Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Queasy reporter gets firsthand ride aboard an Osprey MV-22

07/14/2012

Although the U.S. military is touting the safety of its MV-22 Osprey transport aircraft, media representatives wanting a demonstration ride first had to sign an unsettling form. We were asked to sign an agreement stating that we were fully aware of the risk of serious injury and death, and to provide an emergency contact number. Just in case. With this less than reassuring start, reporters were allowed to ride an MV-22 on July 12.

C-295 Aircraft Completes First Flight With Anti-Ship Missile

07/14/2012

Airbus Military and MBDA have successfully completed the first flight of the C295 maritime patrol aircraft with an instrumented Marte MK2/S anti-ship inert missile installed under the wing. The flight was the first of a series of trials planned in a joint Airbus Military – MBDA collaboration to validate the aerodynamic integration of Marte on the C295. Subsequent flights will include handling qualities tests and aircraft flight performance tests.

Iran Still Counts on Russian S-300 Delivery - MP

07/14/2012

The issue of Russian S-300 air-defense system delivery to Iran could still be resolved, an Iranian lawmaker said on Friday. Mohammad-Reza Mohseni-Sani said he hoped Moscow will finally fulfill its contractual obligation by delivering the system to Tehran and that Iran expects Russia will not support “unjust” UN Security Council sanctions against the Islamic Republic. The delivery of S-300 surface-to-air missile systems to Iran is not against the UN sanctions imposed on the country, he added.

Turkey Denies Fighter Shot Down by Syria

07/14/2012

The General Staff of Turkey’s Armed Forces on Friday backed down from its previous claim that its fighter jet was downed last month by Syrian forces. “The actual cause of the incident will be established after the plane wreckage is raised from the seabed,” the General Staff said in a statement. "No traces of explosives or flammable products were found on the debris recovered from the sea."

Hypersonic Plane To Fly At 20 Times Speed Of Sound, Launch By 2016, DARPA Says

07/13/2012

The U.S. military aims to fly a full-scale rocket plane at 20 times the speed of sound by 2016, officials announced last week. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, laid out its plan to develop and test-fly the hypersonic vehicle in a press release issued Friday (July 6). The so-called X-plane would travel at Mach 20 — roughly 13,000 mph (20,900 kph) — allowing the military to reach any spot on the globe in less than an hour.

Emergency Landing Stokes Japanese Osprey Fears

07/13/2012

An emergency landing by a Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey seems likely to further inflame opposition to deployment of the helicopter-plane hybrids to Japan, even though no one was injured. Marine Corps officials said the incident Monday afternoon came during a routine training flight. The crew landed the tilt-rotor aircraft as a "precautionary" measure at Wilmington International Airport in North Carolina, about 50 miles from its home base at Marine Corps Air Station New River.

Does post-production contract signal end of Boeing C-17 line?

07/13/2012

The U.S. Air Force appears to be planning for a post-C-17 world with a new contract that would focus on maintaining the current fleet. Air Force officials say they plan to award Boeing Co. with a $500 million contract for post-production work of the Long Beach-assembled C-17 Globemaster III military cargo plane.

Thales reports new contracts

07/13/2012

The Thales Group has announced two new military contracts -- one from the British Ministry of Defense and the other from Australia. The first award is a multimillion-dollar award from Britain to supply the first full-flight simulator for Airbus Military's A400M transport aircraft, which will be flown by the Royal Air Force. Thales, an Airbus partner, is the main supplier of the A400M's cockpit display systems.

Western Arms Pinch Prompts Rethink at Boeing

07/13/2012

Boeing Co. and Eurofighter are among aerospace companies revising their strategies to win military exports as shrinking weapons budgets in their home markets increase the importance of overseas contracts.

Bell Helicopter CEO "bullish" despite US budget uncertainty

07/13/2012

Bell Helicopter, a unit of Textron Inc, expects substantial growth in its commercial business in 2012 and sees stable orders in its military business despite cuts in U.S. military spending. John Garrison, Bell's president and chief executive, said on Thursday he was upbeat about the outlook given strong commercial demand and continued work on three large U.S. military aircraft programs, which would provide stable orders.

FARC claims shooting down military aircraft in Colombia

07/13/2012

Guerrilla group FARC claimed it has shot down a Colombian Air Force Super Tucano aircraft over the southwestern Cauca department on Wednesday evening. According to Colombian radio station Caracol, the aircraft was shot down over the Jambolo municipality during a military offensive against FARC rebels in the area. Both of the two crew members are believed to have died in the crash.

Boeing Airplanes, Innovation and Technology Highlighted at Farnborough International Airshow

07/13/2012

Boeing's new aircraft and innovative technologies attracted customers, partners, government officials and media at the 2012 Farnborough International Airshow. The show saw the first flying display of the innovative 787 Dreamliner in Qatar Airways livery and the new Enduring Awareness Pavilion, a display of advanced command, control, communication, computer, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) capabilities.

Boeing Receives 1st 10 New Fuselages Designed for AH-64D Apache Block III

07/13/2012

The Boeing Company has received the first 10 new fuselages designed specifically for the AH-64D Apache Block III attack helicopter from long-time supplier Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI). This milestone paves the way for delivery of the first Apache Block III aircraft with new fuselages next year.

Airbus Military begins final assembly of the first A400M for Turkey

07/13/2012

The Airbus Military A400M final assembly line in Seville (Spain) has begun working on the first A400M for the Turkish Air Force. The integration of the wings and central wing-box for this aircraft, known as MSN9, began in mid-May while the integration of the nose and the fuselage started by the end of June.

Low Cost Embraer Super Tucano Earns Big Bucks In Developing Countries

07/12/2012

Brazilian aircraft-maker Embraer has seen unprecedented success with its Super Tucano trainer plane which also doubles as an attack aircraft. In the last eight years, Embraer has sold 160 Super Tucano aircraft to 10 countries worth an estimated $2.25 billion making it the most successful aircraft of its type in the world today.

US to build rocket-boosted hypersonic aircraft by 2016

07/12/2012

The US agency responsible for developing military technology has announced plans to design and build a hypersonic rocket launch aircraft by 2016. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa) claims the vehicle, developed as part of the Integrated Hypersonics program, will have the capacity to be "anywhere in the world in under an hour". This is down to the proposed onboard booster rocket, which will be employed for some extra speed - and flare.

Syrian air force conducts military drills

07/12/2012

The Syrian Air Force has conducted military exercises involving fighter and attack aircraft, state-run Sana news agency reported. The drills were conducted Tuesday. Sana said they simulated "real battle conditions", and continued a series of military exercises which began during last weekend.

Lockheed's F-35 fighter attracts foreign interest

07/12/2012

More than 25 countries have expressed interest in Lockheed Martin Corp's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, including Singapore, which is still evaluating its options, and South Korea, which is due to pick a winner in its fighter competition by year's end, top Lockheed officials said on Wednesday.

Hawker Beechcraft T-6 Military Trainer Platform Reaches 2 Million Flight Hours

07/12/2012

Hawker Beechcraft Defense Company (HBDC) announced Jul. 9 that its worldwide fleet of Beechcraft T-6 military trainer aircraft exceeded 2 million flight hours in June.

U.S. Admiral Questions the Long Term Benefits of Stealth

07/12/2012

The U.S. Navy’s top commander has publicly questioned the long-term benefits of stealth technology like that employed in the F-35 jet fighter, suggesting drones and other alternatives are the way of the future. The comments from Admiral Jonathan Greenert stand in sharp contrast to repeated Conservative government and Defence Department assertions about the overwhelming need for stealth in whatever aircraft replaces Canada’s CF-18s.

Russia to Draft New Rules on International Airshow Participation

07/12/2012

Russia’s Federal Service for Military and Technical Cooperation and the Defense Ministry will prepare a framework agreement regulating Russia’s participation in international airshows. The decision was made following a scandal over required paperwork and visa travel issues that prevented the Russian Knights aerobatic display team from participating in the ongoing Farnborough 2012 airshow near London.

Boeing P-8I Begins Flight Test Program

07/12/2012

Boeing's first P-8I aircraft for the Indian Navy began its official flight test program July 7, taking off from Boeing Field in Seattle at 9:15 a.m. and landing three hours and 49 minutes later after demonstrating flying qualities and handling characteristics. The flight went as planned with all test objectives met.

Airbus Military C295 certified for civic operations

07/12/2012

Airbus Military has obtained civil certification of the C295 transport in a move which responds to the evolving requirements of agencies and operators conducting humanitarian and other 'civic' operations. The new certification is awarded by Spain’s civil aviation authority AESA (Agencia Estatal de Seguridad Aérea) confirms the C295’s compliance with the enhanced regulatory environment in this sector of the market.

French Air Force Fighters Cunduct Final Combat Mission in Afghanistan

07/11/2012

On July 5, 2012, the French combat aircraft detachment, comprising a hundred airmen and three Mirage 2000D tactical fighters, conducted its last mission in Afghanistan before being withdrawn in the coming days. At 9:45 in the morning, the two Mirage 2000Ds flew on an escort mission in support of a coalition convoy in Farah province in western Afghanistan. The mission took place as planned, and the aircraft returned to base at around 14:00.

Embraer sells 8 Super Tucano turboprops at Farnborough Tuesday to bring show total to 15

07/11/2012

The Indonesian air force ordered eight A-29 Super Tucano high-performance military turboprop aircraft for light attack and tactical training from South American aircraft manufacturer Embraer S.A. in São José Dos Campos, Brazil. Embraer made the announcement Monday at the Farnborough International Airshow in Farnborough, England.