Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

New S-400 Long-Range Missile Ready For Service – Official

07/01/2012

A new long-range missile for Russia’s formidable S-400 air defense system will soon enter service, chief-of-staff of Russia’s Air and Missile Defense Command Maj. Gen. Andrei Demin said on Thursday. “A long-range missile for S-400 has passed all trials and will soon be delivered to air defense units,” Demin told RIA Novosti without specifying the model.

Canada to buy new jet trainer aircraft

06/29/2012

Canadian air force officials are examining options to buy a new jet trainer aircraft to replace its aging fleet of BAE Systems-built CT-155 Hawk aircraft. The official Canadian position on the planned purchase remains unclear but the government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper is looking at an upgrade with the option to allocate the existing Hawks elsewhere in the Canadian armed forces.

China sends 'combat ready' patrols to Spratlys

06/29/2012

"Combat ready" Chinese naval and aerial patrols have been deployed to the disputed Spratly Islands in the West Philippine Sea to protect Beijing's interests, the Chinese Defense Ministry said Thursday. Defense Ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng said China will "resolutely oppose any militarily provocative behavior" from other countries also claiming ownership of the Spratlys.

United Technologies sent military copter tech to China

06/29/2012

United Technologies Corp o n T hursday admitted selling China software that helped Beijing develop its first modern military attack helicopter, one of hundreds of export control violations over nearly two decades.

Su-27 Fighter Jet Crashes in Karelia

06/29/2012

A Russian Air Force Sukhoi Su-27UB fighter jet crashed in the Petrozavodsk district of Russia's northeast Karelia Republic on Thursday morning, although the pilots ejected safely according to Russia's Defense Ministry. "The plane went down in the region of the village of Besovets," a local law enforcement source said.

Russia Will Deliver First Mi-25 Gunships to Syria on Time - Arms Official

06/29/2012

The first consignment of three Mil Mi-25 helicopter gunships for Syria has been overhauled and will be delivered to the customer within the contracted time, a senior arms official said on Thursday. The contract for the repair of the helicopters was signed by Russia and Syria in 2008, Federal Service for Military Technical Cooperation director Alexander Fomin said.

Russia halts plans to supply S-300 missile system to Syria - reports

06/27/2012

Russia’s main weapons producer has allegedly suspended its contract with Syria to supply S-300 long-range missile systems. Russia’s ‘Vedomosti’ daily published the report, citing unnamed sources within the military-industrial complex. The very fact of the contract’s existence was not known until it was revealed in an annual report made only last week and published online by the makers of the S-300 systems, Almaz-Antey.

Osprey crash record has foes in Okinawa fuming

06/27/2012

Recent crashes involving the U.S. military's latest transport aircraft are fueling an uproar in Japan that could threaten plans to deploy them to Okinawa by the end of the year. Following an uproar in Okinawa and in Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture, another city likely to host the MV-22 Osprey, U.S. officials briefed Japanese government representatives in Washington on Friday, emphasizing the aircraft's safety and capability.

Rosoboronexport Showcasing New Equipment and Technologies at TVM-2012 Forum

06/27/2012

From 27 June to 1 July, the Rossiya Transportation & Exhibition Complex in Zhukovsky, near Moscow, will be hosting the 2nd International Forum "Engineering Technologies 2012". The Forum’s program encompasses the OboronExpo International Exhibition of Weapons and Military Equipment.

Combat commuters: dishing out death with drones

06/27/2012

Ten minutes into Lieutenant Colonel Matt J. Martin's first mission as a Predator drone pilot, he marked a target in Baghdad for a "Spooky" gunship. And then it opened fire. "Death from above. Poor bastards down there in the windows never knew what hit them," he wrote in a 2010 book. As he stood up to stretch in a trailer at Creech Air Force Base near Las Vegas, he remembered that his wife had asked him to buy some milk on his way home.

Ukrainian military industry: Overcoming obstacles

06/27/2012

Despite the total chaos after USSR collapse the military-industrial complex remains an important sector of Ukrainian economy. And for the last years it has been improving its performance. However, there are still problems and the defense industry does its best to solve them.

Boeing and Embraer Sign Agreement to Collaborate on KC-390 Program

06/27/2012

The Boeing Company and Embraer today announced an agreement to collaborate on the KC-390 aircraft program. Under this agreement, Boeing and Embraer will share some specific technical knowledge and evaluate markets where they may join their sales efforts for medium-lift military transport opportunities.

Philippines Orders South Korean TA-50 Jets

06/26/2012

With new territorial challenges facing the Philippines and an antiquated military force riddled with inefficiencies, the Philippine’s ABS-CBN news released a report on 20 June that the Philippine Air Force (PAF) has decided to acquire twelve South Korean TA-50 trainer/fighter jets.

Denmark to upgrade its F-16 aircraft with LITENING G4 Targeting Pods

06/26/2012

The Danish Ministry of Defence announced that it has selected Northrop Grumman’s LITENING G4 targeting system for its F-16 fighter aircraft. First deliveries are expected in August 2013. The Litening G4 pods will be supplied with datalinks and full logistics support package.

A new £16 million contract to provide Tornado GR4 aircraft with new kit

06/26/2012

For anyone who is a computer gamer, it’s a familiar story. Advances in software development provide real advantages but inevitably you need the latest hardware if you want to play the games at blistering speeds. Well it’s pretty much the same with today’s combat aircraft – operational flight programmes are becoming more capable as functionality is added but you need some pretty powerful kit to play it on.

Turkey Accuses Syria Of Firing At Second Military Aircraft

06/26/2012

Turkey on Monday accused Syria of firing at one of its search and rescue aircraft while searching for a Turkish warplane shot down by Syrian forces last week, making the second such confrontation between the two nations in less than a week.

Troops continue 'provocative' military drills on the 62nd anniversary of the start of the 1950-53 Korean War

06/26/2012

North Korea today called the use of its flag during U.S.-South Korean military drills last week a serious provocation and evidence of U.S. hostility that justifies the growth of Pyongyang's nuclear arms program. The statement from an unidentified Foreign Ministry spokesman came on the 62nd anniversary of the start of the 1950-53 Korean War, which ended in a truce, leaving the Korean Peninsula still technically at war.

Syrian conflict expands into Turkey

06/26/2012

The civil war in Syria has now escalated to crisis status as of last Friday. Syria shot down a Turkish warplane over the Mediterranean. Ankara ominously warned the trigger-happy Syrians they would “respond decisively” to the knee-jerk incident This action opens a whole new chapter in the growing conflict creating an international dimension to the 16-month revolt against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

EU Condemns Syria’s Downing of Turkish Jet, Urges Probe

06/26/2012

The foreign ministers of 27 EU members states condemned on Monday Syria’s shooting down of a Turkish military plane and urged a thorough investigation into the incident. “The European Union notes that this is a matter which needs to be investigated thoroughly and urgently,” the EU Council of Ministers said in a statement. Syria downed a Turkish F-4 Phantom jet on June 22, saying that it had violated Syria’s airspace.

Lockheed Martin Provides Italian Ministry of Defence with Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Aircraft

06/26/2012

An innovative Airborne Multi-Intelligence Laboratory (AML) developed by Lockheed Martin for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) is now being used by the Italian Air Force in a live operational environment. Lockheed Martin signed a use agreement with the Italian Ministry of Defence (MoD) to provide the AML aircraft, three ground intelligence processing systems as well as flight crew and maintenance personnel for the plane. This agreement is for one year.

Boeing Completes Wind Tunnel Tests on Silent Eagle Conformal Weapons Bay

06/26/2012

Boeing recently completed wind tunnel tests on the Silent Eagle Conformal Weapons Bay (CWB). The tests, conducted at the company's St. Louis facility, validated the aerodynamics of the CWB design. CWBs are integral to the adaptable configuration and balanced survivability of the Silent Eagle.

Turkey says its F4 was in international airspace

06/25/2012

Turkey on Sunday charged that Syria shot down a Turkish F4 Phantom jet Friday over international waters without any warning and called for a meeting of its NATO allies. Both the United States and Britain denounced Syria in response to the new details, and NATO set a meeting for meeting for Tuesday under its treaty, which allows any party can to call for consultations if it feels its territory or security is threatened. The meeting, however, falls well short of asking for military support.

Turkey Vows Retaliation For Downing Of Military Jet By Syria

06/24/2012

Turkey was weighing its response Saturday to the shooting down by Syria of one of its planes, an incident that sent tensions soaring between two neighbors already at odds over the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad's rule.

Russian aircraft arrives in North America to observe Canadian forces

06/24/2012

A Russian Federation Tupolev TU-154M aircraft will conduct observation flights over Canada between June 26 and 28 in accordance with the Treaty on Open Skies, an agreement that allows aerial observation flights over the territories of 34 countries to promote openness and the transparency of military forces and activities.

Canadian military ups Asian presence

06/24/2012

Last month China sent its first aircraft carrier Shi Lang to sea for trials. At 66,000-tons, the reconfigured former Soviet ship is a significant new player in a building South Asia arms race that has drawn the attention of both the US and Canada. Now India has followed suit. Its refurbished aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya began long-delayed sea trials June 8, leaving Sevmash shipyard in northern Russia for the White Sea.