Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Airbus’ military arm wows potential buyers at Dubai Airshow

11/22/2013

With a wingspan of 41.5 metres and 45 metres wide, the Airbus Military A400M Atlas airlifter is second in size only to the Boeing C-17. The A400M took the stage at its first international airshow as the European defence manufacturer looked to build on the one-third market share it currently enjoys in global heavy-lift transport orders, according to Reuters. The National photographer Christopher Pike took to the air for a trip in the French behemoth.

US envoy confirms upcoming massive Israel-US air drill

11/22/2013

The US, Greek, Polish and Italian air forces will participate in an Israeli Air Force combat exercise later this month, American Ambassador Dan Shapiro confirmed. The Times of Israel reported earlier this month that this will be the largest international air drill ever held in Israel, and it comes amid high tensions over Iran’s nuclear program.

Maker of V-22 Osprey encouraged by foreign interest

11/22/2013

The head of Bell Helicopter said on Tuesday he was encouraged by foreign interest in the V-22 tilt-rotor aircraft that his company builds with Boeing Co, but Bell may face additional layoffs if not enough orders emerge. John Garrison, president and chief executive of Bell Helicopter, a unit of Textron Inc, said the U.S. Marine Corps' use of the V-22 to provide disaster relief in the Philippines illustrated the capabilities of the aircraft, which can fly as fast as a plane but land like a helicop

Marine Ospreys Proving Their Worth in Philippines

11/22/2013

Flying over a village that had been slammed by Typhoon Haiyan, Osprey crew chief Sgt. William Kaker saw a big Philippines flag staked out on the ground with a sign that read "God Help Us." The crew marked the area for a supply drop. "We have gone to some rural areas looking for open fields to get into," said Kaker, 28, of Murfreesboro, Tenn. "We don't see anybody at first, but by the time we land, people come out by the hundreds out of nowhere."

BAE share price: UK defence contractor signs deal with Brazilian Air Force

11/22/2013

BAE Systems (LON:BA) has finalised an industrial cooperation deal with the Brazilian Air Force as part of a supply deal with Embraer, the UK’s flagship defence contractor has announced. BAE’s share price has fallen one percent in early morning trading in London today.

AF special operations group key to aid effort after Typhoon Haiyan

11/22/2013

he Air Force's 353rd Special Operations Group opened a third airfield in Borongan, Republic of the Philippines Nov. 18, to facilitate a more efficient distribution of relief supplies to outlying areas as part of Operation Damayan. The group has opened airstrips at Ormoc, Guiuan and Borongan on Samar Island, located among the Philippines' central islands.

Saudi Arabia's Global Arms Shopping Spree

11/22/2013

Saudi Arabia has emerged as the biggest foreign customer for German arms, buying nearly a quarter of Germany's total weapons sales. It's part of an emerging pattern of weapons purchases by Saudi Arabia and its neighbor, the United Arab Emirates. Saudi Arabia was the world's 10th-largest weapons importer in 2008-2012 (the Emirates was No. 9). And Saudi Arabia is expected to be among the top five for 2013-17 "due to major outstanding orders.

U.S. Air Forces Central Command Public Affairs

11/22/2013

Air Force officials quickly made the decision Nov. 20 to move, or launch, Department of Defense aircraft from the 2013 Dubai Airshow here due to forecasted high winds and lightning with pending sandstorms and thunderstorms, Nov. 21. "Moving aircraft is the absolute right call," said Lt. Col. Mark Harris, airshow maintenance boss deployed from the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing and a Hickoryville, N.C., native.

China’s first stealth combat drone takes maiden flight - reports

11/22/2013

The first Chinese stealth unmanned combat drone conducted a successful maiden flight Thursday, according to accounts by Chinese media and photos taken from a popular Chinese military website. Lijian, or “sharp sword” in English, aced its first test flight in southwest China, making the People’s Republic of China the fourth nation to successfully fly a stealth unmanned aerial vehicle.

Armenia Says It's Ready to Host Russian Combat Helicopters

11/22/2013

Armenia will allocate additional space at the Erebuni air base to host a Russian helicopter squadron being formed to strengthen the Russian air contingent in the former Soviet state, Armenia’s deputy defense minister said Thursday. Russia’s 3624th Air Base at Erebuni Airport in Yerevan currently hosts at least 16 MiG-29 Fulcrum fighter jets operating under air defense agreements concluded between the members of the Commonwealth of Independent States.

Camp Grayling lands $7 million flight simulator for helicopter pilots

11/21/2013

Camp Grayling unveiled a $7 million investment that will allow Black Hawk helicopter pilots from across the country and from other nations to complete simulated flight training. The Transportable Black Hawk Operations Simulator (T-BOS), is located at the Grayling Army Airfield. Col. Erich Randall, garrison commander for Camp Grayling, said the flight simulator cost $7 million and the building it is housed in cost $750,000.

Members only: Europe opens ‘drone club’ to compete with US, Israel

11/21/2013

France, Germany and other European countries on Tuesday announced the creation of a "drone users club" to go head-to-head against US- and Israeli-made pilotless aerial vehicles that now dominate the skies. At a time when aerial-vehicles are radically altering the modern battlefield, Europe finds itself playing catch up in the race to develop what it calls Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) pilotless aircraft.

Embedded in the Philippines: Report from a helo aid mission

11/21/2013

Filipinos began to appear, pointing and waving, as the MH-60 Seahawk circled over a village looking for a safe place to land. Loaded out with relief supplies, the chopper with the Navy’s Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 12, based aboard George Washington, was headed to hard-hit areas.

S. Korea set to decide on purchase of Lockheed F-35As

11/21/2013

South Korea is expected to decide this week to purchase Lockheed Martin's F-35A stealth fighters without opening bidding for its new fighter jet program, sources familiar with the matter said Thursday. The Joint Chiefs of Staff will hold a meeting of top commanders on Friday to confirm the required operational capability, the number of jets and the delivery schedule for the acquisition program, which will be more favorable conditions for the F-35 with advanced radar-evading capabilities.

War Over the Warthogs

11/21/2013

It’s old, it’s slow, it’s ugly, and—unlike a Swiss army knife—the Air’s Force’s A-10 Thunderbolt II can only do one thing: help grunts on the ground. So think of it as the military equivalent of Grandma’s tarnished turkey-carving knife that only comes out at Thanksgiving. It does a fine job on the old bird, but can a cash-strapped Air Force afford to keep the A-10 flying when its sole mission is to save the lives of U.S. troops in trouble?

SAAB remains confident on securing fighter jets contract

11/21/2013

Swedish jet maker SAAB remains optimistic of securing an order for its Gripen fighter jets from the Malaysian government, which has now delayed plans to phase out the ageing fleet of 18 Russian-made MIG-29 of the Royal Malaysian Air Force. The replacement plan, worth billions, was deferred by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Razak as the country focuses on trimming its fiscal deficit.

New plane uses super speed to combat 21st century threats

11/21/2013

Lockheed Martin’s Advanced Development Programs division revealed to Aviation Week last week plans for a hypersonic spy aircraft that could reach speeds up to six times the speed of sound. The hypersonic intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft, known as the SR-72, is twice as fast as its predecessor, the SR-71 Blackbird. It can penetrate high altitudes, allowing the SR-72 to survive where other advanced aircraft and unmanned vehicles may not.

Boeing to Finmeccanica Await Middle East Combat Plane Selections

11/21/2013

Boeing Co., the world’s largest aircraft maker, and European rivals are awaiting a slew of combat-plane purchases from prospective Middle East buyers as they aim to secure the future of jet production lines. Kuwait may decide next year about a purchase of as many as 40 jets, Giuseppe Giordo, head of Finmeccanica SpA’s Alenia Aermacchi unit that leads the Typhoon campaign for the Eurofighter joint venture, said in an interview at the Dubai Air Show.

Russian Military Gets 67 Combat Aircraft This Year

11/21/2013

The Russian military is getting a total of 67 new combat aircraft this year, an official from the United Aircraft Corporation said Wednesday. “Sixty-seven new aircraft were slated to be delivered in 2013, and they will all be delivered,” Vladimir Mikhailov, director of military aviation programs at the UAC, said at a roundtable conference on state defense contracts hosted by RIA Novosti.

Russia's Baltic Fleet to Receive New Transport Plane

11/21/2013

A new military transport plane will be put in service with Russia’s Baltic Fleet by the end of this year, a spokesman for the Western Military District said Wednesday. The An-140-100 plane is a lightweight turboprop cargo aircraft designed by Ukraine’s Antonov bureau and manufactured under license in Russia by the Aviacor aviation plant in the Volga region.

Philippines sets out new plan to deliver typhoon aid

11/20/2013

The Philippines will divide up the typhoon-ravaged central Visayas islands between countries to maximise relief efforts, a senior officer has said, as President Benigno Aquino made efforts to improve aid distribution 11 days after the storm hit. The country is still struggling to get aid to devastated areas due to the extent of the destruction, which has left four million people displaced.

Italian Air Force Chief Speaks On F-35: Lt. Gen. Preziosa

11/20/2013

Lt. Gen. (ret.) David Deptula noted the crucial importance to the United States of an expanded role of coalition airpower at a key fighter conference in London. “the future needs an agile operational framework for the integrated employment of allied military power,” Deptula said. “Multi-nationality may be the only way to meet our fighter force requirements.”

Gulf Cooperation Council Defense Budgets Steadily Rising

11/20/2013

Defense spending by GCC nations is steadily rising, despite the decline in the West. Defense spending in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates (UAE) is estimated to have grown about 20 percent from 2011 to 2012, according to budget figures compiled by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, the International Institute for Strategic Studies and the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), all independent think tanks.

East Lancashire-based defence giant BAE denies jet deal is signed

11/20/2013

AN East Lancashire-based defence giant has denied that it has already signed a deal with the United Arab Emirates for 60 Typhoon fighter jets. A spokesman for defence company BAE Systems, which is based in Samlesbury and Wart-on, said that ‘positive’ talks have been going on between them, the UAE, and the government for ‘some time’. However, the company has refused to be drawn on when a deal might be signed, and for exactly how much it might be worth.

Senator Moves to Block A-10 Warthog Retirement

11/20/2013

A Republican senator on a leading defense panel in Congress has moved to block the Air Force's plans to retire the A-10 Warthog attack plane. Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., working with Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., has introduced an amendment to the 2014 National Defense Authorization Act that would limit the service's ability to retire the aircraft. The legislation sets policy goals and spending targets for the fiscal year that began Oct. 1.