Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

India Deployed Combat Jets Mistaking Migratory Birds for Drones

10/21/2013

India had scrambled scores of fighter jets to tackle migratory birds for weeks mistaking them for enemy drones in a sensitive border region. The Indian Air Force (IAF) deployed fighter aircraft after radars flagged unsolicited intrusion into Indian territories along the border region in the western state of Gujarat.

German, Latvian Military Inspectors to Overfly Russia, Belarus

10/21/2013

A group of military inspectors from Germany and Latvia is set to fly above Russia and Belarus starting from Monday under the international Open Skies Treaty, a Russian Defense Ministry official said.

US to sell $10.8bn in missiles to Saudis, UAE

10/20/2013

The move follows a series of US weapons deals in recent years that have bolstered the air power and missile arsenals of Gulf States, which view Iran as a menacing rival with nuclear ambitions. The pending sale comes as the United States and five other major powers pursue high-stakes diplomacy on Iran’s disputed nuclear program, with talks this week portrayed as positive by both sides.

Saudi Arabia Turns Down UN Security Council Seat

10/20/2013

In declining to accept a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council that it had actively sought for two years, Saudi Arabia pouted that it could not abide by the Security Council’s “double-standards.” Saudi Arabia had just won the seat last Thursday at a UN General Assembly election, along with Chad, Chile, Lithuania and Nigeria.

Red Eagles: America’s secret MiGs

10/20/2013

The title is both subtle and clever, red for the communist aircraft designs flown and eagles for the pilots from the USA who tested them. The aircraft addressed by author Steve Davies (one of the Red Eagle pilots) are the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG 17 “Fresco”, Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG 21 “Fishbed” and Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG 23 “Flogger” — each individual aircraft given a program name which began with HAVE (e.g., HAVE DOUGHNUT for the MiG 21 flight testing in early 1968).

Russian Military Inspectors to Fly Over NATO Territory

10/20/2013

Russia will begin Sunday monitoring flights over NATO members Slovakia and the Czech Republic under the international Open Skies Treaty, the Russian Defense Ministry said. “A group of Russian inspectors is scheduled to conduct surveillance flights over Slovakia and the Czech Republic on board an An-30B aircraft from October 20 to 26 as part of the implementation of the international Open Skies Treaty,”.

Russia Close to Ink Air Defense Deal With Brazil – Minister

10/20/2013

Russia and Brazil are at the final stages of talks on the delivery of Russian Pantsir-S1 air defense systems to the Latin American country, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said. A Russian delegation, led by Shoigu, visited Brazil to discuss prospects of bilateral defense and space cooperation, including the sales of Pansir-S1 and Igla missile systems, during the Latin American tour on October 14-17.

War heats up between Lockheed Martin and Boeing in bid to replace Canada’s fighter jets

10/19/2013

Boeing Co. officials were in Ottawa this week to promote the Super Hornet fighter jet as the best choice to replace Canada’s CF-18s, using the U.S. budget crisis to raise doubts about the long-term viability of the rival Lockheed Martin F-35 program.

Boeing still in running for Korean jet fighter tender

10/19/2013

Boeing says it is still very much in the running for Korea’s multibillion-dollar fighter jet tender, despite opposition from the military. The firm looked to be in pole position to secure a massive order of F-15 Silent Eagle fighter jets, but Seoul pulled the plug and restarted the tender process after former military top brass and ruling party lawmakers criticised the plane for lacking stealth capabilities.

Grand delusions plague Armscor

10/19/2013

South Africa’s official arms procurement agency, was once again in the news for the wrong reason as a court reinstated the fired chairman retired General ‘Mojo’ Motau - for the second time - along with deputy chairman Refiloe Mokoena. But military expert Helmoed Römer Heitman argues that Armscor’s crisis goes much deeper.

UK Air Force Retire its C-130Ks

10/19/2013

The Royal Air Force will axe the final C-130K special force Hercules from its fleet of airlifters by the end of this month. The Defence Ministry is cannibalizing the Lockheed Martin-built aircraft of its defensive aids suite to fit into some of the C-130J models being equipped to fill the role according to the MoD.

At 'tip of spear,' passion keeps pilots sharp

10/19/2013

It's a dark night over Baghdad. Storm clouds rumble with the sound of thunder. In poor weather, Air Force pilots move in to escort a navy strike package, dodging surface-to-air missiles and anti-aircraft artillery fire, wondering whether they will make it back alive. This is part of the job for Air Force fighter pilots, but a love for the job and good training keep pilots ready to fight.

Naval LCA set for carrier compatibility tests

10/19/2013

The naval variant of India's Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) is gearing up for carrier compatibility tests at the shore-based INS Hansa in Goa, according to sources in the Aeronautical Development Authority (ADA) which is developing the aircraft. The first prototype completed its maiden flight on April 27, 2012.

PH buying SK fighter jets

10/19/2013

President Benigno Aquino III said the Philippines was close to finalizing a deal with a state-owned Korean aerospace firm to buy a squadron of FA-50 fighter jets worth P18.9 billion—a move seen to bolster the country’s aerial power and defend its territory in the disputed West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

Russia to Deploy Combat Helicopters at Armenian Base

10/19/2013

Russia will strengthen its air contingent at the Erebuni air base in Armenia with a helicopter squadron in the next few months, the base commander said Friday. Russia’s 3624th Air Base at the Erebuni airport in Yerevan currently hosts at least 16 MiG-29 Fulcrum fighter jets operating under the framework of air defense agreements concluded between the members of the Commonwealth of Independent States.

Russian Military to Get $20M Flight Simulators Next Month

10/19/2013

Russia’s armed forces will receive aircraft flight simulators in November worth almost 670 million rubles ($20.1 million), a federal agency said Friday.

PACAF Airmen wrap up busy year

10/18/2013

Throughout fiscal 2013, the key aspect of Pacific Air Forces was engagement as more than 45,000 Pacific Air Forces Airmen conducted a broad spectrum of operations, from humanitarian relief to decisive combat employment, in an area covering 13 time zones and 100 million square miles.

PH, South Korea sign 3 agreements on 1st day of Aquino state visit

10/18/2013

The Philippines and South Korea on Thursday signed agreements on flood mitigation, defense and sports development as President Aquino began a two-day state visit here. Aquino arrived here at noon on a chartered Philippine Airlines flight and met with President Park Geun-hye, South Korea’s first female leader.

Colombia Takes Delivery of First S-70i(TM) BLACK HAWK Helicopters with Terrain Awareness and Warning Capability

10/18/2013

Sikorsky Aircraft, a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp., has delivered to the Colombian Army two S-70i(TM) BLACK HAWK helicopters incorporating a Helicopter Terrain Awareness and Warning System (HTAWS) as standard equipment. Colombia is the first country to field S-70i helicopters equipped with HTAWS, which Sikorsky has customized for the unique requirements of the combat assault and utility missions.

India’s weapons might to be on display at ADEX

10/18/2013

For the first time, India will display at an international event its latest, state-of-the-art weapon systems, platforms, sensors, communication systems and equipment designed and developed by Hyderabad-based DRDO (Defence Research & Development Organization, Ministry of Defence, Govt of India).

Pilots shut off GPS, other tools to train for future wars

10/18/2013

Air Force fighter and bomber crews owe much of their success in Iraq and Afghanistan to their reliance on a collection of high-tech tools: GPS, data links, communications and radar. But with the drawdown and the pivot to the Pacific, the Air Force is preparing for new enemy threats and has been asking a new question: What happens when those tools are taken away?

S. Korea pushes to complete fighter jet procurement by end of 2014

10/18/2013

South Korea's arms procurement agency said Thursday it will speed up the process to buy advanced fighter jets, with the aim of concluding the deal by the end of 2014. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) conducted bids with three contractors to buy 60 combat aircraft between June and August, and listed Boeing's F-15 Silent Eagle as the only jet to come within the 8.3 trillion won (US$7.2 billion) budget for approval.

India to finalise Rafale deal this fiscal year: Report

10/18/2013

India will finalise a $15 billion deal to buy 126 Rafale fighter jets from France's Dassault Aviation by March 2014, an Indian air force official said on Thursday, after the deal had been held up by differences over local manufacturing. New Delhi picked the Rafale for exclusive negotiations in January 2012 after a bidding contest against Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft, made by a consortium involving EADS, Finmeccanica and BAE Systems.

Boeing to Feature Proven Capabilities, New Technology at AUSA Expo

10/18/2013

Boeing will showcase proven capabilities and technology advances designed to meet the needs of the U.S. Army during the Association of the United States Army Annual Meeting and Exposition, held Oct. 21-23 in Washington, D.C.

Iraq Taking Delivery of Russian Arms under 2012 Contract

10/18/2013

Russia has started implementation of a multibillion dollar arms deal with Iraq, an official with the Middle Eastern nation’s government said Thursday. Russia is to supply over 10 fully armed and equipped Mi-28NE Night Hunter attack helicopters to Iraq under a $4.3 billion agreement on cooperation in the defense and technology sector signed in 2012.