Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Lockheed Martin PAC-3 Missile Intercepts and Destroys Tactical Ballistic Missile in New Test

04/13/2013

Lockheed Martin’s PAC-3 Missile successfully detected, tracked and intercepted a tactical ballistic missile (TBM) in a Lower Tier Project Office flight test today at White Sands Missile Range, N.M. Two PAC-3 Missiles were ripple-fired in the test per current doctrine. The first interceptor destroyed the target and the second PAC-3 Missile self-destructed as planned.

Boeing X-48C Blended Wing Body Research Aircraft Completes Flight Testing

04/13/2013

The Boeing X-48C research aircraft flew for the 30th and final time April 9, marking the successful completion of an eight-month flight-test program to explore and further validate the aerodynamic characteristics of the Blended Wing Body design concept.

Ukraine Ready to Go Ahead With An-70 Project on Its Own - PM

04/13/2013

Ukraine will continue its project to build Antonov An-70 tactical transport aircraft even if Russia withdraws from it, Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said on Friday. Dmytro Kyva, president of the Ukrainian state company Antonov, said during the LAAD international aerospace and defense exhibition in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday that his company had had to suspend An-70 trials as the project’s chief partner, the Russian Defense Ministry, had again cast doubt on its participation in the proje

Preliminary agenda announced for DIAC

04/13/2013

The Institute for Near East & Gulf Military Analysis (INEGMA) has announced the preliminary agenda for the 6th edition of the Dubai Air Chiefs Conference (DIAC). The conference, at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel in Dubai on Saturday November 16, is an official event of the Dubai Air Show, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Sequester Grounds a Third of U.S. Air Force Combat Aircraft

04/12/2013

U.S. Air Force officials are grounding about one-third of active-duty combat aircraft as a result of the automatic federal budget cuts known as sequestration implemented in March. The spending cuts will reduce the Air Combat Command's (ACC) operations and maintenance accounts by about 45,000 flying hours, according to the Air Force News Service. The aircraft impacted by the cuts include those assigned to fighter, bomber, aggressor and airborne warning and control squadrons.

NELLIS AFB PILOTS FLY THEIR FIRST OPERATIONAL F-35 MISSION

04/12/2013

Two F-35A Lightning IIs assigned to the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron here conducted the aircraft's first operational flights from Nellis AFB. These historic flights came less than a month after the March 19 arrival ceremony for the aircraft, but members of the 57th Maintenance Group's Lightning Aircraft Maintenance Unit and the 422nd TES have prepared for years to make the transition of the F-35A to Nellis AFB a smooth one.

Bell Reveals V-280 3rd Generation Tiltrotor as Technology Demonstrator for JMR/FVL

04/12/2013

John Garrison, Bell Helicopter’s president and CEO, uncovered the Bell V-280 Valor 3rd generation tiltrotor at the start of the annual U.S. Army Aviation symposium, Quad-A. The V-280 is Bell’s offering for the Department of Defense’s Joint Multi-Role/Future Vertical Lift helicopter project, which could result in the production of more than 4,000 aircraft for the design eventually chosen. It will replace the U.S. Army’s medium helicopter fleet.

Logistics deal for Super Tucanos

04/12/2013

The Brazilian Air Force's fleet of A-29 Super Tucano aircraft will receive logistics support and services from the combat aircraft's manufacturer, Embraer. The logistics contract, signed Wednesday, is for five years and is worth about $197 million and includes unexpected services. The Brazilian Air Force operates 92 of the close support turboprop fighters, which can also be used as trainers.

Air Force budget would cut airmen, add planes

04/12/2013

The Air Force wants to shed 2,640 airmen next year, according to the service’s 2014 budget request laid out Wednesday at the Pentagon. The plan would cut 1,860 billets from the active-duty force, 480 from the Air Force Reserve and 300 from the National Guard. As with all budget requests, the plan must be approved by Congress, and that process frequently involves extensive changes.

In Russia Everything Is For Sale

04/12/2013

After more than a year of haggling over the details, Russia has agreed to sell China 24 Su-35 fighters. The big obstacle to this sale was the Chinese inability to assure Russia that the new Russian technology in these aircraft would not be stolen by Chinese aviation firms. Apparently a mutually agreeable compromise was worked out.

Brazil's Fair Shows the Latest in War Products from Around the World

04/12/2013

Delegations from 65 countries some of them including Defense ministers were in Rio, Brazil, for the opening of the International Defense and Security Fair, (LAAD), the largest show of military equipment in Latin America. The almost 30.000 visitors expected at the Riocentro convention center for the ninth edition of LAAD, among which 300 official delegates will be able to appreciate the latest products and systems at the stands representing 700 companies from 48 countries.

Elbit Showcases at AAAA

04/12/2013

Elbit Systems of America, LLC is presenting an array of cutting edge solutions designed to enhance the capabilities of the Aviation Soldier during the Army Aviation Association of America (AAAA) 2013 Annual Professional Forum and Exposition. The exhibition is taking place at the Fort Worth Convention Center in Fort Worth, Texas, April 10-12, 2013. Elbit Systems of America welcomes visitors to booth #1121 during exhibit hours.

Russian Air Force Approves New Bomber Design – Commander

04/12/2013

The Russian Air Force has approved the conceptual design and specification of its future PAK-DA strategic bomber, paving the way for development of components for the aircraft, Air Force Commander Lt. Gen. Viktor Bondarev said Thursday. “The development of the aircraft is going as planned. The outline of its design and characteristics has been approved and all relevant documents have been signed allowing the industry to start the development of systems for this plane.

Russia to Field MiG-31 Replacement by 2020 - Commander

04/12/2013

The Russian Air Force is hoping to receive a new long-range fighter-interceptor by 2020 and retire its existing fleet of MiG-31 interceptors by 2028, Air Force Commander Lt. Gen. Viktor Bondarev said on Thursday. “We have started development of a new aircraft of this type and I think we can develop this plane before the state armament program ends in 2020,” Bondarev said at a meeting with Russian lawmakers. “The new plane should replace the existing fleet by 2028,” he said.

Chinook Upgrade Makes For Easier Switch Between Hauling Passengers, Cargo

04/11/2013

Upgrades to the Army's CH-47 Chinook will give crews the capability to reconfigure the helicopter in flight to haul cargo or passengers, saving critical turnover time for one of the service's longtime workhorses. Each aircraft in the Army fleet of more than 400 twin-rotor Chinooks can haul 13 tons of cargo or up to 32 passengers. "There is no other helicopter in the Army inventory that can carry anywhere near that weight," said Lt. Col. Joe Hoecherl, product manager for CH-47 Modernization.

Can We Have Our Harpoons Back Please Sir

04/11/2013

In the U.S. Navy there have long been disputes between the aviation community (the folks who operate the aircraft carriers), the submarine community, and the surface warfare (all the armed surface ships) community. One of the quieter ones has been about the best way to destroy enemy ships.

Proposed weapons programs cuts in White House budget

04/11/2013

The fiscal 2014 U.S. budget plan sent to Congress by the White House on Wednesday proposes to cancel or cut several Pentagon weapons programs. The proposals must be approved by Congress, which has often reversed the administration's plans in past years, including on some of the cancellations proposed again in 2014.

U.S. Considers Supplying Syrian Rebels With Combat Equipment

04/11/2013

Secretary of State John Kerry met with leaders of the Syrian opposition Wednesday during a conference of the Group of Eight (G-8) foreign ministers in London, Bloomberg reported. Kerry indicated that the U.S. will give more aid to the rebels attempting to oust President Bashar al-Assad.

S. Korea selects Mississippi combat radar technology for fighter jets

04/11/2013

South Korea is using combat radar technology produced in Mississippi to upgrade its fighter aircraft, according to a release from U.S. Senator Thad Cochran’s office. On Wednesday, the Republic of Korea Air Force selected the Active Electronic Scanned Array (AESA) radars produced at a Raytheon facility in Forest to upgrade the radar capabilities of 134 of its KF-16 fighters.

UN peacekeeping forces need more teeth: Expert

04/11/2013

Helicopters and combat aircraft are what the United Nations needs most from the UAE in its peacekeeping missions. According to Richard Gowan, associate director for Crisis Diplomacy and Peace Operations at the New York University Centre on International Cooperation, USA, the UAE should help the UN’s international peacekeeping missions with what it lacks and not with what it already has.

Paris Air Show to feature Su-35 and Yak-130

04/11/2013

Russian manufacturers will get a chance to display its latest advancements in aviation at the 50th Paris Air Show, which will be held on June 17-23. The show at Le Bourget will feature 27 national pavilions and at least 110 aircraft, among them the Su-35 and the Yak-130. The official spokesman for the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), Boris Krylov, said: “The UAC will present two combat aircraft in Paris: the Yak-130, produced by the Irkut corporation, and Sukhoi's Su-35.

Malaysia Looks To Refresh Fighter Force

04/11/2013

Western fighter jet manufacturers attended the 12th Langkawi Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) exhibition in Malaysia, anticipating the launch of that country’s delayed Multi-Role Combat Aircraft program, but recent conflict has refocused attention on intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, particularly maritime surveillance.

US Military Hit by Budget Cuts, But North Korea Defense Intact - Hagel

04/11/2013

The US military has been hard hit by sweeping budget cuts, but has not lost its capacity to stand up to an attack by North Korea, defense officials said Wednesday. “We have every capability to deal with any action North Korea would take, to protect this country, and the interests of this country, and our allies,” Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said at a briefing on the Pentagon’s 2014 proposed budget.

Russia to Complete Helicopter Deliveries to Brazil in Fall

04/11/2013

Russia will complete the delivery to Brazil of 12 Mi-35 (AH-2 Sabre) attack helicopters worth $150 million by this fall, the head of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC) said on Wednesday. “As of today, nine helicopters have been delivered and the remaining three will be shipped in the fall,” FSMTC director Alexander Fomin said at the LAAD 2013 defense exhibition in Rio de Janeiro.

Marine Corps to Deploy Small Crisis Response Force

04/10/2013

The U.S. Marine Corps is preparing to deploy an agile, rapid crisis response force to the Mediterranean with deployable combat power, air assets, sea-basing and maritime pre-positioning capabilities, Corps leaders said March 8 at the Sea-Air-Space Expo, National Harbor, Md. "This will give senior leaders some decision space. It can integrate with an MEU and augment or compliment fleet anti-terrorism support teams.