Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Russia Delays Opening Carrier Pilot Training Site

05/13/2013

A new Russian carrier-deck pilot training site will be ready for operation by next year, Navy Commander Admiral Viktor Chirkov said on Sunday, replacing a Soviet-era base in Ukraine which Kiev has said it may lease to other countries. The work on the training facility in the city of Yeisk, on Russia's Black Sea coast, “is proceeding according to plan,” he said in an interview with RIA Novosti.

Chinese hackers caught trying to steal secrets of our new stealth fighter as tens of thousands of cyber attacks are launched on jet manufacturer every week

05/12/2013

Chinese cyber spies have been caught trying to steal the secrets of Britain’s most sophisticated combat jet, The Mail on Sunday has learned. A covert unit within the Chinese Army has been using highly sophisticated cyber weapons in a desperate attempt to acquire classified information about the stealthy Joint Strike Fighter (JSF).

Grangemouth’s tribute to brave pilots

05/12/2013

After years of planning and months of detailed preparation Spitfire day finally arrived. On Thursday down on the Bo’ness Road the huge replica warplane was unveiled as this district’s tribute to 71 aircrew who died while serving at Grangemouth aerodrome during World War II. The air cadets whose idea it was must be delighted that their plan to honour that lost generation has been fulfilled of a permanent reminder of a very important part of our modern history.

Indian Navy to induct Boeing P-8I this year

05/12/2013

The Indian Navy is all set to induct a Boeing P-8I into its force this year, making it the second navy after the US to have such aircrafts, a senior naval official said. The first long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft, P-8I, would be inducted this year, the official said. "The Indian Navy would be only the second operator of this aircraft after US Navy to operate the P8 Poseidon.

Indian Navy Commissions First MiG-29K Fighter Squadron

05/12/2013

The Indian Navy has commissioned its first squadron of MiG-29K/KUB shipborne fighters, dubbed the "Black Panthers," a MiG spokesperson in India said on Saturday. The ceremony at an airbase in Dabolim, in the state of Goa on India's west coast, was attended by India's Defense Minister A K Antony, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral D K Joshi and MiG Director-General Sergei Korotkov.

U.S. Marines in Spain on alert to evacuate Americans from Libya

05/11/2013

Just moments ago, CNN’s Barbara Starr reported that U.S. combat Marines in the South of Spain are now on alert for deployment into Libya to assist with evacuation of Americans. A senior military official confirmed that although the Marines are still in Spain, they could be on the move soon if the U.S. government issues an evacuation order. The 500 Marines are equipped with, among other combat equipment, six MV-22 Ospreys for rapid insert and evacuation.

Does China have a stealth drone?

05/11/2013

While Iran's got a somewhat less than "Epic" new propeller-powered UAV, China might be jumping on the stealth drone bandwagon sooner than you thought. Extremely blurry photos posted on Internet forums over the past few months may show a Chinese stealth UAV, supposedly called the Lijan or Sharp Sword, along the lines of the U.S. Navy's X-47B.

Indian Naval Air Commander Outlines Expansion Plan

05/11/2013

On May 11 the Navy will commission the first of three MiG-29K squadrons at its base in Goa. One is for training. The 16 aircraft originally ordered have all been delivered, as have four of a further 29. They will fly from the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya (previously Admiral Gorshkov), which has taken five years longer than planned to be refitted. Later, they will also fly from the Indian-built aircraft carrier (IAC-1), which is under construction in Kochi in Kerala.

The Taiwanese Squadron Commander Is A Lady

05/11/2013

Taiwan recently promoted a female C-130 pilot to be the first female squadron commander. Lieutenant colonel Chen Yueh-Fang joined the air force in 1992, at a time when women were first being allowed to attend flight school. She was one of six (out of 14) female flight school students who completed flight training. She was told the male and female students would be treated the same and they were. She was in the second class that allowed women to compete.

A French Jet Maker Is Approaching a Crossroad

05/11/2013

As Jérôme Camps, an engineer at Dassault Aviation’s main design center, showed off a ghostlike 3-D model of one of the company’s small jets here recently, his hand passed through the plane’s skin to reveal an intricate web of support structures as well as a jumble of multicolored cables and pneumatic tubes, rendered in vivid detail.

Turkey’s Future Fifth Gen Fighter Fleet

05/11/2013

If building a MALE UAV, and a turboprop trainer – Hurkus, due to fly for the first time in the coming weeks – wasn’t enough, Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) has embarked on early studies for a national combat aircraft program. While it is only in the concept phase for the moment, with assistance from Swedish fighter manufacturer, Saab, senior officials will make significant decisions on the program at the end of the year.

AMCA for IAF on hold due to Light Combat Aircraft

05/11/2013

Due to prolonged delays in the ambitious Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) project, the future plans for an Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) for the Indian Air Force (IAF) has been shelved temporarily. The 'Tejas' LCA has taken 30 years already, at an escalated project cost of Rs 5,489 crore. Since the LCA project was sanctioned in 1983 at a cost of Rs 560 crore, the time overrun has resulted in a 10-fold increase in the project cost.

Russian Paratroopers to Get Drones by 2018 – Shamanov

05/11/2013

Russian paratrooper divisions will receive unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs or drones) within the next three-to-five years, Colonel-General Vladimir Shamanov, Commander of Russia’s Airborne Forces, told journalists on Friday. “UAV subdivisions already exist within the reconnaissance and special operations sections, in the artillery and the air-defense sections of the Airborne Forces.

Best Russian weaponry on show in Red Square parade

05/10/2013

From trademark tanks and fighter jets to the latest, unrivalled missile defense systems – the Victory Day parade stages a military show right in the heart of Russia’s busy capital. RT takes a closer look at the defense technology in the spotlight. Over 11,000 servicemen from all the branches of the Russian armed forces marched through Moscow’s central square to mark the 68 year of WWII Victory.

DEF 2013: Turkey launches armed UAV project

05/10/2013

The Strike UAV (SIHA) project was formally given the go-ahead by Turkey’s Defence Industry Executive Committee in July 2012 and the SSM is currently preparing an RfP for the programme’s preliminary concept phase. The work will be carried out by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), using its Anka medium altitude long-endurance UAV as the point of departure for development of the SIHA, which is expected to weigh around 5000 kg with an external payload capacity of 1000 to 1500 kg.

In the air today: Afghan air force developing its capabilities

05/10/2013

In southwestern Afghanistan, this reporter for The Washington Times recently hitched a ride on a helicopter manned by Afghans, including the pilot and two door gunners, as well as U.S. military personnel. The 20-minute flight was aboard an Mi-17, a Russian-made aircraft that Afghans have learned to fly.

China News: 4 Ways How China's Military Stacks Up Against the U.S.

05/10/2013

When Defense Secretary Robert Gates says that China "could threaten America's primary means of projecting power and helping allies in the Pacific," and Admiral Robert Willard, former head of U.S. Pacific Command, notes that it "has exceeded most of our intelligence estimates of their military capability and capacity every year," there is cause for concern.

Australia holds the line on defense budget

05/10/2013

Australia will hold defense spending at $100 billion over four years and remains committed to the purchase of the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter. The level of spending is "appropriate and in current circumstances sustainable," Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard said during her presentation of the 2013 Defense White Paper.

British Reapers Can Now Call Home

05/10/2013

The operators of British Reapers have moved to a UAV control center in Britain. For the last four years British Reaper operators worked out of the main U.S. Air Force UAV control operation in Nevada, at first as part of a joint U.S./British Reaper unit. This was convenient and inexpensive way to learn how to operate such a center (where UAVs are operated via satellite link).

Drone debate too late once they get off the ground

05/10/2013

In last week's Defence Department white paper, released by the Prime Minister at Fairbairn's air force base, the Australian public got a scary one-line insight into the future of its air force. ''Armed unmanned systems will be available in greater variety and sophistication in years to come,'' it said.

Talking Stealth: USAF Pushes for 5th to 4th 'Gateway'

05/10/2013

USAF officials are preparing by year’s end to begin flight testing of a communications gateway technology designed to solve the vexing problem of allowing stealthy aircraft to communicate with legacy fighters, though they operate using different protocols. The goal is to “network” combat air forces so that pilots of the F-22 — and in the future the F-35 — can share data with those flying legacy aircraft such as the F-15 and F-16 aircraft, says Lt. Col. Scott Hamilton.

Boeing Will Continue to Draw Military Interest

05/09/2013

Recently the headlines across U.S. media outlets haven't been pleasant for Boeing. Between its lithium-ion batteries smoldering and threatening to catch fire and accusations of lower quality parts from Japanese suppliers there is a lot of fuel for the fire. There's at least one positive headline for Boeing and its investors: the recent flight test of its X-51A hypersonic aircraft. Let's take a look at why this overlooked headline means much more to the company's future.

Russian Air Force receives its first new Su-34 strike fighter of the year

05/09/2013

“Following the handover ceremony at the airfield of the Novosibirsk-based Chkalov aviation plant, the aircraft departed for its assigned home base,” reads the Sukhoi press release. “Several more Su-34 fighters will be delivered to the Russian Air Force shortly.” The statement continues: “Thanks to the sizeable government orders for Su-34 aircraft placed by the Russian Defence Ministry in 2008 and 2010, the [Novosibirsk] facility has secured a steady workload for years to come.”

U.S. Is Warned Russia Plans Syria Arms Sale

05/09/2013

Israel has warned the U.S. that a Russian deal is imminent to sell advanced ground-to-air missile systems to Syria, weapons that would significantly boost the regime's ability to stave off intervention in its civil war. U.S. officials said on Wednesday that they are analyzing the information Israel provided about the suspected sale of S-300 missile batteries to Syria, but wouldn't comment on whether they believed such a transfer was near.

Analysis: Despite Israeli strikes, U.S. still wary of Syria air defenses

05/09/2013

Israeli missiles breached Syria's vaunted air defense system over the weekend, but that offered little comfort to U.S. military planners weighing the risks of any intervention against President Bashar al-Assad's forces. With some of the possible U.S. military options in Syria involving a need for air power, the Pentagon remains concerned about Assad's ability to shoot down enemy aircraft with surface-to-air missiles, particularly in a sustained campaign.