Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

German Herons log 15,000 Combat-Operation Hours in Afghanistan

07/23/2013

At the beginning of July, the German Heron 1 UAS logged its 15,000th operational flight hour. The three systems, which are operated by Cassidian subsidiary Airborne Solutions on behalf of the German Air Force – the Luftwaffe, are stationed in Mazar-e-Sharif in north Afghanistan where they are serviced by an experienced team of engineers, pilots and UAS specialists.

Unmanned Aircraft Launched from PAXRVR Completes First Arrested Landing Aboard Aircraft Carrier

07/23/2013

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) and the U.S. Navy have completed the first arrested landing of the X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) carrier demonstration aircraft on the deck of the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77).

North Korean–Cuban Arms Shipment Shows Need to Tighten Sanctions

07/23/2013

Even by North Korean standards, the story was odd. To a world used to North Korean exports of weapons, the seizure of a North Korean ship carrying arms from Cuba was unique. Pyongyang’s attempted transshipment of antiquated weapons revealed much about the North Korean regime.

Boeing Delivers Indian Air Force's 2nd C-17 Globemaster III

07/23/2013

Boeing delivered the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) second C-17 Globemaster III today, a month after India’s first C-17 arrived in the country and immediately began supporting IAF operations. This second IAF C-17 also will immediately enter service. India will receive 10 aircraft by 2014.

Kalashnikov Gun Maker Lands $400 Mln Missile Contract

07/23/2013

Russia's Izhmash arms factory, manufacturer of the legendary Kalashnikov assault rifle, has won a 13 billion ruble (about $400 million) Defense Ministry tender for antitank missiles, the company said Monday, in one of its “largest state orders in recent years.” Izhmash is to deliver Vikhr-1 long-range, supersonic antiarmor missiles by the end of 2015, company CEO Konstantin Busygin said.

Turkish, US Military Inspectors to Fly Over Russia

07/23/2013

Military inspectors from Turkey and the United States will fly over Russia’s territory starting from Monday as part of the international Open Skies Treaty, Russia’s Defense Ministry said. “In the period between July 22 and July 26, experts from Turkey and the United States will make a surveillance flight above the territory of Russia on board Turkey’s CN-235 plane,” the ministry said in a statement.

Drone builder foils Air Force frugality fling

07/22/2013

With billions of dollars in spending reductions looming, Air Force officials looked around last year for a program they could cut that was underperforming, had busted its budget and wasn't vital to immediate combat needs.

Vietnam receives 3rd military aircraft ordered from Spain

07/22/2013

The last of three aircrafts Vietnam ordered from Airbus Military in Spain arrived in Hanoi Tuesday, Vietnam’s Marine Police Department said. The CASA C212 of the -400 series joined the other two aircrafts of the same type in the fleet, which is managed and operated by the 918th brigade of Vietnam’s air force. They will be used for sea surveillance, detecting warships and submarines and defending Vietnamese territory.

Boeing Awaits Approval for Air Force Tanker

07/22/2013

Boeing is awaiting the U.S. Air Force’s confirmation for the company to start building tankers that will work to refuel in-flight combat aircraft, Reuters reported Thursday. Matt Haldane writes the Air Force evaluated the KC-46 tanker’s design in July as part of the final test before proceeding with production for the $52 billion program.

U.S. Navy Orders More Joint Standoff Weapons For Super Hornet

07/22/2013

Raytheon recently received an $80.5 million production contract award from the U.S. Navy to procure Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) C-1's for the Super Hornet. This is the second order for the weapon system.

Editorial: Mapping Europe's Defense Future

07/22/2013

Harmonizing defense procurement across Europe has been a decades-long goal, one rekindled as military spending plunges. For the first time in a decade, top European leaders will meet in December to consider joint projects and how to better integrate Europe’s disparate and sprawling industrial base. European Union Internal Market Commissioner Michel Barnier wants to develop a new medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aircraft as an alternative to America’s Reaper.

‘Price escalations and export restrictions affect us the most’

07/22/2013

RK Tyagi, alumni of IIT Roorkee, took over as Chairman of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in March 2012. He spoke to HT on a range of issues concerning the company's growth, challenges and future targets.

Despite profits, air show pays the price

07/22/2013

The Marine Corps released figures last week showing that the Miramar Air Show makes an annual profit of about $1.5 million, giving fuel to critics who question whether the Pentagon should have grounded military flights for this year’s show.

NATO and partners to conduct air-defence flying training over Iceland

07/22/2013

The Iceland Fighter Meet 2014 (IFM14) will bring together fighter aircraft from NATO member Norway (F-16 Fighting Falcon), and from partner countries Finland (F-18 Hornet) and Sweden (JAS Gripen), to conduct a wide range of air defence-related flying activities. These will include air combat training between dissimilar aircraft types, defensive and offensive counter-air operations and high-value airborne asset attack and protection.

U.S. military drone surveillance is expanding to hot spots beyond declared combat zones

07/22/2013

The steel-gray U.S. Air Force Predator drone plunged from the sky, shattering on mountainous terrain near the Iraq-Turkey border. For Kurdish guerrillas hiding nearby, it was an unexpected gift from the propaganda gods.

Britain is stepping up the Taranis UCAV development

07/21/2013

The concept demonstrator, known as Taranis, is sitting at the remote Woomera test center in South Australia in preparation for a first flight scheduled for September, said the sources, who asked not to be named. The first flight follows a three-year delay and more than 55 million pounds (US $83.1 million) in additional costs caused by technical issues, an increase in the list of requirements and extended risk mitigation work on Taranis.

Impact of US warfare center felt globally

07/21/2013

In the shadow of the Nellis Air Force Base flag, recessed behind an impeccable green lawn, sits the US Air Force Warfare Center, where the decisions made every day reach far beyond the Nellis gate; overseas and directly into conflicts around the world.

India Considers New Partnership Options For Kaveri Engine

07/21/2013

India’s Defense Research Development Organization (DRDO) has confirmed that it has abandoned plans to jointly develop and produce the Kaveri military aircraft engine solely with France’s Snecma. The change in plan has come after India ordered 99 of General Electric’s F-414 engines—in preference to the Eurojet 2000 engine—for its indigenous Light Combat Aircraft Mark II program, for which the Kaveri is supposed to be an alternative powerplant.

Mauritania Receives Brazilian-made Super Tucano Jet Fighter

07/20/2013

Mauritanian Air Force has received its first Brazilian-made Super Tucano jet fighter under a military deal passed last march with the aircraft manufacturer Embraer, without saying how many planes will be delivered to the African nation.

U.S. Navy orders Northrop Grumman E-2D Advanced Hawkeye military aircraft, keeps program on track for 2015

07/20/2013

Northrop Grumman Corp. (NYSE:NOC) won a $113.7 million U.S. Navy advance acquisition contract for long lead materials and related support for five full-rate production Lot 2 E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft.

Russian planes and ships demonstrate economic and political power

07/20/2013

The drills that were launched on the night of July 13 in Russia, following the order from the Supreme Commander to check the combat readiness of the Eastern Military District, have become the largest military exercise of the Russian Armed Forces. In fact, the drills have not finished yet, but it is possible to come to certain conclusions already.

Australia grants 4 military aircraft to Indonesia

07/20/2013

Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro and Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Greg Moriarty signed an agreement to grant four C-130 type Hercules aircraft to Indonesia, on Friday. “One of the aircraft, with tail number A97-006, is ready to be delivered,” said Purnomo after the signing of ceremony at the Defense Ministry on Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat in Jakarta, as quoted by tempo.co.

Russia 'to buy two UAE-made drones'

07/20/2013

The country's military intends to purchase aerial drones from Abu Dhabi company Adcom Systems, according to a Russian defence industry official who was quoted yesterday by the Russian state news agency, RIA Novosti. "We are talking about at least two United 40 Block 5 models developed by the company Adcom Systems," the source told the agency. The United Yabhon 40 is a medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

Why Russia’s guns won’t save Assad

07/20/2013

Russia's decision to furnish Syria with its advanced S-300 missile defense system has sparked a wave of commentary on how the transfer will affect the Syrian government's military posture and staying power. Israel seems to be doing everything it can to convince Moscow not to go through with the promised delivery.

North Carolina-based Fighter Squadron Resumes Flying

07/20/2013

After being stood down for more than three months, the 336th Fighter Squadron here was given the green light July 17 to resume flying hours and get back to combat mission-ready status. The decision comes from congressional action on the $1.8 billion overseas contingency operations reprogramming action that made peacetime dollars available. In mid-July, the Air Force Council approved the use of $208 million of those dollars to restore flying hours for affected units.