Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Air Force Chief Bans Highway Stunts

09/27/2012

Russian Air Force commander Lt. Gen. Viktor Bondarev on Wednesday banned all training exercises over motorways at super low altitudes. The reaction comes after video footage was posted on the Internet earlier this month showing a Su-24 warplane flying just a few meters above the M21 highway in southern Russia and then an Mi-8 helicopter gunship doing the same in the Russian Urals region.

Russian Air Force to Get New Cruise Missile in 2013

09/27/2012

The Russian Air Force will accept into service in 2013 the new Raduga Kh-101 cruise missile, capable of delivering precision strikes with a conventional warhead at long-distance, an Air Force source told Izvestia on Wednesday. The new missile, currently being flight-tested, will be able to hit targets with an accuracy of just 30 feet (10 meters) at ranges of up to 6,000 miles (10,000 km), giving Long-Range Aviation its first precision-strike long-range weapon, the paper says.

Finland’s most secret military plane

09/26/2012

The Finnish Air Force is currently outfitting a top-secret surveillance aircraft with a capability of eavesdropping on communications by the armies of neighbouring countries. The new plane is being tested by the Finnish Intelligence Research Establishment, which is not commenting on anything related to the project.

USAF Seeks Afterlife for F-15s

09/26/2012

The U.S. Air Force is pushing to more than double the life of its stalwart F-15 Eagles with a series of upgrades. "About two and a half years ago, the U.S. Air Force wanted fatigue tests on C models," says Brad Jones, F-15 mission systems director for Boeing, which makes the aircraft. As the F-15 fleet aircraft approached their life expectancies for total flight hours, the Air Force wanted see how far the service could delay fleet retirements, Jones said during a recent briefing with reporters.

Saitek Releases Pro Flight X-65F Combat Control System

09/26/2012

Pro Flight X65F Control System is the latest Saitek X series controller which enables flight simulators to "force sense" – the stick responds to pressure but does not move, just like in the real world modern fighter jets. Pro Flight X65F Control System enables simulators to rule the sky. The product is custom-made from high grade metal castings and is therefore built to withstand many combat engagements.

Alenia delivers sections for first Tranche 3 Eurofighter

09/26/2012

Alenia Aermacchi has shipped the rear fuselage and left wing for the first Tranche 3A example of the Eurofighter combat aircraft to industrial partner BAE Systems' Warton final assembly site in Lancashire, the UK. Pictured before leaving the Italian company's Caselle plant near Turin in late September, the parts will be mated with UK Royal Air Force Typhoon BS116.

F-22s Scrambled to Intercept Aircraft During Obama NYC Visit

09/26/2012

Two F-22 Raptor fighter jets intercepted two other planes that had entered restricted airspace over the United Nations General Assembly in separate incidents today, the military said. The two unidentified planes entered temporarily restricted airspace over the international diplomatic headquarters where President Obama spoke and were later intercepted over central New Jersey, according to the North Atlantic Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).

Second Sukhoi Su-30SM Fighter Jet Joins Flight Tests

09/26/2012

A second Sukhoi Su-30SM advanced multirole fighter successfully carried out its maiden test flight on Monday, the manufacturer said. The first Su-30SM made its first flight on September 21 as part of a comprehensive testing program for the aircraft that has been upgraded for the Russian Air Force.

Russia to Base MiG-31 Interceptors in Arctic

09/26/2012

The Russian Defense Ministry is to base MiG-31 long-range interceptors at the Rogachyovo Arctic base on the island of Novaya Zemlya by the end of the year to defend against attack from the north, Izvestia reported on Tuesday quoting military sources.

Lockheed Martin’s DAGR Missile Demonstrates Ground Launch Capability In Guided Flight Tests

09/26/2012

Lockheed Martin recently conducted two separate DAGR® missile flight tests, successfully firing the missiles from a prototype pedestal launcher and hitting a stationary target. The tests, which took place at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., demonstrated DAGR’s capability as a ground-based weapon. In each flight test, an inert DAGR missile locked onto the laser spot illuminating the target before launch.

Boeing Begins Full-Rate Production of Laser JDAM for US Navy

09/26/2012

Boeing recently received a $22.7 million modification to an existing U.S. Navy contract for more than 2,300 Laser Joint Direct Attack Munition (Laser JDAM) sensors, starting full-rate production to meet the Navy’s Direct Attack Moving Target Capability (DAMTC) program requirement.

Northrop Grumman to Develop Navigation System for U.S. Navy’s Fighter Aircraft

09/25/2012

Northrop Grumman has received a competitive prototyping contract from the Boeing Company for developing an embedded global positioning/inertial navigation system (EGI) on behalf of the U.S. Navy's F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler aircraft.

Iran tests home-built anti-aircraft system: report

09/25/2012

Iran successfully tested a domestically made anti-aircraft system, its English-language Press TV said on Monday, the latest in a series of military exercises Tehran has trumpeted in the face of hints that its nuclear sites could be attacked. "The mid-range system ... is capable of intercepting targets at a range of 50 km (30 miles) and can fly at an altitude of 75,000 feet," state-run Press TV's website said.

Russia’s Su-30SM Fighter Performs Maiden Flight: Photo

09/25/2012

On September 21, at the airfield of Irkutsk Aviation Plant – branch of JSC Irkut Corporation (a part of United Aircraft Corporation) Su-30SM fighter, developed by JSC Sukhoi Design Bureau and designed for the Russian Ministry of Defence, performed its maiden flight.

IAF planning to buy two more Mirage combat planes

09/25/2012

The Indian Air Force is planning to buy two second-hand Mirage 2000 combat aircraft to make up for the losses suffered by it in crashes earlier this year. The IAF, which has signed a deal with France for the upgradation of 51 Mirage 2000 aircraft, lost two of these planes in crashes in February and March after which its fleet was reduced to 49.

Putin Demands New Plan for Defense Industry Overhaul

09/25/2012

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday urged the government to draft a new defense industry modernization program that includes increased private investment and improved social benefits for employees. “This program must be tailored so that enterprises are modernized in parallel with the resolution of these social issues,” Putin said during a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin.

U.S. Army Awards Lockheed Martin $111 Million Apache M-TADS/PNVS Performance Based Logistics Contract

09/25/2012

Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] has received a $111 million Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor (M-TADS/PNVS) Performance Based Logistics (PBL) contract from the U.S. Army.

Boeing Receives $1.9 Billion Contract for 11 P-8A Poseidon Aircraft

09/25/2012

The U.S. Navy on Sept. 21 awarded Boeing [NYSE: BA] a $1.9 billion contract for 11 P-8A Poseidon aircraft, which will take the total fleet to 24 and bolster the service's anti-submarine, anti-surface warfare and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.

China navy takes delivery of first aircraft carrier

09/24/2012

China's first aircraft carrier was handed over Sunday to the navy of the People's Liberation Army, state press said, amid rising tensions over disputed waters in the East and South China Seas. The handover ceremony of the 300-metre (990-foot) ship, a former Soviet carrier called the Varyag, took place in northeast China's port of Dalian after a lengthy refitting by a Chinese shipbuilder, the Global Times reported.

U.S. Air Forces in Europe Public Affairs

09/24/2012

More than 130 U.S. military members were invited to demonstrate the air and ground capabilities of American forces as they partnered with the South African air force during the 2012 Africa Aerospace and Defense Exposition here, Sept. 22-23.

Elbit Systems to Establish a Mission Training Center for Fighter Pilots of a Latin American Air Force

09/24/2012

Elbit Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ and TASE: ESLT) ("Elbit Systems") announced today that it was awarded a contract valued at $18.5 million for the establishment of a Mission Training Center (MTC) for fighter aircraft of a Latin American Air Force. The establishment of the MTC will be performed during 2014.

Naval expert: Aircraft carrier will play a major role in settlement of islands disputes

09/24/2012

Naval expert Li Jie said that China's first aircraft carrier, which is mainly used for experiments and training, will soon enter service, which will mark a significant milestone in China's naval and maritime history. The aircraft carrier will play an important role in China's settlement of islands disputes and defense of its maritime rights and interests.

RMAF may lease Gripens an option

09/24/2012

The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) is considering an offer from Sweden to lease up to 18 JAS39 Gripen fighter jets for its Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) programme. RMAF chief Tan Sri Rodzali Daud told theSun leasing the Gripens is a cheaper solution considering the huge capital expenditure needed for the procurement of new fighters.

Canadian Inspectors Set for Surveillance Flights over Russia

09/24/2012

A group of Canadian observers will conduct a series of inspection flights over Russia under the Open Skies Treaty starting on Monday, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement. “The flights will be along the route coordinated earlier with Russian specialists, who will be on board of the aircraft monitoring implementation of agreements on the use of technical equipment for the observation,” the statement said.

Belarus to beef up air defense with new Russian warplanes

09/23/2012

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has said the former Soviet republic plans to employ advanced Russian-made fighter jets in as part of attempts to boost its air defense. “We have a joint air defense system. We talked a lot concerning the air force. I requested support and I have got it. In the near future we will get modern aircraft to put on duty at the border,” RIA Novosti quoted Lukashenko as telling reporters on Friday.