Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Typhoon blasts through 200,000 hour milestone

09/09/2013

Eurofighter Typhoon has now achieved more than 200,000 flying hours since the entry-into-service of its worldwide fleet. Eurofighter Jagdflugzeug GmbH confirmed the milestone today adding that, with 719 aircraft on contract, 571 aircraft ordered and 378 aircraft delivered, the programme has “never looked stronger”.

The USAF Stands Like A Rock

09/08/2013

The U.S. Air Force continues to come up short in its effort to supply enough pilots for its growing UAV fleet. Currently the air force has about 1,300 operators for its 280 large UAVs (about half of them Predators, nearly 40 percent Reapers, and the rest Global Hawks). UAV operators are now nearly nine percent of all air force pilots, triple the percentage in 2008.

Long Beach Boeing to deliver final C-17 to U.S. Air Force, ending two-decade relationship

09/08/2013

Lynne Jungers has been thinking about this moment for the last two years. The longtime Boeing Co. customer relations manager — who has seen former President Bill Clinton, the late Bob Hope and dozens of dignitaries visit the C-17 Globemaster III at its East Long Beach assembly plant — is bracing herself for Thursday, when Boeing will hand over its 223rd and final C-17 to the U.S. Air Force.

China to Get Russian Su-35 Jets in 2014 – Rosoboronexport

09/08/2013

Moscow and Beijing expect to seal the deal on the sale of Russian Su-35 fighter jets to China in 2014, a senior official at the Russian arms exports monopoly said Saturday. “Talks are ongoing, but the deal is unlikely to be sealed before the year’s end. The signing will most likely take place next year,” said Viktor Komardin, deputy head of the state-run Rosoboronexport.

Syrian Air Defense System Is Very Efficient – Russian Military Source

09/07/2013

Syria’s air defense forces are nearly sure to be capable of intercepting any enemy aircraft and about half of the Tomahawk missiles that might violate its airspace, a military source said on Thursday.“The Syrian air defense system is very efficient, as it was built in the image and likeness of the air defense system existing in the Soviet Union.

U.S. Navy: cost of Syria strikes would not be ‘extraordinary’

09/07/2013

The cost of possible military strikes against Syria would not be “extraordinary,” the U.S. Navy chief said Thursday, downplaying the potential price tag of the operation. Admiral Jonathan Greenert’s comments appeared to confirm a rough estimate from Pentagon chief Chuck Hagel on Wednesday, who told lawmakers the punitive strikes would likely cost “tens of millions” of dollars.

Greenert Details Potential Fiscal 2014 Aircraft, Ship Cuts

09/07/2013

Unless Congress changes the nation’s financial course, the U.S. Navy will be forced to make some drastic cuts in aircraft and ship numbers to accommodate a loss of about $14 billion due to sequestration and other budgetary issues, says Adm. Jonathan Greenert, chief of naval operations.

Photo: V-22 Conducts First Test As Aerial Refueling Tanker On F-18- More Tests Planned

09/07/2013

The Bell Boeing V-22 Program, a strategic alliance between Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. and Boeing [NYSE: BA], has successfully completed an initial test of the V-22 Osprey performing as an aerial refueling tanker. Adding this capability to the tiltrotor aircraft would further advance its versatility in combat, humanitarian and ship-based operations.

Experts' comparative analysis of performance between J-15 and U.S. F-18

09/07/2013

The J-15 belongs to the 4th generation of conventional shipboard aircraft, which also includes the U.S. navy's F/A-18C/D "Hornet" and F/A-18E/F "Super Hornet", the French "Rafale M", and the Russian Mig-29K which is also used by the Indian navy.

Iraqi leader to press U.S. for more arms deals

09/07/2013

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, battling with an al-Qaida insurgency and political unrest, is scheduled to visit Washington this month to activate a defense cooperation agreement and push for stepped-up arms sales, including Boeing AH-64 Apache attack helicopters. Maliki may find President Barack Obama and the Pentagon somewhat preoccupied with the Syrian conflict and the question of whether to strike at the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad, which Maliki supports to some degree.

Iraq requests combat UAVs from U.S.

09/07/2013

Iraq has submitted a shopping list of U.S. military equipment that included its first unmanned aerial vehicles. Officials said Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki has relayed a request for advanced UAVs from the United States. The officials said the unspecified UAVs were meant for long-range reconnaissance missions in an effort to improve border and internal security.

Typhoon jets built by BAE Systems in Lancashire hit the target on the scales

09/07/2013

The first Tranche Three Typhoon next-generation fighter jet has been weighed-in to confirm that it meets design standards, pushing the programme a step closer to completion. The aircraft, British single seat number 116, had its measurements recorded using a highly-sophisticated set of hydraulic scales at the company’s military aircraft in Warton.

US Allies Back Obama on Syria Claims but Silent on Military Strike

09/07/2013

The United States on Friday secured support from several major allies in its claim that the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad is responsible for an apparent Aug. 21 chemical weapons attack outside Damascus and must be punished.

US Plans ‘Significantly Larger’ Strike on Syria – Reports

09/07/2013

The United States is making plans for a “significantly larger” military strike on Syria than at first envisioned that could include use of long-range bombers making sorties from the United States, US media said. ABC News reported Thursday that President Barack Obama’s national security team was “preparing for a significantly larger military attack than most had anticipated” that could include attacks by B-2 and B-52 bombers flying from bases in the United States.

U.S. Considering Using Military To Train Syria Rebels

09/06/2013

The Obama administration is considering a plan to use U.S. military trainers to help increase the capabilities of the Syrian rebels, in a move that would greatly expand the current CIA training being done quietly in Jordan, U.S. officials told The Associated Press on Thursday.

Military team sent to UK to evaluate helicopters 'other' than troubled Cyclones

09/06/2013

The Harper government may be ready to throw in the towel on the purchase of long-delayed CH-148 Cyclone helicopters and has gone as far as sending a military team to Britain to evaluate other aircraft. Defence sources say the team, which included an officer from the air force directorate of air requirements branch, visited a southern base in the United Kingdom recently to look at Royal Navy HM-1 Merlin helicopters.

US’ quest for airbase in India

09/06/2013

THE United States is reported to have sought the establishment of a secret airbase in India to accomplish its unexplained agenda in South Asian region. The Americans already have a major military base in Qatar, and presence in many Asian, Middle East countries, Afghanistan and some of the Central Asian Republics in one form or the other in addition to aircraft carriers in the Gulf and Indian Ocean.

Both Chinese Stealth Designs Move Forward

09/06/2013

For over a year now China has been testing a second stealth fighter design. This one is called the J-31 “Falcon Eagle” (from an inscription on the tail), and while it looks like the American F-22, it’s also smaller than China’s other stealth fighter (the J-20, which has been around longer). The J-31 was built by the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (which makes the J-11, the illegal Chinese copy of the Russian Su-27).

Senate Panel Backs Use of Force Against Syria

09/06/2013

A key Senate panel on Wednesday backed President Barack Obama's request to strike Syria, while the Pentagon prepared to employ greater firepower to reach a shifting array of military targets. The revised options under development, which reflect Pentagon concerns that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has dispersed his military equipment, include the use of Air Force bombers to supplement the four Navy destroyers armed with missiles that are deployed in the eastern Mediterranean.

Army helicopters fly from Navy ships, test joint ops

09/06/2013

Soldiers don’t generally spend much time aboard Navy ships. But this summer, some Army aviators got to spend days and weeks at a time living and working with sailors in the Persian Gulf. The Texas Army National Guard’s 36th Combat Aviation Brigade has been testing Army helicopters’ capabilities in a littoral combat environment, taking off from Navy ships, firing on targets and practicing deck landings.

Report warns of cost overruns on new U.S. aircraft carrier

09/06/2013

The first Ford-class aircraft carrier being built by Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc may see further cost increases after it is commissioned, according to a congressional report that urged the U.S. Navy to delay a contract for a follow-on ship.

Putin's strident defense of Assad sets him apart

09/06/2013

Russian President Vladimir Putin's strident defense of a Syrian regime that has killed tens of thousands of its people in a civil war that has divided him from many world powers viewing Syria as a humanitarian disaster that demands intervention.

The US Military’s Pivot to Africa

09/06/2013

They’re involved in Algeria and Angola, Benin and Botswana, Burkina Faso and Burundi, Cameroon and the Cape Verde Islands. And that’s just the ABCs of the situation. Skip to the end of the alphabet and the story remains the same: Senegal and the Seychelles, Togo and Tunisia, Uganda and Zambia.

Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey Deploys Refueling Equipment in Flight Test

09/06/2013

The Bell Boeing V-22 Program, a strategic alliance between Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. [NYSE: TXT] and Boeing, has successfully completed an initial test of the V-22 Osprey performing as an aerial refueling tanker. Adding this capability to the tiltrotor aircraft would further advance its versatility in combat, humanitarian and ship-based operations.

Al-Qaeda working to defeat US drones since 2010 - report

09/05/2013

For the past three years, Al-Qaeda has sought to hire engineers and other experts to help the terrorist organization fend off US drone strikes that have increasingly hobbled the militant network, according to documents leaked by Edward Snowden.