Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

US rescue operation in S. Sudan to test post-Benghazi Marine reaction force

12/25/2013

A reaction force of 150 Marines is poised to enter South Sudan to help protect US Embassy personnel and, if needed, to evacuate the roughly 100 Americans who remain in the country, Pentagon officials say. The hope is that the US troops can help beef up security amid growing fears of civil war breaking out in the country.

Swedish Government Looks to Add Value to Gripen-E Sale Talks

12/25/2013

The Swedish government is working on a joint strategy with Saab to extend the Gripen-E combat fighter offer to Brazil to include a radically up-scaled industrial dimension that would see Brazil become the primary production base for future Gripen-E sales to South America and Africa through a joint venture development and profit sharing partnership with Embraer.

France sets sights on Gulf market after losing Brazilian fighter jet contract

12/24/2013

Paris has turned its sights to potential defense markets in the Gulf in the hope of selling its Rafale fighter jets. This follows the failure of French aircraft manufacturer Dassault, which builds the Rafale, to secure a multi-billion-dollar contract to sell the aircraft to Brazil. French President Francois Hollande, who visited Brazil recently, said in Brussels on Friday that he had expected the outcome “for several months,” but that he hoped the Rafale would be bought by other countries.

US Repositions Troops Closer to South Sudan

12/24/2013

The U.S. was moving regional troops and aircraft closer to South Sudan as a precaution should they be needed for more evacuations of diplomatic and aid personnel, Pentagon officials said Monday. Army Gen. David Rodriguez, head of the Africa Command (AFRICOM), had ordered the "repositioning of forces in the region to give himself maximum flexibility" to respond as the crisis in Sudan threatens to spiral into civil war, said Army Col. Steve Warren, a Pentagon spokesman.

Chengdu Aircraft Industry designing more advanced J-10C fighter

12/24/2013

The J-10B — the upgrade version of China's J-10 fighter — recently entered service with the People's Liberation Army, with its designer Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group already developing the more advanced J-10C, reports the Hong Kong-based Phoenix Television.

Why 'fifth gen' helps me sleep at night

12/24/2013

In his book 'Australian security in the Asian century', Dr Sanu Kainikara outlines what can only be termed a 'challenging' security environment for this nation in coming decades. A regional arms race, growing demand for resources, and the pressures of exploding population levels will all contribute. It is therefore no wonder that the Australian Defence Force is undertaking comprehensive upgrades, designed to retain a strong tactical advantage. A big part of this is the adoption of 'fifth generat

BAE Systems secures $1bn contract to upgrade South Korean fighter jets

12/24/2013

BAE Systems has secured a $1bn (£611m) contract to upgrade South Korea's fleet of F16 fighter jets, in a fillip for the UK arms manufacturer after it lost out on a much more lucrative deal with the United Arab Emirates.

Sweet Sixteen

12/24/2013

Lockheed Martin delivered its 16th C-5M Super Galaxy to the U.S. Air Force from its facilities here today. U.S. Air Force aircrews ferried aircraft tail number 87-0036 to Dover Air Force Base, Del. It is the fourth C-5M delivery in 32 days and the sixth for 2013.

Syrian regime warplanes pound Aleppo

12/23/2013

Syrian aircraft pummeled opposition areas in the northern city of Aleppo Sunday, killing at least 32 people and extending the government’s furious aerial bombardment of the rebel-held half of the divided city to an eighth consecutive day.

Did NSA Spying On Brazil Allow Gripen To Win A Fighter Aircraft Contract And Cost Boeing Billions of Dollars?

12/23/2013

As Defence Watch readers know Brazil recently selected the Gripen fighter jet built by Saab as its new military aircraft. The contract is worth $4.5 billion. Brazil’s air force was told of the government’s decision by President Dilma Rousseff just 24 hours before the public announcement last week.

South Sudanese rebels blamed for attack on US military aircraft

12/23/2013

Three US military aircraft attempting to evacuate American citizens from a remote region of South Sudan came under fire as gun battles raged between the country's military and rebel militia. Four US service personnel were wounded in the attack. The aircraft were hit on Saturday while preparing to land in Bor, the capital of Jonglei state – scene of some of the nation's worst violence over the past week.

BAE’s Typhoon exports face darkening skies

12/23/2013

On April 12 2011, a Typhoon fighter jet loitering just south of Libya’s embattled city of Misurata released two laser-guided bombs on to two T72 tanks belonging to forces loyal to Muammer Gaddafi. It was the first time a Eurofighter Typhoon flown by the Royal Air Force had fired on ground targets in combat.

China planning 110,000-ton 'super aircraft carrier' to rival US naval power

12/23/2013

Following Washington’s move to increase its military footprint in Asia, China has declared it is building a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier of a size to compete with the mightiest in the US naval fleet. Chinese website qianzhan.com, citing top sources in the People's Liberation Army, said China’s first domestically produced aircraft carrier should be launched by 2020.

Obama warns South Sudan after U.S. military aircraft attacked

12/22/2013

President Barack Obama was briefed by his national security team on Saturday after four U.S. military service members were wounded when their aircraft were fired upon during a mission to evacuate American citizens from chaotic South Sudan.

Iranian Fighter Jets Hit Air, Ground Targets in Massive Wargames

12/22/2013

The strategic Sukhoi Su-24 fighter-bombers along with F-4 Phantom combat planes of the IRIAF accomplished all the tasks they were set to do during the second day of the main phase of large-scale wargames, codenamed Fadaeeyan-e Harim-e Velayat 4 (Devotees of Velayat Airspace 4), on Saturday morning, spokesman for the air maneuvers, General Hossein Chitforoush, said on December 21.

Analysis: Lost Brazil order raises threat to Boeing fighter jets

12/22/2013

Brazil's decision to buy Swedish fighter jets instead of F/A-18 Super Hornets from Boeing eliminates its most promising foreign-sales prospect just as the U.S. company faces critical decisions about extending the jet's production line past 2016. The loss of the $4.5 billion contract for 36 planes is the latest blow to Boeing's defense division, whose F-15 fighter jet last month lost a potential 60-plane order from South Korea to Lockheed Martin Corp's next-generation F-35 fighter.

U.S. aircraft hit by gunfire in South Sudan

12/22/2013

Gunfire hit three U.S. military aircraft trying to evacuate American citizens in a remote region of South Sudan that on Saturday became a battleground between the country’s military and renegade troops, officials said. Four U.S. service members were wounded in the attack in the same region where small-arms fire downed a U.N. helicopter the day before.

Russia to Begin Assembly of An-140 Cargo Planes in 2017

12/22/2013

Russia’s Aviakor aircraft plant on Saturday announced plans to begin assembly of An-140 light cargo planes for the Russian military in 2017. “We are working design changes at present. The first plane for the customer - the Russian Defense Ministry – should be delivered in 2017,” said Alexei Gusev, general director of Aviakor.

Selfridge A-10s again targeted for elimination by Air Force

12/21/2013

A little more than a year after Macomb County and regional leaders beat back an attempt to substantially cut the number of A-10 aircraft stationed at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, the Air Force is again gunning for the odd-looking planes known as “Warthogs” – this time pushing to eliminate the entire U.S. fleet.

Pentagon, suppliers draft plan to lower F-35 cost: Pratt

12/21/2013

he U.S. Defense Department and top suppliers on the $392 billion F-35 fighter program are developing a plan to drive down the cost of the Pentagon's most expensive weapons program, the head of enginemaker Pratt & Whitney told Reuters. The project uses an "innovative" new mechanism to encourage companies to invest their own funds to lower production costs, Dave Hess, president of Pratt & Whitney, told Reuters in an interview on Thursday.

Japan considers a boost in military purchases

12/21/2013

Japan's Cabinet has approved a national security strategy that would boost spending on military equipment, officials said. The strategy, that includes the revised National Defense Program Guidelines and a Mid-term Defense Program, could start the export of weapons from Japan for the first time since the second world war.

Russian Military Confirms Plans for New Light Transport Plane

12/21/2013

The Russian Defense Ministry and the United Aircraft Corporation will sign a contract on the development of the Il-112V light transport plane next year, a deputy defense minister said Friday. The development of the twin turboprop aircraft, designed to carry six tons of cargo to a range of 1,000 kilometers (620 miles), was canceled in 2011 under former Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov, but his successor Sergei Shoigu reportedly approved the revival of the Il-112 program earlier this year.

UAE drops plans for Eurofighter Typhoon order

12/21/2013

The British company – which leads the activities of the European consortium in the Middle East region – also said that negotiations with Saudi Arabia over the price for 72 of the fighters remain stalled. Shares in the company dropped on the London Stock Exchange on the news.

Pakistan Rolls Out 50th JF-17, Block II Production To Commence

12/20/2013

Pakistan rolled out its 50th JF-17 Thunder Block I multi-role combat aircraft Wednesday and will now begin construction of the next batch of 50 which will be of the Block II standard. The 50th example of the Sino-Pakistani fighter was rolled out during a ceremony at Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) in the town of Kamra not far from the capital Islamabad. Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, and Chinese dignitaries were in attendance.

Double blow for BAE fighter sales

12/20/2013

BAE Systems suffered a bruising setback after Britain’s negotiations to supply 60 Typhoon fighter jets to the UAE collapsed and pricing talks on a separate deal with Saudi Arabia stalled. It is a double blow for Britain and Europe’s biggest defence company which had hoped a win in the UAE would solidify its position as one of the biggest suppliers of combat aircraft to the Gulf region. BAE already has contracts for Typhoons with Saudi Arabia and Oman, and is in talks with Bahrain.