Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Air Force cancels April Red Flag-Alaska training

03/28/2013

The Air Force is canceling its flight training exercise scheduled for April in Alaska. An announcement from Pacific Air Forces says Red Flag - Alaska is being set aside because of budgetary concerns. The training exercise traditionally takes place at Eielson Air Force Base in Fairbanks, and use the Joint Pacific Alaskan Range Complex for training.

Japan's military chief says F-35 is "best fighter"

03/28/2013

Japan's highest-ranking uniformed officer said on Wednesday that Lockheed Martin's F-35 fighters were the best choice for the nation's future operational needs as Tokyo wrestles with tensions with China and increasingly belligerent North Korea. The vote of confidence in the state-of-the-art U.S. warplane comes amid reports that some nations that have placed orders for the F-35s are reconsidering their plans.

Is the cutting-edge F-35 Korea`s choice for its fighter project?

03/28/2013

At Eglin Airbase near Port Walton Beach, Florida, Maj. Karen Roganov, an officer in charge of public information, guided reporters to the base Friday, saying, “Many foreign reporters have visited here, but this is the first time for us to receive Korean journalists.” Covering 1.88 million sq. kilometers, the base has more than 50 fighter jet hangars, runways and more than 30 barracks. The facility is used as a center for flight training and pilot education for the F-35 Lightening II.

The Russian - South African Strategic Partnership

03/28/2013

Russia's relations with South Africa were not always as good as they are today. During Soviet times, the Soviet leadership disapproved strongly of the South African white regime's harsh apartheid politics. The Soviet Union supported the African National Congress in its struggle against apartheid. In 1956, the ties were severed completely by the USSR.

Viewpoint: What is driving North Korea's threats?

03/28/2013

More than 40,000 US and South Korean troops are currently conducting military manoeuvres on the Korean Peninsula, as part of the annual Foal Eagle exercise. US bombers, fighter aircraft and submarines have made their way to the region in an effort to "enhance the security and readiness" of South Korea. Those exercises are seen as a visible way for Washington to reassure Seoul of the reliability of its alliance and extended deterrence commitment.

Embraer cuts ribbon for LAS facility

03/28/2013

Embraer of Brazil has officially opened an assembly facility in Florida for A-29 aircraft it is producing for the U.S. Air Force LAS program. The ribbon cutting ceremony Tuesday, attended by Florida Gov. Rick Scott and Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown, occurred despite a continuing protest and legal action by Beechcraft Corp. over the award for an initial 20 combat aircraft that will be supplied to Afghanistan.

Navy moving ahead with its stealth attack drone program

03/28/2013

The Navy is moving ahead with its effort to field a stealthy, carrier-based attack drone. Yesterday, the sea service announced that it plans to give Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and General Atomics contracts to flesh out their competing designs for the Unmanned Carrier Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike (UCLASS) program.

U.N. Close to Curbing Arms Trade With Treaty

03/28/2013

The effort over many years to forge an international treaty regulating the booming $70 billion annual trade in conventional weapons headed toward fruition on Wednesday with a final draft sent to the governments of all United Nations member states for approval. Supporters, including a majority of member states, hope that the Arms Trade Treaty will be approved by consensus at a final negotiation session here on Thursday.

LIMA: Conformal tanks add fuel to Super Hornet campaign

03/27/2013

Boeing is displaying a mock-up of a proposed conformal fuel tank fit (CFT) for its F/A-18E/F Super Hornet combat aircraft at the Langkawi International Maritime & Aerospace (LIMA) exhibition in Malaysia. A US Navy F-model aircraft is on static display at the show with two above-wing CFT shapes installed. Boeing ground crew added the "strap-on" mock-ups following the aircraft's arrival from the USA.

Budget cuts cancel Aviation Nation at Nellis AFB

03/27/2013

Broad government budget cuts have claimed this year's Aviation Nation show at Nellis Air Force Base. The military aircraft exhibition that opened the airfield to the public was slated to happen Nov. 9-10.

Darpa’s Next Drone Could Be a Datalink Between Planes and Ships

03/27/2013

The Pentagon’s far-out research scientists aren’t just trying to build a drone that can operate off the deck of a small warship. They’re starting to describe their new-mark flying robot as a device that bridges the communication systems between ships and aircraft. And if they can pull it off, Darpa will be giving the U.S. military a capability it badly needs for one of its major initiatives.

Russia Is Selling More And More Weapons To Asia

03/27/2013

After trying to buy the Sukhoi SU-35 fighter jet since the 1990s, China is finally getting 24 of them along with four submarines from Moscow, Forbes reports. The Russians finally warmed up to the deal (which was trimmed from an order for 48), marking the first big military equipment purchase between the two nations in over a decade.

China's military steps up drone deployment

03/27/2013

China's military is expanding its unmanned aerial vehicle forces with a new Predator-like armed drone and a new unmanned combat aircraft amid growing tensions with neighbors in Asia, according to United States intelligence officials.

India-China: The real military equation

03/27/2013

Leave aside economic growth parameters and astounding leaps in infrastructure that only increase the disparity between India and China with every passing day, the story is repeated about the increasing gap between the military capabilities of the two countries. China's expenditure on defence is three times ours - if we accept disclosed figures - and could actually be more.

Peru mulls replacing aged air force jets

03/27/2013

Peru is in talks with Spain and warplane suppliers as part of a low-budget plan to replace aging air force aircraft with second-hand Eurofighters and comparable fighters. Cost is a major issue for Peruvian President Ollanta Humala, who is looking at competitively priced fighter jets that will fit the national budget. Peru's cut-price fighter jet competition contrasts with Brazil's multibillion-dollar FX-2 replacement jet fighter program.

F-35 Joint Strike Fighter: Singapore’s Next-Generation Fighter? – Analysis

03/27/2013

Defence Minister Dr Ng Eng Hen expressed the desire to replace a number of ageing air force fighter aircraft during the latest parliamentary budget debate. The Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) seems to be in the leading position to be Singapore’s next-generation fighter.

French defence cuts 'could harm British military partnership'

03/27/2013

French government plans for severe defence cuts could jeopardise its military entente cordiale with Britain, “kill” its conventional army and render interventions such as that in Mali impossible, Gallic defence officials have warned.

Next generation of fighter jets to be in Norfolk

03/27/2013

Scotland will lose out to Norfolk on being home to the next generation of fighter jets, ministers will announce. There had been hopes that the new Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters (JSF), which will be the heart of the RAF’s future capabilities, might be based at Lossiemouth in Moray, but they will fly from RAF Marham. In a written statement yesterday, it was announced a third RAF installation will be closed in Scotland in the next three years with the loss of 30 jobs.

Interest in 'eye-in-sky' programmes

03/26/2013

When the curtains go up at this year's edition of the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace exhibition (Lima '13) today, Datuk Seri Najib Razak will likely be reflecting on one thing in particular. Events in Lahad Datu must surely underscore the value of having a show such as Lima, as well as the Defence Services Asia exhibition, in the region.

RAF Marham to be the base for the next generation of fast jet strike aircraft

03/26/2013

Defence secretary, Philip Hammond, flew to the Norfolk base to announce the decision to personnel this morning. The announcement safeguards Marham’s future until 2040 - along with 5,000 jobs and the millions it contributes to the region’s economy each year. Mr. Hammond said Marham had always been the first choice to be home for the Lightning II.

Sikorsky - Colombian Army Takes Delivery of Five S-70i BLACK HAWK Helicopters

03/26/2013

The Colombian Army has formally inducted five new Sikorsky S-70i multi-mission helicopters into its fleet of BLACK HAWK aircraft. Colombia is the first South American country to buy the S-70i BLACK HAWK helicopter variant from Sikorsky Aircraft, a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp.. 'We are honored by the trust the Colombian Armed Forces continue to place in Sikorsky, and in the BLACK HAWK aircraft as the country's utility helicopter of choice.

Elbit details C-Music business opportunities

03/26/2013

Work to install Elbit Systems C-Music directed infrared countermeasures (DIRCM) equipment on several Italian air force types is to begin soon, under the terms of a $15 million contract awarded to industry partner Elettronica in 2011. Dan Slasky, vice-president of airborne electro-optics and laser systems at Elbit's Elop division.

Hormuz Transits: Never Dull, Never Routine, Always Tense

03/26/2013

THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ — This is definitely a place, not just a patch in the sea. The land can close in on both sides — Iran to the north, Oman or the United Arab Emirates to the south. The waterway is crowded with ships, among them the world’s largest oil tankers, big container ships, small dhows and merchantmen, tiny fast smuggling craft darting across traffic, gray warships lurking in the haze.

Jordan Has An Airline Running Guns To Syria With The Help Of The CIA

03/26/2013

Jordanian International Air Cargo is a front for the Kingdom of Jordan’s Air Force, the New York Times and Foreign Policy reports. Not only that, but JIAC has been running military aid to Syrian rebel fights in its military-style, Russian-made Ilyushin 76 cargo planes, via Croatia. In total, the Times says, there have been more than 160 flights of these planes, for a total of 3,500 tons of military equipment.

IN FOCUS: Canada's mixed defence procurement record

03/26/2013

During the past 10 years, Canada has embarked on a series of ambitious modernisation programmes for its military aircraft fleet. But Ottawa's track record on executing such programmes has been mixed. While some procurement efforts have proven quite successful, others have hit severe turbulence.