Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Differences crop up in fighter aircraft deal

04/08/2013

Serious differences have cropped up in the contract negotiations between the Defence Ministry and French firm Dassault Aviation selected for the 126 fighter aircraft deal threatening to delay the country's largest one-time military acquisition. Dassault has made it clear that it was "technically and practically not feasible to stick to the present obligations", as it is wary of encountering the fate of British telecom company Vodafone, which is facing problems over taxation issues.

US Delays Missile Test “to Avoid Misperception” - Media

04/08/2013

The United States has delayed an intercontinental ballistic missile test planned for next week, media reported. The test of the Minuteman 3, scheduled to be carried out in California, was postponed, possibly until some time in May, out of concerns that North Korea might misinterpret it, the BBC reported Sunday citing a senior US defense official.

Breaking the sound barrier, ejecting at low level and pushing new aircraft to the limits - it's all in a day's work for the military's elite test pilots

04/07/2013

We’re a couple of thousand feet above fields and trees when Simon Sparkes decides to make this flight in a Gazelle helicopter a little more interesting. Left to its own devices, even though it is flying straight and level, the craft will pull to the left because of the torque caused by its tail rotor. If not corrected, the helicopter could end up out of control. To compensate, the aircraft’s computer, called the Stability Augmentation System, automatically makes the corrections required.

S. Korea Weighs Fighter Jet Purchase Options

04/07/2013

The Republic of Korea has spent years deciding what its next-generation fighter jet replacement will look like. Now, as tension mounts on the Korean Peninsula, the U.S. government has revealed what the sale of Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and the Boeing F-15SE Silent Eagle might look like. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), which handles foreign military sales for the U.S. Defense Department, notified Congress of the potential sales March 29.

RNO’s Sea Lion exercise to continue till April 10

04/07/2013

Sea Lion, the annual maritime exercise carried out by the Royal Navy of Oman (RNO), continues with the participation of its several fleet vessels, the Royal Army of Oman’s Sultan of Oman artillery and a number of aircraft of the Royal Air Force of Oman. The exercise began on March 30 and will continue till April 10. On Monday, the exercise involved shooting of air targets with live ammunition.

NATO under pressure as allies cut defense costs

04/07/2013

As defense budgets are slashed in dire financial times, governments increasingly rely on alliances and cooperation with their partners. Instead of going solo, militaries pool resources to increase efficiency. The financial crisis has put pressure on governments all over the world to drastically cut down expenses. What started five years ago now has started to affect defense budgets.

UN adopts treaty to regulate global arms trade

04/07/2013

The UN General Assembly overwhelmingly approved the first UN treaty regulating the multibillion-dollar international arms trade, a goal sought for more than a decade to try to keep illicit weapons out of the hands of terrorists, insurgent fighters and organized crime. The resolution adopting the landmark treaty was approved by a vote of 154 to 3 with 23 abstentions. As the numbers appeared on the electronic board, loud cheers filled the assembly chamber.

Delegation opposes effort to reduce hours at Bangor Air Traffic Control

04/07/2013

Maine’s entire congressional delegation have sent letters to U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Michael Huerta expressing their strong opposition to the FAA’s possible elimination of the overnight shift at the Bangor International Airport (BGR) Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT).

Government, Dassault at loggerheads over HAL role in combat Aircraft deal

04/07/2013

The Indian government’s biggest defence acquisition of 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) from French defence major Dassault Aviation could be delayed as the both parties are yet to decide the role of state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Sources said that the French company ‘wants separate contracts’ for aircraft (Rafale) made by the company and another for units built by the Bangalore-based public sector aviation company.

Russian Military Inspectors to Fly Over Romania, Hungary

04/07/2013

Russian military inspectors will make surveillance flights over the territories of Romania and Hungary under the international Open Skies Treaty within a period starting Sunday, the Russian Defense Ministry has reported. Russian experts will conduct the inspection flights on board an Antonov An-30B (Clank) aircraft between April 7 and 13, the ministry said in a statement.

Russian Strategic Bomber Burned Beyond Recovery – Paper

04/07/2013

An iconic Russian Cold War bomber, which had been reported to suffer a minor malfunction, actually burned beyond recovery for unclear reasons, Kommersant daily said Saturday. A Tu-95MC “Bear-H” turboprop missile carrier aborted takeoff after the crew discovered smoke in the service compartment in mid-February. The Defense Ministry only reported at the time that the fire was soon extinguished and that no one was hurt in the incident.

Questions Remain Over Navy’s F-35 Interest

04/06/2013

Ten months after Chief Naval Officer Adm. Jonathan Greenert put a scare into the Joint Strike Fighter program with an editorial he wrote in a naval magazine, questions remain over the Navy's variant of the fifth generation fighter. Greenert questioned the need for a naval stealth aircraft when considering the advances made in radar technology. He outlined those concerns in a piece he wrote for Proceedings magazine.

Progress slow in developing fighter jets, Major General Zhu Heping says

04/06/2013

A weak foundation in building sophisticated machinery and a lack of innovation are major obstacles for the People's Liberation Army in upgrading its latest domestically produced jet fighters, military experts say. Major General Zhu Heping - vice-president of the Air Force Command Academy and the grandson of the father of the Red Army, Zhu De - talked about the constraints facing the PLA in an interview with the South China Morning Post.

Russia to Show Advanced Warplanes in Paris

04/06/2013

Russia will unveil its most advanced aircraft, the Sukhoi Su-35 Flanker fighter jet and the Ka-52 Alligator helicopter gunship, at the Paris Air Show in June, the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) said on Friday. It will also display the Yak-130 Mitten combat jet trainer, UAC spokesman Boris Krylov said.

Defense Expert: N Korea Has Ability to Attack US

04/06/2013

Leading defense and national security expert Dr. James Carafano tells Newsmax that the Obama administration has spent four years ignoring North Korea and we now run the risk of an “accidental escalation” of tensions in the region. He also warns that North Korea does in fact have the technical capability of attacking the west coast of the United States.

Carrier readiness threatened by budget woes

04/06/2013

Until last week, the Navy was hard-pressed for money even to pay for the tow of the aircraft carrier Lincoln on the short haul from Norfolk to Newport News, much less begin the $2.6 billion overhaul the ship needs to rejoin the fleet. “The funding is now in line,” for the Lincoln, but the complex overhaul involving switching out her nuclear fuel will make the ship unavailable for duty until 2015, said Lt. Dan Day, a spokesman for the Fleet Forces Command at the Norfolk, Va., Naval Station.

US, Philippine troops start war games amid tensions

04/06/2013

Thousands of US and Filipino troops began annual military exercises yesterday that the Philippines said were vital to building its defence capabilities to face the rising threat of China. Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario used the launch of the 12-day Balikatan manoeuvres to accuse China of destabilising Asia with aggressive and illegal actions in the South China Sea.

China Claims Innovation in J-20 Weapons Bay Design

04/06/2013

China’s under-development J-20 combat aircraft recently demonstrated its missile-launch mechanism, which the Chinese media tout as a simple but “more efficient” design than that of the American F-22.

President Obama Learns the Value of the Military Toolbox

04/06/2013

President Obama could order F-22s to South Korea because prior presidents made the investment s needed years ago to ensure he'd have them today. Last month, the Obama Administration began noticeably increasing military shows of force on or near the Korean peninsula, as the North’s young leader increasingly took steps of his own to increase tensions.

Fighter aircraft deal with France delayed, talks on

04/06/2013

While Pakistan manages to get fresh supply of arms from US, India's biggest defence deal for procuring 126 Rafale combat aircraft is expected to be delayed. Rafale had edged out five other aircraft including American F-16 and F-18, Russian MiG 35 and European Eurofighter to bag the contract.

CAE to build simulator centre for Kuwait Air Force

04/06/2013

CAE’s US arm has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers under the a foreign military sales scheme to construct the training facility for the Kuwaiti air force at Al Mubarak Air Base. The two-bay training facility will house a KC-130J full-mission simulator that CAE is currently under contract to design and manufacture for the Kuwaiti Air Force.

F-22s dispatched amid Korea tension

04/05/2013

The most expensive aircraft ever constructed for the U.S. Air Force seems to be having its coming out party this week. The F-22 Raptor has spent this week on the Korean peninsula, participating in training exercises amid North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s bellicose statements threatening war against the U.S. and allies. On Thursday, North Korea announced its military has been cleared to attack the U.S. using “smaller, lighter and diversified” nuclear weapons.

EADS offers to manufacture 48 Eurofighters in S. Korea

04/05/2013

The European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company (EADS), which is competing with U.S. companies Boeing and Lockheed Martin for South Korea's fighter jet program, has offered to manufacture 48 out of 60 planes in local factories if it wins the multi-billion dollar deal, sources and company officials said Friday.

CCS asks DRDO to accelerate military projects

04/05/2013

Against the backdrop of long delays in its projects, the Government on Thursday asked the premier research agency DRDO to accelerate the work on its major military development programmes and complete them in time. The Cabinet Committee on Security headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was briefed by the DRDO on its major projects including the futuristic Agni-6 and the recently launched Agni-5 long-range missile programmes.

F-22 resumes normal flight operations

04/05/2013

The F-22 Raptor has resumed normal flight operations after modifications to aircrew life-support equipment were completed across the fleet, including the upper pressure garment and related hoses, valves and connectors. Completion of this task eliminates the need to restrict flight operations to remain within a 30-minute flying distance from an airfield suitable for landing.