Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Airbus Military delivers third A330 MRTT to UAE

08/06/2013

The handover of the aircraft means that 17 examples of the type are now in service with four customers – Australia, Saudi Arabia, UAE and the United Kingdom. Converted from an Airbus A330 commercial passenger jet by Airbus Military at Getafe near Madrid, the aircraft will serve with the UAE Air Force and Air Defense at Al-Ain airbase.

Engine run up for first Turkish A400M

08/06/2013

The first Airbus Military A400M new generation airlifter for the Turkish Air Force has begun final tests towards its delivery. Airbus reported this morning that the four engines on the aircraft were successfully run simultaneously for the first time on 29th July at the Airbus Military facility in Seville, Spain. The aircraft will be transferred to the Airbus Military delivery centre in September.

China-Russia drill enters battle planning phase

08/05/2013

The China-Russia joint drill, code-named Peace Mission-2013, enters the phase of battle planning Saturday as China's last troops arrived at the designated area. Peace Mission-2013, which takes place in Chelyabinsk in Russia's Ural Mountainous region from July 27 to August 15, has three phases - troop deployment, battle planning and simulated combat.

B-52: A reboot for the Digital Age

08/05/2013

One thing is certain: it's not your father's B-52. The B-52 Stratofortress has been the Air Force's star long-range strategic heavy bomber and premier standoff weapon for more than 50 years. For generations, the B-52 has successfully executed missions all over the globe. But in the 21st century, the pace of things has accelerated beyond the wildest dreams of the original designers who first put plans for the aircraft on the drawing board more than 60 years ago.

A US Navy With Only 8 Carriers?

08/05/2013

At first, the statement is shocking. “Reduce the number of carrier strike groups from 11 to 8 or 9, draw down the Marine Corps from 182,000 to between 150,000 and 175,000.” But those words July 31 from US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel brought into the open some of the behind-the-scenes discussions that have been going on at the Pentagon for months.

Jet fighter threat to the Falkland Islands

08/05/2013

President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner approved the deal, which will give Argentina the capability to attack the Falklands with laser-guided bombs. The 20 aircraft sold to the Argentine military are at Spain’s Albacete air base and will be shipped to Tandil air base south of Buenos Aires.

HAL delays over training aircraft leads to war with IAF

08/05/2013

A dog fight has broken out between Indian Air Force (IAF) chief Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Chairman and MD R K Tyagi over who should supply the Basic Trainer Aircraft (BTA). The spat started after HAL said it was presented with unrealistic requirements over HTT-40s, while the IAF later diluted the same for the Pilatus it bought.

First indigenous aircraft carrier ready for launch

08/05/2013

India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC), built by Cochin Shipyard in the southern state of Kerala, is all set for a launch. Elizabeth Antony, wife of Federal Defence Minister A.K Antony will formally hand over the 260-metre warship, weighing over 40,000 tonne, to the naval authorities at a function at the shipyard on August 12.

NATO Exercise Tests Cassidian's IFF Systems

08/04/2013

Equipment from Cassidian's entire IFF "action chain" was deployed for the German forces during the exercise, with MSSR200001 interrogators on ground stations and LTR400 transponders on a German Luftwaffe C160 mission aircraft.

France cuts armed forces as budget squeeze hits military

08/04/2013

High quality global journalism requires investment. Please share this article with others using the link below, do not cut & paste the article. See our Ts&Cs and Copyright Policy for more detail. Email [email protected] to buy additional rights. France is to cut more than 30,000 defence posts and reduce or delay orders for jet fighters and other equipment as the socialist government seeks to balance the need for stringent spending cuts with a bid to sustain the country’s role as a big milit

Russian Defense Ministry Signs $380M Helicopter Deal

08/04/2013

The Russian Defense Ministry and Russian Helicopters Holding on Saturday signed a 12.6 billion rubles (about $380 million) contract for 40 Mil Mi-8 AMTSh helicopters, the company said. The contract was signed by Deputy Defense Minister Yury Borisov and Russian Helicopters CEO Dmitry Petrov. Helicopter deliveries are to begin next year, Petrov said.

South Korea resumes bidding in jet fighter deal

08/03/2013

South Korea will resume its procurement process this month for a jet fighter contract expected to be worth more than $7.2 billion, Yonhap news agency reported. outh Korea's Defense Acquisition Procurement Agency suspended bidding for the 60 aircraft in mid July over concerns that manufacturers' bids were higher than the budgeted $7.2 billion. DAPA announced the decision to restart bidding in mid August in a meeting presided over by Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin.

2 F-16C Falcon jets collide in Va. during training

08/03/2013

Officials are trying to figure out how two F-16C Falcon aircraft collided on Thursday night off the coast of Chincoteague, Va. The F-16C jets were assigned to the 113th Wing D.C. Air National Guard and were part of a routine training mission off the coast of Chincoteague, Va. late Thursday night when they crashed, say officials.

This Helmet Gives Eurofighters X-Ray Vision

08/03/2013

In conventional combat aircraft, the target generally needs to be in both the pilot's field of vision and within the sights of the plane itself. That is, the plane needed to be pointed in the general direction of whatever you're shooting at. But in the case of the new Eurofighter Typhoon, pilots can squeeze off a few Sidewinders at bogies incoming from any direction thanks to a super helmet that links their eyes to the plane's electronic brain.

France Plans Dassault Combat Jet Demand Review Amid Export Hopes

08/03/2013

France will review how many Dassault Aviation SA (AM) Rafale combat jets it buys in 2015 as the government looks to exports deals to sustain production. An export order from India is all-but assured and one or two more export buyers will sign on as Brazil, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar show interest, said French defense officials, who asked not to be identified. Dassault was named preferred bidder in India to supply at least 126 jets.

Air Force demo team flying again, but no shows set

08/02/2013

It's 9 a.m. on a recent Tuesday, and there's a buzz outside the Thunderbird hangar at Nellis Air Force Base that hasn't been heard in months. The F-16 Fighting Falcon jets glisten in the sun, as Thunderbird pilots Maj. Blaine Jones and Lt. Col. Greg Moseley speed-walk along a line of maintenance crew members more than 30 people long, grinning as they salute and backhand slap each crew member's hand _ the customary Shake-and-Bake before every flight.

Chuck Hagel warns of deep army and navy cuts unless Congress acts

08/02/2013

The US defense secretary, Chuck Hagel, warned on Wednesday that the Pentagon may have to stop using up to three navy aircraft carriers and order additional sharp reductions in the size of the army and marine corps if Congress doesn't act to avoid massive budget cuts beginning in 2014.

Inside the Lockheed Martin F-35B

08/02/2013

An aviation fantasy from the realms of Star Wars, the F-35 is the most sophisticated, expensive and controversial jet fighter ever produced. From the advanced radar system in the nosecone to the thrust-vectoring nozzle at the rear, expore the futuristic fighter jet in more detail.

Mergers off as BAE profits fall

08/02/2013

The UK defence contractor, which last year failed to pull off a £30bn tie-up with Airbus-owner EADS, warned of job cuts running into the hundreds after a first six months hit by defence spending cuts and ongoing delays in price negotiations for 72 Saudi Typhoon fighter jets. Ian King, chief executive, said that despite the “challenging environment”, there was no need for more merger talks or any radical change in strategy.

Talisman Saber and America’s Pacific Pivot

08/02/2013

In the blue skies above the pristine waters of the Coral Sea, four Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jets slide into formation off the left-hand quarter of the Airbus KC-30A tanker, circling at 26,000 ft (7,924 m) approximately 120 miles (192 km) northwest of the city of Brisbane, capital of the Australian state of Queensland.

Hagel says military facing tough future

08/02/2013

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel warned Wednesday that the Pentagon may have to mothball up to three Navy aircraft carriers and order additional sharp reductions in the size of the Army and Marine Corps if Congress doesn't act to avoid massive budget cuts beginning in 2014.

Moscow Criticized For Meddling In Finland's NATO Debate

08/02/2013

Moscow’s hostility toward Finland’s future intentions on NATO membership has surfaced again in the wake of a visit by US official James Townsend, who accused Russia of meddling and criticized it for laying barriers in the way of any future Finnish application.

Airbus delivers first A400M military transport to France

08/02/2013

European aircraft manufacturer Airbus has delivered the first of its new long-awaited A400M military transport planes to France, the defence ministry said Thursday. The French military "has received the first aircraft of the A400M series of military transport aircraft" said the ministry, adding it would fly to the Orleans-Bricy airbase on Friday to enter service.

Indian Navy to launch indigenous aircraft carrier August 12

08/02/2013

Talking to mediapersons here, the Indian Navy vice chief, Vice Admiral R.K. Dhowan, said that the 40,000 tonne indigenous aircraft carrrier (IAC) was one of its most prestigious warship projects and was unprecedented in terms of size and complexity.

US Navy, Boeing Sign $2 Billion Order for 13 P-8A Poseidon Aircraft

08/02/2013

The U.S. Navy recently awarded Boeing a $1.98 billion contract for 13 additional P-8A Poseidon aircraft, continuing the modernization of U.S. maritime patrol capabilities that will ultimately involve more than 100 P-8As. The contract includes long-lead funding previously approved by the Navy.