Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

U.S. military planes ferry French unit to Mali

01/23/2013

The U.S. military has flown five C-17 cargo sorties into the Malian capital to help bring a French mechanized infantry unit into the fight against al Qaeda-affiliated militants in the north of the country, Pentagon officials said on Tuesday. A small group of U.S. military troops, including two communications personnel, have been on the ground at the airport at Bamako temporarily to help coordinate the logistics for the C-17 flights, a military official said.

F-35C Completes First In-Flight Dual Refueling

01/23/2013

For the first time, two Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] F-35C Lightning II carrier variant test aircraft refueled together with a Lockheed Martin KC-130 Hercules in the sky above Patuxent River, Md. recently. The CV aircraft, known as CF-1 and CF-2, completed the milestone as part of an F-35 flight test program that will accomplish more than 1,000 flights in 2013. Later this year, Eglin AFB, Fla., will receive its first CV aircraft joining the F-35 pilot and maintainer training program there.

Prince Harry leaves Afghanistan after four month tour

01/22/2013

Prince Harry's second deployment in Afghanistan has come to an end. The third-in-the-line to the throne is on his way home, the Ministry of Defense confirmed today (Monday), CNN reports. In an interview with pool reporters on his flight back to the UK, the Apache helicopter pilot confirmed he had killed Taliban during his four month deployment. "(We) take a life to save a life. That's what we revolve around, I suppose," Captain Wales, as he's known in the military, is quoted as saying.

Indian Navy gets its most sophisticated system yet in P8-I Maritime Aircraft

01/22/2013

The aircraft, which is now being used for training by Indian naval personnel in coordination with the US Navy in the US, has the latest radars, electronic warfare systems, and weapons to kill hostile submarines, several of which lurk underwater in the Arabia Sea and Bay of Bengal around the Indian coast.

All rules followed

01/22/2013

Top military officials yesterday claimed that the just concluded defence purchase deal with Russia on state credit of $1 billion was done by following all existing rules and procedures of the country as well as maintaining the highest level of transparency. “The equipment to be purchased are highly essential for enhancing capability of the armed forces. The interest rate of the loan is 4.5 percent and will be paid in 20 instalments in next 15 years.

General Dynamics and Alenia Aermacchi Join Forces for U.S. Air Force T-X Trainer Competition

01/22/2013

General Dynamics and Alenia Aermacchi, a Finmeccanica company, announced today the signing of a Letter of Intent (LOI) to join forces and compete for the U.S. Air Force's T-X trainer program, which will replace aging T-38 trainer jets and related training systems.

Indian Jet Maker Declines Int’l Help

01/22/2013

India will not seek overseas help in setting up the production line for its homegrown Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) program, as state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) has told the Indian Defence Ministry that it will build the assembly line by itself, according to a HAL spokesman. The remarks are in contrast to media reports here that said HAL had approached overseas aircraft manufacturers, including Eurofighter of Germany, to help build the assembly line for the LCA.

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd to be integrator of fighter jets in MMRCA project: Defence Ministry

01/22/2013

The Defence Ministry today suggested that the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd would be the lead integrator for producing 108 multi-role combat aircraft in the country after French firm Dassault Aviation sought to play a bigger role in the multi-billion dollar project. "The role of HAL is already defined in the Request for Proposal for the MMRCA project.

Former top defence official defends handling of F-35 file, blames Harper government secrecy

01/22/2013

The man who for seven years oversaw billions of dollars in military contracts and purchasing is defending the way he and his Defence Department staff managed the F-35 stealth fighter program. In his first interview since retiring from the public service on Jan. 2, Dan Ross, the former assistant deputy minister of defence materiel, blames the Harper government’s culture of secrecy, and a lack of accountability at all levels of government, for the project having run so disastrously off the runway.

A Stronger Gulf Presence

01/22/2013

With or without sequestration, the Pentagon still has a big budget problem. Its efforts to comply with the 2011 stipulations of the Budget Control Act are unlikely to succeed fully. It has not cut enough weapons or forces to be confident that the budget ceilings imposed on it by that legislation can be respected.

Aero India show to begin on Feb 6 in Bangalore

01/22/2013

The ninth edition of Aero India, a biennial air show, will be held from February 6 to 10 at the Yelahanka Air Force station in Bangalore, with over 53 civil and military aircraft from leading manufacturers and suppliers across the globe participating in the premier air show of Asia. “I hope it will be bigger show compared to earlier editions.

Russia Sells Record $15 Bln of Arms in 2012

01/22/2013

Russia sold a record $15.16 billion worth of weaponry in 2012 while expanding its foreign client list, the Federal Military-Technical Cooperation Service (FSMTC) reported on Monday. “The volume of arms exports has reached $15.16 billion, according to preliminary calculations…which means that our plans have been fulfilled by 111.8 percent,” FSMTC chief Alexander Fomin told a government meeting on state defense contracts.

SAF expert: Y-20 outperforms Il-76

01/21/2013

A news spokesman of the Ministry of National Defence (MND) of the People's Republic of China (PRC) confirmed at the regular press conference of the MND held on December 27, 2012 that "China is independently developing its large transport aircraft to strengthen the building of air transport capability".

Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb: Who’s Who’s? Who is Behind the Terrorists?

01/21/2013

Who is behind the terrorist group which attacked the BP -Statoil-Sonatrach In Amenas Gas Field located directly on the Libyan border in south eastern Algeria? (see map below) The operation was coordinated by Mokhtar Belmokhtar, leader of the Al Qaeda affiliated Islamist al-Mulathameen (Masked) Brigade, or “Those who Sign with Blood.”

Gladiators soar in F/A-18 Super Hornets

01/21/2013

No doubt you've seen them overhead. Or, at the very least, heard them. Strike Fighter Squadron 106 (VFA-106), also known as the Gladiators, are busy right now training the best fighter pilots of the Navy and Marines for war. Facing the Gladiators in the air is one of the last training regimes in a pipeline of challenges facing the country's best aviators.

China-Japan island dispute: Beijing orders helicopter units to be combat ready

01/21/2013

Amid rising tensions with Japan over disputed islands, Chinese army in a bid to scale up battle readiness has ordered its armed helicopters to shift focus from logistic missions and gear up for combat operations. The People's Liberation Army (PLA) planned to change the training strategy of its army aviation unit as more and more armed helicopters joined the service, PLA Daily which is the official newspaper of the military quoted an army aviation unit as saying.

Agreement Finalized for US Engines for Indigenous Indian Fighter Jet

01/21/2013

India has finalized an agreement for 99 GE 414 engines to power its indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA). This is the first, and significant, engine contract for GE Aviation to power fighter jets for India and the LCA will be the first combat aircraft in the inventory of the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Indian Navy with engines from the US. Both services have US-made transport aircraft though and all the three US engine majors, GE, Honeywell and Pratt & Whitney have supplied power units for them

How The French Air War In Mali Really Went Down

01/21/2013

Launched on Jan. 11, 2013, at the request of the Malian authorities and the United Nations to help the local army stop the advance of rebel groups towards southern Mali, the French military campaign in West Africa, dubbed “Operation Serval” kicked off with a raid performed by attack helicopters to stop the progression of a column of jihadist elements enroute to Konna, near Mopti in the center of the country.

F-35B grounded following fuel leak during takeoff

01/21/2013

F-35B aircraft under evaluation were grounded Friday after a fuel line part failed and caused a Wednesday testing takeoff to be aborted. The Pentagon’s official “red stripe” suspends flight operations until an engineering investigation is complete for the short take off and vertical landing version of the plane being developed to replace most Marine Corps aircraft.

Russia Offers Help to Transport French Troops to Mali

01/21/2013

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said Moscow has offered its help to Paris in transporting French troops and supplies to crisis-hit Mali. "The Russians have proposed to provide means of transport for the French," Fabius said in the interview with Europe 1 radio on Sunday. The Russian Foreign Ministry has not made official comment on the statement, which was made following Saturday’s phone conversation between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his French counterpart.

Nigeria: Air Force Deploys Two Alpha Jets to Mali

01/20/2013

Nigerian Air Force (NAF) in continuation of its forces deployment to Mali has sent two Alpha Jets to strengthen the ECOWAS intervention force battling extremist rebel forces in Mali's northern flank. The fighter jets, which was authorized for combat operation by the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh, took off yesterday from the domestic wing of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

Tyndall aids in airspace superiority

01/20/2013

Since 1953, no enemy aircraft has fired on American ground troop service members, according to Lt. Col. Lance A. Wilkins. That airspace superiority is due to testing completed in conditions that are safe and controlled but as close to combat as possible, said Wilkins, commander of the 82nd Aerial Target Squadron on Tyndall Air Force Base. He said they are doing their part to continue that tradition.

Washington: China Escalates Military Activity Around Japan, Senkakus

01/20/2013

Over the past year, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has been increasingly assertive regarding its various maritime claims—both in the South China Sea with various Southeast Asian states, as well as in the East China Sea—with America’s Japanese ally. Part of this effort has seen a larger, more constant Chinese presence in the areas around the Senkaku Islands.

Foreign nations supplying aircraft for Mali intervention

01/20/2013

Several Western and African nations are supplying transport and combat aircraft in support of the operation to free Mali from Islamist rebels, including Canada, the UK and Nigeria. The Nigerian Air Force’s Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Alex Barde, on Wednesday said that the Nigerian Air Force would start deploying aircraft to Mali in order to assist the country contain Islamist fighters. “As I speak to you now, our airplanes have arrived in Port Harcourt,” he said.

Russia ‘Flexes Muscles’ in Mediterranean Amid Syrian Crisis

01/20/2013

Russia has started the largest naval exercises in the past few decades in the Mediterranean and Black Seas as a civil war in Syria continues to gain momentum. The drills involve task forces from Russia’s Black Sea, Northern and Baltic fleets, strategic bombers, tactical aircraft, air defense units, paratroopers and naval infantry.