Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Saudis Intercept “Horn of Africa” Aircraft

10/04/2012

On Tuesday, two Saudi F-15 fighter planes intercepted “an unidentified aircraft coming from the Horn of Africa [and] flying at a low level,” according to Saudi Arabian Arabic website, Jazan News. The Saudi website didn’t mention its sources and did not provide additional details but said the authorities will treat the matter as “the situation requires.”

Taiwanese pilot dies in fighter crash

10/04/2012

A Taiwanese pilot died yesterday morning after his Mirage 2000-5F crashed in France. The pilot, identified as Wang Tung-yi was on a training exchange program at the BA 116 airforce base in Luxeuil-les-Bains, Haute-Saone, and his aircraft crashed north of Luxeuil, near the Froideconche community soon after takeoff at 10:05am, French military officials told media.

Army Developing New Fixed-Wing Aircraft

10/04/2012

The Army is refining an initial capabilities document for a new fixed-wing utility aircraft that is designed to replace more than 112 airframes with a common platform. The new platform should be able to perform a range of key mission sets and services, officials said.

France accepts first AESA-equipped Rafale

10/03/2012

Dassault and its industry partners on the Rafale combat aircraft have achieved a significant programme milestone with the delivery of the first production example to feature an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar. Handed over to France's DGA defence procurement agency at Dassault's Merignac assembly site on 2 October, single-seat aircraft C137 will enter French air force service with the Thales RBE2 radar.

IAF planning to phase out MiG-27 combat planes by 2017

10/03/2012

Concerned over recurring problems in MiG-27 combat aircraft engines, Indian Air Force is planning to phase out these Russian-origin planes by 2017. IAF operates about 80 (four squadrons) of these aircraft in its fleet and due to the recurring problems in their engines, it had to ground all of them after a crash about two years ago.

Friends again, Israel and China boost ties

10/03/2012

Israel and China have been renewing military ties in recent months after a lengthy chill caused by hefty Israeli arms deals that the United States shot down. The upswing in relations between the defense establishments has raised eyebrows in Washington, which views China's expansion in the Pacific with growing concern. Israel once seemed set to be a major arms supplier to China.

New Competition For C-130J Aircraft With Successful Flight Of The An-70 Heavy Airlifter

10/03/2012

In a joint venture between Russia and Ukraine, the An-70 military transport aircraft has been flight tested after two years in development. The An-70 is certain to add to the competition between heavy airlift aircraft such as the C-130J Super Hercules and A400M aircraft. The An-70 can carry 47 tons for 1350 kilometers while C130J can take up 20 tons and the A400M with 37 tons.

Tactical Air Defense Services Closes Acquisition of Northrop TF5-1 Corp.

10/03/2012

Tactical Air Defense Services, Inc., an aerospace/defense services contractor that offers tactical aviation services, aircraft maintenance, and other aerospace/defense services to the United States and Foreign militaries, is pleased to announce that it has closed the acquisition of Northrop TF5-1 Corp. ("Northrop"), a military aircraft holding company, as a wholly-owned subsidiary of TADF.

Poland ups military helicopter contest to 70 aircraft

10/03/2012

Polish prime minister Donald Tusk has announced that a previously planned order for 26 new military helicopters will be expanded to a roughly 70-aircraft deal. Defence minister Tomasz Siemoniak should launch the new process early this month, clearing the way for technical consultations to start with bidding manufacturers. Contenders are AgustaWestland, Eurocopter with the EC725, PZL Swidnik with the AgustaWestland AW149, and Sikorsky, which is offering the S-70i.

QEAF works with Symbiotics and DCI on pilot aptitude solution

10/03/2012

The Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF) has been working with Défense Conseil International (DCI) and Symbiotics Ltd, to implement a new aircrew pre-selection solution that helps stream potential pilots (fixed and rotary wing) into the QEAF elite flying training programme, whilst improving efficiency of assessment and recruitment programmes.

New planes with an extra lift

10/02/2012

Deputy Royal Malaysian Air Force chief Lt-Gen Datuk Roslan Saad recently tested the nation's next-generation transport aircraft in France. Following the test flight, which took place in Toulouse, the country's second highest ranking military pilot gave the thumbs up to the Airbus Military A400M airlifter, which was recently given the codename Atlas. "It is an enormous pleasure to fly the aircraft that is going to be at the heart of the RMAF's transport capabilities in the future.

Dobritoiu: Romania to pay around 600 million dollars over five years for 12 second-hand F-16 fighter jets from Portugal

10/02/2012

Minister of National Defence Corneliu Dobritoiu told Agerpres that the 12 multirole combat aircraft Romania is to purchase 'second-hand' from Portugal cost about 120 million euros out of the total of 670 million euros which is the total value of the contract. The difference between the figures goes to logistic support, which 'would have been the same if we had purchased new aircraft,' says the minister.

Eurofighter makes multirole software advance

10/02/2012

The Eurofighter consortium has moved a step closer to delivering a package of major enhancements for the Typhoon combat aircraft, with test flights having been performed over recent weeks in all four partner nations. Final elements of the P1E(b) upgrade were taken to the air using four instrumented production aircraft, including IPA 7, which was flown by EADS company Cassidian with the modifications in late August.

Aircraft procurement struggling to fly

10/02/2012

An audit of the Department of Defence’s procurement of the F-35A Joint Strike Fighter aircraft (JSF) from the United States, has found the project to be progressing slower than expected and costing more, but there were signs it could be improving. In his audit report, Management of Australia’s Air Combat Capability—F-35A Joint Strike Fighter Acquisition, Auditor-General.

U.S. Sends Aircraft to Okinawa, Despite Fierce Opposition

10/02/2012

The United States military sent the first batch of a sophisticated but accident-plagued new aircraft to an air base on Okinawa on Monday, going forward with its planned deployment despite unexpectedly fierce opposition by islanders and warnings that any crash could threaten the huge American military presence on the island.

Russian Military Rejects Court Ruling on Flights Suspension

10/02/2012

The Russian military will appeal a court ruling that deemed combat jet flights over the city of Chelyabinsk illegal, a spokesman for the Central Military District said on Monday. A regional court earlier on Monday ordered a temporary suspension of flights by Sukhoi Su-24 Fencer strike aircraft from a nearby base, in response to complaints about jet noise when they overfly the city.

Russian Court Grounds Military Jet Flights Over Noise

10/02/2012

A regional court in the Russian city of Chelyabinsk on Monday ordered a temporary suspension of flights by Sukhoi Su-24 Fencer strike aircraft from a nearby base, in response to complaints about jet noise when they overfly the city. “The court has ordered the Defense Ministry and the respective Air Force unit to suspend flights by combat aircraft on the flight path over five residential areas of the city, as these flights are deemed illegal,” the court said in a statement.

Turkish Inspectors Set for Surveillance Flight over Russia

10/02/2012

Inspectors from Turkey and Norway will conduct an inspection flight over Russia under the Open Skies Treaty, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Monday. “In the period from October 1 to 5, 2012, a joint group of Turkish and Norwegian inspectors will conduct a surveillance flight on board a CN-235 surveillance aircraft over the territory of the Russian Federation under the international Treaty on Open Skies,” a ministry spokesman said.

U.S. Coast Guard To Acquire Three Additional Lockheed Martin HC-130J Surveillance Aircraft

10/02/2012

Lockheed Martin received a $218 million contract for three additional HC-130Js for the U.S. Coast Guard. This will increase the U.S. Coast Guard fleet of HC-130Js from six to nine. The contract also includes funding for two mission suites, which are critical in supporting U.S. Coast Guard search and rescue operations. The new aircraft are scheduled to be delivered in early 2015.

Lockheed Martin Awarded Upgrade Contract For 145 F-16S Of The Republic Of China Air Force

10/02/2012

Lockheed Martin was awarded a contract valued up to $1.85 billion by the U.S. Government to initiate the upgrade of 145 Block 20 F-16A/B aircraft for the Republic of China (RoC). This retrofit program will include the addition of an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, embedded global positioning, as well as upgrades to the electronic warfare and other avionics systems of Taiwan’s F-16s.

Investing for Competitiveness

10/01/2012

For decades, tiny Sweden has developed some of the world’s most innovative and capable fighter aircraft thanks to government investment in native aircraft builder Saab. But as Saab prepares to design the next generation of Gripen fighters, the government appears to be balking at its development cost, estimated to be less than $2 billion.

C-17 partnership wins Department of Defense award

10/01/2012

The Department of Defense has honored the partnership between Boeing and Robins Air Force Base that supports the C-17 Globemaster cargo plane. The partnership won the 2012 Secretary of Defense Gerald R. Beck Performance Based Logistics Award in the system level category for global sustainnment of the aircraft, according to a story in Friday’s Robins Rev Up. The C-17 Globemaster III Combined Program Office employs 196 civilians, contractors and military personnel.

Early warning plane to be displayed at IAF anniversary parade

10/01/2012

he indigenous airborne early warning aircraft and the Russian-origin Mi-17 V5 helicopter would be displayed for the first time by IAF at the parade here to mark its 80th anniversary. "The Airborne Early Warning and Control (AWAC) system aircraft and the Mi-17 V5 would be showcased for the first time at the IAF day parade this year on October 8," IAF officials said here.

The V-22 Osprey: like no other aircraft

10/01/2012

Cutting edge. That’s how Capt. Michael Whiteford describes the MV-22B Osprey, the plane he pilots in the Marine Corps and the newest aircraft to be added to Marine Corps Aviation. “It’s something that has never existed before in the history of aviation,” Whiteford said. Whiteford, the son of a pilot, says he always knew he wanted to fly, but didn’t decide to fly the Osprey until he was in flight school as a Marine.

An Israeli Radar in India’s Jet Fighter?

10/01/2012

Will the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) being developed in India be equipped with an advanced radar system developed in Israel? The chances for that have increased in the recent days. Sources in India have informed that the Indian Air Force which is acquiring the LCA is interested in having it equipped with an AESA radar. Such a radar has been developed and is being produced by Elta, a subsidiary of Israel Aerospace Industries.