Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

American military hardware's 'faulty' Chinese spare parts under lens

08/09/2012

India, which has emerged as a major importer of American military hardware, is verifying reports about "faulty spare parts made in China" being used in defence equipment sold by the US to other countries. In a written reply in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, defence minister A K Antony said the entire issue of Chinese spare parts being used in US weaponry was being examined. "There have been media reports in this regard which are being verified," he said.

Saudis seeks military aircraft support

08/09/2012

The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency reports that Saudi Arabia has requested follow-on support and services for its military aircraft. The deal, if approved by Congress, would include support and services for aircraft, engines and weapons; publications and technical documentation; airlift and aerial refueling; support equipment; and spare and repair parts.

Sukhoi Tests New Radar Array for 5th-Generation Fighter

08/09/2012

Russia’s Sukhoi aircraft maker has started tests of a new onboard radar system for its 5th generation T-50 fighter jet, the company said on Wednesday. The new X-band active phased array radar has been installed on the third prototype of the T-50 fighter and showed a stable and effective performance comparable with the most advanced existing radar systems.

Sukhoi Continues Tests of Su-35 Fighter Jet

08/09/2012

Russia’s Sukhoi aircraft company is carrying out state acceptance trials of its Su-35 advanced fighter jet at the Russian Air Force’s flight test center, the company said on Wednesday. The aircraft has already undertaken more than 650 flights as part of the trials. The Air Force will accept another six Su-35s before the end of the year.

Oman Takes Flight

08/09/2012

A new C-130J Super Hercules for the Sultanate of Oman conducts a test flight at the Lockheed Martin facility here. This is the first of three C-130Js on order for Oman and is scheduled for delivery later this year. Oman currently operates a fleet of three C-130Hs purchased in the early 1980s. The new C-130J will be used to support internal country operations where its ability to operate out of remote austere airstrips will be invaluable.

Boeing Delivers Smaller, Lighter Radio Relay for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

08/09/2012

Boeing has delivered production units of a smaller, lighter version of its Tactical Compact Communications Relay (TCCR), which allows a small unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to function as a tactical, range-extending communications repeater for military handheld radios.

Saudi becomes world's largest non-US F110 customer

08/09/2012

The Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) has ordered 193 F110-GE-129E engines to power 84 new twin-engine Boeing F-15SA aircraft. With the order the RSAF becomes the largest operator of F110 engines other than the U.S. government. This follows earlier RSAF orders for 156 engines to power 71 re-engined F-15S aircraft.

Aircraft penetrates into Kuwait

08/08/2012

The suspicious military aircraft which penetrated Kuwait's airspace recently and flew low near the border area was seen by border security personnel at the Al-Squihah center contrary to earlier reports which had said the aircraft was detected by the radar of the General Administration for Border Security, reports Al-Shahed daily.

Somali airspace routinely violated by foreign UAVs and other aircraft – UN

08/08/2012

The United Nations has counted 64 reports of foreign fighter jets, helicopter and unmanned aerial vehicles operating in Somalia over the last year, most of which violated the 1992 arms embargo against Somalia. In its Report of the Monitoring Group on Somalia and Eritrea, the United Nations said that it had received a growing number of reports of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) flying over Somalia.

South Korea Selects BAE Systems to Perform F-16 Avionics Upgrades

08/08/2012

The Republic of Korea has selected BAE Systems to upgrade the avionics and electronic systems for its fleet of F-16 aircraft. The Korean Government will deliver a Letter of Request (LOR) for BAE Systems' U.S.-based Support Solutions business to be the sole source systems integration contractor for upgrading more than 130 F-16s. The work will be contracted through the U.S. Department of Defense's Foreign Military Sales program.

Canadian military to spend $1 billion on unmanned armed drones

08/08/2012

It appears that Canada is getting involved in the drone arms race. According to a report in the Ottawa Citizen, the Harper government recently approved a military 'request to aerospace firms' to provide details about the types of drones now available in the marketplace. The 'request' pointed out the need for the unmanned aircraft to operate in the Arctic. The aircraft should also be able to carry precision-guided munitions, the government said.

Fighter jets intercept two small planes in Obama’s airspace

08/08/2012

Two F-15 fighter jets intercepted two small airplanes that strayed into President Barack Obama's airspace during a campaign visit to Connecticut and New York on Monday, military officials said. One of the pilots was questioned by local law enforcement.

Buster, Stone Support McCain's Military Aircraft Transfer Act

08/08/2012

The legislation, introduced by Sens. John McCain of Arizona and Bill Nelson of Florida, would transfer surplus aircraft from the U.S. Department of Defense to the U.S. Forest Service for use in fighting wildland fires. Saying federal officials lack adequate air power to fight fires from the sky, Riverside County Supervisors Bob Buster and Jeff Stone, are urging the U.S. Senate to support legislation to convert excess military air tankers to help fight wildfires nationwide.

Lockheed Martin Procerus Technologies Brings High-Performance Surveillance to Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems

08/08/2012

Lockheed Martin Procerus Technologies’ new, lightweight, Perceptor™ dual-sensor gimbal packs the capability of a large camera system in a small, compact package designed to provide high-quality video surveillance for small and micro unmanned aircraft systems.

Boeing Flies X-48C Blended Wing Body Research Aircraft

08/08/2012

A modified Boeing Blended Wing Body research aircraft – designated the X-48C – flew for the first time today at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base in California. The remotely piloted X-48C aircraft took off at 7:56 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time and climbed to an altitude of 5,500 feet before landing 9 minutes later.

Russia to start serial production of new frontline aircraft after 2015

08/07/2012

Serial production of a new fifth generation frontline aircraft will start in Russia after 2015, Air Force Commander, Major-General Viktor Bondarev said. Compared to previous generations of the frontline aircraft, the new one will be a combination of as fighter and attack plane. It will be provided with new an active phased array radar system and new avionics.The latter will include an "electronic pilot", which will reduce the workload on the pilot to allow him to concentrate on his combat task.

US platforms to buff up IAF, navy combat edge

08/07/2012

India will buff up its combat edge next year with the induction of a new set of warfighting capabilities sourced from the US under contracts totaling more than $6.2 billion (Rs 34,720 crore).

Embraer Delivers The First Four A-29 Super Tucano To Indonesian Air Force

08/07/2012

Embraer Defense and Security has today delivered four light attack and tactical training A-29 Super Tucano aircraft to Indonesia’s Air Force at a ceremony held in its facility in Gavião Peixoto, São Paulo, Brazil. Indonesia is the first operator of Super Tucano in the Asia-Pacific region. These four A-29 Super Tucano are from the initial batch of eight aircraft purchased by the Indonesian Air Force (IAF) in 2010.

Transport planes could strengthen air defense

08/07/2012

Hercules C-130 transport planes operated by the Air Force can be refitted as tanker aircraft, which can beef up the country’s air defenses in the event of war, military officials said recently. Although the Air Force has no tanker aircrafts, the C-130 is spacious enough to be turned into a tanker aircraft if it is equipped with refueling equipment such as oil tanks and hoses, the officials said.

US helps the Philippines improve its military capability

08/07/2012

The US is helping the Philippines to modernise and improve its military capability in the face of a growing confrontation with China over supremacy in the South China Sea. The Americans have already agreed to transfer two naval vessels to an underpowered Philippine navy, and deployment of fighter jets, a coastal radar system and even increased numbers of American troops on the ground in the Philippines are under discussion.

Boeing Team Demonstrates Expanded Control of Unmanned Aircraft Swarm

08/07/2012

Boeing and the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL) have demonstrated that an operator on the ground, using only a laptop and a military radio, can command an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) "swarm." Despite limited flight training, the operator was able to connect with autonomous UAVs, task them and obtain information without using a ground control station.

Taiwan's transport planes can be refitted as tanker aircraft

08/06/2012

Of Taiwan's military aircraft, the C-130 transport plane can be refitted as a tanker aircraft, which can beef up the country's air defenses in the event of war, military officials said recently. Although the Air Force has no tanker aircraft, the C-130 is spacious enough to be turned into a tanker aircraft if it is equipped with refueling equipment such as oil tanks and hoses, the officials told CNA.

Iran upgrades its MiG 29 fighter jets with modern electronics

08/06/2012

FARS news agency reported on an effort by Iran to overhaul and upgrades it’s tactical MiG29 fighter jets. Which the article says is necessary to maintain combat readiness in the face of a probable "pre-emptive U.S. military strike" against both civilians and military targets.

US military sees virtue in 50-year-old aircraft

08/06/2012

The United States military, the world’s most technologically advanced force, paradoxically fields some of the oldest weapons’ platforms on the planet. At least five aircraft, still in US military service, are already more than 50 years old. And, they are set to serve for three to four decades more.

Fighter jets intercept small plane near Washington, D.C.

08/06/2012

Two F-16 fighter jets intercepted a small airplane near Washington, D.C. Saturday after the pilot failed to respond to radio communications, military officials said on Sunday. The aircraft was later allowed to proceed when contact was established.