Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Global Powers Cast Wary Eye as Korean Tension Escalates

03/30/2013

North Korean state media said Friday that the country’s leader, Kim Jong-un, had ordered his missile units to be ready to strike the United States and South Korea, which South Korean officials said could signal either preparations for missile tests or just more blustering. The United States criticized the North Korean threat, which came one day after American forces had carried out an unusual practice bombing exercise with advanced aircraft across South Korea.

Sweden Commits To Gripen E Development

03/30/2013

Late last week Saab received a second order from FMV, the Swedish defense material administration, for the development of the Gripen E fighter that is slated to form the combat equipment of the Swedish air force from 2018.

The Victory Plan

03/30/2013

Over the last month the U.S. has quietly joined the unofficial effort to arm the Syrian rebels and help them defeat the Assad forces. The rebels are receiving about twice the number of weapons (and ammo) they were getting a month ago. This aid includes more training (in Jordan) for rebel fighters and CIA provided intelligence information about the location, plans and capabilities of government forces.

The future of Russia-China military cooperation

03/30/2013

China will once again start buying arms from Russia, according to Chinese media reports, which claim that a framework agreement has been signed for 24 Su-35 fighter jets and four Lada-class conventional submarines. A RIR source familiar with Russia's military-technical cooperation with foreign countries was unable to confirm these reports.

Putin Attends Military Exercise in Southern Russia

03/30/2013

Thousands of Russian troops participated in a military exercise in the Black Sea on Friday, aimed at showcasing Russia's resurgent military might. President Vladimir Putin attended the drill that also involved 30 navy ships, dozens of combat aircraft and hundreds of armored vehicles. The exercise, which the Kremlin said was intended to test the military's quick response, was ordered by Putin from aboard the presidential plane on a flight home from South Africa on Thursday.

India: Tejas must be operational by 2014

03/30/2013

Indian Defense Minister A.K. Antony warned the government's defense businesses to make sure the long-awaited Tejas Light Combat Aircraft is ready no later than 2014. Antony's warning was part of a general statement during his opening presentation to the 37th Directors Conference at the Defense Research and Development Organization. Antony urged government-run agencies - in particular the DRDO - to speed up their work.

BEL to make components for Boeing's Hornet fighter jet

03/29/2013

Bangalore, March 28 (IANS) State-run defence behemoth Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) will manufacture sub-assemblies for the Boeing Super Hornet fighter jet under a follow-on contract with the US-based global aerospace major. "Under the follow-on contract of 2011, BEL will deliver components for our F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and P-8I maritime reconnaissance aircraft," Boeing said in a statement here Thursday.

Chinese navy to hold 40 drills to beef up combat preparedness

03/29/2013

Amid deepening maritime disputes with some of its neighbours, Chinese navy today said it would conduct 40 military exercises this year to test its combat readiness. The Naval wing of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) would conduct 40 drills this year, including some joint exercises with various countries, to beef up its operational preparedness to guard its maritime borders and national interests, state-run CCTV reported.

Confronting China: US Boosts Military Presence in Africa

03/29/2013

President Obama has instructed the Defense Establishment to pivot its forces and reorient its efforts toward Asia. Instead, the U.S. armed forces step by step get drawn into the quagmire of messy conflicts in Africa. Recently, the United States has become embroiled in conflicts in Somalia, Libya, Mali and central Africa. The presence is about 5,000 U.S. troops strong. The forces are scattered across the continent in the places like Djibouti, the Central African Republic and now – Niger.

For The US, Russia, And China, A Busy Week In Military Drills

03/29/2013

Washington and Moscow have followed Beijing’s lead this week, calling elements of their armed forces into action for military exercises across the Pacific and European theaters. After Chinese naval vessels and aircraft participated in maneuvers across the South China Sea earlier this week, the United States announced today that it had flown two of its stealth B-2 bombers over North Korean airspace in a display of force and technological superiority.

N. Korea puts rockets on standby for US strike

03/29/2013

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un on Friday ordered preparations for strategic rocket strikes on the US mainland and military bases in the Pacific and South Korea. The order, issued at an overnight emergency meeting with top army commanders, was a direct response to the use of nuclear-capable US B-2 stealth bombers in ongoing US joint military drills with South Korea, Kim said.

UN closes in on landmark arms treaty

03/29/2013

In an unprecedented move, about 193 United Nations (UN) member-states reportedly closed in on the first-ever global treaty to regulate the $80 billion a year conventional arms trade. As diplomats were cautiously optimistic that the landmark accord would be agreed at the final negotiating session starting at 1900 GMT, doubts remained over whether India, Iran or Syria could block the required consensus.

Malaysia to buy 18 fighter jets, shortlists five makers

03/29/2013

Malaysia has shortlisted five manufacturers as it seeks to buy 18 combat aircraft by 2015 to replace its ageing fleet of Russian-made MIG-29s, the defense minister said on Thursday. The choice was between the Britain-backed Eurofighter Typhoon, Sweden's SAAB JAS-39 Gripen, France's Dassault Aviation Rafale, Boeing's F/A 18E/F Super Hornet and Russia's Sukhoi Su-30, Zahid Hamidi told Reuters.

Nuclear-Capable US Bombers Fly Over S. Korea

03/29/2013

The US military said Thursday it had sent two nuclear-capable B-2 stealth bombers on an “extended deterrence” practice run over South Korea, dropping dummy bombs as part of a bilateral training exercise. “This mission… demonstrates the United States’ ability to conduct long range, precision strikes quickly and at will,” said a statement from the United States Forces Korea, a division of the US Strategic Command under the Department of Defense.

Sukhoi, Malaysia Sign $100 Mln Deal on Fighters' Maintenance

03/29/2013

Russian aircraft maker Sukhoi and the Malaysian Defense Ministry have signed a $100-million contract for the technical maintenance of Malaysia’s fleet of Su-30MKM fighters, said a spokesman for the organizing committee of the LIMA-2013 aerospace exhibition. The contract covers technical maintenance as well as supplies of spare parts for 18 Russian Su-30MKM fighters that were delivered to Malaysia between 2007 and 2009 under a $900-million contract signed in 2003.

Bangladesh Plans to Buy 24 Russian Jet Trainers

03/28/2013

Bangladesh is planning to buy 24 Yak-130 Mitten jet trainers on $1 billion credit from Russia, Russia’s state arms exporter Rosoboronexport said on Wednesday. “Bangladesh has a whole list of arms it wants, but so far that is a state secret. I will reveal one little secret: The purchase of Yak-130 warplanes is a very significant subject of negotiations between Russia and Bangladesh.

Mongolia Planning To Buy U.S. Military Airplanes

03/28/2013

Mongolia is in discussions to buy American-made military transport airplanes, and is getting U.S. help in learning how to operate the aircraft. That ambitious purchase appears to signal that Mongolia has mining money to spend, and it's using some of it to upgrade its armed forces. Mongolia is looking at buying three C-130J transport airplanes, manufactured by Lockheed Martin.

Air Force cancels April Red Flag-Alaska training

03/28/2013

The Air Force is canceling its flight training exercise scheduled for April in Alaska. An announcement from Pacific Air Forces says Red Flag - Alaska is being set aside because of budgetary concerns. The training exercise traditionally takes place at Eielson Air Force Base in Fairbanks, and use the Joint Pacific Alaskan Range Complex for training.

Japan's military chief says F-35 is "best fighter"

03/28/2013

Japan's highest-ranking uniformed officer said on Wednesday that Lockheed Martin's F-35 fighters were the best choice for the nation's future operational needs as Tokyo wrestles with tensions with China and increasingly belligerent North Korea. The vote of confidence in the state-of-the-art U.S. warplane comes amid reports that some nations that have placed orders for the F-35s are reconsidering their plans.

Is the cutting-edge F-35 Korea`s choice for its fighter project?

03/28/2013

At Eglin Airbase near Port Walton Beach, Florida, Maj. Karen Roganov, an officer in charge of public information, guided reporters to the base Friday, saying, “Many foreign reporters have visited here, but this is the first time for us to receive Korean journalists.” Covering 1.88 million sq. kilometers, the base has more than 50 fighter jet hangars, runways and more than 30 barracks. The facility is used as a center for flight training and pilot education for the F-35 Lightening II.

The Russian - South African Strategic Partnership

03/28/2013

Russia's relations with South Africa were not always as good as they are today. During Soviet times, the Soviet leadership disapproved strongly of the South African white regime's harsh apartheid politics. The Soviet Union supported the African National Congress in its struggle against apartheid. In 1956, the ties were severed completely by the USSR.

Viewpoint: What is driving North Korea's threats?

03/28/2013

More than 40,000 US and South Korean troops are currently conducting military manoeuvres on the Korean Peninsula, as part of the annual Foal Eagle exercise. US bombers, fighter aircraft and submarines have made their way to the region in an effort to "enhance the security and readiness" of South Korea. Those exercises are seen as a visible way for Washington to reassure Seoul of the reliability of its alliance and extended deterrence commitment.

Embraer cuts ribbon for LAS facility

03/28/2013

Embraer of Brazil has officially opened an assembly facility in Florida for A-29 aircraft it is producing for the U.S. Air Force LAS program. The ribbon cutting ceremony Tuesday, attended by Florida Gov. Rick Scott and Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown, occurred despite a continuing protest and legal action by Beechcraft Corp. over the award for an initial 20 combat aircraft that will be supplied to Afghanistan.

Navy moving ahead with its stealth attack drone program

03/28/2013

The Navy is moving ahead with its effort to field a stealthy, carrier-based attack drone. Yesterday, the sea service announced that it plans to give Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and General Atomics contracts to flesh out their competing designs for the Unmanned Carrier Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike (UCLASS) program.

U.N. Close to Curbing Arms Trade With Treaty

03/28/2013

The effort over many years to forge an international treaty regulating the booming $70 billion annual trade in conventional weapons headed toward fruition on Wednesday with a final draft sent to the governments of all United Nations member states for approval. Supporters, including a majority of member states, hope that the Arms Trade Treaty will be approved by consensus at a final negotiation session here on Thursday.