Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

The E-2D Hawkeye Is Overlord of America’s Supercarriers

02/13/2013

In the age of super-sonic fighter jets, cruise missiles, and exo-atmospheric ballistic missiles, carrier fleets must be able to monitor as accurately and far afield as possible to avoid being caught unaware of incoming threats. Odd then, that the duty of watching over the most sophisticated aircraft carriers ever constructed falls to the last propeller-powered planes still allowed to land on them.

Gray Eagle soars toward full rate production

02/13/2013

Unmanned aircraft system passes initial evaluation The Unmanned Aircraft Systems Project Office, under the Program Executive Office for Aviation, oversees four programs of record. Among these is the MQ-1C Gray Eagle unmanned aircraft, which recently completed a successful Initial Operational Test and Evaluation and is nearing completion of a Beyond Low-Rate Initial Production Report.

German Companies Win Training Contracts

02/13/2013

German companies continued to win training contracts in January, with defense giant Cassidian snatching a multi-million dollar contract to deliver a new Maintenance System Trainer (MST) for the Eurofighter combat aircraft. The new system is designed to train German Air Force technical personnel in the aircraft’s systems while minimizing the amount of time they have to spend on the real aircraft.

U.S. military weighs cuts to expensive drone program

02/13/2013

The Pentagon for the first time is considering scaling back the massive buildup of drones it has overseen in the past few years, both to save money and to adapt to changing security threats and an increased focus on Asia as the Afghanistan war winds down.

India’s Indigenous Aircraft Come Up Short

02/13/2013

Home-grown military aircraft is a breed that is rarely seen here, except at air shows where they are displayed to convince the public of India's technological prowess. But the fact remains that the country still relies on imported military aircraft for its defense. This makes it vulnerable to international arms embargoes and the whims of foreign powers.

Syrian Rebels Say They Have Seized a Military Airfield and Its Warplanes

02/13/2013

Syrian insurgents seized control of a northern military airfield on Tuesday and captured usable warplanes for the first time in the nearly two-year-old conflict, according to rebels and activist groups. The development, if confirmed, would represent the second strategic setback for President Bashar al-Assad’s government this week.

Boeing and Elbit Systems to Collaborate on Aircraft Defense Solutions

02/13/2013

Boeing and Elbit Systems Ltd. have signed a Memorandum of Understanding that supports the growth of both companies through the joint pursuit of opportunities for self-defense solutions for Boeing military aircraft in international markets.

Eglin Air Force Base achieves first F-35A four-ship flight

02/12/2013

The F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) team at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., achieved the wing’s first four-turn-four with the 58th Fighter Squadron and 58th Aircraft Maintenance Unit. "The pilots flew four F-35As in the morning and the maintainers performed routine maintenance for airworthiness after landing. Then the crew chiefs 'turned' them around so the four jets could be flown in the afternoon," explains Col. Andrew Toth.

Military Considering Scaling Back Drone Program

02/12/2013

The Pentagon for the first time is considering scaling back the massive buildup of drones it has overseen in the past few years, both to save money and to adapt to changing security threats and an increased focus on Asia as the Afghanistan war winds down. Air Force leaders are saying the military may already have enough unmanned aircraft systems to wage the wars of the future.

Rafale fighter aircraft deal not to be inked during visit of French Prez Francois Hollande

02/12/2013

The contract between India and France on sale of Rafale fighter aircraft will not be signed during the visit of French President Francois Hollande this week. "There would be no signing of contract for supply of Rafale multi-role fighter aircraft during French President Francois Hollande's visit to India," French Ambassador Fracois Richier said at a panel discussion on India-France relations here today.

Defence officials catalogued pros, cons of F-35 competitors

02/12/2013

These observations from 2005 and 2006, found in newly released documents obtained by Postmedia News, are relevant again as the Conservative government has ordered National Defence to conduct a fresh review of the fighter aircraft market. Interestingly, the passage of time may actually end up helping some of the F-35’s competitors, especially the Gripen, Typhoon and Rafale, as officials had a number of outstanding questions about those aircraft when the reviews were done.

Aerosonic Receives New Orders Related to M346 International Trainer Aircraft

02/12/2013

Aerosonic Corporation, a leading supplier of precision flight products for commercial, business and military aircraft, today announced that it has received new purchase orders in support of the M-346 Master jet trainer sale to Israel. The orders are to supply air data systems that include its Integrated Multifunction Probe ("IMFP(R)") and related equipment for the production of the jet trainer aircraft. These orders are valued at $7.7 million dollars. Shipments will begin in June 2013.

Why Are the Most Vital Aircraft in the USAF Arsenal Owned by NASA?

02/12/2013

While chatter between the US Air Force is spoken exclusively in English, communications between their aircrafts' electronic systems is more akin to the United Nations cafeteria—a "dog's breakfast of different datalinks," according to Lt. Gen. William Lord. Since the numerous competing defense contractors tasked with building military aircraft often install contradicting and incompatible systems, the USAF employs a pair of legacy NASA fliers to act as battlefield interpreters.

F-35A Completes 3-Year Clean Wing Flutter Testing Program

02/12/2013

An F-35A Lightning II conventional takeoff and landing aircraft, known as AF-1, completed its final test mission for clean wing flutter recently. Flutter testing was conducted to ensure the jet’s structure could withstand various aerodynamic loads verifying the F-35A’s design.

Lockheed Martin Announces IDEX 2013 Media Briefing Schedule

02/12/2013

Lockheed Martin today announced its media briefing schedule for IDEX 2013. At the show, Lockheed Martin will highlight its role as a trusted partner for countries in the Middle East and underscore its commitment to meeting customers' most challenging global security needs. The corporation will also continue its yearlong centennial celebration as it looks forward to another 100 years of innovation.

Three Killed in Medevac Helicopter Crash in Azerbaijan

02/12/2013

All three crewmembers of a Mi-17 Hip helicopter were killed on Monday when it crashed into the Caspian Sea, the Azerbaijan Defense Ministry said. The body of one crewmember has been recovered and the search for the other two continues, the ministry said.

BAE Systems to showcase regional partnerships at IDEX 2013

02/12/2013

In demonstrating BAE Systems' strengths in working in partnership with other companies, the company's products will not only be showcased on its own stand at IDEX 2013 but also on others, including International Golden Group, Tawazun, Abu Dhabi Mar (NAVDEX) and Military Industries Corporation (AVF).

Philippine navy to buy anti-submarine choppers

02/11/2013

Philippine defence officials said two new frigates acquired by the government would be equipped with naval helicopters that can hunt down submarines. Officials said the government is expecting delivery next year of three new Augusta-Westland AW 109 helicopters equipped with submarine-hunting hardware such as sonar and magnetic anomaly detection (MAD) device and search and rescue hardware.

English invasion at American air base

02/11/2013

Royal Air Force pilots and engineers from RAF Coningsby have arrived in the United States to begin training with their American colleagues. Approximately 200 personnel from XI Squadron have joined forces with the US Air Force 1st Fighter Wing. This will be the first joint training exercise featuring the Typhoon FGR4 and the F-22 Raptor at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia.

Trust Rafale, she won't let you down: French tell IAF

02/11/2013

"Stopping the terrorists, that's done." This was the curt statement given to the media by French minister Laurent Fabius after a successful bombing raid on key terrorist establishments in the Northern Mali town of Gao on January 12. The mission was accomplished by a fleet of four Rafale fighter planes, the winner of India's Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) deal.

After losing deal to Rafale, US makes low-key presence with F16

02/11/2013

After losing the deal for 126 Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft to French company Dassault’s Rafale, US presence at the Aero India 2013 in Bangalore has been quite low key. Its marquee F16, piloted by Chris Nations, flew just once and was later part of the static display at the Aero India. “At all air shows we have been showcasing F-16’s proven capabilities and will certainly attract attention,” Chris Nations, told Business Line on the tarmac at the Yelahanka Air Station.

An insipid display on last day

02/11/2013

The much-hyped Russian Knights failed to live up to the expectations, despite flying in a formation of five on Sunday, unlike the four-aircraft formation they displayed the previous day. The ‘Barrel Rolls’, ‘Loops’, the ‘eye lug’, the ‘tail dive’, even the ‘vertical climb’, all of which they had showcased on Saturday were as unexciting as on the previous day. The Knights not using the flares, which was the highlight of their performance on Saturday, left the crowd upset.

IRKUT Makes a Case for YAK 130 Trainers for India at Aero India 2013

02/11/2013

Russian aircraft manufacturer IRKUT has made a case for the Yak-130 advanced combat trainer to be a part of the Indian Air Force (IAF) fleet. The aircraft which has been inducted into the Russian Air Force to offer both basic and advanced jet training for fourth and fifth generation fighter aircraft is considered a good fit for the MiG-29, SU-30 MKI, the Rafale MMRCA and the potential acquisition of the PAK-FA fifth generation fighter.

Rethink Everything You Think You Know About World War II

02/11/2013

Did Britain go to war in 1939 dangerously unprepared compared to her Nazi German adversary? No. 1930s Britain was the leading arms producer on earth. The British army of 1939, although small, was the most mechanized in the world, with many more tanks per unit than the German Wehrmacht.

Iran Tests New Air-to-Air Missile

02/11/2013

"The new missile dubbed as Fakour 90 is fired from F14 fighter jets," General Farahi said. Meantime, he noted that Qader and Nasr air-based cruise missiles will be tested in coming days. Last week, a senior Iranian military commander announced that the Iranian Armed Forces plan to unveil its latest achievements in the production of armored vehicles, missiles and aircraft in the next few days.