Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

X-47B Unmanned Aerial Refueling Demo Victim Of Cuts

04/16/2013

Plans to demonstrate autonomous aerial refueling of the Northrop Grumman X-47B unmanned combat aircraft are a casualty of cuts in the U.S. Navy’s fiscal 2014 budget. Previous plans called for the X-47B naval unmanned combat air system demonstrator (UCAS-D) to conduct autonomous Navy-style probe-and-drogue and Air Force-style boom-and-receptacle refueling tests in 2014.

MidEast military spend rises amid global slowdown

04/16/2013

The Middle East region accelerated spending by 8.3 percent over the course of 2012 despite an overall slowdown in global military expenditure last year, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Oman increased its expenditure by 51 percent in 2012, the largest hike posted by any country. Kuwait’s defence budget increased by 10 percent.

IAF practices for twin-front contingency against China, Pak in biggest wargame

04/16/2013

China can "throw'' at least 21 fighter squadrons against India, from its eight airbases in Tibet and other airfields to their north. Even more Chinese fighters can join forces if they are able to overfly Myanmar. Similarly, Pakistan can deploy 21 to 25 fighter squadrons against India.

Minister wants two bigger transport planes for military

04/16/2013

Czech Defence Minister Vlastimil Picek will submit to the government a concept of the transport and helicopter air force counting with the purchase of two bigger planes in the latter half of 2013, he said on Prima television Sunday. He said the criticised CASA C-295 transport aircraft only meet a part of the demands soldiers place on the transport air force.

Lockheed Martin’s Nemesis Missile Scores 3-For-3 in Flight Tests

04/16/2013

Lockheed Martin successfully demonstrated the launch, guided flight, target acquisition and precision strike capability of its Nemesis missile in three flight tests at White Sands Missile Range, N.M. Nemesis is a man-portable, surface-launched missile that enables warfighters to engage targets with precision lethality from as close as 100 meters to well beyond line of sight.

Boeing Successfully Completes 1st Flight of Newest UK Chinook Helicopter

04/16/2013

Boeing recently completed the first flight of the newest CH-47 Chinook heavy-lift helicopter for the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force. The March 15 flight, at the Boeing helicopter facility near Philadelphia, happened ahead of schedule and confirmed initial airworthiness for the Mk6 Chinook. "This is a truly impressive achievement for both Boeing and the project team," said Capt. David Childs, Chinook Team Leader, UK Defence Equipment & Support.

Pilots conduct first external lift from USNS Sacagawea

04/15/2013

U.S. Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey pilots conducted the first external lift of a Humvee from the USNS Sacagawea April 11 during exercise Freedom Banner 2013 at Subic Bay, Philippines. U.S. Marines, sailors and civilians aboard the Sacagawea watched as the Osprey lifted the Humvee for the first time off the ship in order to demonstrate its capabilities and plan future lift operations from ship to shore.

Military loss challenges air show

04/15/2013

This year's Lauderdale Air Show is facing headwinds — and possibly diminished crowds — by lack of the popular military acts that in the past set spectators roaring nearly as loud as the jets screaming above them. In its heyday, the air show featured an arsenal of high-powered military aircraft slicing the sky over Fort Lauderdale Beach. There was the Marine Harrier, the U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor, the Air Force B-2 stealth bomber, and Army and Navy pararchute teams.

India to modernise its Russian MiG-29 fleet

04/15/2013

The Indian Air Force will continue operating the MiG-29 fighters it acquired at the end of the 1980s and in the early 1990s until at least the end of the next decade. India has embarked on modernising its Soviet fighters under the MiG-29UPG programme. The main objective of the modernisation is to bring the fighters up to the capability level of the MiG-29K and the MiG-29KUB, which are currently being supplied to the Indian Navy.

Finmeccanica Pulls Trigger On 2,500 Selex ES Cuts

04/15/2013

After streamlining operations at its Alenia Aeronautica unit, Italy’s Finmeccanica is continuing its restructuring mission by preparing to cut more than 2,500 jobs at its Selex ES electronics unit, which employs 17,000.

DoD furloughs: A bad idea at a bad time

04/15/2013

The devastating impact on both America’s military preparedness and its national economy from the proposed furloughs of civilian Defense Department employees could not occur at a more dangerous moment. The move not only places a disproportionate burden on Defense personnel, it also jeopardizes the safety and the economy of the entire nation.

Report: Germany Looking To Buy Weaponized Drones From Israel

04/15/2013

Germany is in talks with Israel to buy weaponized drones for its military that are seen as more technologically advanced than U.S. ones, the weekly Der Spiegel reported. The news magazine’s Monday edition said the German defense ministry had already held two meetings with Israeli military officials, in November 2012 and February 2013, on the proposed purchase.

Sierra Nevada awarded troubleshooting contract for Navy UCAS-D aircraft

04/15/2013

The U.S. Navy has awarded a sole source contract to Sierra Nevada Corp. (SNC) to support troubleshooting, problem resolution, and anomaly investigation associated with the Precision Global Positioning System as part of the existing Unmanned Combat Air System-Demonstration (UCAS-D) program. The Navy made the contract announcement on Friday through the Federal Business Opportunities website.

HAL's trainer pitted as Rs 4,500 cr cheaper than Swiss Pilatus trainer

04/15/2013

A looming test case will soon make clear how serious the defence ministry (MoD) is about its recently expressed intentions to end corruption in arms procurement by indigenising defence production. Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), the Bangalore-based public sector aircraft builder, has challenged the Indian Air Force (IAF)'s plan to purchase more Pilatus trainer aircraft by building a basic trainer aircraft, using its own funding.

Russian Military Inspectors to Fly Over Poland

04/15/2013

Russian military inspectors will make surveillance flights over the territory of Poland under the international Open Skies Treaty within a period starting Monday, the Russian Defense Ministry has reported. Russian experts will conduct the inspection flights on board an Antonov An-30B (Clank) aircraft between April 15 and 19, the ministry said in a statement.

Shifting to the Pacific: $527B Request Includes Less For Army, More for Air Force

04/14/2013

The Pentagon’s $527 billion fiscal 2014 budget request further deepens the Obama administration’s focus on the Asia-Pacific, better aligning funds with the military services expecting to play major roles in that region. It continues investments in advanced stealth aircraft, such as -35 joint strike fighters and new bombers. These planes play a key role in the Defense Department’s ability to operate in denied airspace.

Manila offers US its military bases in case of N Korea war

04/14/2013

The US would be allowed to station forces at military bases in the Philippines if it went to war with North Korea, Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said Saturday citing a treaty between the allies. “Our mutual defense treaty calls for joint action if either the Philippines or the United States is attacked,” del Rosario said in comments sent to AFP at a time of heightened tensions on the Korean peninsula.

Tokyo tells planes to report to US military if near US base

04/14/2013

Japan has ordered aircraft to report to the US military first if they enter airspace near the main US military base in Okinawa, a report said early Saturday after fresh North Korean threats. The transport ministry notice issued late Friday was believed to be part of precautions against possible North Korean missile launches, Kyodo News agency reported. The order refers to airspace within 30 kilometres of the Kadena base where Patriot missiles have been deployed.

Bell Helicopter debuts Bell V-280 Valor military tiltrotor

04/14/2013

Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company, unveiled the Bell V-280 Valor at the 2013 Army Aviation Association of America’s (AAAA) Annual Professional Forum and Exposition. Bell Helicopter’s third-generation tiltrotor marks the company’s offering for the U.S. Army’s Joint Multi Role/Future Vertical Lift (FVL) Technology Demonstrator (JMR/TD).

BAE's superdrone Taranis to be tested at Woomera

04/14/2013

The most secretive piece of airspace in Australia - the RAAF-run Woomera flight test range in South Australia - will make history later this year when the world's first unmanned supersonic stealth combat aircraft makes its maiden test flight above the desert. Extreme secrecy surrounds the joint British-French project and the drone called Taranis, named after the Celtic god of thunder and built by a British/French consortium led by aerospace giant BAE Systems.

Government hopeful of $15 billion Rafale fighter jet deal going through

04/13/2013

Earlier this month, in a rather unusual move, the Indian Air Force (IAF) strongly refuted a report that it was working on a Plan B should its negotiations fail to buy 126 combat jets from Dassault Aviation. "The CNC (Contract negotiations committee) process for acquisition of 126 MMRCA (Medium, multi-role combat aircraft) is underway and there is no thought process for any procurement as a 'back up' as reported," the Air Force said.

Russia, India Forge Ahead on Fifth-Gen Fighter

04/13/2013

Sukhoi announced this week that the “design and development” (D&D) phase of the Russo-Indian prospective multifunctional fighter (PMF), also known as the fifth-generation fighter aircraft (FGFA), has been completed. The aircraft is a joint development with India of the T-50 that Sukhoi has already designed and flown for the Russian Air Force. “The airplane has been shaped completely,” the manufacturer stated.

The Air Force Association’s View On the CF-18 Fighter Replacement

04/13/2013

The CF-18 fighter fleet has been projected to reach its estimated life expectancy in the 2017-2020 timeframe or potentially a few years later. There is every indication Canada will continue to require a robust manned fighter capability thereafter, for operations both domestic and abroad.

Selfridge Military Air Museum opens for 2013 season with new aircraft on display

04/13/2013

See the history of military aviation come alive as the Selfridge Air Museum is now open to the public for 2013. The museum, inside the Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Harrison Township, was established in 1979 to recover the history of Selfridge, one of the oldest continuously running military airfields in the United States. It houses historic aircraft from all military branches, both active and reserve units.

MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR DEALS FOR MILITARY AIRCRAFT REPAIRS AND RADAR UPGRADES

04/13/2013

The federal government will spend $225 million to maintain the avionics systems in the Canadian Forces' aging fleet of C-130H Hercules transport aircraft. Chris Alexander, parliamentary secretary to the defence minister, made the announcement here Thursday. The H models are used in search-and-rescue operations. Four of the serviceable aircraft are located at CFB Trenton with 424 Search and Rescue Squadron.