Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Hezbollah admits launching drone over Israel

10/12/2012

The leader of Lebanese Shia militant movement Hezbollah has said that his group was behind the launch of a drone shot down over Israel last week. Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah told the movement's al-Manar television network that the drone was made in Iran and had flown over "sensitive sites" in Israel.

Sweden offers Croatia Gripen fighters

10/12/2012

Sweden has offered eight Saab Gripen fighters to Croatia to replace its aging fleet of Soviet-made MiG-21 combat aircraft, Croatia's defense ministry said Thursday. The offer for a 10-year lease includes a support and training package for Croatian pilots and technicians, plus an unspecified deal with Croatian companies. No financial or other details were released.

Iraq to Buy Czech L-159 Trainer Jets - Prime Minister

10/12/2012

The Iraqi government intends to buy Czech-made Aero Vodochody L-159 advanced trainer/light-attack jets, Iraq's Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said on Thursday in Prague after talks with his Czech counterpart Petr Necas, local TV reported. "Further talks about purchasing the L-159 will take place on Friday between the Iraqi and Czech defense ministries," he said. Talks about an L-159 purchase between Baghdad and Prague have been underway for at least three years.

Las Vegas Aviation Convention: Military Planes and Secrets

10/11/2012

My fascination with weapons technology has grown over the years. Sometimes I can’t believe, my own fascination with planes and the military technology. Where it began? Probably when I was a kid, living in Upland, California, near Mt. Baldy just South of the airport. It was a fun time to be growing up. Occasionally, we would bike on up to the airport to see the planes take off and land.

Upgraded An-70 Aircraft To Undergo Three Flight Tests Soon

10/11/2012

The Russian AN-70 military transport STOL aircraft will undergo three test flights after the completion of works on deep upgrading of its airborne equipment. Within the process of the trials, the new and upgraded systems of the aircraft including engine, propfans, aircraft and wing high-lift devices control systems as well as crew environmental control system were checked.

India to Build Export T-50 Stealth Fighter by 2020

10/11/2012

India will begin production of an export variant of Russian plane-maker Sukhoi's T-50 stealth fighter from 2020, Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said on Wednesday during a visit to Delhi. "The technical characteristics have been confirmed to our (Russia and India) defense ministries. We propose serial production of the plane should start by 2020," he said, following the meeting of an Indian-Russian intergovernmental commission.

Turkey Permits Syrian-bound Aircraft to Resume its Course

10/11/2012

Turkey has issued a permission for a Syrian-bound passenger aircraft, which it earlier forced to land in Ankara, to resume its course, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told local television. On Wednesday, Turkish F-16 fighter jets forced down the Airbus A320, which was flying from Moscow to Damascus, over suspicions it has prohibited cargo on board.

Lockheed Martin To Provide Supply Chain Support to the Republic of Korea’s Military Services

10/11/2012

Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] has been awarded three new contracts to support the supply chain needs of the Republic of Korea Air Force and Navy. Under the terms of the basic ordering agreements, Lockheed Martin will provide spare material and repair of military hardware for the Republic of Korea’s fleet of F-16s and P-3 military aircraft. The company has also provided these same services for the C-130 for nearly 13 years.

Boeing Receives $2 Billion C-17 Aircraft Sustainment Contract

10/11/2012

Boeing will continue assuring the worldwide availability of C-17 aircraft, which provide vital military and humanitarian airlift capability, through a $2 billion follow-on contract it recently received from the U.S. Department of Defense.

$3.77 bn Super Sukhois deal to be signed during Putin’s visit

10/10/2012

Defence ties have clearly been the engine of India-Russia bilateral relationship for over half a century now. The same engine is set to be roaring once again when Russian President Vladimir Putin undertakes a visit to India this month-end. The two countries are going to sign numerous agreements – at least half a dozen, according to knowledgeable sources – and one of these is going to be a $3.77 billion deal for the supply of 40 SU-30MKI Russian fighter aircraft to India.

Osprey Flight Operations Tested Aboard Nimitz

10/10/2012

The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) received and refueled an MV-22 Osprey, a potential replacement for the C-2 Greyhound, for the first time Oct. 6. The Osprey, assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 165, was the first from (VMM) 165 to make a carrier-based landing and was part of an on-going initiative from the Joint Program Manager Air (PMA) 275 office to increase the number of available platforms.

Japanese Premier Urged To Shift US Airbase From Okinawa

10/10/2012

Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima met Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda in Tokyo on Tuesday and urged him to relocate the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station from the densely-populated Ginowan city in the prefecture as early as possible.

Green Blade exercise validates EDA helicopter initiative

10/10/2012

The European Defence Agency's (EDA's) helicopter training programme has concluded its second multinational exercise this year, with its "Green Blade" manoeuvres having run between 18 September and 5 October in Belgium.

Iraq PM Confirms $4 Bln Arms Deal with Russia

10/10/2012

Russia will deliver attack helicopters and mobile air-defense systems to Iraq in arms deals worth $4.2 billion signed earlier this year, it was disclosed today during a visit to Moscow by Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki in which he met his counterpart Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.

Lockheed Martin-Led Industry Team Receives $13.5 Million Contract to Develop New Autonomous Technology Aboard Unmanned Aircraft

10/10/2012

The Office of Naval Research has awarded a $13.5 million contract to an industry team led by Lockheed Martin to explore highly advanced autonomous technologies aboard an unmanned vertical take-off and landing aircraft.

Boeing, KAL-ASD Broadening Defense Collaboration for Miltary Aircraft

10/10/2012

Boeing and Korean Air Aerospace Division (KAL-ASD) will broaden their cooperative relationship to include rotorcraft, fixed-wing aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, and military aircraft maintenance and support through a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed on Oct. 4.

Boeing Names Managing Director for Its Defense Business in Saudi Arabia

10/10/2012

Boeing has named Chris Smith vice president and managing director for its defense business in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to further strengthen customer relationships and establish new in-country partnerships. Smith will be based in Riyadh and focus on ensuring that the best of Boeing and industry are brought to support the Kingdom's defense and security needs. He will report to Chris Raymond, vice president of Business Development and Strategy for Boeing Defense, Space & Security (BDS).

IAF decides on 144 Fifth Generation Fighters

10/09/2012

Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne told India Strategic in an interview on IAF’s 80th Anniversary that all these aircraft would be single seaters, the same which the Russian Air Force will have but some components like onboard computers and systems would be different as in the case of SU 30 MKIs.

India’s Aircraft Carrier Challenge

10/09/2012

Strategist Edward Luttwak likens warships to “black boxes” during peacetime strategic competition. Without peering inside, outsiders have a hard time judging how well designed, maintained, and operated a ship is. Combat clarifies a ship’s fitness by the most stringent standard possible, but battles are infrequent. The U.S. Navy’s last major fleet engagement, for example, took place at Leyte Gulf in October 1944.

Miramar Creates Home for Future Squadrons

10/09/2012

Aircraft noise on the flight line aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., is not the only thing heard across the air station. Construction on a new MV-22B "Osprey" hangar, an addition to an existing CH-53E "Super Stallion" hangar and work on taxi ways and aircraft parking areas, known as aprons, are all underway.

Sudan military plane crashes near Khartoum, killing 15

10/09/2012

A Sudanese military transport plane crashed near the country's capital on Sunday morning, killing fifteen people and injuring the seven survivors, a military spokesman said on Monday. It follows a deadly plane crash in the southern region of Sudan in August. The Antonov An-12, which was carrying sixteen service members and six crew members, crashed on Sunday morning while attempting to carry out an emergency landing about 40 kilometers (24.8 miles) west of Omdurman.

Drone flight shows Israel is vulnerable: Iran military official

10/09/2012

The incursion by an unmanned aircraft into Israeli airspace at the weekend exposed the weakness of Israeli air defenses, an Iranian military official was quoted as saying on Monday. The Israeli air force shot down a drone on Saturday after it crossed into southern Israel, the military said, but it remained unclear where the aircraft had come from.

Thinking About the Unthinkable: War in the Senkakus

10/08/2012

I am more sanguine than most about how the Japanese Self-Defense Forces stack up against China’s People’s Liberation Army. The SDF would acquit itself well in combat if commanders artfully combined all warfighting implements at their disposal, from ships to aircraft to shore-fired missiles. Tokyo has options; it even has advantages.

A strategic pact with Afghanistan

10/08/2012

This is with reference to the press conference by Afghan President Hamid Karzai in which he put forward conditions for signing a strategic pact with Pakistan. Afghanistan has already signed two strategic pacts: one was with India, signed in October 2011, which allows it to provide military training to the Afghan army; and the other was with the US, signed in May 2012, and it binds the US to maintain a military presence in Afghanistan till 2024.

Indian Air Force breaks new ground, puts women pilots in combat mode

10/08/2012

Another male bastion, this time in the air, has gone to women. For the first time ever, the Indian Air Force is preparing two of its women pilots for combat roles. Flight Lieutenants Alka Shukla and M P Shumathi were trained at the Yelahanka station in flying twin-engine Mi-8, a utility and medium-size assault helicopter. Both pilots are at their operational units where they will continue with their armament and special heli-operations training.