Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

The future of aerial combat

07/02/2013

Back in the summer of 1977, “in a galaxy far, far away,” a strapping young pilot named Luke Skywalker hopped into the seat of an X-wing fighter and, with fellow pilots from the Rebel Alliance, did aerial combat with more advanced TIE fighters from the Galactic Empire. Dogfights occurred at supersonic speeds, with tremendous casualties all around, and Skywalker managed to penetrate the innermost defenses and destroy the Death Star, saving the Alliance from certain annihilation.

Lockheed Martin Launches Lockheed Martin International

07/02/2013

Lockheed Martin Corporation [NYSE: LMT] launched Lockheed Martin International (LMI) today, a new organization responsible for strengthening international customer relationships and industrial partnerships, and growing the company’s global business. Patrick M. Dewar, 52, has been named Executive Vice President of LMI and will continue as a corporate officer.

Russian Military Inspectors to Fly Over Norway

07/02/2013

Russian military inspectors will make surveillance flights over the territory of Norway under the international Open Skies Treaty over a period starting Monday, a Russian Defense Ministry spokesman said. Russian experts will conduct the inspection flights on board an Antonov An-30B (Clank) aircraft between July 1 and 6, the spokesman told journalists.

PROBE INTO BASE ATTACK ZEROS IN ON GURGANUS

07/01/2013

U.S. Central Command has extended its investigation into the deadly 2012 insurgent attack on Camp Bastion, threatening the potential third star of a Camp Pendleton general who oversaw the base complex in southwestern Afghanistan. The probe is focusing on whether commanders were negligent because 15 heavily armed Taliban fighters were able to penetrate the base, NATO’s regional headquarters.

Israeli Weapon Systems on the Flying Gunship?

07/01/2013

Israeli sources confirmed that Israeli weapon system may be offered to the package of the MC-27J aircraft equipped with a 30 mm gun. The planned gunship variant of the C-27J will undertake the first test firings of its 30mm cannon while slaved to an electro-optical/infrared sensor at the end of this year or early 2014. i-hls reports.

Air Marshal Arup Raha to take over as IAF Vice Chief

07/01/2013

Veteran fighter pilot Air Marshal Arup Raha will take over as Vice Chief of Air Staff succeeding Air Marshal D C Kumaria, who retired Sunday. Raha, who is a front runner for the post of Air Chief after retirement of Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne in December- end, is currently commanding IAF's sword-arm Western Air Command here. He will take over as Vice Chief of Air Staff Monday, Western Air Command PRO Gp Capt Sandeep Mehta said.

B-52 fleet to get communications upgrades

07/01/2013

Installation of a communications system upgrade earmarked for the venerable U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bomber fleet, the bulk of which is at Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier Parish, is scheduled to start here in July. The Combat Network Communications Technology system will enable aircrews to send and receive information via satellite links, allowing them to change mission plans and retarget weapons while in flight.

Long-delayed Astra missile will finally be test-fired

07/01/2013

India's first air-to-air Astra missile is finally back on track now after an excruciatingly long delay due to technical glitches. The beyond visual range (BVR) missile, with an eventual strike range of over 100km, will be fired for the first time from a Sukhoi-30MKI fighter this year.

Beyond military drones – the future of unmanned flight

07/01/2013

In April of this year, a BAE Systems Jetstream research aircraft flew from Preston in Lancashire, England, to Inverness, Scotland and back. This 500-mile (805 km) journey wouldn't be worth noting if it weren't for the small detail that its pilot was not on board, but sitting on the ground in Warton, Lancashire and that the plane did most of the flying itself.

Sidewinder Sustains Its Market Superiority

06/30/2013

Saudi Arabia and South Korea recently ordered over 150 AIM-9X Block 2 air-to-air heat seeking missiles. Both nations have used this missile for decades and are satisfied customers. They are not alone. The AIM-9X Block 2 is the latest version of the Sidewinder, a missile that has come a long way since it first appeared in the 1950s.

Assad-busters: At a secret base in Jordan, U.S Special forces are training Syrian rebels for war...but loads fear sleeper cells in their nation will wreak a terrible revenge

06/30/2013

Flying low over the Jordanian desert, F-16 fighter jets flatten targets in the sand while tanks unleash their deadly firepower and paratroopers dot the late afternoon sky. These were the scenes a fortnight ago in Operation Eager Lion, the United States-led exercise involving 8,000 service personnel that the military insists was only routine. In Jordan, though, the war games now feel like a precursor to the invasion of neighbouring Syria. And not just because live rounds were fired.

Marine gen. in limbo over Bastion attack

06/30/2013

U.S. Central Command has extended its investigation into the deadly 2012 insurgent attack on Camp Bastion, threatening the potential third star of a Camp Pendleton general who oversaw the base complex in southwestern Afghanistan.

The Unreported Revolution In Air Combat

06/30/2013

One of the major, and little mentioned, revolutions in air combat is the availability of more powerful and reliable helmet mounted displays and sights. This enables a pilot to “look and shoot” as well as keep their heads up more of the time and more quickly make decisions in air-to-air combat.

France To Purchase 16 Reaper UAVs In $1.5 Billion Deal

06/29/2013

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress today of a possible Foreign Military Sale to France of 16 MQ-9 Reaper Remotely Piloted Aircraft and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $1.5 billion.

Stealth Curbed By Uncertainty Over Acquisition And Support Costs

06/29/2013

Delays to the Joint Strike Fighter program and uncertainty over acquisition and support costs have ruled out one-for-one replacement of inventory fighters in the U.S. fleet for well over a decade. Half of the U.S. Air Force fighter force in 2030 will comprise conventional aircraft, according to current fleet plans outlined to Congress, and slated F-35C numbers and acquisition rates are being questioned at the highest levels of the U.S. Navy.

Air Force doubles F-35s planned for Ariz. base

06/29/2013

The number of F-35 Lightning II training squadrons coming to Luke Air Force Base has doubled, which should secure the Phoenix-area base's future as it draws down its F-16 jet inventory. The announcement came Thursday with praise from a slate of dignitaries at the base in Glendale and in missives from the state's Congressional delegation in Washington, D.C.

MALE Failure and All the Defense News from Paris

06/29/2013

Europe’s failure to launch a medium-altitude long-endurance (Male) UAV to compete with long-established offerings from Israel and the U.S. was a major talking point at last week’s Paris Air Show.

T-50 fighter to be ready in 2013

06/29/2013

The Sukhoi PAK FA (Prospective Airborne Complex of Frontline Aviation), aka the T-50 fighter, a stealthy acrobat, will be seen on Russian airspace later this year. The important phase of engine development has been completed, Sukhoi said at the recently-concluded Paris Air Show.

Aussie top guns take to the skies with high-octane manoeuvres and 'destroy' airfield with simulated air strike

06/29/2013

A VICIOUS aerial dog fight involving up to 45 F18 Hornets broke out off Port Stephens this morning before Newcastle Airport was taken out in a simulated ``airfield strike??. But it could be weeks before the fictional body count and collateral damage is known as exercise Aces North – the Air Force's most prestigious and rigorous "Top Gun" training program – wrapped up north of Sydney.

Afghanistan's Elite Air Force Can Barely Fly Its Own Planes or Use Night Vision Gear

06/29/2013

Training Afghanistan's soldiers and cops has been tough. But outfitting an Afghan air force special operations unit is proving damn near impossible. The latest evidence: The Pentagon is spending $770 million on Afghan military aircraft that the Afghans have little hope of being able to operate and maintain, according to the U.S. government's Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction.

US Gov’t Watchdog Urges Pentagon to Suspend Russian Arms Deal

06/29/2013

The Special US Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction urged the Pentagon on Friday to put on hold its $553 million arms deal with Russia for helicopters for the Afghan Special Mission Wing until the unit is fully recruited and properly trained, the AP reported. Since May 2011 the Pentagon has bought 33 Mi-17 helicopters from Rosoboronexport, the state-run Russian arms exporter, and signed a contract for 30 more June 17, in the face of fierce opposition from Congress.

Russia to Deliver 10 Helicopter Gunships to Iraq

06/29/2013

Russia will supply over 10 fully armed and equipped Mi-28NE Night Hunter attack helicopters to Iraq under a multi-billion dollar agreement, a representative of Russia’s state arms exporter told RIA Novosti on Friday. Russia and Iraq signed a $4.3 billion agreement on cooperation in the defense and technology sector in 2012, and this is the first time the number of Night Hunters under the contract has been disclosed.

Moscow Announces All Military Personnel Evacuated from Syria

06/28/2013

All of Russia’s military personnel have been successfully evacuated from Syria, including from its Mediterranean naval base at Tartus, Russian media reported Wednesday. Moscow is Syria's sole remaining major ally, other than Iran. “We have neither servicemen nor civilians in Syria anymore. Or Russian military instructors assigned to units of the Syrian regular army, for that matter,” a Russian defense ministry spokesperson told the Vedomosti newspaper in Moscow.

Luke Air Base jet crash may be due to bird strike, officials say

06/28/2013

Luke Air Force Base officials say early signs indicate a bird strike caused an F-16 jet fighter crash Wednesday. However, until an investigation is complete, they can’t confirm that was the cause, said James “Rusty” Mitchell, director of the Community Initiatives Team for the 56th Fighter Wing he said on Thursday.

Freak Afghan hailstorm grounded scores of Nato helicopters

06/28/2013

A freak hailstorm over one of the biggest Nato airbases in Afghanistan grounded more than 80 helicopters, putting several of them out of action for more than three weeks, it has emerged. The half-hour storm in late April split rotor blades, cracked windows, ruptured the choppers' metal skin and damaged other parts. The hail was so intense that after an intensive repair programme eight of the choppers were still inoperable more than three weeks later, according to a Nato spokesman.