Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

More military drone accidents underscore need for international safety standards

06/01/2012

Internal federal documents show crashes by unmanned aerial vehicles are increasing the number of accident investigations undertaken by the military's flight-safety branch. The latest annual fleet airworthiness review, obtained by The Canadian Press under the access-to-information law, paints a compelling portrait of how military aviation is being changed by drones.

30 years after Lebanon war, pilots reminisce

06/01/2012

The First Lebanon War might not be known for its helicopters but it was the first time the Israel Air Force used attack helicopters in combat, providing results and helping to establish a doctrine that is still studied as a new conflict looms on the horizon. The Israel Air Force’s history with attack helicopters dates back to before the Yom Kippur War in 1973 when Brig.-Gen. (res.) Nehemia Dagan, a decorated helicopter pilot.

Ensuring logistics support for military aircraft

06/01/2012

Thailand's defence capability has been boosted significantly with the recent purchase of the JAS 39 Gripen military fighter jet from Saab of Sweden. This small, agile aircraft can take off and land on highways, while carrying the latest technologies and weaponry, providing a potent deterrent in times of peace and a highly effective air combat capability in times of conflict.

Northrop Grumman Hosts U.S. Military at LITENING Users' Conference

06/01/2012

Northrop Grumman Corporation NOC -0.17% recently hosted the U.S. military at its 11th LITENING Users' Conference to share operational experiences with the targeting pod and identify priorities for capability upgrades. The Northrop Grumman LITENING family of targeting pods is a self-contained, multisensor system with built-in connectivity to land forces.

Russia to Buy 60 An-70 Propfans

06/01/2012

Russia's Military Transport Aviation (VTA) is to receive 60 Antonov An-70 propfan tactical transport aircraft by 2020, the service's commander Lt. Gen. Viktor Kachalkin said on Thursday. "From 2014, we will start to get the Ilyushin Il-76-MD90A (Il-476) and also the modernized Il-76MD. We are also counting on getting the new An-70," he said.

Lockheed Martin Submits Proposal for KC-46 Aircrew Training System

06/01/2012

Lockheed Martin submitted its proposal today to the U.S. Air Force for the KC-46 Aircrew Training System, a program that will prepare pilots, boom operators and other on-board personnel for air refueling, cargo transport and medical evacuation. The KC-46 Aircrew Training System supports the Air Force’s strategy for global mobility. Aircrews will refuel fixed-wing receiver-capable aircraft for the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and coalition forces.

Obama set to arm Italy's drones in milestone move

05/31/2012

President Barack Obama's administration appears set to notify the U.S. Congress of plans to arm a fleet of Italian MQ-9 Reaper drones, a step that may spur a wider spread of remotely piloted hunter-killer aircraft. The administration could move ahead within two weeks on the proposal to let Italy join Britain in deploying U.S. drones with weapons such as laser-guided bombs and Hellfire missiles, American officials said.

Russia, India to produce transports

05/31/2012

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd of India and Russia's United Aircraft Corporation-Transport Aircraft are jointly building a new military transport. The agreement to build the multirole jet aircraft was signed this week by the representatives of HAL, UAC-TC and Multirole Transport Aircraft Ltd, their joint venture company with Russia's Rosoboronexport.

Northrop Grumman Proposes “Polar Hawk” To Boost Canada’s Arctic Surveillance

05/31/2012

Northrop Grumman officials conducted a briefing at CANSEC 2012 on Wednesday for journalists on its proposal to offer the Harper government a fleet of Global Hawks. Northrop Grumman has dubbed the aircraft the Polar Hawk and is pushing the angle of the unmanned aircraft as being ideal for surveillance in the North. Murray Brewster of Canadian Press has more details.

Air Force showcases skills in rehearsal

05/31/2012

The Air Force showcased its flight skills in a rehearsal Wednesday in Hsinchu, as a preview for an air show to be held Saturday in the northern city. Highlights of the rehearsal at the Hsinchu air base included a 30-minute performance by the Thunder Tiger Aerobatics Team flying seven AT-3 jet trainers in a series of spectacular aerial stunts.

Boeing to produce Block III Apache AH-64D attack helicopters for foreign military sales

05/31/2012

The Boeing Co. Defense, Space & Security segment in Mesa, Ariz. will be producing Apache AH-64D attack helicopters for the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program in a $97.3 million dollar contract awarded by the U.S. Army Contracting Command in Redstone Arsenal, Ala. on Tuesday. The Boeing AH-64D Longbow Block III is the latest version of the Apache combat helicopter, and is designed with a stronger engine, improved helicopter avionics, better computer-networking capability.

Romania could procure second hand F-16 from Portugal or the Netherlands

05/31/2012

Minister of Defense Corneliu Dobritoiu told Agerpres, after a meeting with the reserve military that a team of specialists will go to the Netherlands and Portugal to assess the technical condition of some F-16 type aircraft that Romania might procure for the Army. 'We will assess the jets, to see if they are technically up to our requirements, their upgrading needs, the cost and if we can afford them, or not. The assessments are made in Portugal and the Netherlands', Dobritoiu said.

India-built sub-assembly on US Navy's combat planes

05/31/2012

An India-built electronic sub-assembly will be part of the US Navy's combat planes, a statement said Wednesday as Indian companies step up efforts to be part of the global defence supply chain. The sub-assembly provides the cockpit flood lighting compatible with the aircraft's night vision imaging system (NVIS).

Russia to Reopen Arctic Airbases

05/31/2012

Selected air units of Russia’s Western military district will start this year preparations to return to abandoned Arctic airfields, the commander of the district’s aviation Maj. Gen. Igor Makushev said on Wednesday. Military airfields in the Arctic were used extensively in the Soviet era, but after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 they have been generally mothballed.

Boeing Delivers 1st EA-18G Growler Featuring Bharat Electronics Limited Cockpit Subassembly

05/31/2012

Boeing on May 3 delivered to the U.S. Navy the first EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft with a cockpit subassembly produced by Bangalore-based Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL). The subassembly provides cockpit floodlighting compatible with the aircraft's Night Vision Imaging System (NVIS).

Will Russia close the Carrier Classic Gap?

05/30/2012

Despite recent reports, the U.S. remains ahead of the Russians when it comes to the next generation of naval warfare — namely, hosting sporting events on aircraft carriers. English-language all-Russian-news site RT.com reported Monday that the Major Hockey League, which is actually a minor hockey league (those wacky Russians) to the big-time KHL, is planning to hold a game on a flattop anchored in the Gulf of Finland.

Unmanned aircraft poised to fill Asian skies

05/30/2012

THE military unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) market will mushroom over the decade through 2020, according to international consultancy Frost & Sullivan, with its value forecast to grow by 60 per cent to US$7.3 billion. The Asia-Pacific is expected to lead this surge, propelled by regional force modernisation programmes and supported by sustained economic growth.

Japanese fifth-generation fighter, Mitsubishi’s ‘Divine spirit’

05/30/2012

Japan may become the fourth country after the U.S., Russia and China to possessits own fighter of the fifth generation. The new fighter, relatively small in size and weight, will become the first battle plane, constructed without assistancein Japan over the past seven decades. In the beginning of May, Japan placed an order for the delivery of the first four F-35 fighters made in the United States.

Airbus Military growing its product line

05/30/2012

Airbus Military is growing its product line with new developments, such as gunships and airborne early warning aircraft, and is improving its existing offerings, such as the C295, as it adapts to changing market conditions. Airbus Military, at its annual Trade Media Briefing in Spain, attended by defenceWeb, said that the military market for transport, special mission and tanker aircraft is a very irregular one with plenty of ups and downs and is compounded by shrinking military budgets.

HAL to make multirole aircraft with Russian firm

05/30/2012

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) will manufacture a Multi-role Transport Aircraft (MTA) with a Russian partner primarily for the Indian and Russian air forces, the state-run defence behemoth said on Tuesday. 'The twin-engine aircraft in 15-20 tone class will be designed, co-developed and manufactured for cargo/troop transportation; para-drop/air drop of supplies, including low altitude parachute extraction system,' HAL chairman R.K. Tyagi said in a statement here.

C-130 Makes First Landing on Tinian’s Historic North Field Since 1947

05/30/2012

Guam - A C-130 military cargo aircraft landed at North Field just before noon today [Wednesday]. It was the first time since after World War II in 1947 that a U.S. military plane landed on the airfield. The landing at North Field, the Saipan Tribune reports, is considered one of the highlights in the ongoing Exercise Geiger Fury 2012 on Tinian, with 150 to 175 personnel from Marine Aircraft Group-12 out of Iwakuni, Japan participating.

CATIC targets 300 JF-17 sales in five years

05/30/2012

China hopes to sell up to 300 Chengdu/Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) JF-17 Thunder fighters in Africa and the Middle East over the next five years. This target was revealed by a spokesman from China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC), the country's military aircraft export agency, in an email to Flightglobal.

U.S. must stop using China’s fake military

05/30/2012

While addressing West Point’s newest graduates last weekend, Vice President Joseph R. Biden praised the gathered cadets as “leaders of your generation” and “the key to whatever challenges the world has in store.” For full disclosure’s sake, Mr. Biden should have added: “For the foreseeable future, however, the advanced weapons and military systems you’ll use in training and in combat will remain shot through with unreliable counterfeit electronics parts.

F-35 fighters best suit Taiwan's air defense needs: official

05/30/2012

Taipei, May 29 (CNA) F-35 stealth fighters are the new-generation combat aircraft that best serve Taiwan's air defense needs, a military official said Tuesday, the latest hint that the government may not be as keen to acquire advanced F-16 C/D fighters as once thought. The F-35s, with their short takeoff capability, would bolster the country's defense capabilities, as airports are likely to be destroyed by enemy forces in the event of war.

War Games In Jordan

05/29/2012

It's a familiar scene - military aircraft and personnel in the desert - only in this case, it's part of a war game in southern Jordan involving thousands of troops from all over the world. Forces from 18 countries including the U.S., Jordan, Lebanon and Italy are participating in the exercise. Dubbed "Eager Lion" the scenarios give troops a chance to learn how to carry out attacks on ground targets in coordination with artillery and air power.