Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Sikorsky, Boeing Partner for Joint Multi-Role Future Vertical Lift Requirements

01/19/2013

Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp., and Boeing signed a teaming agreement on Jan. 13 to submit a joint proposal in response to the U.S. Army Aviation Applied Technology Directorate solicitation for the Army's Joint Multi-Role (JMR) Technology Demonstrator (TD) Phase 1 program.

UAV competition launched for UAE

01/19/2013

Northrop Grumman and Abu Dhabi's Higher College of Technology have launched the 2013 Innovation Challenge unmanned aircraft competition. The event, which is open to the public as spectators, will be held April 23-24 at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

General Dynamics And Alenia Aermacchi Join Forces On U.S. Air Force Trainer Program

01/18/2013

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. The agreement leverages General Dynamics’ legacy of successfully integrating and delivering large, complex systems to the U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy and other government customers.

India mulls huge rise in French Rafale combat jet order, may buy up to 189 jets in multi-billion dollar deal

01/18/2013

India could buy up to 189 of the Rafale fighter jets currently being used by France to bomb Islamist militants in Mali, sources close to negotiations on the multi-billion dollar deal have told AFP.The possibility of an additional 63 jets being added to an expected order for 126 was raised during a visit by India's Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid to Paris last week, they said.

Swedish government approves 60-aircraft Gripen E programme

01/18/2013

Sweden's government has approved a proposal by the armed forces to acquire 60 Saab Gripen E combat aircraft, delivering a major boost for the developmental version of the manufacturer's flagship product. Confirmed on 17 January, the decision to field the new aircraft from 2018 is also of significance to the Swiss government, which last year signed a framework agreement with its Swedish counterpart to jointly advance the E-model programme.

Canadian C-17 completes first cargo drop to Mali in support of France

01/18/2013

Canada's C-17 heavy-lift military transport plane touched down on Malian soil for the first time Thursday carrying a French military armoured vehicle among other equipment. The aircraft departed Le Tube, France, and landed in Bamako, Mali's capital, arriving at 10 a.m. local time (5 a.m. ET). Jay Paxton, spokesman for Defence Minister Peter MacKay, said the aircraft also carried 900 kilograms of batteries.

Pilots Hone Skills in Helicopter Simulators

01/18/2013

The weather outside the cockpit looked frightful for CH-47 Chinook pilots, Capt. Ron Braasch and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Ryan Drouin as they approached Simmons Army Airfield, Jan 10. Once they had safely landed and logged their flight hours, the two 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade aviators stepped into the parking lot where the weather was bright and sunny — a far cry from the fog, rain, snow and ice they encountered during their flight.

Kazakhstan buys new military aircraft

01/18/2013

The Kazakh Air Force fleet is being replenished with new generation aircraft for the first time during the 20-year history of independent Kazakhstan, the defence ministry said today. 'Today, Astana's air base has received two C-295 aircraft from the European aviation group Airbus from Spain', the report says. According to the Defence Ministry's information, the Kazakh Air Force fleet will be replenished with eight C-295 aircraft up till late 2018.

Airbus Says A400M Military Plane To Enter Service Soon

01/18/2013

The European aircraft manufacturer Airbus said Jan. 17 that it was on track to deliver its badly needed new A400M transport plane to the French air force in the second quarter of this year, after its latest problems with engines were resolved.

Lockheed Martin Receives $90 Million U.S. Army Apache M-TADS/PNVS Performance Based Logistics Contract

01/18/2013

Lockheed Martin has received a $90.6 million Performance Based Logistics (PBL) contract from the U.S. Army for sustainment of the Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor (M-TADS/PNVS) system. The firm, fixed price contract provides a comprehensive sustainment solution that enables mission readiness, reduces operation and support costs, and drives reliability and maintainability improvements.

Russian T-50 Fighter Jet Completes First Long-Range Flight

01/18/2013

Russia's prototype fifth-generation Sukhoi T-50 fighter jet has carried out its first long-range flight during the transfer from a manufacturing plant in Russia’s Far East to an assigned airfield near Moscow, deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said on Thursday. “It is a serious breakthrough! The plane flew 7,000 kilometers (4,350 miles), making two landings, in Abakan and Chelyabinsk, on the way to the Russian capital.

US, Kyrgyzstan Continue Transit Center Talks – Diplomat

01/18/2013

The United States and Kyrgyzstan are continuing talks on the future of a US military transit center at Manas international airport, US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert Blake said on Thursday. “We are currently discussing the future of the Transit Center in Manas, but I would rather not speculate on the possible outcome of these discussions,” Blake, who arrived in Bishkek to attend bilateral Kyrgyz-US consultations, told reporters.

Reserves receive first MV-22 Osprey squadron; looking for good Marines

01/17/2013

Marine Forces Reserve has never had a V-22 Osprey squadron—until now. Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 764 (HMM-764) transitioned into the Reserve’s first Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM-764) during a three-part ceremony here Jan 12, 2013. “It was kind of one big last event to say goodbye,” said Lt. Col David A. Weinstein, commanding officer of VMM-764.

P8-Is: Indian Navy's eye in the sky

01/17/2013

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 Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal around the Indian coast.

F-35 Software: DoD's Chief Tester Not Impressed

01/17/2013

Last September, U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Christopher Bogdan, the then incoming director of the troubled F-35 program, said that he was not optimistic that all the program's current problems—especially those related to software, which has long been a sore point (pdf)—would be fixed in time to meet the services’ planned initial operational capabilities, beginning with the Marine Cops in about 2 years.

Germany sending transport planes Mali effort; ECOWAS head says troops to be deployed "quickly"

01/17/2013

Germany's defence minister said Wednesday the country will send two military aircraft to help transport African troops to aid in the international effort to drive back al-Qaida-linked insurgents in Mali — a deployment the head of a multi-nation West African regional group said he hoped could "go quickly."

Japan Mulls Military Equipment Near Disputed Isles

01/17/2013

Japan may station military equipment on islands near an archipelago at the center of a dispute with China, officials said Jan. 16, after a number of airborne near-confrontations. The defense ministry will ask for money in the next fiscal year to study the idea of putting mobile radars and communication systems on islands near the Japan-controlled Senkakus, which Beijing calls the Diaoyus, a defense spokesman said.

Military Moves Closer to Truly Autonomous Drones

01/17/2013

Imagine a flying machine equipped with bombs and missiles, navigating the skies stealthily without human control. Soon it will be a reality: the next generation of drones. Drones currently used in combat, like the Predator or Reaper, are navigated by pilots thousands of miles away. But the latest versions of the aircraft are being designed to fly autonomously and without direct human intervention, with a pilot taking charge only when it’s time to destroy a ground target.

Inside the F-35, the world's most futuristic fighter jet

01/17/2013

An aviation fantasy from the realms of Star Wars, the F-35 is the most sophisticated, expensive and controversial jet fighter ever produced. Jonathan Glancey takes its flight simulator for a spin.

Egypt doubles its C295 fleet with new Airbus order

01/17/2013

The Egyptian Air Force will double its C295 transport fleet following an order with Airbus Military today for six additional aircraft bringing the fleet to a total of 12 aircraft. This third batch of aircraft plus the associated spares and support equipment, training and field support are to be delivered from the end of 2013 onwards.

Saudi Arabia awards new Tornado engine support contract to Rolls-Royce

01/17/2013

Following agreement between the Governments of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom, under the Saudi British Defence Cooperation Programme, Rolls-Royce has signed a contract to provide support for engines powering the Royal Saudi Air Force fleet of Tornado combat aircraft.

INDIA, THE A330MRTT AND EXPANDED DEFENSE OF INDIA

01/16/2013

Often, the acquisition of a new defense platform is discussed in terms of itself and the entire operational impact or strategic context is lost. This is the usual case with the most innovative air tanker solution to date, namely the A330MRTT. The A330MRTT deployed as a fleet can provide a significant deployable airborne infrastructure to support wide-ranging military and security operations.

AgustaWestland Wins First Wildcat Export Deal With South Korea

01/16/2013

Finmeccanica SpA (FNC)’s AgustaWestland has won a first export order for the AW159 Wildcat after South Korea said it would buy eight of the helicopters to strengthen its navy’s ability to combat ships and submarines.

U.S. Buying More Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) Rockets After Successful Use In Afghanistan

01/16/2013

As a result of its continued success in theater, the U.S. Navy is buying more BAE Systems Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) rockets. The company recently signed a $28 million full-rate production contract with options to produce more APKWS rockets for the Navy. The latest award increases the total full-rate production contract value to $69 million and extends production through 2014.

Cyber War Stakes Rising

01/16/2013

U.S. intelligence officials have warned as nation-sponsored cyber warfare goes mainstream this year, attacks on U.S. installations and institutions could result not just in damage and theft but in fatalities. They believe fatalities could occur and “that is the best estimate at this point,” said the former senior intelligence official.