defense officials said Wednesday. “We have every capability to deal with any action North Korea would take, to protect this country, and the interests of this country, and our allies,” Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said at a briefing on the Pentagon’s 2014 proposed budget.

Russia to Complete Helicopter Deliveries to Brazil in Fall

04/11/2013

Russia will complete the delivery to Brazil of 12 Mi-35 (AH-2 Sabre) attack helicopters worth $150 million by this fall, the head of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC) said on Wednesday. “As of today, nine helicopters have been delivered and the remaining three will be shipped in the fall,” FSMTC director Alexander Fomin said at the LAAD 2013 defense exhibition in Rio de Janeiro.

Marine Corps to Deploy Small Crisis Response Force

04/10/2013

The U.S. Marine Corps is preparing to deploy an agile, rapid crisis response force to the Mediterranean with deployable combat power, air assets, sea-basing and maritime pre-positioning capabilities, Corps leaders said March 8 at the Sea-Air-Space Expo, National Harbor, Md. "This will give senior leaders some decision space. It can integrate with an MEU and augment or compliment fleet anti-terrorism support teams.

Cuts ground Blue Angels, Hill Air Force Base squadron, other Navy, Air Force aircraft

04/10/2013

The U.S. Air Force plans to ground about a third of its active-duty force of combat planes — including a squadron based at Hill Air Force Base — and the U.S. Navy cancelled the rest of the popular Blue Angels’ aerobatic team’s season because of automatic federal budget cuts. The Air Force said the stand down will cover fighters, bombers and airborne warning and control aircraft in U.S., Europe and the Pacific.

DOD identifies pilot killed in F-16 crash in Afghanistan

04/10/2013

A fighter pilot killed in a jet that crashed Wednesday in Afghanistan has been identified by the Defense Department as Capt. James Michael Steel of Tampa, Fla. Steel, a 29-year-old F-16 pilot, was assigned to the 77th Fighter Squadron out of Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., a statement said.

Boeing Delivers FAB-T Test Units to US Air Force

04/10/2013

The Boeing Family of Advanced Beyond Line-of-Sight Terminals (FAB-T) wideband communications program has entered a new phase by delivering the first two engineering development models to the U.S. Air Force. Able to perform nearly all FAB-T production terminal mission functions, the models will be tested through June under realistic operational conditions aboard aircraft and at Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass.

US Air Force Grounds Combat Aircraft Due to Budget Cuts

04/10/2013

The US Air Force has begun curtailing operations of about one-third of the active-duty combat aircraft following recent budget cuts, the Air Combat Command (ACC) said in a statement on Tuesday. “The stand down is the result of cuts to Air Combat Command's operations and maintenance account, which must be implemented in part by flying approximately 45,000 fewer training hours between now and October 1,” the statement said.

US Can Intercept N. Korean Missile — Top Commander

04/10/2013

The United States is capable of shooting down a missile launched by North Korea but may opt not to depending on the threat presented by such an action, the top US military commander in the Pacific said Tuesday. “If the missile was in defense of the homeland, I would certainly recommend that action. And if it was defense of our allies, I would recommend that action,” Adm. Samuel Locklear, commander of US Pacific Command, told the US Senate’s armed services committee.

US Navy to Deploy Laser Cannon in Middle East

04/10/2013

The US Navy has unveiled a new ship-mounted laser cannon it plans to deploy next year in the Middle East near Iran that runs off of electricity and is capable of incinerating a drone and disabling small boats at an estimated cost of less than $1 per blast. “The future is here,” Peter Morrision, a laser technology program officer at the US Office of Naval Research, said in a statement this week, adding that the laser is capable of “revolutionizing modern warfare” in the same way that “gunpowder d

New life for RNZAF jets

04/09/2013

After a decade collecting dust, New Zealand’s mothballed combat wing has taken to the skies again – in the United States. The air force’s fleet of Skyhawks spent more than 10 years grounded after being decommissioned. Last year eight were donated to museums across the country, and one was sent to a museum in Australia. The remaining eight were snapped up US company Draken International for $7.9 million, including spare parts and engines.

LAAD: Brazilian air force official complains about F-X2 delay

04/09/2013

A top Brazilian air force officer has publicly vented frustration over the four-year delay by the nation's government to sign a contract for 36 new fighter aircraft, and implicated the country's industrial base for prolonging the wait. The farewell address on 4 April by Maj Gen Carlos de Almeida Baptista - the former commander of the office that sets the requirements for combat aircraft - offers a rare window inside the feelings of the air force leadership over the ongoing F-X2 programme.