Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

ATK and Alenia Aermacchi Successfully Complete Phase 1 Testing of MC-27J

06/15/2013

ATK and Alenia Aermacchi successfully completed the first phase of ground and flight tests of their MC-27J multi-mission aircraft. A Roll-On/Roll-Off (RORO) Gun System pallet was installed and tested on the Alenia Aermacchi C-27J Spartan airlifter. The series of tests were conducted by ATK and Alenia personnel at Eglin Air Force base in Florida. The test events were designed and certified by the U.S. Air Force and deemed successful by Air Force Special Operations Command.

US Hedges F-35 Delays with F/A-18 Upgrades

06/15/2013

The U.S. Navy is upgrading its F/A-18 fighter jets to improve the attack and fighter aircraft’s survivability, electronics package and overall performance to better combat potential threats, service officials said. The improvements are taking place across the legacy Hornet fleet as well as the Super Hornet and Growler fleets. They include design work, engineering and enhancements to the avionics, sensors and helmet-mounted displays, weapons, targeting technologies and electronic warfare systems.

Will Europe Ever Build Its Own Fifth Generation Fighter?

06/15/2013

This year’s Paris Air Show promises to be one of the most lackluster for the defense sector in at least a decade. America is sending virtually no military aircraft to fly the all-important afternoon displays: no F-22s, no F-35s, no C-17s, no C-130s. American companies have scaled back their executives’ participation.

Boeing Receives Additional Aircraft Support Contract from US Navy

06/15/2013

Boeing will continue to ensure the availability of U.S. aircraft including the F/A-18 Hornet, AV-8B Harrier, EA-6B Prowler and V-22 Osprey through a $5.5 million U.S. Navy contract to maintain the Reconfigurable Transportable Consolidated Automated Support System (RTCASS).

JHMCS II Product Launch at the Paris Air Show

06/14/2013

oint Helmet Mounted Cueing System II (JHMCS II), an upgraded and improved version of the classic JHMCS and the world's first high definition, color, smart-visor system that operates in both day and night mode, will be making its debut at the Paris Air Show in Hall 3, Booth E111 from June 17-21.

GAO Supports Super Tucano Pick for Afghanistan Air Force

06/14/2013

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has reaffirmed an Air Force decision to award the Afghan light air support (LAS) contract to contractors Sierra Nevada Corp and Embraer. The decision, which could mark the end of a long-running legal saga, was announced Thursday afternoon, days before the Monday deadline when the agency would have to rule on competitor Beechcraft’s challenge of the contract.

"Electronic Warfare is Becoming More Important and More Complex"

06/14/2013

"In the past, you purchased an electronic protection system and installed it onboard the aircraft in order to provide the pilot with alerts pertaining to various threats. Today, electronic warfare resources are a part of the over-all protective suit of the aircraft and are also a part of its weapon systems. They are no longer a stand-alone element – and that has been a quantum leap."

As Nellis AFB grounds aircraft, training goes virtual

06/14/2013

The sky over southern Nevada is quieter than they have been in quite some time due to the June 1 Air Combat Command directed stand down of flying operations. Despite the stand down, the 64th Aggressor Squadron remains committed to accomplishing their mission, said Lt. Col. Michael Shepherd, the 64th AGRS academic assistant director of operations.

House Appropriations Committee approves FY2014 DoD spending bill

06/14/2013

Yesterday, the House Appropriations Committee (HAC) approved the FY2014 Department of Defense (DoD) Appropriations bill. The HAC bill provides $512.5 billion for the DoD base budget (excluding military construction), almost $3.4 billion below the president’s request.

Marines to assume EA-6B Prowler training

06/14/2013

Training to keep the 1968 vintage EA-6B Prowler flying transfers Friday from the Navy to a 2nd Marine Air Wing squadron based at Cherry Point air station. Training for the Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. twin-engine aircraft has previously been conducted for the Navy and Marine Corps by Navy Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 129 at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash.

Indian ‘Home-Grown’ AMCA, An Alternative To FGFA

06/14/2013

Despite being involved in the fifth-generation fighter aircraft (FGFA) joint program with Russia, India is developing a next-generation fighter of its own–the advanced multirole combat aircraft (AMCA).

Predictive Models Guide Fighter Jet Maintenance for RAF Squadrons

06/14/2013

In March 2011, aircraft from Britain’s Royal Air Force joined an international task force patrolling the skies above Libya, enforcing a United Nations-mandated no-fly zone as the regime of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi crumbled.

The dam is beyond the combat radius of all aircraft staging from Egyptian airfields

06/14/2013

Ethiopia’s initiation of a dam project on the Blue Nile has quickly drawn the ire of Egypt, which is critically dependent on it as a source of much of the country’s freshwater needs. As Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr said June 9 following Ethiopia’s refusal to halt construction of the dam and ahead of his trip to Addis Ababa to discuss the project, Egypt will not give up a “single drop of water from the Nile.” ”No Nile, no Egypt,” he said.

LONGBOW LLC Receives $90 Million Contract for Saudi Arabia Apache Radar Systems

06/14/2013

The LONGBOW Limited Liability Company, a joint venture of Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman Corporation [NYSE: NOC], received a $90.6 million contract to provide Saudi Arabia with LONGBOW Fire Control Radars (FCRs) for the AH-64 Apache Attack Helicopter.

Israel denies exporting military equipment to Pak

06/13/2013

srael has dismissed media reports that it exported security equipment to Pakistan over the past five years. “Israel does not export defence equipment to Pakistan. That is our stated policy and is implemented completely,” a senior foreign ministry official said.

Budget Cuts To Keep U.S Jets Grounded At Paris Air Show

06/13/2013

The U.S defense automatic budget cuts called Sequestration has affected the way U.S military is representing itself in Paris Air Show. Sequestration and a need for careful spending has meant that show organizers are expecting around 10 U.S defense officials, compared with 29 two years ago.

France sees first Rafale jet deliveries to India by 2016

06/13/2013

France expects to make its first deliveries of Rafale warplanes to India by 2016 or 2017, French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian was quoted as saying by financial daily Les Echos.

F-16s may stay in Jordan after exercise

06/13/2013

The U.S. is sending F-16s to Jordan for an exercise, but they could stay longer to safeguard Jordan from violence in neighboring Syria. The planes will take part in the upcoming exercise, Eager Lion, which runs until June 20, said Defense Department spokesman Air Force Lt. Col. Jack Miller. The U.S. also is sending a Patriot missile battery from Fort Hood, Texas.

Israel exports military equipment to Pakistan: report

06/13/2013

Israel has exported military equipment, including hi-tech gear used in combat jets, over the past five years to Pakistan and Arab countries with which it has no diplomatic relations, according to a media report on Tuesday.

UAS are the eye of the battlefield

06/13/2013

Unmanned Aircraft Systems — previously referred to as unmanned aerial vehicles or remotely operated aircraft/vehicles — come in a variety of shapes and sizes; providing aerial surveillance and security for service members and coalition forces throughout Afghanistan.

Interview with Oleg Demchenko, President, IRKUT Corp About The Yak-130 Combat Trainers And Other Programs

06/13/2013

Interview with Oleg Demchenko, President, IRKUT Corp About The Yak-130 Combat Trainers And Other Programs.

Pakistan Female Fighter Pilot Wins Battle of Sexes

06/13/2013

With an olive green head scarf poking out from her helmet, Ayesha Farooq flashes a cheeky grin when asked if it is lonely being the only war-ready female fighter pilot in the Islamic republic of Pakistan. Farooq, from Punjab province's historic city of Bahawalpur, is one of 19 women who have become pilots in the Pakistan Air Force over the last decade - there are five other female fighter pilots, but they have yet to take the final tests to qualify for combat.

Finland Accuses Russia of Airspace Violation

06/13/2013

Two Russian military aircraft are suspected of having violated Finland’s airspace, the Finnish Defense Ministry said in a statement Wednesday. The incident took place Tuesday morning over the Gulf of Finland, the ministry said on its website. The report did not identify the Russian aircraft, saying only that F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets of the Finnish Air Force were dispatched in order to identify the invaders.

Navy to Buy 99 Ospreys in $6.5 Billion Order

06/12/2013

The Navy has reached a $6.5 billion deal with a joint venture of Textron Inc.‘s Bell Helicopter unit and Boeing Co. for 99 V-22 Ospreys that likely cements the long-term future of the tilt-rotor aircraft as part of the military’s air inventory.

ISPR says Israel not arming Pakistan with hi-tech gear

06/12/2013

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Tuesday categorically rejected a news report appeared in a section of media which read that Pakistan bought defence equipment from Israel. Earlier, a media report said Israel had exported military equipment, including hi-tech gear used in combat jets over the past five years to Pakistan and Arab countries with which it has no diplomatic relations.