Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

HAL Unveils Weaponized, Operational Rudra ALH

02/05/2013

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) is expected to unveil an armed variant of its Rudra advanced light helicopter (ALH) at the Aero India show this week. The helicopter will be in the flying display along with the HAL Light Combat Helicopter. Meanwhile, scale models of the Light Utility Helicopter, Hawk, Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) and Su-30 aircraft in which the Indian group is involved on partnership terms will be on display at the company’s stand.

Future Canadian fighter pilots to split simulator and real-world training time

02/05/2013

Royal Canadian Air Force fighter pilots of the future could be spending almost as much time in a simulator as they do in the cockpit under a revised training regime that has its eyes on the bottom line as much as technology, say internal documents. The idea was just one of a series of options being examined as military planners look towards the eventual replacement of the CF-18 fleet, possibly by the end of the decade.

Embraer draws more partners to KC-390 jet

02/05/2013

Brazilian defense manufacturer Embraer has added more international partners to its program for marketing KC-390, said to be a cheaper alternative to Lockheed Martin's C-130J. The C-130J updates the internationally renowned tactical transport workhorse C-130 Hercules, the four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft that was originally designed and built by Lockheed, precursor to Lockheed Martin.

It’s Time For Canada To Build Its Own Fighter Aircraft

02/05/2013

Not including our purchase of the F-18 Hornet, the approximate total expenditures in 2012 dollars that Canada has spent in purchasing the SAGE/Bomarc missile system, 200- F104 Star fighters, 66 F-101 Voodoos, 138 F-5 Freedom Fighters plus cancellation fees for the CF-105 Arrow as well as the Sparrow/Astra missile systems, is $11.1 Billion in 2012 dollars. With the exception of the F-18, all of the other weapons system procurements were fiscal fiascos in one way or another.

Euro firm develops two avionic products in India

02/05/2013

European aerospace major Cassidian designed and developed two avionic products at its Indian centre in this tech hub primarily for military aircraft, a company official said Monday. "The two avionic products - a 'high accuracy air pressure measurement system' and a 'structurally integrated antenna' have been designed and developed by Indian engineers at our engineering centre here," Cassidian India chief executive Peter Gutsmiedl told reporters here.

Fighter plane Rafale set to dazzle at Bangalore airshow

02/05/2013

Even though most of the fighter planes have decided to give the 2013 Bangalore air show a go by following India’s shortlisting of Rafale as the preferred choice for 126 new fighters, the French-origin jets will leave no stone unturned to impress defence ministry officials as the two countries are yet to sign the much-awaited multi billion dollar commercial agreement.

Boeing Delivers 6th Production P-8A Poseidon Aircraft to US Navy

02/05/2013

Boeing delivered the sixth production P-8A Poseidon aircraft to the U.S. Navy Jan. 31, successfully completing the first group of low-rate initial production aircraft that are dramatically improving the service's maritime patrol capabilities. The delivery is the final aircraft from a contract awarded in January 2011. Boeing is on schedule to build 24 P-8A maritime patrol aircraft as part of contracts awarded in 2011 and 2012.

Russia Remains Key Arms Supplier for India – Rosoboronexport

02/05/2013

Russia remains a key supplier of weaponry to India with good prospects for future military-technical cooperation, Deputy General Director of Russia’s state arms exporter Rosoboronexport, Viktor Komardin, said. “The country [India] is one of the main importers of defense products on the global scale, and Russia continues to be one of its key suppliers,” Komardin, who heads the Russian delegation at the upcoming AERO INDIA 2013 international aerospace show.

Russian Inspectors to Make Surveillance Flight Over Greece

02/05/2013

Russian military inspectors will begin on Monday a surveillance flight above Greece under the international Open Skies Treaty, a spokesman for the Russian Defense Ministry said. A group of Russian experts will conduct the inspection flight in an Anotonov An-30B aircraft between February 4 and 8, he said. The aircraft will take off from the Nea Anchialos airport to cover a total distance of 1,010 kilometers (628 miles).

Air Force wants to replace jet trainers

02/04/2013

Even as funding remains uncertain in an era of budget austerity, the Air Force met more than 300 aerospace industry representatives at Wright-Patterson about building a replacement for an aging jet trainer fleet in a future competition.

Largest US trade delegation to attend Aero India show

02/04/2013

Aiming for a sizable pie of the multi-billion dollar Indian air defence sector, Corporate America is sending one of its largest industry delegations to the Aero India 2013 show in Bangalore where it would put on display the best from the United States.

Defense minister praises growing military cooperation with US

02/04/2013

Defense Minister Abdel Fattah al-Sisi praised the growing military cooperation between Egypt and the US Sunday after receiving four aircraft from the US. At a ceremony for the F-16s received from the US, Sisi said Egypt looks forward to further cooperation to build and develop the combat capabilities of the Armed Forces.

Mini helicopter drone for UK troops in Afghanistan

02/04/2013

The drones can fly around corners and obstacles to identify potential hidden dangers, the Ministry of Defence said. The Norwegian-designed Black Hornet Nano features a tiny camera and relays video and still images to a handheld control terminal. It measures about 10cm by 2.5cm (4in by 1in) and weighs 16g (0.6oz).

Bangalore braces for air show from Wednesday

02/04/2013

India's aerospace hub Bangalore will be on full throttle from Wednesday to demonstrate the country's air prowess and display breath-taking aerobatics at the air force station on the outskirts.

Syria Never Stood A Chance Against Israel's Electronic Warfare

02/04/2013

The Israeli air strike on a convoy weapons and military complex near Damascus, on the night between Jan. 29 and 30 has something in common with a similar air strike. In 2007, Israeli Air Force bombers entered and egressed the Syrian airspace almost completely undetected by the Syrian air defenses.

First of military's latest cargo carriers join Air National Guard in Memphis

02/04/2013

Tennessee's 164th Airlift Wing of the Air National Guard unveiled its newest cargo aircraft Saturday, a plane that costs more than $200 million and can airlift people and supplies for military and disaster relief almost anywhere in the world. "Once you're up in the air it's like flying a two-story apartment building," said wing commander Col. Mark Devine of the C-17 Globemaster III plane.

Egypt receives new US fighter jets

02/04/2013

Egypt and the United States held a joint ceremony in Cairo on Sunday to celebrate the delivery of four new fighter jets to the Egyptian Air Force. According to a statement released by the US embassy in Cairo, the delivery of the new F-16 warplanes confirms the two nations’ joint commitment to regional security.

Iran unveils its very own stealth fighter

02/04/2013

Iran has unveiled its newest combat jet, a domestically manufactured fighter-bomber that military officials claim can evade radar. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said in a ceremony broadcast on state TV that building the Qaher F-313, or Dominant F-313, shows Iran's will to "conquer scientific peaks."

Brazil Wants to Buy Russian Anti-Aircraft Weaponry – Defense Ministry

02/04/2013

Brazil’s Defense Ministry intends to discuss purchasing air defense systems from Russia during talks with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev later this month, the ministry said on Sunday. "We are interested in acquiring three batteries of Pantsir-S1 missiles and two batteries of Igla missiles," General Jose Carlos De Nardi, head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Brazilian Armed Forces, said in a statement.

Northrop Grumman Focuses on Global ISR Capabilities at Aero India 2013

02/03/2013

Northrop Grumman Corporation will highlight its industry-leading range of capabilities in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) including airborne early warning and control systems for maritime reconnaissance and unmanned aerial vehicles, at the Aero India 2013 exhibition and air show.

USN Mishaps, Mistakes Could Cost $1B

02/03/2013

The past year has been a banner one for the U.S. Navy in at least one unhappy category — major mishaps. The number of major mishaps involving aircraft carriers, ships and submarines was higher than in recent years, and the unbudgeted repair bill is just one more factor squeezing fleet maintenance accounts in the middle of the service’s fiscal crisis.

Romance sours: Russia loses another Indian defence deal

02/03/2013

Russia’s decades-old numero uno status in the Indian defence sector is under threat. This triggers questions about the more than half-century-old Indo-Russian ‘strategic partnership’ when the terminology ‘strategic partnership’ had not even entered the international lexicon.

$10-bn defence deal to be signed during Hollande's 2-day visit

02/03/2013

With an eye on large business deals, French President Hollande&select=1 target=_blank style=text-decoration:none;cursor:hand;>Francois Hollande is expected to arrive on a two-day visit to India on February 14. This would be his first visit to India since he took charge as president last year.

Pentagon expands probe of troubled components on fighter jet-sources

02/03/2013

The Pentagon is inspecting other components of the F-35 fighter jet in addition to the faulty fuel lines blamed for the grounding of the Marine Corps version of the warplane, two sources familiar with the program said on Friday. Vice Admiral David Dunaway, head of Naval Air Systems Command, asked for the expanded "material audit" this week after being briefed on plans by the Pentagon's F-35 program to resume training and test flights of the F-35B, the sources said.

Iran Unveils Radar-Evading Fighter

02/03/2013

Iran on Saturday unveiled an advanced fighter-bomber it claimed can evade radars, Iran’ state Press TV reported. Iranian Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi said the domestically manufactured Qaher-313 (Conqueror-313) “has a very low radar cross section” and is capable of conducting operations at low altitudes and carrying advanced weapons.