Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Group of U.S. Inspectors to Fly over Russia, Belarus

07/30/2012

A group of U.S. inspectors will make a one-week surveillance flight over Russia and Belarus in line with the international Open Skies Treaty beginning on Monday, a spokesman for the Russian Defense Ministry said. “In line with the implementation of the Open Skies Treaty, a U.S. mission will make an observatory flight over the Russian and Belarusian territories between July 30 and August 4 on board of an OC-135B aircraft,” the spokesman said.

India Successfully Test Fires BrahMos Cruise Missile

07/30/2012

The Indian army has successfully test-fired a BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, a spokesman for BrahMos Aerospace, which produces the missile, said on Sunday. “The test launch aimed to check the work of some new systems installed on the missile,” the spokesman said. The missile was launched from the Chandipur missile test range in the eastern province of Orissa.

US Air Force looks to train pilots for hi-tech threats

07/29/2012

For more than a decade, US fighter pilots have become accustomed to "owning the sky" in wars against insurgents who have no warplanes or air defenses. But in the desert outside Las Vegas, the US Air Force is trying to get back to basics, reminding pilots how to fly against a sophisticated enemy with fighter jets, surface-to-air missiles and satellite jammers.

EADS North America Delivers 14th HC-144A Ocean Sentry to U.S. Coast Guard

07/29/2012

The U.S. Coast Guard took delivery this week of its 14th HC-144A Ocean Sentry maritime patrol aircraft from prime contractor EADS North America. The Ocean Sentry is based on the Airbus Military CN235 tactical airlifter, more than 250 of which are currently in operation by 27 countries.

U.S. Air Force defends against drone hackers

07/29/2012

Last month, some college students were challenged by the Department of Homeland Security to try to hack into a drone flying over White Sands. They did it. So what does that mean for security especially in the military? Air Force officials offered some answers and a rare inside look at their remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) training program at Holloman Air Force Base near Alamogordo.

Military helicopters pound Aleppo as onslaught looms

07/29/2012

Military helicopters pounded a rebel-held district of Aleppo on Saturday and armoured units positioned themselves for an onslaught that could determine the fate of Syria's biggest city, opposition sources said. Turkey, once a friend but now a fierce critic of the Syrian government, joined growing diplomatic pressure on President Bashar al-Assad, calling for international steps to deal with the military build-up.

Japan, US Officials To Allay Osprey Concerns

07/29/2012

Japanese and U.S. officials will continue to try to allay the concerns of Japanese people over the safety of the U.S. Osprey military aircraft being deployed in American bases in Japan.

Russia May Evacuate Personnel from Its Syria Base – Navy Chief

07/29/2012

Servicemen may be evacuated from the Russian naval base in Tartus, Syria, if it comes under attack, Navy chief Vice Adm. Viktor Chirkov said on Saturday. “I am not the one to issue orders: We have the defense minister [for that],” he said in an interview with Ekho Moskvy Radio. “If we have to evacuate the personnel that is currently deployed there, we certainly will.”

IAF suspends exercises due to malfunctions midair

07/28/2012

A series of malfunctions led the Israel Air Force over the weekend to suspend midair refueling exercises as well as training flights for its fleet of older-model F-16s. On Friday, during a routine midair training flight, the hose disconnected from an F-16I - the IAF's most-advanced combat aircraft - causing light damage. The IAF decided to suspend the exercise and to land both the F-16 and the Boeing 707 refueling tanker.

US military head says no military action for Syria

07/28/2012

Even amid mounting fears of a massacre in Syria's largest city, the United States must continue applying economic and diplomatic pressure before considering military intervention, America's highest-ranking military official said Friday.

Mechanical Failure Cited in Harrier Crash

07/28/2012

The crash landing of the AV-8B Harrier aircraft near Felicity, Calif. Wednesday was caused by an unspecified mechanical failure, military officials stated. The site of the crash landing is still cordoned off by military and law enforcement personnel because two 500-pound bombs attached to the harrier that did not detonate upon impact still pose a danger to the public.

U.S. Allies Have Intense Interest In Military Drones

07/28/2012

America's allies are extremely interested in buying U.S.-made military drone aircraft, positioning American firms well for an expected explosion of unmanned plane sales. In his global travels, Assistant Secretary of State Andrew Shapiro says he detects "an intense interest" among U.S. allies to purchase military drones.

Russia Denies Warships to Stay in Mediterranean

07/28/2012

A high-ranking source in the Russian Navy Command on Friday denied media reports that a flotilla of Russian warships will remain in the Mediterranean Sea on a permanent basis. “It’s too early to speak about the permanent presence of a naval flotilla in the Mediterranean… there’s no need for it so far,” the source said.

Colombia's Air Force takes part in US war games

07/27/2012

After two years of preparation, Colombia's Air Force participated in major military maneuvers with the United States for the first time in simulated air battles over a Nevada desert. "Not only is it a dream come true to be flying with the best air force, but it is also very important for us because we can learn a lot (...) and we can advance our integration with a very modern air force," said Colombian Brigadier General Carlos Bueno.

Marine Harrier fighter jet crashes in east county; pilot OK

07/27/2012

An AV-8B Harrier fighter jet carrying live ordnance crashed Wednesday near here, making this at least the seventh Harrier to crash in eastern Imperial County since 1996. The pilot involved in Wednesday’s crash ejected safely, a Marine Corps Air Station Yuma official said.

China pushes aggression

07/27/2012

Despite Malacañang’s efforts to downplay the ongoing conflict in the South China Sea, Beijing on Thursday continued its aggressive stance on the issue following a statement from a high-ranking military officer asking the Chinese government to put up “maritime and air spaces” there.

Turkey’s defense purchases to reach $8 billion by 2016

07/27/2012

Turkey will spend up to $8 billion in defense purchases as its exports will reach $2 billion in 2016, four years from now, according to a major estimation by the procurement agency, the Undersecretariat for Defense Industries (SSM). The present figures are around half of that.

CRTC, Camp Grayling provides Combat Readiness

07/27/2012

Michigan’s Army and Air National Guard have two installations located in Northern Michigan that are leading the way into combat readiness. The Michigan Air National Guard’s Combat Readiness Training Center and Michigan Army National Guard’s Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center have become center stage for one of the largest military training operations in Michigan’s military history.

Indonesian Air Force Su-30 fighter arrives

07/27/2012

The growing military links with Indonesia will be on show this week after the arrival yesterday of an Indonesian Air Force Su-30 fighter. The Indonesian fighters will participate in Exercise Pitch Black 2012, also involving aircraft from Australia, the US, New Zealand, Singapore and Thailand, operating from Darwin and Tindal in the Northern Territory.

U.S. grounds F-16 jets in Japan after crash

07/27/2012

A squadron of U.S. F-16 fighter jets in Japan has been grounded for safety checks after one of their aircraft crashed in the Pacific, military officials said Thursday.

Lockheed Martin Completes JASSM F-15E Integration with Successful All-Up Round Flight Test

07/27/2012

Lockheed Martin’s Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) recently completed F-15E platform integration with a successful all-up round (AUR) flight test at White Sands Missile Range, N.M.

Lockheed-Martin gets $199 million foreign military sales contract

07/26/2012

The Air Force has awarded Lockheed-Martin Corp. a $199.3 million contract to provide 18 F-16 fighter aircraft, with technical and equipment support, to the government of Iraq through the U.S. foreign military sales program.

U.S. Builds Afghan Air Base, but Where Are the Planes?

07/26/2012

Shindand Air Base has an 8,000-foot runway, a gleaming new headquarters complex and a cadre of motivated Afghan pilot candidates. Because of the way Washington operates, however, it lacks warplanes. The budding Afghan air force was supposed to receive $355 million worth of planes custom-made for fighting guerrillas well ahead of the U.S. withdrawal in 2014.

Japan Expert Panel To Assess Safety Of US Military Aircraft

07/26/2012

Japan has set up a panel of experts to make its own assessment on the safety of the U.S. military's Osprey transport aircraft brought to the country on Monday. Defense Minister Satoshi Morimoto presided over the first meeting of the panel, headed by Defense Ministry's Deputy Director-General for Policy Tetsuro Kuroe, on Wednesday.

Fighter jet scrambled to intercept aircraft

07/26/2012

Britain's controversial Olympic security procedures swung into action when a fighter jet was scrambled to intercept an aircraft that had entered restricted airspace. The Typhoon jet was ordered to intercept the aircraft after it failed to contact air traffic controllers, the Ministry of Defence said. Communications were then restored and the fighter jet told to stand down.