Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Malaysia Invests In Sukhoi Fighter Readiness

06/18/2013

The events in Sabah, Malaysia, this past March, when local forces conducted Operation Daulat used combat jets to quell the resistance of the Filipino gunmen on the island of Borneo, may have prompted a spate of arms sales to that country and her closest neighbors. The armed forces do have a big wish list for weapons, but procurement processes for the most expensive and longest-lead items are likely to be launched properly only after the general elections in Malaysia later this year.

V-22 Sees Up To 100 Foreign Sales; Drives Flight Costs Down, Boosts Readiness

06/18/2013

Flight hour costs have dropped while readiness rates have improved for the V-22, a rare feat indeed for a modern combat aircraft. Critics have pointed to the V-22's readiness rates and costs as yet another reason to curtail the program, but when I asked Marine Col. Greg Masiello, manager of the Joint Program Office, what their current maintenance costs are, he said they are down to $9,520 an hour at the same time they’ve substantially increased the plane’s readiness rates.

Hindustan Aeronautics Sets Five-Year Goal for Fighter, Trainer Production

06/18/2013

A target for criticism over delays in projects in the past, India’s largest defense manufacturer, government-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) is undergoing a transformation of its human resource through training and innovative programs. This is focusing on two urgent requirements–the overdue Light Combat Aircraft (LCA); and the Intermediate Jet Trainer (IJT). HAL (Chalet A 124) has confirmed that the projects will go into production in the next five years.

Lockheed Martin UK Bids For Polish Air Force Aircrew Training Requirement

06/18/2013

London-based Lockheed Martin UK is bidding to create a new state-of-the-art Polish Air Force pilot and aircrew training centre in Deblin, Poland. The company has submitted a fully compliant response to a Polish Ministry of Defence tender for a new Integrated Aircrew Training Systems (IATS). The aim is to boost Poland’s military aviation safety by introducing a next-generation training programme which will produce pilots for the future.

Lockheed Martin, CAE Establish Canadian Training Alliance For The F-35 Lightning II

06/18/2013

On the first day of the 2013 Paris Air Show, a new alliance between Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] and CAE was announced when officials from both companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for F-35 Lightning II training system support and services in Canada. CAE is a global leader in modeling, simulation and training for civil aviation and defence.

Boeing Subcontractor Air France Industries Begins Major Upgrade of French AWACS Fleet

06/18/2013

Boeing subcontractor, Air France Industries (AFI), has begun upgrading the electrical, mechanical and structural systems and mission hardware of the first of four French E-3F Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft. The $354M Mid Life Upgrade (MLU) – the largest ever for French AWACS – will provide the fleet a fuller picture of the battle space and more actionable information while reducing aircrew workload.

Putin, Obama Admit Split on Syria But Pledge Cooperation

06/18/2013

Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Barack Obama admitted Monday they disagreed on how to respond to the civil war in Syria but said they are both committed to ending the violence that has ravaged the country over the past two years.

Russia to Unveil Over 100 High-Tech Projects at Air Show

06/18/2013

A Russian state high-tech corporation will roll out more than 100 new military and civilian developments at the Paris Air Show, a Russian Technologies (Rostec) top executive said on Monday. These include the advanced Ka-52 Alligator attack helicopter and a modernized Mi-171A2 civil helicopter, as well as military and civilian avionics, Rostec deputy head Vladimir Artyakov told RIA Novosti at the show, which opened Monday and runs through Sunday at Le Bourget Airport in France.

Pentagon Signs New Russian Helicopter Deal

06/18/2013

Russia and the United States have signed a contract for the delivery of Russian Mi-17 helicopters for the Afghan army, a Russian government agency said Monday. The Russian state-owned defense firm Rosoboronexport and the US Department of the Army signed the contract on Sunday in Paris “as part of joint efforts to combat terrorism,” Russia’s Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation said in a statement.

Russia to Display Yak-130 Combat Trainer at Paris Air Show

06/18/2013

Russia will display its Yakovlev Yak-130 Mitten combat trainer, Sukhoi Su-35 Flanker-E multirole fighter and Kamov Ka-52 Hokum B attack helicopter at the Paris Air Show, the Federal Service for Military and Technical Cooperation reported Monday. The Paris Air Show is an international event that takes place every odd year at Le Bourget Airport in the French capital Paris. This year, it will be held June 17-23.

Paris Air Show: Tale of confidence and concerns

06/17/2013

On the civil side, aircraft manufacturers are buoyant, with new products to display and a record backlog of orders. In contrast, the military sector is less confident. Defence budget cuts, particularly in Washington, has meant arms programmes being scaled back or abandoned. Optimism among commercial aircraft makers was underlined last week when Boeing published its closely-watched annual forecast for aircraft demand over the next 20 years.

US gives Israeli minister a ride in V-22 Osprey aircraft

06/17/2013

Israel's Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon got to fly in a V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft during a US visit Friday, as his country weighs whether to buy the American military plane, AFP reports. Yaalon arrived for talks at the Pentagon in unusual fashion, with the hybrid aircraft -- which hovers like a helicopter -- floating down for a landing outside the steps of the Defense Department.

Pakistan ups ante with big military boost

06/17/2013

Pakistan has revealed a massive increase in its military budget, the third nuclear power in Asia to unveil a significant increase this year, adding credence to fears of a growing arms race on the continent. China, Pakistan and India were the only countries to increase their nuclear weapons stockpile last year, as the rest of the world reduced its warhead numbers.

Sikorsky sees good prospects in global helicopter market

06/17/2013

International orders are set to eclipse U.S. military purchases of Sikorsky Aircraft helicopters in four or five years, the company’s president told Reuters ahead of the Paris air show. Sikorsky Aircraft, a unit of United Technologies Corp , sees bright prospects overall for the global helicopter market, given strong international and commercial demand, as well as Washington’s continued commitment to new U.S. military rotorcraft programs, including a new presidential helicopter.

European Aerospace Industries Call For a European MALE Program

06/17/2013

European aerospace industries and defense establishments are promoting pan-European collaboration in launching a collaborative development of Medium Altitude, Long Endurance (MALE) drone capability that will rely on the collective knowhow, skills and technologies of member countries. EADS Cassidian, Dassault Aviation and Finmeccanica Alenia Aermacchi declare their readiness to coordinate on such a program supporting the security needs of European governments and armed forces.

MiG-21bis likely to serve IAF until 2019

06/17/2013

The first supersonic fighter jet of the Indian Air Force — Russian MiG-21bis —which completed 50 years in service this April despite facing criticism following a substantial number of accidents, is likely to remain operational in its upgraded version until 2019 — two years later than they were originally scheduled to be decommissioned.

Drone Sales Flourish in a Time of Austerity

06/17/2013

The use of unmanned drones for surveillance and targeted anti-guerrilla strikes has recently been a focus of ethical and political controversy. Yet for all the criticism, and at a time when austerity budgets are causing deep cuts in orders for manned combat, transport and tanker aircraft, drone builders are thriving.

Long-awaited A400M military plane sets out to conquer

06/17/2013

The A400M, a long-awaited new military transport plane, will take to the skies at the upcoming Paris Air Show before finally setting out to conquer markets worldwide after a four-year delay. Built by Airbus Military, the giant plane can carry helicopters, people or armoured vehicles weighing up to 37 tonnes over 3,300 kilometres (2,050 miles) and is able to land directly in combat areas on rough terrain, even on sand.

F-22 program produces few planes, soaring costs

06/17/2013

When the U.S. sought to assure Asian allies that it would defend them against potential aggression by North Korea this spring, the Pentagon deployed its top-of-the-line jet fighter, the F-22 Raptor. But only two of the jets were sent screaming through the skies south of Seoul.

Russian Arms Supplies to Syria ‘No Breach of Law’ - Putin

06/17/2013

President Vladimir Putin on Sunday defended Russia’s weapons supplies to Syria saying they are in the framework of the international law. “If we speak calmly, I want to stress that Russia supplies arms to the legitimate government of Syria in full compliance with the norms of international law and we call on our partners to act in the same way,” Putin told reporters after talks with British Prime Minister David Cameron on Sunday.

Syrian Jihadists appear to have portable anti-aircraft missiles

06/16/2013

Sunni Jihadists operating in northern Syria have apparently procured a large supply of portable surface-to-air missiles that will enable the Syrian rebels to shoot down military aircraft of the Syrian Air Force.

Syrian jets pound rebel-held areas of Damascus

06/16/2013

Syrian artillery and warplanes pounded rebel areas in Damascus on Saturday as President Bashar Assad's foes pleaded for advanced weapons from the United States, which has promised them unspecified military aid. Western powers have been reluctant in the past to arm Syrian insurgents, let alone give them sophisticated anti-aircraft missiles that might fall into the hands of Sunni Islamist insurgents in rebel ranks who have pledged loyalty to al-Qaida.

Marines land Osprey aircraft on Japanese ship

06/16/2013

A U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey aircraft made an unprecedented landing Friday on a Japanese naval vessel off the California coast. The tilt-rotor aircraft flew from San Diego’s Marine Corps Miramar Air Station to the Japanese ship Hyuga as part of an 18-day drill aimed at improving Japan’s amphibious capabilities.

AIM-9X air-to-air missile hits milestone

06/16/2013

Raytheon announced June 15 that it has delivered the 5,000th AIM-9X Sidewinder air-to-air missile, achieving a major milestone in the longtime program. Raytheon revealed the news in Paris, where defense firms and others are preparing to display their wares at the June 17-23 Paris Air Show.

Afghans learning how to fight without NATO airpower

06/16/2013

With most NATO troops expected to leave Afghanistan by the end of 2014, the Afghans are learning how to fight the Taliban without relying on the biggest advantage NATO brings to the table: close-air support. NATO has largely stopped dropping ordnance to support to Afghan troops, said Royal Air Force Brig. Gen. Christopher Brazier, director of air operations for NATO’s day-to-day command in Afghanistan.