Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Canadian Military Inspectors to Fly over Russia, Belarus

09/16/2013

Canadian military inspectors will fly over the territories of Russia and Belarus starting from Monday as part of the international Open Skies Treaty, a Russian Defense Ministry official said. “In the period between September 16 and 20, a group of Canadian experts will make a surveillance flight above the territories of Russia and Belarus on board of a [Lockheed Martin] C-130J observation aircraft,” Sergei Ryzhkov, the head of the ministry’s National Nuclear Risk Reduction Center, said.

NASA using surplus military drones to investigate hurricanes

09/15/2013

NASA is now utilizing surplus military drones to investigate hurricanes from Maine to the Caribbean. WJZ 13 in Baltimore reports the space agency launched a drone from its Wallops Island facility in Virginia on Wednesday in order to get a close-up look at Hurricane Humberto, still lingering off the Eastern seaboard.

MoD gives nod for procuring military planes, battle tanks

09/15/2013

“The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), headed by Union Defence Minister A K Antony, has given approval for the proposals to buy six C-130J special operations planes for `4,000 crore and place an order for 236 T-90 tanks worth `6,000 crore,” a Defence Ministry official said.

Northrop Grumman Unmanned Portfolio Achieves 100,000 Flight Hours Over Last 15 Years

09/15/2013

Northrop Grumman's portfolio of high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) have achieved 100,000 flight hours - more than 88 percent of which were logged by the U.S. Air Force Global Hawk. The remaining hours were flown by the NASA Global Hawks, the German EURO HAWK, and the U.S. Navy's Broad Area Maritime Surveillance Demonstrator and, more recently, Triton UAS.

40 years on, the IDF finally emerges from the bunker

09/15/2013

The 1973 war shaped the way in which Israel's military and intelligence saw strategic developments in the region. Now, with a new generation at the helm and new challenges in the Arab world, the IDF is beginning to adapt to the changes in and around it.

Stay out of sea disputes, China warns US

09/14/2013

Beijing has warned the United States not to support China’s neighbors’ claims to disputed islands in the East and South China Seas, the government said Friday. Sino-Japanese ties have soured dramatically since Tokyo nationalized some of the Senkaku islands, which Beijing claims and calls the Diaoyus, in the East China Sea a year ago.

Rolls Royce Joins Hawk Jet Training Team

09/14/2013

BAE Systems, Inc. and Rolls-Royce today announced that Rolls-Royce is joining the Hawk Advanced Jet Training System (AJTS) team as an exclusive partner to compete for the U.S. Air Force’s T-X program. As the engine supplier to BAE Systems on this pursuit, Rolls-Royce will lead the support and integration of the Adour Mk951 engine on the Hawk AJTS aircraft.

India to Buy 6 More C-130J Transports

09/14/2013

Ahead of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s meeting with US President Barack Obama in Washington Sept. 27, the Indian Defence Ministry’s highest body on Friday cleared the acquisition of six C-130J Hercules transport aircraft from the US. The aircraft are being purchased on a government-to-government basis at a cost of more than US $1 billion. The clearance to top the existing six C-130J aircraft with another six was made at a meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council.

AF expects F-35 upgrade, 2nd training squadron in the fall

09/14/2013

The Air Force’s F-35 program is expected to reach two major milestones this fall: the adoption of an advanced software and weapons system on the single-engine jet, and the beginning of major pilot training at the service’s second base for the fighter.

Navy’s New Drones Taking Center Stage

09/14/2013

Ask a layman to name an unmanned aerial vehicle, and he will probably cite one of the armed drones used by the Air Force, such as the Predator or Reaper. Naval UAVs used for reconnaissance, such as the ScanEagle and Raven, have stayed mostly out of the public eye.

Defense Cuts: Four Navy Programs To Watch Closely

09/14/2013

Over the next several weeks, there will be a raft of news stories disclosing cuts to Pentagon weapons programs. The stories will begin with briefings by the military services to the defense secretary’s management team next week about their planned budget requests for fiscal 2015, and then continue into the fitful beginning of the 2014 fiscal year two weeks later.

Nigerian Air Force takes delivery of 10 locally refurbished aircraft

09/14/2013

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has taken delivery of nine locally refurbished Alpha Jets and one C-130 Hercules transport aircraft which the military says will be deployed to transport troops locally and in regional peacekeeping support operations. The nine Alpha jets were refurbished by the Aeronautical Engineering and Technical Services Limited (AETSL), a subsidiary of the Nigerian Air Force Holdings Company.

How Do You Practice For War? By Being Mr Nice Guy in Peacetime

09/14/2013

The next time a major natural disaster strikes in the Asia-Pacific region, the first responders may not be local aid workers or civilian volunteers — they might be American and Japanese combat troops. Think of it as practicing for battle.

China’s Carrier-Based J-15 Likely Enters Mass Production

09/14/2013

A number of recent reports in Chinese state-run media indicate that the country’s carrier-based J-15 multirole fighter jets have entered mass production. The Shenyang J-15 (also called Flying Shark) is China’s carrier-based fighter aircraft. It was reversed engineered from a Russian Sukhoi Su-33 that China acquired from Ukraine, although it reportedly is equipped with some indigenous weapons, avionics and other features that Beijing claims greatly enhances its capabilities.

What Keeps Naval Aviators Up at Night: Fear of Not Flying

09/13/2013

Soon after sweeping budget cuts known as sequestration became law in March, the Navy faced the prospect of grounding seven of its 10 carrier air wings. That did not happen thanks to last-minute reprogramming of funds that kept combat units flying, albeit at a reduced pace. A new round of sequester cuts could come as early as January, and Navy aviation leaders are coming to grips with the new fiscal reality.

U.K. May Extend Life Of Istar Programs

09/13/2013

The Reaper, Shadow and Sentinel are all due to leave U.K. air force service at the end of combat operations in Afghanistan, but senior service officials indicate the three intelligence, surveillance target acquisition and reconnaissance (Istar) platforms will continue to serve the U.K. military in the future.

Analyst warns of Chinese military helicopter plans

09/13/2013

China is developing a new class of helicopters that could pose a direct threat to Taiwan, a leading US military analyst said. In the case of an attack, Taiwan would have much less time to mobilize its counter-invasion forces, said Richard Fisher, a senior fellow at the International Assessment and Strategy Center (IASC).

Afghan pilots fly first fixed wing combat mission

09/13/2013

Afghan air force pilots made history Sept. 7, 2013, by flying the first all-AAF fixed wing combat mission from the Kabul International Airport. The Cessna 208 pilots, assigned to the AAF, 373rd Fixed Wing Squadron, based in Kabul, were trained by advisers assigned to the U.S. Air Force, 538th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron, of the 438th Air Expeditionary Wing at the Kabul Air Wing.

Russia Joins the UCAV Race

09/13/2013

Russia has now joined China and European firms in developing UCAV (unmanned combat air vehicle). These are replacements for current light bombers (or fighters operating as light bombers) and combat reconnaissance aircraft. The Russian entry is a further development of its Skat UAV, a ten ton aircraft with a two ton payload and a design that looks very similar to the American X-47 series. The MiG Aircraft Corporation developed Skat and the new UCAV as well.

F-35: Lifting The UK’s Economy

09/13/2013

Thirteen British companies and the U.K. Minister of Defence Equipment, Support and Technology participated in a Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] Industry Recognition Event during the DSEI tradeshow today. Over the next 40 years, British industry will continue to play a vital role in the F-35’s global production, follow-on development and sustainment, bringing strong economic benefits to the kingdom.

LONGBOW LLC Receives $51 Million Contract for Republic of Korea Apache Radar Systems

09/13/2013

The LONGBOW Limited Liability Company, a joint venture of Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman [NYSE: NOC], received a $51 million foreign military sales contract to provide the Republic of Korea with LONGBOW Fire Control Radars (FCRs) for the AH-64E Apache attack helicopter.

Boeing Fulfills US Air Force C-17 Production Contract with 223rd Delivery

09/13/2013

Boeing delivered the 223rd and last U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III airlifter today, fulfilling the production contract more than 20 years after the first delivery. The aircraft left Boeing’s Long Beach facility to fly to its assignment at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., where a ceremony will mark its arrival.

Boeing to Highlight Innovative Capabilities for US Air Force at AFA Technology Expo

09/13/2013

Boeing will showcase innovative and cost-effective capabilities that meet the needs of the U.S. Air Force during the Air Force Association's Air and Space Conference & Technology Exposition, held Sept. 16-18 at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in Maryland.

Russian, Iranian Leaders to Discuss S-300 Deliveries Deadlock

09/13/2013

Russia is hoping to settle Iran’s litigation with Moscow over a failed S-300 air defense system deal during a Friday meeting between President Vladimir Putin and his Iranian counterpart, Hassan Rouhani, a Russian presidential aide said Thursday. The presidents are expected to meet on the sidelines of an upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Kyrgyzstan.

China Leans on Russia for Fighter Jet Technology

09/12/2013

China may soon be getting its hands on one of Russia’s core fighter jets, the Su-35. The purchase will bring China as close as it can get to challenging America’s modern air fleet. Talks are ongoing, and “The signing will most likely take place next year,” Viktor Komardin, deputy-chief of Russia’s Rosoboronexport state-run arms exporter, told state-run Ria Novosti.